5 minute read
Touring the Chatham Islands
Escape to paradise
The Chatham Islands is home to New Zealand’s most remote communities as it’s known for its history, nature, and the county’s classic Kiwi culture.
Recently more mainlanders have been taking the opportunity to visit the Pacific archipelago. During your stay, we will visit the four corners of the Island and the special places in between. Located about 840 kilometres (520 mi) east of Christchurch, an ATR flight to the Chatham Islands takes less than two hours, but where are you going exactly? This is a unique chance to be able to visit the Chatham Islands relatively easily with a flight time of under three hours. The Chathams form an archipelago consisting of 10 islands — the largest of which are Chatham and Pitt. While the islands have officially been part of New Zealand since 1842, research suggests Indigenous people of the islands; the Moriori migrated there from mainland New Zealand as early as 1500. The tour operator of Chatham Island Tours is Merv Halliday. Tours are scattered around the South and North Island, which lasts for seven nights and eight fully guided days when exploring Chatham’s most eastern island before returning home direct. Merv’s Chatham Islands Tours have already announced their tour schedule for early 2022, with trips planned to depart from Invercargill, Wellington, and Christchurch in January, March, and April respectively, and Whanganui during October. As the tours are so popular and in conjunction with Air Chathams and Hotel Chathams, the tours allow a 50 passenger ATR aircraft for another special direct flight from Invercargill Airport direct to the Chatham Islands for January 2022.
One of the many tours at Chatham Island with 42 people on board.
Hotel and tour operator Toni Croon led a tour to Splatter Rock with the Nature Photographic Society of NZ.
Chatham Islands Tours has also been invited to Whanganui where there’s a 50 passenger ATR aircraft for another special direct flight from Wanganui Airport to the Chatham Islands. Jump aboard to enjoy eight days of adventure, education, relaxation, and wonderment. The tours are all-inclusive, so from the moment you board the flight to your return, Merv’s got your airfares, airport transfers, accommodation, meals, and bus tours, concessions, and levy’s covered. You’ll explore the wonderful Chatham Islands by spending your evenings in the beautiful Hotel Chatham or Travellers Rest, while activities like deep-sea fishing keep you entertained during the day. Your local tour guide will greet you at the terminal to officially kick off your Chatham Islands voyage. During the next few days, you’ll explore the shores of Te Whanga Lagoon, where you will be given the opportunity to fossick for some fossilised shark teeth, some 30 million years old, and Nikau Bush, which is a 19-hectare forest reserve. Another day is all about fishing as you visit the settlement of Owenga, home to a working fish factory. Another highlight is Kopinga Marae, the only Moriori marae in New Zealand. Another day you’ll travel to Waitangi West and see a historic cottage built by Moravian Missionaries, and finally, you’ll stop by Splatter Rock and Hapupu Historic Reserve before enjoying relaxing free time for your final few days. Join a day trip to Pitt Island and squeeze in some more fishing, or just put your feet up! This is just small a taste of all that is offered on Merv’s Chatham Islands Tours. Are you hungry yet? In terms of temperature, Chatham Islands has an oceanic climate due to a narrow temperature range and relatively frequent rainfall. Its isolated position, a long way from any substantial mainland, gives the record temperature for main settlement Waitangi to be just 23.8 degrees Celsius. The climate is cool, wet, and windy with average high temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius in summer, and between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius in July, the Southern Hemisphere winter. Snow is extremely rare, being recorded near sea level in July 2015 after several decades. Check out the website: [https://www. chathamislandtours.nz/] to find more information regarding packages, the schedule, all about the Chatham’s, galleries for inspiration, and on booking a trip. Packages include things like a return airfare, seven nights’ accommodation, airport transfers, meals covered, a full-time tour leader, private property entry granted, visitor’s map, and so much more. A run-down of how the trip will look like each day is also outlined on the website under ‘packages.’ CT
Book now – either via online booking enquiry, email chathamislandtours@ gmail.com, or call Merv on (03) 249 8294 before the next departure!
Escape to Paradise
The Chatham Islands leave a lasting impression on all who visit them. With their remote ocean surrounds, calm lagoons, plentiful marine life, and fascinating Indigenous history, a quick flight to the Chathams feels like an escape to paradise. Merv’s Chatham Islands Tours make it easier than ever to reach the islands and make the most of your time there.
WELLINGTON OR WHANGANUI OR CHRISTCHURCH OR INVERCARGILL TO THE CHATHAM ISLANDS
The Chatham Islands are the closest most New Zealanders can get to travelling overseas without packing their passport.
Tour # 37 is for 8 days with 7 nights on Chatham X Invercargill Sunday 2nd Jan 2022, Depart Invercargill 2:00pm, Sunday 8th Jan 2022, Arrive Invercargill 11.00am All Inclusive from $4,725 per person.
Tour # 41 is for 8 days with 7 nights on Chatham X Wellington Wednesday 30th March 2022, Depart Wellington 2:30pm, Wednesday 6th April 2022, Arrive Wellington 11.15am All Inclusive from $4,373 per person.
Tour # 44 is for 8 days with 7 nights on Chatham X Whanganui Sunday 2nd October 2022, Depart Whanganui 7.00am Sunday 9th October 2022, Arrive Whanganui 6.30pm All Inclusive from $4,725 per person.
