FOREST & BIRD TOURS SUPPORTING CONSERVATION

ECHOES OF GONDWANA DEPARTING FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2021 1 It was a truly remarkable experience and we are very grateful for it. Thank you Mark and Forest & Bird!

Inge Bremer and Rolf Mueller-Glodde Footsteps through Conservation Battlegrounds tour October 2020

UNFORGETTABLE LANDSCAPES Our ever-changing country is full of natural spectacles to be enjoyed, challenged, or held in awe. Travel off the beaten track in the company of a small group of up to 15 like-minded people. Together you will experience Aotearoa's incredible wildlife on land and in our oceans. Join us to explore New Zealand’s natural heritage and feel good knowing your tour’s profits will be supporting Forest & Bird’s conservation work! 2 YOUR GUIDE

Naturalist and Forest & Bird President Mark Hanger has been leading small-group nature tours throughout New Zealand and Australia for more than 30 years. He has put together this incredible fundraising journey for our supporters. Travel is by comfortable small coach equipped with an excellent nature reference library. Accommodation is in pleasant hotels and lodges with private facilities. A flexible tour itinerary offers multiple start and finish points and different journey lengths. All tour profits go to Forest & Bird’s conservation work.

3 ECHOES OF GONDWANA

Travel through awe-inspiring landscapes at the heart of Experience botanical and birdlife wonders of some of the greatest environmental campaigns of the Gondwana forests at Pureora and discover native past 100 years. Meet Forest & Bird’s conservation staff skinks and other rare species on Mana Island. Then and volunteers, who will share some of the challenges explore the ancient forests of the West Coast, including of protecting and restoring Aotearoa’s natural heritage. Paparoa and Ōkārito, with an overnight stay at Lake Visit New Zealand’s oldest marine reserves and Moeraki Wilderness Lodge with conservation icon find out about the recent ground-breaking Gerry McSweeney. A further optional segment takes in battle to save the “Bay of Empty” during the Catlins, Rakiura Stewart Island, hoiho, kiwi Hector’s a guided trip to Motiti Island with Te dolphins, and New Zealand sealions. Atarangi Sayers.

4 FEB 26: Far North marine challenges Mid-morning convene in Whangārei, meet Mark Hanger, Forest & Bird President and your trip leader. We are joined by Dean Baigent-Mercer, Forest & Bird’s Northern conservation advocate and campaigner. Dean will discuss key marine issues with us as we visit coastal areas dear to his heart. Stay Tutukaka two nights.

SECTOR 1 FEB 27: Poor Knights Island Marine Reserve – day excursion TE AO O An unforgettable day excursion cruise visiting a very special jewel in the crown of marine protected areas in TE TANGAROA Aotearoa. Visit the Poor Knights Marine Reserve and observe from the boat the unique landscapes of the 5-NIGHTS, DEPARTING 26 FEBRUARY 2021 Poor Knights Nature Reserve (landing is prohibited for members of the public). The surrounding waters are home to a myriad of sub-tropical fish, sponge gardens, huge sea caves, and sub-marine arches. There is ample time to learn of the significance of the life protected here, and to snorkel and/or kayak in the marine reserve waters. Or you can just absorb the atmosphere of one of New Zealand’s most special places. Late afternoon return to Tutukaka.

5 FEB 28: Leigh Marine Reserve This morning drive south to New Zealand’s first marine sanctuary. Learn of its history, preservation, benefits, and the legacy of Dr Bill Ballantine, who was a dearly beloved icon of marine conservation. Time this afternoon to kayak or snorkel in the reserve. Stay Warkworth tonight.

MAR 1: Warkworth kauri, Miranda, mangroves, Tauranga Visit a locally protected and managed kauri tract this morning before leaving the region. Travel south through Auckland then via the Miranda coast and to the Bay of Plenty. An afternoon on the coastal fringe. Discuss and view the significance and value of mānawa, the mangrove, with Forest & Bird stalwarts Basil and Ann Graeme. Stay Tauranga two nights.

6 MAR 2: Mōtītī, the Rena wreck, marine issues in the to ground-breaking legislative changes that could see better “Bay of Empty” marine protection for all of New Zealand’s coastal waters. Join Te Atarangi Sayers, Forest & Bird Board member, as he takes us on a physical journey to Mōtītī Island while explaining MAR 3: Aongatete, mangroves the inspiring spiritual and legal journey of his hapū. They fought Meet the Graeme family, founders of Forest & Bird’s Kiwi a long battle to gain awareness, understanding, and finally Conservation Club and staunch supporters of greater protection for the unique waters surrounding Mōtītī, an area that protection for the Kaimai Mamaku forests. Walk in the was put under massive pressure after the MV Rena ran aground Aongatete forest reserve before continuing through to the on the Astrolabe reef, in 2011. The resulting oil spill has been central North Island. For those not continuing on the main called New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster. Echoes of Gondwana trip, your journey will end at lunchtime Te Atarangi will explain how this terrible event ultimately led today in Tauranga. The main group will travel south to Taupō.

7 SECTOR 1 Pricing DEPARTS: Whangārei TE AO O TE ENDS: Tauranga DEPARTURES: 26 February 2021

TANGAROA PRICE: NZD$2,159 per person (5 nights)

Inclusions n Services of tour naturalist, Mark Hanger. n Services of Forest & Bird specialists n All tour travel departing from Whangārei and terminating in Tauranga n Three meals daily, with exception of first dinner in Tauranga n All accommodation n Information folio including background ecological information and species lists for areas visited n Poor Knights marine reserve day excursion n Mōtītī or Bay of Plenty day excursion n Goods and Services Tax of 15% n Admission fees where applicable n Contribution to Forest & Bird BOOK THIS TOUR n Add-ons: Single room rate add $NZ430.00 per person and feel good knowing a proportion of your fare supports Forest & Bird

8 MAR 3: Aongatete, mangroves, Taupo SECTOR 2 Meet with the Graeme family, founders of KCC and staunch supporters of greater protection for the Kaimai Mamaku ECHOES OF forests. Walk in the Aongatete forest before continuing GONDWANA through to the central North Island. Stay Taupo tonight. MAR 4: Pureora – the “dinosaur forest” of Gondwana 10-NIGHTS, DEPARTING 3 MARCH 2021 Lush rainforest surrounded the Tongariro Plateau until wholesale forest clearance began with European settlement. Now only relatively small tracts remain. Today we visit one of the finest tracts of podocarp rain forest in the country to study the intricacies and complexities of the predominant forest type in New Zealand. These forests have changed little over 100 million years and are typical of the forest cover of Gondwana. The rimu-dominated bush here is perhaps the finest in the country. Pureora was a flashpoint in the late 1970s and the actions of conservation protesters here paved the way for other significant lowland forests in the North island to be protected. We study the podocarp forest communities in detail today then continue to Whakapapa.

9 MAR 5: Volcanoes, sub-alpine beech forest, whio MAR 6: Mana Island Immediately to the south of Lake Taupō are the three high The steep-sided and flat-topped Mana Island is a distinctive volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park. This is the original feature of Wellington’s west coast. Despite years of human national park of New Zealandand we spend the morning on the occupation, three rare species clung to salvation on Mana—the slopes of the highest peak, Ruapehu. With laval and/or mud gold-striped gecko, Cook Strait giant wētā, and McGregor’s flows having occurred in recent years off both Ruapehu and skink. Concerted conservation efforts by Forest & Bird and nearby Ngāuruhoe, the vicinity is an excellent one in which others, led to the eradication of mice in 1990 and the planting to study the impact of volcanism on sub-alpine and montane of half a million trees. The island is home to dozens of species vegetation. There will also be an opportunity to seek out the threatened elsewhere in the country, including takahē, endangered whio blue duck while in this region. Afternoon toutouwai North Island robin, korimako bellbird, kākāriki drive south to Wellington. yellow-crowned parakeet, rowi brown kiwi, and pōpokotea whitehead, as well as three translocated lizard species. Join the Friends of Mana Trust as we visit this special island off the Porirua coast. 10 MAR 7: Ferry to Picton, Forest & Bird’s Pelorus bat MAR 9: Denniston plateau, Paparoa National Park recovery project Drive south from Nelson through the Buller Gorge and discover Ferry to South island. Travel via Pelorus bridge to Nelson. the fascinating rare coal ecosystems of the Denniston Plateau. Possible evening visit to Pelorus with the Top of the South Bat You will hear about the major battles conservationists have had Project (yet to be confirmed) Stay Nelson two nights. to protect this site from mining interests. Later continue down the spectacular West Coast. The coastal Paparoa National Park MAR 8: Kahurangi National Park, Mt Arthur was established as a result or prolonged pressure from Forest Travel down the Motueka Valley and to North West Nelson. & Bird, by the likes of conservation stalwarts Craig Potton and The Graham Valley provides the easiest access to Kahurangi Andy Dennis in 1987. Later this afternoon enjoy further coastal National Park. This national park is perhaps the botanically walks through the lush hardwood and nikau forest and at most diverse in the country. Red, silver, black and mountain Punakaiki itself. Stay Punakaiki. beeches predominate and at higher altitude mountain cedar forest appears. The track to Mount Arthur, through lush beech forest, provides opportunities to seek out two unique forms of New Zealand life –giant land snails and the giant wētā. Excellent pest control by Friends of Flora volunteers enables such rarities to survive, and for other amazing lifeforms to thrive. Meet renowned ecologist Kath Walker, a world leader in conservation of Powelliphanta, our renowned carnivorous giant land snails. Mid-afternoon return to Nelson.

11 MAR 10: Ōkārito, Waikukupa Forests MAR 11: Lake Moeraki, lush rainforest walk, night This morning we will travel down the humid forested West walk, glow worms, giant eels Coast. Just north of Franz Josef lies the majestic podocarp A day in the vicinity of this excellent nature lodge. Walk down rain forests of Ōkārito and Waikukupa. Concerted Forest & to nearby Munro beach and, who knows, there may even be a Bird campaigns in the late 1970s and early 1980s resulted moulting tawaki Fiordland crested penguin to view. The track in these tracts of forests being protected in 1982. We walk winds down through stunning lush West Coast rainforest, to the renowned Ōkārito Trig for spectacular views over and kōkopu native fish live in the stream. Early morning and these magnificent untouched forest tracts that are home to evening strolls from the lodge for nocturnal life, including the endangered rowi kiwi. This afternoon continue south to glow worms and ruru morepork, and to view eels living in the overnight at the Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge. Owned and Moeraki River. run by Gerry McSweeney, former president and Chief Executive of Forest & Bird, this lodge is set amidst unrivalled South Westland rainforest. Stay in these stunning surroundings two nights.

12 MAR 12: South Westland World Heritage, Hector’s MAR 13: Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary, lizards, dolphin Dunedin Heading for the arid grandeur of Central Otago, we will head We depart for heartland Central Otago and the dry schist east, crossing Haast Pass, where we’ll stop in sub-Antarctic landscapes that are home to fascinating skink and gecko fauna. beech forest to see if we can find the declining mohua Visit the Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary near Alexandra. Meet yellowhead and any other forest birds. But first we will walk Grant Norbury and gain an excellent insight into two of the through the primeval kahikatea-dominated rain forests just rarest skinks in Aotearoa, the grand and Otago skinks, that north of Haast. Afternoon arrival into Wanaka. Stay one night. have been re-introduced into this a safe haven. Early afternoon continue to Dunedin. 13 SECTOR 2 Pricing DEPARTS: Tauranga ECHOES OF ENDS: Dunedin DEPARTURE: 3 March 2021

GONDWANA PRICE: NZD$4,095 est. per person (10 nights) Inclusions n Services of tour naturalist, Mark Hanger. n All tour travel departing from Tauranga and terminating in Dunedin n Three meals daily, with exception of 2 nights (second night’s dinner in Wellington and Nelson) n All accommodation n Information folio including background ecological information and species lists for areas visited n Mana Island excursion n Inter-island ferry n Goods and Services Tax of 15% n Admission fees where applicable n Contribution to Forest & Bird.

BOOK THIS TOUR n Add-ons: Single room rate add $NZ1060.00 per person and feel good knowing a proportion of your fare supports Forest & Bird

14 MAR 13: Arrive Dunedin Meet your naturalist guide in Dunedin. Stay in Dunedin three nights with first night B&B only.

MAR 14: Otago Harbour and marine wildlife SECTOR 3 We begin our journey with a fascinating harbour cruise taking us around Taiaroa Head, the only mainland breeding site of TE AO O TE northern royal albatross. With a wingspan of three metres, these seabirds certainly are impressive, soaring over cliffs dotted with TANGAROA I nests of spotted shags and the rare Otago shags. Past rocky shelves of lounging fur seals we will sail, if conditions permit, MURIHIKU a little offshore to enjoy albatross and shearwater feeding A marine world beyond the tail end of the land sessions. It is indeed a magical wildlife experience to discover 5 nights, departing March 13 New Zealand’s rich and diverse seabird treasures. This afternoon join Forest & Bird’s Dunedin-based conservation manager for a fascinating insight into the fight to establish the first-ever coastal marine reserves off the Otago coast.

15 MAR 15: Hoiho, kororā, NZ sealions, Otago University Marine Lab The Otago Peninsula and the Catlins (pictured) are home to a wonderful array of marine life. We begin our day by visiting one of the spectacular sandy beaches that are haul-out and breeding sites for whakahao, the New Zealand sealion. We will then visit the Otago University Marine Lab and hear about the significance of the deep oceanic trenches running out from the Peninsula. Those same trenches are critical feeding grounds for the hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguin. Nesting around the peninsula, this species is extremely threatened and at risk from commercial fishing practices. We’ll visit a hoiho breeding site. This evening some may opt to return to the Otago Peninsula to view the diminutive kororā little blue penguins as they return to shore just after dark.

16 MAR 16: Catlins coastal podocarp forests, NZ Sealions, Hector’s dolphin Depart Dunedin for the jewel of the southern coast. The Catlins includes some of the finest coastal scenery and lowland forests in the country. Endemic species inhabit coastal cliffs, below which New Zealand fur seals breed. Beyond, lush Gondwanan forests run down to superb sweeping sandy beaches with not a soul in sight. Late afternoon arrival in Bluff. Cross to Rakiura Stewart Island late afternoon. Stay Oban two nights.

MAR 17: Ferns, albatross, Ulva Island, Rakiura National Park, tokoeka brown kiwi Removed from reality on this idyllic hideaway, we discover the grand diversity of life on this, the least modified of the three main islands of New Zealand. This afternoon we take a short boat trip across Paterson Inlet to near-pristine Ulva Island. There are carpets of bryophytes, liverworts, and dancing spider orchids.

MAR 18: Ferry trip, completion. Morning ferry back to Bluff. Trip termination following drive back to Dunedin.

17 SECTOR 3 Pricing DEPARTS: Dunedin TE AO O TE ENDS: Dunedin (or Invercargil) DEPARTURE: 13 March 2021 TANGAROA I PRICE: NZD$2,085 per person (5 nights) MURIHIKU Inclusions n Services of tour naturalist, Mark Hanger. n All tour travel departing from Dunedin and terminating in Dunedin (or Invercargill) n Three meals daily n All accommodation n Information folio including background ecological information and species lists for areas visited n Ulva Island excursion n Stewart island pelagic cruise n Goods and Services Tax of 15% n Admission fees where applicable n Contribution to Forest & Bird. n Add-ons: Single room rate add $NZ400 per person BOOK THIS TOUR and feel good knowing a proportion of your fare supports Forest & Bird

18 FOREST & BIRD FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Mark Hanger 021 680 524 or email TOURS [email protected] SUPPORTING Fundraising for Forest & Bird CONSERVATION Profits from all of these tours will go to the Society. 19