Jurassic Park

It may be the youngest country on earth, but as it turns out, some of the inhabitants are anything but...

Tuatara eggs have been found by staff at Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington, which means these descendants of very rare, prehistoric reptiles that walked the earth with the dinosaurs, have been nesting on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years. As you'd expect with an award-winning wildlife sanctuary, the eggs (and the tuataras) are being well and truly left alone to do their own thing.

Karori Wildlife Sanctuary is less than 10 minutes drive from downtown Wellington, and is the world's first urban wildlife sanctuary. Its 225 hectars are home to some of New Zealand's rarest and most endangered wildlife including hihi (a beautiful bird the size of a sparrow), little spotted kiwi as well as our dinosaur chums. It's also a great spot for a picnic lunch - you'd have no idea you were in the country's capital!

Ben Fogle in New Zealand

In February this year we sent Ben Fogle to New Zealand to check out some of the glorious sights and fun activities on offer. Not only did he have perfect weather during his 9 days, but he also managed to pack in some fantastic experiences.

From kayaking on the crystal clear waters of Abel Tasman and whale watching in Kaikoura to a heli-flight over Milford Sound and a climb up Single Cone in the Remarkables. He also went kiwi spotting on Stewart Island, sand-boarded down huge dunes in Hokianga and ate fresh crayfish al fresco.

Watch Ben's video diary at Tourism New Zealand.

Kiwi Quest

The iconic national bird of New Zealand is a little cutie and none more so that Hupai, the 1000th chick to be hatched as part of the Bank of New Zealand initiative Operation Nest Egg launched in 1994 in an effort to counter disturbing statistics that 90% of all wild-born kiwi chicks were dying before they reached six months. The plan was simple and based on research that a chick's chance of survival increased considerably once they weighed about 1kg.

A pilot scheme was tried, whereby wild eggs and chicks were relocated to a safe haven during their most vulnerable period before returning them to the wild. The scheme worked and the project became BNZ Operation Nest Egg. Each summer during the breeding season, eggs and chicks are collected and looked after 'in captive-rearing facilities and predator-free creches. When the juveniles have reached about 1.2 kilograms and are able to better fend for themselves, they are released back to their wild home'.

This year, Hupai's appearance brought the grand total of successfully hatched chicks to 1000! The Save The Kiwi website charts the progress of this oblivious star and offers a wealth of information about the project and kiwis.

Such is the prominence of the kiwi in New Zealand that they can be found everywhere from Auckland to Wellington, Christchurch to Queenstown, around hotels, in airports and shops. It is omnipresent in one form or another. The real-life little fellow is much harder to find - though worth the quest, he truly is!

My only encounter with a kiwi was curiously enough in the National Aquarium in Napier. Though unlike another well-known flightless bird found in New Zealand, the penguin, kiwis are not known for their aquatic skills. Stewart Island is recognised as being the best place to spot kiwis in the wild. But since these curious little creatures are nocturnal as well as superbly camouflaged, patience and a good guide are key ingredients.

“If you are lucky enough to come across a kiwi, savour the privilege.  Stay still and watch.  Don't approach within 5 metres.  please do not disturb them in any way”.
stewartisland.co.nz

Happy spotting!

January Jaunts

Happy New Year!

Now that Christmas is but a thing of the past (at least for another 12, 11... 10 months), New Year's resolutions have been made (and already broken) and the first serious snowfall of the season has descended onto UK soil, I find my mind wandering to far off lands, where the sun does shine and adventure beckons.

As we sit at home cosily tucked up against the long, cold winter nights, on the other side of the world, summer is blazing into full glory, with events and festivals galore filling the calendar. (These events include New Zealand's premier tennis tournament, the Auckland Heineken Open marking the beginning of my beloved tennis season). Given all this activity and sunshine, it's little wonder that January is such a popular time for UK visitors to New Zealand. Though popular doesn't have to mean busy.

This is after all, New Zealand we're talking about and 'peak season' and 'crowds' are a relative term. Naturally January is a busy time for some of the major tourist areas in the country, especially as this is summer holiday time for the locals too. So then, if you plan to escape winter with a jaunt down under, why not try 'off the beaten track'?

From a personal perspective I can observe that North Island's East Cape is amazing in January. Picturesque bays, sandy beaches textured by driftwood, Maori Marae's and glorious sunsrises. Best of all, as you travel out and about each day you'll find you have the place virtually to yourself.  Heading westward, you'd not be mistaken for believing the 'Forgotten World Highway' to qualify as a lesser explored region. This touring route, which runs from Stratford in Taranaki to Tongariro National Park is a historic hidden gem past rolling hills, dramatic gorges, dense forests to the stunning alpine vista of central North Island. Finally, journey south, far south, to the untouched beauty of the Catlins Coast. Here the scenery takes on a dramatic edge and nature is all around.

If this makes you want to jump on a plane as much as it does me, pick up the phone and give our team a call and we'll see what we can do!

Vertical Limits in Dunedin

Dunedin is New Zealand’s southernmost city and is known for its Scottish heritage, interesting architecture, having the oldest university in New Zealand, abundant pubs and cafes and a proximity to the Otago Peninsula (great for wildlife). This fascinating city can also lay claim to having the steepest street in the world!

Baldwin Street is the name and steep it most certainly is at 1:2.86. I’m guessing the local kids don’t play too many ball games. Either that or possibly their catching skills are second to none!

The annual Baldwin Street Gutbuster is part of our Dunedin Summer Festival programme and challenges particpants to test their fitness levels by running from bottom to top and back again. Seriously… only in New Zealand!!

This particular street proved of great interest to my Dad when he travelled to NZ a few years ago. Why? Because he’s a cyclist and was keen to test the theory that it’s too steep to cycle up. I'm still waiting for the outcome though, since never one to take the simple option, he hired a penny farthing for some cycling fun instead of the more conventional mountain bike. Funnily enough the owners were a little reluctant that their museum piece be used in such a way. There’s Kiwi blood pumping through his veins I’ve no doubt…

Where is the Best view in Queenstown?

Queenstown is the London of New Zealand. If you've heard of New Zealand you've heard of Queenstown. Tourists, backpackers and random foreigners pack the vicinity every year in the summer for popular water sports on Lake Wakatipu or New Year shenanigans. The winter is just as good a time to go, being spoiled by stunning snow capped views while skiing and snow boarding around the jagged Remarkables mountain range, that look like something straight out of a fairy tale or Lord of the Rings for that matter (uh..thats 'cause they actually are straight out of Lord of the Rings).

Some would argue the view from up there was the 'Best view in Queenstown'. But then i would retaliate with a winner that gets 'em every time: 'You can't view the Remarkables from the Remarkables'. Silent, vacant stares answer my smug response. Because I think the best views are from the observation deck 450m above the town, at the top of the Queenstown Skyline Gondola. A gondola? you say. But isn't a gondola a small punting boat where a man dressed in stripes serenades you cringe-worthy melodies along a canal? Well, yes and no. No, because in Kiwi land a gondola is what 'outsiders' would call a cable car. But a definite must do for when you first reach Queenstown and need to see where you are staying in relation to the pubs.

• Spread out before you is the ever growing tourist hub, Lake Wakatipu and Cecil and Walter Peaks, those remarkable Remarkables, and Coronet Peak. Be sure to check out the restaurant or cafe and souvenir shop while you're up there. To get back down..you can either take the cable car again (yawn), or you could ride down on the Skyline luge the fastest fun on wheels! Or jump off the side of the mountain via the AJ Hackett bungy jump. Hmm such a hard decision.

• The Skyline Gondola is open daily (even Christmas day) from 9.00am until late.
• Gondola prices start from £8.00 per adult and £4.00 for kids. 
• Gondola + luge ride prices start from £11.00 per adult and £7.00 for kids.

Not a bad price to pay for the Best View in Queenstown.