On arrival in Christchurch we will be met by our experienced World Youth Adventures guide and taken by coach to our hotel where we have a full trip and safety briefing on our journey ahead. We will then head out and experience a traditional Maori welcoming ceremony on a local marae (meeting grounds and the central focal point of Maori communities throughout New Zealand) to gain an insight into NZ history. The ceremony will include the Wero, the challenge by Maori Warriers, and Kapahaka, traditional cultural performances. We can then settle into our accommodation in Christchurch and prepare our first evening meal together. Once the sun has set, we will embark on a night hike to the top of Dyers Pass for some jaw dropping views over the city of Christchurch under a stary night sky. Overnight in Christchurch

Meals:  L,D

Today we rise and help with breakfast preparation in our lodging before preparing ourselves for the day ahead. Our first visit is the Antarctic Centre. Here we can join in a number of engaging activities to learn about the first expeditions to Antarctica and modern day life on Scott Base along with the future of humanity on ice. We’ll experience the incredible Antarctic storm room, take a ride on the all terrain vehicle and make friends with penguins and huskies. We visit the Huskie rescue centre and meet and learn more about these incredible dogs and how they are being rehabilitated. We then have a cycle safety briefing and spend the morning cycling around the city centre exploring the interesting new architecture including a visit to Turanga; the innovative state of the art library and experience “Quake City” to understand the science of earthquakes and impact of the Christchurch earthquakes. After lunch we ride the off-road Te Ara otakaro Avon River Trail to New Brighton on the coast, we’ll cycle through the abandoned red zone area of Christchurch, an incredible network of gardens, parks and deserted streets adjacent to the river. At the beach there will be time to play sports and Frisbee games after a conservation team challenge. Overnight Christchurch Cycle Distances: City to Sea - 15km, New Brighton to Holiday Park - 13km Cycle path is flat and closed to normal vehicles. Vehicle support available at all times.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we head out of Christchurch towards the mountains at the edge of the Canterbury Plains. Our first stop is to explore the incredible Kura Tawhiti/Castle Hill Rocks, a scattering of hundreds of weathered limestone tors that erupt from golden tussocky hills. Known as a karst landscape, these ancient rocks are smooth, sculpted, spectacular, and irresistibly photogenic. We will learn about the geology of these formations as we embark on a trek to the Castle Hill ridge. We then travel towards the Craigieburn Forest Park, a popular ski resort in the winter, to begin our second hike. Our walk starts gently through a mountain beech forest before we climb steeply up to Lyndon Saddle and to the top of Helicopter Hill (1256m). Here we have panoramic views of the Craigieburn and Torlesse ranges and the limestone outcrops of the Castle Hill Basin. We descend back down to our vehicle and drive back to Christchurch (1.5hours). Our trek is around 2 1/2 hours. Walking distances can be amended to suit group and conditions. Overnight Christchurch

Meals:  B,L,D

We will drive to Motukarara and start our cycle along the Little River Rail Trail which follows the historic 19th century railway line between Hornby and Little River. The trail is relatively flat with no vehicles and runs alongside vast Lake Ellsmere. On the way we will visit the interesting Birdlings Flat known for it's mammoth seas, wild waves, round flat pebbled beach (perfect for skimming stones) and fossicking for precious gems. Looking out to sea, there is nothing between Birdlings flat and Antarctica! On arrival in Little River we will have refreshments and explore the surrounding area. We will be met by our van and load up the bikes before returning to Christchurch this afternoon. Cycling Distance: Motukarara to Little River – approx 25km Vehicle support available at all times.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today is a wonderful day as we cycle around a volcano and walk along spectacular coast line. After breakfast we drive to the top of the Port Hills to embark on a cycle ride following the crater rim of an extinct volcano. We will cycle along the undulating and almost traffic-free Summit Road out to Godley Head. This area is home to the WWII coastal defence battery that sit atop sheer 120m cliffs. We leave the bikes and walk to the heads to experience the wonderful views into Lyttelton Harbour and out to the Pacific Ocean. Our walk continues around the peninsula to Taylors Mistake and over to the beach suburb of Sumner where we meet our vehicle for the drive back to Christchurch. Cycling Distance: Dyers Pass to Godley Head – 21km. Godley Head Walk – 5km Vehicle support available 90% of the time (there is one section of Summit Road closed entirely to vehicles – makes perfect riding.)

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we help with breakfast prep before we drive to the French settlement of Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula. We visit the Hinewai Reserve, an ecological restoration project aimed to regenerate the native vegetation and wildlife of the reserve. Here we can engage in a land management conservation program. We will meet world renowned botanist and conservationist Hugh Wilson to learn about the flora and fauna. Hugh will then accompany our group on a challenging hike called the “Big Circle” through the native bush from Otanerito Bay to the Summit of Stoney Peak, a climb of 806m. At the end of this incredibly rewarding day we will drive back to Christchurch. Hiking Distance: 8-12km Walking distances can be amended to suit group and conditions

Meals:  B,L,D

Today’s challenge ends our tour on a high note. After breakfast we will drive across the Canterbury Plains to the foothills of the Southern Alps. Our final hike today takes us to the summit of Peak Hill (1244m) high above Lake Coleridge. At the top we are rewarded with sweeping views of snowy alps and the impressive Rakaia and Wilberforce river valleys. In the afternoon we embark on a walk through the Rakaia Gorge along glacial and river-carved terraces to a stunning lookout point. The walkway follows the rim of the gorge where we will encounter spectacular geological areas, including lava flows, before descending into a gully under a forest canopy to the Snowdon coal mines. The entrances to several coal mine tunnels can be seen here, along with the remains of equipment used for extraction. Here we complete our NZ Adventure with an invigorating jet boat ride through the Rakaia Gorge. Back at the bus, we return to Christchurch and our last group dinner together. Hiking Distance: Peak Hill -5km return, Rakakia Gorge Walk (up to 5km) Walking distances can be amended to suit group and conditions.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning after our final breakfast we drive to the airport for our flight home.

Meals:  B