Guided Tours
Chatham Island 2024
12-17 December 2024
Tick this off your bucket list, as we return to this remote part of NZ, with a tour package specially designed to suit our valued clients. Enjoy comfortable accommodation and fabulous meals featuring abundant seafood, as we discover the landscapes, natural history, and the lifestyle of the hardy islanders. Every day is an adventure as our travels uncover unusual geological formations, remote fishing villages and a rich flora and fauna, all interwoven with the unique Chathams history of the Moriori. Add an optional day excursion to Pitt Island to complete your experience
Day 1
Thursday 12 December - Welcome to the Chathams
Touching down onto the island we will be met by our hosts at the airport and transferred to our accommodation at Chatham Hotel in the main village of Waitangi. This evening we enjoy our first taste of island hospitality, dining in at our hotel.
Day 2 - 5
Friday 13 December - Chatham Experience
After our continental breakfast each morning we embark on our daily adventures.
Please note: Daily weather conditions and seasonal availability are taken into consideration and the daily activities listed below may alter accordingly, however we will do our best to ensure that you see all that is listed in the itinerary and more during your stay.
Most days we are away for the day so bring all you need with you. We generally find a sheltered spot for a picnic lunch, with most dinners (other than Admiral Garden) at the Hotel Chathams – it is a great opportunity to reminisce over the day's adventures and have a yarn with a local.
Town Tour
Tikitiki Hill walk - dramatic red volcanic bluffs will impress, while providing views down over the port and the village of Waitangi. Have a wander of town, visit the cottage gift shop and River Onion Art Gallery. Enjoy sightseeing along the south west coast where the Taiko Trust is leading projects that involve replanting the coastline and growing the population of endemic endangered bird species like Taiko and Mollymawk.
Sunshine Coast
Enjoy the wetlands walk – a loop walk through wetland and peat lakes. Visit Ocean Mail Reserve - contrasting landscapes of dune systems, akeake forest and peat wetlands.
Take a short walk to visit a local seal colony at Point Munning. Visit Kaingaroa Fishing Village, Broughton Landing (an old Mission and Whaling Station site) and a farm where we will be able to view the remains of a wrecked Sunderland Flying Boat which hit rocks while taxiing in Te Whanga Lagoon in 1959.
Discover the famous Hapupu tree carvings, culturally and historically significant carvings on karaka trees.
North West
Discover Splatter Rock - a great coastal walk to explore an interesting geological formation - a remarkable pillow lava flow named Splatter Rock. Look for Chatham Island forget-me-nots growing in the wild, and keep an eye out for the endangered Chatham Island oystercatcher (Torea). Enjoy the Nikau Walk – the largest stand of nikau remaining on Chatham Island. Visit Owenga Village, and stop to view the famous statue of Tommy Solomon, the last full blooded Moriori, located on land near where he farmed.
Te Whanga Lagoon
Stop at Blind Jim’s Creek on the shores of Te Whanga Lagoon and look for fossilised sharks’ teeth. Te Whanga Lagoon is the largest natural feature on the island,covering some 16,000-hectares.
Take a walk in Henga Reserve —a huge sand dune system, coastal forest, impressive limestone outcrops and spectacular views over Petre Bay. Visit Kopinga Moriori Marae. A very special place where the unique design of the marae provides ancestral history and heritage, architecture and breath-taking 180-degree views.
Wild West
Visit the amazing basalt columns – a fascinating series of pentagonal shaped volcanic rock columns on the shoreline and found nowhere else on the island.
Visit Port Hutt where a landmark rusting ship sits in the Island’s most sheltered bay.
Stretch your legs on Long Beach - a stunning wild beach walk. Enjoy a lovely buffet dinner at beautiful Admiral Gardens - always a night to remember!
Day 6
Tuesday 17 December - Travelling Home
The cost of the tour includes
- Tour fully guided
- Transfers to and from Wellington Airport
- Return airfares with Air Chathams
- 5 nights accommodation at Hotel Chatham
- All meals: breakfasts, picnic lunches and dinners on the island
- Daily tours around the island
- Entry to all attractions and sites visited
Departure Detail
Before you book a tour with Tranzit Tours, please take the time to read and understand these Terms and Conditions below.
Pricing Validity
All costs associated with each tour are outlined in full within each tour itinerary. All pricing quoted is valid for the dates of tour when booked.
Reservations and Payments
Bookings for all Tranzit tours can be made through any Tranzit Coachlines Reservations Centre or an approved Travel Agent. Any person making a booking for others shall be deemed to have accepted these Terms and Conditions on behalf of all individuals they are booking on a tour and it is the responsibility of the person making the booking to bring these Terms and conditions to the attention of those individuals booked.
A deposit as stated in the Tour Itinerary is payable to secure the booking.
The balance must be paid in full by the date stated in the Tour Itinerary.
Any reservation made within fourteen (14) days of the tour departure must be paid in full at the time of booking.
Cancellations, Postponements and Alterations
Cancellations by the Customer
Cancellations 45+ days before tour departure date – a cancellation fee valued at 15% of your deposit, plus any other fees charged by other providers such as accommodation, ferry, activities etc.Cancellations 44 – 8 days before tour departure date – a cancellation fee valued at 15% of the total tour cost, plus any other fees charged by other providers such as accommodation, ferry, activities etc.
Cancellations within 7 days before tour departure date – a cancellation fee valued at 25% of the total tour cost, plus any other fees charged by other providers such as accommodation, ferry, activities etc.No refunds will be made for cancellations made within one day of departure or once travel has commenced. Refunds will not be provided for unused portions of a tour, unless the Customer can provide genuine reason and documentary evidence that services were unable to be utilised (and a refund if applicable is available from the other provider) in which case the company will review each request and may provide a partial refund at the sole discretion of the company.
Cancellations of one half of a twin share booking will result in the Customer cancelling being charged the cost of a single booking, if the Company is unable to match the twin share booking with another Customer.
Alterations by the Customer
The Customer may transfer their booking to another person for the same tour and commencement date, but only if the other person satisfies all of Tranzit Tours requirements in relation to the tour and provides us a completed Booking Form. The Customer must notify Tranzit Tours in writing of the intended transfer at least 30 days prior to the commencement date of the tour. A $60 transfer fee per person/per transfer will apply (in addition to any supplier change fees).
Cancellations or Postponements by the Company
Tranzit Tours reserves the right to cancel, reschedule or postpone a tour. With the exception of the Force Majeure section below, Tranzit Tours will:In the event of a tour being cancelled by the company prior to departure and not postponed – refund the total amount paid in respect of that tour or provide a credit, but will have no further liability to the Customer.
In the event of a tour being postponed – rebook the Customer for the new departure date or provide a credit, but will have no further liability to the Customer.
In the event of a Force Majeure event that occurs prior to, or during, a tour such as but not limited to fire, flood, volcanic eruption, earthquake, avalanche, severe weather, power outages, labour disruptions, pandemic, government controls or other events outside Tranzit Tours control that interrupts the ability to operate the tour in full or in part, or if Tranzit Tours determines that the quality of the tour or the health and safety of the Customer would be compromised, Tranzit Tours reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or shorten the tour and will be excused and released from its obligations without liability of any kind. Customers will receive a credit for postponed tours. For cancelled or shortened tours, refunds in these circumstances will be in full less any unrecoverable costs (i.e. expenses already incurred or fees charged by other providers).
The Customer will be advised of any increased tour costs as a result of the postponement. Credits will be equal to the value of the payment made and must be used within 12 months. Customers are strongly advised to take out travel insurance.
In the event of cancellation or postponement by the company, Tranzit Tours is not responsible for any consequential loss incurred by the Customer. Customers are again advised to take out travel insurance.
Alterations by the Company
Before Tour Commencement: If a major change to the tour needs to be made before departure, we will inform the Customer of the change as soon as practicable and will advise of any consequential price increase or decrease.Tranzit Tours reserves the right to alter a tour (including the itinerary) and substitute accommodation facilities should unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary. Whilst every effort is made to adhere to the itinerary as provided, the company reserves the right to alter the touring and attractions as dictated by circumstances and conditions outside the company’s control. Alterations may be made to ensure the smooth running of the tour. Every attempt will be made to ensure alterations do not adversely affect the operation of the tour. The company will not be held responsible for weather-based cancellations, or those closures made at the tour provider’s discretion.
Tranzit Tours will inform the customer as soon as practicable and will advise of any consequential price increase or decrease.
Insurance
Tranzit Tours recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance to cover against things like lost or damaged luggage, accident or sickness, loss or theft of personal belongings and documents, or the need to cancel or shorten your tour. Please note that special conditions will apply for pre-existing medical conditions with all travel insurance policies.
Health and Fitness
Tranzit Tours are generally able to accommodate most fitness abilities; however, some tours may require a certain level of physical fitness for full enjoyment of tour activities. The Customer must inform Tranzit Tours, at the time of booking, of any health or fitness restrictions that may limit participation of tour activities or put the Customer, tour staff or other customers at risk. The Customer acknowledges that their suitability for a tour, or any activity within a tour, is wholly the Customer’s responsibility.
Payment of a deposit by the Customer to secure a Tranzit Tour acts as a warranty that:
o the Customer is reasonably healthy and/or fit to participate in the tour, and
o the Customer does not have a health, physical condition or disability that would create risk to themselves, tour staff or other customers, and
o the Customer indemnifies Tranzit Tours from all actions, claims and demands arising out of any want of health or fitness.
Tranzit Tours reserves the right to decline a booking on medical, health or fitness grounds at its sole discretion.
Tranzit Tours reserves the right to remove a Customer from a tour, or quarantine a Customer on tour, if their health and/or fitness interferes with the tour or staff safety or other Customers safety or tour experience in any way. Any additional costs associated with a Customer’s removal from tour or placement into quarantine, shall be borne by the Customer. Refunds will be made in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
Authority on Tour
Tranzit Tours are operated by staff with decision making authority while on tour. By travelling with Tranzit Tours, you agree to accept the authority of the driver/guide and their decisions are final in all matters likely to affect the wellbeing, safety or experience of any customer or staff member on board. Failure to adhere to reasonable requests or any inappropriate behaviour that is degrading the experience of other customers, may result in the Customer being removed from the tour. If a Customer is asked to leave a tour, any costs associated with returning home will be borne by the Customer and any unused portion of the tour will not be refunded.
Responsibilities
Tranzit Tours include goods and services provided by other operators such as hotels, attractions and transportation companies. Customers are advised to familiarise themselves with the terms and conditions on which these services are supplied. Accordingly, Tranzit Tours will not be responsible and will be excluded from liability for any loss, damage, omission or acts being negligent or otherwise, committed by other goods and service providers used in connection with the tour.
Tranzit Tours is not liable for any loss, damage, delay, or injury caused to the traveller or their baggage whilst under the care or control of a third-party provider. A Customer’s baggage and personal effects shall be carried at the owner’s risk as provided for under the Carriage of Goods Act.
Tranzit Tours is not responsible for any losses or additional expenses to the Customer due to tours impacted by Force Majeure events that occur prior to, or during, a tour such as but not limited to fire, flood, volcanic eruption, earthquake, avalanche, severe weather, power outages, labour disruptions, pandemic, government controls or other events outside Tranzit Tours control that interrupts the ability to operate the tour in full or in part, or if Tranzit Tours determines that the quality of the tour or the health and safety of the Customer would be compromised.
Acceptance of Risk
The Customer acknowledges that all Tranzit Tours may be subject to risks and dangers beyond that which might be experienced by the Customer at home. Except as provided in law, the Customer acknowledges that they assume all risk and Tranzit Tours is not liable for misadventure, death, injury, delay or loss which occurs during the tour.
Seat Rotation
For the enjoyment of all travellers Tranzit Tours operates a seat rotation system which all travellers must participate in as a condition of booking.
Photographs
Photographs used to market any Tranzit Tour depict typical scenes experienced, but the subject matter may not necessarily be seen or experienced whilst visiting a destination within a tour.
Whilst on tour, the Customer may be included in photographs and/or film taken by the guide or driver. These photographs may be used for future promotional advertising purposes and by booking on a Tranzit Tour the Customer authorises the use of any images they are captured in to be used without further consent or any payment of any kind. If the Customer does not authorise the use of their image for promotional purposes, they must make this known at the time of booking.
Privacy Policy
Any personal information that Tranzit Tours collects about the Customer may be used for any purpose associated with the operation of a tour or to send the Customer marketing material in relation to Tranzit Tour products. The information may be disclosed to our agents, service providers or other suppliers to enable Tranzit Tours to operate the tour. Tranzit Tours will otherwise treat your details in accordance with our privacy policy (available on our website).
Applicable Law
The laws of New Zealand govern these Terms and Conditions to the fullest extent allowable.
"Les and Warren seemed to get on well and catered for us perfectly. They couldn't have given us a better time. Even the weather came up trumps! Thanks, Les!" Anne