NEW ZEALAND SOUTH ISLAND NATURE TOUR 28 October - 10 November 2025.

**Endemic flora and fauna of the South Island**

Explore the incredible natural beauty of New Zealand's South Island through this small group nature tour. From the UNESCO World Heritage alps to the ocean, follow the wild east coast of New Zealand's southern-most island. Beyond this we will take you to the remote Rakiura/Stewart Island and Ulva Island, and to New Zealand's impressive fiords of Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound. 

We will begin our nature tour in the beautiful city of Christchurch, then travel to Mount Cook, and through to the Dunedin region. Our guided nature tour will focus on the endemic flora and fauna species of New Zealand. We will visit many different ecosystems across the South Island from the braided rivers, glaciers, lakes and mountains to lowland temperate rainforests and wetlands. Watch an array of birdlife across these many habitats including bellbirds, NZ pigeons, fantails, Fernbirds, as well as the Crested Grebe, Yellow-eyed penguins,  albatross, Takahe and the iconic kiwi. See the iconic NZ flax, tree ferns, kowhai, cabbage trees, and beech forests. Learn about the history of New Zealand's flora and fauna, and the conservation efforts to manage threats to biodiversity as well as new restoration and rewilding programs to restore species. Our tour ends in Queenstown for connections back to Australia, or for you to continue your adventure. 

We will provide nature journaling mentoring with Julia Landford during the trip, and there will be lots of photography opportunities throughout the program. We will include comprehensive content on the flora and fauna of New Zealand's South Island with award-winning author and nature writer Gillian Candler. 

NatureArt Lab is an official Department of Conservation Permit Holder for operating nature tours in New Zealand, and also holds a Certified Safety Management Certificate for tour operations. 

Details:

• Dates: Tuesday 28 October, Christchurch - Monday 10 November 2025, Queenstown (14 days/13 nights)
• Full Cost: $8,560.00
  
• Deposit: 25% of overall cost $2,140.00; final payment $8,560.00 is due by 31 August. This will be invoiced separately one month before payment is due. 
  
• Comprehensive travel insurance is required by all participants
  
• Enquiries regarding limited single supplements ($3,100.00) can be directed to info@natureartlab.com.au
  
• NatureArt Lab will provide a detailed itinerary and timeline for payments once your booking is received. We will also host an information session for participants prior to departure.
  

Inclusions: 

• All accommodation for 13 nights
• All meals (breakfasts, lunches and dinners)
• Small group transport with private vehicles
• Entry fees to national parks
• Walks at the botanical gardens of Christchurch, New Zealand's Garden City
• Trails at Aoraki, Mount Cook to see alpine plants
• Walks to see rock formations, as well as fur seals, seabirds and possibly Yellow-eyed Penguins in Moeraki and Dunedin
• Visits to ecosanctuaries to see lizards, tuatara, flora and fauna in the Dunedin region
• A visit to the Otago peninsula including a cruise on Otago Harbour to observe seabirds, walks on beaches to see sealions and penguins at a conservation park
• Time to explore remote beaches and nature reserves to see spoonbill colonies, and possibly elephant seals
• Visits to a petrified forest rock platform, and bushwalks to waterfalls
  
• A ferry trip to Stewart Island to see the iconic kiwi, and boat trip to Ulva Island for a privately guided walk with famous local expert Ulva
• Visit wetlands to see Fernbirds and parks in the Invercargill area
• Scenic drives to Fiordland with visits to sanctuaries to see Takahe
• Cruise and day trip to Doubtful Sound
• Scenic drive to Milford Sound to see Kea (mountain parrots), weka and tomtits
  
• Accompanied by New Zealand nature writer and environmental advocate Gillian Candler
• Nature journaling tuition and mentoring, with Julia Landford
• Zoology and scientific input, with Alan Landford

Exclusions: 

• Flights to and from New Zealand. Airfares can be arranged separately by participants to enable additional travel plans
• All drinks (other than water)

Fitness requirements:

• Moderate level of fitness required for walking trails
• Ability to travel on boats across open sea crossings to and from Stewart Island, and in the Otago and Doubtful Sound regions. 
  

Your guides: 

Julia Landford - NatureArt Lab Founding Director & Tour Leader: Julia has devoted more than three decades to environmental education and natural history art as a passionate environmentalist, artist and educator. As the Founding Director of NatureArt Lab, Julia has successfully led nature tours to countries around the world including Costa Rica, Borneo, The Galapagos Islands, Amazonian Ecuador, Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling Islands. Julia is passionate about sharing these nature immersion experiences with people, providing insights into the environment, and the flora and fauna species of the region. Julia also loves bringing nature journaling to these nature experiences, and provides mentoring for participants on how to connect, learn to see and understand nature observations. 

Alan Landford - Co-Director & Scientist: Alan has a background in zoology with a particular interest in entomology co-authoring scientific papers and having a number of insect species named after him. He is also an experienced wildlife photographer and enjoys exploring nature locations with his camera. Alan's career included eight years in Papua New Guinea managing an insect-farming agency with the University of Technology, and with the CSIRO's national insect collection, which included research field trips to remote locations in Australia. Alan is an experienced 4WD driver and has formal First Aid qualifications. 

Gillian Candler - Expert local guide, award-winning nature writer & 'ambassador' for New Zealand wildlife: Gillian is passionate about protecting and caring for the unique biodiversity of wild places of Aotearoa. As an award-winning nature writer, Gillian's publications include the popular 'Explore and Discover' Series for children. She is also a conservation volunteer and tramper. Gillian is a member of Birds New Zealand and Forest and Bird, and is a supporter of Federation Mountain Clubs, as well as local conservation organisations. She has a Conservation Certificate with the Department of Conservation, New Zealand. 

Gillian's conservation work has included assistance with the Mana Island ngahere gecko translocation monitoring, flax weevil monitoring, fairy prion and white-faced storm petrel translocations and general volunteer support. She has also been involved with Kapiti Coast little penguin protection and monitoring, and Zealandia - Birds New Zealand bird counts, and the Litter Intelligence Citizen Science Project. 

Nature Tour Cancellation policy:

Participants are required to take out comprehensive travel insurance against injury, illness, emergency medical evacuation, loss and damage to personal belongings, not being able to travel on a confirmed date of departure or tour cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.

Any cancellations after the deposit is paid will incur loss of the full deposit, which helps to cover our costs for design and management of the tour program and early supplier costs incurred. 

For cancellations up to 181 days before departure 50% of the cost of the tour will be forfeited. If cancellation takes place 180 days or less before the start date 100% of the tour cost will be forfeited.

If NatureArt Lab has to cancel a nature tour due to undersubscription, you will receive a refund of all payments made for that tour.

Pre-Departure Briefing: 

• NatureArt Lab will host an information session for participants prior to departure.

Any questions:

• Please contact us at info@natureartlab.com.au  

NatureArt Lab Awards:

2022, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Promoting Sustainability, ACT; and National Finalist Award

2024, Telstra Best of Business Award Winner for Building Communities, ACT; and National Finalist Award