16th AUSTRALASIAN CONFERENCE

ON CAVE & KARST MANAGEMENT

WEST COAST, SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

10 – 17 APRIL 2005

 

PRE CONFERENCE TOUR – DRAFT PROGRAM (6 – 10 April) – OPTIONAL

 

Wed 6th April                       Depart Christchurch, drive to Kaikoura via Amberley, Weka Pass, and back road to Highway 1, and up the coast. Visit Peninsula Walk in the afternnon, and Maori Leap Cave at Kaikoura, in the evening. Overnight: Kaikoura.

 

Thu 7th April                        Day trip with cut lunch & walking gear, to visit karst features, and plants on Isolated Hill Scenic Reserve – Sawcut      Reserve. Overnight: Kaikoura.

 

Fri 8th April                           Drive from Kaikoura to Hanmer Springs, via the inland route, Waiau, and Highway 7. Choices of jetboating (takes in karst features) and other activities. Overnight: Hanmer Springs.

 

Sat 9th April                          Hanmer Springs to Springs Junction via Lewis Pass. Short walk to the “Sluice Box” (marble feature on Maruia River). Continue via Shenandoah route to Rappahannock Creek and recently explored caves (CCG). Go wild caving or bushwalking. Travel to Murchison via Shenandoah Saddle and Maruia Falls. Overnight: Murchison.

 

Sun 10th April                      Choice of rafting trips on local rivers - Buller, Gowan etc. and/or take the Longest Swing Bridge in NZ across Buller River. View local karst features. Continue onto Westport via Inangahua Junction with stop off at Profanity Cave entrance, and Lower Buller Gorge. Register for the Conference from 4pm onwards. Overnight: Westport.

 

16th ACKMA CONFERENCE – DRAFT PROGRAM (10 –17 April)

 

Day One - Arrival

Sun 10th  April                    Delegates arrive. Get together at Maxwell Gage Centre from 4pm onwards.

Formal Conference Opening, Dinner, and Keynote Address. Overnight: Westport.

Day Two

Mon 11th April                     Paper Session in the morning. Afternoon field excursion to the Nile Valley trip.

ACKMA Committee meets. Free for delegates. Overnight: Westport.

Day Three

Tues 12th April                    Depart for Oparara – field excursion, and onto Karamea. Paper session in evening.

Overnight: Westport.

Day Four

Wed 13th April                     Paper session in the morning. Afternoon field excursion to Tauranga Bay, seal colony and cement factory. Overnight: Westport.

Day Five

Thurs 14th April                   Paper session in the morning, and in afternoon. ACKMA Annual General meeting. Evening: Poster Session. Overnight: Westport.

Day Six

Fri 15th April                         Depart for Punakaiki, visiting Truman Track and Pancake Rocks en route. Afternoon: visit Bullock Creek and Xanadu Cave, creek submergence, and polje area. On-site paper presentation. Overnight: Punakaiki.

Day Seven

Sat 16th April                        Depart for Greymouth. Walks on Domain track and Peter Ridge. Afternoon: field excursions. Evening: Conference Dinner at Shantytown. Overnight: Greymouth

Day Eight - Departure

Sun 17th                April                      Departures for:

·         Post Conference Tour (17 maximum)

·         Wild Caving trips Grey – Punakaiki – Charleston areas with local cavers

·         A cave specialist’s trip to Megamania Cave – limited to 6 with 2 leaders

·         By bus to Christchurch with late lunch stop-off at Castle Hill for caving, or walks.

 

POST CONFERENCE TOUR – DRAFT PROGRAM (6 – 10 April) – OPTIONAL

 

Sun 17th April                      12 Noon departure. Lunch at Hokitika. Sightseeing until 2.00, then drive to Franz Josef, and Fox Glaciers. Evening: Glowworm walk. Overnight: Fox Glacier.

 

Mon 18th April                     Morning: guided trip on Glacier, with ice caving if possible. Afternoon: Depart for Wanaka, via Ships Creek, Haast Visitor Centre, Haast Pass and Makarora. Overnight: Wanaka.

 

Tue 19th April                      Depart for Te Anau via Crown Range Road, and Queenstown. Afternoon: Visit Te Anau tourist cave. Overnight: Te Anau.

 

Wed 20th April                     Overnight: Te Anau. Choice of all day trips:

·         Wild caving in Aurora Cave

·         Wild caving/walking on Mt. Luxmore – helitrip one way

·         Scenic and caving helitrip to Kellard Point Cave

 

Thu 21st April                      Overnight: Te Anau. Choice of all day trips:

·         Bus trip to Milford Sound

·         Bus to Manapouri and take day trip to Doubtful Sound

 

Fri 22nd April                        Depart for Oamaru, via Clutha Valley, Dunedin andd Palmerston (coast road). Lunch at Trotters Gorge, then to Moeraki Boulders, and visit limestone quarry, and other local karst features. Overnight: Oamaru

 

Sat 23rd April                        Depart north via Pareora and cave to view Maori Rock drawings nearby. Travel to Christchurch via Kakahu Gorge, Geraldine, and Mt. Somers with a stop at the historic limestone quarry (Burnett Reserve), and Rakaia. Arrive Christchurch at 6pm, and disperse.