Detailed Itinerary
(Breakfast - B, Lunch - L, Dinner - D)
Day 1
Depart North America
Our journey to New Zealand will start today as we leave North America and fly directly to Auckland, New Zealand.
Day 2
Cross International Date Line
As we fly across the Pacific Ocean, we will cross over the International Dateline and lose a full day. We will regain this lost day when we again cross the International Date Line on our return to North America.
Day 3
Arrival in Auckland / Flight to Nelson
On arrival in Auckland we will connect with a short flight to Nelson. Geoff Henderson, Quest’s New Zealand leader, will be meeting the group flight in Nelson and will assist us with the transfer and check-in at the hotel. An orientation meeting is planned for the late afternoon, prior to dinner.
o/n Kingsgate Hotel, Nelson (D)
Day 4
Mount Arthur / Nelson Lakes
The limestone massif of Mount Arthur, in north-west Nelson, is the premiere limestone area of New Zealand and features some of the best examples of karst formations in the Southern Hemisphere - sink holes, pot holes and caving systems. We will enjoy relaxing or, for the energetic, more taxing walks into the Mount Arthur region and surrounding tablelands, looking at a number of alpine species unique to the area, amongst them the Wild Spaniards or speargrass, Aciphylla, and Haastia, the vegetable sheep.
o/n Alpine Lodge, St. Arnaud (B, L, D)
Day 5
Nelson Lakes National Park
In the northern part of the Southern Alps, Nelson Lakes National Park will furnish walks in honey-dewed beech forest at the edges of the glacial lakes. The honey-dew is produced by a small insect that makes its home in the bark of the trees, emitting the honey-dew from the bark in a long, thin tube. The tubes are prolific on the beech trees and provide food for many other insects and birds. The lower altitudes of the national park are dominated by these beech forests, whilst podocarp forests, intermingled with the beech, are found in the wetter areas. The dominant species are Matai, Rimu, Miro and Kahikatea. In the beech forests, Red and Silver Beech are found lower down, changing to Silver and Mountain Beech as you approach the tree-line. The tree-line seems to follow an almost straight line and for the energetic, a track leads beyond it into sub-alpine tussocklands, for marvellous vistas and alpine flowers. Immediately above the tree-line patches of Snow Totara (Podocarpus nivalis), Mountain Flax, Celery Pine and Grass Trees (Dracophyllum) can be found. The rest of the vegetation is dominated by Snow Tussock (Chionochloa) interspersed with other alpine plants including Aciphylla, Ourisia, Senecio, gentians, daisies (Celmisia) and buttercups (Ranunculus). At the higher altitudes vegetation becomes sparse, although some species of Vegetable Sheep occur, together with hebes and South Island Edelweiss.
o/n Alpine Lodge, St. Arnaud (B, L, D)
Day 6
Black Birch Range / Kaikoura
Next, travelling east once more, we will be captivated by the stunning views from the Black Birch Range, while at our feet lie an array of scree and rocky outcrop species, herbfield daisies and cushion plants. The tightly cushioned Raoulia, often growing up to two metres wide, cling to bluffs, and scree buttercups and penwipers (Notothlaspi) dot the shingle slopes. If the plants don’t take your breath away, the panoramic views are sure to. In mid-afternoon, we’ll return to sea level and continue on to Kaikoura.
o/n White Morph Motor Inn, Kaikoura (B, L, D)
Day 7
Lake Tennyson
Gentians abound en-route to Lake Tennyson, in the upper Clarence Valley. Just above the valley floor, the fine shingle supports an excellent variety of scree flora, including scree harebells, lobelias, forget-me-nots, and penwipers. Further on, at Island Pass, we will be able to examine more scree and rocky outcrop endemic flora. In the late afternoon, we’ll arrive at our hotel in Hanmer.
o/n Heritage Hotel, Hanmer Springs (B, L, D)
Day 8
Mount Hutt
Mount Hutt rises to the west of the Canterbury Plains, above the braided upper reaches of the Rakaia River, and 80 kilometres west of Christchurch. Its summit is 2190 metres above sea level.
Over 130 species of alpine plants, endemic to New Zealand, can be found only on Mount Hutt. One such species is the unique woolly Vegetable Sheep (Raoulia eximia), which forms huge grey mounds that look somewhat like sheep lying down, from a distance. There’s also Ranunculus haastii, a beautiful species of buttercup with blue-gray leaves and luminous yellow flowers, and ten species of mountain daisies, Celmisias, which form huge cushions of flowers.
We’ll drive to Mount Hutt in the morning and then after exploring the slopes thoroughly, we’ll make our way to our hotel in Methven.
o/n Brinkley Resort, Methven (B, L, D)
Day 9
Arthur’s Pass National Park
We’ll spend the best part of the day at Arthur's Pass National Park and discover how it provides easy access to a good sample of the rich New Zealand alpine flora (New Zealand has more species of alpine plants than forest plants, although over 75 % of the land was forested prior to human arrival, and most of them are endemic).
The lower part of this zone is dominated by species of tussock (Chionochloa), especially snowgrass (the common name for the taller varieties, including C. rubra, C. pallens, C. flavescens). In between the tussock, there are a variety of smaller plants. Among the best known and most conspicuous flowers are the daisies (Celmisia), buttercups (Ranunculus), gentians and spaniards (Aciphylla).
We’ll return to Methven in the late afternoon.
o/n Brinkley Resort, Methven (B, L, D)
Day 10
Ohau Range
Today we’ll be crossing the Canterbury Plains to the arid McKenzie Basin. There will be time for those of us who wish to take an optional flight over Mount Cook National Park, to fly over the highest peaks and glaciers of the Southern Alps. (Quest participants who have taken this flight consider it to be the best scenic flight they had ever had). We will then make our way to Lake Ohau, our base for the next two nights.
o/n Lake Ohau Lodge, Lake Ohau (B, L, D)
Day 11
Mount Cook National Park
Today will be a leisurely day and a first-rate opportunity to savour the grandeur and unparalleled beauty of one of the most beautiful regions in the world. After breakfast, we’ll drive along the road beside the deep turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook National Park where we will spend the day.
Driving alongside one of the basin’s glacial lakes, Pukaki, we will soon arrive in the Hooker Valley, at the foot of the mighty Mount Cook. Its visual impact is better described by its Maori name “Aoraki” or “cloud piercer”. A walk into this valley will enable us to study different stages of succession along the glacial moraines, and be charmed by Giant Buttercups (Ranunculus lyallii) and daisies (Celmisia). South Island Edelweiss and Snow Gentians are also found in the area, but we will be sure to stay at a distance from the tips of the Golden Spaniards (carrot family)! A more demanding walking option heads up towards Sealy Tarns, through herbs, tussock and outcrop species.
o/n Lake Ohau Lodge, Lake Ohau (B, L, D)
Day 12
Old Man Range
Leaving the MacKenzie Basin via the Lindis Pass, we will drive through the tussock landscapes of central Otago. This area is a schist plateau, now appearing as a series of block mountain ranges. Lodged amidst the silvery schist vegetation of the Old Man Range, are many species of cushion plants and snowbank vegetation unique to this type of extreme climate. Plants include miniature shrubs, miniature cushion plants with a large variety of alpine plants flowering from late spring right through to the last weeks of autumn.
Overlooking Lake Wanaka, we’ll see and photograph the Cabbage Tree (Cordyline), endemic and almost immune to fire, a trait shared by many New Zealand species. We’ll also see the Wild Spaniard (Aciphylla) and the Wild Irishman (Discaria), both with adaptations to protect themselves from herbivores. Many of the endemic perennial plants possess spikes, spines, hooks, and prickles for protection.
o/n Aspiring Hotel, Wanaka (B, L, D)
Days 13
Wanaka
Today we will have a leisure day and time to relax on our own in Wanaka. We will be fully briefed by the Quest leaders about the wide selection of quality tourist attractions and activities that are available.
o/n Aspiring Hotel, Wanaka (B)
Days 14
Fiordland
To the west of Queenstown lies the Fiordland World Heritage Area. At times stunning, at others awesome and, in places, even tranquil this area encompasses New Zealand’s largest national park. Valleys gouged by glaciers and lakes nestled between range-upon-range of snow-capped mountains characterize the landscape.
The park is heavily forested, predominantly with beech. Above the tree-line the vegetation is mainly Snow Tussock grasslands, interspersed with many other species of alpine plants. Thirty five are endemic to Fiordland, including species of buttercups (Ranunculus), daisies (Celmisia), tree and bush daisies (Olearia) and tussock (Chionochloa). In walks amidst the southern Red Beech forests lining glacial lakes, we may glimpse the rare Mohua and native parrots who feed high in the canopy. We will spend the next two nights by Lake Te Anau.
o/n Luxmore Hotel, Te Anau (B, L, D)
Days 15
Gertrude Valley
This morning we will drive towards the upper Hollyford Valley, gaining a stunning perspective on this rugged landscape gouged by glaciers. We will venture into the silver-grey of the Gertrude Cirque which arguably contains the finest accessible alpine communities in the country and spend the day discovering, at a leisurely pace, this botanical treasure trove. Here, the most significant plants are the Aciphyllas, Anistomes, and Ranunculi of the boulderfields and rock slabs, along with wetland Ourisias and Dracophyllums.
o/n Luxmore Hotel, Te Anau (B, L, D)
Days 16
Taiaroa Head / Dunedin
Today we will reluctantly make our way back to civilization to the city of Dunedin, a very beautiful city rich in Victorian architecture.
This afternoon we embark on an unforgettable cruise from Otago Harbour to Taiaroa Head, home to a small colony of the giant Northern Royal Albatross. Although we will not be able to see the majestic Northern Royal Albatross close-up on their nests, we do expect to see them as they are returning to their colony. These huge birds ride the wind effortlessly on stiffly held wings. Stewart Island Shags and Spotted Shags will also be here in full breeding plumage, New Zealand Fur Seals bask on the rocks below the colony, and perhaps we’ll see an endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin in the water. We will have our farewell dinner in Dunedin.
o/n Southern Cross Hotel, Dunedin (B, L, D)
Day 17
Departure Day
Our day will be at leisure in this exceptionally interesting university town, with its rich heritage, before transferring to Dunedin Airport and our flight to Auckland. This will connect with our international group flight to North America. Since we will be crossing the International Date Line on our return to North America, we’ll regain the day we lost at the beginning of the trip.
(B)
Note: We have requested the hotels listed in the itinerary from our overseas operator. Although we will try our utmost to confirm the hotels as listed, please be advised that they are subject to change, in which case hotels of similar quality will be substituted.
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New Zealand, with its strong Commonwealth traditions, overwhelmingly friendly people, a blend of Maori and European cultures and a spectacular natural heritage, has always had a strong allure for Canadians. We have explored New Zealand extensively in recent years and have been thrilled to see its special features first-hand, including active volcanoes, magnificent alpine areas, and a particularly interesting native flora and fauna.