Explore New Zealand
Explore Dynamic Geology and Unique Ecology with AMNH Expeditions
February 29 – March 11, 2012
Tour Expert:
Geologist and Art Historian Bruce Loeffler
Click here to learn more about this expedition
Discover the best of New Zealand: explore the dynamic geologic forces continually shaping the land; see a wealth of native plants and birds which thrive in its diverse landscapes and climates; and marvel at its striking wilderness scenery.
Begin in the harbor city of Auckland with a private tour of its fine museum. Housed in a stunning historic building, the Auckland Museum contains natural history exhibitions and an extensive collection of Maori and Pacific Island art and cultural material. In Rotorua, see Maori rock art paintings and learn about their culture during a performance and traditional meal.
Explore the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, an extensive thermal region where geysers, bubbling mud pools, and steaming, sulphurous lakes demonstrate nature’s immense power. Visit White Island, one of New Zealand’s most active and accessible marine volcanoes. Virtually no vegetation survives its harsh acidic environment and instead, lush beds of yellow and white sulphur crystals grow amid hissing fumaroles.
Fly to Dunedin, near the Otago Peninsula which is a haven for marine birds. Hear about efforts to restore the Yellow-Eyed Penguin at a private preserve, learn about secrets of the Southern Ocean at the Marine Studies Center, and observe the Royal Albatross colony at Taiaroa Head.
Drive through rolling hills and plains to Te Anau and the remote Fiordland World Heritage National Park. Cruise Doubtful Sound whose dramatic scenery delights regardless of the weather: rain magically creates thousands of waterfalls while serene conditions allow for clear mountain reflections in its still waters. End your trip in Queenstown, New Zealand’s premier resort city on the shore of Lake Wakatipu with views of the Remarkables.
Expedition Itinerary
Days 1-3 – Depart Home | Auckland, New Zealand
Depart the United States. Crossing the International Dateline, arrive in Auckland, a sophisticated city blessed with beautiful harbors and offshore islands, then transfer to the hotel for some time at leisure. This afternoon, take a private tour of the Auckland Museum, focusing on the exhibits related to New Zealand’s natural history and the island’s early inhabitants. Gather for a welcome reception to meet fellow travelers and expedition leaders. Stamford Plaza Hotel (Meals aloft,R,D)
Day 4 – Rotorua
Travel south through the green rolling hills of the Waikato province. Stop en-route at a local farm for a tour and lunch. See a demonstration by a professional sheep shearer and participate in the bottle feeding of pet lambs. Watch a demonstration of the skills used by dogs when mustering. Continue to Rotorua, the center of an extensive thermal region where geysers, bubbling mud pools and steaming, sulphurous lakes give evidence of nature’s immense power. Learn about the Maori culture during a concert and traditional Maori meal. Millennium Hotel (B,L,D)
Day 5 – Waimangu Volcanic Valley
Journey to the Waimangu Volcanic Valley, which developed into one of the world’s newest geothermal eco-systems after Mount Tarawera erupted in 1886. Walk through a dynamic landscape to Echo Crater and Frying Pan Lake, fed by the world’s largest hot water spring. View the dramatic Inferno Crater with its beautiful blue hot lake. Cruise on Lake Rotomahana for a unique perspective of the geothermal sites and observe the numerous birds that make this wildlife refuge their year-round home Visit Patiti Island, which is currently being restored to a predator-free condition and will become a sanctuary for endangered native New Zealand birds. Take a bush walk across Te Ariki Isthmus to Lake Tarawera and board another boat to view Maori rock paintings. Continue on to Te Wairoa to a site where the village was buried under 2.5 meters of mud and debris during the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera. An optional walk to Te Wairoa Falls is offered before returning to Rotorua. End this active day by relaxing at the Polynesian Spa’s hot pools. Millennium Hotel (B,L)
Day 6 – White Island
Journey to the East Coast town of Whakatane for an excursion to White Island, a marine volcano. One of New Zealand’s most active, the volcano is estimated to be between 100,000 and 200,000 years old, however the small portion that is visible above sea level has been in its present form for an estimated 16,000 years. Virtually no vegetation survives the harsh acidic environment inside the crater walls. Instead, lush beds of yellow and white sulphur crystals grow amongst hissing, steaming, bubbling fumaroles. Millennium Hotel (B,L)
Day 7 – Rotorua | Dunedin
This morning, fly to the charming university city of Dunedin. En route to the hotel, have an orientation tour of the city with its tin-roof homes and well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Check in to your hotel and enjoy some leisure time to explore the nearby bustling streets. After an early evening talk, enjoy dinner at Speight’s Alehouse Restaurant, a local favorite. Southern Cross Hotel (B,D)
Day 8 – Dunedin | Otago Peninsula
Begin your exploration of the Otago Peninsula at the Marine Studies Center, which features exhibits about the Southern Ocean’s diverse environment. Continue to the Royal Albatross Center at Taiaroa Head, the only mainland breeding colony for any albatross species found in the southern hemisphere. This protected nature reserve has grown into an established colony with a population of approximately 140 birds. Also visit the Penguin Place, home to the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Conservation Project, a private conservation effort aimed at saving the world’s rarest penguin from extinction. Southern Cross Hotel (B)
Day 9 – Te Anau
Drive past verdant rolling hills dotted with sheep and cattle to Te Anau, the base from which to visit Fiordland National Park. Gather for a screening of Ata Whenua (Shadowland) which was filmed by award-winning cinematographers over 10 years. Learn about the vastness of Fiordland National Park from their unique perspective. This afternoon, relax or take an optional excursion to the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves. Distinction Hotel (B,L)
Day 10 – Fiordland National Park | Doubtful Sound
Travel deep into Fiordland National Park World Heritage site, a remote wilderness that is known for its massive fiords and ancient rainforest. Cross picturesque Manapouri Lake, which is surrounded by the Cathedral Mountains and then drive through a stunning mountain pass before boarding a ship that explores Doubtful Sound, the second largest of the fiords in the park. Continue to Queenstown later this afternoon. Heritage Hotel (B,L)
Day 11 – Queenstown
Enjoy a full day at leisure in New Zealand’s premier resort town. Options include hiking and biking in the surrounding hillsides, a lake cruise, or bungy jumping for the adventurous. This evening, travel up Bob’s Peak to the Skyline Gondola Restaurant with views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables and bid farewell over a dinner featuring some of the region’s finest cuisine. Heritage Hotel (B,D)
Day 12 – Queenstown | Return Home
There is time for last-minute shopping or relaxation before transferring to Queenstown Airport for your flights home (B, Meals aloft)
