Natural New Zealand - in Style
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Trip Highlights
- Volunteering in Pelorus Sounds on pristine Maori property
- New Zealand's finest luxury lodges
- Waiheke Island and its boutique vineyards and cafes
- Americas Cup sailing
- Sailing in the Bay of Islands
- Helicopter flight down North Island to Rotorua (via Waitomo Caves and Huka Lodge)
- Wine tasting in Marlborough Sounds
- Whale watching in Kaikoura
- Heli-hike on Franz Josef Glacier
- Helicopter flight to Milford Sound
- Jet-boat, flight and hike day – Siberia Experience
- Queenstown and its myriad activities
Your ''Taste of Volunteering'' Project
Organic Farming and Native Tree Planting.
You will be recalling a forgotten era at this fabulous property, which is only accessible by boat, and is surrounded by Department of Conservation land. Here, your Maori host will regale you with fascinating stories and you can help play a part in restoring native flora and fauna to this area. This forms part of the overall vision of the property to be sustainable and economically viable to encourage more Maori people back to this region. Other initiatives include a manuka honey project, and organic farming.
Trip Summary
Day One
Upon arrival in Auckland, you are met by your local guide and given a brief tour of Auckland City, before transferring to your helicopter for a scenic flight to Delamore Lodge on Waiheke Island. You can have a hot stone massage and dinner at the lodge that night. (www.delamorelodge.co.nz)
Day Two
After a leisurely exploration of Waiheke Island's vineyards and cafes, we take the catamaran ferry back to Auckland in time for heading back out on the harbour, this time sailing an Americas Cup yacht! You have the rest of the day at leisure, staying at the Westin Hotel on the waterfront.
Day Three
After breakfast you are chauffeur driven 3.5 hours up to the Bay of Islands. Meet a charismatic Maori chief for an introduction to Maori culture – this could be a historical tour of treaty grounds, of Maori war sites, a visit to a Maori community, a soak in geothermal hot pools, or a paddle in a war canoe, whichever you prefer. We stay at the luxurious Eagles Nest (www.eaglesnest.co.nz). Enjoy a meal cooked by your personal chef.
Day Four
A day of sailing in the glorious Bay of Islands. You can also elect to dive, snorkel, even swim with the dolphins, or just sit back and relax.
Day Five
Be picked up from the lodge by your helicopter. Enjoy a scenic flight over Northland’s beaches. Fly to Waitomo and view the world famous glow-worms before flying into exclusive Huka Lodge for lunch before continuing onto Rotorua, flying into volcano Mount Tarawera, over the lakes and geothermal areas, before setting down at Treetops Lodge (www.treetops.co.nz ). This is a long, special helicopter day, covering the major points of the upper half of the North Island. An amazing day.
Day Six
Spend the morning on mysterious Lake Tarawera on a luxury boat, together with fishing gear. Catch a trout and your skipper will bury it in the geothermally heated sand at Hot Water Beach in order to cook it for lunch before going on a tour of geothermal Rotorua with your Maori guide.
Day Seven
Another spectacular day: fly by helicopter over the rest of the North Island, Cook Strait and Marlborough Sounds to Pelorus Sound for the start of your volunteer project. You will be recalling a forgotten era at this fabulous property, which is only accessible by boat or helicopter, and is surrounded by Department of Conservation land. Here, your Maori host will regale you with fascinating stories and you can help play a part in restoring native flora and fauna to this area. This forms part of the overall vision of the property to be sustainable and economically viable to encourage more Maori people back to this region. Other initiatives include a manuka honey project, and organic farming.
Day Eight
Volunteering continues.
Day Nine
Volunteering continues.
Day Ten
Volunteering continues.
Day Eleven
Volunteer continues
Day Twelve
Your volunteering finishes, and we say goodbye to our new friends and leave Pelorus Sound by boat. Be chauffeur driven via vineyards for wine tasting to The Convent in Blenheim for your luxury accommodation. Relax. Vineyard meal in the evening. (www.convent.co.nz)
Day Thirteen
Drive to near Arthur's Pass via Kaikoura, where, depending on the time of year, you can experience spectacular whale watching. Staying at Grasmere Lodge, with lake and mountain vistas. (www.grasmere.co.nz)
Day Fourteen
We have an early start and drive over Arthur’s Pass to the West Coast and on to Fox Glacier, arriving in time for an afternoon heli-hike on this impressive glacier, equipped with crampons and pick-axes. Your accommodation tonight is at Westwood Lodge (www.westwoodlodge.co.nz)
Day Fifteen
We take in a wilderness jetboat, flight and hiking tour in the spectacular, pristine Mt Aspiring National Park, known as the ‘Siberia Experience’. From here we drive to Queenstown, and stay at the luxurious Azur Lodge (www.azur.co.nz)
Day Sixteen
Fly by helicopter over to Fiordland, Milford Sound, for some majestic views. Stop on glaciers, on mountain tops, and on the beach far out on the West Coast in the Tasman Sea. Then return to Queenstown to your lodge, and you have the rest of the day at leisure.
Day Seventeen
Today is a free day with optional activities including:
• Hiking
• 4WD offroad tour
• Rafting
• Jetboating
The day finishes with a closing dinner at one of Queenstown's finest restaurants.
Day Eighteen
Fly to Auckland, where your trip ends, although we can arrnage extensions for you to anywhere in New Zealand, Australia, Fiji or elsewhere.
* Note re Comfort Level: 5+/5 Accommodation is in the finest quality luxury lodges and hotels for 12 nights, and simple, rustic accommodation for 5 nights whilst volunteering in the Pelorous Sounds.
Extension Trips
Glacier Country Extension
If you like this trip, you may also be interested in:
Australia - Far North Adventure
Australia - Quintessential Qld in Style
New Zealand - Southern Encounter
