What's Happening

Ah Spring! Forgive us if we get a little romantic, but New Zealand is charming right now and making us feel quite light hearted. The snows have melted, (in most places! Go the late ski season!) and life is just bursting from every region. Flowers are in bloom, the lambing season is well under way, and Aotearoa has cast off her mantle of blue and white to replace it with one of green. The days are getting longer, meaning more time for outdoor pursuits. As the temperature rises we find ourselves thinking of the long beautiful days of summer, just around the corner, when the beach, barbecues and mates will make for another 100% Pure New Zealand experience.

Taupo

Taupo Bungy - New Swing launch - late 2009

Taupo’s newest experience will open late 2009, offering an alternative thrill for the 18 - 35-year-old ‘active’ market. The Ultimate Swing will be a $250,000 pendulum suspended on double wire cables 45m above the Waikato river about 140 metres from the bungy platform. The company runs a similar giant swing attraction at Mokai Gravity Canyon, Taihape.
www.taupobungy.co.nz

Dunedin

Orokonui Eco Sanctuary

From September 2009, Orokonui Eco-sanctuary will run tours of the 307 ha native forest and wildlife sanctuary located just twenty minutes from Dunedin's city centre. The sanctuary is a must do for bird and reptile lovers, and is the South Island's only predator-free area of native bush.

Inhabitants include rare native birds and reptiles, including the native kaka parrot and could soon include kiwi. There's a café and interpretive visitor centre, and tours tell the story of Otago’s intricate coastal forest environment.
www.orokonui.org.nz

Zest Food Tours

Zest Food Tours now offer half-day tours to meet some of Dunedin’s food ambassadors and to sample local treats. The tour covers Dunedin’s historic architecture, specialty stores, and informative commentary about New Zealand produce for small groups. Tastes may include gourmet ice cream, local seafood, freshly roasted coffee, and locally baked treats.

Saturday tours offer a visit to the renowned Otago Farmers’ Market where your clients can meet local food heroes, taste their products and sample regional wines.
www.zestfoodtours.co.nz

Peninsula Excursion & Albatross Encounter

The newest day tour on the Otago Peninsula gives visitors the opportunity to plant a native tree and see some of New Zealand’s largest birds in the only mainland albatross breeding colony in the world.

The Peninsula Excursion & Albatross Encounter tour starts with a scenic drive followed by a walk through regenerating bush where guests are invited to contribute to ongoing re-vegetation by planting native trees. After a picnic lunch they then continue to Otago Peninsula to view the Northern Royal Albatross as it flies and lands just metres away from them -Awesome!
www.natureguidesotago.co.nz

Lake Tekapo

Tubing at Alpine Springs Spa & Winter Park

The Winter Park’s new 100-metre snow tubing slope is the latest in ‘snow fun’ in the Mt Cook Mackenzie region.

Designed as an affordable fun activity for the whole family regardless of skill level, there are 30 tubes with fast to slow speeds. All your clients need to do is sit on the tube and go!

Along with the rest of Alpine Springs (now Qualmark endorsed), the snow tubing park has been developed with a focus on sustainability. Snowguns are hooked up to a sustainable, energy-efficient refrigeration and heat regeneration plant that cleans, recycles and cools water from the hot pools and the ice rink.

The park also features an international size rink for ice skating, ice hockey and curling, outdoor hot pools and boutique day spa. Developments in the pipeline include private hot pools and a cooler pool for summer months.
www.alpinesprings.co.nz
www.winterpark.co.nz

Rotorua

Kawarau Jet Rotorua - Water Warriors

Kawarau Jet Rotorua, Mana Adventures are River Rats Rafting have combined forces to create a half-day journey that mixes water thrills, Rotorua's natural landscape and Maori heritage.

The tour includes taking a spin (or two) on Lake Rotorua in the V8-powered Kawarau Jet, a paddle in an authentic Maori waka (canoe), learning warrior chants and storytelling on Lake Rotoiti and the Kaituna river with Mana Adventures and a rafting adventure on the Kaituna with River Rats, paddling down a gorge and over the world’s highest commercially rafted waterfall, the 7m Tutea Falls.

With around 70% of rafters on their first ever rafting trip, this is one serious adventure for even the less brave amongst us!
www.nzjetboat.co.nz

Ultimate Heli-Jet Adventure

New Zealand Riverjet and HeliPRO have combined to offer guests a Rotorua experience on water, land and air. The adventure includes:

• scenic drive through lush farmland to Rainbow mountain
• short bushwalk to Crater lake to spectacular thermal landscape
• 45-minute scenic jet-boat ride on the Waikato river
• exploration of geothermal Orakei Korako including one of the world's largest silica terraces.

New Zealand wide

Harley Tours New Zealand

Not as niche as you might think! Riding a Harley Davidson is a great way to experience New Zealand's sights, sounds and smells. Based in the Coromandel, Harley Tours conduct tours out of Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown. Tours range from a short spin around the city, half- and full-day sightseeing trips, to multi-day guided or bespoke tours. Participants can pilot a Harley (if they're licensed) or ride pillion - just like cruising in an armchair. Bikes are also available to hire for private trips.
www.harleytoursnewzealand.co.nz

Ruapehu

Ahuru Lodge Ohakune

Ahuru Lodge, New Zealand’s newest five-star lodge, has opened in the spectacular volcanic landscape of the North Island's central plateau region. On the banks of a trout-filled mountain stream, near the little town of Ohakune, the lodge is close to the dual World Heritage Tongariro National Park, the famed Tongariro Crossing, Turoa and Whakapapa ski fields, and an easy drive from Lake Taupo.

There are five luxurious suites offering exquisite accommodation and mountain views. Local activities include walking, year-round golf, winter skiing, and fly-fishing - including tailored fishing experiences on some of the world's best fishing rivers.
www.ahurulodge.com

Marlborough

Spray Point, Marlborough

Spray Point, 60 minutes from Blenheim, is one of Marlborough's original high country merino sheep farms, and the historic cob cottage has been restored to provide luxury accommodation in a peaceful site on the banks of the Waihopai river with mountain and river views. Spray Point offers tracts of native bush, open tussock lands, hills, rivers and mountains and many native birds.
www.spraypoint.co.nz

Queenstown

Matakauri Lodge

Julian Robertson (owner of Kauri Cliffs, and The Farm at Cape Kidnappers) has bought Matakauri Lodge. The property will be closed from 10 August 2009 until 31 August 2010 for major renovations.
www.matakauri.co.nz