Travel the length of New Zealand’s two islands, experiencing a spectacular range of landscapes and natural wonders, sampling wines and encountering wildlife, and discovering the many facets of Kiwi culture—from the traditions of the Maori to the flourishing creativity of its urban centers.
Journey Through New Zealand
From Auckland to Queenstown
16 days from $9,174 | includes airfare, taxes and all fees
Travel the length of New Zealand’s two islands, experiencing a spectacular range of landscapes and natural wonders, sampling wines and encountering wildlife, and discovering the many facets of Kiwi culture—from the traditions of the Maori to the flourishing creativity of its urban centers.
Experts
Thomas Mirenda
A well-known personality, columnist and benefactor in the botanical world, Tom has travelled the planet as an advocate for the conservation of natural habitat. As a plant expert who also has a degree in Marine Biology, an artist, musician and cultural activist, Tom has broad knowledge, interest and understanding of the natural world and its diverse aspects gleaned from his extensive travel experiences. New Zealand has repeatedly been a dream destination for Tom as the incredible confluence of botany, marine biology, vulcanism and endemism, especially with plants and birds, are unmatched in the country. Tom will enthusiastically show you the many wonders of New Zealand from playful Keas to impressive geysers and incredible, intricate Māori arts.
Lori Blanc
Lori holds a Ph.D. in Conservation Biology and Avian Ecology from Virginia Tech (VT), as well as B.S. and M.S. degrees in Computer Science (with a focus in Artificial Intelligence) from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. During her 19 years in academia, Lori conducted research in avian community ecology, oversaw research and management of the federally endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and developed/taught study abroad programs in the South Pacific. One of Lori’s greatest passions while at Virginia Tech was taking university students to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Antarctica to study Earth Sustainability and Conservation Biology. She now serves as an independent environmental consultant and is helping to create a non-profit ecological center on the Rappahannock River in coastal Virginia. Lori has an enthusiastic passion for environmental conservation and sustainability initiatives. She enjoys communicating technical information across disciplines and to non-technical audiences, and is passionate about inspiring a sense of joy and wonder for the natural world.
Brent Garry
Brent Garry is a geologist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center where he studies lava flows and volcanoes on Earth and compares them to similar features on the Moon and Mars. He earned degrees in geology from The College of William and Mary (B.S.), the University of Kentucky (M.S.), and the University at Buffalo (Ph.D.). He then held a postdoctoral fellowship at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum from 2006-2010, after which he worked at the Planetary Science Institute for two years, and then moved to NASA. From 2008-2011, as a member of NASA’s Desert RATS team, Brent lived in prototype space vehicles for up to two weeks at a time during simulated missions to the lunar surface and asteroids. Brent has conducted fieldwork in Iceland, Hawaii, New Mexico, Idaho, Oregon, and Belize; served as editor for the GSA special volume Analogs for Planetary Exploration; and was selected as a Participating Scientist on NASA’s Dawn and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) missions. Outside the office, Brent enjoys running and scuba diving.