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South Island Field Trip

Kā Tiritiri o te Moana/Southern Alps: Glaciology and Glacial Geomorphology

About

The Field Trip is now fully subscribed. If you would like to be on the waitlist, please get in touch by email: clic2026@theconferencecompany.com

The CliC OSC field trip will take participants along the length of the highest peaks of Kā Tiritiri o te Moana/the Southern Alps of New Zealand to see and learn about the glaciers and landscapes shaped by past ice.

Dates and times

Leaving Christchurch Airport at 11:30 AM on Saturday 14 February (if flying from Wellington to Christchurch that morning, your flight needs to arrive in Christchurch by 10:55 AM) 
Returning to Christchurch Airport at 4 PM on Tuesday 17 February (if flying from Christchurch that evening, your flight should depart no earlier than 5 pm) 

Note: If you want to end your trip in Queenstown instead of Christchurch, this is possible. There is an InterCity bus that you can book, which leaves Tekapo at 12:50 PM or Twizel at 1:30 PM on Tuesday 17 February, both arriving in Queenstown at 4:40 PM the same day. 

Itinerary

Day 1: We will travel from Christchurch to Tekapo. Upon arriving in Tekapo, there are options for exploring Lake Tekapo and the local church, and local walks (short and longer options). Dinner will be on your own in Tekapo, with a variety of options. There is the opportunity to book dark sky experiences in the evening (or very early morning)! 
Day 2: We will leave Tekapo and travel to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. There will be options for walks and exploring the park museum and visitor center. In the late afternoon, we will depart for our accommodation in Lake Ohau. There will be a lecture on local geology and glaciology in the evening.  
Day 3: We will return to Aoraki Mount Cook National Park for a full day, again with a variety of options for walk length and intensity, with the opportunity for longer walks on this day. We will return to Ohau Lodge in the evening.  
Day 4: We will depart from Ohau Lodge to return to Christchurch airport, with a stop for lunch and to highlight local geomorphology along the way. 

Lodging options and pricing

Option 1 ($NZD including GST): $1800

Night 1: Your own room in a 2-bedroom apartment with a shared bathroom at Peppers Bluewater Resort (Note: the coach will drop you off upon arrival and pick you up for departure, but this is a ~500 m walk to the town shops for dinner, dark sky gazing, etc).
Nights 2 & 3: Your own room with ensuite at Ohau Lodge

Option 2 ($NZD including GST): $1200

Night 1: Shared room (2 beds per room) at either Peppers Bluewater Resort 2-bedroom apartment, Haka House Tekapo, or in a Kiwi Bach at Lakes Edge Holiday Park (Note: the coach will drop you off upon arrival and pick you up for departure, but Peppers Bluewater Resort is a ~500m walk and Lakes Edge is a ~1.2km walk to the town shops for dinner, dark sky gazing, etc.)
Nights 2 & 3: Shared room (2 beds per room) at Ohau Lodge or at the holiday home next door to the Lodge

Option 3 ($NZD including GST): $800 

Night 1: Shared bunk room (max 4 people per room) at either Haka House Tekapo or Lakes Edge Holiday Park (Note: the coach will drop you off upon arrival and pick you up for departure, but Lakes Edge is a ~1.2km walk to the town shops for dinner, dark sky gazing, etc.)
Nights 2 & 3: Shared bunk room (max 4 people per room) at Ohau Lodge

Option 4 – STUDENT RATE ($NZD including GST): $550

Night 1: Shared bunk room (max 4 people per room) at either Haka House Tekapo or Lakes Edge Holiday Park (Note: the coach will drop you off upon arrival and pick you up for departure, but Lakes Edge is a ~1.2km walk to the town shops for dinner, dark sky gazing, etc.)
Nights 2 & 3: Shared bunk room (max 4 people per room) at Ohau Lodge

What’s included?

Each pricing option includes:

Coach transport leaving from and returning to Christchurch airport
Accommodation for 3 nights
Breakfast x 3
Packed lunch x 3
Dinner x 2

Not included:

Dinner x 1
Lunch x 1

NOTE: Field trip starts and ends in Christchurch; participants are responsible for their own travel to Christchurch before the field trip and leaving Christchurch following the trip.

Fitness level

There will be options for low, moderate, and moderate/high intensity walks.

Optional add-ons

Air Safaris discounted Grand Traverse Scenic Flight: $396 NZD (including GST) per person

The Grand Traverse is the “flight of a lifetime”, exploring the incredible world heritage Aoraki Mount Cook and Westland National Parks. See New Zealand’s most spectacular alpine scenery, from snowy mountain ranges and turquoise lakes to epic glaciers and amazing ice fields flowing through West Coast rainforests.

PLEASE NOTE: The scenic flight cost will NOT be added to your conference/field trip registration fee. You will pay Air Safaris directly on the day of the flight. Indicate your interest in the Grand Traverse Scenic Flight during registration.

Dark Sky Experience with the Dark Sky Project

Tekapo is renowned for its dark skies. If you are interested in booking a dark sky experience, you are welcome to book independently via Dark Sky Project. Tours leave and return from central Tekapo.

PLEASE NOTE: We will be in Tekapo the evening of 14 February and leaving in the morning of 15 February, so your booking should be for the evening of 14 February (e.g. 10pm on 14 February) or early morning of 15 February (e.g. 2am on 15 February).

Register now to sign up for the CliC OSC Field Trip

Registration