Have you visited Eastern Zealandia yet?
This year two six-day excursions to the Chatham Islands are on offer, both led by Te Papa geologist Hamish Campbell and scientist and mezzotint artist Chris Adams. Touring with Hamish and Chris is a rare opportunity to visit the Chathams in a safe and convivial context. The plan is to visit Chatham and Pitt Island, sea and air conditions permitting.
Trip 1: Friday 21 September to Wednesday 26 September
Trip 2: Friday 28 September to Wednesday 3 October
Price: $3,850 per person.
Anyone is welcome. You don’t have to be a geologist, a Friend of Te Papa, or a citizen of Zealandia.
However, a certain level of fitness is required: you must be able to negotiate a wire fence in less than 20 seconds. Some people get hung up on this self-fitness test. To avoid this, attempt wire fences only in the presence of an adult.
These trips have proved popular among Friends of Te Papa and we have been running these excursions since 2002. Capped at 20 people each, the trips are all-embracing in terms of experiencing the Chathams.
They are about much more than natural science. You will explore Chatham Islands history, culture and cuisine.
As a consequence, we are now serious blue-cod addicts!
We have taken more than 500 people now ranging from 13 to 86 years old, mainly sourced from Friends of Te Papa, but also the Geoscience Society of New Zealand, GNS Science …and word of mouth.
If you are interested, or know someone who may be, please contact Hamish at [email protected]
Hamish Campbell
Geologist at Te Papa
Feature image: On Pitt Island, photo: Bill Beale