Depart on the TranzAlpine Train. This journey is regarded as one of the top 6 train trips in the world. You will pass over amazing river viaducts and under the Southern Alps through an 8 kilometre tunnel. We travel out of Christchurch towards Arthurs Pass. Cross the alluvial Canterbury Plains, famous for its fat lamb industry and then into the foothills of the Southern Alps. The train winds its way through 16 tunnels over the upper reaches of the Waimakariri River, past sparkling snow-fed streams, rock formations and crystal clear lakes to Arthurs Pass.

Notice the sharp mountain peaks with their vast alpine screes sprawled among the high tussock country as you tour this land of contrasts that is the Arthur’s Pass National Park.

We stop for a short break to take photographs and then continue through the Otira tunnel to a completely different world when you emerge from the lower end.

You are now entering a region of ancient rainforests, dramatic landscapes, gold fields, greenstone jade and rugged coastlines. This is a place founded on adventure, romance & intrigue. This is the West Coast. Most of the photographs taken to market New Zealand are from this region. World wide, ‘Coasters’ have a reputation for their pioneering spirit and their friendliness having been built on a heritage of gold miners, Bushmen and explorers.
 

We depart the train at Jackson’s. This used to be a gold rush and timber milling town which now has one house and the Stage coach Inn. Here you will be met by the crew from the Wild West Adventure Company to start a hiking, camping and whitewater rafting adventure experiencing one of the world’s finest wildernesses.

On arrival we issue you with a cut lunch and a drink before driving in from the main highway by Mercedes Unimog four wheel drive truck.

Our Mercedes Unimog 4 wheel drive vehicles will drive in from the main highway through heavy native New Zealand rainforest. Climbing over mountain foothills to the creeks and rivers of the Taipo Valley area below you will see some stunning views over the valleys and mountains. The “Taipo” refers to a Mythical Maori Dragon which was believed to have lived in this area. You will walk with a guide along the bush tracks in the valley (around 90 minutes walking). The Unimog’s will be used to get you across rivers and streams and around the ‘tough stuff’ as you are making your way further up the river.

(On this part of the tour we can build into it as much or as little environmental experiences as you wish. I have included it in the text so that you can see what is available. Let me know what you would like left in, if any)
While in this Rainforest area we see how forest contribute to our planets well being. Today we examine the concept of the “World Carbon Bank”, how you personally contribute to it and how international agreements like this are focussing on long-term global ecology.

During your visit you will learn about bush survival and how to build bush survival huts. Learn how to survive and cook a meal with your last match.

Today and tomorrow morning you can be involved in the following activities:

• Bush Shelter Building
  
  To provide comfortable survival if necessary. This will be a competitive activity. (Students have comfortable on-site tents & camp beds to sleep in but they are welcome to sleep in the bush shelters they build if your guide certifies it as habitable.)
  
  
• Map Reading Skills
  
  Including what you must do if ever you are lost in the bush.
  
  
• Survival Cooking Skills
  
  How to gather survival food from the rainforest and how to light a cooking fire with one match and only using rainforest materials to burn.
  

Accommodation: Bush Camp Taipo Valley.
Dinner: Bush BBQ.

Reboard your coach and continue along the narrow coastal plain through Hokitika, an old gold mining town and Hari Hari, a farming support services village, before travelling close to the Alps and stopping to view the Franz Josef Glacier. At Franz Josef we will go to the Alpine Adventure Centre to view a special screening of ‘Flowing West’. A 20 minute armchair journey through glacier country shown on the giant “HELIMAX” screen.

This movie teaches us about the types of rainfall found in the area and how it influences the flora, fauna and geography of our planet. We follow the path of the water cycle from the Tasman Sea on a westerly airflow over the alps then watch as it is released as a load of rain and snow which flows back west as glacier and river. Along the way we soar along the ridges of Mount Cook and the Main Divide, go glacier skiing and mountain climbing. We fly down the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers and fast flowing glacial rivers and out over the rain forests until we merge with the Tasman Sea. The water cycle is complete.

Travel the short distance to Fox and the Alpine Guides Hut. Lunch will be ready for you on arrival.
 

Draw on your boots, ice axes, alpenstocks and appropriate equipment (included) to walk the Fox Glacier. Access is easy and your glacier guide will take you up onto this massive white glacier, which flows 2,600 metres, from the top of the mountain to the sea. Listen to your guide, use your ice axe and walk out on to what is a very different world.

You will find today quite unique, very educational and a lot of fun.
 

Return to your Mountain Lodge tonight. Where you will also have dinner.

Accommodation: Fox Glacier Hostel.
Dinner: At Hostel.

Breakfast.

Board your coach and travel north to Franz Josef. Turn up a side road and before you is Ka Roemata-o-Hine-Hukatera as the Maori's call it, "The Tears of the Avalanche Girl" which forms the Franz Josef Glacier. There is movement in the land, caused by the upthrusting friction of the adjoining tectonic plate, which generates heat and forms hot springs among the ice and bush. We stop for photos.

Travel on through Ross and Harihari, which is regarded as one of the most hospitable towns in New Zealand where we will stop to take a dip in the natural hotspring spa found just off the road in the bush here.

Lunch will be at the Bushmans Centre, here we can try our hand at some of the early pioneer skills such as pit sawing and using a bow and arrow. Meet a NZ opossum and see some massive bush eels.

On to Hokitika where there is a wide variety of things to look at here. Wander through the Greenstone Galleries, the Goldroom and the Glassblowing Studio.

We travel the 15 minutes to a Float the rainforest ‘Jungle Boat’ Cruise and race. This morning you will be in ‘racing teams’. Choose your craft! We have native outrigger and dugout canoes that will drift us down into the rainforest. In the traditions of our early explorers, by Jungle Boat we follow the route of ‘Te Ara Pounamu’-the greenstone pathway. This is part of the trail used by ancient Maori greenstone jade traders on their way to the West Coast jade fields. Your spirit will lead you to your choice of waka (boat). Choose from taking a fun journey on the unique Maori outrigger canoe of the type used to travel the great ocean currents of the Pacific or for those individual sprits paddle your own dugout canoe through the rainforest waterway with your guide.

This gentle flat water float trip through some of the worlds most hauntingly beautiful scenery teaches you how we preserve the delicate balance between one of natures oldest ecosystems and today’s modern use of this environment.

Touch the silence while drifting by this prehistoric world of huge podocarp rainforest trees with some of the areas bird life. The dark waters give you an eerie feeling of timelessness and spirituality. You will leave with a sense of rejuvenation from your visit with nature today.

Once everyone is used to their boats we make our way to an area of mirror like water to challenge your mates to a race down the rainforest waterway.
 

Catch the TranzAlpine Train back to Christchurch arriving at 6:35 PM.

Accommodation: Christchurch Hostel.
 

On arrival at the Christchurch Rail Station you will be met by your coach and taken to Christchurch’s national Marae. This is a Maori Village. This evening is a dinner with a difference. Dinner cooked in the ground Maori style. We are going to Nga Hau E Wha marae (the marae of the four winds), a Maori meeting place and village for a concert, tour of the marae and hangi dinner.

Upon reaching the marae, you the visitor (manuhiri tuarangi), wait to be welcomed. You will receive a Powhiri, (welcome ceremony). You will be challenged by a warrior ( the wero), followed by the Karanga. (Call of welcome). Next is the lifting of the food (Kai) from an earthen oven (hangi) before entering into the dining house (wharekai) to enjoy the feast (hakari). The formal part of the evening always finishes in the dining room (wharekai) with a short speech of farewell (poroporoaki) and a song (Waiata).

We will then go into the magnificently carved meeting house (Whare runanga), your group will engage in formal speeches (whaikorero) which will end in the greeting and a Hongi (the pressing of noses). (many groups share some of their own culture at this point and reply to the hosts with a song from their own country).

The Nga Hau E Wha cultural group will share with you the Maori aspects of life (taha Maori), through song and dance (Haka and poi) and will request your participation (Whakangahau).You will take a formal tour of the Marae and the spectacularly carved meeting houses named Aoraki and Te Aritaua Pitama before returning to your Hotel.