EA School Tours was initially founded in Queenstown, New Zealand; so it’s no surprise we love hosting school tours at home in Aotearoa (New Zealand).
A school tour to New Zealand offers fun, adventure, and educational opportunities to suit all learning objectives. As a bonus, it’s a safe destination to travel with school children and the locals are friendly. Here’s what you can expect on your next school tour to New Zealand with EA School Tours.
Experience Māori Culture
New Zealanders are extremely proud of their country’s Māori heritage. Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand and their history, language and traditions are integral to modern Kiwi life. This adds a unique, dynamic experience for visitors who can experience the Māori culture by visiting a Marae or learning about fascinating myths and legends from passionate Māori guides.
One of the best ways to experience one of the youngest indigenous cultures in the world is by watching a Kapa haka cultural performance. During a kapa haka, your students will have the opportunity to learn about the hongi and experience a blood-curdling haka war dance. Many performances include skilled demonstrations of traditional weaponry.
Visit the adventure capital of the world
No trip to New Zealand is complete without a trip to the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown. It's famously the birthplace of bungy jumping, and the list of adventures you can throw yourself into here is comprehensive – from jet boating to zip-lining. It's rare visitors to Queenstown leave without having tried something that ups their heart-rate.
A favourite experience for school tours to New Zealand is a ski trip. Skiers and snowboarders are spoilt for choice in Queenstown. There are four world-class ski fields, all within short a drive from the centre of town offering a wide range of terrain suitable for all abilities. Beginners can enjoy a friendly atmosphere and lessons to conquer the mountain quickly.
Bungy jumping, luging, and skydiving are all on offer in Queenstown, but also find time to sit at the lakeside and take in the dramatic scenery that includes The Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu. It is one of the most beautiful and spectacular natural scenes in New Zealand.
Experience nature up close
New Zealand’s dramatic mountains, unpolluted beaches, pristine rainforests and turquoise lakes are easy to enjoy.
One destination worth mentioning is Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, which offers skyscraping mountain peaks and glaciers under a star-studded sky. Although it encompasses 23 peaks over 3000 metres high, this park is very accessible and provides a comfortable base to enjoy the activities on offer.
There are many short walks and longer day hikes to choose from at Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, and students are likely to encounter a cheeky Kea (the NZ mountain parrot) or other native wildlife on a walk here. Another option is to take a day trip to the Tekapo Springs.
Far from city lights, the stargazing here is magnificent - Aoraki Mount Cook National Park forms the majority of New Zealand's only International Dark Sky Reserve.
