NEW ZEALAND A G a r d e n P a r a d i s e Join Mark Weathington and friends of JC Raulston Arboretum for a Garden Adventure to New Zealand January 10 24, 2019 You are cordially invited! Please join me, Mark Weathington, and friends of JC Raulston Arboretum and escape winter on this stunning garden adventure to New Zealand! Together, we will discover first-hand the rich culture and sheer beauty of this isolated island paradise. We ll cruise Auckland s spectacular bay, visit gushing geysers, relax in hot springs and learn about Maori history, music and dance in Rotorua. Then we continue south to the capital Wellington. There we'll visit the excellent Te Papa Museum and stunning Wellington Botanical Gardens. After, we ll fly south to Christchurch to board the TranzAlpine Express. We'll ride the rails to Arthur s Pass and then continue on to Franz Josef town and Queenstown for a spectacular cruise on Milford Sound. January is summertime in New Zealand, so please join me for what promises to be another amazing garden adventure!
TRIP AT GLANCE 1 Night overnight Flight to New Zealand (You ll lose one day crossing the International Date Line) 2 Nights Auckland, New Zealand s Northern Capital 2 Nights Rotorua (Maori Villages & Hot Springs) 1 Night New Plymouth 2 Nights Windy Wellington, New Zealand s capital city 1 Night Christchurch 1 Night Franz Josef Town 3 Nights Queenstown 3 Nights Sydney, Australia Post -Tour Option 1 Night Return Flight Home JOURNEY HIGHLIGHTS Auckland and Wellington Botanic Gardens Maori cultural center and feast Summertime garden visits with local gardeners A scenic Trans-alpine train journey from Christchurch to Arthur s Pass The geysers and hot springs of Rotorua A full day cruising through the fjords of the Southern Island Private garden visits with local gardeners Three fun-filled days in Queenstown The National Museum of Wellington A group of like-minded garden enthusiasts YOUR JC RAULSTON ADVENTURE INCLUDES With JC Raulston host Mark Weathington An expert Earthbound Kiwi guide Visits to botanical and private gardens Transport by first class coach Airport transfers while in New Zealand (for those arriving with the group) All breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners Twelve nights of four star hotel accommodations Porterage (1 piece per person) Harbor cruise in Auckland Maori cultural center and feast Trans-alpine train journey from Christchurch to Arthur s Pass Milford Sound cruise through Southern Alps All sightseeing and attractions as listed in itinerary Gratuities for your drivers and guides
TRIP FACTS 15 Days / 14 Nights (when including air travel) $4,999 Per Person Double Occupancy (land only) $1,199 Single Supplement Depart Raleigh on January 10, 2019 Trip begins in Auckland on January 12, 2019 Trip ends in Queenstown on January 24 Return to Raleigh on January 24 Post-tour extension to Sydney ends on January 27 YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS. Days 1 and 2 January 10 & 11 - Depart Raleigh (or meet us in Auckland!) Depart from your home airport today. Remember, you ll lose one day crossing the International Date Line, but not to worry, you ll get it back upon your return to the USA. Day 3: January 12 - Arrive in Auckland To start off the day we ll enjoy a morning cruise on the beautiful Aitemata Harbor and a welcome lunch. Then, after lunch we ll officially check in to our hotel. Free evening to rest and relax. Sleep in Auckland (B, L)* Breakfast will be served on board before landing, and lunch is included today.
Day 4: January 13 - Gardens of Auckland The Auckland Botanic Gardens covers 156 acres of land and native forest. Opening to the public in 1982, the Auckland Botanic Gardens is a young garden by world standards. However, it is widely recognized for its outstanding plant collections, Auckland regional identity and the interest it has inspired in the community. A focus on creating unique gardens and landscapes has resulted in a spectacular garden with a distinctive South Pacific flavor. Enjoy lunch at the garden before setting off to meet some local gardeners. After, we ll tour a private home garden and speak with local gardeners. In the late afternoon you can opt to catch a ferry to the quaint village of Devonport and take in the views from atop Mt Eden, an extinct volcano. Or, you can visit Sky Tower, the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere. Sleep in Auckland (B, L) Day 5: January 14 - Auckland to Rotorua via the Gardens of Ayrlies: Depart Auckland and travel to Ayrlies Garden, one of New Zealand s best known gardens and a Garden of National Significance. Use of color is a hallmark of Ayrlies, seen best in the Lurid Border where hot colors are used to great effect. After visiting the Ayrlies Gardens, we'll travel through magnificent countryside to Dalton's Plantation for a tour and time to stroll in the beautiful gardens here. We depart for Rotorua in the late afternoon. Sleep in Rotorua (B, L, D)
Day 6: January 15 - Gardens and a Maori Performance in Rotorua The day begins with a visit to Government Gardens, which were originally known as Paepaekumana. This site is of legendary and historical importance to local Maori people, for here many significant battles have taken place. In the late 1800s, the Maori people gifted 50 acres of this land to the crown "for the benefit of the people of the world". The land was a scrub-covered geothermal area with several therapeutic pools. The scrub was cleared and formal gardens planted. Several large trees remain from those early days, including multi-trunked Japanese firs and an unusual Californian weeping redwood. Enjoy a gondola ride to the Skyline Restaurant for a buffet lunch served with spectacular views. This evening you will experience an entertaining Maori Hāngī and concert. Sleep in Rotorua (B, L, D) Day 7: January 16 - Rotorua to New Plymouth via Pukekura Park Today we travel along the Thermal Explorer Highway to view the mighty Huka Falls before continuing to Lake Taupo. Visit the Taupo Museum, with its recreation of '100% Pure New Zealand Ora - Garden of Wellbeing', New Zealand s gold medalwinning entry in the 2004 Chelsea Flower Show. This special show garden showcases central North Island flora. Upon arrival in New Plymouth we ll visit Pukekura Park. The fern house is both unique and superb. The pathways through native trees and shrubs and the reflections in the lake with its historic red bridge are also a highlight. Sleep in New Plymouth (B, D)
Day 8: January 17 - New Plymouth to Wellington via Paloma Gardens Whanganui Explore the exotic Paloma Gardens, landscaped with plants from all over the world, from the jungles of Asia to the deserts of Africa and the Americas. Paloma Gardens has been awarded Garden of National Significance by the New Zealand Gardens Trust for the past thirteen years. Enjoy lunch in the town of Whanganu before traveling further south to the nation s capital, Wellington. Enjoy dinner together and then rest up and prepare yourself for a gorgeous day in windy Wellington tomorrow. Sleep in Wellington (B, D) Day 9: January 18 - Wellington s Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens Today starts with a city tour highlighting Wellington s tremendous history and culture. Then we ll soak up a little history, art and culture at the Te Papa Museum. There is something for everyone here and you won t want to miss this museum which helps unravel the many mysteries of this land. This afternoon enjoy an excursion by cable car to the Wellington Botanic Garden! Here you can see the protected native forest, specialized plant collections, colorful floral displays and views over the city. After, we ll tour the home of a local gardener to learn about the special challenges and delights faced by local gardeners. Sleep in Wellington (B) Day 10: January 19 - Christchurch: The Ohinetahi House and Gardens We depart this morning for an early flight to Christchurch. Upon arrival we'll visit one of the area's most beautiful gardens. The Ohinetahi House and Gardens lies in a protected valley in Governors Bay just over the Port Hills from Christchurch. It is surrounded on three sides by a steep volcanic crater rim while the view to the northeast sweeps straight out across Lyttelton Harbour and Banks Peninsula. A garden was first made on this site in 1865 by T H Potts one of New Zealand s first botanists. He planted a great variety of exotic trees and shrubs, many of which stand on the perimeter of the garden. Enjoy lunch here before we make our way to our hotel. Sleep in Christchurch (B, L) Day 11: January 20 - Tranz-alpine Train from Christchurch to Arthur s Pass In a country known for spectacular scenery, today is tops! This morning we ll board the TranzAlpine train for a stunning alpine adventure from Christchurch to Arthur s Pass. Known as one of the most famous and beautiful train rides in the world, we ll traverse the fertile farmlands of the Canterbury Plains and have thrilling vistas over deep gorges. Our plan is to disembark at Arthur s Pass (having seen the most beautiful scenery) and board our private motor coach to Greymouth for lunch. From Greymouth we ll continue on to Franz Josef Town. Sleep in Franz Josef Town (B, D)
Day 12: January 21- Franz Josef Town to Queenstown This morning we continue south from Franz Josef Town to Queenstown. Our scenic drive takes us through Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park and Mount Aspiring National Park. We ll stop for lunch along the way. We'll arrive in Queenstown in the late afternoon and have a free evening in Queenstown. Sleep in Queenstown (B, L) Day 13: January 22 - Queenstown Queenstown is New Zealand s adventure capital! Today is a free day to get out and enjoy the scenery. Options include: jet boating, canyoning, white water rafting, paragliding, fishing, biking, biking, and bungee jumping! Sleep in Queenstown (B, D) Day 14: January 23 - Queenstown and Milford Sound: Don t forget your camera today! Today is a full day excursion to Milford Sound. Bounded by steep cliffs and dense rainforest, Milford Sound is by far the best known of all of the fiords in New Zealand, and the only one that can be accessed by road. Rain or shine, Milford Sound continues to captivate even the most experienced traveler. At the pinnacle of Milford Sound is the iconic Mitre Peak - standing a proud 5,000 feet above sea level, it is certainly an impressive sight to behold. It is approximately 10 miles from the head of the fjord to the open sea, which means together, we will comfortably travel the length of the fjord to open ocean and return today. Sleep in Queenstown (B) Day 15: January 24 - Return home with a lifetime of memories! Having experienced some of the finest scenery and gardens in New Zealand, it is time to say goodbye. You will be transferred to the Queenstown airport for your flight home after a memorable holiday. For those returning to the USA, you will arrive home the same day.
Celebrate Australia Day in Sydney! POST-TOUR EXTENSION: TO SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA $1,195 per person double occupancy (air to Australia from New Zealand included) $375 single supplement POST-TOUR INCLUDES Air transport on Air New Zealand, one-way Airport transfers and city orientation upon arrival in Sydney Three nights accommodation in a centrally-located 4 star hotel Breakfast daily Evening dinner cruise on Sydney Harbor Not Included: Any items not mentioned above Note about the post-tour extension: Sydney is a stunning and safe world class city. This means that it can easily be explored on your own. The post-tour extension has been created for your convenience and it s perfect for those travelers who have always wanted to visit Sydney and don t mind doing a bit of exploring on their own. * January 26 th is Australia Day, the official a national day of Australia, which marks the 230th anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Sydney Cove. Your hotel is just a stone s throw from Sydney Harbour, the iconic Sydney Opera House and the spectacular fireworks display on and around the Sydney Harbour Bridge the perfect place to join in the celebration on your last night Down Under!
METT YOUR HOST Mark Weathington is the Director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University where he is passionate in his work to connect people with plants. His career in public horticulture has also included the Norfolk Botanical Garden where he served as Director of Horticulture and the Atlanta Botanical Garden as a horticulturist. Mark travels extensively searching for new plants to diversify the American landscape and lecturing on a variety of topics in horticulture to further the JC Raulston Arboretum s vision of Planning and Planting a Better World. His explorations and speaking engagements have taken him to China, Taiwan, Japan, Ecuador, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, and throughout the US. Mark is currently writing Growing the Southeast Garden, a modern guide to gardening in the southeast, for Timber Press. He has recently revised and updated the Propagation Guide for Woody Plants at the JC Raulston Arboretum and has been published in Horticulture, Carolina Gardener, American Nurseryman, VA Gardener, and HortScience magazines as well as The Mid- Atlantic Gardener s Book of Lists. Mark lives and gardens in the shade in Raleigh, North Carolina, the city of oaks, with his wife and 2 children.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Packing: We ll be hopping scenic trains and planes on this journey. This means that at times you will be moving and carrying your bag both on to a train or bus. We suggest that you pack light and utilize wheeled luggage. Porters are available at the hotels, but not on the trains or buses. Physical requirements: In order to make the most of your trip, you should be able to walk independently for one to two miles, often over uneven cobblestones and be able to stand for a period of time during walking or museum tours or visits to other sights. You must also be able to maneuver luggage onto trains and buses (see above). Luggage: You should be able to comfortably manage your luggage through airports and while boarding a train. Porters are generally available to assist you at hotels only. Some of the castles, hotels and country inns we utilize do not have porters, but most of our lodgings are equipped with elevators. The key is not to over-pack. Concerts, Festivals and Events: If (for any reason) the organizers of a scheduled concert, festival or event cancel or postpone a planned activity with little or no notice, Earthbound Expeditions will do its utmost to secure a similar event or secure another concert(s). Strikes, unscheduled delays, lack of funds and acts of God are beyond the control of Earthbound Expeditions. Cancellation of an event, festival or concert is not cause for refund. Hosted Journeys: If a host or special guest is unable to attend as planned, Earthbound Expeditions will do its utmost to find another host who has similar interests, talents and expertise. The inability of a host to participate in a tour is not grounds for a full or partial refund. QUESTIONS & RESERVATIONS 800.723.8454 EarthboundExpeditions.com