CME cruise in New Zealand Fiordland’s.
Would you like to join us for a medical conference/cruise in the New Zealand Fiordland’s?
We are organising a small group learning educational event on board the luxurious Fiordland Jewel vessel, visiting this beautiful remote area for a period of seven days.
The educational program is being tailored to the interests of participants, and we will apply for 40 Category 1 RACGP points. Participating Specialists can do presentations from their own field of interest for their CPD points, and will be presented with a certificate.
Highlights of the trip include exploring Fiordland National Park (a major part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site), Stewart Island/Rakiura and Doubtful Sound/Patea and more.
Our aim is keep the group small (up to 16 participants) allowing for an intimate experience, and we chose a vessel that provided us with maximum comfort and access to the remote locations.
Our boat the Fiordland Jewel offers exceptional comfort with only nine cabins – five King cabins; two king single cabins; and two cabins with two sets of bunk beds in each. All accommodation and living areas are air conditioned, and all cabins have a private ensuite.
Daily activities will include scuba diving (dive ticket required); fishing for blue cod, groper, tuna and trumpeter; kayaking; boat trips; and walks. You will have the opportunity to see wildlife, seals, dolphins, birds and underwater marine life.
Fiordland Jewel is also equipped with a remote operated underwater vehicle (ROV), allowing for exploration of the underwater world and offering a different perspective to see the unique aquatic flora and fauna, including some of the world’s biggest population of black coral trees.
Read more about our vessel the Fiordland Jewel:
Fiordland Jewel – fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz/our-vessel
Our itinerary is from Doubtful Sound to Preservation Inlet (which is reverse of the below itinerary)
Days 1 to 5:
Fly via helicopter from Te Anau and land directly onboard the Fiordland Jewel, which will be waiting in Preservation Inlet.
Preservation Inlet also has some spectacular land features and viewpoints, including:
- Puysegur Point, where we land at the old oil store (now a DOC hut) and walk to the most isolated lighthouse in New Zealand.
- Spit Island, an island connected to the mainland by a beautiful sandspit at low tide. It was the site of two tragic Maori battles in the 1780s.
- Cascade basin, a magnificent waterfall that plunges into Long Sound.
We cruise around the inlets, and may do activities such as:
- View the rusting hulk of the wreck “Stella”, a steamship that purposely ran aground in the 1800s after damaging itself on a reef.
- Walk on the beach at South Port Cove and visit McCallum’s sawmill boiler.
- Walk up to Lake Cadman, via the falls in Lake Cove at the head of Edwardson Sound (20 minutes).
Right beside Chalky Inlet is Preservation Inlet, separated by Broke-adrift Passage and Treble Mountain. In the 1890s, a gold rush occurred and mining towns sprang up at Cromarty and Te Oneroa, where tracks and old mining machinery can still be found. Possible activities include:
- Land at Krisbee Bay to view an old sawmill boiler at Cromarty. The gold mine itself is many kilometres into the hills.
- Land at Te Oneroa Beach and walk 10 minutes inland to the old Morning Star battery boiler, where you may be able to see the mine drives and even the remains of an aerial cableway. On the other side of the inlet is the site of the first whaling station in the South Island.
At some stage, depending on conditions, we leave Chalky Inlet and head up to Dusky Sound where we’ll cruise amongst various islands, coves and passages, visiting many historically significant sites such as:
- Luncheon Cove, where we walk around predator-free Anchor Island (2.5 kilometres), a bird sanctuary near the mouth of the fiord. You may see the South Island saddleback and, occasionally, one of the 40 rare kakapo on the island. This track travels up to a small lake in the centre of the island.
- Anchor Point, where Captain Cook anchored HMS Resolution in 1773. Also Pickersgill Harbour where Cook moored off Astronomer Point for five weeks.
- Pigeon Island, where we walk up the DOC pathway to visit the site of the home of New Zealand’s first conservationist, Richard Henry, who tried to save the kakapo from extinction in the late 1800s. Here there is also an incredible viewpoint towards the entrance of Dusky Sound.
- We then cruise through the narrow channels of the Little Harbour to The Basin where you can go kayaking or explore Resolution Island on foot.
- There is also the possibility to launch the ROV to view black coral and marine life, giving you the unique opportunity to experience this remarkable place in a way that, until now, has been impossible.
Days 6 to 7:
We’ll start to head back north through Breaksea to Doubtful Sound. At Doubtful Sound on Day 7, you’ll disembark and take a bus over Wilmot Pass, a boat over Lake Manapouri and return to Manapouri.
Book your place and join us in the New Zealand Fiordland’s
If you would like to join us, please fill in the following form with your contact details and we will send you a registration form.
Space is limited, places are on a first-come-first-served basis.
Rates are:
- 5 x King cabins – AUD$7,400 pp
- 2 x king singles cabins – AUD$7,100 pp
- 2 x 2 sets of bunk beds – AUD$6,200 pp
- Transfer costs to/from boat via Helicopter, includes scenic flight from Preservation Inlet to Te Anau (one way); and coach/boat transfer from Manapouri to Doubtful Sound (one way) – AUD$480 pp
Note: prices might differ slightly, due to currency fluctuations. Cabins are allocated on first-come-first-served basis, depending upon your preference.
Your package includes:
- Your accommodation onboard the Fiordland Jewel
- All meals prepared by our onboard chef (special dietary requirements catered for)
- Complimentary tea and coffee
- In each cabin: Toiletries – Body wash and Shampoo/Conditioner (Evolu), hairdryer, linen and bath towels
- Gear available for use: 8 kayaks, fishing gear, Shimano electric reels, diving tanks, weight belts and compressor.
- Use of top-deck hot tub (weather permitting)
Best wishes,
Dr Calin Pava
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EOI Form New Zealand Fiordland: