Month: July 2022

Queenstown, located in the lower half of New Zealand’s South Island, is the world’s best adventure destination. Surrounded by stunning snow-capped mountains and the pristine waters of Lake Wakatipu, it offers an abundance of outdoor activities for student groups – from skiing and bungee jumping, to jet boating and cave tours. 

But it’s not all adrenalin. Queenstown is also the perfect base for student groups to develop strong insight into New Zealand’s history, geography, national identity and Māori culture. Here are just some the topics you can weave into a Queenstown educational itinerary. 

Queenstown didn’t emerge from geographical isolation overnight. To discover how this place became one of the most recognised destinations in the world, it’s best to start with a Māori history lesson.  

Your students will step back 200 years to a time when Māori people searched for greenstone. They’ll learn about the walking trails carved during seasonal hunting expeditions to the region and come to understand how Māori overcame the challenging weather and rough terrain. 

Next, engage your students in Queenstown’s 1850s-era. This is the period when British colonisers arrived, and pioneer settlers began looking for pastoral lands around Queenstown. Take your students on cruise on Lake Wakatipu’s iconic TSS Earnslaw steamship to encounter the region’s pioneer history. Or visit a high country farm to learn about pastoralists’ lifestyles and see sheep shearers at work. 

There’s no better place to study New Zealand’s gold rush than in the historic village of Arrowtown. A one-hour drive from Queenstown, Arrowtown’s main street is lined with well-preserved 19th Century heritage buildings that evoke everyday life during ‘gold fever’. In the 1860s, over 7,000 hardy gold miners sought their fortunes here. Your students will explore the village on foot, stopping by the site of an old Chinese settlement, before visiting a local museum to see gold rush era relics up close. 

Queenstown’s natural beauty meant it was only a matter of time before a thriving tourism industry emerged. Today, the town is central to New Zealand’s successful tourism marketing campaign, 100% Pure New Zealand, and attracts international tourists in large numbers. 

Why not explore the characteristics of tourism through a unique Queenstown case study? Your students will start on the ski field, and finish in a film studio! 

First, they’ll learn how Queenstown’s ski fields established the area as a winter tourism destination. They’ll hear how New Zealand invented the now-famous jet boat, ideal for travelling Queenstown’s braided rivers at speed, and how white-water rafting followed soon after. They’ll also find out about the famous AJ Hackett bungee jump, launched in Queenstown in 1988 and the first of its type in the world. 

Finish your students’ tourism study with behind-the-scenes access to New Zealand’s film industry. Learn why film shoots began flourishing in Queenstown in the mid-1990s, then visit a location where Mission Impossible 6, Vertical Limit and X-Men Origins: Wolverine movies were filmed. Those who like to be scared can even join a trip to Queenstown’s unique ‘fear factory’ experience – featuring live actors, special effects and horror themes. 

Queenstown’s natural wonders offer amazing learning opportunities for students interested in physical geography and renewable energy. As you travel through the great outdoors, your students will get a firsthand understanding of the benefits of forward-thinking environmental policies, sustainable tourism practices and effective long-term planning. 

Begin by taking them on an overnight trip to Fiordland National Park to explore Doubtful Sound by boat. Humbling in size and beauty and carved by glaciers, Doubtful Sound means ‘place of silence’ in the Māori language. Nearby, students will see a hydropower dam and consider the success of hydropower in powering New Zealand’s homes, towns and cities. 

More beauty awaits below the fiord’s surface. Fiordland National Park is home to bottlenose dolphins, fur seals and penguins, as well as humpback, minke and sperm whales, which students can view from on the water. Complement your wildlife discoveries with a visit to a sanctuary on land, where you’ll learn about New Zealand’s ongoing conservation efforts to protect the famous nocturnal kiwi. 

Need more natural beauty? New Zealand’s stunning Milford Sound, with its cascading waterfalls and glass mirror landscapes, is only two hours from Queenstown and will impress even the most seasoned geographer. 

Of course, Queenstown’s unique geography also makes it a year-round destination for outdoor pursuits. If your students have energy to burn, be sure to add extra action to your itinerary. 

You can choose from outdoor adventures like: 

• Skiing and snowboarding: Hit the slopes within an hour’s drive of Queenstown, where you’ll have your pick of ski fields for first-time skiers and snowboarders.
• Jet boating: Send your students speeding through gullies, gorges and across wide shingled riverbeds, spinning 360 degrees and accelerating up to 90kmph in a thrilling jet boat ride.
• White water rafting: Feel the exhilaration as your students go white water rafting or river kayaking down grade 2, 3 or 4 river rapids.
• Bungee jumping: Defy gravity with a quintessential Queenstown bungee jump, whose platforms offer rope lengths of 134 metres.
• Luge: Descend the surrounding hills in a luge – a light toboggan for two people. During the descent, your students will be challenged to navigate corners, tunnels and dips in the track.
• Bike trails: Take students of all experience levels cycling down Queenstown’s world-class mountain bike trails, which travel through farmland, country lanes and rugged terrain.
• Kayaking and maze-solving: Take a short drive across a mountain range to the township of Wanaka, where students can enjoy leisurely lake kayaking, or get lost in a maze.
• Cave touring: Explore the famous glow-worm caves of Te Anau, two hours southwest of Queenstown.

With so many incredible learning experiences on offer, Queenstown is a must-see, must-do destination for any educational tour to New Zealand. When it’s time to depart, your group will have the option to fly directly out of Queenstown’s international airport to Australia, or via international airports in Christchurch or Auckland to reach other parts of Australia and beyond. 

Check out our sample itineraries for more information about our educational tours to New Zealand. 

What’s changed in Vietnam and Cambodia since the pandemic? Plenty! Find out what makes these destinations ideal for your first trip back – from stress-free airports to tourist-free cultural experiences. 

Air travel in Asia was hit hard during the pandemic. In Vietnam alone, borders were closed for a full two years.  

Now, with COVID restrictions easing and borders re-opening, flights are steadily returning to Asia’s major airports. Provided you have the right COVID documentation, arriving in-country is hassle-free. 

Edventure Travel’s director, Billy Penfold, describes his smooth experience traveling through Vietnam’s Hanoi International Airport in June 2022. 

“Passing through Vietnam’s immigration and quarantine was a breeze. All I needed to show was my passport and International COVID Vaccine Certificate, no questions asked,” he says. 

If your timing’s right, you might even get special treatment. Flying between Vietnam and Cambodia, Billy became the first passenger on the Cambodia Angkor Air route in over two years.  

“I was treated like a VIP guest while flying economy. I received a bunch of flowers, and even a photoshoot!” 

In another pandemic-driven change, many of the airlines flying into Vietnam and Cambodia are now focused on sustainability. Members of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, for example, have committed to a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. 

You’ll be pleased to know we’ve updated our environmental credentials, too. Whatever your flight path, we offset carbon for all international and domestic airfares within your trip. 

Have you ever wanted to visit popular cultural sites without tourists? Now’s your chance. Like Billy, you could enjoy a peaceful experience at a place like Angkor Thom in Siem Reap. 

“I was able to study a particular bas-relief wall at Bayon Temple in the heart of Angkor Thom, with no-one around,” Billy says. 

“The carving reveals how, over 800 years ago, sandstone was cut and carried by stonemasons and labourers to produce the Angkor temples. It depicts people fanning the stone carriers, labourers cutting rock with chisels and axes, and workers preparing meals for the stonemasons and labourers.” 

With tourists away, this kind of front row view can be yours, too. 

“It’s a fascinating carving, and the closest thing to a photo of the construction methods you’ll ever see. Looking at it up close gives you great insight into how the temples came to be,” Billy says. 

Across Asia, cities have used the pandemic as an opportunity to clean up their streets. A lack of visitors during COVID revealed empty urban spaces whose physical condition needed improving. As a result, authorities have put new solutions like waste management in place. 

“In Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi, the streets were cleaner and much more orderly than pre-COVID. The markets were tidier and there was very little plastic rubbish,” Billy says.  

Similar improvements have taken place in Cambodia’s second-largest city. 

“The streets of Siem Reap have undergone a remarkable transformation. During the last two years, the local government has repaired over 40 stretches of road around the city and the Angkor temple complex. Rubbish bins are now dotted around the city centre, and the place is nearly spotless!” 

The improvements have boosted urban amenity and liveability. And fortunately, they haven’t erased the bustle of daily life. 

“Other than a few hotels changing names and the odd shop closing or diversifying what they offer, street life continues as normal,” Billy says. 

During the pandemic, several local museums across Asia updated their exhibits. For instance, you can enjoy new displays at the Cambodian Landmine Museum.  

The museum was founded by former soldier Aki Ra, who once laid landmines for the Khmer Rouge. When the Cambodian Civil War ended, Aki Ra decided to help repair his country and remove as many mines as he could – by hand!  

“Today, the museum houses thousands of deactivated ordnances. Videos and displays explain the different types of mines and their specific uses,” Billy says. 

“When you visit, you can’t help but think of the recent use of landmines in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria. It’s a sobering experience. Your ticket proceeds go towards de-mining teams and amputees, who help run the museum.” 

If you’re travelling in Vietnam, you can check out the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. The museum has made use of COVID lockdowns to create extra exhibition spaces, including a room dedicated to soldiers against war and a new photo exhibition.  

“Like the Cambodian Landmine Museum, the displays here are confronting. I’ve seen many a tour group moved to tears,” Billy says. 

Above all, the pandemic has changed how we support you. We’ve put in place new practices to make sure your trip has a lasting positive impact in the countries and communities you visit. 

For example, we’ve upskilled our team in best practice COVID-safe travel protocols. Our new processes cover everything from basic hygiene to medical care and are informed by Billy’s professional experience working in a COVID clinic.  

We’ve also trained our tour leaders and local guides in a range of eco-friendly approaches, like minimising the use of plastic on tour. 

“When there’s free time for shopping, our team will instruct students to not accept plastic bags from sellers to carry their purchases. Instead, they’ll encourage students to carry items in their own day pack,” Billy says. 

Finally, we’ve made sure all our staff understand the ‘why’ behind our work. So when you take part in one of our service-learning programs, your tour leader will be able to explain the genuine impact you’re having. To learn more about how we develop the ‘why’ behind every community project, watch our short video to see Billy and our team at work in Vietnam. 

One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is our hard-working team. From Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, our committed staff are as eager as ever to teach you about their country. 

“Recently, our entire Siem Reap team gathered for a welcome back dinner at a hotpot restaurant. We celebrated travel opening up, and exchanged stories and travel experiences,” Billy says. 

“We’re all positive about the coming year, and we can’t wait for you to see what’s new!” 

What does the Edventure Travel team do when they’re not leading your tour? Take experiential learning journeys of their own, of course! 

To build his knowledge of Asia’s communist history and present day, our Director Billy Penfold travelled to North Korea in 2018. Here, he provides a glimpse of life in North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, during one of the country’s most important annual celebrations. 

Want more North Korea insights for your students? Be sure to follow-up with part 2 of our North Korea series, which ventures inside North Korea’s education system. 

North Korea – known formally as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) – is famous for its tightly staged mass ceremonies. Among them is the Victory Day celebration held each year on 27 July.  

Victory Day marks the anniversary of the Armistice Agreement, signed by military commanders from the US, China and North Korea, which halted the 1950–1953 Korean War. The Armistice Agreement took over 158 meetings and two years to realise. 

Today, the Agreement is kept in Panmumjom, a small village close to the North/South Demilitarized Zone. The village is known for its heavy fortifications and blue United Nations buildings, which straddle the border of North and South Korea. 

As a result of the Armistice Agreement, US soldiers left the Korean Peninsula. North Korea deemed this event a victory and today the date is an annual national holiday. 

Victory Day celebrations centre around Pyongyang’s city square, Kim Il-sung Square. The square is typically used for military parades or displays of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. But on this day, it comes to life in a colourful performance. 

‘On Victory Day, thousands of young Koreans join choreographed parades and mass dances. Each performance is elaborate and runs like clockwork, having been rehearsed for months in advance. Dancers are given special exemption from school or work to practise for hours each day,’ says Billy. 

‘In the lead up, chalk markings are placed on the ground, ready for the dancers who are trucked in each morning to rehearse. Guided by instructors with loudspeakers, they practise every step with precision.’ 

Each dancer wears a badge depicting North Korea’s former communist leaders, Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il. The badges are pinned on the left side of their shirts, to symbolise that the leaders are close to citizens’ hearts. 

Watching the Victory Day celebrations, Billy felt the performers seemed dispassionate and resigned to their routines. They danced competently, but without emotion. 

‘The young dancers went through their routines for two hours, performing delicate steps and swirling one around another. Their faces remained expressionless, as if they were simply going through the motions,’ he says.  

‘Traditional music blared, and national flags and banners fluttered overhead. It felt as if they were obliged to participate in the dance ceremony and had no personal interest in dancing; or possibly the months of rehearsing had taken the shine off the final routine.’ 

It’s perhaps unsurprising, then, that the dancers disappeared quickly when the performance finished. Within 10 minutes, Billy says, the thousands-strong troupe dispersed from Kim Il-sung Square – off to enjoy what remained of their annual holiday. 

Away from the Victory Day festivities, other Pyongyang residents enjoyed the national holiday in a more relaxed way. They gathered at the city’s parks and lakes to spend time with their families. Some drank beer and enjoyed picnics, while others took part in traditional dancing. 

Walking through one of these parks with his tour group, Billy enjoyed friendly exchanges with local families. 

‘Kids were sent over to break the ice. They’d introduce themselves, then their parents would follow them. They asked to see photos from abroad on our phones, offered us beer and challenged us to some good-spirited arm wrestles,’ says Billy. 

‘Parents would nudge their children to practise their English. Through their children, our translators or Korean-speaking members in our group, they’d ask questions about our lives at home. They wanted to know why our hair was messy; why, if we were rich, we didn’t wear smart clothes; and what we thought of their country.’ 

These informal interactions helped Billy gain insight into people’s opinions and ambitions.  

‘I was told by several middle-aged men that they were sick of seeing nuclear missile propaganda posters in the city, and that no one cared for them at all,’ he says. 

Despite the State’s control of media, the absence of foreign books in North Korea and lack of internet access for citizens, he found most North Koreans are aware of the world outside. 

‘Many people said they’d secretly viewed South Korean films, TV series and K-pop music videos on USBs smuggled into North Korea from China. They said they find South Korean soap dramas fascinating, because they show the ‘other’ Korea’s way of life.’ 

Above all, Billy says, the value of caring for family shone through in each exchange. 

‘Everyone cared about providing for their family. They hoped their kids would get a good job and someday travel – specifically, to South Korea.’ 

If you’re keen for your students to learn more about North Korea, be sure to check out our exciting incursions! Packed with case studies, photos and more, incursions are a great way to bring our expert knowledge of the world straight to your classroom.