NEW ZEALAND
scenic of the three main line rail
services – the TranzAlpine – traverses the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps to the gold rush town of Greymouth on the west coast via the west coast forests and locations used in the Lord of the Rings and The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. Christchurch is still debating
how the city centre will be re-built post-earthquake but there is already much to see and some 14 hotels are open for business. In the centre the RE:START shopping area offers some innovative uses of containers while the pastel-hued Spanish Mission-style buildings of New Regent Street have also re-opened and the cardboard cathedral is almost built. Other attractions are the Canterbury Museum, Botanic Gardens, the Antarctic Centre, and the Adrenalin Forest, a multi-level obstacle course. New Zealand’s vast fl eet of camper vans are a great way to travel nationwide but it is perhaps in the remote areas of the South Island that they come into their own. Heading out west from Christchurch there’s a single road that goes through Arthur’s Pass in the Southern Alps and at the end on the west coast it’s a right turn for Greymouth and Westport or left turn for Hokitika and on to the glaciers, Wanaka and Queenstown.
Picture perfect ‘Breathtaking scenery’ is perhaps the
Above, clockwise from left: en route to the Franz Joseph glacier, riding the trail, the way to Hobbiton, whale watching and the Wellington Cable Car on its way to the summit
most over-used phrase in tourism but if ever its use was warranted New Zealand’s scenic splendours are in pole position. The whole of the south and southwest are a photographer’s dream; it’s not just one breathtaking sight after another but the entire countryside. Towering snow-capped mountains, glaciers, sparkling lakes, empty beaches, rugged cliffs and fjords lapped by blue waters are the norm. Roads are good, often dead straight for miles, and invariably almost empty making photo stops easy. Signposting is pretty foolproof and, like us, they drive on the left. Heading southwards, a stop at
either the Franz Joseph or Fox glaciers is essential and it’s easy to walk very close to their heads. Helicopter tours are also available En route to the main centre of
Queenstown is the attractive and popular holiday spot of Wanaka at the southern end of the lake before reaching pretty Arrowtown, the best- preserved gold-mining town in the region. The tree-lined main street is full of old buildings, many now boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Nestled on the northeast shore of
Lake Wakatipu surrounded by the Remarkables range, Queenstown is recognised as the adventure capital of New Zealand, if not the world.
Think of an adventure from abseiling to ziplining, via jet boating and skiing, and Queenstown will have it. There’s much more too including plenty of accommodation options, shopping, dining from kebabs to high cuisine, and the beautiful 1912-built wood and brass TSS Earnslaw paddle steamer which sails year-round. Beyond Queenstown, the last town
of any size in the southwest is Te Anau, the main starting point for tours to the iconic Milford Sound and lesser-known Doubtful Sound, both within Fiordland National Park. This region is considered by many to be the most beautiful part of New Zealand and it contains the country’s
Voted number one hotel in the South Pacifi c for Small Hotels, Luxury and Best Service in the Trip Advisor Travelers Choice awards 2013
mail -
info@thedairy.co.nz Phone - 0064 3 442 5164 Website -
www.thedairy.co.nz
IAN TRAFFORD
ALAN ORBELL, BMI PUBLISHING. LTD
CHRIS MCLENNAN
MILES HOLDEN SIMON CLARK
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