Photo: Gene Goldberg New Zealand: Mountains, Forests, and Beaches Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 09545A Price: Deposit: $200 Capacity: 15 Leader: Gene Goldberg
The Trip  Photo: Gene Goldberg Kiwis, as New Zealanders call themselves, offer visitors a friendly reception. Kiwis are also passionate conservationists; more than one-third of the country is protected in national parks and conservation reserves managed by the government. Marine mammals in the seas surrounding New Zealand are fully protected. Accompanied by knowledgeable naturalist guides, we will dayhike in national parks, forested valleys, the golden-sand beaches of the Tasman Sea, and the 1,000-year-old kahikatea (white pine) rainforest. We will have the opportunity to walk on a glacier and hike portions of New Zealand's famous track system. You may also choose to take an easy kayak trip in a tranquil lagoon in search of unique wildlife. We will spend two evenings at a lovely lodge near the Tasman Sea, and take an evening nature cruise and overnight aboard a ship in remote Doubtful Sound.
 Photo: Gene Goldberg Day 1:We will meet at noon on day one at the Nelson airport, then board an air-conditioned minibus with our local guide. Our drive takes us through horticultural lands to a lodge at the edge of Abel Tasman National Park. At the lodge you may relax or hike the nearby trails before our welcome dinner. Day 2: We'll hike the trails in Abel Tasman National Park. We will have a choice of hikes, taking us along granite-edged coastline and peaceful lagoons fringed by soft-sand beaches. Weather permitting, we will enjoy a guided sea kayak trip suitable for beginners and experienced kayakers alike. If you choose not to kayak, you may explore the beach or hike some more. As we hike and kayak we should see many birds, including the native kereru. Day 3: After breakfast we'll depart for Paparoa National Park, approximately six hours away. With the Arthur Range as a backdrop, we will drive south through farmlands to Murchison and down Buller Gorge to Westport's coast. Here we have the chance to view a nearby fur seal colony. Coastal flora includes nikau palms. We will stop for the night at Punakaiki, famed for its geological formations, limestone "pancake" rocks, and blowholes. We will walk the Pancake Rocks Coastal Trail and may have time for another short walk, in scenic Paparoa National Park. Day 4: Following breakfast we'll hike through native forest in Paparoa National Park. Our route includes a section of the Inland Pack Track. Here, we'll enjoy river valleys, narrow gorges and caves, and a swinging bridge. Bird life is profuse and includes the bellbird, fantail, grey warbler, rifleman, and tui. In the afternoon we will drive south down the coast through Greymouth, making a stop at Hokitika, home of New Zealand greenstone jade. We'll continue to Franz Josef Glacier, in Westland National Park, where we'll stay for two nights. Day 5: We'll explore the Okarito Lagoon, which lies just south of Waitangi Roto Nature Reserve, a 1,000-year-old kahikatea rainforest. At Okarito Lagoon we will enjoy easy kayaking and search for birdlife such as royal spoonbills, wood pigeons, and rare white herons. If you do not want to kayak, there are several different scenic hiking trails. In the afternoon we'll explore Franz Josef Glacier, taking a guided hike into its blue ice caves, crevasses, and pinnacles. We'll overnight in the town of Franz Joseph. Day 6: Early in the morning we'll stop to view Fox Glacier, as reflected in the waters of Lake Matheson. We'll continue south through Westland National Park to Haast Pass, where we'll stop at the Department of Conservation Visitor Center, then continue through the mountains and rivers of Mt. Aspiring National Park where we'll have many hiking options. We will pass Makorara and drive alongside Lake Wanaka to our accommodations in Wanaka, where we will stay for two evenings.  Photo: Gene Goldberg Day 7: We'll explore Mt. Aspiring National Park, the second largest national park in the country, renowned for its rugged, mountainous beauty and unspoiled wilderness. Following the Matukituki River, we will hike through native mountain-beech forests to a waterfall-crowned valley at the base of Rob Roy Glacier. There are many birds here, and flowers such as ranunculus and New Zealand edelweiss. We'll overnight at Wanaka. Day 8: We'll head up the Cardrona Valley today, past high-country stations and over the Crown Range. The golden tussock land of the Crown Range leads to the leafy village of Arrowtown, where gold mining history comes alive beside the Arrow River. Later we'll drive alongside Lake Wakatipu to Kingston, and through rolling farmlands to Te Anau Township, on the shores of Lake Te Anau.  Photo: Gene Goldberg Day 9: We'll drive along Milford Road, enjoying a panorama of high mountains and deep valleys studded with waterfalls and mirror-like lakes. We'll then hike through diverse mountain-beech forests along the Routeburn Track to Key Summit, covered with tannin-tinged tarns and alpine bogs. Here, in the heart of Fiordland World Heritage Park, the views are spectacular. The summit derives its name from the fact that three river systems -- Hollyford, Greenstone/Clutha, and Eglinton/Waiau -- drain from this point westward, eastward, and southward. Day 10: Today, we'll take a two-to-three-hour hike along the Rainbow Reach Trail through peaceful beech forests beside the rushing Waiau River. In the early afternoon we'll boat across Lake Manapouri to West Arm, driving over Wilmot Pass, a private road, to Deep Cove, Doubtful Sound. Here we'll board the "Fiordland Navigator" for an overnight cruise. A naturalist guide will be on board, and we will have the use of kayaks. Day 11: We'll awake to the silence of Doubtful Sound. The early morning reflections on the sound are a photographer's dream! We will cruise back down the sound to disembark at Deep Cove at 10 a.m., and then return over Wilmot Pass and across the lake to arrive at Manapouri by noon. Our coach will transport us back to Queenstown airport, where our sojourn ends mid-afternoon. (Note: Do not book onward flights from Queenstown any earlier than 4 p.m.) Getting There The trip begins in Nelson, while most international flights arrive in Auckland. Allow for this inter-island flight when booking your travel. Note that you will "lose" a day when traveling west across the International Dateline from the United States to New Zealand. Note also that the trip ends in a different city, Queenstown.Consider booking your inter-island flights (Auckland to Nelson and return from Queenstown) when you book your international itinerary. Generally, there is little or no additional cost when the flights are booked together
We will stay in lodges, local hotels, and one night aboard a ship. Rooms are
double-occupancy; a roommate will be provided for solo travelers. We will travel
in an air-conditioned minibus. All meals are included in the cost of the trip.
Generally, the lodge will provide breakfast. For lunch and dinner we will have
a mix of dining at local cafes and restaurants or picnicking/cooking for ourselves.
While the leaders will do most of any cooking, help is always appreciated. Many
restaurants offer some vegetarian dishes and will attempt to satisfy special
dietary needs. However, there may be occasions when vegetarian or special dietary
meals are not available. You should inform the leader of any dietary restrictions
when completing your application.
This trip is suitable for both the very active and those seeking a more relaxed vacation. It is open to all ages, so long as you are in reasonably good health, get regular exercise, enjoy the wilderness, and enjoy blending hikes with natural, cultural, and historical touring. Sea kayaking is included, but there are attractive alternative activities for those who don't want to kayak. New Zealand weather is unpredictable. It can rain at any time, which makes for slippery trails. Expect temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to the mid-80s. We will be exploring lowland to alpine regions.
Your leader will provide extensive pre-trip information, including maps of the areas we will visit, a comprehensive packing list, and suggested reading materials. Our on-trip handouts will include wildlife identification materials and information on folklore and legends of the Maori.
Books
Maps
Websites
Conservation After Maori and European settlers introduced non-native mammals, many of New Zealand's indigenous species became extinct or threatened. The Australian bushtail possum, introduced in the 1900s, is the most serious threat to the environment. The possum has no natural enemies and can now be found throughout the country. It is causing serious destruction to vegetation, especially fuchsia forests at high altitude. European goats, meanwhile, strip vegetation and cause erosion. In general, New Zealanders favor vigorous protection of endangered and threatened
plants and animals. The Department of Conservation is very active in relocating
endangered species to islands and areas that have been cleared of pests. Rigorous
standards for camping and hiking are in place in all national parks and reserves
in an effort to lessen impacts on the environment and to maintain high water
quality. All coastline is in public ownership.
This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader. See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Gene has been leading Sierra Club trips since 1991. His Sierra Club trips have included backpacking in the Colorado Rockies as well as treks in Nepal, the Swiss Alps, and Italy's Dolomites and Gran Paradiso National Park. His career with the National Park Service gave him a deeper insight into conservation and preservation efforts. Currently retired, he enjoys brewing his own beer and wine.