CHECK OUT
THE CHATHAMS
30 November - 7 December 2024
Check out the Chathams, a natural wonderland of scenery, birdlife, fauna, unique island life, rich Moriori, Maori and European culture and history, plus our own special events.
$6395 per person twin share
Single Room Supplement Add $1380
Initial Deposit On Booking $1000
Second Deposit Due: 4 June 2024 $2000
Final Balance Due: 13 August 2024
Days
7 Nights
Highlights
Amazing scenery, birdlife and fauna, music events including jamming with the locals, conservation reserves, learn how the locals live
Group Size
19
Travellers
Travel of Note
Boutique Tour
Meals
All Meals
Mobility
Gentle Tour
SPECIAL FEATURES
• Explore the Chathams, home to a number of ecological significant conservation reserves with threatened and uncommon plant and birdlife including 18 bird species unique to these islands, and home to 30% of NZ’s threatened bird species.
• We will stay at Hotel Chatham. The majority of the group will be in their 5-star forget-me-not suites, which offer luxury, space and views (only opened 2020).
• 4 great concerts from your hosts for the week: Bonnie, Alex and Grant, including some musical jamming with the locals!
• Explore Chatham Island with amazing scenery, birdlife and fauna: cliffs, views of Pitt and Mangere, beaches, native forests, Scenic Reserves, Basalt Columns and rock formations.
• Discover the rich history and culture of this island with visits including: the commemorative statue of the last known, full-blooded Moriori, visit a local artist, Torotoro monument and the wreck of the Thomas Currell ship, an ex-WW2 minesweeper.
• All meals are included on this trip.
TRIP ITINERARY
Experience the Exceptional:
Here is a summary of great things we will see. The order depends on the weather.
ENIGMATIC EAST
• Owenga, a fishing village, where a working fish factory is located.
• See the commemorative statue of the last known, full-blooded Moriori, Tommy Solomon.
• Visit local artist Eva Cherie Tuck in her Owenga art studio.
• Rangaiki Cliffs with 200-250m sheer drops.
• Kopinga Marae and learn about the history of the first inhabitants of the Chatham Islands.
• See views across Lake Huro to Waitangi and Te Whanga Lagoon.
NATURAL NORTH
• Cape Young - layered basalt and weathered cliffs with views out to the Sisters Islands, spectacular rock formations (Splatter Rock), sandy beaches and the Chatham Island Oyster Catcher.
• Port Hutt in the sheltered, deep-water cove of Whangaroa Harbour.
• The wreck of the Thomas Currell ship, an ex-WW2 minesweeper.
NUGGETY NORTHEAST
• Kaingaroa township located in the Northeast is home to a small fishing fleet.
• Torotoro monument commemorates the first tragic contact between the British on HMS Chatham and Moriori in 1791.
• Hapupu Moriori Dendroglyphs (Tree Carvings) south-east of Kaingaroa.
• Ocean Mail Beach Scenic Reserve, a 830ha Conservation area including 4km of stunning coastline.
• The Muirson family farmhouses the remains of the crashed Sunderland aircraft.
• See the fur seal colony Point Munning.
• In Mission Bay see the remains of a settlement used by German missionaries and American sealers from the late 1700s.
WILD WEST
• Extensive farms with remarkable volcanic cones a feature of the landscape.
• Stunning white beaches are home to the local Chatham Island Oyster Catchers.
• Stone Cottage built with mortar of burnt pipi shells and the backdrop of a striking rock face.
• Close by is a magnificent beach with shell banks backed by high sand dunes.
• Basalt Columns in Ohira Bay and massive olivine basalt columns.
SULTRY SOUTH
• Running southwest of Waitangi, Tuku Road provides views of rich farmlands and shoal coastal waters.
• The stunning Awatotara Reserve lies in the valley where the Parea (Chatham Island Wood Pigeon) as well as other bird life can be seen.
BEAUTIFUL BITS IN BETWEEN
• Blind Jim’s to look for ancient fossilised shark’s teeth and wading birds.
• Nikau Bush, a 19ha reserve with Nikau palms, the only palm native to the Chatham Islands.
• Admiral Garden: Stunning sheltered gardens with water and sculpture features established for birds, bees and butterflies.
• An evening BBQ is normally hosted here after your garden tour.
• Henga Scenic Reserve and Nursery: Walking tracks pass through regenerating coastal forest to sand dune vegetation and spectacular limestone formations.
• Chatham Island Museum: See all manner of historical and interesting artefacts.
• Rock Carvings (Nunuku’s Cave) with remarkable Moriori dendroglyphs on limestone walls.
This Trip Includes:
• Return economy airfares Auckland - Chatham Islands including taxes on Air Chathams.
• 7 nights’ accommodation at Hotel Chatham with all tours and meals included: The majority of the group will stay in the forget-me-not suites, five-star suites which offer luxury, space and views (only opened 2020).
• 4 great concerts from your hosts for the week: Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua, Kelly Lim Harris and Paul Carnegie-Jones including some musical jamming with the locals!
• Limited to 19 travellers, this tour is part of our Travel of Note boutique tours.
• Explore Chatham Island with amazing scenery, birdlife and fauna: Rangaiki Cliffs with 200-250m sheer drops and witness amazing views to Pitt and Mangere, the regenerated native forest of Kopi trees, Ocean Mail Beach Scenic Reserve, a 830ha Conservation area, fur seal colony at Port Munning, stunning white beaches, Basalt Columns in Ohira Bay to see the massive olivine basalt columns, part of lava flows that date nearly 80 million years old, Cape Young with layered basalt and weathered cliffs, spectacular rock formations (Splatter Rock), the Chatham Island Oyster Catcher and the stunning Awatotara Reserve where the Parea (Chatham Island Wood Pigeon) as well as other bird life can be seen.
• Learn about how the locals live including Owenga, a fishing village, Kaingaroa township, see extensive farms with remarkable volcanic cones a feature of the landscape, the Stone Cottage, visit Waitangi, the Dix family farmland, Port Hutt, the deep water cove of Whangaroa Harbour.
• Discover the rich history and culture of this island with visits including: the commemorative statue of the last known, full-blooded Moriori, visit a local artist, Torotoro monument and the wreck of the Thomas Currell ship, an ex-WW2 minesweeper.
• Other experiences include Blind Jim’s to look for ancient, fossilised shark’s teeth on the lagoon shore, Nikau Bush, a 19ha reserve, Admiral Garden, sheltered gardens with water and sculpture, Henga Scenic Reserve and Nursery, Chatham Island Museum with historical and interesting artefacts, Rock Carvings (Nunuku’s Cave) and remarkable Moriori dendroglyphs on limestone walls depicting stylised seals and other wildlife.
• All meals are included on this tour plus all tours, concerts, transfers on the Chatham Islands as listed in your itinerary.
Important Information
• All itinerary details are subject to change, but changes will be replaced with a comparable or better option.
• Initial & Second deposits are fully refundable up until final balance due date, minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs.
• All monies are non-refundable at final balance due date. This becomes an insurance claim.
• Bank transfer payments incur no surcharge. Credit card payments incur surcharge of 1.5%.
• Travellers need to be independently mobile and fit to travel.
• Bookings will only be accepted with initial deposit & booking form.
• All travellers must obtain comprehensive travel insurance for international travel and insurance for domestic travel is recommended.
• Please refer to our terms and conditions on booking form.
Mobility - Gentle Tour
This tour will suit people with a stick, but not a walker or in a wheelchair. You will be required to walk to get from place to place and stand in museums and gardens, but it is designed to be an easy tour with lots of time to rest, travel on a coach and walk easy leisurely distances. You will need to be able to get on and off a bus with ease.