The first thing you learn in a New Zealand school is how to walk the Earth, and what that looks like on top of the planet. In grade school, students are introduced to the names of minerals and other scientific terms. As they make their way through primary school, they will likely have a field trip to a geology lab, where a teacher will demonstrate how the various elements found throughout the Earth fit together to form rocks and other formations. By the end of elementary school, students have a pretty good idea of what all this stuff means. This is the time when the real learning begins, and the subject matter can be taught with some flair and fun, like learning about New Zealand’s spectacular geothermal wonders. Michael Osland has some excellent resource about modern Geology.
One way to learn more is by taking a New Zealand tour. There are several options, and each offers a chance to see something a bit different from the other. A day tour of the South Island, for instance, might take visitors to a volcano where lava once covered the land.
If you want a more educational tour, consider taking one of the country’s many National Parks. There’s the Aorake/Mount Cook National Park, of course, but there’s also the Tarawera National Park to explore. Both offer plenty of opportunity to learn. The Aorake/Mount Cook tour, for example, gives you the chance to see firsthand the wonders of the Southern Alps. The Tarawera tour guides will take you to some of the most remote places in the country, where nature provides a surprising beauty. You’ll learn a lot about the geological history of New Zealand while experiencing the natural beauty of the unique ecosystem.
Your own personal, How to Learn Geology class could be taught by a professional. There are plenty of schools offering this option in New Zealand, including the University of Waikato and Victoria University. One of the best ways to learn about New Zealand is to sit in on a guided tour. This can include land or air, sea or land-based, depending on your preferred style of learning. Some tours offer everything from a crash Course in Geology to a fully guided exploration of the country.
Before you sign up for any tour of New Zealand, find out what resources the tour guide will use to teach you about New Zealand. Not all tour guides will be knowledgeable about as much as you, so you’ll want to know what they’ll cover when you meet. For instance, some will only be able to talk about geology, while others can talk about the flora and fauna that’s specific to each area. And, some will be willing to discuss fossils and their interpretation in more detail than others.
You’ll find there are a number of options when it comes to learning how to learn geology in New Zealand. Most will provide the basics such as the scientific names for the minerals and stones, but you can also gain additional knowledge by discussing what those names mean in relation to your surroundings. The more you understand the environment and what kinds of events have occurred there, the better prepared you’ll be to understand what you’ll see when you go back. Even if you aren’t sure how to learn geology, taking a guided tour is one way to make sure you do. If you have questions, there are also professionals who can help you with your research. The more you learn about New Zealand and the surrounding area, the more excited you’ll be when you get there and see it all up close and personal.
