Archive for the 'Attractions' Category
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Posted by Ruth Atherley on June 3, 2011 at 9:04 am
I had a chance to learn more about the Waitangi Treaty Grounds at TRENZ. The Waitangi Treaty Grounds overlook the Bay of Islands and it is New Zealand’s pre-eminent historic site.
It was here on February 6th, 1840, that the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed between Maori and the British Crown. The Treaty Grounds are part of the 404-hectare (1000-acre) Waitangi National Trust estate, which was gifted to the nation by Lord and Lady Bledisloe in 1932. In the deed of gift, Lord Bledisloe stipulated that the estate was never to be a burden on the taxpayer, and in keeping with this, it is not government funded. The estate is administered by the Waitangi National Trust Board, whose members represent various sections of New Zealand people.
Features of the Treaty Grounds include:
- The Treaty House – Built for the first British Resident, James Busby and his family. It is one of New Zealand’s oldest and most visited historic homes.
- Te Whare Runanga – Fully carved Maori Meeting House, which is representative of all Iwi (regional tribes) in New Zealand.
- Ngatokimatawhaorua – One of the world’s largest Maori ceremonial war canoes.
- The Naval Flagstaff – Marks the place where the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed.
- Waitangi Visitor Centre – Houses an audio visual show outlining the history of Waitangi and the Bay of Islands. It also showcases live cultural performances.
- Gift Shop.
- Artifacts Gallery.
There are a range of activities here, which include guided tours that are most often led by descendants of the people involved in creating and signing the treaty. There are cultural performances, as well as specialized expert guided tours of the Treaty House and garden and historical curator guided tours of the taonga (treasures) of the estate. I have also heard from several people that the Waikokopu Café has fabulous food and seriously good coffee (along with lovely New Zealand wines).
TSS Earnslaw
Posted by Ruth Atherley on June 2, 2011 at 3:35 am
One of the TRENZ functions that we went to was held on the TSS Earnslaw. The TSS Earnslaw turns 100 next year and it is the only working coal-fired steamship in the southern hemisphere. As we sipped lovely New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, we could look down into the belly of the Earnslaw and see coal being shovelled in to feed her engine and imagine what it must have been like to sail on this beautiful ship almost 100 years ago. Sailing on her in 2011 was pretty amazing too.
The TSS Earnslaw is a piece of working history and definitely worth a visit when in Queenstown.
Some fun facts about the TSS Earnslaw:
- The Earnslaw carried the Duke of York in 1927 and the Duke of Gloucester in 1935.
- In March 1990, the Earnslaw carried Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip.
- Other royalty to travel on board have been the King and Queen of Belgium, the Prince of Thailand, and the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
- The TSS Earnslaw made a brief cameo appearance in the movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) as an Amazon River boat.
- The TSS Earnslaw uses one tonne of coal every hour.
- Parts of the TSS Earnslaw were used as the basis for the SS Venture, the steamship in the movie King Kong.
- The TSS Earnslaw was launched in the same year as the RMS Titanic – 1912.
- Former president Bill Clinton travelled on board the TSS Earnslaw in 1999.
- The TSS Earnslaw travels 1.5 times the circumference of the earth each year. Not bad for a 100-year-old steamship!
- TSS stands for Twin Screw Steamship.
- Famous composer Ron Goodwin composed a piece of music inspired by the rhythm of the TSS Earnslaw’s engines. It was first performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Shantytown Heritage Park
Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 31, 2011 at 5:42 am
Everywhere I travel, if the opportunity is there, I jump at the chance to step back in time and get a sense of how things used to be. And in New Zealand, Shantytown Heritage Park allows you to do just that.
West Coast isolation, extreme weather and rugged terrain produced stories of fortitude and ingenuity. Shantytown tells these pioneering stories through a fascinating mix of experience and displays. Discover intriguing tales of real New Zealanders and experience a recreated gold-rush village just 10 km from Greymouth.
Ride the Steam Train through a native rainforest, experience the sights and sounds of a working sawmill, watch the sluice gun blast gold-bearing rock and soil from the earth. Then follow the races to the gold claim, where you can pan for it yourself!
At TRENZ 2011, Shantytown Heritage Park showcased its latest addition – the Holographic Theatre. This $300,000 project sets the direction for future developments at the park. The redevelopment philosophy is to provide 21st century visitors with experiences that they have come to expect – informative, based on local stories and with that special wow-factor that creates a must-see product.
The shows are 10 minutes in length and use the latest in 21st century holographic technology to provide full-length, high-definition figures to tell fantastic stories of the hardship, extreme weather, deprivation and isolation that make the character of the West Coast truly unique. The theatre is themed on Victorian/Edwardian theatres, with lush opulence, colonnades, generous curtaining and original (restored to be comfortable) seating.
The village – 40 years young and still going – with 30 shops and buildings to explore, shows life the way it used to be. Catch the show in their new holographic theatre. For a memento of Shantytown, nothing is better than an old-time photo.
Stay and Play Rotorua
Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 31, 2011 at 5:34 am
Whether you’re travelling to Rotorua independently or by coach, there are dozens of options for your accommodation and sightseeing needs. Most activities and attractions are within a 20-minute radius of the city, and local transport operators provide affordable options for getting around. Within Rotorua you can raft a 7-metre waterfall, see Kiwi birds, experience Maori culture, cruise the lakes in luxury or enjoy the thrills of jetboating. You can bathe in geothermal waters, ride horses through the rural countryside, enjoy fine dining, or take in the sights from aboard an amphibious DUCK. Be sure to allow plenty of time for your visit – don’t be discouraged by stories of the “smell.” That’s an experience in itself and I can tell you, there are lots of places in Rotorua where you don’t smell it at all.
At TRENZ 2011, representatives for 20 local attractions, accommodations, activities, transport operators and dining options gave updates on all of their new product developments – everything from accommodation refurbishments to multi-million dollar investments in local attractions, and new and improved transport options.
Suiting group tours, incentives, or individual travellers, the represented products cover high-end luxury options, through to budget-focused choices. They can assist with itinerary planning and logistics of timing with their up-to-date, first-hand knowledge of the products and their region. Coordinating familiarizations for industry and media is something they do on a regular basis and they would welcome TRENZ delegates to take advantage of this service.
The website was launched last year and they can now offer free listings for tour wholesalers whose New Zealand packages include their member products.
The Rotorua region is a great place to visit, with something for everyone – nature lovers, adrenalin junkies, people interested in different cultures, families, couples, single travellers, backpackers, travellers with a healthy budget… Everyone who visits the Rotorua region will leave with a wealth of new experiences and happy memories. In fact, there’s so much to see and do there, you can easily spend a very busy week and still not see everything. And Rotorua is continuously improving and expanding. For repeat visitors, there’ll be some familiar favourites, as well as new and exciting places to visit.
I might as well just move to New Zealand… there is so much here I want to do!
Vibrant Marketing
Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 27, 2011 at 9:04 am
Vibrant Marketing is representing some of New Zealand’s leading tourism operators. They include:
Canyoning.co.nz
Serious Fun River Surfing
Big Night Out
Thunder Jet
Climbing Queenstown
Milford Sound BBQ Bus
Nevis Snow Mobiles
Heli Tours
Rail Trail Active Cycling Tours
Earnslaw Lodge Motel
At TRENZ2011, Vibrant Marketing launched three exciting new products:
Earnslaw Heli Canyon – After a 20-minute epic helicopter ride, you’re faced with 500 meters of vertical descent with 18 major rappels through natural pristine primary rain forest. This is the most exciting new canyoning experience in New Zealand. It’s been designed to create an alternative style of canyoning to their aquatic canyons – the Queenstown and the Routeburn canyons.
Heli Tours – New exciting flights combined with long-established local operators using proven-safe world-renowned Eurocopter type helicopters. Come on board and see the untouched environment around Queenstown, Fiordland, Central Otago and Canterbury.
This is a privately owned company with local pilots who live and breathe this mountain environment. They offer the 100% kiwi experience, with real local people and companies. They also have two NZ companies who sponsor them – Icebreaker and RPM. Their new products are Merino Farm Tour in conjunction with Real Journeys, Heli Thunder Jet Tour, Wine Tours and Sights of the Fiord’s in Doubtful Sound. Charters are available upon request.
Thunder Jetboating on the Kawarau River – Climb on board Thunder Jet in downtown Queenstown at the Marine Scene kiosk. 750 horsepower jetboating – this is the newest jetboating company in Queenstown, and it is the only company taking one hour trips up the Kawarau River. It’s also the only company in Queenstown with an onboard sound system playing entertaining music throughout the trip! Thunder Jet is locally owned and operated with the lowest advertised jetboat experience at $95 per adult and $50 per child for your one hour journey. Suitable for children 3 and up.
Vibrant Marketing represents locally owned and operated tourism businesses – passionate about what they do and how they do it. Expect a real kiwi experience with the best views in the world and the once-in-a-lifetime memories you’re looking to create.
