*** NO SOLO TRAVELLER SUPPLEMENT *** In conjunction with Air Chathams and Hotel Chathams, we’re inviting you to join us in the Chatham Islands for our amazing annual Mid Winter Christmas, flying to Chatham Island on 8th June 2025 and returning to Aukland 13th June 2025.
Over five nights and days, you will be exploring the main island, enjoying the most spectacular scenery, learn about Chatham Island history, meet the locals and hear about the island’s wildlife and flora. Not to mention the amazing food you’ll enjoy.
But of course, you’ll enjoy a stunning Christmas dinner at Hotel Chatham’s restaurant which will be laid out – from Christmas tree, table settings, chair covers and wall decorations in a Christmas theme and of course Santa PLUS:
- Enjoy a welcoming cocktail and canapés while you mingle with other guests
- Three course Christmas feast
- Quality Central Otago Maude Wines & locally brewed Breezy Brewery beer served throughout
- Christmas gift to the value of $50
- Prizes for best “Christmas” themed dressed gal and guy
- Santa’s Grotto and photo booth
- Santa joins us before dinner
- Photo session with Santa with digital images for you to share with family & friends to show them how much fun you’re having
- Jackie Clarke, entertainer and singer who will top off an amazing evening and having you up dancing the night away.
The treats on over these five nights doesn’t stop there, you’ll also enjoy:
- Three course lunch, glass of bubbles at Kopi Bush Retreat – this is a daring and off the grid house which was featured on New Zealand’s Grand Design. Your hosts are John & Bridget Preece who built this stunning home
- Three course seafood dinner, served at Hotel Chatham’s
- Garden tour and entree at Admiral Gardens – home of Val & Lois Croon. Here it is an opportunity to buy some beautiful locally made Chatham Island gifts – you’ll love the gorgeous jewellery
- Fish & chips – locally caught Blue Cod
While you’re at Chatham Islands, there are lots of places we take you, although wet weather and lambing may close some attractions:
- Basalt Columns
- Tommy Solomon’s statue and enjoy a guided tour around the Moriori land learning about the tree planting regeneration programme being undertaken plus looking for the nesting Chatham Island Shag
- Wade the shallow waters at Blind Jim’s looking for fossilised sharks teeth and sea urchin spines (gum boots a must here)
- Visit the Moriori Marae, learning about the history of Moriori
- View Moriori tree carvings where you’ll learn about the significance of why these were carved
- Port Hutt – view the two of the seven visable ship wrecks and learn their history
- Visit Waitangi West where you can walk the sandy beach looking for pink paua shells
- South Coast – look out to the South where the closest land is Antarctica. Enjoy a morning tea hosted by Eileen Cameron, owner of Durham Farm
- Kaingaroa – depending on the time of the day, watch the fishing boats loading and unloading
- The newly opened Chatham Island Museum
- Tour of Waitangi
- Visit Cottage Crafts where you can purchase Chatham Island hand made crafts.
Includes
- Air Chatham flights departing Auckland & returning to Auckland, value $1,300
- Five nights accommodation – your choose from a selection of room types
- Own room if you’re travelling by yourself
- Coach transport and guides to all the activities
- Cooked & continental breakfasts, lunches and 3 course dinners
- Dinners with wines & beer
- Chatham Islands airport transfers
- Chatham Island book which explains the history of the island
- All items as outlined for Christmas dinner
- Quiz night with prizes
- Coach transport with a dedicated Chatham Island guide. We will be exploring the island looking at wildlife, botany, geology and learn about the the island’s unique history, culture plus of course, you will experience breathtaking scenery and meet many locals
- Department of Conservation and landowner concession fees – $350 per person
- Voluntary Chatham Islands visitor levy which goes towards the island’s infrastructure maintenance is included – $25 per person.
From the time you step onboard the Air Chatham’s flight in Auckland until you step off back in Auckland, there are no other costs unless you want to buy something from one of the island’s local shops – simply pack your bag (including gum boots) and bring your credit card and some cash. An ATM at the local store allows you to take cash out during their opening hours.
Excludes
- Purchases of a personal nature
- Alcohol before & after dinners
- Alcohol over what is served with your meals
- Coffee other than that available from the coffee station.
Information
If you are flying to Auckland to board the Air Chatham flights, please ensure you book flexible airfares as adverse weather conditions can alter Air Chatham’s flight departure times out of both Auckland and Chatham Island.
- Auckland/Chatham Island – flight departs 5.00pm, arrives 8.00pm. You’ll meet Lesley at the check-in counter to receive your baggage identification label and itinerary – we need to have checked in prior to 4.30pm. Flight time 2 hours 15 minutes. Plan to depart from your home location early enough to take into account weather related hold-ups
- Chatham Island/Auckland – flight departs 10.00am, landing Auckland at 12.00noon. Flight time 2 hours 30 min. Plan for homebound flight after 2.00pm.
Booking, cancellation & refunds
- A $1,000 deposit secures your place – once we receive your deposit we allocate your room
- If you choose to cancel your booking, your deposit is non-refundable unless we fill your place
- If we have to cancel we will give you a full refund or you can have your deposit transferred to any of our other events
- Full payment is due 6 weeks prior to the commencement date and is thereafter non-refundable in the event of your choosing to cancel, unless we are able to re-fill your place
- We strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out as soon as you have paid your deposit to cover you should you, due to illness, be unable to travel.
Want to know more, you can call Lesley on 027 4747 347 or email lesley@hotelchathamstours.co.nz
Per Person Cost
A maximum of 20 passengers, we have a variety of room types available at two of Hotel Chatham’s properties:
| Ticket Type | Price | Cart |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Mid Winter Christmas - first floor Seaview Executive Suite. $1,000 deposit per person | $1,000 | |
| 2025 Mid Winter Christmas - ground floor Bayview Room. $1,000 deposit per person | $1,000 | |
| 2025 Mid Winter Christmas - first floor single room (shared bathroom - no ensuite). $1,000 deposit per person | $1,000 | |
| 2025 Mid Winter Christmas - Forget Me Not Suites. $1,000 deposit per person | $1,000 |