to our world. - NOLS

New Zealand is a land of contrasts. The South Island’s west coast drips with rain. Its forests are dense with tree ferns and
towering podocarps, ancient remnants of conifer forests that existed when New Zealand was part of a gigantic continent
called Gondwonaland. On the eastern side of the island, in the rain shadow of the Southern Alps, the hills are brown in
late summer and backcountry travel is often across open slopes covered with tussocks of grass or through beech forests that
smell like honey. Raw and young, this landscape is steep and rugged and its weather is capricious. You can go from hot sun
in the morning, to cold winds, rain, and snow in the afternoon. We leave behind the tourist routes and plunge deep into the
forests or climb high up into remote alpine areas. Some courses float down its rivers or explore its coastlines, experiencing the
country’s rich marine life—whales, dolphins, and seals—and its wide variety of endemic birds. New Zealand is a dramatic
place that engages your senses, challenges you physically and mentally, and promises to give you the adventure of a lifetime.
NEW ZEALAND
Alice Hill
Maori culture, leadership classes, and mountaineering: The NOLS syllabus is packed with excitement. Maruia Valley
NEW
NEW ZEALAND BACKPACKING
New for 2011, New Zealand’s 30-day backpacking course takes
you into the South Island’s rugged interior: a land of mountains,
rivers, waterfalls, tundra, and forests. The routes here are
demanding, but the rewards great. Most backcountry travelers
in New Zealand stick to the main tramping paths; we leave
them behind. So you’ll see few people as you explore the island’s
tangled forests and cruise its rocky “tops” (mountaintops). The
length of this course allows you time to delve into New Zealand’s
unique natural history. You’ll encounter plants and animals
found nowhere else on Earth: Strange trees that look like
they’re straight out of Dr. Seuss’ imagination and large mountain
parrots that live high in the alpine zones. You can expect challenging
travel. The mountains are precipitous, and the rivers are
prone to sudden rises after a rain. You can also expect to learn the
skills required to travel safely and comfortably in this environment—skills
that will serve you later in life wherever you may go.
DETAILS
Age and Length: 18 & Over • Duration: 30 days
Tuition: $6,025 (includes 15% New Zealand Goods and Services Tax)
Optional College Credit: 2 hours Environmental Ethics, 2 hours Leadership Techniques,
2 hours Skills Practicum
Dates: page 107
Become a leader and decide your route to the top! Big Hill Range
Facing page: Get your bearings at NOLS. A NOLS experience is the perfect time out.
Tennyson Inlet, Marlborough Sounds
Fredrik Norrsell
91