Printable Version - Minnesota Milk Producers Association

New Zealand Dairy Tour 2015
February 16-28, 2015
Space is Limited!
This tour will give participants a thorough
introduction to New Zealand’s dairy sector.
Times are changing as many producers are
moving to take advantage of high global
prices by shifting to higher input, highercost regimes to lift production.
Our itinerary will cover the more traditional
and highly developed regions such as the
Waikato, North Island, but also one of the
newer rapidly developing regions of the
South Island, Canterbury. In this southern
region, economies of scale and irrigation
are the main points of difference, with a
range of feed supplement levels.
Aukland
Also covered in the tour are research
and development, processing, and agritechnology aspects of dairying, through
visits to the Livestock Improvement
Corporation (LIC), the NZ Agribusiness
Centre, and the Lincoln University Dairy
Farm.
Hamilton
Rotorua
North Island
Other sectors of the agricultural industry
are not neglected, with visits to top quality
kiwifruit, sheep & beef, and high-country
properties as well, where you get to meet
and talk with farming family owners – the
real face of New Zealand farming. And
all along the way, New Zealand’s varied
and beautiful landscape forms a stunning
backdrop to your stimulating tour!
South Island
Christchurch
Akaroa
Milford
Sound
Twizel
Queenstown
Presented by Harvest Travel International, Oakland, CA
New Zealand Dairy Tour 2015
Monday, February 16
(Depart)
Tuesday, February 17
(Day Lost in Transit)
Wednesday, February 18
(Arrival/ Auckland)
• Fly Minneapolis - Los Angeles - Auckland, NZ
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
• Arrive at Auckland Airport and travel to hotel for light breakfast.
• City tour and opportunity for a short walk up
Mount Eden for 360o views of the city and
where we see the Tasman Sea and the
South Pacific Ocean at the same time.
• Welcome lunch on the waterfront.
• Free time in central Auckland.
• OPTIONAL: Waitemata Harbour cruise
(90-minutes) for fine views of Rangitoto Island, the
cityscape and Auckland Harbour Bridge. (Additional $35.25 per person.)
• Welcome to New Zealand dinner at the hotel.
• Overnight: Rydges Hotel (or similar)
Thursday, February 19 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
(Auckland/ Hamilton)
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Tour 470 NZ-Friesian cow, 200 ha dairy farm at Karaka. This is a System-5
farm (system number denotes the level of supplementary
feed input with 1 = all-grass and no supplements; 5 =
high proporation 25-55% of diet fed as supplements).
This property has spring and autumn calving, a 50-bail
rotary shed, and is in a productive farming region with
very high land values.
• Continue south towards Hamilton in the Waikato region.
• Tour an avocado orchard.
• Visit the Hamilton Gardens positioned along the Waikato River.
• Arrive at the hotel, followed by free time in central Hamilton.
• Dinner in the hotel.
• Overnight: Kingsgate Hotel (or similar)
Friday, February 20 Breakfast & Lunch Included
(Hamilton Area)
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Visit NZ Agribusiness Centre for a presentation on the dairy industry, then
meet with representatives from several agri-technology companies.
• Visit LIC, a co-operatively owned driver of onfarm profitability through the supply of elite
semen for AI. Services also include herdtesting and farm management advice using
MINDA and other software products.
• Visit a leading sharemilking couple in the
Ohaupo area. System-3 farm, 500 Kiwicross cows, 36-aside herringbone shed. A good
introduction to share-milking, mixed ownership and
management arrangement popoular in New Zealand.
• OPTIONAL: Visit Hobbiton, movie set for Lord of the Rings and the
Hobbit Trilogies. (Additional $66 per person and travelers will not participate
in any dairy programs for the day.)
• Return to hotel with dinner on your own in Hamilton.
• Overnight: Kingsgate Hotel (or similar)
Saturday, February 21 Breakfast & Dinner Included
(Hamilton/ Rotorua)
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Overlooking the international rowing
venue of Lake Karapiro, visit an organic
kiwifruit orchard growing both the green
and gold fruit. This iconic New Zealand
export horticultural product currently faces a
severe challenge from the recently arrived disease, Psa (Pseudomonas).
Talk with the producer, inspect the vines, taste the orchard-grown fruit and
discuss the strategies in place to overcome the current issues.
• Lunch on your own in the riverside town of Cambridge.
• Visit the popular Waikato Glowworm Caves to see thousands of tiny
Arachnocampa luminosa, which is unique to New Zealand, radiate their
luminosa light.
• Continue south to Rotorua for some free time.
• Visit Te Puia Whakarewarewa – meet members of the local Maori tribe,
Te Arawa, and see the geothermal area with steaming
geysers and boiling mud-pools. Remain at the
same location for a Maori cultural evening,
including a formal welcome onto the Marae
– the focal point of a Maori village. Enjoy an
introduction to their customs, handicrafts and
the haka - the warrior challenge made famous by
the All Blacks rugby team.
• For dinner, experience the ‘hangi’ - traditionally cooked meat & vegetables.
• Overnight: Holiday Inn (or similar)
Sunday, February 22 Breakfast & Lunch Included
(Rotorua/ Christchurch)
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• After a later start, attend the Farm Show at the Agrodome – a light-hearted
but informative show featuring all the commercial sheep breeds found in
New Zealand, plus a sheep-shearing and sheepdog demonstration.
• Lunch with the family owners of a sheep
and beef farm, overlooking Lake Rotorua.
Inspect their crossbred sheep and the
Jersey dairy bulls that are leased to dairy
farmers prior to finishing for the beef
market. Also discuss the environmental issues,
in particular groundwater quality, facing the farmers in
this region.
• Fly to Christchurch. City tour enroute to the hotel.
• Dinner on your own.
• OPTIONAL: Visit the International Antarctic Center, consisting of
Antarctic exhibits, a simulated Antarctic snow storm, and little blue
penguins at the NZ Penguin Encounter, which rescues Penguins from the
wild that are in need of help. (Additional $49.25 per person.)
• Overnight: Copthorne Commodore (or similar)
• OPTIONAL: Farm Home Stay. (Additional $106 per person.)
February 16-28, 2015
Monday, February 23 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
(Christchurch/ Akaroa Region)
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Travel by coach to Akaroa, a small French-influenced coastal village
popular both with the locals as a weekend retreat, and with visitors from
the 70+ cruise ships that visit each summer.
• Take a wildlife cruise on the harbour with
the opportunity to see the dramatic
scenery, plus varied bird and animal life
including New Zealand seals and the
rare Hector’s dolphin.
• Return to Christchurch.
• Overnight: Copthorne Commodore (or similar)
Tuesday, February 24 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
• Breakfast at the hotel.
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(Christchurch/ Twizel)
•
Visit Lincoln University – the oldest
agricultural university in the British
Commonwealth. Meet with a senior staff
member who will give an overview of the
south island dairy industry – a region driving
NZ growing dairy production.
‘Drive-by’ of the world’s largest milk-drying factory – Fonterra’s Darfield
site, where over 30 tons of milk powder can be produced per hour.
Lunch at Methven.
Visit a large-scale irrigated dairy operation with 7,000 cows on a cluster
of five farms, owned by a talented young couple and a financial partner.
This property is a great example of the large-scale developments common
on the Canterbury Plains in the last 10-15 years. Stock includes pedigree
Jerseys, and Kiwi-cross and Holstein cows.
Continue south via the foothills before
entering the Mackenzie Country – a
high, dry inland region of austere beauty,
punctuated by large aqua-blue glacierfed lakes. The Southern Alps, including
NZ’s highest peak Mt Cook / Aoraki 3,754m
(12,316’), provide a dramatic backdrop to this area.
Arrive hotel in Twizel.
Dinner at the hotel this evening.
Overnight: Mackenzie Country Inn
Wednesday, February 25 Breakfast & Lunch Included
(Twizel/ Queenstown)
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Continue south towards the Otago region, where we visit a canal-based
salmon farm for discussion about this family-owned business and to taste
some of their product.
• Further south, lunch at Glen Dene homestead with the owners, in a
stunning location overlooking Lake Hawea. Glen
Dene Station is a 6,000 ha alpine livestock farm
with fine-wool Merino and meat producing
sheep, beef cattle and deer. This diversified
farming business also provides ‘dairy
support’ – the winter- feeding of non-lactating
dairy cows prior to spring calving. Game
hunting of trophy stags also takes place on the Station.
• Stop at a vineyard for wine tasting.
• Arrive at the hotel at the lakeside town of Queenstown.
• Dinner on your own.
• Overnight: Copthorne (or similar)
Thursday, February 26 Breakfast & Lunch Included
(Queenstown/ Milford Sound)
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Depart the hotel via coach for Milford
Sound, once described by Rudyard
Kipling as ‘the eighth wonder of the
world’, and into the heart of a large
World Heritage area.
• Arrive at Milford Sound, and take a
cruise with towering mountains on both
sides, virgin forest, and waterfalls dropping
over high cliffs directly into the sea. With a greater than 6m (22’) rainfall
per year, water - both salty and fresh - is all around you.
• Depart Milford Sound for return to Queenstown.
• Dinner on your own in Queenstown.
• Overnight: Copthorne (or similar)
Friday, February 27 Breakfast & Dinner Included
(Queenstown Region)
• Breakfast at the hotel.
•
Depart for a tour of the surrounding area,
including the historic and scenic gold-mining village
of Arrowtown. This is a great spot to wander along
the main street and to have coffee at one of the
cafés. We also pass by the Kawerau Bridge – home
of bungy-jumping in New Zealand
• The rest of the day is free to explore Queenstown and to enjoy some of the
many opportunities available. Perhaps a relaxing cruise on Lake Wakatipu
on a historic steamer, or an exhilarating ride through the Shotover Gorge
in a jet-boat. There are plenty of shopping options, perhaps savor the local
food & wine, paraglide, bungy-jump, golf, or walk the many local tracks. Or
just relax and soak up the atmosphere of the town.
• We meet back at the hotel and depart together
for our farewell dinner on Bob’s Peak, high
above Queenstown, with stunning view
of the town, the Remarkables, and Lake
Wakatipu.
• Overnight: Copthorne (or similar)
Saturday, February 28 Breakfast Included
(Queenstown/ Home)
• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Depending on flight times, transfer to Queenstown Airport for Auckland
and our connecting flight to Los Angeles.
• Arrive Los Angeles on the same date as we left New Zealand. Clear
Customs and Immigration and board our connecting flight to Minneapolis.
Harvest Travel International and its New Zealand supplier of
travel services reserves the right to alter or amend the schedule of
activities if circumstances warrant.
Questions?
Contact Minnesota Milk
toll-free at 1-877-577-0741
or by e-mail at mmpa@mnmilk.org.
»» Passengers #1
First Name
Last Name
Cell Phone
Email Address
Only 50 seats available
so don’t delay!
»» Passenger #2
Last Name
Cell Phone
Email Address
»» Home Address/ Contact Info
Mailing Address
CityState
Zip
Phone
Farm/ Company Name
»» Accommodations
☐ Smoking ☐ Non-smoking
☐ Share room, two beds
☐ Share room, one bed
☐Single (Additional $945) ☐ I am a single person
traveling alone, and I would like to share.
»» Travel Insurance
(Check One)
»» Optional Tours
(I/we are interested in the following optional tours. I/we understand
we will be charged for these tours on our final payment invoice and that
they are nonrefundable once purchased. Prices are per person.)
Feb. 18: Auckland Harbor Cruise - US$35.25
Number of tickets: ____.
Feb. 20: Hobbiton - US$66.00
Number of tickets: ____.
Feb. 22: International Antarctic Centre - US$49.25
Number of tickets:____.
Feb. 22: Farm Home Stay - US$106.00 per person.
Number of people: ____.
»» Registration
(Based on Double Occupancy)
Early-Bird Registration (By July 25, 2014)
☐ $5,800 Per Person (Member)
☐ $6,000 Per Person (Non-Member)
Regular Registration (After July 25, 2014)
☐ $6,000 Per Person (Member)
☐ $6,200 Per Person (Non-Member)
»» Payment Information
(A minimum, non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required at
time of registration. Full amount can be made now or by 10/31/2014.)
___ # of Participants x $500 = _____
Total Enclosed ________
Please select a payment option:
☐ Check Enclosed (Payable to Minnesota Milk)
☐ Credit Card (Call us toll-free 877-577-0741)
Signature(s):
I/We understand that a deposit of $500 is due at the time of enrollment
and is thereafter nonrefundable. I/we further understand that final
payment is due on or before October 31, 2014, and I/we have read and
understand the Cancellations & Refunds clause.
To reserve your space, and receive additional registration materials,
mail this form with down-payment to: Minnesota Milk, 108 Marty Drive, Ste 2 - Buffalo, MN 55313
☐ I/we DO wish to purchase optional travel insurance.
Please send me more information.
☐ I/we DO NOT wish to purchase the optional travel
insurance. We have been offered said insurance and
have chosen not to purchase it.
☐
☐
☐
☐
NEW ZEALAND DAIRY TOUR
RESERVATION FORM
First Name
Package Price Per Person
Based on a minimum of 40 adults and includes round-trip airfare on Air New Zealand from
Minneapolis at $2,159.60 per person. Upgrades to Premium Economy and Business Premier
are available on request.
Early-Bird Registration (By July 25)
MMPA
Members
MMPA NonMembers
Double Occupancy
$5,800
$6,000
Single Occupancy
$6,745
$6,945
Package Includes
Prices based on the currency exchange rate of
US$1.00 = NZ$0.8797 as of 5/2/2014
• 10 nights at 3.5 and 4.5 star hotels.
• Transportation by private motor coach.
• Entrance fees to field trips and
sightseeing.
• 26 Meals (11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 6
dinners, and any inflight meals served by
the airlines.)
• International flights via Air New
Zealand Group Economy class between
Minneapolis and Auckland; Rotorua
and Christchurch; Queenstown and
Minneapolis. Deviations may be
permitted.
• All Current Taxes, including NZ
Departure Tax.
• NZ Ag-Specialist Tour Manager plus
local guides if neeeded.
• Miscellaneous materials such as a tour
booklet, maps and notes.
• Tips to coach driver and local guides.
• NZ Goods and Services Tax (15%).
Additional Information
Registration and Payments
• To enroll, complete the reservation form
and submit it to Minnesota Milk along
with your deposit of $500 per person.
• Space is limited to 50 participants.
• Producer Members of Minnesota
Milk will have first-choice followed by
associate members. If space remains,
registrations will be taken from nonmembers.
• Final payment is due no later than
October 31, 2014
Cancellations & Refunds
• The $500 per person deposit is nonrefundable.
• Cancellations received from 45-0 days
of departure - the tour price is totally
nonrefundable.
Regular Registration (After July 25)
MMPA
Members
MMPA NonMembers
Double Occupancy
$6,000
$6,200
Single Occupancy
$6,945
$7,145
NOT Included
• Personal expenses (laundry,
telephone, etc.).
• Expenses due to flight delays,
strikes, bad weather, or other
irregularities.
• Optional travel and baggage
insurance.
• Excess baggage charges.
• Individual services apart from the
group.
• Expenses for a la carte meal items
not included such as bottled
water, soft drinks, wine etc.
• Increase in tariffs or dollar
exchange rate after publication
date.
• Refunds for hotel
accommodations or tour services
not utilized.
• Increase in airfares (fuel
surcharges, additional airport or
security fees, air taxes, passenger
facility charges, etc.).
• End-of tour gratuity to the New
Zealand tour manager (Optional)
Documentation
• Each traveler MUST carry a
valid US passport, with at least
6 months’ validity remaining
after your return to the United
States. If you are not a US
citizen, be sure to notify us on the
reservation form so you may be
properly advised regarding entry
formalities into New Zealand.
Cancellation/Travel Insurance
• It is highly recommended
that each person purchase
cancellation/travel insurance,
especially if Medicare is your
primary health insurance, which
does not cover you outside of
the 50 United States. The travel
insurance is administered by
Travel Guard. Information on
coverage and premiums will be
sent to you upon enrollment.