Hot Water Beach & Cathedral Cove – Geothermal wonders & Māori culture – Glowworm caves & adventure options – Christchurch Stargazing in the Dark Sky Reserve Hooker Valley hike & Tasman Glacier boat ride
Kia Ora! Come journey with us to Aotearoa, “Land of the long white cloud’. This destination has an amazing variety of geological wonders and landscapes, all on a landmass almost half the size of California!
Trip Duration: 9 Days, Feb 12-21
Journey Cost : $4950.00 (includes $312 Travelex Deluxe C/FAR Trip insurance), Cost includes round trip flights, accommodation, transportation at destination, all meals (except lunch on the first day and lunch on the last day), all agreed activities, and a full-time tour director.
Key locations: Waitomo Glowworm Caves, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, Tongariro National Park, Tepui Cultural center, Christchurch City, Aukland City, Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve and astronomy studies, glacial studies, Hooker Valley Trail
Join us on a 10-day educational journey through New Zealand’s North and South Islands, where science, culture, and adventure come alive. Beginning with geothermal hot pools at Hot Water Beach and the dramatic cliffs of Cathedral Cove, students will explore Rotorua’s geysers and experience a traditional Māori welcome. The adventure continues with glowworm caves in Waitomo before flying south to Christchurch, where we’ll learn about earthquake resilience and engage in community service. From there, we’ll travel through Castle Hill and the Canterbury Plains to the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo for world-class stargazing. The trip culminates in Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park, where we’ll hike the Hooker Valley and ride across a glacial lake beneath towering alpine peaks. This program offers a rare blend of hands-on science, cultural immersion, and unforgettable natural beauty.
Auckland
Christchurch
Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park,
Click to view - New Zealand Itinerary
New Zealand Science & Discovery Itinerary
North & South Islands
February 12 – 21, 2026
Day 1 – Thursday, Feb 12 | Departure from Los Angeles
Evening departure from LAX on an overnight international flight to Auckland, New Zealand.
Cross the International Dateline en route.
Educational Focus: Students experience firsthand how time zones and Earth’s rotation affect global travel and geography.
Day 2 – Saturday, Feb 14 | Waitomo Caves – Glowworm Adventures
Breakfast at hotel.
Depart 9:00 AM for Waitomo (approx. 2.5 hrs).
Lunch at Waitomo Adventures.
Afternoon cave experience – choice of:
• Lost World Adventure (300 ft rappel & exploration) (+ $200)
• Haggas Honking Holes – rappelling, waterfalls, caving & glowworms.Dinner and evening reflections.
Overnight in Rotorua.
Educational Focus: Explore underground ecosystems and learn how glowworms use bioluminescence for survival, while discovering how limestone caves form through erosion and chemical weathering.
Day 3 – Sunday, Feb 15 | Rotorua – Geothermal & Māori Culture
Breakfast at hotel.
Drive to Rotorua (approx. 2 hrs).
Visit Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Park – colorful hot springs and geysers.
Lunch in Rotorua.
Afternoon program at Te Puia: pōwhiri welcome, traditional hangi dinner, Māori cultural performance, and insights into how Māori use geothermal resources.
Evening reflections.
Overnight in Rotorua.
Educational Focus: Observe New Zealand’s place on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where geothermal activity and tectonic movement shape the landscape. Learn how indigenous Māori communities sustainably use geothermal heat for cooking, bathing, and energy.
Day 4 – Monday, Feb 16 | Auckland Arrival – Hot Water Beach & Cathedral Cove
6:00 AM: Arrive in Auckland.
Transfer to the Coromandel Peninsula. Relax in the natural geothermal pools at Hot Water Beach.
Breakfast.
Continue to Cathedral Cove for a scenic walk with views of Gemstone Bay and Stingray Bay. Optional snorkeling in the Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve.
Dinner at Hahei Beach.
Evening reflections.
Overnight on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Educational Focus: Discover how volcanic and geothermal forces shape coastal features, and study marine biodiversity and coral ecology within protected reserves.
Day 5 – Tuesday, Feb 17 | Cathedral Cove – Flight to South Island
Breakfast at hotel.
Depart Top 10 at 9:30 AM.
Drive to Auckland Airport.
Lunch at airport.
Afternoon flight to Christchurch (CHC).
Dinner in Tekapo.
Evening astronomy & stargazing at the Dark Sky Reserve.
Overnight in Tekapo.
Educational Focus: Observe the southern hemisphere night sky, identifying constellations unique to the region and learning how light pollution affects astronomical research at one of the world’s premier stargazing sites.
Day 6 – Wednesday, Feb 18 | Aoraki / Mt. Cook National Park
Breakfast.
Visit Mt. Cook Visitor Center with ranger-led glaciology and park interpretation.
Lunch at the park.
Hike the Hooker Valley Trail (3 hrs, 7.5 mi).
Dinner.
Overnight in Tekapo.
Educational Focus: Explore how glaciers carve mountain valleys, learn about climate change’s impact on glacier retreat, and study alpine ecosystems unique to New Zealand’s Southern Alps.
Day 7 – Thursday, Feb 19 | Castle Hill & Christchurch
Breakfast.
Drive to Castle Hill to explore the dramatic limestone landscapes.
Lunch en route.
Afternoon visit to Christchurch Quake City Museum to learn about the 2010–2011 earthquakes and the city’s resilience.
Dinner in Christchurch.
Overnight in Christchurch.
Educational Focus: Examine limestone erosion and karst formations at Castle Hill, then analyze how tectonic activityreshapes cities and communities, linking geology to human resilience and engineering.
Day 8 – Friday, Feb 20 | Christchurch – Wildlife & Service Project
Breakfast.
Volunteer project at Willowbank Wildlife Reserve (TBD).
Lunch on your own in downtown Christchurch.
Free time for shopping and souvenirs in the city.
Dinner in Christchurch.
Overnight in Christchurch.
Educational Focus: Contribute to conservation and native species protection, learning about New Zealand’s unique biodiversity and invasive-species challenges that threaten the country’s ecosystems.
Day 9 – Saturday, Feb 21 | Return to Los Angeles
Breakfast at hotel.
Morning Crater Rim Walk overlooking Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains.
Afternoon flight from Christchurch to Auckland.
Connect to evening flight from Auckland to Los Angeles.
Arrive in Los Angeles the same day, crossing back over the International Dateline.
Educational Focus: Reflect on the volcanic origins of the region’s landscape, connecting geological processes, human settlement, and environmental stewardship across both islands.
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