|
Day 1 Sat 15th March: Arrive on Rēkohu (Chatham Island) Check in at Auckland Domestic Airport from 7.30 am. Check in closes 45 minutes before departure and your flight departs at 9.00 am (flight time; 2 hours 15 minutes). Land at the Chatham Islands by 12.00 pm (noon) local time (45 minutes ahead of mainland NZ time). Your hosts will meet you for the transfer from Inia William Tuuta Memorial Airport to your accommodation near the main town, Waitangi – a 20 minute drive. The premium 'Forget-Me-Not Suites' offer spacious, relaxed, centrally located accommodation. Meanwhile your tour host is from an authentic Chatham Islands family with history going back generations. Expect a few fascinating stories along the way! Daily continental breakfasts, lunches and dinner are all included in your tour.
 |
Forget-Me-Not Suites |
 |
Dinner |
| Day 2 Sun 16th March: Tour Waitangi and the South Coast Enjoy a day touring with your local guide. See the Chatham’s main ‘hub’ of Waitangi including several visits. The Chatham Islands Museum provides an opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich history of these unique islands. Meanwhile Chatham Cottage Crafts is the perfect place to find a memento or two! The Tikitiki Lookout offers excellent views out over Waitangi Township and the sprawling beach below. Tikitiki Hill walk provides a great panorama over Petre Bay, towards the Red Bluffs. You will also be able to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the new Waitangi Wharf. Drive south later to Awatotara Bush Coastal Track and Tuku Nature Reserve where you should expect to spot the native pigeon (Parea), Chatham Islands Tui along with Parakeets, Warblers and Fantails. Return to Waitangi and look forward to a renowned Chatham Islands fish & chip dinner tonight.
|
Forget-Me-Not Suites |
|
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
| Day 3 Mon 17th March: Tour the North East Travel north and stop at Ocean Mail Beach to stretch your legs on the golden beaches of the Chatham Islands ‘Sunshine Coast’. Manauea (Ocean Mail) Scenic Reserve is 834 hectares of peat dome and wetlands, including 4km of coastal dunes. This is a contrasting landscape of dune systems, Akeake forest and peat wetlands. Walk the 15-minute Wetlands Track for views of the wetland and peat lakes. This walk provides a close look at endemic plants such as the Chatham Island spear grass and bamboo rush. See Hapūpū National Historic Reserve too, home to Moriori dendroglyphs (or tree carvings) carved into the bark of Kōpi (Karaka) trees. Nearby Kaingaroa Village (or Chatham Island’s ‘Sunshine Coast’) is where HMS Chatham arrived in 1791, her RN captain claiming the island for Great Britain. The area became a base for missionaries, sealers and whalers – and a local farm is now home to the remains of a RNZAF Sunderland flying boat. The aircraft was once a lifeline to the mainland, until it was holed by a rock taking off from the lagoon in 1959. The aircraft is now a restoration project within a small museum. Last visit today is the accessible seal colony at Point Munning. Return to Waitangi and enjoy dinner tonight at the Hotel Chathams Restaurant.
|
Forget-Me-Not Suites |
|
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
| Day 4 Tue 18th March: Tour the South East Drive east to Kōpinga Marae, NZ’s only Moriori marae. This facility is the base for the revitalization of Moriori culture and language. Enjoy morning tea and a guided tour of Kōpinga to learn of the inspiring Moriori history. The marae is a significant element in Rēkohu identity and a tribute to the ancestral legacy of peace. It is also a community centre for local events and a civil emergency welfare centre. Call into John and Bridget Preece's beautiful Grand Design's home and enjoy a special degustation style lunch experience. Travel on to the fishing village of Owenga, home to a memorial statue of Tame Horomona Rehe, or Tommy Solomon, who was the last full-blooded Moriori. Owenga is a hub of activity and on a calm day you may spot fishermen returning with bountiful catches of kōura (crayfish) and blue cod. Return to Waitangi later.
|
Forget-Me-Not Suites |
|
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
| Day 5 Wed 19th March: Scenic Fishing Trip Cruise (half day) Drive to Owenga and board a large, modern, wide beam commercial fishing boat for today’s adventure. Your vastly experienced fisherman skipper is a good multi-tasker (like many Chathams locals), undertaking volunteer research on different species to ensure the fishery stays healthy and sustainable for future generations. Cruise approximately 30 minutes from port today to the fishing grounds your local crew know so very well. Try your hand at fishing the traditional Chatham Islands way using hand lines. Your crew guarantee that fish will be caught today and you’ll find blue cod and groper to be the usual and most abundant fish being caught. Expect to see an array of local bird life during your excursion today too. And when you return to port, you’ll get to see (and maybe try) the technique of filleting the catch. Take your share of the catch back ‘home’ too if you like. Note: today’s trip may be morning or afternoon, depending on weather and operational requirements.
|
Forget-Me-Not Suites |
|
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
| Day 6 Thu 20th March: Pitt Island Visit Take a short flight to Pitt Island this morning by small Cessna aircraft (with Air Chathams). Very few Chatham’s visitors ever make the Pitt island trip too, however it is worth the visit. The island offers majestic cliffs, rugged scenery, bush reserves and natural way of life. Rangihaute (Pitt Island) is home to around 40 ‘Pitt Islanders’ and its eastern location makes it the first inhabited island in the world to greet each new day. Some of the world’s rarest birds and plants call Pitt Island home too. Your local host will tell you all about the rich history of this special place. A return flight will take you back to the main Chatham Island, with a boat trip as ‘Plan-B’ if weather conditions should prevent flying.
|
Forget-Me-Not Suites |
|
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
| Day 7 Fri 21st March: Tour the North West Drive to the northwest, stopping at Ohira Bay to see the intriguing Basalt Columns – naturally formed hexagonal columns similar to the Giants Causeway in Ireland. Visit Port Hutt, a small, scenic fishing village. You’ll see the HMNZS Thomas Currell here too, an auxiliary mine-sweeper beached in the shallows. Travel on to the Maunganui Stone Cottage, built in 1866-1868 by German missionaries. This Category One historic house was constructed entirely from local stone and is the oldest dwelling on the island. A short drive on is Waitangi West Beach, the most westerly point on the Island. Last visit today will be the gorgeous landscapes at Admiral Garden with spreads of the famous Chatham Islands forget-me-not and eerie skeletons of kōpi trees among the sand dunes. Return to Waitangi later.
|
Forget-Me-Not Suites |
|
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner |
| Day 8 Sat 22nd March: Departure and return home Enjoy a relaxed morning, followed by a transfer to the airport soon after lunch. Your flight departs Rēkohu (Chatham Islands) at 2.00 pm. Flight time is around 2 hours 45 minutes so you will arrive in Auckland around 4.00 pm New Zealand time to conclude your Chatham Islands adventure.
| |
|
|
Breakfast, lunch |
| 1. Tour prices: Tour prices are in New Zealand dollars and include GST. Prices are per person, twin share or guaranteed single room basis.
2. Deposit, Payment and Acceptance of Terms: A deposit of NZ $1,500 per person is required to confirm the booking. The deposit includes an Air Chathams airfare component. If illness or circumstances require travel to be deferred, deposits and payments may be transferred to another person and/or available date, within a year of the deposit being paid. Payment of the deposit confirms the tour client has read and accepted the Tour Booking Terms & Conditions. Full payment can be made at any time but is required no later than 90 days prior to departure. For bookings made less than 90 days from tour departure, full payment is required at the time of booking.
3. Deposit and Full Payment Options:
INTERNET BANKING – Pacific Trailways Ltd. BNZ Account number 02-0400-0116109-001.
CREDIT CARD – Visa and Mastercard only.
4. Client Cancellations: All cancellation charges apply ‘per person’.
For cancellation 90 days or more prior to tour start date, a refund applies for bookings able to be transferred to another person, less $50 administration fee.
For cancellation: 89 – 61 days prior to tour start date: cancellation fee is 75% of the tour price.
For cancellation: 60 – 00 days prior to tour start date: cancellation fee is 100% of the tour price.
No refund can be made once the tour is underway and there are no refunds for unused tour components.
5. Minimum booking numbers required. This tour will be confirmed to operate once bookings have achieved the minimum numbers required. In the event that minimum booking numbers are not achieved, Pacific Trailways will offer an alternative departure, or a full refund, this being the full extent of our responsibility. Any additional costs you may incur as a result of cancellation by Pacific Trailways will be your responsibility and we expect you to seek remedy via travel insurance cover.
6. Itinerary amendments. Pacific Trailways reserves the right to amend the itinerary if/as necessary due to weather and/or operational requirements and to substitute accommodation, transport and sightseeing services if required.
7. Travel Insurance. Pacific Trailways strongly recommends that ‘loss of deposit’ travel insurance is purchased at the time of booking if possible. Cancellation fees will not be waived where travel insurance could have provided cover.
8. Luggage on tour – limits per passenger. Standard airline limits apply. One piece of cabin luggage, maximum weight 7 kilograms and must fit into an overhead locker or under a seat. One piece of main luggage to be stowed in the hold and a maximum weight of 23 kilograms.
9. Seat change daily. To provide a fair and equitable viewing experience for all tour participants a daily seat change policy applies. The process will be explained during the tour and all tour party members are expected to participate.
10. Accommodation. Tour basis is standard ‘twin / double’ or guaranteed single occupancy rooms that may not include scenic or sea views.
11. Solo tour members – guaranteed single room preference. Limited single occupancy rooms are available.
12. Smoking. New Zealand Government laws forbid smoking in public transport, tour coaches, aircraft, airport terminals, accommodation, restaurants, bars, cafes and other recognised public places. Opportunities to smoke will be made available as possible within these boundaries and in circumstances that do not cause discomfort to non-smoking tour members.
13. Personal expenses. Items and/or services not specified as included under ‘Highlights and Inclusions’ are deemed to be personal expenses and are not included in your tour price. Items considered to be personal expenses may include but are not limited to scheduled airfares and taxes, accommodation and meals and transport not included under ‘Highlights and Inclusions’, food not included on the regular tour menu, drinks, personal items, laundry, passport and visa fees, excess baggage, fuel surcharges, optional excursions and gratuities.
14. Personal belongings and lost items. Valuables on tour should be kept to a minimum and packed in your hand luggage along with personal items such as a camera, phone, small personal appliances, essential changes of clothing, toiletries and other personal items. You are responsible for your personal items at all times and must ensure you have adequate travel insurance cover in the event of any loss.
15. Health requirements. Payment of the deposit is a warranty by you that you or any persons covered by your booking are sufficiently fit and healthy to undertake this tour and associated travel arrangements. Pacific Trailways reserves the right, at its discretion, to remove tour participants who prove unable to meet these health requirements or who prove to be incapable of caring for themselves or who become a hazard to themselves or other tour members. No refund applies in such circumstances if the tour has commenced, and Pacific Trailways is not responsible for any associated travel arrangements or repatriation costs.
16. Pre and post tour connecting transfers, transport and air travel. Transport and travel before and after your tour are not included in your tour arrangements and these are your responsibility. Pacific Trailways will make every effort to keep your tour to the stated itinerary schedule but is not responsible for any missed connections before or after your tour.
17. Tour map. The tour map included on the website and in the brochure is not necessarily to scale. The map depicts an indication of the daily itinerary and route however the actual tour route may vary from the depicted tour route if operational or safety requirements make route changes necessary or desirable.
18. Illustrations. All photographs featured in the Pacific Trailways brochure, Facebook site and website illustrate and depict genuine events, places, occurrences and experiences. The use of these illustrations and images does not guarantee that such events, places, occurrences and experiences will necessarily be experienced or seen as depicted in the photograph or illustration.
19. Force Majeure. Force Majeure means an event or circumstance that is beyond the reasonable control of Pacific Trailways Ltd and that could not have been reasonably prevented by Pacific Trailways Ltd. It may include, but is not limited to, war, armed conflict, criminal damage, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity or the possibility or threat of any such activity, natural disaster including but not limited to earthquake, volcanic eruption, cyclone, hurricane, tornado, tsunami, flooding, high or low water levels, fire, landslide, adverse weather conditions, nuclear or other industrial accident causing environmental contamination, or any change of law. In the event that Pacific Trailways Ltd cancels or changes your tour arrangements in any way due to a Force Majeure event, Pacific Trailways Ltd will not be liable to refund any part of your tour deposit or tour purchase price paid by you if Pacific Trailways Ltd subsequently changes or cancels your tour arrangements in connection with a Force Majeure event. As such Force Majeure events cannot be predicted and are beyond the control of Pacific Trailways Ltd it is your responsibility to purchase travel insurance that will adequately cover you against these risks.
20. Additional costs. Pacific Trailways is not responsible for any additional costs which may be incurred by tour participants as a result of events beyond the company’s control. Examples may include (but are not limited to) strikes, industrial action, weather or any other man-made or natural occurrence.
21. Passport & Visa Requirements. It is the client/s total responsibility to meet passport and/or visa requirements for travel to and from New Zealand. Pacific Trailways is not responsible for, nor liable for, any loss or damage suffered by the client (or any person covered in the booking) resulting from client/s failure to meet required passport and visa conditions.
22. Pacific Trailways Partner. Pacific Trailways’ Chatham Island Tours operate in conjunction with Hotel Chathams Ltd. As such, your tour transport, accommodation and other tour arrangements may not be exclusive to your Pacific Trailways tour group.
23. New Zealand law applies. All Pacific Trailways Booking Terms and Conditions and operations are governed by the laws of New Zealand and all parties submit to the jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.
|
|
|
|
0800 TOUR NOW (0800 868766 NZ)
DEPARTURE DATE
Saturday 15th March 2025 (Returns Sat 22nd March 2025)
Starts and ends in AUCKLAND, NZ.
TOUR PRICE...
NZ $6,295 per person, share twin OR single room...
Tour price deal includes a Pitt Island day trip, half day fishing cruise and special Grand Designs house degustation style lunch!
INTRIGUING AND SURPRISING – CLOSE TO HOME, YET A WORLD AWAY!
Premium accommodation, local hosts, a Pitt Island visit, scenic fishing cruise, special Grand Designs house degustation style lunch and more!
Let us fly you to the Chatham Islands for a hosted adventure in a fascinating place ahead of New Zealand – and behind it – all at the same time! The captivating Chathams are New Zealand territory, 45 minutes ahead of mainland NZ time but perhaps a generation or two behind. Some 800 kilometres east of mainland New Zealand (beside the International Dateline) the Chathams offer rugged character with a relaxed lifestyle. Encounter the real Chatham Islands, hosted by locals! Stay at the premium and centrally located 'Forget-Me-Not Suites' and travel the island with your friendly, knowledgeable local host.
Expect an intimate glimpse into the many special places and unique experiences the Chathams are so renowned for. Your host has local family history going back generations – so sharing stories comes naturally! There'll be a relaxing half day scenic fishing trip cruise to enjoy and you’ll have a day trip to remarkable Pitt Island too, a very special privilege very few Chathams visitors ever get to do. Pitt Island boasts spectacular coastal scenery and is home to some of the world’s rarest birds and flora. See the Chathams in style with us – you know there’ll never be a better opportunity than this!
My wife and I had a great holiday there… Great accommodation, meals and fishing. A tour to Pitt Island was a highlight. Colin D (NZ)
This is an amazing place. Huge history, fabulous sightseeing, amazing food. I've done a bit of travelling and this is the by far the best place I've been to so far. Tracy K (NZ)