Art Safari Painting Holidays and Creative Adventures in New Zealand
Land of the long white cloud with Karen Pearson
25 February – 11 March 2020
Join us for the first Art Safari to New Zealand, an artists’ journey with artist Karen Pearson to experience the natural wonders of North Island and South Island, painting truly spectacular landscapes from life. Sketchbooks will fill with images of snowcapped peaks, volcanoes and glaciers, lakes, rainforests and sandy bays lapped by turquoise waters.
Karen toured New Zealand in 2018 with her paintbrushes, she is looking forward to returning and sharing some of her favourite sketching locations, and our local naturalist guide will show us fine examples of pacific tribal art and open our eyes to Maori culture.
With so much to take-in, to paint and to photograph we will be spending minimal time in our rooms! So, to prevent the tour cost from escalating we have chosen Motel style accommodation for this lovely itinerary. Motel accommodation in New Zealand, compared to many other parts of the world, is generally of a high standard so we will still have very comfortable retreats to gather and review our sketchbooks, relax and re-charge our batteries (body & camera!) at the end of each day.
Meals are included in cafes and restaurants selected by our colleagues in New Zealand, with some picnic lunches during painting excursions.
We will be travelling in a minibus equipped with air-conditioning.
Your internal flight from Auckland to Queenstown is included.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
This 16-night Art Safari spends time exploring North and South Island
- 1 night in cosmopolitan Auckland
- Secluded bays and magnificent forests of the Coromandel Peninsula
- Cathedral Cove with majestic rock formations and caves, towering black fern trees, white sandy shores and chain of Islands – believed to be the footsteps of the gods.
- Rotorua’s colourful volcanic ‘thermal wonderland’ of hot mineral springs, boiling mud and geysers and huge Redwood trees.
- Tongariro National Park – the Lord of the Rings film location for Mordor – encircling the Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu volcanoes.
- Queenstown nestled beside Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by towering mountain ranges.
- A morning boat trip out on Milford Sound – carved by glaciers this sheer sided fiord is flanked by cliffs and mountains, with high waterfalls cascading out of the dense rainforest.
- Wanaka Lake and vineyards
- Mount Cook – the highest peak in New Zealand
Tour Costs from Auckland to Christchurch
Per person sharing from: £5587
Single room supplement: £674
Our prices include: – All accommodation, all meals, art safari tutor and local guide, all activities as indicated, all park entrance fees, airport transfers, all transport and internal flight from Auckland to Queenstown.
Our prices exclude: – Airfares from your home country, departure taxes & visas if required, optional activities, art materials, drinks and personal expenses, gratuities.
Flights: – Art Safari can organise your flights for you (not included in tour cost).
Joining point Auckland on Tuesday 25 February (please remember when flying from the UK that you arrive in New Zealand 2 days later!).
This Art Safari ends in Christchurch late afternoon Wednesday 11 March 2020, for an evening flight departure home. Alternatively, you may wish to add extra time in Christchurch at the end of your tour.
New Zealand FAQs
Artistic Aims: any subject of choice – landscapes, birds, buildings, people, wildlife and flowers
Main Medium: Watercolour – other travelling materials welcome: pastel, pencil, acrylic etc
Accommodation (these hotels or similar): as described on the itinerary
Suitable for photographers: Yes, the tour format is ideal for photographers
Walking: This tour is generally accessible with only a small amount of walking to our painting locations, though there are plenty of beautiful walks if you feel up to it
Weather: Summertime
Group Size: Between 4 and 12 guests
Suggested tour extensions: Extra nights on request. Ask us for inspiration!
Enquire now on 01394 382235 or info@artsafari.co.uk