Itinerary

Day 1: Travel & program briefing
Depart from Los Angeles with your
fellow travelers and fly to Auckland,
New Zealand. Start your day with
program orientation, and then
freshen up with a swim in the Pacific
Ocean, before continuing to
Waitomo, where we stay in a
traditional Maori village.
Day 2-3: Rappelling & caving
Begin by rappelling into a dramatic
limestone gorge, followed by black
water rafting, an underground
journey amidst waterfalls and
caverns. Popular options in Waitomo
are horse riding and spelunking the
Haggis Honking Holes.
Day 4: Rafting & cultural
performance
Heading east we plunge into
whitewater rafting fun on the
Kaituna River and enjoy a traditional
Maori concert and Hangi (earth
cooked meal). Soak in natural hot
springs at night.
Day 5-6: Taupo & Tongariro
On the shore of beautiful Lake
Taupo and the surrounding
geothermal area are great places for
some free time. Spend the night
camping at the foothills of this
amazing volcanic plateau, and spend
the day hiking through diverse
volcanic topography, all in the
shadow of Mt. Doom (Mt.
Ngauruhoe) from ‘Lord of the
Rings.’
Day 7: Riverside camping &
kayaking
Heading south, we’ll spend 2 nights
camping riverside beneath the starry
southern skies. Wake early for an
intro to white water kayaking on the
Rangitikei River.
Day 8-10: Wellington
Head south to New Zealand’s capital
city, Wellington, offering a
spectacular harbor backdrop. Explore
Te Papa National Museum, vibrant
nightlife and excellent cafes. Here
students will meet their instructors
and resume classes.
Day 11-13: Nelson
Our ferry crossing, through the
twisting arms of the Marlborough
sounds, is a stunning introduction to
the South Island and the fun-loving
summertime city of Nelson. Try an
exciting morning with 60 seconds of
freefall, tandem skydiving—a
popular option.
Day 14-15: Sea kayaking & hiking
Sea kayaking is a great way to
experience Abel Tasman National
Park. We spend our time hiking,
camping and swimming in this
beautiful beach wilderness.
Day 16-17: Swim with dolphins
Onward to Kaikoura, a small coastal
community world famous for its
abundant marine life. Kick start the
day on a sunrise swim with wild
dolphins.
Day 18-20: Christchurch
Travel down the coast past fur seals
basking in the sun to everyone’s
favorite city Christchurch. We rock
climb on the dramatic Port Hills. A
chance to meet with our instructors
once more.
Day 21-22: Whitewater Kayaking
A short drive south to camp at Peel
Forest in the foothills of the Southern
Alps. Spend the day whitewater
kayaking on the glacial-fed river of
the Rangitata.
Day 23-25: Mountain
hiking/Backpacking
Mt. Cook National Park is home to
many of the highest mountains in
Australasia. Snow-clad peaks,
glaciers, and wide open river valleys
depict this environment. Options
include day and overnight hikes in
steep mountain terrain or lazing
about.
Day 26-29: NZ’s adventure capital
Queenstown, the birthplace of
commercial bungee jumping, is set
amidst a stunning alpine lakeside
environment. This is a town with so
much to do! Adrenaline adventures
abound, including a luge ride high
above the city. More class time with
your instructors.
Day 30-32: Backpacking
A 3-day trek across the Southern
Alps, following the famous
Routeburn Track, through a pristine
wilderness of lakes, rivers,
waterfalls, ancient forest and alpine
vistas. Includes a nature cruise on
Milford Sound in the Fiordland
National Park, one of the world’s
great natural wonders. A chance to
see seals and cascading waterfalls.
Day 33-35: Relax in Wanaka
Time out to soothe aching legs in
Wanaka, a welcoming lakeside town.
Time to catch up on coursework or
go to the local cinema.
Day 36-37: Franz Josef
A welcome stop-over on our way
back to Christchurch. This lovely
town set in the cool temperate
rainforest of the west coast, this town
offers special scenic value.
Day 38-39: Christchurch
A chance for last souvenir shopping,
repack and prepare for our flight to
Sydney.
Day 40: Australia Bound!
Our three hour flight from
Christchurch takes us to Australia’s
scenic gateway Sydney.
Day 41-42: Blue Mountains
Jump on board our buses and head to
Blackheath in the heart of the Blue
Mountains. This ancient sandstone
plateau forms our playground for a
couple of days. Canyoning,
climbing, and hiking form the basis
of our activities here. A few rustic
nights’ stay in a scout den provides
our accommodation.
Day 43-46: Cascades
A journey then takes us inland
through areas such as the
Warrumbungle Mountains and New
England ranges to our 3-day stay in
Cascade Field Study center.
Activities include whitewater rafting,
environmental education and
sampling Australian ‘bush tucker’, a
wonderful little backcountry
experience.
Day 47-49: Byron Bay
It’s off to Byron Bay, a 3-hour
journey out of the inland mountain
ranges to the scenic sub-tropical
community of Byron Bay. More
class time and a wealth of beach side
outdoor activities, such as scuba
diving at the very foot of the Great
Barrier Reef, learning to surf, and
numerous beach side antics.
Day 50-51: Brisbane
A trip to the famous Australia Zoo,
home to the late Steve Irwin and his
family
Day 52-53: North Coast
A delightful coastal stopover on the
beach enroute to Sydney. Beaches
and Sunshine!
Day 54: Drive to Sydney
Sample more of this beautiful
coastline as we head south.
Day 55-57: Sydney
A spectacular way to end this trip in
the beautiful city of Sydney.
Activities including Harley rides,
surfing, beaches, volleyball, and city
sites and time to plan for extensions