TOUR TO NEW ZEALAND 16 TH JANUARY - 1 ST FEBRUARY 2019

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1 TOUR TO NEW ZEALAND 16 TH JANUARY - 1 ST FEBRUARY 2019 New Zealand has been called the Paradise of the Pacific since the early 1800s due to its stunning and diverse natural beauty. With snow covered mountain peaks, natural lakes and fjords, vast grassland plains and temperate weather it is a haven for those that like the great outdoors. We will visit some of the very best of New Zealand s agriculture including dairy, fruit, sheep, beef, deer, wine, cereals and salmon farming. The country boasts outstanding pastures that underpin the quality of their dairy, lamb and beef meat production. The technical programme includes both the small and large farming operations, some with stock levels over a thousand head. Farming is undertaken without the benefit of government subsidy so the tour offers the chance to hear first hand how farming methods need to be adjusted. In addition, you will enjoy a cruise both on the ocean and lakes, see the picturesque towns and cities on the north and south islands, visit a major hydroelectric facility and tour the volcano region. Enjoy eating in hotels, local restaurants and on farms, affording you the opportunity to meet the people that create the kiwi hospitality known the world over. The tour is taken in partnership with Australian and North American Farmers, so enjoyable and diverse company is guaranteed. A stop-over in Hong Kong on the outbound journey has been included but if you would prefer an alternative destination we would be pleased to assist with this and for those that would like to stay on in New Zealand to visit friends or relatives, a delayed return flight can be arranged.

2 The Country New Zealand Country Information Throughout the 19th and much of the 20th century, the homeland of Britain had an enormous influence on New Zealand. Government administration, education, and culture were largely built on British models. After World War II, cultural ties with Great Britain remained strong. However, successive New Zealand governments saw the USA as their major ally and protector. New Zealand troops fought with US forces during the Korean and Vietnam wars. While New Zealand is still heavily influenced by its colonial heritage, the country now has its own strong sense of identity. While still a member of the British Commonwealth, and maintaining close, friendly relations with the USA, New Zealand now has a far more independent trading and foreign policy. Since the mid 1980s, New Zealand has been a nuclear free zone, with its armed forces primarily focused on peacekeeping in the Pacific region. The Agriculture In Northland, the major form of farming is beef cattle. In the Waikato and Taranaki areas, dairy cattle predominate. Through the rest of New Zealand, sheep farming is the major rural activity, with beef cattle farming in the hills and high country, and dairying increasing in Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Livestock is predominantly grass-fed, but hay and silage is used in the winter months to make up for slower pasture growth. There are also significant numbers of deer being farmed and cereals and crops are also key farming activities. It is worth noting that farming is done without the benefit of government subsidy. The Weather Weather in New Zealand can change unexpectedly. Be prepared and understand what you can expect from different seasons below. While the far north has subtropical weather during summer, and inland alpine areas of the South Island can be as cold as -10 C (14 F) in winter, most of the country lies close to the coast, which means mild temperatures. The average New Zealand temperature decreases as you travel south. January and February are the warmest months, and July is the coldest month of the year. The People With a patchwork history of Māori, European, Pacific Island and Asian cultures, New Zealand has become a melting-pot population - but one with some uniting features that make it unique in the world. Today, of the 4.4 million New Zealanders (informally known as Kiwis), approximately 69% are of European descent, 14.6% are indigenous Māori, 9.2% Asian and 6.9% non-māori Pacific Islanders. Geographically, over three-quarters of the population live in the North Island, with one-third of the total population living in Auckland. The other main cities of Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton are where the majority of the remaining Kiwis dwell. Web reference:

3 TOUR ITINERARY Day 1 Wednesday 16th January (--meals in flight) Early evening departure from London Heathrow on a direct flight to Hong Kong. Day 2 Thursday 17th January Arrive Hong Kong early afternoon. Private transfer to your hotel for three nights. Evening at leisure. (---) Day 3 Friday 18th January Enjoy a half-day Hong Kong island tour - starting from the famous fishing village of Aberdeen, with the opportunity to join a sampan for a close up view of waterborne life. Visit the famous Stanley Market and enjoy a tram ride up to Victoria Peak for some amazing views. Evening at leisure. Day 4 Saturday 19th January Explore Hong Kong at leisure before joining a pre-dinner sunset cruise around the dazzling Hong Kong Harbour. Day 5 Sunday 20th January (--meals in flight) Enjoy a day at leisure until your airport transfer mid-afternoon. Early evening departure from Hong Kong Airport. Day 6 Monday 21st January (--D) Arrive into Auckland, New Zealand s largest and most cosmopolitan city. After checking in and freshening up, a chance to explore the City of Sails. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of Auckland taking in the iconic sky tower and scenic harbours and beaches. This evening enjoy a Welcome to New Zealand dinner at your hotel. Day 7 Tuesday 22nd January (B-D) Depart Auckland and travel south to visit a dairy farm milking around 500 New Zealand Friesian cows. This farm is pasture based but with some maize and grass silage supplementation during periods of slow growth. Dairying is currently New Zealand s leading agricultural industry and principal driver of its export based economy. After a lunch break (own expense) in the pretty riverside town of Cambridge, visit an organic kiwifruit orchard, growing both green and gold varieties, for a look at one of New Zealand s signature horticultural products. Continue to lakeside Rotorua, an interesting geothermal region and home of native Maori culture. This evening, at Te Puia Whakarewarewa, you will meet members of the local Maori tribe and see steaming geysers and boiling mud pools. Enjoy a Maori cultural evening - an entertaining introduction to their customs, handicrafts and the Haka - the warrior challenge made famous by the All Blacks rugby team - and experience the Hangi - traditionally cooked meat and vegetables. Day 8 Wednesday 23rd January (BL-) This morning visit the Agrodome, a light-hearted but informative show featuring all the commercial sheep breeds found in New Zealand, plus a sheep-shearing and sheep-dog demonstration. This afternoon visit a mixed farm in a picturesque position overlooking Lake Rotorua. Inspect their crossbred sheep and the Jersey dairy bulls that are leased to dairy farmers prior to finishing for the beef market. Enjoy a relaxed lunch on the farm with your hosts. Later return to Rotourua where you have the rest of the day at leisure. Day 9 Thursday 24th January (---) (---) (B-D) This morning travel south and visit a deer farm. New Zealand has around 2,800 deer farms, with a national farmed herd of over 1 million head. Meet with the owners of this 1000-head operation, producing venison meat and deer velvet. Lunch (own expense) at nearby Lake Taupo - New Zealand s largest lake. Continue south alongside the Lake through the vast Volcanic Plateau. Visit a sheep and beef-finishing farm in the Manawatu region. Each year 1,000 head of cattle and 15,000 sheep are finished on grass on this property. Arrive Palmerston North for dinner and overnight.

4 Day 10 Friday 25th January (B-D) Today, continue south via the scenic Kapiti Coast to the seaside capital city of Wellington. Enjoy a city tour including the Parliament buildings and the scenic waterfront. This afternoon board the Interislander ferry for a three-hour crossing of the Cook Strait and the beautiful Marlborough Sounds to the South Island. A short drive to Blenheim in the heart of Marlborough s wine country. Enjoy the chance to sample some of the region s wines over dinner. Day 11 Saturday 26th January (B-D) Depart and drive through the surrounding vineyards and stop for a tasting at one of the local vineyards - the sauvignon blanc grape variety is dominant in this region. Continue south to Kaikoura - a small town set in a spectacular position between the high peaks of the coastal mountain range and deep water of the Pacific Ocean. After some free time, travel on to the rolling farmlands of North Canterbury and arrive into Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island, for the evening. Visit the Port Hills for panoramic views of the city and take a walk through the beautiful Botanic Gardens Day 12 Sunday 27th January Today travel to the picturesque Banks Peninsula region and visit the charming French settlement of Akaroa. Enjoy lunch at one of the seaside restaurants as well as time to visit the boutique stores and galleries. This afternoon take a harbour cruise, spotting the rare hector s dolphins, pelagic birdlife, seals and other marine life that inhabit the area. Return to Christchurch for a free evening. Day 13 Monday 28th January (BLD) This morning depart south across the Canterbury Plains showcasing a patchwork of farming enterprises including sheep, beef, dairy and cropping. Visit a large irrigated dairy farm near Ashburton with 7,000 cows on a cluster of five farms, owned by a talented young couple. This property is a great example of the large-scale developments common on the Canterbury Plains in the last years. Stock includes pedigree Jerseys, and Kiwi-cross and Holstein cows. Also visit a leading arable farmer growing grain and pulse crops with irrigation. Continue south via the foothills before entering the Mackenzie Country - a high, dry inland region of austere beauty. The beautiful Southern Alps, including New Zealand s highest peak Mount Cook/Aoraki provide a dramatic backdrop to this area. Arrive at your Mackenzie Country Hotel and enjoy a buffet dinner. Day 14 Tuesday 29th January Continue south to the scenic Otago Lakes region. Make a brief visit to an interesting family owned salmon farm in the hydro canal. Continue south to a 6000 ha High Country Station with fine-wool Merino, meat producing sheep, beef cattle, and deer. This diversified farming business also provides dairy support - the winter feeding of non-lactating dairy cows prior to spring calving. Enjoy lunch with your farm hosts. This afternoon continue to the beautiful lakeside town of Queenstown, stopping at a summer fruit orchard en-route. Free evening for dinner. (BL-) (BL-) Day 15 Wednesday 30th January (B-D) Day 16 (B-meals in flight) After breakfast tour the surrounding area, including the historic and charming gold-mining village of Arrowtown and past the Kawerau Bridge - the home of the bungy-jumping. The rest of the day you are free to explore Queenstown. Perhaps a relaxing cruise of Lake Wakatipu on a historic steamer. There are plenty of shopping options, perhaps savour the local food and wine, paraglide, bungy-jump, golf, or walk the many local tracks. This evening ride the gondola high above Queenstown at Bob s Peak, with stunning views of the town, the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu. Enjoy a Farewell to New Zealand dinner. Thursday 31st January Breakfast at the hotel. Free time before transfer to Queenstown airport for flight home. Day 17 Friday 1st February Morning arrival back into London Heathrow. End of Tour Arrangements. (Meal basis: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

5 Tour Cost: Based on a minimum of 10 travellers 4, per person (sharing a twin/double room) PLUS Airport Taxes (subject to change) Single Supplement Tour Includes: Economy International flights 3 night stop over in Hong Kong Good class hotels Meals as indicated B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner. Private Coach Transportation Local guide with farming knowledge on arrival into New Zealand Technical & touristic visits as stated, subject to local conditions at the time of travel (weather, crops etc.) Tour Excludes: Airport Taxes Travel to/from airport Upgrade flights. Meals other than stated Travel Insurance - you need to be insured to travel with Field Farm Tours Ltd. Gratuities Drinks / Personal items Other Info: No visa required for New Zealand. No compulsory health requirements, but consult your doctor or health centre for professional advice Passport needs to be valid for 6 months after your return date. We can assist with connecting flights from your nearest airport to Heathrow & return. To secure a place on this tour, please complete a booking form enclosed and return with your deposit of per person. Notes: The itinerary is subject to change without notice (local conditions, availability of visits at the time of travel, etc) and to terms and conditions as per the Company s booking conditions. The air holiday package in this brochure is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL Please see our booking conditions for more information.

6 OTHER FORTHCOMING TOURS ISLE OF MAN - MAY 2018 SHETLAND - OCTOBER 2018 VIETNAME & CAMBODIA - OCTOBER 2018 CHINA - OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018 CUBA - NOVEMBER 2018 EUROTIER - NOVEMBER 2018 WINTER GATHERING - DECEMBER 2018 ECUADOR - JANUARY 2019 FIELD FARM TOURS LTD FIELD HOUSE, 3 STEPHENSON COURT, STEPHENSON WAY, NEWARK, NOTTS, NG24 2TQ Tel no: Fax no: info@fieldfarmtours.co.uk The air holiday package in this brochure is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL Please see our booking conditions for more information.