Organizers have planned an optional day trip excursion to Dargaville, located approximately 2 1/2 hours north of Auckland.
(Some times are approximate, and exact timetable to be posted)

• 8:00 AM (exact departure to be confirmed)
  depart Spencer on Byron Hotel, North Shore City.

Leaving North Shore City for the trip north, guests will enjoy the picturesque drive through the scenic and rural country side of Northern New Zealand. Upon arrival in Dargaville, we will proceed to the Dargaville Town Hall for a refreshment stop and to unlaod instruments of those performing as part of the World Accordion Orchestra III.

• 11:00 AM
  Beach Visit

Change to six wheel drive 'Big Wheel' bus to Bayly's Beach for Beach Visit and Sightseeing. You will take a trip to the spectacular and wild west coast of New Zealand, as you ride aboard the comfort and shelter of the six wheel drive Big Foot bus along Ripiro Beach, located approximately 10 KM west of Dargaville.

Weather permitting, you will have the opportunity to get some fresh air and stretch your legs upon this sparse and beautiful coastline.

Stretching some 100 kilometers, this is New Zealand's longest beach, where you will see the magnificent cliffs, sand dunes and remote and wild coastline before heading back into Dargaville via Baylys Beach, where you will have time to freshen up before attending the afternoon Concert.

• 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM
  Maori Welcome and Luncheon at the Oturei Marae

The CIA guests and friends will be offered a Maori Welcome and light Luncheon at the Oturei Marae.

Situated in the border zone between Nga Puhi tribes to the north and Ngati Whatua tribes to the south, Dargaville is a dynamic place in Maoridom. Visitors will be greeted with a local Kapa Haka School group, before enjoying a light luncheon. At the conclusion of the Luncheon, guest will travel to the Dargaville Town Hall for rehearsals (performers) and visit to Displays (guests).

• 3:30 PM
  Concert in the Dargaville Town Hall hosted by outgoing CIA President Kevin Friedrich - featuring:

New Zealand Singing Sensation - Yulia: A household name in New Zealand, Yulia is one of New Zealand's hottest music exports and with two multi platinum albums and one of the highest awarded and most popular female vocalists in New Zealand.

Born in Volgograd, Russia, Yulia emigrated to New Zealand with her family and a very young age, and within two years, mastered English and since has scored a recording contract with SONY MUSIC NZ. She sings fluently in English, Russian, Italian, French, Maori and Spanish on the award winning albums INTO THE WEST and MONTAGE, appearing with some of the top names in international music business including Engelbert Humperdinck, Dame Malvina Major, Michael Barrymore, Ivan Rebroff, Amici Forever, Russell Watson, Sir Howard Morrison, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and more.

The award winning albums (BEST FEMALE VOCALIST and HIGHEST SELLING ALBUM OF THE YEAR at 2005 Vodafone NZ Music Awards) were produced by New Zealand's top pop folk classical producer CARL DOY and remain favorites with commercial radio and live audiences in New Zealand.

We are honored to welcome Yulia r to make her first ever appearance in Dargaville. Considered one of the top young vocalists of her generation and one of the best to come out of New Zealand, we invite you to this rare opportunity to hear one of New Zealand’s finest.

North Shore Accordion Orchestra: We are delighted to welcome the North Shore Accordion Orchestra (NSAO) under the direction of Lioenl Reekie, back to Dargaville. They have performed on many concert tours around the world, and most recenlty they toured to the United States where they presented concerts in New York and Washington DC as guests of the 2007 Coupe Mondiale World Accordion Championships, as well as performing at the famed Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. We know you will enjoy this outstanding and dynamic group of young musicians!

CIA World Accordion Orchestra III: To conclude the concert, members of the CIA World Accordion Orchestra III will present their concert program from the grand finale of the 2009 Coupe Mondiale Closing Ceremony Concert. Conducted by renowned directors Joan C. Sommers (USA) and New Zealand's Gary Daverne, their program will feature works such as the 2nd performane of the newly composer Auckland March (the World Premiere will be given the previous evening in Auckland) and the exciting Video Games Live, the new work arranged and conducted by Joan C. Sommers.

Winner of International Competition for Piano Accordion: Dargaville is sponsoring the $5,000 First Prize in this category in honor of Dargaville citizen, the late Ben Emmett, and will invite the recipient to perform on this concert.

International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music: Dargaville is sponsoring the $5,000 First Prize in this category in honor of Dargaville citizen, the late Jenny Cocurullo, and will invite the recipient to perform on this concert.

Traditional Concert Finale: All audience and Guests guests will join together for the traditional New Zealand concert finale.

• 5:30 PM
  Champagne Mayor's Reception, Visit to Dargaville Museum, Dinner at the Lighthouse.

To conclude the day trip, guests will be invited to the Lighthouse Function Center for a reception with the Dargaville Mayor, a visit to the Dargaville Museum, followed by Dinner at the Lighthouse, located on Mt. Wesley, overlooking Dargaville and the Northern Wairoa River. A selection of New Zealand wines will be available to accompany the dinner.

The Dargaville Museum houses numerous local historical displays and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Displays at the Dargaville Museum include: a unique display of all things nautical, the story of the Rainbow Warrior bombing in Auckland Harbour, Maori artefacts - including the largest pre-European canoe exhibition in New Zealand, the Collectors Hall with working model railway and village, Impressive Kauri Gumdigger exhibition with operational gum-washing plant, Pioneer exhibits - see how early settlers lived and worked as they struggled to develop the land, Relics from the French warship L'Alcmene (wrecked 1851) and other shipwrecks recovered from the coast, Beautifully restored Aratapu Library building featuring the musical history of the area and the 'Accordion Gems, A Master Collections of Accordions Through Time' exhibition and much more.

• after dinner
  the trip home!

After a long day of fun, friendship, food, Kiwi Hospitality, fresh air... settle in for some more socialising or maybe a well earned nap during the 2 1/2 hour drive back to Spencer Byron Hotel in North Shore City.