1. travel
2. tourist destinations
3. national parks

WILD QUEST
C/- Wildside Travel, P.O. Box 135, Motueka 7120, New Zealand
Phone: 64 3 528 1330
Fax: 64 3 528 1286 Freephone: 0800 874 748
Email: [email protected] Web: www.wildsidetravel.co.nz
WILD QUEST: NORTH AMERICAN
NATURE/WALKING TOURS – 2014
INTRODUCTION
Detailed within this information package are the two uniquely designed, extended-length nature/walking
tours arranged by Wild Quest to visit North America in 2014: One spring wildflowers tour to explore the
National Park canyon lands of the southwestern USA during the months of April and May, and the second,
an autumn foliage tour to enjoy the New England states of the USA during September and October.
Each tour is a comfortable-sized small group travelling adventure made up of 16 to 20 tour members, with
tour parties travelling and exploring from the comfort of a modern, medium-sized 27 – 38 seater bus.
Both 2014 tours continue our Wild Quest tradition of including collections of easy to moderate forest,
meadow, beach and alpine trail walks, located in a wide range of USA National and State Parks, interspaced
with time to relax and to leisurely explore some of the more interesting townships and regions we travel
through. Tour itineraries are arranged to include many relaxing multi-day stays in the same lodgings, so tour
members can really settle in and enjoy their fascinating surroundings without continually being on the move.
GENERAL TOUR INFORMATION
WESTERN WILDFLOWERS Spring Southwest USA National Parks:
Experience an amazing 25 day exploration of the southwest corner of the United States, featuring multi-day
visits to: Joshua Tree; Saguaro; Grand Canyon; Bryce, Zion, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands
National Parks – with feature visits to the world renowned Sonora Desert Museum and to Mesa Verde
National Monument plus many other natural and historical attractions dotted about the magnificent US states
of California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada. Also included in the tour itinerary are fascinating visits to well
known southwest townships such as Palm Springs, Tombstone, Prescott and beautiful Sedona - plus a
special stop near our tour’s end to view the spectacular Hoover Dam.
For those travellers keen on viewing wildlife, we should encounter deer, pronghorn antelope, squirrels,
coyotes - and for bird lovers, we should see large birds such as eagles and condor, many common birds such
as blue jays plus the tiniest bird you may ever see – the hummingbird common throughout many parts of
North America. Of course the focus of this unique tour is to seek out and view the displays of wildflowers
blooming in the southwest spring. We hope to see many unusual flowers including a huge array of coloured
cactus blooms as well as the amazing Joshua Tree in spring blossom. The desert and canyon floors should
provide us with some multi-coloured displays of flowering plants unlike any we have seen before!
NEW ENGLAND AUTUMN WALKS Northeast USA:
A truly picturesque 25 day exploration of this gorgeous part of North America during the peak of the autumn
foliage season. Our tour visits a huge range of lovely parks and reserves from the States of New Jersey and
New York – through to Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. We shall be strolling along
forest and coastal walkways, and also walking the quiet avenues in many of the pretty New England
townships that we visit while on tour. Special features of our New England tour include several walks along
sections of the renowned Appalachian Trail; a visit to a working maple sugar farm; walking at Henry David
Thoreau’s Walden Pond near Boston City; idyllic coastal walks along the Atlantic seaboard – and of course
the opportunity to enjoy some of the wonders of New York City itself. For wildlife lovers, we should
encounter many small “critters” such as squirrels and chipmunks, and larger animals such as deer.
WILD QUEST: TOUR HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
Wild Quest was established in 1991 by owner/operator, Erskine Sandilands and initially promoted nature/walking
tours in the Nelson region of New Zealand. Since then Wild Quest has branched out into arranging
extended-length tours about the NZ South Island and through feature areas of North America.
Erskine Sandilands (BSc, Dip Sec Tchg) was born in New Zealand in 1958 and grew up on a small sheep
farm in the Manawatu. He studied Science and Mathematics at Massey University and upon graduation in
1980, left New Zealand to travel for several years in North America – before finally returning to NZ to
follow a teaching career. Erskine trained as a secondary teacher in Christchurch and went on to teach
Outdoor Education, Science and Mathematics in South Island High Schools from 1985 through to 1990.
Erskine left teaching in 1991 to set up his guided walking tour business – and since then has been able to
share his love of walking and the outdoors by arranging and leading all Wild Quest tours to date. (Over 60
extended-length tours at this time.)
For our Wild Quest 2014 tours Erskine will be joined by his partner Yahong Qin who will be assisting in the
running of each tour. Yahong’s specialty being that of tour photography and communications.
WHY TRAVEL ON A NATURE/WALKING TOUR WITH WILD QUEST?
TOUR CONTENT
Tour content for all nature/walking tours is huge. Each trip includes a well-balanced mix of easy to moderate
nature walks in a diverse range of North American National and State Parks, plus visits to cultural and
historical sites. Tours are complemented with explorations of many fascinating, off-the-beaten-track places.
VALUE FOR MONEY
We believe Wild Quest tour value to be excellent, and incomparable to any other tours of the like, arranged
to visit and explore regions of North America. We have tried hard to keep our tour prices at an affordable
level and yet to still offer a high quality travelling experience.
TOUR ACCOMMODATIONS
We put a lot of time and effort into research – seeking out and selecting not only good quality lodgings for
our tour groups, but accommodations that are handily located for our tour activities, appropriate to our style
of travelling. We are often staying in places less visited by mainstream tourism, which only further adds to
our experiences and to the rich and often unique memories our tour members return home with.
TOUR GROUP SIZE
The smaller size of our tour groups enables us to journey and explore at a more leisurely pace. We spend
days in feature areas based at the same lodgings, so we are not continually on the move and forever packing
and unpacking. This also allows us to cater more to the individual desires of tour members who may wish to
complement walking with a passion for photography, flora and fauna, or perhaps history and culture.
PEOPLE AND PLACES
While on tour you will undoubtedly encounter many people living unique lives in fascinating places – and
view with your own eyes some of the stunning scenery and wonderful wildlife that perhaps you would have
only previously read about or seen on TV.
FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE AND NO WORK ROSTERS
You will enjoy the warm, friendly atmosphere that develops while on tour, as we all share many wonderful
walks, new experiences and amiable meal times, in travelling to, and exploring our various tour destinations.
Also, there are no work rosters on any Wild Quest tour and you may choose to help as much or as little as
you wish, in the way of general tour chores such as washing and tidying up after tour meals, etc. Your tour
leaders are your guides, cooks, grocery shoppers, general organisers and luggage handlers.
WILD QUEST: 2014 TOUR DATES, COSTS AND SPECIFIC DETAILS
WESTERN WILDFLOWERS: Departs Auckland Saturday April 12th.
COST: $10,800:00
(25-Day Southwest USA)
NEW ENGLAND AUTUMN WALKS: Departs Auckland Friday Sept 26th. COST: $11,600:00
(25-Day Northeast USA)
THE COST FOR EACH TOUR INCLUDES

All Vehicle Transportation: Medium sized bus transport within the USA plus any necessary airport
shuttles or taxis required to facilitate travels specific to your tour.

Auckland – Los Angeles return air flights. (Western Wildflowers Tour)
Auckland – Los Angeles – New York return air flights. (New England Autumn Walks Tour)

All Tour Accommodations: Motels, hotels and lodges as detailed in your tour itinerary.

All Entry Fees/Permits: To Parks or any featured attractions or activities specific to your tour.
Examples: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway & the Sonora Desert Museum (Western Wildflowers Tour)
or the Empire State Building (New England Tour.)

Many meals: Most breakfasts and lunches, plus just a few dinners as specific to your tour choice.
FOOD FOR YOUR TOUR
Wild Quest often reserve larger tour leader accommodations, supplied with cooking/kitchen and dining
facilities, which enables us to prepare a reasonable proportion of the tour meals for our groups – particularly
breakfasts and lunches, but we also like to provide some dinners as well for each tour, so group members
can enjoy some healthy home-style meals as a break from dining out in the evenings while on tour.
For each 2014 USA tour we will make sandwich lunches for most days on tour – or set up for picnic
lunches. We will provide some breakfasts in our tour accommodations (many breakfasts are complimentary
in our USA lodgings) and we will do our very best to also cater for at least five dinners for our Western
Wildflowers tour and five dinners for our New England Autumn Walks tour.
Wild Quest will supply all cooking and dining equipment and you can expect many satisfying breakfasts
and picnic lunches – plus some lovely convivial evening meals. For those breakfasts and dinners we are
unable to provide, tour members are free to eat out as they wish.
YOUR EQUIPMENT
One main luggage bag please plus daypack (which are ideal for air-flight carry-on baggage.) Generally
tour members just require casual travelling and walking clothes, lightweight walking boots and a good
quality raincoat. Tour members will be posted out a detailed tour equipment list at time of booking.
AGE AND CAPABILITIES
Our Wild Quest nature/walking tours are designed to appeal to, and suit mature travellers and age is of
no consideration provided you are a reasonably active person. The majority of our tour members fall into
the 50’s to late 70’s age range and all seem to enjoy our very peaceful, unhurried style of small-group
travel. Our tours are based around a natural theme with the walking arranged as a healthy and relaxing way
to further enjoy the beautiful and fascinating areas we explore while on tour. Each tour generally includes
one or two day walks with packed lunch, a collection of 2 – 3 hour walks, plus many one hour rambles. We
are also able to offer alternative activities for tour members who wish to forgo particular tour walks.
GENERAL ITINERARY: WESTERN WILDFLOWERS
SOUTHWEST USA NATURE/WALKING TOUR – 2014
Saturday April 12th – Tuesday May 6th, 2014
Days 1 – 4
Our group departs Auckland International Airport the evening of Saturday April 12th for a direct flight to
Los Angeles International Airport, arriving early afternoon of the same day Saturday 12th. After taking time
to freshen up and to rest in our nearby hotel accommodations, we meet our American tour driver and board
our bus for a short drive to the coast where tour members have the late afternoon to walk the golden-sand
beaches and to explore the shops of beautiful Manhattan Beach. (Our first group dinner on tour out here.)
On the morning of day 2, after enjoying the complimentary breakfast in the dining area of our hotel – we
load luggage, board our bus for our first major drive on tour, along the broad Los Angeles City motorways
and then out into the arid California hinterlands.
We have scheduled two full days in this area of Southern California to enjoy some of the attractions of San
Jacinto State Park near Palm Springs plus Joshua Tree National Park while staying in the nearby desert
township of Twentynine Palms. After our final day exploring Joshua Tree Park we arrive for our fourth
night on tour in a quiet motel complex in the town of Blythe, located right on the state border between
California and Arizona.
Features Include: An afternoon ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for alpine walks in the forested
San Jacinto mountains; two fascinating days of varied wildflower nature walks in Joshua Tree National Park
complemented with visits to both national park visitor/interpretative centres.
Days 5 – 8
The morning of day 5 sees us cross the Colorado River to enter the State of Arizona where we journey
southwest along the motorways for a feature afternoon visit, to explore the nature trails of Picacho Peak
State Park before we arrive for our four night’s stay in modern hotel lodgings on the outskirts of Tucson
city. Here we have three days of fabulous explorations visiting the numerous parks, reserves and other
attractions within the locality of Tucson.
Features Include: Visits to discover the amazing plants and animals featured in the world renowned Sonora
Desert Museum – plus explorations of Tohono Chul desert garden park (located nearby to our Tucson
lodgings); Saguaro National Park and many other parks in the Tucson area. Also scheduled for our time
spent here in southern Arizona is a special visit to enjoy the atmosphere in the famous western cowboy
movie township of Tombstone. An experience not to be missed!
Days 9 – 13
Complimentary breakfast in the dining area of our hotel, and then we depart Tucson to journey north via
Phoenix along the scenic byway to the historic city of Prescott located in the vast ponderosa pine forests of
northern Arizona. Two nights stay here and a whole day to explore the attractions in and around Prescott,
before travelling further north to arrive for three nights stay in Oak Creek Village on the outskirts of the
new-age township of Sedona, set amid a magnificent landscape of sculptured red-rock formations. Two full
days scheduled here in order to explore the township and to enjoy the amazing local attractions and trails.
Features Include: Walks in both Prescott and the nearby historic mining town of Jerome to explore the
artsy shops whilst on our drive to Sedona; a visit to the historic Indian dwelling and visitor centre at
Tuzigoot near Sedona – plus time to enjoy the new age shops, galleries and other attractions of Sedona itself.
Days 14 – 15
The morning of day 14 sees us farewell our beautiful red-rock surrounds in Oak Creek Village to journey
north past the city of Flagstaff and onwards to enter Grand Canyon National Park where we stay for two
nights in a comfortable lodge just a few minute’s walk from the canyon’s spectacular South Rim.
Features Include: A full day free here at the Grand Canyon with opportunity to stroll the miles of pathways
along the south rim; to view bighorn sheep, deer and perhaps the huge North American Condor which has
recently re-populated the valleys and cliffs of the Grand Canyon; also an option for keener walkers to
descend part-way down into the canyon along the famous Bright Angel Grand Canyon hiking trail.
Days 16 – 17
We depart our comfortable and convenient Grand Canyon south rim lodgings to experience a morning of
wonder as we stop at regular intervals to take in and photograph the breathtaking scenery gracing the drive
east along the Grand Canyon’s south rim. Later in the afternoon sees us enjoy another spectacular scenic
drive north to cross the Colorado River near Page, before leaving Arizona to enter the State of Utah. It is
only a short drive into Utah before we arrive into beautiful world-renowned Zion National Park where we
have two nights stay in a well-appointed brand-new hotel in the neighbouring township of Springdale. With
its wonderful dry climate, amazing plants, beautiful Virgin River and towering rock walls, Zion Park has
become one of our tour favourites. A full day here to enjoy this stunning region of the USA’s wondrous
southwest.
Features Include: En-route to Zion Park, a stop along the south rim of the Grand Canyon to visit the Desert
View four-storied stone tower overlooking the southeast region of the canyon. The climb to the upper level
of the tower to enjoy spectacular views out over the canyon is not to be missed! Several short nature walks
within Zion National Park, and also time to explore the charming and artsy shops of Springdale itself.
Days 18 – 23
From Springdale the morning of day 18 we embark on one of our shorter tour drives, this time to journey
northeast into Utah to stay two nights in modern motel units nearby to the colourful Bryce Canyon National
Park. With its sculptured canyon walls and multi-coloured rock spires, Bryce Canyon is one of the most
visually spectacular attractions of our whole tour, and is a highlight not to be missed! Our tour group has an
afternoon plus one full day here to walk down into the canyon amid the fascinating rock spires, to view deer
and pronghorn antelope grazing in the meadows and forests along the canyon rim – and to take any number
of photographs in this amazing locality. Day 20 sees us leave Bryce Canyon to journey into central Utah
where we stay just the one night in modern lodgings in the tiny Utah township of Torrey set in a tranquil
locality nearby to Capitol Reef National Park. We depart Torrey day 21 to enjoy a spectacular scenic drive
across Lake Powell and into Colorado where we stay the single night in the township of Cortez. A special
visit to Mesa Verde the next morning before we head north to Moab for two nights stay, with a full day
scheduled here to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
Features Include: Strolls along the rim of Bryce Canyon as well as walks partway down some of the more
picturesque nature trails which descend into the valley. A quite different style of walking in the amazing redrock scenery of Capitol Reef Park to contrast with the multi-coloured landscape of Bryce. A visit to the
historic native Indian dwellings at Mesa Verde near Cortez, plus walks in both Arches and Canyonlands
National Parks nearby to Moab.
Days 24 – 25
This day we fondly farewell the wonders of the Utah landscape – to journey west and then south along the
main highways deep into the state of Nevada. As we descend into the southwestern corner of Nevada we
arrive into the visually stunning surrounds of the world famous casino city of Las Vegas. Although perhaps
a digression from the nature/walking/canyon lands tour theme, our late afternoon and evening in Las Vegas
is a truly fascinating experience not to be missed. With lodgings conveniently located right on the renowned
Las Vegas Strip we have ample time to stroll along Las Vegas Boulevard to enjoy the street-side attractions
and the many shops – and to just embrace the whole eye-opening experience that is Las Vegas. Don’t worry
about being intimidated by this very modern and fascinating city. From our hotel entrance your tour leaders
will take you on an introductory afternoon city attractions walk, to familiarise you with the wonders of this
amazing tourist city.
On the morning of day 25, after enjoying our complimentary breakfast in the dining area of our lodgings, we
depart Las Vegas a little earlier, our final day on tour - to enable us time to visit the world famous Hoover
Dam, and to stroll along the brand new bridge walkway for spectacular views across to the magnificent
structures of the dam itself. From the Hoover Dam we drive to Los Angeles where make time for a special
visit to the famous Getty Villa located in Malibu to view some of the Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities
on display - before arriving at Los Angeles International Airport early evening, where we farewell our tour
driver, leave our bus behind, and check-in in readiness for our evening flight home to Auckland.
We depart Los Angeles on the evening of May 6th to arrive into Auckland in the early morning of
May 8th. (May 7th is lost crossing the International Date Line)
WILD QUEST: WESTERN WILDFLOWERS USA
TOUR ROUTE MAP – 2014
Oregon
Idaho
Utah
Nevada
Canyonlands NP
Arches NP
Moab
Torrey
Capital Reef NP
Bryce
Bryce NP
Cortez
Springdale
California
Zion NP
Mesa Verde NM
Page
Grand Canyon NP
Las Vegas
Flagstaff
Hoover Dam
Sedona
Jerome
Getty Villa
Twentynine Palms
Los Angeles
Prescott
Palm Springs O
Joshua Tree
NP
Air flight
From Auckland
Blythe
Arizona
Phoenix
Picacho Peak
SP
Sonora Desert
Museum
Tucson
Air flight to Auckland
Tombstone
Mexico
WESTERN WILDFLOWERS
TOUR ROUTE
GENERAL ITINERARY: NEW ENGLAND AUTUMN WALKS USA
NATURE/WALKING TOUR – SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014
Friday September 26th – Monday October 20th, 2014
Days 1 – 3
Our group departs Auckland International Airport the afternoon of Friday September 26th for a direct flight
to Los Angeles. After collecting luggage and transferring bags to the domestic flight, tour members catch the
connecting flight onwards to Newark Airport in New Jersey, located just a few miles from New York City
on the eastern seaboard of the continental USA. Here our group is met by our American bus driver, luggage
is loaded and we all board our tour bus, to relax for the half hour drive west across New Jersey to settle in
for our three nights stay in beautifully appointed, modern hotel units, situated in the lovely township of
Morristown. There is no rush the following morning and tour members will appreciate an unhurried
departure at around 9:30 am from our hotel, after enjoying the complimentary breakfast provided in the
hotel dining area. This day sees us begin our first tour explorations with a visit to nearby Morristown
National Historic Park to enjoy some relaxing forest strolls and to help us familiarise ourselves with the
beautiful deciduous trees of the eastern USA. The afternoon of Day 2 to explore pretty Morristown and Day
3 sees us off on our next adventure, with a full day experiencing the wondrous attractions of New York City.
Features Include: Walks along the tranquil forest trails in Morristown National Historic Park where
General Washington stationed his continental army during the winter of 1779; a special day trip to New
York City including visits to: The Empire State Building, The Chrysler Building, Grand Central Station,
South Seas Sea Port, Battery Park, Wall Street, and the new Liberty Towers complex in lower Manhattan.
Days 4 – 11
Day 4 sees us load luggage, board our bus and depart Morristown to enjoy a morning stroll along the
Hudson River walkway of New Jersey’s Liberty State Park, with stunning views across to New York City.
We then leave New Jersey to journey north into New York State, to experience seven days exploring the
picturesque New York landscape of rolling hills, forests and lakes. Later in the afternoon of day 4 we arrive
to settle in for three nights of comfortable motel lodgings in the historic township of New Paltz, renowned
for its collection of late 17th century stone houses built by early French Huguenot settlers. Further north we
spend a night in the attractive town of Saratoga Springs, famous for its horse racing, and then arrive for
another four nights stay in New York State – two nights at pretty Saranac Lake and another two in vibrant
Lake Placid, home to the US winter Olympic Team training site.
Features Include: Wonderful forest and ridge walks in Minnewaska State Park nearby to New Paltz; ample
time to explore the town itself and to the view the Huguenot settlers historic homes; forest and wetlands
walks at Paul Smiths Ecology Centre nearby to Lake Placid, with the park interpretive centre a wealth of
information on local flora and fauna. Time to stroll the downtown streets of Lake Placid and browse the
local artsy shops and galleries – and to enjoy the architecture of the buildings and houses which are so very
different to anything we might see in New Zealand – and all on display in an idyllic lakeside setting, against
a backdrop of beautiful autumn colours.
Days 12 – 17
Day 12 sees our group cross the New York State border into pastoral Vermont State, renowned for its pretty
rural townships and white-steeple churches. Our first night in Vermont is spent in the picturesque rural
college township of Middlebury – with the next two nights in the beautiful village of Woodstock, well
known as one of the prettiest villages in North America. This gorgeous settlement has a covered bridge, a
white-spire church, tall ornately shuttered white houses, all set amid beautiful gardens, alongside a lovely
stream – in a valley overlooked by rolling autumn-coloured hills. The next three days we spend in northern
Vermont in the lovely little ski resort township of Stowe where we have ample opportunity for autumn
riverside and meadow walks – and to explore the beautiful shops and art galleries of this much renowned
American holiday destination.
Features Include: Relaxing bridle path walks near Stowe; a special visit to the Von Trapp homestead, of
“The Sound Of Music” fame, whose family settled in Vermont after fleeing Austria during the Second
World War; time to enjoy the art galleries and shops of both Stowe and Woodstock plus the opportunity to
saunter along two of our favourite New England walking trails, including the Texas Falls trail and The
Robert Frost interpretive walkway, both near Middlebury in the heart of the Green Mountains.
Days 18 – 19
Today we fondly farewell beautiful Stowe and travel further east to enter the State of New Hampshire, home
to Mount Washington, whose peak has experienced some of the most severe weather conditions ever
recorded anywhere on the planet. En-route to New Hampshire we stop off to enjoy a short scenic walk at
Quechee Gorge just east of Woodstock. We then pass through White River Junction and enjoy our first
break with a visit to the Sunday Mountain Maple Sugar Farm where we view all the workings in the sugar
house – and perhaps sample the various tasty final products! In the afternoon we experience more beautiful
autumn vistas as we drive the scenic Kancamagus Highway across State to arrive for our two nights stay in
central New Hampshire – in motel units located in a peaceful forest and riverside setting on the outskirts of
the small New England township of Bartlett.
Features Include: Nature walks near Bartlett plus a special visit to the Mt Washington Hotel at Bretton
Woods, near the amazing u-shaped valley of Crawford North – a mountain pass right in the heart of the
White Mountains; visits to covered bridges and walks along the autumn leaf-covered bridle paths near
Franconia and Pinkham notches; a walk to visit Diana’s Bath, a pretty river cascade, and onwards to
Cathedral Ledge to enjoy panoramic views overlooking the beautiful broad New Hampshire countryside.
Days 20 – 22
We depart the lovely forested valleys and mountains of New Hampshire to travel further east into the
beautiful State of Maine. Here we are greeted by our first views of the Atlantic Ocean with its mix of rocky
headlands, long gently shelving sandy beaches and pretty lighthouses. We arrive to stay for three relaxing
nights in spacious well-appointed motel units in the coastal township of Ogunquit, located just a few
minute’s walk from the ocean. We have two full days to enjoy this very lovely part of the North American
Atlantic seaboard, including a special visit scheduled to explore the historic New Hampshire City of
Portsmouth, just a short drive to the south of Ogunquit. Lots of free time to explore the seaside shops plus
visits to lighthouses and quaint lobster fishing villages, with their elegant, Cape Cod styled houses.
Features Include: Coastal strolls along the popular Ogunquit Marginal Way seaside walkway; a visit to
Cape Neddick Lighthouse; to the Cape Porpoise fishing village and nearby Kennebunk township – plus
some relaxing nature walks at Laudholm Farm Reserve and the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.
Days 23 – 24
The morning of Day 23 sees us leave our wonderful seaside lodgings in Ogunquit to journey south into the
State of Massachusetts. We spend most of the morning at Henry David Thoreau’s Walden Pond where we
enjoy the lakeside walkway and also take time to browse through the fascinating visitor centre. After lunch
at Walden Pond we continue our travels further southwest with a beautiful scenic drive along Massachusetts
highways and byways – to arrive late afternoon into the western Massachusetts township of Great
Barrington where we settle in for our final two night’s lodgings on tour, in our spacious hotel rooms located
in a quiet setting on the outskirts of the town. Great Barrington is a lovely historic town set right in the heart
of the rolling hills of the Berkshire Mountains and we will have ample time here to enjoy the sights and
wares of the town and also to walk in the nearby forested hills.
Features Include: A relaxing autumn walk around Walden Pond, and while staying in Great Barrington we
enjoy what will be our last feature short walk on tour - to the high points of nearby Monument Mountain for
panoramic autumn views out across the rolling hills and valleys of the Berkshires.
Day 25
After our final complimentary breakfast on tour, we depart our Great Barrington Hotel, and journey south
down the Hudson River Valley, to experience the last highlight of our wonderful New England tour. A visit
to Hyde Park to explore the grounds and buildings of the famous Vanderbilt Mansion, located in huge
parklands overlooking the serene Hudson River Valley. We enjoy our last sandwich lunch here in the
grounds of Hyde Park before journeying down through southern New York State to arrive once more into
the Garden State of New Jersey. It is only a short series of motorway drives in New Jersey before we arrive
at Newark Airport, farewell our tour driver and bus and check in for our late afternoon domestic flight
destined for Los Angeles and linking there with our International flight home to Auckland, New Zealand.
We depart Los Angeles on the evening of October 20th to arrive into Auckland the early morning of
October 22nd. (October 21st is lost crossing the International Date Line)
WILD QUEST: NEW ENGLAND AUTUMN WALKS
TOUR ROUTE MAP - 2014
QUEBEC (CANADA)
ONTARIO (CANADA)
MAINE
VERMONT
Lake Placid O
O Stowe
NEW
HAMPSHIRE
O Bartlett
O Woodstock
Saranac Lake O
Lake
Ontario
O Ogunquit
O Middlebury
Saratoga Springs O
O Boston
MASSACHUSETTS
NEW YORK
O Great Barrington
Lake
Erie
CONNECTICUT
New Paltz O
Morristown O
New York City
Newark
Flight from
Los Angeles
PENNSYLVANIA
Flight to Los Angeles
NEW ENGLAND AUTUMN
WALKS TOUR ROUTE
NEW JERSEY
WILD QUEST
C/- Wildside Travel, P.O. Box 135, Motueka 7120, New Zealand
Freephone: 0800 874 748 Fax: 64 3 528 1286
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.wildsidetravel.co.nz
BOOKING FORM: WESTERN WILDFLOWERS & NEW ENGLAND TOURS 2014
BOOKING PROCEDURE
Please complete the booking slip below, detach and forward it, along with your tour deposit of $500.00
plus a photocopy of your passport to: Wild Quest, C/- Wildside Travel, P.O. Box 135, Motueka 7120.
(Please make your cheque payable to Wild Quest.)
PAYMENT FOR YOUR WILD QUEST USA TOUR
The balance of your tour cost is due 65 days before your tour departs.
Please Note: All tour prices are for cheque/cash or direct credit payment.
CANCELLATION BY THE TRAVELLER
The rates below are effective if circumstances arise which cause you to cancel your tour with Wild Quest.
- Any time after booking
:
$100 administration fee is payable.
- 180 days to 66 days
:
Loss of deposit
- 65 days to 36 days
:
30% of tour price is forfeited
- 35 days to 16 days
:
60% of tour price is forfeited
- 15 days to 0 days
:
Up to 100% of tour price is forfeited
BOOKING AGENT
Wildside Travel – a bonded member of TAANZ is the sole booking agent for Wild Quest tours and is
employed by Wild Quest for the bulk of the travel arrangements necessary for our tours to North America.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Complete travel/medical insurance is essential for all trips to North America. We would recommend you
purchase your travel insurance through Wildside Travel so we can be completely confident of your cover.
CONDITIONS
Wild Quest will do everything possible to ensure your tour to North America is a wonderful travelling
experience – but we do reserve the right to amend the itinerary of any tour due to weather, road or vehicle
problems, or other circumstances beyond our control. Wild Quest will also endeavour to take the utmost care
of you and your personal property, but we will not be held liable for any accident, personal injury, damage
or loss of property, delays or defaults in the performance of other operators whose services we employ.
I have read Wild Quest’s tour booking arrangements & conditions for their nature/walking tours travelling to
the USA in 2014, and accept them.
Tour Choice:
Departing:
Signature:
Date:
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WILD QUEST
C/- Wildside Travel, P.O. Box 135, Motueka 7120, New Zealand
Freephone: 0800 874 748 Fax: 64 3 528 1286
Email: [email protected]
BOOKING FORM: WESTERN WILDFLOWERS & NEW ENGLAND TOURS 2014
BOOKING PROCEDURE
Please complete the booking slip below, detach and forward it, along with your tour deposit of $500.00
plus a photocopy of your passport to: Wild Quest, C/- Wildside Travel, P.O. Box 135, Motueka 7120.
(Please make your cheque payable to Wild Quest.)
PAYMENT FOR YOUR WILD QUEST USA TOUR
The balance of your tour cost is due 65 days before your tour departs.
Please Note: All tour prices are for cheque/cash or direct credit payment.
CANCELLATION BY THE TRAVELLER
The rates below are effective if circumstances arise which cause you to cancel your tour with Wild Quest.
- Any time after booking
:
$100 administration fee is payable.
- 180 days to 66 days
:
Loss of deposit
- 65 days to 36 days
:
30% of tour price is forfeited
- 35 days to 16 days
:
60% of tour price is forfeited
- 15 days to 0 days
:
Up to 100% of tour price is forfeited
BOOKING AGENT
Wildside Travel – a bonded member of TAANZ is the sole booking agent for Wild Quest tours and is
employed by Wild Quest for the bulk of the travel arrangements necessary for our tours to North America.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Complete travel/medical insurance is essential for all trips to North America. We would recommend you
purchase your travel insurance through Wildside Travel so we can be completely confident of your cover.
CONDITIONS
Wild Quest will do everything possible to ensure your tour to North America is a wonderful travelling
experience – but we do reserve the right to amend the itinerary of any tour due to weather, road or vehicle
problems, or other circumstances beyond our control. Wild Quest will also endeavour to take the utmost care
of you and your personal property, but we will not be held liable for any accident, personal injury, damage
or loss of property, delays or defaults in the performance of other operators whose services we employ.
I have read Wild Quest’s tour booking arrangements & conditions for their nature/walking tours travelling to
the USA in 2014, and accept them.
Tour Choice:
Departing:
Signature:
Date:
Full Name as on Passport:
Known as:
Address:
Telephone:
Date of Birth:
Passport Number:
Occupation:
Expiry:
Email:
Nationality: