Kiwis on the Western FronT

One-Day Tour of the New Zealand Battlefields Arras Tunnels & The Somme: From the Utter Most Ends of the Earth

Immerse yourself in the remarkable legacy of the New Zealand Division on the Western Front. This comprehensive journey connects the underground engineering feats at the Wellington Quarry in Arras to the sacred ridges of the Somme, combining the solemn tribute at the Caterpillar Valley Memorial with the raw reality of trench warfare at Beaumont-Hamel.

→ Departure: Arras (Ideally Arras for this tour to start directly at the Wellington Quarry).
→ Schedule: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm.
→ Group Size: Ideal for up to 3 people (please contact me for larger groups).

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→ Morning: The Tunnelers of Arras & The 1918 spring Offensive

We begin in Arras to explore the remarkable legacy of the New Zealand Tunneling Company.

• Carrière Wellington (Wellington Quarry): Descend 20 meters underground to explore the vast network of tunnels dug by the New Zealanders in preparation for the Battle of Arras (April 1917).

• Grevillers New Zealand Memorial: We then head south towards Bapaume to visit this memorial dedicated to the New Zealand missing of the 1918 Spring Offensive. It marks the place where the Kiwis recaptured the town in August 1918.

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→ Mid-Day: Lunch & The Crater

We enter the heart of the 1916 Somme battlefields.

• Lunch Break: We will stop for lunch at the iconic Le Tommy Café & Museum in Pozières, a place filled with history and memory.

• Lochnagar Crater: Just nearby, we witness the massive crater left by a mine explosion on July 1st, 1916—a scar on the landscape that remains impressive to this day.

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→ Afternoon: Longueval & The Trenches

The afternoon focuses on the New Zealand Division’s first major engagement on the Somme in September 1916.

• Caterpillar Valley Cemetery & Memorial: Located on Bazentin Ridge, this emotive site commemorates the New Zealand soldiers who fell during the Battle of the Somme and have no known grave.

• New Zealand Forces Memorial (Longueval): Erected on a ridge overlooking High Wood and Delville Wood, this monument honours the Division’s heavy sacrifice during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette.

• Beaumont-Hamel (Newfoundland Park): To conclude, we visit this unique site. Walking through the preserved trench system offers an unparalleled understanding of the soldiers’ daily reality.

Return: Drop-off at your hotel or railway station in Arras or Saint-Quentin.

This itinerary is subject to change depending on special requests (e.g., visiting a specific relative’s grave).