2025 Summer Seafood Extravaganza

Chatham Island Summer Seafood Extravaganza

*** NO SOLO TRAVELLER SUPPLEMENT *** Embark on a culinary adventure with us at the annual Chatham Island Summer Seafood Extravaganza. Over the course of seven unforgettable nights, you’ll immerse yourself in the raw beauty of Chatham Island while savouring the freshest and most delectable seafood the island has to offer – think Paua, Crayfish, Blue Cod, Hapuka!

Pack your bags and join us for an unforgettable seafood adventure on the Chatham Islands. We look forward to welcoming you!

Special Offer: No additional cost for solo travellers!

Tour Highlights

Waterfront Accommodation:

• Hotel Chatham: Enjoy seven night s at Hotel Chatham, situated right on the waterfront at Waitangi. Experience breathtaking views and comfortable rooms.

Seafood Dining:

• Daily Meals:
  • Delight in sumptuous seafood meals daily – some days lunch and dinner
  • Choice of cooked breakfasts and continental breakfast
  • Lunch each day.
• Special Dinners: Relish in seafood-themed dinners featuring local delicacies such as crayfish, Chatham Island Blue Cod, Paua, Hapuka, and more. Enjoy signature dishes like Chatham Island Blue Cod curry and the hotel’s iconic Blue Cod & chips.
• Seafood Welcome Dinner: Kick off the tour with an amazing seafood feast.
• Kopi Bush Retreat: Indulge in a seafood lunch paired with a glass of bubbles at this off-grid retreat, hosted by John & Bridget Preece, whose home was featured on New Zealand’s Grand Design.

Exclusive Activities – subject to weather:

• Fishing Adventure: Spend a morning fishing for the famous Chatham Island Blue Cod – your catch will be filleted and packaged ready for you to take home.
• Guided Tours: Explore the island’s wildlife, botany, geology, and history with a dedicated Chatham Island guide.
• Cultural Visits: Learn about the island’s heritage with visits to:
  • Basalt Columns: Witness the majestic waves crashing over these unique formations.
  • Tommy Solomon Statue: Hear stories from his grandson Maui Solomon about the land and its history.
  • Moriori Marae: Discover the rich history of the Chatham Island Moriori.
  • Port Hutt Shipwrecks: Explore the historic shipwrecks and enjoy a guided coastal walk with opportunities to gather and taste fresh seafood.
  • Waitangi West Beach: Search for beautiful pink paua shells on this sandy beach.
  • Admiral Gardens: Tour the lush gardens and enjoy a two-course dinner. Don’t forget to visit the gift shop for unique Chatham Island souvenirs.
  • Blind Jim’s: Wade through shallow waters to find fossilized shark teeth and sea urchin spines.
  • South Coast: Spot the Chatham Island Kereru and gaze southward toward Antarctica.
  • Kaingaroa Fishing Port: Watch local fishermen at work.
  • Sunderland Museum: Observe the ongoing restoration of a plane that crashed in 1959.
  • Chatham Island Museum: Delve into the island’s history.
  • Cottage Crafts and River Onion Cafe: Enjoy local crafts and delicacies
• Concert in the Garden: Enjoy VIP entry to the annual Concert in the Garden where in 2025 the artists are Hello Sailor, Tiki Taane and Black Robin.

Inclusions:

• Wines & Beer: A selection of Central Otago Maude Wines and Chatham Island Breezy Brewery beer with dinner.
• Flights: Air Chatham flights departing from Auckland and returning to Auckland (value: $1,300)
• Airport Transfers: Transfers upon arrival and departure.
• Guidebook: A comprehensive book detailing the history of the island.
• Dedicated Transport: Coach transport with a knowledgeable guide.
• All Fees: Department of Conservation and landowner concession fees ($300 per person) and a voluntary visitor levy ($25 per person).

Additional Perks:

• All-day Coffee Bar: Unlimited access to a coffee bar at the hotel, offering Milo, coffee, and tea.
• Quiz Nights: Enjoy entertaining quiz nights with exciting prizes.

Exclusions:

• Personal Purchases: Items of a personal nature.
• Extra Alcohol: Alcohol beyond what is provided with dinners.
• Specialty Coffee: Barista-made or specialty coffee.

Important Notes:

• Unique Experience: The Chatham Islands offer a rare escape with no supermarkets, retail stores, skyscrapers, or fast food chains. Embrace the friendly fishing and farming community.
• Local Culture: Locals, known as Weka’s, are friendly and welcoming. They may refer to New Zealand as a different country and consider you a New Zealander. It’s polite to wave back when greeted on the road.
• Cancellation Policy: Refunds are only available if your seat is resold. Full refunds are provided if we cancel the tour.
• Travel Insurance: Strongly recommended due to possible weather-related flight delays. Book flexible airfares for your connecting flights.

Extras for own cost:

• Barista or specialty coffee
• Personal purchases
• Additional alcohol over what is already provide

Important Notes:

• The Chatham Islands is a unique destination with no supermarkets, retail stores, skyscrapers, traffic jams, or fast food chains, offering a friendly fishing and farming community experience.
• Locals may refer to you as a New Zealander and themselves as Weka’s. It’s polite to wave back when greeted on the road.

Flight Information:

• Outbound: Departs Auckland on Saturday 25th January
• Return: Arrives in Auckland on Saturday 1st February

Choose your room

Booking, cancellation & refunds

• Deposit: NZ$1,000 per person to secure your place.
• If you choose to cancel your booking, what you’ve paid 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 booked 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.nzi