New Zealand Natural history & Gondwanan connections
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
New Zealand
Natural history & Gondwanan
connections
Thursday 26 November to Sunday 13 December 2020.
The natural history of New Zealand began when the landmass Zealandia broke away from
the supercontinent Gondwana in the Cretaceous period, around 85-70 million years ago. The break-up
of Gondwana left the resulting continents with a shared ecology. Since this separation, the New
Zealand biota and landscape has evolved in near-isolation, moving northwards and changing both in
relief and climate. The present biota of New Zealand includes descendants of Gondwanan lineages,
predominantly plants such as the podocarps and the southern beeches, but also distinctive insects,
birds, frogs and the tuatara, the sole surviving member of an ancient reptile lineage. This tour has been
designed to maximise our chances of experiencing New Zealand’s amazing wildlife and ancient plants
and is offered in two parts: one predominantly in the north island and finishing in Christchurch and
the extension which takes in the South Island including Stewart an Ulva Islands. Or you can choose to
take both sections at a discounted price.
Kaka. Photo: M. Hanger
Inala Nature Tours
E: inala@inalanaturetours.com.au W: www.inalanaturetours.com.au T: +61 3 62931217
Page 2 of 10 New Zealand
ITINERARY OUTLINE:
Gondwanan Forest New Zealand. Photo: M. Hanger
Main tour New Zealand.
Day 1. Thu 26 Nov 20. Arrive Auckland.
Day 2. Fri 27 Nov 20. Tiritiri Matangi Island: endangered birds, Wetapunga and Coastal Meterosideros.
Day 3. Sat 28 Nov 20. Waitakere Ranges: Ancient Kauri forest.
Day 4. Sun 29 Nov 20. Auckland to Taupo: Ancient fern allies and geothermal/volcanic activity.
Day 5. Mon 30 Nov 20. Taupo to Whakapapa: Dinosaur Gondwanan forests and Peripatus.
Day 6. Tue 1 Dec 20. Whakapapa: Volcanoes and sub-alpine Nothofagus Southern Beech forest.
Day 7. Wed 2 Dec 20. Whakapapa to Wellington and Ferry to South Island.
Day 8. Thu 3 Dec 20. Kahurangi National Park: Beech Forests and Giant Powelliphanta Land Snails.
Day 9. Fri 4 Dec 20. St Arnaud- Blackbirch- Kaikoura: Alpine Cushion flora.
Day 10. Sat 5 Dec 20. Kaikoura: Seabird and Sperm Whale watching excursions.
Day 11. Sun 6 Dec 20. Kaikoura to Christchurch and depart.
South Island New Zealand extension:
Day 11. Sun 6 Dec 20. Kaikoura to Christchurch to Lake Ohau: Glacial Lakes/montane Arid Tussocklands.
Day 12. Mon 7 Dec 20. Aoraki Mt Cook National Park: Alpine Flora.
Day 13. Tue 8 Dec 20. Central Otago Schist landscape: Geckos, Skinks.
Day 14. Wed 9 Dec 20. Fiordland World Heritage Area: Milford Sound and Sub-Antarctic Beech Forest.
Day 15. Thu 10 Dec 20. Rakuira National Park: Brown Kiwi.
Day 16. Fri 11 Dec 20. Stewart and Ulva Islands: Ferns and Albatross.
Day 17. Sat 12 Dec 20. Otago Peninsula: Catlins Coastal Podocarp Forests to Dunedin.
Day 18. Sun 13 Dec 20. Dunedin and depart.
Inala Nature Tours
E: inala@inalanaturetours.com.au W: www.inalanaturetours.com.au T: +61 3 62931217
Page 3 of 10 New Zealand
DETAILED ITINERARY: B- breakfast, L- lunch and D- dinner.
Main tour New Zealand.
Day 1. Thursday 26 November 2020. Arrive Auckland. Today is an arrival day. We will transfer to
our hotel in Auckland where we will meet our local New Zealand guide over a welcome dinner and have
a chat about the details of the adventure ahead. Accommodation: Auckland hotel (en suite rooms).
Meals included: D.
Day 2. Friday 27 November 2020. Tiritiri Matangi Island: Endangered birds, Giant Wetapunga
and Coastal Metrosideros Forest. This morning we will take the ferry to one of New Zealand’s most
iconic conservation successes, Tiritiri Matangi Island in the
Hauraki Gulf. This island is home to a variety of endangered
endemic bird species such as North Island Saddleback,
Takahe, Brown Teal, Red-crowned Parakeet and Stitchbird,
that have been successfully reintroduced as part of New
Zealand’s re-wilding program. The opportunities for
photography are tremendous and the island is an excellent
example of just what can be achieved by conservation
volunteers involved in a major revegetation project. Once
farmed, the island is now an open sanctuary that has been
extensively replanted, with some areas of original forest
remaining. We will have the chance to visit the superb coastal
Pohutukawa (Metrosideros) forest to search for birds and the
largest of the NZ Weta (endemic New Zealand giant flightless
crickets), the Wetapunga (Deinacridia heterocantha). There is
even a slight chance of viewing an endangered Tuatara today.
Wetapunga. Photo: M. Hanger
The Tuatara most resemble lizards but are the sole surviving
member of an ancient order of reptiles which originated in the
Triassic Period around 240 million years ago. We will return to
Auckland mid-afternoon. Accommodation: Auckland hotel (en
suite rooms). Meals included: B, L, D.
Day 3. Saturday 28 November 2020. Waitakere Ranges:
Ancient Kauri Forest – Family Araucariaceae. Today we will
visit the majestic ancient kauri - Agathis australis - forests in the
Waitakere Ranges. Once widespread in the north, just 150
hectares of pristine forest remain, containing some of the
world's largest trees. A gentle walk here provides an excellent
introduction to NZ's lowland forests (giant tree ferns (Cyathea
medullaris), southern palms (Rhopalostylis spp), and a
wonderful array of fern species. Later today we shall continue
westward to the Muriwai coast and visit an Australasian Gannet
colony. We will return to Auckland late this afternoon.
Kauri. Photo: M. Hanger
Accommodation: Auckland hotel (en suite rooms). Meals
included: B, L, D.
Inala Nature Tours
E: inala@inalanaturetours.com.au W: www.inalanaturetours.com.au T: +61 3 62931217
Page 4 of 10 New Zealand
Day 4. Sunday 29 November 2020. Auckland to Taupo: Ancient Fern Allies and
Geothermal/volcanic Activity. This morning we leave Auckland. Continuing southwards, the landform
abruptly changes as we climb from the base of the peninsula onto the central North Island volcanic
plateau. This region is the heart of NZ's geothermal activity. Many of the thermal regions are now major
tourist attractions which has alas been to their detriment. A few, however, remain relatively natural
geothermal wonderlands. At Waimangu Valley we study the impact of the major Tarawera eruption of
1886 and the successive lesser periods of activity - a rift valley undergoing primary succession, sinter
terraces and large steaming cauldron lakes. Primeval plant groups such as Psilotum, and Lycopodium
abound in these areas. The valley is also home to a variety of sub-tropical fern species found only in NZ,
within metres of the steam vents. This evening we will stay in Taupo in the centre of the north Island of
NZ. Accommodation: Taupo (en suite rooms). Meals included: B, L, D.
Day 5. Monday 30 November 2020. Taupo to Whakapapa: Dinosaur Gondwanan forests and
Peripatus. Lush rain forest surrounded the plateau until wholesale forest clearance began with
European settlement. Now only relatively small tracts remain. Today we visit one of the finest tracts of
podocarp rain forest (comprised of Dacrydium, Podocarpus, Darcycarpus, and Prumnopitys) in the
country to study the intricacies and complexities of this, the predominant forest type in New Zealand.
These forests are the so-called 'dinosaur forests' that have changed little over 100 million years and are
typical of the forest cover of Gondwana. The Rimu-dominated (Dacrydium cupressinum) forest here is
perhaps the finest in the country. We study the podocarp forest communities in detail, with morning
and afternoon walks through Pureora. Magnificent tracts of abundant tree ferns (species of Cyathea and
Dicksonia) will fascinate. We will also search for Peripatus (Velvet Worms). These amazing creatures are
of immense palaeontological interest, as they exhibit relatively many characteristics that are perceived
as original or "primitive" and help reconstruct the
ancestral arthropod (members of the phylum that
include insects, crustaceans, and arachnids). We
then travel into Tongariro National Park, the first
national park in NZ which is comprised of three
high volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park
and situated immediately to the south of Lake
Taupo. We will spend some time on the slopes of
the highest peak, Ruapehu, in Whakapapa.
Accommodation: Whakapapa (en suite rooms).
Meals included: B, L, D.
Treefern Cyathea medullaris Photo: M. Hanger Velvet Worm Peripatus Photo: M. Hanger
Inala Nature Tours
E: inala@inalanaturetours.com.au W: www.inalanaturetours.com.au T: +61 3 62931217
Page 5 of 10 New Zealand
Day 6. Tuesday 1 December 2020. Whakapapa: Volcanoes and sub-alpine Nothofagus Southern
Beech forest. With lava and/or mud flows having occurred in recent years off both Ruapehu and nearby
Ngauruhoe, the vicinity is an excellent one in
which to study the impact of volcanism on
subalpine and montane vegetation. Today's
explorations will include opportunities to study
the sub-alpine shrublands, alpine herbs, and
montane/sub-alpine NZ Southern Beech forests.
Sub-alpine Gondwanan conifers such as
Podocarpus, Halocarpus, Lepidothamnus and
Phyllocladus) will also be seen here. There will
also be an opportunity to search for the
endangered Blue Duck while in this region.
Blue Duck Photo: A. Schulte Accommodation: Whakapapa (en suite rooms).
Meals included: B, L, D.
Day 7. Wednesday 2 December 2020. Whakapapa to Wellington and Ferry to South Island. This
morning we continue south to NZ's capital city, Wellington. We will embark on a three-hour ferry
crossing to Picton in the South Island. This afternoon's crossing is a delightful one, as the sailing takes
us first through Wellington Harbour, then across a short stretch of Cook Strait before the final hour is
spent travelling up the drowned valleys of the Marlborough Sounds. The scenery is spectacular, and we
will also look for Little Blue Penguins on the water. We will then take a late afternoon drive to Nelson
Lakes National Park, before stopping at Saint Arnaud. Accommodation: St Arnaud (en suite rooms).
Meals included: B, L, D.
Day 8. Thursday 3 December 2020. Kahurangi National Park: Southern Beech Forests and Giant
Powelliphanta Land Snails. Today we travel down the Motueka Valley and to North-west Nelson. The
Graham Valley provides
the easiest access to the
recently formed Kahurangi
National Park. This
national park is perhaps
the botanically most
diverse in the country: Red,
Silver, Black and Mountain
Southern Beeches
(Nothofagus species)
predominate and Mountain
cedar (Libocedrus) forest
appears at higher altitude.
Enjoy relaxing or more
taxing walks into the
Mount Arthur region and
the surrounding
tablelands. We will also be
searching for Giant Weta
Giant carnivorous land snail Powelliphanta Photo: M. Hanger
and giant carnivorous land
snails (genus
Powelliphanta) in this area. Late this afternoon we will return to St Arnaud. Accommodation: St
Arnaud (en suite rooms). Meals included: B, L, D.
Inala Nature Tours
E: inala@inalanaturetours.com.au W: www.inalanaturetours.com.au T: +61 3 62931217
Page 6 of 10 New Zealand
Day 9. Friday 4 December 2020. St Arnaud- Blackbirch- Kaikoura: Alpine Cushion flora. The
journey today takes us back east. A study of NZ alpine scree and rock outcrop vegetation begins with a
trip to the summit of Blackbirch. Here giant vegetable sheep abound amidst a dry cushion flora, that
includes dwarf alpine creeping conifers. Scree plants (Notothlaspis, Leptinella), rock outcrop species,
herb field daisies, and cushion plants (Phyllachne, Anistome, Raoulia and Haastia) are featured today. If
the plants do not take your breath away the panoramic views are sure to! Mid-afternoon we return again
to sea level and continue to Kaikoura. Accommodation: Kaikoura (en suite rooms). Meals included: B,
L, D.
Day 10. Saturday 5 December 2020. Kaikoura: Pelagic Seabirds and Sperm Whale Watching.
Today we have the opportunity to take some boat excursions out of Kaikoura. Due to the depth of the
Kaikoura canyon just offshore, we can reach water 4,000 m deep within half an hour, allowing us to
really get amongst the seabirds and cetaceans. Early this morning we will have the option of taking a 2
½ hour pelagic seabird excursion. Although the species list varies throughout the year, in any season
we can expect to see up to 15 species of seabirds, including at least 3-4 species of albatross, normally as
close as 5-6 feet away. Species include northern and southern Royal, New Zealand Wandering, Black-
browed, Campbell, White-capped, and Salvin’s albatross. We also have the chance to see a variety of
petrels, northern giant-petrel, and the endemic Hutton’s shearwater, which breeds in the spectacular
mountains behind Kaikoura. The area is also renowned for Dusky, Hector’s and Common dolphins, and
we may see these along the way. After an early lunch we will join another boat expedition (around 2
hours in duration) to see Sperm Whales which are present year-round and inhabit the deep water just
off the coast. Accommodation: Kaikoura (en suite rooms) as for last night Meals included: B, L, D.
Campbell Albatross. Photo: P. Brooks
Day 11. Sunday 6 December 2020. Kaikoura to Christchurch and depart. This morning we head
along the rugged and moody Kaikoura coast to Christchurch (drive time of around 3 hours) where we
will say goodbye to those people who wish to finish their tour. Accommodation: none. Meals included:
B.
Inala Nature Tours
E: inala@inalanaturetours.com.au W: www.inalanaturetours.com.au T: +61 3 62931217
Page 7 of 10 New Zealand
South Island New Zealand extension:
Day 11. Sunday 6 December 2020. Christchurch to Lake Ohau: Glacial Lakes and montane Arid
Tussocklands. For those continuing on or joining us in Christchurch, we will travel to the Canterbury
Plains and beyond where the raw young mountains of the Southern Alps beckon. We then travel to the
sharply contrasting Mackenzie Country - a vast dry intermontane basin with three large glacial lakes.
Near the northernmost lake there should be time for those wishing to take an optional flight (not
included in tour price) over Mount Cook National Park and the highest peaks and glaciers of the
Southern Alps before we arrive at Lake Ohau. Accommodation: Lake Ohau (en suite rooms). Meals
included: L, D.
Day 12. Monday 7 December 2020. Aoraki Mt Cook National Park: Alpine Flora. We will spend
today exploring the renowned Mount Cook
Aoraki Mt Cook National Park. Photo: A Schulte. National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site). At
the foot of Mt Cook (the highest mountain in New
Zealand) lies the spectacular Hooker Valley. The
walk along the trail enables us to study the
changes in vegetation on successive moraines as
the Hooker then Mueller Glaciers are reached.
Giant Mt Cook buttercups, golden Spaniards and
subalpine shrubs abound amidst unforgettable
landscapes. An alternative for the more energetic
is to walk up the Sealy Range to Sealy Tarns.
Several alpine communities are walked through
en route with tussockland, herb field, and outcrop
plants most conspicuous. Late examples of the famed Mt Cook 'lily' (actually a buttercup) may be found
up here. We will descend past Lake Pukaki and return to Ohau late afternoon. Accommodation: Lake
Ohau (en suite rooms) as for last night. Meals included: B, L, D.
Day 13. Tuesday 8 December 2020. Central Otago Schist landscape: Geckos, Skinks. This morning
we leave the Mackenzie Basin and the Waitaki Valley and cross the Lindis Pass – the gateway to Central
Otago. Inland Otago is a great fragmented schist plateau that now appears as a series of block mountain
ranges. A region of climatic extremes, the dry core of New Zealand is also home to a vast array of cushion
alpine tussock species and a variety of lizards. To the west of
Queenstown lies the Fiordland World Heritage Area. At
Red Beech (Nothofagus fusca)
times stunning, at others awesome, and in places even
in flower Photo: B. Moriarty
tranquil, this area encompasses New Zealand's largest
national park. Recent glacially gouged valleys and lakes
nestled between range upon range of mountains characterise
the landscape. We devote the next two days to gaining a
greater understanding of the processes that have shaped
this, the grandest and most rugged part of New Zealand.
Today after travelling to Lake Te Anau on the eastern edge of
the park we continue into the Eglinton Valley, a valley famed
for its superb red beech (Nothofagus fusca) forests and the array of forest birds therein.
Accommodation: Te Anau (en suite rooms). Meals included: B, L, D.
Inala Nature Tours
E: inala@inalanaturetours.com.au W: www.inalanaturetours.com.au T: +61 3 62931217
Page 8 of 10 New Zealand
Day 14. Wednesday 9 December 2020. Fiordland World Heritage Area: Milford Sound and Sub-
Antarctic Southern Beech Forest. The upper Hollyford Valley through which the famed Milford Road
passes contains superb boulder fields and herb fields.
The Gertrude Cirque has arguably the finest accessible
alpine communities in the country. The day is devoted
to discovering this botanical treasure trove (including
Aciphylla, Celmisia, Ranunculus and Gentianella) in the
Darran Mountains. Studying nature in such awesome
surroundings is guaranteed to put all in perspective.
Early afternoon we descend to sea level at Milford
Sound where we will take a cruise to the fjord
entrance before we return early evening to Lake Te
Milford Sound. Photo: A Schulte. Anau. Accommodation: Te Anau (en suite rooms) as
for last night. Meals included: B, L, D.
Day 15. Thursday 10 December 2020. Rakuira National Park, Stewart Island: Brown Kiwi. Today
we must leave this wild land and cross the southern South Island to
travel to Invercargill. We then get the morning ferry across the
Fouveaux Strait to New Zealand’s third main Island- Stewart Island.
This afternoon we explore of the forest and coastal tracks in the
vicinity of the village. Rakuira is New Zealand’s newest National
Park, created in 2002. This evening after dinner we will have the
opportunity to see the Stewart Island Brown Kiwi feeding in the wild.
Brown Kiwi. Photo: A Schulte.
Accommodation: Oban, Stewart Island (en suite rooms). Meals
included: B, L, D.
Day 16: Friday 11 December 2020. Stewart and Ulva Islands: Ferns and threatened birds. This
morning we explore Stewart Island further. Removed from reality on this idyllic hideaway, we discover
the grand diversity of life on this, the least modified of the three main islands of New Zealand. This
afternoon we take a short boat trip across Paterson Inlet to near-pristine Ulva Island, an open bird
sanctuary which has been predator free since 1997. Ulva Island is a sanctuary to threatened wildlife,
and 30 saddleback (tieke) were released in May 2000 with 18 Stewart Island Robins (toutouwai)
released in October of the same year. We will also hear the songs of bellbird and tui, and the raucous
call of the kaka and kakariki. The island’s rich podocarp rainforests are also underlain with carpets of
bryophytes, liverworts and orchids (Corybas sp.). We return to Stewart Island late this afternoon.
Accommodation: Oban, Stewart Island (en suite rooms) as for last night. Meals included: B, L, D.
Kaka feeding in Rimu Photo: A Schulte. Weka. Photo: A Schulte.
Inala Nature Tours
E: inala@inalanaturetours.com.au W: www.inalanaturetours.com.au T: +61 3 62931217
Page 9 of 10 New Zealand
Day 17. Saturday 12 December 2020. Otago Peninsula: Catlins Coastal Podocarp Forests to
Dunedin. We will leave on the ferry in the early morning to enable us to drive to Dunedin via the
forgotten corner of New Zealand: The Catlins mixed
podocarp forest. The Catlins includes some of the finest
coastal scenery and lowland forests in the country.
Endemic species inhabit coastal cliffs, below which
New Zealand (Long-nosed) fur seals breed. Beyond,
lush Gondwanan forests run down to superb sweeping
sandy beaches with not a soul in sight. We will arrive in
Dunedin late afternoon in time for our farewell dinner.
Accommodation: Dunedin (en suite rooms). Meals
included: B, L, D.
New Zealand Fur Seal. Photo: A. Schulte
Day 18. Sunday 13 December 2020. Depart
Dunedin. This morning we depart Dunedin for our onward flights back home. Accommodation:
Dunedin (en suite rooms). Meals included: B.
Group size: 6-8 participants + Inala tour leader + local NZ guide:
Main tour New Zealand.
Tour Price: AU$7,000 per person sharing.
Single supplement: AU$990
Inclusions: Accommodation (10 nights) as per the itinerary, specialist guide and transport (including airport
transfers at Auckland and Christchurch), meals, return ferry fare and entrance fees to Tiritiri Matangi, interisland
ferry, National Park fees and whale watching/pelagic seabird excursions
Exclusions: International and domestic airfares, alcoholic beverages, snacks, internet, tips, laundry, or other items
of a personal nature. Also excludes travel insurance (highly recommended).
South Island New Zealand extension:
Tour Price: AU$4,450 per person sharing.
Single supplement: AU$600
Inclusions: Accommodation (8 nights) as per the itinerary, specialist guide and transport (including airport
transfer from Christchurch where required and Dunedin), meals, return ferry/water taxi fares and entrance fees
to Stewart and Ulva Islands, National Park fees, Milford Sound cruise on day 14 and kiwi excursion on night 15.
Exclusions: International and domestic airfares, alcoholic beverages, snacks, internet, tips, laundry, or other items
of a personal nature.
Connecting flights between Dunedin and Auckland can be organised for an additional $250 per person.
Total of both sections taken together:
Tour Price: AU$11,000 per person sharing (save $450 per person).
Single supplement: AU$1,500 (save $90)
Additional general notes: Whilst we aim to follow the itinerary as planned, please note that the itinerary
provided should only be used as a guideline. Depending on individual trip circumstances, weather, and local
information, the exact itinerary may not be strictly adhered to. This certainly goes for weather dependent parts
of the trip such as pelagics, but even visits to land-based sites listed in the itinerary may be missed and other sites
visited instead. We are constantly developing our itineraries, and sometimes we choose alternative sites or
activities based on what we determine to be the best for the tour party. The guides reserve the right to make
changes to the itinerary as they see fit.
Inala Nature Tours
E: inala@inalanaturetours.com.au W: www.inalanaturetours.com.au T: +61 3 62931217
Page 10 of 10 New Zealand
MAP OF LOCATIONS VISITED THIS TOUR:
Main tour Auckland to Christchurch (including Kaikoura) and extension Christchurch to
Dunedin via Stewart and Ulva Islands (including Milford Sound and Te Anau).
Inala Nature Tours
E: inala@inalanaturetours.com.au W: www.inalanaturetours.com.au T: +61 3 62931217You can also read
