A Six Day Tour Curated Exclusively for Friends of Te Papa, Led by Author and Victoria University Lecturer Richard Willis
11-16 November 2024
DAY ONE: We leave Wellington and head to Hawera. Along the way we will stop at the sites of Whanganui, we take the Inaha Road to Waimate Pa site, we check out the gas plant and inspect the
historical sociolology of the old Willis farm. Dinner in Hawera, where we will spend our first night.
DAY TWO: A big day as we tour around the majestic Mount Taranaki. Sites and stops include Opunake and Parihaka. We lunch in Pukeiti Gardens and admire the rhododendrons. From there we stop at Mount Moturoa, check out Pukekura Park and finish the afternoon at Puke Ariki Museum. We spend this night in New Plymouth.
DAY THREE: Today we head to Waitara for Wiremu Kingi’s war sites. We then drive up to Stratford Mountain House for lunch. After lunch we make our way via the Forgotten World Highway to Whangamomona, where we unpack the history of inland settlements tunnels and railway, accommodation this night will be at the famous Whangamomona Hotel.
DAY FOUR: We leave Whangamomona and head to National Park. We will make stops at Moki Tunnel and Lauren’s Lavender Farm. Lunch will be in Taumarunui, where we will have free time to explore the gardens and art galleries. In the afternoon we make our way to the Raurimu Spiral where there will be a walk and talk. We spend the night at the National Park Village.
DAY FIVE: Today we explore Tongariro National Park, from the Visitor’s Center, to the history of Chateau, to a trip to Ski field views. There will be short walks to waterfalls and views to take in. We will have lunch at the Gondola, where there will be an explanation of Tongariro Power project. That evening will be spent again at the National Park Village.
DAY SIX: We head home to Wellington today. We will make stops at the Lake Rotokura Ecological Reserve and the Tangiwai Disaster Memorial. We’ll visit the Hobson’s sheep and cattle farm between Vinegar Hill and Feilding and have lunch cooked by the farmer himself after a tour of the wool and cowsheds. If weather permits we’ll be able to view Mt Ruapehu, Mt Taranaki and Kapiti Island. Then on to Wellington, arriving around 5pm.
What’s included:
Accommodation:
1 night in Hawera in motel accommodation
Note: there aren’t motels here that can take 15-20 rooms so we’ll likely spread over a few motels
1 night in New Plymouth at Distinction Hotel
1 night at the Whangamomona Hotel
2 nights at the Park Hotel
Meals:
Most meals included
In Addition:
All travel and access to sites
Richard Willis as guide and tour leader
Cost:
Price is $2750 for a single room/$2400 per person for a double room.
Minimum numbers: 15, maximum 22.
Deposit of $500 pp is required to secure your place. Payment to BNZ 02 0727 0074481 02 NZ Travel Brokers Client Trust Account – use ‘Katrina’ as a reference.
The deposit is refundable up to 90 days prior to departure or in case the minimum numbers for the tour are not reached. If cancelled by you within 90 days of departure the deposit payment becomes non-refundable. Full payment is required 60 days prior to departure, this is refundable up to 31 days prior to departure (minus the deposit payment). The booking becomes non-refundable if cancelled within 30 days of departure.
About Richard Willis:
Richard has lectured in human and European geography at Victoria University Te Herenga Waka and led the annual ‘Geographies of New Zealand’ field trip for over 50 years. He grew up in Taranaki, which was also the site of the first conflict between British troops and Maori, and this is where he takes his University class. He has run a small business RICHARD WILLIS ACADEMIC TOURS, for about 10 years.
“My definition of geography is the analysis and explanation of landscape. A geographer doesn’t start with theories, the geographer starts with what he or she sees on the ground and with fact… Geography is an encaptic subject, it’s not looking down a microscope. It’s looking at wholes, looking at large chunks of life and saying, ok how do we understand that?”
To Book:
Please contact Katrina Harding of NZ Travel Brokers on [email protected].