Nau mai, haere mai ki Aotearoa. Welcome, Everyone, to

Draft Itinerary for NZ Heartland Adventure 19-28 November 2014.

This trip is designed to include places and events in New Zealand that most RCBN members would not have been to before. It includes things we will do as a group and days when there are several options to cater for differing tastes. (There are excellent golf courses everywhere!) Whereas most of the activities are optional, everyone will “do” The Twenty Tunnels rail cart journey and the jet boat on the River to The Bridge to Nowhere as these are an integral part of our transport to the next destination.

Notes about costs, places and events at end. Times are very approximate just to give you an idea. It’s a very low cost trip compared to an organised tour and will be heaps more fun.

ITINERARY:

Wednesday 19 November: Fly to Auckland. (3 ½ Hours) Overnight – either billeted by Linda’s ex-Club or hotel.

Thursday 20 November: Fly to New Plymouth. (1 hour) Tour of City. Accommodation in hotel.

Friday 21 November: Bus to Whangamomona (2-3 hours). Visit Te Whiti Museum (awarded Best Private NZ Museum) in and waterfall on way. Overnight at Whangamomona Hotel. Purchase your Whangamomona Republic passport while there.

Saturday 22 November: Rail carts East to Taumaraunui and bus on to Ohakune. Overnight stay.

Sunday 23 November: Tongariro National Park - includes New Zealand’s 2nd highest mountain: Ruapehu

Activity Options:

1. Tongariro Crossing for the fit – about 7 hours over the top of the divide between Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro – highest point is 1,886 m (6187ft for us oldies). The Tongariro Alpine Crossing has been dubbed the best one-day walk in the world. Guided by local tramping club member for cost of his petrol and overnight accommodation OR guided by Maori Tourist company for $200-300 each. Mountain clothing required as likely to be snow on the ground. Weather dependent – mountain conditions mean that we would not attempt this in doubtful weather. 2. OR sample a rural golf course; Green fees payable. 3. OR there are lots of bush walks from 10 minutes to an hour or so; no cost 4. OR Where else but next to a mountain would you expect to go mountain biking? It’s obvious; and readily available on the Ohakune Mountain Road or Old Coach Road providing a unique cycling experience. If the 16km, 1000-metre climb doesn’t appeal you can take a

ride up in a specially-equipped mini- van which features a well-informed commentary on the features of the road, then enjoy a thrill-ride downhill all the way; Cost unknown at this stage. 5. OR just have a peaceful day around the village. 6. There are also canoeing, quad bikes, helicopter sightseeing etc. Overnight again in Ohakune.

Monday 24 November: Bus to Pipiriki – an old Maori settlement on the . Jet boat up Whanganui River with short walk into Bridge to Nowhere. Travel back to Wanganui and see the picturesque village of Jerusalem (Hiruharama). Originally a larger Maori village known as Patiarero, it was once home to famous New Zealand poet James K Baxter who lived on a commune there, and Sister Mary Aubert, whose Catholic Mission remains there to this day. Overnight Wanganui. Billeted with RC Wanganui (one of oldest RC Clubs in NZ) or hotel for those who prefer. Dinner meeting (Make-up) with RC of Wanganui in the evening. Billet again or hotels.

Tuesday 25 November: Visit Putiki Historic Church and be welcomed onto the local marae (Maori sacred meeting place) in a powhiri (a Maori welcome ceremony – women need to be in a skirt not trousers). Maybe ride the paddle steamer up the river and return. Sightsee around the City – walk in the only tunnel through a hill/lift in the Southern Hemisphere.

Wednesday 26 November: Bus to Wellington. Billets to be arranged with RC Harbour City Wellington or hotels.

Thursday 27 November: City tours. Cycling. Walking – hills or Wildlife Sanctuary (Zealandia) or Waterfront . Café culture. Te Papa National Museum. Several good art galleries. Good golf courses. Option of day trip over “hill” to Wairarapa for winery visit. (Martinborough, in the Wairarapa, is one of best wine regions in NZ). RC Harbour City meeting in evening.

Friday 28 November: Finish trip with brunch together. Fly back to Melbourne or option to add on another part of NZ at own cost.

INDICATIVE COSTS:

Transport:

Flights - Current single fare prices w no allowance for group booking: Melbourne to Auckland ( $209 – 350); Auckland to New Plymouth ($89 – 140 depending on how quickly we book); Wellington to Melbourne ($281 – 450). Brighton Travel should be able to get us a better deal on fares.

Bus or minivan hireage (depends on numbers) To go to the places I have scheduled we will need a driver – my brother-in-law, Noel, has offered to drive us as he is a bus driver (his “retirement job”) for Tranzit NZ – the biggest bus company in NZ, I think. He does charters as part of his job, knows this region really well and would provide some commentary. The actual hire costs will depend on numbers in the group. This will be our biggest expense.

Accommodation:

Auckland: unknown yet.

Whangamomona Hotel: Dinner, bed and breakfast $125 pp approx. Booking made.

Tongariro National Park accommodation at Powderhorn Chateau: Dinner bed and breakfast for 2 nights - , including cooked breakfasts both mornings, and one packed lunch per person. The single occupancy rate being $199 per night, and double being $240, this is inclusive of GST. Booking made.

Other accommodation when not billeted/ presents for billeters.

EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

The Twenty Tunnel Tour: Rail carts from Whangamomona - Taumarunui - $285pp. Morning & afternoon tea and lunch inclusive. The trip takes from, about 9.30 am until 4.30 pm and we make stops to look at things of interest along the way. Booking made. The carts are USA imported golf carts modified to travel on railway lines. Sit back, relax and enjoy.

Tongariro Crossing– Participants would need to pay 2 nights’ accommodation for a tramping club member who will lead the group. If the weather is unsuitable for the Crossing he has a couple of alternate ideas.

Jet boat tour on Whanganui River and walk into The Bridge to Nowhere. Approx $130 pp The upper reaches of the Whanganui River is considered the most beautiful in New Zealand. The Bridge to no-where is a concrete bridge sited in the middle of a huge bush/forest area. There is no road. It takes about 20 minutes easy walking from the river.

Putiki Marae Powhiri: about $10 each (a “koha” (gift) for the Maori group at Putiki who welcome us to their marae). Putiki Church is a small colonial church and the local Maori iwi (tribe) have a marae (sacred meeting place) alongside.

Café and wine costs. Most meals are not included.

Cost Summary:

Travel:

Air: $579 Bus: 10 people: $112 approx; 20 people: $70 approx. This does not allow for a bus driver as I can get this for a small “token gesture” from the group. We will need to pay Noel’s accommodation in New Plymouth, Whangamomona and Ohakune.

Accommodation: (some very approximate)

Auckland: unknown –between $200 and $300 for an average 1 night stay.

New Plymouth – $200-300 1 night

Whangamomona: $125

Tongariro National Park: ($480 Double or 240 single) for 2 nights

Wanganui and Wellington – gift for billets - $100 total? Or own choice of hotel.

Activities:

Twenty Tunnel Tour -$285

Jet Boat - $135

Tongariro Crossing: $400 accommodation; plus meals divided by number participating

Total of known costs: Approx $2000 per person.

Add in meals and other unknowns – drinks, meals, and separate accommodation.

KAY’S “LONELY PLANET”:

Auckland: largest city in NZ with a population of about 1.4 million. Has some excellent summer beaches nearby.

The creation of Auckland’s unique landscape is part of an ancient love story that brought about a fierce battle of incantations. The battle between two iwi (tribes) created deep cracks in the earth, thrusting upwards the many volcanic cones scattered across the region today.

The fertile soils left from this battle, combined with the abundant resources of the Waitemata and Manukau harbours, have drawn people to this region for centuries. The Auckland region is widely known as Tāmaki Makaurau –

Auckland has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world.

November Climate: Ave max temp: 19.5, Ave min: 12.8; Ave rainy days in Nov: 14; Ave wind speed: 20.5

New Plymouth: sitting beside the famous Mt Taranaki NP is a city of about 68,000 people, on the extreme west of the . The hub for the rural, mainly dairy farming Taranaki province with offshore oil mining.

November Climate: Ave max temp: 17, Ave min: 10; Ave rainy days in Nov: 11

Whangamomona: a tiny village that declared itself a Republic in 1989.

Tongariro National Park: Established in 1887, Tongariro was the first national park in New Zealand and the fourth in the world. It is also a dual World Heritage area, a status which recognises the park's important Maori cultural and spiritual associations as well as its outstanding volcanic features. The three andesitic volcanoes at the heart of the park, the mountains Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu, form the southern limits of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Volcanic activity in the zone started about 2 million years ago and continues today.

Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe are two of the most active composite volcanoes in the world. In 1995 and again in 1996 Ruapehu erupted in spectacular fashion, sending clouds of ash and steam skyward and mantling the surrounding snow fields and forest with a thick film of ash.

Wanganui: a small city (Pop: 42,000) on the west coast of the North Island; one of the earliest European settlements in NZ and once its third largest city. Its river, the Whanganui is mud bottomed in the lower reaches but the upper reaches are beautiful and set amidst ancient forest. With a length of 290 km, the Whanganui is the country's third-longest river. In Maori legend the river bed was formed after an argument between the mountains in the Tongariro National Park (one version of the legend is below). The RC of Wanganui is very keen to show off this wonderful little Paradise to you.

November Climate: Ave max temp: 19.4, Ave min: 10.6; Ave rainy days in Nov: 12.3; Ave wind speed: 21.2

Wellington: Wellington is New Zealand's centre of government and the world's southernmost capital city. It is also the country's cultural and the third most populous urban area in New Zealand.

Home to many museums, galleries, theatres, festivals and events, Wellington is also a leading centre for creative industries and is the home of the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX). The city is situated alongside Wellington Harbour and surrounded by natural beauty including Zealandia, an award-winning eco-attraction just minutes from the central business district.

Wellington city has a population of 200,100 people. The Wellington region (a series of closely linked cities and districts) is home to almost 500,000 people.

The capital's population is young, with 60% aged 18-49 years compared with 45% in NZ generally.

It's been said that over one-third (33%) of Wellington residents have a bachelor degree or higher qualification - the highest in the country.

November Climate: Ave max temp: 16.5, Ave min: 10.3; Ave rainy days in Nov: 11.3; Ave wind speed: 20.2

In Māori legend, Taranaki is a mountain being that lived peacefully for many centuries in the centre of New Zealand's North Island with three other mountains, Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu.

Nearby stood Mount Pihanga. Covered in a cloak of deep green forest she presented a stunning sight and all the mountain gods were in love with her.

Taranaki dared to make advances to Pihanga and was reproached by Tongariro and a mighty battle ensued between them. The earth shook and the sky became dark as the mountains belched forth their anger. When the battle ended the lovely Pihanga stood close by Tongariro's side. Taranaki, wild with grief and jealously, angrily wrenched his roots from the ground and left the other mountains.

Weeping, he plunged towards the setting sun, gouging out a deep wide trench. When he reached the sea he turned north and stumbled up the coast. As he slept that night the Pouakai Ranges snared and trapped Taranaki in the place he now rests.

The next day a stream of clear water sprang from the side of Tongariro. It flowed down the deep scar Taranaki had left on his journey to the coast to form the Whanganui River.

There are those who say that Taranaki is silently brooding and will one day try to return inland again to fight Tongariro. Consequently many Māori were wary of living in the area between the mountains.