First of New Zealand’s great trail rides is now open

by Stephanie - 25/11/2010 15:21:00

The first of New Zealand’s ‘Great Rides’ - a national cycle trail showcasing some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes – is now open. The St James Cycle Trail passes through an iconic South Island backcountry conservation area, near the tourist town of Hanmer Springs, in Canterbury's Southern Alps. So grab your bikes peeps, there are some awesome stuff to see just off the beaten track.

NOT FOR THE FEINT HEARTED

The 64km St James Trail offers iconic scenery and a mix of trail standards, down spectacular river valleys, past high-country lakes, through beech forest and grassland valleys in an important conservation area.

Of the 18 nationally promoted cycle trails, it requires the greatest level of experience to complete.

Experienced mountain bikers are expected to complete the full trail in roughly 10 hours, but if you prefer to take your time and break up the trip into a number of days there are four huts along the way that you can book a space in. You can also camp beside the river.

A good soak in the Hanmer Springs hot pools on the way home wouldn’t go astray either.

The cycleway mainly follows the Waiau River, and the full trip is designed for experienced mountain bikers but the entry tracks to the Waiau River along Edwards valley or over Maling Pass (and to Lake Guyon) are suitable for intermediate level cyclists.

Local native vegetation includes red, mountain and silver beech / tawhairauriki / tawhairaunui forests, mānuka / kānuka and matagouri scrublands, alpine and tussock species, and a vast expanse of native grasslands. Some 430 indigenous species of flora and 30 native bird species have been identified – so keep an eye out for some pretties.

Check out more details about the St James trail here.


NGA HAERENGA, THE NZ CYCLE TRAIL

Nga Haerenga - meaning ‘the journeys’ in a physical and spiritual sense - is the name of a national cycleway network, a series of 18 great rides through some of New Zealand’s most iconic and picturesque country.

The aim is to have 18 ‘Great Rides’ completed and ready for use by summer 2012 – 2013, and the St James Trail is the first fully completed trail but there are others that are partially finished.

The 18 trails are across New Zealand in regions including Northland, Hauraki, Rotorua, Opotiki / Gisborne, Waikato, Ruapehu, Taupo, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson Bay / Tasman, West Coast, Aoraki / Mount Cook / Waitaki, Queenstown, Southland and Clutha.


- Get started on your gap year by applying for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa!

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

Swim, snorkel and rock ‘til you drop in New Zealand this summer

by Stephanie - 16/11/2010 14:49:00

A series of concerts over the next few months will celebrate two of New Zealand’s popular island conservation projects with some great music acts performing in amazing locations.

The Live at the Islands concerts will be held at Urupukapuka in the Bay of Islands and Motutapu in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. Thousands of volunteers have worked on these islands over recent years to restore natural vegetation, removing introduced predators and releasing rare native birds back into the wild. Now you can salute their hard work with great music against a backdrop of South Pacific marine scenery!

Take the short ferry ride and arrive as early as you like to swim at the beach and explore the idyllic island. By the afternoon things will start to kick off with refreshments available at the bars, and some of New Zealand’s leading musicians will be taking to the stage. As the sun sets across the water you can slip back to the mainland or party on with an after party on the beach until the last ferry leaves.

URUPUKAPUKA ISLAND - 28 December to 22 January

Urupukapuka is the largest island in the Bay of Islands and with sheltered white sand beaches along its western coast and towering ocean cliffs to the east, it’s pretty amazing. You can take a close look by hiring a kayak for a guided tour of the bays or follow trails over rolling hills to discover secluded beaches, archaeological sites and 360-degree cliff-top views.

The ‘Live at the Islands’ events on Urupukapuka Island will benefit Project Island Song, a major local conservation effort to restore native wildlife to the Bay of Islands.

THE DETAILS
  • 28 and 31 December 2010. Plus 3, 5, 7 and 22 January 2011
  • Ferries will shuttle from Paihia and Russell to the island and back
  • Bookings are essential
  • For details and to buy your tickets visit www.arkpresents.co.nz

MOTUTAPU ISLAND - 12 February 2011

Motutapu Island is a short ferry ride from Auckland city. The island lost its ancient forests to numerous volcanic eruptions that created Rangitoto Island on its western shore but in the valley behind the bay you can see how remaining native forest has been significantly extended thanks to replanting by volunteers.

Motutapu Island and adjoining Rangitoto Island are now free of introduced pests and predators, allowing the release of rare native birds.

For the special one-off Motutapu Live at the Islands concert, an amazing line-up of New Zealand’s leading musicians will provide continuous entertainment until evening. If you’d like to linger longer, after sunset the ZM DJ Afterparty on the Beach will keep you going through to 10pm. Ferries will depart regularly so you can return to the city when it suits.

Live at the Islands - Motutapu will benefit the Motutapu Restoration Trust.

THE DETAILS
  • Saturday, 12 February 2011 from 12.30 to 10.00pm
  • Ferries depart from downtown Auckland and Gulf Harbour, Whangaparaoa
  • Ferry capacity is limited so book early 
  • For details and to buy your tickets visit www.arkpresents.co.nz

- Get started on your gap year by applying for a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa!

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

The perfect place to discover the real Middle Earth – New Zealand!

by Stephanie - 02/11/2010 14:42:00

Middle Earth isn’t of course a real place, but if it was then New Zealand certainly has an uncanny resemblance to JRR Tolkien’s created land.

Tolkien’s famous books were turned into famous movies by New Zealander Sir Peter Jackson, who considered New Zealand "the perfect Middle Earth".

Jackson will be following up his Lord of the Rings trilogy with the prequel movie The Hobbit, which starts shooting early next year - so that could be perfect timing if you are over there for a working holiday to snag yourself a roll as an extra! 

More than 150 different locations throughout New Zealand were used to film the ‘Lord of the Rings’: the rolling hills of Matamata became Hobbiton, while the volcanic region of Mt Ruapehu became the fiery Mt. Doom where Sauron forged 'The Ring', and Queenstown - New Zealand's adventure capital - was the setting for numerous scenes including Eregion Hills and the Pillars of Argonath. So here are some tips for where you can find you own perfect part of Middle Earth in New Zealand.

SOUTH ISLAND LOCATIONS

Specialised Lord of The Ring tours on the South Island will take you by 4WD into the remote back country of Canterbury and the Rangitata Valley to Mt Sunday and Mt Potts high country station that was transformed into Edoras, the capital of the Rohan people.

Many of the locations that provided the most dramatic scenery in the movies can be found near Queenstown, such as The Remarkables mountain range, nearby lakes, vast valleys, forests and fiords - which movie-goers would know as Isengard, the Misty Mountains and the Ford of Bruinen.

This southern region is home to rare wildlife, ice-age glaciers, rugged mountains, deep lakes, meandering rivers and native forests - yet all within a short distance of adventure sports and city life.

Other Middle Earth tours on the South Island cover the Nelson region which provided locations for Chetwood Forest, Rivendell and Dimrill Dale.


NORTH ISLAND LOCATIONS

Hobbiton and the Shire were filmed in lush farmland near Matamata, in the Waikato region. The working sheep farm with its rolling green hills where filming took place for the triology is currently undergoing redevelopment as it prepares to welcome back the Hobbits - although tours of the famous set are still operating.

Mount Doom, also known as Mt Ngauruhoe, is one of three volcanoes in the North Island’s central plateau and you can take the same path as Frodo and Sam by walking the Tongariro Crossing. The walk is often described as one of the best one-day walks in the world and the 17km trek passes volcanoes, steaming fumaroles, jagged lava flows and crater lakes.

Wellington is home to Peter Jackson’s Weta Workshop, Weta Digital and the Miramar film worshops that will again be central to The Hobbit production. The movie business centre is off-limits to visitors, but Lord of the Rings fams can experience the Weta Cave.

Helicopter rides out of Wellington can give you a bird’s eye view over the limestone formations that formed Dimholt Road where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli rode to meet the 'Army of the Dead'.


In virtually every region of New Zealand, you will be reminded of Middle Earth and the movie trilogy.

The numerous conservation areas that provided locations for Lord of the Rinds are also listed on the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) website, where you can find detailed information of which scenes were shot where, GPS coordinates, Google map links, access roads, parks and reserves, and ideas for short walks in the vicinity.

- Got any tips for New Zealand working holiday makers on Lord of the Ring locations? Let us know in the comments!

Visa Bureau takes no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for action taken as a result of any information or comment provided on this blog, and we recommend that you always seek a number of opinions before making a decision regarding your migration or visa application. Please refer to the Visa Bureau terms of use for more information.

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