• 23 March 11 to 30 March 11

8 Days / 7 Nights

If you love nature, history, learning, walking, relaxing, few places in New Zealand have as interesting a history - both natural and human - as Akaroa. There is so much to see in its fauna and flora, its geology, its Maori and European history - eight days will certainly not be long enough. But it will be a start! We have a great venue for our accommodation and have developed a program which you will all enjoy. All we need is good weather - but even that is not essential for enjoying Akaroa.

The program is based on day trips in a comfortable 4WD coach. Activities include historic town walks, a harbour cruise on the beautifully restored ketch, the Fox II spotting Hectors Dolphins, a whole day at Hinewai Reserve (Banks Peninsula's "National Park"), museum visits in Akaroa and Okains Bay, and two days exploring the outer bays of the peninsula.

Itinerary at a Glance
Program commences in Christchurch, NZ, Day 1 - Kaituna Valley, Birdlings Flat, Little River, Day 2 - Onawe Peninsula, Akaroa, Day 3 - Akaroa, Onuku, Akaroa Heads, Day 4 - Hinewai Reserve, Day 5 - Okains Bay, Little Akaloa, Day 6 - Akaroa Harbour, Day 7 - Barry's Bay, Wainui, French Farm, Day 8 - Lakes Forsyth / Wairewa, Ellesmere / Te Waihora. Program concludes in Christchurch.

Program Includes

• 7 nights accommodation share twin rooms with private facilities.
• Breakfasts, lunches and dinners daily.
• Transport as per the standard itinerary.
• Services of a study leader/local guide.
• Entry fees, permits

Program Excludes

• Return economy/international class domestic airfares to and from Christchurch.
• Departure taxes applicable to the standard itinerary.
• Optional activities.
• Comprehensive Travel Insurance.
• Costs of a personal nature.

Accommodation

We stay in the small settlement of French Farm on the western side of Akaroa Harbour in the historic Bantry Lodge. Built in the 1880's, it is in a beautiful garden setting overlooking the harbour.

Rooms: Lodge - double with shared bathroom; double and twin with shared bathroom.
Cottage - double and single - shared bathroom.

Program Leaders
Warren Jowett
Warren, together with his wife Marita run an ecotourism venture in the Canterbury high country. Warren studied botany and geography at the University of Otago and has a M.Sc (hons) degree in biogeography. He has a lifetime of interest in conservation and was the founding president of the New Zealand Association of Environmental Education. Warren worked for many years as a teacher of science and biology and for nine years was a secondary school principal. He has written educational books on ecology and mountain beech forest. He is a skilled natural history photographer and is a licentiate of the Photographic Society of New Zealand.

Dolina Barker
Dolina will be the hostess for the week. She lives at French Farm on Akaroa Harbour where she runs a boutique Bed & Breakfast business from her historic home, Bantry Lodge. She has a passion for food and enjoys sharing this with others.

Dolina has an extensive knowledge of the Peninsula and is well known in gardening circles. She is an active member and former president of the New Zealand Alpine Garden Society.

Program Summary: Akaroa Idyll