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Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Evening: Depart North America on overnight international flights to New Zealand. Please refer to your personal air itinerary for specific flight information.
Activity note: Please note that rooms are being held tonight at the Movenpick Auckland for all participants on this program. This is to allow immediate check-in to rooms following the early-morning arrival in to Auckland of the group flights on Thursday. Participants arriving in Auckland prior to the day the group flights arrive are welcome to make use of their room on Wednesday night. Please be aware that you will not be able to check-in prior to the standard 2:00 p.m. check-in time on Wednesday.
Afternoon: A day is "lost" due to crossing the International Dateline.
Activity note: Walking up to 2 miles, paved surfaces, undulating terrain. As tap water throughout New Zealand is drinkable, at the orientation you will be given a Road Scholar water bottle to use throughout your program. This is yours to keep.
Morning: This program has been deliberately designed with free days in both Auckland and Queenstown to allow participants to engage in activities, free of time constraints. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions although we encourage participants to do their own research prior to departure. You may need to book your activities well in advance.
Lunch: At the hotel.
Afternoon: Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Your Group Leader will be with you throughout your program, providing information and leading field trips. Some meals will be buffets, others will be plated and served, and some we will order in advance. Beverages typically include coffee, tea, water, with other beverages available for purchase depending on location. Free time is reserved for your personal exploration. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through independent exploration, attending performances or other events on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local conditions/circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Following the orientation, our Group Leader leads us on a walking field trip of central Auckland introducing us to New Zealand's largest city. We will learn how Auckland interacts with its harbour for both business and pleasure and take a stroll past the art gallery and through the grounds of the university. Before dinner a local academic presents a lecture giving us an introduction to New Zealand history.
Dinner: At the hotel. We will have “Welcome to New Zealand” wine with dinner tonight.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on and off a yacht. Walking up to 2 miles; flat, paved urban surfaces.
Breakfast: Buffet in the hotel's top-floor dining room with stunning views of Auckland's Waitemata Harbour and central business district.
Morning: This morning after breakfast we take the short walk to the Viaduct Harbour. From here we have a yacht cruise on Auckland's magnificent Waitemata Harbour giving us stunning views of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, the city and the surrounding volcanic cones. Our Group Leader and skipper(s) will point out the sights of particular significance and interest. As we sail through the channel, those who wish can have a turn at the wheel, helming the yacht, weather conditions permitting. At the conclusion of the cruise, we will board a motorcoach and transfer to a local café close to Auckland War Memorial Museum. We will get an orientation to the layout of the city en route.
Lunch: At the Wintergarden Café. We will have time to explore the gardens briefly on our own prior to or after lunch.
Afternoon: We then head across to Auckland War Memorial Museum. We first view a performance by the museum's Maori cultural group. The performance will provide an introduction to Maori culture. The cultural performance takes place with the blessing of Ngati Whatua, the local iwi (tribe) of the Tamaki Makaurau Auckland region. After the performance, a docent will introduce the permanent exhibitions showing patterns of Polynesian and European settlement. We then board our motorcoach and return to our hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is free.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration in Auckland to see and do what interests you most. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon: Free Time.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The Viaduct Basin has a variety of cafés and restaurants a short walk from the hotel. The relatively new development of the Wynyard Quarter is a delightful stroll across the bridge beyond the Viaduct, while the Britomart precinct is located in the streets behind the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for hotel check out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: The flight from Auckland to Christchurch is a little over one hour in duration. Typically Air New Zealand uses Airbus A320 aircraft on this route.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: We check out of our Auckland hotel after a leisurely breakfast and transfer to Auckland airport for our flight to Christchurch. Christchurch is set close to the sea on a broad plain between the towering Southern Alps and the large extinct volcanic crater that forms Banks Peninsula. It is the largest city in the South Island and the centre of farming, industrial and cultural activities for the province of Canterbury. Because of its excellent transportation facilities, bountiful water supply and abundant hydro-electric power, Christchurch is one of the most important industrial centres in New Zealand. We arrive and transfer via motorcoach to the International Antarctic Centre for lunch.
Lunch: At the International Antarctic Centre.
Afternoon: At the Antarctic Centre we get as close as possible to experiencing Antarctica without actually going there. We will have an expert lecture revealing the frozen continent to us. We will also gain an insight into Christchurch's contemporary involvement with Antarctica as the nearest mainland base for US, NZ, Italian and South Korean Antarctic research. We transfer in to our accommodation having an orientation to the city en route. Here we learn of the effects of earthquakes on a vibrant, modern, first-world city. As well as seeing the effects of the series of earthquakes that occurred between September 2010 and May 2012, we will learn of the innovative, often community-led, projects helping to rejuvenate this city the locals are so passionate about. After checking in, we have a walking exploration of the centre of Christchurch with our Group Leader, during which we will learn more about what makes this city tick as it continues its regrowth.
Dinner: At our hotel, we will have a pre-ordered, plated dinner.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a boat. The drive from the centre of Christchurch over Hilltop to Akaroa is about 50 miles (80 kilometres), approximately 1.5 hours each way.
Breakfast: Breakfast buffet.
Morning: We board our motorcoach and head to the delightful Banks Peninsula township of Akaroa this morning. Akaroa is a historic French and British settlement nestled in the heart of an ancient volcano. Some of the town's French character is shown by its French street names. En route to Akaroa we will learn about the historical patterns of settlement of the local Maori, French and other European settler populations. Upon arriving in Akaroa, we are given free time to explore the township on foot, just as the Christchurch visitors do on their day trips.
Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like as you explore Akaroa.
Afternoon: We come together at the wharf and board a boat for our cruise on Akaroa Harbour. From our vessel we will see sea caves, volcanic formations, high cliffs and myriad nesting sites. Following the guidance of the on-board nature expert, keep an eye out for the delightful Hector's Dolphin, one of the world's rarest and smallest dolphins, as well as blue penguins, fur seals, and abundant bird life. We return to land and reboard our coach and head back over Hilltop to Christchurch and our accommodation. We will then transfer to Riccarton House, arguably Christchurch's most significant early homestead. Here we have an expert-led exploration of the homestead as we learn about the early-settler family responsible for the existence of both Riccarton House and Riccarton Bush, a unique native lowland podocarp forest close to the centre of New Zealand's "Garden City". Through this we will gain an insight into the early European settlement of the province of Canterbury.
Dinner: At Riccarton House, we will have a pre-ordered, plated dinner.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for hotel check out and transfer in the morning.
Activity note: The drive from Christchurch to Geraldine via the Rakaia Gorge is about 105 miles (170 kilometres) and will take around 2.5 hours. The drive from Geraldine to Lake Tekapo is about 60 miles (100 kilometres) and will take about 75 minutes. Please be aware that tonight will be a very late night as the sun sets relatively late this far south. There will be some time to rest after dinner before we head out to experience the vivid night sky.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and board our motorcoach for the drive to Aoraki Mount Cook. We will drive across the fertile farming land of the Canterbury Plains. As we approach Rakaia Gorge we will gain an understanding of the braided river systems so typical in this area and learn of the developments they influenced.
Lunch: En route to the Mackenzie Basin, we will pause in one of the little, provincial agricultural service towns we drive through. This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like from one of the local cafés.
Afternoon: We carry on to our accommodation looking out over the stunning mountain vistas of Lake Tekapo and check in. Lake Tekapo is the northern gateway to the stark and special Mackenzie Basin (known to locals as the Mackenzie Country), home to a landscape quite unlike any other in New Zealand. We join our Group Leader for a stroll through the town and alongside the picturesque lake. We will visit the little Church of the Good Shepherd with its gorgeous view of this vibrantly-coloured lake. We shall also visit arguably New Zealand's most beloved statue (for New Zealanders, at least). We have some free time before dinner. You might like to explore the hot pools set alongside the lake a short walk from our hotel.
Dinner: At our hotel, we have a buffet dinner.
Evening: Lake Tekapo is located in the heart of an International Dark Sky Reserve. It is home to the most southerly permanent optical observatory in the world. Following some time at leisure after dinner we transfer to one of the local observatories where we join an expert-led exploration of the southern sky. Unleash your imagination as you explore our neighbourhood in the universe including the Southern Cross, star clusters, planets, moons and distant galaxies. Local experts will help you navigate the southern night sky outdoors. Experience the thrill of peering through powerful telescopes and binoculars to see amazing sights, both near and far. We return back down off the mountain and return to our accommodation.
Activity note: The drive from Lake Tekapo to Aoraki Mt Cook is about 60 miles (100 kilometres) and will take about 75 minutes. The drive from Aoraki Mount Cook to Queenstown is about 150 miles (240 kilometres), and will take about 3 hours. Walking approximately 3 miles this morning; well-maintained paths; undulating terrain, steep in parts.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: After breakfast we check out of our accommodation and board our motorcoach for the drive through to Mount Cook Village located at the base of Aoraki Mount Cook. Here we join our Group Leader and head out for a walk in the national park, soaking up the marvellous mountain vistas. Alternatively, you might opt to stay and explore the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre, named for the person many Kiwis feel to be the greatest-ever New Zealander. "Sir Ed" spent much time climbing the rugged peaks of the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park.
Lunch: When you finish exploring, an early lunch is at own arrangements in the local café in Mount Cook village.
Afternoon: After lunch we depart Aoraki Mount Cook bound for Queenstown. We drive through the former works town of Twizel (created to house workers during construction of the large-scale hydro-electric schemes in the region and now a popular vacation hamlet) at the heart of the Mackenzie Country. We will drive through the forbidding Lindis Pass leaving the Mackenzie Basin behind drive past the town of Cromwell, greatly changed since the construction of New Zealand's largest hydro-electric scheme in the 1980s. For all the change that wrought, the area still remains one of the fruit bowls of New Zealand, although recently the greatest economic force in the region has been of the fermented grape variety. We drive on through the rugged Kawarau Gorge and carry on to Queenstown. Queenstown is nestled on the shores of the beautiful Lake Wakatipu, nestled in amongst the majestic Southern Alps. Its setting is stunning with the surrounding mountain ranges, the Remarkables and the Eyre Mountains, forming a breathtaking backdrop. It has more to offer than just magnificent landscape, however; the town strives to be the “adventure capital of the world” with a diverse range of attractions to lure visitors of all ages. We arrive in Queenstown and head straight to our hotel to check in. You may choose to join your Group Leader on a stroll into town to get the lay of the land. Or you may prefer to just relax on your balcony and take in the scenery.
Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The myriad dining choices of downtown Queenstown are a comfortable stroll from our hotel. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: The drive from Queenstown to Piopiotahi Milford Sound is about 180 miles (290 kilometres), and will take about 4 hours each way. Stops en route. Walking up to 2 miles. Getting on and off a boat.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: On boarding our motorcoach in Queenstown, we travel along the shores of Lake Wakatipu and through the rolling countryside to Te Anau. After a break en route, the motorcoach continues along the spectacular alpine route of the Milford Road through impressive, awe-inspiring scenery. There will be time for photo stops and short walks along the way. The drive through to Piopiotahi Milford Sound is considered one of the most beautiful drives in the world. On reaching Piopiotahi Milford Sound we join a leisurely cruise out to the Tasman Sea. Our Nature Cruise allows us to see and experience what makes Piopiotahi Milford Sound world renowned. We spend two and a half hours on a vessel nudging into waterfalls, spotting wildlife and listening to the informative commentary from the specialist Nature Guide on board. Keep a look out for wildlife including seals, dolphins and penguins.
Lunch: On board our cruise vessel, we have a packed lunch.
Afternoon: At the conclusion of our cruise we reboard our motorcoach and take the return journey to Queenstown.
Dinner: At the hotel we have pre-ordered, plated meals.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on and off a gondola/cable car.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration in Queenstown to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.The possibilities are endless...
Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon: Free time. We come together in the late afternoon and transfer to board the gondola that will take us to the top of Bob's Peak. We will have time to take in the spectacular views before dinner.
Dinner: Buffet dinner at the restaurant atop Bob’s Peak overlooking Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables.
Evening: After taking in the stunning views over dinner, we will hop a gondola back down the hill and board our motorcoach back to our hotel. Prepare for hotel check out and departure tomorrow.
Activity note: Hotel check out is by 10:00 a.m. Participants will be at Queenstown airport at 1:30 p.m.
Breakfast: Hotel buffet.
Morning: After breakfast we we have most of the morning free before we check out of our accommodation. We then load our luggage on to our motorcoach and transfer to Arrowtown en route to the airport. Here we will have a stroll and take in the history of this quaint, former gold-mining town.
Lunch: This meal is not included in your program cost. You will be able to get your own lunch in Arrowtown or at the airport.
Afternoon: We continue to Queenstown airport, arriving by 1:30 p.m. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!