ROMAN DIAL

Roman Dial earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1992 and now teaches ecology, mathematics, and outdoor skills at Alaska Pacific University. An accomplished adventurer, Roman led his team to finish fourth in the New Zealand Eco-Challenge, considered one of the most difficult adventure races. Roman’s 800-mile bike traverse of the Alaska Range was featured in the May 1997 issue of National Geographic magazine. Roman will share tales of his adventures in New Zealand and around the globe.

Roman will accompany the October 2005 departure.

MALCOLM CAMPBELL

Malcolm Campbell is a native New Zealander and a professional naturalist and birder who worked for 20 years on conservation and environmental issues in his country’s national parks, forests, and coastal marine environments. Malcolm has led National Geographic Expeditions for the past three years and will share his in-depth knowledge of his country’s people, political history, flora and fauna, and indigenous Maori culture. Malcolm possesses an intimate and encyclopedic knowledge of New Zealand that he imparts with warmth and zest.

Day 1, 2, and 3 Los Angeles/Christchurch, New Zealand/Lake Tekapo
Depart for Christchurch and lose a day crossing the International Date Line. Arrive in Christchurch on Day 3 and head to the Rydges Christchurch Hotel for a morning tea and orientation. Take a guided walking tour of the city before lunch in the thriving Arts Center. Travel south through farmlands toward the majestic Southern Alps and the turquoise blue glacial Lake Tekapo. Later, gather for a welcome dinner.
Lake Tekapo Scenic Resort (L,D)

Day 4 Mount Cook National Park/Queenstown
Today, head into Mount Cook National Park, hike along the alpine trails, or take an optional scenic flight over the park. Then continue on to Queenstown for a two-night stay in New Zealand's premier alpine resort.
Rydges Lakeland (B,D)

Day 5 Queenstown
This morning, take the Triple Challenge: a jet boat ride on the Shotover River, a white-water rafting trip, and a helicopter flight. Or, alternatively, take a jet boat ride on the Dart River or take a guided forest walk. Enjoy the afternoon exploring lovely Queenstown.
(B)

Day 6 Queenstown/Milford Sound
Drive or take an optional ride on the restored Kingston Flyer, a charming narrow gauge steam train, from Fairlight to Kingston. Drive to Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. After stopping at the Gulliver River for a walk, continue on to Milford Sound. Embark on the Milford Mariner for an overnight cruise, passing dramatic waterfalls and seals basking on the rocks. From the ship, there will be opportunities for kayaking and exploring the shoreline by small Zodiac craft.
Milford Mariner (B,D)

Day 7 Milford Sound/Wanaka
Pass through some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking scenery as we drive from Milford Sound over the Crown Range route to Wanaka. En route, you may take an optional helicopter ride through the snow-capped Southern Alps or continue on the spectacular drive.
Edgewater Resort (B)

Day 8 Wanaka/Franz Josef
Sample New Zealand hospitality over tea at a high-country sheep station. At Westland National Park, see the Fox Glacier—a UNESCO World Heritage site—and hike through the temperate rain forest below to the glacial moraine, or take an optional helicopter flight above glaciated mountains and land to hike among otherworldly ice formations.
Franz Josef Glacier Hotel (B,L)

Day 9 Franz Josef/Punakaiki
At Whataroa see a collection of 3,000-year-old whale-bone carvings. Later, visit Hokitika, popular for its jade and stone carvers, and then continue to Paparoa National Park with its beautiful palm trees and rock formations. The day ends with an optional sunset horseback ride.
Punakaiki Rocks Hotel (B,D)

Day 10 Charleston/Nelson
Enjoy an unforgettable underground rafting adventure in Metro Cave. Wet suits are handed out before our descent to a subterranean stream. Millions of glowworms greet us with an otherworldly luminescence as we paddle through the caverns and out into the rapids of the Nile River. Or, you may walk along the river through Paparoa National Park, known for its pancake rock formations.
Rutherford Hotel (B,L)

Day 11 Nelson/Abel Tasman National Park
Embark on a cruise through Abel Tasman Park. From Torrent Bay, we can kayak through a marine reserve to Pinnacle Island, home to penguins and playful fur seals. Enjoy lunch and time to snorkel or relax on the beach before cruising to Marahan.
(B,L)

Day 12 Nelson/Marlborough/Kaikoura
Taste New Zealand’s acclaimed vintages at Wairau River vineyards in Marlborough and enjoy lunch. Continue to Kaikoura.
Waves on the Esplanade (B,L)

Day 13 Kaikoura/Christchurch
Spend the morning looking for Dusky dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, royal albatrosses, orcas, and sperm whales on an ocean cruise. This evening in Christchurch, gather for a farewell dinner.
Rydges Christchurch (B,D)

Day 14 Christchurch/Los Angeles
Enjoy a morning at leisure before your flight home. Arrive in Los Angeles the same day.
(B)

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