Led by Dave Van Wylen ’80, Professor Emeritus of Biology, and Pat Lunderberg Van Wylen ’80, P ’10, ’11, ’16, Retired Interim and Visiting Scholar Coordinator
Let’s get to know New Zealand, a densely packed land of vast beauty, with diverse geographic regions. We invite you to actively experience the geographic and cultural wonders of these two small islands.
This itinerary is custom-designed and distinctive to St. Olaf!
New Zealand is a densely packed land of vast beauty with diverse geographic regions that we will experience as we travel across the North and South Islands over 16 days.
Our program begins in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand and its second largest city. On our journey, we will see lovely urban waterfronts, dramatic alpine peaks, active volcanic zones, picturesque fjords, lush native forests, rolling green farmlands, stunning glaciers, geothermal pools, and more. In addition, we will learn about New Zealand’s Maori culture, unique biodiversity, distinctive wines, productive farming, conservation efforts, and the Kiwi’s love of hobbits, rugby, and cricket. The program ends in Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand and home to almost one third of the country’s population.
This will be an active program with significant walking.
Maximum group size is 24 and with such an enticing itinerary, we expect the program to fill quickly.
Highlights
- Wellington Harbour
- Te Papa Museum
- Kapiti Island Bird Sanctuary
- Queenstown Skyline Gondola Ride & Buffet Dinner
- Overnight on Ship in Doubtful Sound
- Farm Tour
- Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
- Hooker Valley Hike
- Boat Ride to Glacier
- Lake Tekapo
- Christchurch Walking Tour
- International Antarctic Centre
- Maori Cultural Immersion in Rotorura
- Geothermal Hot Pools
- Hobbiton Movie Set
- Auckland Harbour Sailing
- Auckland Sky Tower Dining
We’re working on the details … please check back! We highly recommend you add your name to the interest list so that you can be among the first to receive updates, including notification when registration opens. This tour has historically filled very quickly!
This tour starts in Wellington and ends in Auckland. You can view – and print or download if you wish – the most up-to-date itinerary here.
Our intention with each tour is to provide an itinerary that introduces you to key elements related to your destination or the educational theme, while also providing some free time for you to pursue your own interests or have some down time. The balance can vary from day to day, and from tour to tour.
You’ll get the most out of study travel if you research what to do during your free time. This allows you to reap the benefits of group travel, while also customizing the tour to your interests and activity level. Read more about How to Be an Independent Group Traveler.
Dave and Pat Van Wylen are veteran group travel leaders, having led both student and adult study travel programs. They led adult groups to New Zealand (2026, 2019, 2017), Spain (2026, 2023), Amazon/Galapagos (2025), Vietnam (2024), Patagonia (2022), and the Netherlands (2015). With students, they led semester abroad programs in Asia, the Middle East, and Australia. Dave taught multiple January interims in Peru and at Emory University in Atlanta, plus a summer Tanzania Global Health experience. Pat assisted on most of these programs as well as with an interim Health Care and Culture course in Hawaii/Micronesia.
Dave (Biology and Administration) and Pat (International and Off-Campus Studies, now Smith Center for Global Engagement) worked for 21 years at St. Olaf. Dave then served as Hope College’s Dean for Natural and Applied Sciences and directed Hope’s Office of Possibilities. Pat coordinated Hope College adult travel tours and ran her own business working with seniors. In 2025 they relocated to Minneapolis, allowing them to live close to their children and grandchildren.
Dave and Pat both graduated from St. Olaf College. Dave received his Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Michigan (Go Blue), while Pat completed master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia in health administration and exercise physiology.
This tour is designed to be more active than our average Travel program. The times of higher activity will be balanced by down times as well. Activities are encouraged, but you can choose to spend your time alternatively as desired.
To fully partake in this program, you should be capable of walking a minimum of one mile at a time over uneven terrain and up to five miles per day, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling, of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing a different culture, and of traveling with a group for several hours each day. You must have good stamina and balance to go on the scheduled hikes, bike tours, and kayak outings.
You always have the option of skipping a group activity you think will be too strenuous and remaining back at the hotel or coach. Without adding additional staff members and increasing the cost of the tour, we are unable to offer multiple options to various activities.
Any participant who has demonstrated an inability, in the opinion of the tour leader, of keeping up with the group or of safely participating in program activities may be prohibited from participating in certain activities.
You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage throughout the tour. Traveling lightly is highly recommended.
Hotels will be tourist class (four-star or superior rating) with private baths, air conditioning, and English-speaking staff.
Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully. We try to strike a balance between nickel-and-diming you once on the tour and allowing you some freedom in your price point: including some meals and activities, for example, while making others optional or on your own. Private motor coaches throughout the tour are pricier than public transportation. Highly rated guides are essential and should command higher wages.
The tour price is PENDING. It will be listed per person, based on double occupancy. A supplement for single occupancy will apply.
Inclusions: discussions led by Dave Van Wylen, assistance by Pat Van Wylen, a dedicated tour manager, accommodations, breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary, admissions for group activities, ground transportation during the tour (except arrival and departure airport transfers), gratuities to group guides, drivers, and meal servers, and some limited medical coverage while overseas.
Exclusions: Airfare to and from New Zealand is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the program fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: airfare between your hometown and New Zealand, airport transfers, any passport fees, any recommended immunizations or vaccinations, baggage insurance, trip cancellation insurance above $2,000 lifetime coverage, beverages at group meals, laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature, expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities, lunch and dinner, unless specifically included on program itinerary.
This schedule is TENTATIVE and will be based on payments St. Olaf College must make to tour vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the tour.
Deposit due: $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel: $450 if you cancel on or before February 15, 2027. If the deposit is made after February 15, 2027 there is no refund.
Interim payment due: $4,000 on February 15, 2027
Refund if you cancel: $2,000 if you cancel on or before October 14, 2027
Balance due: October 15, 2027
Refund if you cancel: None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold
Cancellations must be in writing.
Look through each tab in the Participant Documents (coming soon).
Review the latest information on recommended immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
See the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department website, including Before You Go, Country Information, While Abroad, and Emergencies.
Check your passport to ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the tour return date. Should you need to renew, visit the U.S. State Department website for instructions.
Take time to prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more.
Hold the dates of January 3–20, 2028, but do not book non-refundable air until we can confirm the tour is a go. (Note that our published tour dates always include international travel days.) Meanwhile see our tips on Booking Your Flights.
Release and Waiver
Terms and Conditions (both coming soon)
This tour needs a minimum of 12 travelers by August 1, 2027 in order to go. But don’t wait until then to register – this trip consistently sells out quickly!
Registration is not yet open. Add your name to the interest list to receive updates as they become available and to be among the first informed when registration is open.
Meanwhile …
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