Southern Encounter
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Trip Highlights
- Environmental conservation volunteering in the Catlins
- Albatross viewing
- Doubtful Sound overnight cruise
- Penguin and sea lion viewing
- Queenstown and its adrenalin activities
- Lake Wanaka
- Fly/hike/jet boat experience
Your ''Taste of Volunteering'' Project
Environmental conservation
You will work on local conservation projects restoring and enhancing natural habitats. This involves weeding, planting and pest control. This work will include some specific work on penguin and yellowhead or mohua bird habitats. Work may also involve track upgrading, and restoration of historic sites. You will have all equipment supplied and instruction will be given to ensure safe, efficient use of energy and equipment. You will have some free time each day to enjoy the local environment, kayaking in the estuary, walking in the forest or coast, visiting the Lost Gypsy Gallery, reading from the extensive library, trying flax weaving ....
Trip Summary
Starting from Dunedin, you visit both the albatross colony and the Yellow eyed penguin colony as well as explore the spectacular coastal scenery. You also go by boat out to sea to view the mighty Northern Royal Albatross as it sweeps in from the open Pacific Ocean. We then travel to the Catlins, learning about its geology, early Maori history, birds and forest and coastal walk. In the evening you will view a slide show on yellow eyed penguin conservation. You then have a dawn visit to a local yellow eyed penguin colony and an excursion to see New Zealand sea lions.
Your three days of conservation work begins next - you will work on local conservation projects restoring and enhancing natural habitats, this involves weeding, planting and pest control. The next stop will be an overnight boat trip on spectacular Doubtful Sound, before visiting Queenstown, the Crown Range and the scenic Haast Pass/Tioripatea Highway to Makarora. From Makarora, after an unforgettable scenic flight you will touch down on the valley floor for a 2.5 hour walk in the Siberia Valley to the Wilkin Valley before being transported back to Makarora on an exhilarating jet boat ride. You return to Queenstown late in the day, where your adventure ends.
You will begin in the southerly city of Dunedin, full of Scottish heritage, and you will have a welcome dinner to acquaint yourself with the rest of your group.
The next day we visit both the albatross colony and the Yellow eyed penguin colony as well as explore the spectacular coastal scenery with the opportunity for local coastal walks. We also go by boat out to sea to view the mighty Northern Royal Albatross as it sweeps in from the open Pacific Ocean.
On Day 3 you will be collected from your Dunedin hotel and transported to Papatowai in the heart of the Catlins with information along the way (a two hour drive). The afternoon is a local exploration of Papatowai including its geology, early Maori history, birds and forest and coastal walk. In the evening you will view a slide show on yellow eyed penguin conservation.
We then have a dawn visit to a local yellow eyed penguin colony and an excursion to see New Zealand sea lions. In the afternoon we visit a forest, a historic site or waterfall depending on the tide and weather.
Your four days of conservation work begins next, after which we drive to Te Anou via Invercargill.
The following day you will have a short cruise across beautiful Lake Manapouri and a coach trip over Wilmot Pass before boarding the Fiordland Navigator at Deep Cove, Doubtful Sound. There is plenty of time on your overnight cruise to enjoy the stunning views and to discover the hidden arms of Doubtful Sound. Fur seals and bottlenose dolphins are often seen and at times, rare penguins can be observed. There is also time for you to kayak around the shoreline or go exploring in the tender craft with our nature guide.
Queenstown is our next destination, and you will have a free day to experience some of the many activities on offer: rafting, jet boating, bungee jump, helicopter ride, hiking, and more!
The following day, you will be collected from your accommodation by your shuttle and transported over the Crown Range and along the scenic Haast Pass/Tioripatea Highway to Makarora. For the more adventurous a 5 hour return tramp up the Mt Shrimpton track gives good views of the Southern Alps.
On Day 14 you will depart from Makarora for your 4 hour wilderness experience in the remote Siberia Valley in Mt Aspiring National Park. After an unforgettable scenic flight you will touch down on the valley floor for a 2.5 hour walk in the Siberia Valley to the Wilkin Valley before being transported back to Makarora on an exhilarating jet boat ride.
We return to Queenstown late in the day, where your adventure ends.
NB: If you select the 'Glacier Extension', on Day 14 you will stay an additional night in Makarora before going on to the glaciers.
Extension Trips
Glacier Country Extension
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