Our trips are designed to incorporate both fun and education, giving students the opportunity to experience the beauty and wonder of New Zealand, while at the same time learning about history, culture and new vocabulary. All trips will be conducted by native speakers of English and they will give students the opportunity to communicate with their teachers on a more informal level than in the classroom. Listed below are the trips we have incorporated into our tour and the learning outcomes of each visit. Students will be given a “trip worksheet” each day to ensure that they are learning as well as having fun throughout the course of the afternoon and weekend and have a record of the vocabulary taught and the information learned.

1. Howick Historical Village
Howick Historical Village is comprised of 30 original buildings of the early colonial period. The village represents New Zealand history around the 1850’s period when Irish immigrants came over to New Zealand to escape the potato famine and the English from the Industrial Revolution. For Maori it was a time of peace and prosperity and trading opportunities with settlers.

 

 

2. Cricket and Soccer in Manukau Park
Since cricket and rugby are the two most popular sports in New Zealand, we will take the opportunity to introduce the rules to our visitors and enable them to experience the cleanliness and greenery of our local park.

 

 

 

3. City Tour

(i) Viaduct Harbour
The harbour is the pride of Auckland “the City of Sails” and the venue of 2003’s Americas Cup. Lined with street cafes, and specialty boats it will give students the opportunity to enjoy a marine experience in the heart of the city.

(ii) New Zealand National Maritime Museum
The museum explores 1000 years of sailing. The are dozens of sailing craft on display including the 25m outrigger canoe Taratai that was constructed using 1000-year-old methods and sailed across the Atlantic. There are displays based on navigation, fishing, oral history, the world’s first jet boat and the history of the America’s Cup.

 

(iii) Harbour Bridge and Queen Street
Students will be given the opportunity to experience two of the famous landmarks of Auckland, Harbour Bridge and Queen Street and also view Auckland Skytower (entry to the top, if requested, can be arranged but is additional to the tour price).

4. Miranda Hot Springs, Coastal Walk and Bird Sanctuary
Miranda is only an hour’s drive from Auckland and is one of the most accessible places in New Zealand to study birds. The large mud flat to the west is teeming with aquatic worms and crustacean and consequently attracts thousands of birds during the Arctic winter. Species include the bar-tailed godwit, the lesser knot, turnstones, curlew sandpipers and red-necked stints. The Miranda naturalists’ trust Centre has an educational centre about the local wildlife and Miranda Hot springs has open and covered hot pools, private spas and water slides. (Students will require swimwear and a towel for entry to the hot springs).

 

5. Pukaki Worm Farm and Marae
Pukaki Worm Farm is an ecological educational centre where visitors learn about the benefits of worms to the environment and ecological cycle. Pukaki Marae gives visitors the opportunity to learn about the customs and traditions of New Zealand Maori and their meeting house.

 

6. Auckland University and Library Visit
Auckland University is the most prestigious university in New Zealand, students will be given the opportunity to tour the university and its grounds with a guide who is a staff member at A.U. In addition we will take students to the city library and they will have the opportunity to observe library systems and content.

 

 

 

7.Auckland War Memorial Museum and Auckland Domain
Auckland War Memorial Museum is situated in the heart of Auckland Domain, one of New Zealand’s oldest parks. The museum has Pacific Island and Maori displays on the ground floor and the first floor is dedicated to the natural world. The second floor focuses on New Zealand and war from the 19th century to its peace-keeping actions of today. In the Domain itself, students will be taken on a tour of the winter and botanical gardens.

 

8. Titirangi Village, Piha Beach and Muriwai Gannet Colony

Piha is famous for its wave-pounded, iron-sand beach and the distinctive Lion Rock which sits just off the beach. Surfing competitions are held a Piha and the power of its waves are infamous. Along the road is another volcanic beach Muriwai. Muriwai is most famous for its gannet colony just 20 minutes coastal walk from the beach itself. Gannets nesting on the nearby rocks and shore cliffs are a spectacular and educational sight for those who have not had the opportunity to get close to such birds before.

9. Clevedon Animal Farm
Clevedon Animal Park gives students the opportunity to experience a farm experience including a guided tour, animals feeding, learn about animals and their habits, watch performances and experience the beauty of Clevedon Valley.

 

 

10. One Tree Hill and Cornwall Park
One Tree Hill is of historical and political significance in New Zealand. The Maori name Maungakiekie means Mountain of the Kiekie Tree, and it was named after a sacred Totara tree which stood there until 1876 when it was replaced by a giant pine tree. The pine tree has since been cut down by Maori protestors protesting the felling of the first sacred tree. One Tree Hill offers spectacular views of the Auckland area and Cornwall Park is the perfect place for a BBQ, one of the favourite summer pastimes of Kiwis.

 

 

 

 

11. Hamilton Gardens, River and City Tour
Hamilton is New Zealand’s largest inland city situated 129km south of Auckland. It is the Waikato region’s main urban centre and has undergone rapid growth over recent times.

Hamilton gardens consists of about 100 different themed gardens including rose gardens, a riverside magnolia garden, a scented garden, cacti and succulents, vegetable and glass house gardens and impressively realistic Japanese, Chinese, English, Renaissance, American Modernist and Indian themed gardens.

Walkways pass through the verdant parks and bushy areas from the river to the city centre. Embedded in the river bank walkway are the remains of the gunboat SS Rangiriri which played an important part in the Waikato land War.

12. Kawau Island Mansion House/Copper Mines
The ferry journey over to Kawau Island takes 1 hour from Sandspit. The main point of interest on the island is Mansion House an impressive historic house built in 1846 by Sir George Grey, New Zealand’s 3rd governor and 17th prime minister. Inside is a collection of Victorian memorabilia and personal items owned by Sir George.

Kawau has a number of beautiful walks leading from the Mansion House to the beaches; the old copper mine and look out. Numerous wallabies, introduced from Australia, are housed in an enclosure on Pah Farm in Bon Accord Harbour. Vivian Bay is an attractive sandy beach, great for swimming fishing, snorkeling and its surrounding bush walks.

 

13. BBQ on Eastern Beach
A tour to New Zealand would not be complete without the Kiwi summer pastime of a beach BBQ. Eastern Beach is a white sand beach in the eastern suburbs of Auckland. Students will also be given the opportunity to take part in beach games and swimming.

 

 

14. Museum of Transport and Technology
Also known as MOTAT, this museum has exhibits on transport, communications and energy including one about New Zealand’s pioneer aviator, Richard Pearse. It is though the he may have flown even before the Wright brothers and through his life he produced a number of different inventions. The infortainment Science Centre has a strong educational element and has hands-on exhibits.

 

 

15. Goat Island Marine Reserve
North of Leigh, Goat Island is the site of the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve. The reserve is teeming with fish that can be hand-fed in the water or viewed from a glass-bottom boat. There is a marine education centre at Seafriends and numerous bush and beach walks around the island. Pakiri is a tiny rural settlement on the island with a white-sand beach lined with forest.

 

 

16. Adventure Golf
Treasure Island consists or two 18 hole adventure golf courses and is situated just minutes from the school. Manukau Council are currently developing a butterfly sanctuary on the same grounds and this may be included in the trip if completed on time.

 

 

17. Hunua Falls and Bush Walk
Hunua Falls is an impressive waterfall in the Hunua Ranges National Park. Students will picnic near the falls followed by a bush walk.