New Zealand: Land of the Long White Cloud
From Harbors to Fiords
Begin in Auckland, set between two natural harbors shaped by volcanic geology and maritime trade, where a guided introduction and curator-led visit to the Auckland Museum provide context on Maori taonga and cultural history. Continue to Wellington for panoramic views from Mount Victoria and an evening exploration of Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary, an ambitious urban conservation project focused on restoring endemic species.
Cross Cook Strait to the South Island and arrive in the Marlborough wine region, where climate and terrain converge to produce world-class vintages. Travel along the Kaikoura coast for a whale-watching excursion in nutrient-rich waters influenced by deep ocean currents before continuing to Christchurch, a city balancing heritage and post-earthquake innovation.
Board the TranzAlpine Train across the Canterbury Plains and into the Southern Alps, then walk through temperate rain forest to view Franz Josef Glacier, where geology and climate intersect in dramatic fashion. Conclude in Queenstown with visits to Arrowtown, panoramic views from Bob’s Peak, and a cruise through Doubtful Sound in Fiordland National Park. This small-group journey features first-class accommodations, expert guides and lecturers, immersive cultural experiences, and a comprehensive meal plan with wine at dinner.
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Alex Sessions
Alex Sessions is the Nico and Marilyn van Wingen Professor of Geobiology in Caltech’s Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences. An organic geochemist by training, Sessions is the author of more than 100 scientific publications on paleoclimate, the marine carbon cycle, microbial ecology, and ancient life on Earth.
His research uses the stable isotope compositions of organic molecules recovered from cells, water, and rocks as tracers of microbial metabolic activity, helping reveal how microbes interact with the physical world around them. His fieldwork has taken him around the world, including to New Zealand.
Sessions directed the International Geobiology Course from 2017 to 2023, leading 16 graduate students each summer through Owens Valley and the eastern Sierra Nevada to study the region’s geobiology. He also led field trips to New Zealand for graduating GPS students in 2015 and 2024, exploring the unique geology of this tectonically active region.
As a geologist and avid outdoors enthusiast, Sessions calls New Zealand his favorite playground and looks forward to sharing it with Techer travelers.