Southland Eco-tour

SOUTHLAND ECO-TOUR (5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS)

Available on the following dates in the 2006-7 season: 24-28 Sep, 10-14 Nov, 11-15 Dec, 02-06 Jan, 11-15 Jan,  18-22 Feb, 01-05 March, 29 Mar-02 Apr, 21-25 Apr. Other dates on request.

Learn about southern rainforest, plants, animals, geology, history and conservation. Encounter the world’s rarest sealion and penguin as well as abundant New Zealand birds in richly varied environments. Visit lonely beaches and headlands where you will see New Zealand fur seals and sea birds such as sooty shearwaters, gannets, mollymawks, shags, terns and gulls. Explore rainforest with ancient podocarp trees and encounter native forest birds such as bellbirds, tuis, tomtits, fantails, brown creepers, grey warblers and pigeons. Enjoy the quiet estuaries with the many wading birds and see some of the beautiful waterfalls in the area. Every guest’s interests and needs, as well as safety requirements are catered for.

The detailed itinerary will be planned according to your preferences, tides and weather. The following is a typical programme – and it includes most of the usual activities.

Day 1: The tour begins at Papatowai at 11 am. You can drive to Papatowai or we will pick you at the Balclutha Visitor Centre. (Transfers can also be arranged from Dunedin or Invercargill. Please request details). A short walk will provide you with an overview of the area and its history, and then you will begin the exploration of the forest and coast right at Papatowai’s back door. At the end of the day you will enjoy a superb home-cooked dinner overlooking natural bush and beach scenery at your Papatowai homestay. After dinner there are lovely evening walks, opportunities for night sky viewing and interpretation, an extensive natural history library, and fossil and artifact collections to study.

Day 2: A day in the south. Visit Curio and Porpoise Bays, spectacular sea caves, beautiful beaches and ancient forests. A day filled with geology and history and the possibility of seeing the rarest dolphin and penguin. Return to Papatowai for another excellent meal and evening with your fellow guests.

Day 3: This is a day to explore the human history of the Catlins and the inland beech forests. You may get to see the rare mohua (yellow head), rifleman and parakeets. You can explore part of the old railway line that had a major impact on the area and hear about the early Maori occupancy and the later European history of the area which includes sawmilling, farming and whaling.

Day 4: You will start early to see the sunrise and hoiho (yellow eyed penguin) and the rare New Zealand sealions. In the afternoon, you may have time to do your own thing - take part in boating, kayaking or snorkeling, or you may choose to read more of the very interesting books in the library or spend time walking along the beach, estuary or forest nearby. Enjoy another tasty meal and the company of friends in the evening.

Day 5:  Departure after breakfast. (Transfers can also be arranged from Dunedin or Invercargill. Please request details.

Notes:
• Tour includes: accommodation (4 nights), guiding, all meals (from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 5), specified sightseeing.
• Tour Excludes: Other meals and alcoholic drinks, refreshments or taxis, Christchurch accommodation (before or after tour), NZ Goods & Services Tax (GST, 12.5%).
• These tours are designed to suit any age and fitness. Other options available.

Papatowai Accommodation
The house where guests stay is located on the coast with an elevated and uninterrupted view over a natural scene of native forest, river estuary, beach & ocean. A few minutes from the house, you can be walking on a lonely beach or through old-growth rainforest or along a forest-lined river estuary. There are many birds to be seen near the house and we have a library of mainly natural history books & magazines. There are archaeological sites nearby and you can examine our collection of moa bones and artefacts. We provide lovely double or twin rooms for our maximum of eight guests. Special dietary or privacy needs can be catered for. We supply binoculars for each guest and have outdoor clothing and boots for you to borrow. Additional equipment such as kayaks, snorkelling gear and wet suits are available should you wish to use them. You might also like to buy postcards, specially printed clothing or Fergus's watercolours.

CONSERVATION CONTRIBUTION ON OUR ECOTOURS
You will be contributing to conservation of wildlife on every tour. We make wildlife observations, trap non-native predators and remove weeds. The work break programme involves specific projects for penguins, plant and history conservation as well as educational workshops. We work to a code of sustainable environmental practice and are part-time Department of Conservation rangers. We are sensitive to the cultural environment that we live in.

Short Southland Eco-tour (3 days / 2 nights)
Saturday am to Monday am; Monday am to Wednesday am and Thursday am to Saturday am.
Available most weeks during the year. Please request details.