New Zealand: An Odyssey Down Under

A small escorted group tour for senior travellers

From $5,649 USD

Oct 29 2020 to Nov 11 2020

14 days

Duration

Level 1 - Introductory to Moderate

Activity

PDF of Tour

Itinerary

Important commentary on Covid-19

For all travellers joining an Odyssey small group tour we ask for respect for all member of the group and yourself and the communities we are visiting and that:

If requested by Odyssey Traveller you will undertake to take a Covid-19 test and share the result with Odyssey no more than 72 hours before a tour commences.
You respect the communities you are visiting and the Covid-19 directions issued including social distancing.
You will advise your program leader/Odyssey of any underlying change in your health whilst on tour and up to 14 days after the tour.
Odyssey and its suppliers will observe as a minimum the WTTC guidelines and those of the region you are visiting their Covid-19 requirements, the higher standard of the two instructions will be applied for a small group tour.
We remain aware, vigilant and empathetic to the need to change arrangements in response to the challenges of managing Covid-19 before and during a small group tour for the benefit of all in the internal and external Odyssey Traveller community.

Travellers should also familiarise themselves with our Peace of mind travel policy for Covid-19 as well as the terms and conditions applicable at the time of booking.

New Zealand Small Group Tour

This New Zealand small group tour for senior and mature travellers will guide travellers through the landscapes of both the North Island and the South island as well as having an opportunity to observe the native wildlife in the national park network and learn about the history of this incredible island country. Travellers on this tour of New Zealand observe the landscape of the North island shaped by Volcanism, from the basalt volcanic cones that dominate Auckland to the geothermal activity including boiling mud in Rotorua. Leaving Rotorua this guided tour travels through landscapes of sharp hills covered in native bush or pasture south to Wellington to take the interislander ferry to the South island. The hard spine of Southern Alps that dominate the South island soon appear after we leave Picton. The Southern alps dominate, hiding the travellers view through to the west coast, only a few passes such as Arthurs pass, Haast pass and Franz Josef allow you through to other side of the South island and the Tasman sea. For the traveller in the South island, the scenic sights are numerous and appear to be on a grander scale from the Abel Tasman National park or Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu and Fjordland National park.

The arrival of the Europeans dominated by British settlers in New Zealand set in motion a startling and ultimately largely successful co-existence with the Maori people that we will see and experience on this educational trip. The traditional owners of the land and immigrants had to come to terms with fiercely disparate environments and climates, from the subtropical north to the alpine south. This is the route we will follow on this tour, moving from the North Island to the South Island, as we track the Maori people from the dawn of history to the present time.

On this 14-day New Zealand tour, mature and senior travellers taking this trip will experience the best of both the North and the South Island. We will begin the tour of New Zealand in Auckland in the North Island, moving south to Rotorua and to the island’s southern tip Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. In South Island, we visit Christchurch, moving south to Dunedin and then Queenstown where the tour will conclude.

This small group tour will be accompanied by an Odyssey Program Leader and local guides who will impart their knowledge about the places we will visit on the trip. Odyssey conducts educational tours with small groups of mature and senior travellers, focusing on history, culture and architecture. Group size is typically between 6 to 12 people. The cost of the tour is inclusive of all entrances (unless otherwise indicated), tipping, and majority of the meals.

This particular tour of New Zealand has periods of free time built into the itinerary, allowing you to explore some destinations at your own pace, and choose from a variety of available activities. This way, we make sure that there is something to enjoy for every kind of traveller.

New Zealand Small Group Tour for seniors; Itinerary & Highlights

New Zealand (Maori name: Aotearoa) is an island country with a total land area of 268,000 square kilometres (103,500 sq. mi) in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most southernmost countries in the world, about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) east of Australia across the Tasman Sea and 1,000 kilometres (600 mi) south of the Pacific islands of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga. The country has two main islands: The North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui) and the South Island (Te Waipounamu), and about 600 smaller islands.

North Island

This Seniors small group tour of New Zealand starts in the North Island in Auckland where we start with a day tour of the city including "Tamaki Drive" out to Mission bay, and Mt Eden. We take a guided tour of the Auckland War memorial museum to gain an understanding of New Zealand culture and geographical presence in the South Pacific.

We then head south to Rotorua. The group has a guided tour of Te Puia Thermal Reserve, the centre of Maori culture and a site of incredible geological activity. We spend time exploring some of the many attractions of Rotorua, including the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute and its many traditional villages, before enjoying a traditional Maori performance and getting to know the Maori culture.

Moving South, we stop at the Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley an active geo-thermal park. The Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley was once known as Mount Tarawera. We continue onto Lake Taupo, a massive lake created by a volcanic eruption to arrive for a night in the Tongariro National park. In Wellington, we will enjoy a guided walking tour of New Zealand’s capital city, finishing at Te Papa Museum on the waterfront.

South Island

Taking the Cook Strait interislander ferry to the South Island, we travel from Wellington to Christchurch. This is a relaxing three-hour journey that will take you through New Zealand’s breathtaking scenery and landmarks, stopping en route at the beautiful coastal town of Kaikoura for lunch.

We spend two nights in Christchurch, with one day spent with a local tour guide and another day free. An interesting sight nearby is the rock formations of Castle Hill, described by the Dalai Lama as one of the 'spiritual centres of the universe'. We then head to Dunedin to explore and learn about a city designed in Edinburgh, Scotland.... On our way to Dunedin we pause in Oamaru to explore Oamaru’s quirky Victorian Precinct, famous for its Steampunk playground and restored buildings.

From Dunedin this small group tour travels to Te Anau for a night. A small settlement next to the Fiordland National Park, (Fjordland National park) part of UNESCO World Heritage site, Te Wāhipounamu. After overnighting, we take a journey up to see Milford Sound, a drowned glacial valley created in the last ice age! The afternoon we drive around to Queenstown. We spend our last full day in Queenstown, with a local guides.

If you would like to learn more about New Zealand, check out our country profile. For more details about this tour, click the ‘Top 5’ or ‘Itinerary’ buttons above! If you’re keen to experience this tour, please call or send an email. Or, to book, simply fill in the form on the right hand side of this page.

USA/Canada visitors; Please call the 1-877-770-0446 Toll Free number

Articles about New Zealand published by Odyssey Traveller

For all the articles Odyssey Traveller has published for mature aged and senior travellers, click through on this link.

External articles to assist you on your visit to New Zealand

FAQs

Which New Zealand island should I visit?

The obvious answer is do both if you have the time! Otherwise, it really depends on what you prefer: the North Island is famous for its classic white sand beaches on the east coast and black sand beaches on the west coast, embracing the Maori culture, and geothermal activities, such as the hot pools and mud pools of Rotorua.

The South Island is loved for its gorgeous mountains in the National park, such as Aoraki Mt Cook, in the Southern alps, the Remarkables around Queenstown and Fjordland, especially Milford Sound.

What is the weather like in New Zealand?

The country’s weather is mostly determined by the proximity of the mountains and sea, regardless of where you are, meaning mild temperatures, moderately high rainfall, and many hours of sunshine. However, the far north is considered subtropical (earning the nickname of ‘Winterless North’), while the inland alpine areas of the South Island can get as cold as -10 degrees Celsius in winter. New Zealand is also famous for having four seasons in one day, so make sure you’re well prepared with layered clothing even in the case of visiting during the hottest summer months (January and February).

What is New Zealand famous for?

There is no simple answer to this question, but we tried to gather a few things:

Kiwi: no, not the fruit, which is also grown in New Zealand (they call it kiwifruit). The flightless, nocturnal birds with long beaks, a symbol of the country. They are very unique, and New Zealanders are very proud of them!
All Blacks and the haka: even if you are not that into rugby, chances are high you came across videos of grown men doing their terrifying Maori war dance before each of their match in an all black jersey. That’s the All Blacks for you, the national rugby team of New Zealand with an astonishing win rate of around 80%.
Lord of the Rings: Both the original trilogy and the Hobbit movies were filmed in New Zealand across both islands. In fact, it’s very hard to pass any landmarks without being reminded it was at least in one of the movies. Since 2002, fans can visit Hobbiton, located on the North Island, which played the Shire in the movies, and in 2012 the permanent restructured Hobbit Holes and the Green Dragon were opened to the public – attracting thousands of visitors.
The Waitomo caves in the King country of the North Island for the glow worms.
Hawke’s bay for its wineries and world class Chardonnay.
Manuka honey: the Manuka tree honey made from its flowers is extensively researched, as scientists found it has unique antibacterial and bioactive healing qualities
Sheep: it is legendary how sheep outnumber New Zealanders providing basis for many jokes. While the ratio reduced from 22 for every person in 1982 to 6/person by 2019, this is still a large number and you’ll come across them everywhere as you drive along the country.

How was New Zealand discovered?

New Zealand was first settled by Polynesians, developing a distinct Maori culture in the 1300s. There is no evidence of a pre-Māori civilisation on the islands. The first European explorer reaching and charting the coastline was the Dutchman Abel Tasman in 1642, but he never landed. Captain James Cook was the first to map New Zealand in 1769, beginning the extensive British settlement in the country, leading to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, bringing New Zealand into the British Empire. The country gained full statutory independence in 1947 but the British monarch remained the head of state.

Why is New Zealand called Aotearoa?

Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand, most commonly translated as ‘(land of the) long white cloud’. There are several myths for the origin of the name. Some say it was the name of the canoe of the explorer Kupe, others believe Kupe’s wife/daughter or Kupe himself saw the cloud on the horizon being sure it hangs over a piece of land. It can also refer to the name of the Maori migration canoes (Aotea).

PDF of Tour PDF of Reading List

Day 1: Auckland

Overview: We make our own way to our hotel in Auckland, New Zealand’s most populous urban area.

Auckland, like Rome, is built on a series of hills, extinct volcanoes. We arrive in the evening and will have the time to look out from these hills and see the largest volcanic presence within the city limits, Rangitoto Island, whose symmetrical form is emblematic of New Zealand’s largest city.

Our Welcome Dinner tonight at the iconic Sky Tower will confirm our panoramic impressions, as will our specialist commentator who will give us a tour d’horizon of Auckland’s origins as a Maori centre, and of its thrilling colonial development as New Zealand’s great merchant city.

Accommodation: Auckland TBC

Day 2: Auckland

Overview: Auckland has the largest concentration of indigenous Maori, and was the capital of New Zealand before it was replaced by Wellington in 1865. It is the country’s hub of industry.

This morning we will enjoy a tour of the city, visiting its main attractions, including:

Queen Street – major commercial thoroughfare in the Auckland CBD, an early development in the newly founded town of Auckland in 1849
Tamaki bay drive through from the City to Mission bay
Bastion Point – overlooking the Waitemata Harbour, and the site of Maori protests against European settlers and the British Crown, who planned to sell Bastion Point to the highest bidder instead of returning the land to its traditional Maori owners
Mission Bay – a waterfront suburb, providing views of Rangitoto Island.
Upto Mt Eden for a panorama of the city and its twin Harbours.
Auckland War Memorial Museum– neoclassical building housing lavish displays of Polynesian and colonial artefacts and presentations of Auckland past, present, and future

Auckland straddles New Zealand’s northern isthmus, and ferry travel between its numerous islands is part of daily life. This afternoon, we take a break from the bustle of the city and go on a relaxing scenic cruise of Auckland’s Waitemata harbour, sailing under the Harbour Bridge and learning about Auckland’s maritime history from our guide over afternoon tea.

Accommodation: Auckland TBC

Day 3: Auckland - Rotorua

Overview: Today we will depart Auckland for Rotorua.

In Rotorua, we will have a guided tour of Te Puia Thermal Reserve, the centre of Maori culture and a site of incredible geological activity. This landscape is filled with boiling hot pools and incredible geysers.

This is the heart of New Zealand’s Thermal Wonderland. We view the bubbling hot pools and the gushing geysers, feeling the ground shaking under our feet. This too is the heart of Maori culture, and we will see for ourselves how for generations they used the thermal activity to their great advantage in cooking and heating.

The Pohutu (Maori: ‘constant splashing’) geyser is the most active geyser in the Southern hemisphere, erupting twice every hour, with eruptions reaching heights of 30 metres. Te Puia also houses the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, and villages showcasing traditional Maori architecture.

In the evening we will have a traditional dinner at the Tamaki Maori Village, and enjoy a cultural performance travellers from many of the other group tours that stop in Rotorua.

Accommodation: Rotorua TBC

Day 4: Rotorua - Tongariro National Park

Overview: Departing Rotorua for Tongariro National park we stop to visit the active geothermal area the Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley. The Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley was once known as Mount Tarawera and was famous for its Pink and White Terraces They were described as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” during the Victorian era. The volcanic eruption of 1886 blasted away the mountain and burying the pastel, multi-hued terraces under a thick layer of volcanic mud.

We continue South pausing to we visit Lake Taupo. Taupo was created by one of world’s most powerful volcanic eruptions. The lake is nearly the size of Singapore, and is often called an ‘inland sea’. Keeping with volcanic theme fro the last 2 days we travel onto the Tongariro National park, where we spend the evening.

Group meal this evening.

Accommodation: Tongariro National park

Day 5: Tongariro National Park - Wellington

Overview: Today we will be travelling onwards to Wellington, capital of NZ. We will be stopping along the way, intending to arrive in Wellington by mid Afternoon.

Group dinner .

Accommodation: Wellington TBC

Day 6: Wellington

Overview: Wellington has been the nation’s capital since 1856. We will enjoy a guided tour in this beautiful city on foot. We take the Wellington Cable Car, New Zealand’s only running funicular railway. This ride will take you from the heart of the city to a lookout that will give you a view of Wellington. You can walk through the Botanic Garden, and visit the historic Pioneer Cemetery established in the 19th century.

The tour of Wellington finishes in the Waterfront precinct close to the National Museum of New Zealand “Te papa” . We have tickets for entry into the Museum, the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure.

Accommodation: Wellington TBA

Day 7: Wellington – Picton - Christchurch

Overview: Today we will be travelling from Wellington to Christchurch, taking the early interislander ferry across the Cook Strait to Picton. Then is a relaxing three-hour journey that will take you through New Zealand’s breathtaking scenery and landmarks following the coastline to Christchurch.

The group will stop at the beautiful coastal town of Kaikoura for lunch.

Group Dinner.

Accommodation: Christchurch.TBA

Day 8: Christchurch

Overview: Today our local guide assists both on foot and in the Coach to spend the morning exploring and learning about Christchurch, the largest city in New Zealand’s South Island. Time permitting we will head over to the French inspired settlement of Lyttelton to learn more about this European settlement. In the early afternoon our day tour will possibly finish on the coast at Sumner where you can explore at your leisure or return to Christchurch.

This reminder of the afternoon is at your leisure.

Accommodation: Christchurch TBA

Day 9: Christchurch- Dunedin

Overview: Today we will be travelling from Christchurch running close to the coast all the way to Dunedin. We stop at Oamaru en-route to explore the quirky Victorian Precinct, famous for its Steampunk playground and restored buildings.

Accommodation: Dunedin TBA

Day 10: Dunedin

Overview: With a local guide Dunedin, to explore and learn about a city designed in Edinburgh, Scotland…. Dunedin was once the largest city in New Zealand and on this tour of the city we see and learn about some terrific buildings and monuments from the Victorian Era including the university and Railway station. There is also likely to be time to visit the worlds steepest street as laid out by the Scottish surveyors in Edinburgh.

We also visit the beautiful gardens and historic house of New Zealand’s only castle, Larnach Castle. It was built by the entrepreneur and politician, William Larnach.

Accommodation: Dunedin TBA.

Day 11: Dunedin - Te Anau

Overview: Today we will travel from Dunedin to Te Anau via Invercargill. We break for lunch in Invercargill and enjoy a short guided tour of the city, which have the only South facing harbour in the world. Te Anau is a small settlement next to the Fiordland National Park, part of Unesco World Heritage site, Te Wāhipounamu. There may be the opportunity to explore some of the history between Dunedin and Te Anau

Group meal this evening

Day 12 : Te Anau - Milford Sound - Queenstown

Overview: Today we venture with many others to take what is described a highlight of ant visit to the South Island, a 90 minute cruise on Milford sound in the Fiordland National park

Milford Sound day trip – a boat cruise through the amazing cliffs of Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, the cliffs carved by glaciers during the ice ages.

In the afternoon we travel past the National park on our way to Queenstown by road through the Southern alps.

Accommodation: Queenstown TBA

Day 13 : Queenstown

Overview: Today we have a day tour to explore Queenstown with our knowledgable local guide.

In the afternoon we take a ride on the tss Earnslaw, a coal fired steam vessel assembled during the gold rush era on the banks of Lake Wakatipu and it has been restored down to its last brass fitting. It is in regular service and is still the main cargo conduit between Queenstown and the sheep stations, as ranches are known, that line the narrow twisting lake.

Queenstown is a historic gold mining town is the winter sports capital of New Zealand and in the views of many, the adventure capital of the world. The fast-flowing narrow-ravined rivers that once powered the gold sluices have become now the habitat for jet boaters and bungee jumpers.

In the evening we will meet again for our farewell dinner.

Accommodation: Queenstown TBA

Day 14 : Queenstown

Overview: Today concludes after breakfast.

Learn from Maori leaders about their world pre- and post-European colonisation

Experience New Zealand’s thermal wonderland, Te Puia Thermal Reserve, in Rotorua.

Enjoy a guided tour through New Zealand’s Capital city, Wellington

Cruise the acclaimed Milford Sound in the Fiordland National Park

Tour Queenstown with a knowledgable local guide.

What’s included in our Tour

13 nights accommodation.
13 breakfasts, 4 dinners.
Transport by modern and comfortable coach.
Entrances and sightseeing as specified.
Services of Tour Leader for the duration of tour
Detailed Preparatory Information

What’s not included in our Tour

Return international airfare and departure taxes.
Comprehensive travel insurance.
Items of a personal nature, such as telephone calls and laundry

Outdoors hot pool in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Suggested Reading List VIEW 14 BOOKS CLOSE

Available at

Do They Speak English Down There?

by Susan C. Tunney

Read how one family transformed a fantasy into reality when they traded in their San Diego lifestyle to move to rural New Zealand along with the challenges it presented adapting to a new culture. From duct tape to #8 wire, its been one helluva journey.

Purchase on Amazon

Pounamu Pounamu

by Witi Ihimaera

Pounamu Pounamu is classic Ihimaera. First published om 1972, it was immediately endorsed by Maori and Pakeha alike for its original stories that showed how important Maori identity is for all New Zealanders. As Katherine Mansfield did in her first collection In a German Pension (1911), and Janet Frame in The Lagoon (1951), Witi Ihimaera explores in Pounamu Pounamu what it is like to be a New Zealander - but from a Maori perspective. The seeds of Ihimaera's later works are first introduced in this ground-breaking collection: The Whale Rider in his story 'The Whale', The Rope of Man in 'Tangi', and the character of Simeon form Bulibasha, King of the Gypsies in 'One Summer Morning'; and the themes of aroha (love), whanaungatanga (kinship) and manaakitanga (supporting each other), which are so intergral to Ihimaera's work.

Purchase on Amazon

The Penguin History of New Zealand

by Michael King

New Zealand was the last country in the world to be discovered and settled by humankind. It was also the first to introduce full democracy. Between those events, and in the century that followed, the movements and conflicts of human history have been played out more intensively and more rapidly in New Zealand than anywhere else on Earth.The Penguin History of New Zealand tells that story in all its colour and drama. The narrative that emerges is an inclusive one about men and women, Maori and Pakeha. It shows that British motives in colonising New Zealand were essentially humane; and that Maori, far from being passive victims of a 'fatal impact', coped heroically with colonisation and survived by selectively accepting and adapting what Western technology and culture had to offer.

Purchase on Amazon

New Zealand: People, Places and Events that Shaped the History of New Zealand

by James Boyle

New Zealand is a country that has forever been admired for its beautiful landscapes – a wilderness that barely seems to be touched by humans. The populated areas are surrounded by forests, plains, rocky mountains – even beaches. All of this gives New Zealand that heavenly vibe. However, the place we admire today has been heavily affected by its history. People who wanted to farm the land versus people who wanted to keep the land the way it is. A land that, despite the wars it had been through, has managed to hang on to its beauty. Packed with colonization, war and expansion, the history of New Zealand is something everyone should know and study in this day and age.

Purchase on Amazon

History and Traditions of the Maoris of the West Coast, North Island of New Zealand Prior to 1840

by Stephenson Percy Smith

Excerpt from History and Traditions of the Maoris of the West Coast, North Island of New Zealand Prior to 1840This history is much longer than perhaps suits the ordinary reader indeed, it is over a hundred pages more than was originally contemplated. But the amount of information collected will prove of interest to those living in the localities mentioned in after times; and it could never be collected again, for the old men who gave it have now passed on to Te Hono-i-wairua.To others than members of the Polynesian Society it is right to say that the book has been published in the Society's Journal by instalments - it would otherwise never have appeared on account of the expense - and that the number of maps in it is due to the liberality of the Government, who had them drawn and printed at their expense.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Purchase on Amazon

A Short History of New Zealand

by Gordon McLauchlan

A new edition of the bestselling short history on New Zealand, updated to include the Helen Clark years, the rise of John Key, the Christchurch earthquakes and the 2011 Rugby World Cup! A lively and accessible history written by one of New Zealand’s most well-known commentators on matters past and present. Succinct and well referenced, this book is the most accessible introduction to New Zealand history currently in print.

Purchase on Amazon

New Zealand Unleashed: The Country, Its Future and the People Who Will Get It There

by C Murray, Campbell Murray, S Carden, Steven Carden

A futurist's vision for a strong, economically successful and positive New ZealandThe future is coming. The question is: are we ready? New Zealand Unleashed is a look at what sort of society New Zealand will need to be to best tackle an unpredictable future. It is about how New Zealand can thrive on the uncertainty of the future, rather than fear and resist it. In this book Steven Carden doesn't outline what New Zealand should do, rather he argues how New Zealand should be.To accomplish that, he examines aspects of biology, physics, psychology, New Zealand's history, business and education. New Zealand Unleashed is divided into four parts: Part One - The End of Certainty - Why does the pace of change seem so rampant today, the future so uncertain, and why does that unnerve us so much? Part Two - How to Build a Successful Society - Given that uncertainty and complexity is an increasing fact of life, what are the three key traits that successful societies use to deal with it? Part Three - New Zealand's DNA - Has New Zealand exhibited these three key traits in the past, and what does it tell us about our ability to cope with change and uncertainty in the future? Part Four - A Few Ideas for a More Adaptive New Zealand - How can New Zealand nurture these three key traits to help build a stronger country in the future?

Last Train to Paradise: Journeys from the Golden Age of New Zealand Railways

by Graham Hutchins

LAST TRAIN TO PARADISE is a celebratory account of a time when train travel was more than just the accepted means of travelling around New Zealand. It was also an era when rail journeys provided excitement, companionship and romance.Royal trains, troop trains, rugby specials, tourist trains ... all come to life in Graham Hutchins’ evocative descriptions of rail travel in the golden age.In the first half of the twentieth century, travelling by train was the easiest way to get around New Zealand. Lines existed between most provincial towns, and world-famous visitors like Mark Twain and Lord Kitchener frequented the network. The Rotorua Limited carried the well-to-do in some style to take the waters in Rotorua; the Central Otago Express ventured through the tussock hinterland as far as Cromwell; the Auckland-Opua Express took passengers keen to discover the delights of the Bay of Islands; while the Onehunga Boat Train used to be part of the main route between Auckland and Wellington.LAST TRAIN TO PARADISE describes the halcyon days of New Zealand rail, some of which the author was fortunate enough to experience personally. The ‘name’ trains and journeys cover a considerable period of New Zealand’s history, from the late 1800s to the golden era of train travel (the first five decades of the twentieth century). Among the special journeys covered are the Prince of Wales’ royal progress through New Zealand in 1920, and travelling with fans on the ‘Test Match Special’ to enjoy the rugby in 1956. Graham Hutchins vividly evokes a way of life that has all but disappeared, recalling a host of characters and incidents from an age less obsessed with the motorcar. The book includes a wide variety of fascinating and unfamiliar photographs, both of the trains themselves and the people who travelled in them.Graham Hutchins is a long-time railway enthusiast and a frequent traveller on the New Zealand rail network. Among several books he has written on the subject is ‘Great New Zealand Railway Journeys’ (Exisle 2008). He has also written extensively on rugby, cricket, rock music and a range of other subjects. Although some of the lines described in ‘Last Train to Paradise’ have closed, he remains optimistic about the future of train travel in New Zealand. Graham Hutchins is a full-time writer living in Hamilton.

New Zealand Stories: Mansfield Selections

by Katherine Mansfield

Ten stories from the 'brilliant' Katherine Mansfield set in New Zealand.As Vincent O'Sullivan states, those encountering Mansfield's stories for the first time have invariably found they 'were alive, they were witty, they were moving, they covered new ground'. But with about 70 stories to choose from and a vast array of themes and approaches, where do you start, and how do you begin to understand and best appreciate her writing and achievements? This series features selections of her best stories, grouped by subject and introduced by Mansfield scholar Vincent O'Sullivan, who is also a writer of fiction in his own right. Each volume offers a different way to view Mansfield's work. This selection includes her most-loved stories about the New Zealand of her childhood. As O'Sullivan explains, his choices cover 'everything of importance that happened to her, that she observed and experienced, between childhood in Wellington's wooden houses, to her deciding in Switzerland in July 1922, that her final paragraph about a singing bird was the place for her to stop'.

Great Tales from New Zealand History

by Gordon McLauchlan

An intriguing collection of tales plucked from the byways of New Zealand’s history by a master storyteller who recognises a good yarn when he sees it. Gordon McLauchlan tempts our imagination with 46 little-known tales from the past. Here you will discover:- that Auckland applied twice to the Colonial Office to be a separate colony from the rest of New Zealand- more about the man who wanted to be James Cook- when drinking beer legally became an ‘art’ on the West Coast- whether Kupe was man or myth- how Hawera seceded and became a republic- when and why the Americans planned to invade New Zealand- which aviation heroine was called a ‘naughty girl who deserved a spanking’- why a posse of politicians committed suicide . . . and more.This great collection of tales explores these and many more questions and issues which have fascinated New Zealanders and filled many a page in many a history book over the years. Gordon McLauchlan brings a fresh perspective on some old and often vexed periods in New Zealand’s history.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople: Wild Pork and Watercress

by Barry Crump

When Ricky's beloved Aunt Bella dies and Social Welfare threatens to put him into care, the overweight Maori boy and cantankerous Uncle Hec flee into the remote and rugged Ureweras. The impassable bush serves up perilous adventures, forcing the pair of misfits to use all their skills to survive hunger, wild pigs and the vagaries of the weather. Worse still are the authorities, determined to bring Ricky and Uncle Hec to justice. But despite the difficulties of life on the run, a bond of trust and love blossoms between the world-weary man and his withdrawn side-kick. This rattling good yarn has now been made into a major movie: Hunt For the Wilderpeople, directed and written by Taika Waititi, and starring Sam Neill and Julian Dennison.

Maori and Settlers (Annotated with Historic Overview): A Story of the New Zealand War

by G.A. Henty

This classical novel is devoted to one episode of New Zealand history. The details of the struggle between white settlers and Maoris are artfully mixed up with the plot full of adventures and romance.

The New Zealand wars; a history of the Maori campaigns and the pioneering period

by James Cowan

The New Zealand wars; a history of the Maori campaigns and the pioneering period.

Penguin History Of New Zealand

by Michael King

New Zealand was the last country in the world to be discovered and settled by humankind. It was also the first to introduce full democracy. Between those events, and in the century that followed the franchise, the movements and the conflicts of human history have been played out more intensively and more rapidly in New Zealand than anywhere else on Earth.The Penguin History of New Zealand, a new book for a new century, tells that story in all its colour and drama. The narrative that emerges in an inclusive one about men and women, Maori and Pakeha. It shows that British motives in colonising New Zealand were essentially humane; and that Maori, far from being passive victims of a 'fatal impact', coped heroically with colonisation and survived by selectively accepting and adapting what Western technology and culture had to offer.This book, a triumphant fruit of careful research, wide reading and judicious assessment, was an unprecedented best-seller from the time of its first publication in 2003.

New Zealand: An Odyssey Down Under

A small escorted group tour for senior travellers

Itinerary

Important commentary on Covid-19

New Zealand Small Group Tour

New Zealand Small Group Tour for seniors; Itinerary & Highlights

North Island

South Island

Articles about New Zealand published by Odyssey Traveller

External articles to assist you on your visit to New Zealand

FAQs

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