- Meet your tour director and check into your hotel
- Auckland tour director-led sightseeing Maungawhau Mount Eden viewpoint, Mission Bay, Auckland War Memorial Museum visit After many hours of flying, you've arrived in the youngest country on Earth! Today, we'll introduce you to two key features of this nation: its diverse environment and the bi-cultural model of Maori and Europeans living together. Visit Mission Bay to see why Auckland is a great port, climb Mt Eden to view the volcanic city, and learn about Maori culture.
STEM: New Zealand
New Zealand’s landscapes have been formed along the Pacific and Australian tectonic plate interface on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and this water conservation tour takes you to some of the country’s most beautiful natural sites. Most of the native ecology is only found in New Zealand and the culture is a surprising integration of European and Polynesian. Enjoy a…
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https://worldstrides.com.au/itineraries/stem-new-zealand
STEM: New Zealand
New Zealand’s landscapes have been formed along the Pacific and Australian tectonic plate interface on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and this water conservation tour takes you to some of the country’s most beautiful natural sites. Most of the native ecology is only found in New Zealand and the culture is a surprising integration of European and Polynesian. Enjoy a…
Request Info Request Quote11 Days
Highlights
Waitakere excursionWetlands conservation service projectRotoiti Lake cruise and thermal bath visitMt. Ngongotaha Skyline gondola and luge rideKiwi bird hatchery visit
Learning Areas
Humanities and Social SciencesScienceSTEMSustainability
Your Adventure
- Theme: Introduction to marine, coastal, and rainforest ecosystems Ecosystem management is championed here as the key to environmental restoration. Instead of focusing on a single species, the entire system is considered. Today, a US Marine Science Master's student will guide you through the model of nature reserves and marine monitoring. You'll also participate in a practical science session in the laboratory, investigating biological indicators.
- Leigh excursion STEM study introduction: Focus on coastal marine ecosystems, Goat Island Discovery Centre visit, Field session and exploration on Rocky Shore and the role of reserves and recovery of biodiversity over time.
- Theme: A focus on New Zealand's geographic contexts Discover the geographic diversity from Auckland to Tauranga. In just 140 miles, you'll traverse five distinct geographical landscapes, including volcanic fields and subtropical rainforests.
- Travel to Tauranga via Karangahake and Waihi After departing Auckland, enter the food belt with the capacity to grow every vegetable imaginable due to the rich, fertile, and volcanic soils. Drop down into the lowlands formed by the flooding of the Waikato River and enter the home of dairy farming. Pass over the Waihou River and enter the Coromandel Ranges, a spine of mountains that follow the tectonic fault line through both North and South islands. Arrive at Karangahake Gorge on the Ohinemuri River with crystal clear water flowing out of a mountain range.
- Martha Hill Gold Mine guided visit Enter the Waihi Gold Discovery Centre, designed to help visitors understand gold mining, both past and present. Study the mining processes, the chemistry of extracting gold and silver, and the sequence of chemical reactions that release these metals from quartz rock. At Martha Hill, learn about modern gold mining methods that minimize environmental legacy. The mining operation runs entirely beneath the town, with virtually no visible evidence.
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STEM study: Rivers and Estuaries
Inter-tidal marine ecology session, Plankton study, Wairoa River sediment deposit study.
Move to the adjacent estuary for an inter-tidal marine ecology session. This session covers environmental monitoring in wetlands and the sheltered estuary to assess the effectiveness of conservation activities managing the upstream watersheds.
During the Plankton study, examine a rich, biodiverse habitat that produces large volumes of plankton through the heat of the sun. Using species classification sheets, gather and identify marine species within the tidal estuary environment. Discuss tides and the role of the sun and tidal movements in capturing heat. Trace the flow of plankton as the tides recede, carrying it into the Pacific Ocean to support the complete marine food system.
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STEM study: Macro Environment, Following the Water Cycle, Forests and Rivers
McLaren’s Falls Park visit and Wairoa River water experiment, Identify the habitat role of a rainforest, Complete a stream discharge measurement, Use biological indicators to determine water quality.
Today, you'll study macro environments, focusing on watersheds and the water cycle, forests, and rivers. The emphasis will be on upstream areas and steeper watersheds. Specifically, you'll examine the components of a watershed, including landscapes, geology, streams, forests, pastures, and soils. The interrelationships between these components will be examined, along with the importance of managing them to maintain a stable ecosystem. Expect plenty of field work!
- Theme: Sustainable Systems
- Kiwifruit demonstration orchard visit Visit a working kiwifruit orchard and learn why the Coastal Bay of Plenty's ideal climate and soil conditions are the perfect place to grow kiwifruit.
- Rotoiti Lake cruise and geothermal bath visit Take the time out and cruise Lake Rotoiti, a lake in the Bay of Plenty region. Rotoiti means small lake, but its a relatively large lake, known for the stunning Manupirua Hot Springs on its shores (which are only accessible by boat). Enjoy lunch on the cruise.
- Mt. Ngongotaha Skyline gondola and luge ride
- Theme: The Source of Life, Maori Culture and Waiora Today, explore Maori Culture and Waiora, the Source of Life. Delve into the stories, customs, and values of indigenous cultures, and understand the role of language in preserving a culture. Experience the interactions between Maori and European cultures today, and discover how the Maori share their sense of kaitiaki, a responsibility for the health of the environment and Waiora. Learn about the critical importance of healthy water for a healthy planet and healthy people. Volcanism in New Zealand is primarily concentrated within the Taupo Volcanic Zone. We combine the volcanic activity at Rotorua with the development driven by tourists seeking the health spas.
- Te Puia visit and Kaitiakitanga introduction Te Puia is the only place in the world where an indigenous culture has the exclusive mandate to present its heritage globally. Within Te Puia, the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute manages the Fine Arts school, housing students who create exquisite works that narrate the stories of their people. As a predominantly oral culture, Maori history and knowledge have been passed down through generations via stories, rituals, and a deep sense of heritage. Discover Kaitiakitanga, the Maori concept of intergenerational stewardship of the environment.
- Kiwi hatchery guided visit Watch genuine conservation in action as you learn all about New Zealand’s national icon, the kiwi. Discover their native environment and what makes them truly iconic. Observe the hatchery’s incubators and be guided through the entire process, from bringing the egg into the facility, to hatching, growing the chick to 1 kg, and finally releasing it back to its original habitat.
- Hobbiton movie set guided visit Follow in the footsteps of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins into the miniature world of The Shire, the home of hobbits. Whether you have seen the Lord of The Rings trilogy or not, you will undoubtedly appreciate the immense effort that went into creating this elaborate outdoor movie set on a still-operational sheep farm. From a giant tree with thousands of hand-glued leaves to the tiny pottery crafted by hobbit artisans, every detail was meticulously attended to. Your guide will entertain you with tales from the filming process and reveal how director Peter Jackson created cinematic illusions. At the end of the tour, cross a stone bridge to the true-to-life Green Dragon Pub.
- Travel to Auckland
- Board your flight
