New Zealand Winter Adventure

Overview

Highlights

Cycle through forest and along side the snowy peaks of the Southern Alps
Snowshoeing in the Two Thumb mountain range
Two nights surrounded by snow in the secluded Rex Simpson Alpine Hut
An exhilarating boat ride down the Kawarau and Shotover rivers on the K-Jet
Learning avalanche rescue techniques and snow cave building
Cross country skiing at NZ's only dedicated cross country ski resort

In 8 days, you’ll learn the ropes of a range of new outdoor alpine activities in the South Island of New Zealand, discovering unforgettable winter landscapes following the paths of early NZ mountaineering pioneers as you go. We’ve included a fun and action-packed line up that will leave you feeling challenged and inspired from start to finish, all while putting your outdoor education skills to the test in a real-life setting. From Queenstown to Christchurch, this journey covers everything from nordic skiing, cycling, snowshoeing, avalanche rescue, hiking, jet boating, a visit to the Sir Edmund Hilary museum at Aoraki/Mt Cook Village and even building your own snow cave. This tour has been designed to be human powered, so you travel as much as possible by foot and bike to discover the wonders of the Southern Alps. As Sir Edmund Hillary once said; “you don't have to be a hero to accomplish great things”, so let's get out there and enjoy it!

Countries:

Start and Finishing Point:

Queenstown and Christchurch

Activities:

Grading:Moderate

Addressing:

Sample Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive Queenstown

Day 2
Cycle Queenstown Trails to Kawarau Bungy bridge. Shotover jet boat.

Day 3
To Wanaka and Mt Pisa Snow Farm for nordic skiiing

Day 4
Morning mountain biking, afternoon cycling on Alps to Ocean trail

Day 5
To Mt Cook Village for stunning walks in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park

Day 6
Snowshoe to Rex Simpson Hut

Day 7
Snowshoeing on 'Snake Ridge, return to Rex Simpson Hut

Day 8
Morning snowshoeing, return to Christchurch

Addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Climate Action: Climate change is a global challenge that affects everyone, everywhere.

Good Health And Well-being: Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development.

Life On Land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

Learning outcomes for students

World Expeditions Schools journeys are designed to encourage positive personal development and the learning of life skills, while leaving the communities and environments we travel to, in a better condition than when we arrived.
The programs are designed to:
• build strong friendships and bonds with their peers, their teachers, and the local people they meet.
• increase the confidence to engage with new people, and collaboratively make informed decisions.
• discover the benefits of working cooperatively together as a cohesive team, to achieve a common objective.
• Increase the ability to face, and cope with, mental and physical challenges and therefore increase resilience.
• give students a chance to appreciate and care for the natural world. The environments we travel through are beautiful and often pristine, invariably the students will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding about how their individual actions impact on the environment.
• Learn personal skills i.e., time management, personal hygiene, responsibility for personal gear, patience, tolerance, and public speaking.
We help encourage students to learn what it means to be a true global citizen.

Grading

Moderate

To determine the grade of a particular adventure we consider a number of factors. These include the condition of the terrain, the altitude and the length of the trip. Cycling, trekking, cross country skiing and snow shoeing all require some physical exertion. However, these are all conducted at your own comfortable pace and ability level.

Why travel with us

Assisted over
14,000 Students Worldwide

Since the 1980's, we have helped students from around the globe to experience the world's most exciting destinations, allowing them to travel, give, grow.

400+ Service Learning
Programs

Together with students, we have completed over 400 Service Learning programs in developing countries. We will always continue to support causes including social justice, animal welfare, the environment and more.

Fully Customised
School Travel Programs

Want to include service learning, your school curriculum and a physical challenge, or any of the above? Contact us and we can design a program fully catered for your students and budget.

Safety and
Support - Our #1 Priority

Every school receives a detailed risk management plan that is guided by government advisories and the local partners we work with. We never compromise on the safety of your students to reduce the price of the program.

Testimonials

Want to find out more?

Our educational travel experts are ready to help you tailor an itinerary or service learning project to suit your school’s needs and budget. Contact us today to receive a free consultation.