ACTIVITIES
In addition to dance, exploration and adventure will be an integral part of this unique exchange. While, ultimately, participants may do whatever activites they would like, there will be an official group activity each day that will be decided by the group and the organizers. These may include but are not limited to any the following:
LOCAL ACTIVITIES:
- Takapuna Farmers Market
- North Head beach walk (ancient Mauri prayer site)
- Devonport Walk
- Rangito Island Volcano - by ferry 2x/times. picnic, summit walk, open air wagon ride, shoreline hike (coastline walk past colorful 1950's holiday cabin grotto, featuring 200 varieties of terns, stunted tree forms, lava beds)
- Auckland City - Explore the Polynesian History Museum, late night shops, pubs and clubs, informal dance, city tour, and more...
- Thursday sailboat racing in Auckland Harbor
NORTH OF AUCKLAND:
- Horseback riding
- North Auckland day trip - curry forest, pahoi pub, sculpture park
- Horseback riding day trip
- Goat island snorkel and fish feeding
FULL DAY:
- Westcoast Beach Trip & Vineyards: walk upstream to an oasis in the sand hills, visit wild black sand surf beach. Vineyard stops en-route
- Waitomo Caves (subterranean rafting, glowworm caves) MUST BOOK EARLY!! www.waitomo.com/black-water-rafting.aspx (Black Abyss Tour)198NZ$
OTHER (Overnight Options):
- Late afternoon trip to Bay of Islands and overnight there. Swim with dolphins, sailboat rental. Back next day.
- Long day trip,overnight, or a post-camp road trip: Three destinations in the center of the North Island:
- Tangoriro Alpine Crossing (from Taupo)(easy 2 day or strenuous 1 day crossing). The Tongariro National Park is rich in cultural identity. It has dramatic scenery and unique land forms which combine to make the Tongariro Alpine Crossing a world-renowned trek (rated as one of the best one day treks in New Zealand, and listed by many in the top 10 treks in the world). 18.5 km (roughly 11 miles) See www.tongirirocrossing.org.nz for details and description.
- Taupo: Geothermal tour, boat rides, and hot springs
- Rotorua Geothermals (1 day). Travel time: Taupo to Rotorua = 1.5 hrs, Rotorua to Auckland = 3 hrs
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
Example Itinerary (Final itinerary to be decided by group at site. Very flexible except Waitoma Caves tour)
Friday:leave USA (miss a day and arrive Sun)
Sunday: Arrival, registration. Explore on your own -- Takapuna market, Beach Head Walk, swim and beach bbq in evening, orientation
Monday: Rangito Island volcano (picnic lunch) 9:25-12:45 / 12:25-3:30. Afternoon: Group-salon dance lessons
Tuesday: Westcoast Beach Trip (8hrs) Add vineyards? Dinner at home. Evening: group-salon dance lesson, games night
Wednesday: North head and beach walks (1-2 hrs), Devonport Walk (mauri architecture) 2 hrs
Wed night: Rock&Roll club 8-10pm, includes potluck supper and desert
Thurday: Waitoma Caves (12 hrs) [BOOK 2 mo in advance]
Friday: Auckland City, shopping (shops open til 9pm n Fri). Mauri Museum. Late night city crawl, dancing
Saturday: Open day adventure
Sat night - locaol dance
Sunday: flights home (arrive same day in USA),
....or stay and tour NZ on your own, and fly home later!