We are offering 2 options for one-day
trips:
We ask that the tamariki address us as Aunty &
Uncle, and we insist that they all wear life jackets.
On our trips we usually encounter Dolphins seals and
penquins, they are always the highlight of the trip
for the Tamariki, We teach lots of interesting facts
about the different species, although we cannot guarantee
their appearance.
- Whale of a Tail ~visit the
whaling station, Te Awaiti, Whekenui, Okukuri, Tory
Channel entrance.
- Captain Cook's Footprints ~
Blumine Island, Ships Cove, Motuara Island ( Bird
Sanctuary), and Kokomohua, the Marine Reserve.
itinerary 1:
All day cruise 9.00 to 5.00pm ~"Whale of a Tail".
Please click on the map icon to see enlarged route
map.
Learn
about the Maori history of Queen Charlotte Sound, about
early explorers such as Kupe, Captain Cook, Jackie Guard,
and the sealers and whalers.
The tamariki lap up all the info on whales, such as
"Did you know that the brain of a blue Whale is
larger than an Elephant?". We go ashore and explore
the ancient ruins of the Perano Whaling Station.
Pete has lots of photos and memorabilia.
We teach about the early missionaries, and the impacts
of European immigrants, settlers , deforestation and
Pastoral Farming.
Learn about the impact of fishing, forestry and aquaculture
on the delicate eco-system of our Sounds environment
and how important it is for us to protect our environment
for future generations.
Cruise by and learn the positives and negatives associated
with Salmon and Mussel Farms
What was life like for Maori in pre and post-European
times?
Learn about their proud history and culture, their use
of natural resources, where and how they quarried their
Argillite and Greenstone, their food sources, kaimoana
etc…
Learn about the great warrior, Te Rauparaha, hear stories
of battles, invasions…
Explore the site of ancient Maori pits. and learn resect
for wahitapu sites and urupa.
What better way to gain an appreciation of what life
was really like in times long past than for the children
to visit the rock where Kupe killed Te Wheke o Muturangi,
visit Te Awaiti, the first European settlement in the
South Island.
Learn about the whalers and the sealers, see and touch
whalebone that can still be found on the beach and whale
oil in the banks. See the old tri pots used to render
down the blubber, see the tomb stones of some of New
Zealand’s first settlers. Have lunch, a guided
walk & a swim.
Itinerary 2:
All day cruise 8.00am to 5.00pm captain cook's footprints
Please click on the map icon to see enlarged route
map.
This
cruise is very much in the footprints of Captain Cook
and his crew.
We visit Blumine Island and take a short bush walk up
to the World War 2 gun emplacements, and learn of impacts
of world war 2 on NZ, learn of the famous battles that
turned the tide of war.
We visit Ship Cove for lunch, the site of Captain Cooks
Monument and a wealth of history and wonderful stories
handed down over the generations.
Students can enjoy a swim , picnic lunch and guided
bush walk up to a beautiful waterfall ,along the way
Takutai or Tane will point out to you the different
varieties of trees in the native forest, and some of
the Maori medicines for which they where used.
Pete then steams the Tutanekai over to Motuara Island
, on the way teaching the tamariki all about the effects
that introduced pests have had on our native bush and
ecology.
Students will have the opportunity to learn about the
sanctuary and the different species of birds it provides
protection for, and the good work undertaken by the
Dept of Conservation.
Check out the penguin nesting boxes, if you are quiet
you'll see and hear the Kereru, bell birds, Robins &
Saddlebacks.
On our way back to Waikawa we will cruise past Kokomohua,
the Long Island
Marine Reserve. We will talk with the students about
the impacts of mussel and salmon farms and Bottom Dredging for scallops, kina and the resulting habitat destruction which is one of the main causes of the collapse of our fish stocks.
We have lost 87% of our Blue Cod stocks in the last
5 yrs alone.
Students will
learn about the impact of forestry, aquaculture and
how important it is for us to protect our environment
for future generations.
I know that it sounds like a lot of information to
cover in one day, but it works and the tamariki enjoy
themselves, this is events education and an exercise in Oral Histories, and these trips
shouldn't be looked upon as pure recreation, we see
them as a very important education tool , teaching about
our Maori history, Colonialization, and the need for
our tamariki to be more environmentally aware.
We have visited schools and talked to classes, some
that have done wonderful projects about dolphins, seals,
bush & birds , all researched from the internet
, but they have never seen them in real life.
Here is your opportunity, book a day trip with Myths
& Legends Eco-Tours. |