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Oceania – New Zealand
New Zealand: The Last Great Paradise
Aboard the Clipper Odyssey
Overview
Dates Jan 12 — Jan 27, 2009
DEPARTURE DATES FOR SIMILAR TRIPS:Nov 09 — Nov 21, 2008 Jan 24 — Feb 08, 2009
Activity Level Moderately active
*SEE PROGRAM RATES FOR SPECIAL FREE AIRFARE OFFER!*
Join us on a cruise of spectacular New Zealand aboard the intimate Clipper Odyssey from lively Queenstown and world-famous Milford Sound on the South Island to the Bay of Islands and the port of Auckland on the North Island. New Zealand's lush green islands are a world unto themselves, offering refuge to some of the planet's rarest species. On this special expedition, observe rare yellow-eyed penguins, bubbling mud pots of geothermal activity, the glacial beauty of Fiordland, and learn about the historical, cultural, and natural wonders of this breathtaking natural paradise.
To download a full brochure for this program, click the PDF button at the top right side of this page.
Map
Itinerary
- Days 1 and 2 — U.S. / Queenstown, New Zealand
- Day 3 — Queenstown
- Day 4 — Queenstown / Milford Sound / Embark
- Day 5 — Doubtful and Dusky Sounds
- Day 6 — Stewart Island (Raikura)
- Day 7 — Dunedin
- Day 8 — Lyttelton (Christchurch)
- Day 9 — Marlborough Sounds
- Day 10 — Wellington
- Day 11— At Sea
- Day 12 — Tauranga (Rotorua)
- Day 13— Bay of Islands / Waitangi
- Day 13 — Auckland / Disembark / U.S.
Highlights
- See wide-open, scenic vistas of fiords, lakes, and mountains in Fiordland National Park.
- Enjoy the eerie spectacle of the thermal wonderland at Rotorua, where geysers spout and mud pots bubble.
- Meet tribal elders at the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, and participate in a powhiri ceremony.
- Visit a unique colony of royal albatross on the Otago Peninsula, and get a close-up look at the rare yellow-eyed penguin.
- Anchor at Ship Cove, where Captain Cook arrived aboard the Endeavor in 1770.
Post-Tour Extension
Optional Extension to Sydney, Australia
January 27-30, 2009
Extend your journey with three nights at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel overlooking the Sydney Harbor. Activities include a tour of the Botanical Gardens, an introduction to aboriginal art during an exclusive tour of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and a private tour of the renowned Sydney Opera House. Prices and additional details will be provided to confirmed participants.
Program Leaders
Ronald G. Prinn
Ronald G. Prinn, a native of New Zealand, is the TEPCO Professor of Atmospheric Sciences in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at MIT and Director of the MIT Center for Global Change Science. Professor Prinn received bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Auckland and an Sc.D. in chemistry from MIT. During our trip, Professor Prinn will discuss the science, economics, and politics of global warming, their implications for world energy supplies, and the effects of global warming on New Zealand.
Michael Deaker
Michael Deaker is a consultant to the Ministry of Education, New Zealand, and to education institutions and organizations, as well as a current affairs commentator for Radio New Zealand. As a native New Zealander with broad educational and cultural interests, Michael will share his insights on a broad range of topics, from an overview of southern New Zealand and the Scottish heritage of Dunedin to race relations with the Maori and other native peoples to New Zealand's governmental and educational systems.
Fraser Harbutt
Fraser Harbutt is a fourth-generation New Zealander, a historian, author, and professor of history at Emory University. He is the author of The Iron Curtain: Churchill, America and the Origins of the Cold War (Oxford University Press, 1986), which received the Society for Historians of America Foreign Relations Bernath Prize, and The Cold War Era (Blackwell, 2002). Professor Harbutt's lecture topics will explore New Zealand's role as both British Dominion and U.S. ally; the character, culture, and arts of New Zealand; and New Zealand as an egalitarian democracy/welfare state.
Sponsors
Commonwealth Club
Emory University
MIT
Accommodations
Cruise Ship
The Clipper Odyssey
The 128-passenger Clipper Odyssey is ideally suited for exploring New Zealand. Its small size allows access to remote islands and stretches of coast otherwise inaccessible by land or a larger cruise ship, and its informal style accommodates the casual atmosphere and dress suitable for adventure cruising. All cabins are outside, with a separate seating area, abundant storage space, twin or queen beds, bathrooms with hair dryers and shower/bathtub combinations, individual temperature controls, TVs, and mini-refrigerators. Public areas include two lounges, a bar, and a dining room where all guests are accommodated at a single, unassigned seating. Among the ship’s amenities are a 70-meter jogging track on the Sun Deck, shaded areas on the Lido Deck for comfortable observation of scenery, a pool, gym, library/game room, boutique, hairdresser, and clinic with full-time physician. The ship is fitted with the latest in telecommunications, navigation, and stabilization systems for smooth sailing. A fleet of motorized Zodiacs allows guests to enjoy close-up looks at wildlife and make beach landings for shore walks.
Program Rates
Airfare
International and U.S. domestic airfare is not included in the program rates. Please call for assistance with your air travel arrangements.
Program Rates
SPECIAL OFFER: FREE AIRFARE OR $1,000 TRIP CREDIT! SINGLE SUPPLEMENT WAIVED!
Join this departure to New Zealand, and receive free round-trip economy-class airfare on Air New Zealand between San Francisco and New Zealand! Must book by November 1, 2008. Certain restrictions apply. Call for details. From $8,790 per person, double occupancy, with free air, or $7,790 with trip credit. Call now to take advantage of these savings: (800) 395-3288.