Australia / New Zealand

STARTING IN CHARMING MELBOURNE,

Our friend Dave Peden will Guide you along the Great Ocean Road to the National Wool Museum at Geelong and past the Twelve Apostles. Now a patchwork of dairy farming, this scenic area is also noted for its coastal shipwrecks in times past. You will learn more of both from the dairy farm visit as well as the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. South East Australia's countryside is blessed with reliable rainfall and dotted with grazing sheep leading up to the wine producing Barossa Valley. Continuing into Riverland District along the mighty Murray River, you'll visit fruit, vegetable and more grape farms. Near Echuca the grain farmers of the Birchip Cropping Group will explain no-till, compaction reduction and GPS techniques.

The Merino breed accounts for 80% of Australian sheep and you'll learn more at the Peppin Heritage Centre. Its "sale day" when you stop at Wagga Wagga cattleyard before visiting agribusinesses and grain handling facilities in this area and meeting with the Kondinin Group of ag consultants. This grassroots Landcare organization will enlarge on sustainable management practices, then on to the national capital of Canberra before meeting your farmers hosts at Greenthorpe for your overnight farmstay. Next day, we visit a large modern dairy farm of 2000 cows, then some canola farm stops before completing the 15-day Aussie tour with a tour and free time in magnifi cent Sydney.

BUT, DON'T LEAVE NOW.
FLY ON TO NEW ZEALAND . . .
IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT AGAIN.

Start from Auckland with its harbor, beaches and panoramic views from Mt. Eden, then visit an Angus/Hereford breeding operation en route to Rotorua, home of native Maori culture and the Agrodome sheep demo. At Hawkes Bay you'll visit a 1200 deer operation selling genetics both domestically & internationally. Continue south to NZ's top ag university, Massey University, and from Wellington cross the Marlborough Sounds to the South Island's wine district. Sample some Sauvignon Blanc and travel along the spectacular Pacifi c coastline. Watch for whales and seals at Kaikoura before continuing to Christchurch. The farming patchwork of irrigated cropping, dairy and sheep farms of the Canterbury Plains lead you to the Southern Alps with its Burke's Pass and Mackenzie country. Overnight in Twizel, then on to see Merino sheep and the Cheese factory near Oamaru. There's even an Albatross colony on the itinerary near Taiaroa Heads, and a unique sheep milking herd producing Feta cheese. There's not only spectacular mountain grandeur and fi ords, but vineyards famous for Pinot Noir, and some shopping time at Te Anau and Queenston. Finally, after 14 fun-filled days, you return home from Christchurch.

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