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Tuatara monthly news & updates now mobile friendly
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From The Mountains To The Sea
Explore the new Alps 2 Ocean Cycle trail which is regarded as one of the best New Zealand cycling tours available, giving cyclists access to some of the South Island's most dramatic scenery and legendary country hospitality, food and accommodation.
From the stunning tussock alpine region of the Southern Alps with its snow capped peaks, breathtaking views of Aoraki/Mt Cook - New Zealand’s highest mountain, golden highlands, stunning turquoise lakes, glacier-carved valleys - to the Waitaki Valley with its hydro-lakes – Benmore Aviemore and Waitaki.
The
Alps 2 Ocean
cycling tour
meets increasingly lush farmland as it reaches the lower Waitaki Valley, dotted with vineyards, a lavender farm, Māori rock art and oddly shaped Elephant Rocks.
You will pass through a tunnel which follows the path of an old railway line through to Oamaru and the harbour park alongside the town’s magnificent Victorian Precinct right on the Pacific Ocean.
The spectacular 270km Alps 2 Ocean cycling tour descends 780 metres on a ride with a moderate grade. The terrain varies, with easy riding on canal paths, quiet country roads, old railway lines and expertly cut cross-country tracks.
Alps 2 Ocean has been picked as one of the world's top 16 attractions by Frommer's Travel Guides. The reputed travel publisher describes the trail as "stunning and cheerfully hospitable", and setting the "perfect standard for awesome".
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Book on any of the
following 4 tours and receive a
NZ$100 rebate
and a
FREE
Tuatara Tours
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Queen Charlotte Walk
12 February 2017
NZ$100 rebate
and a
FREE
Tuatara Tours Backpack
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Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail
4 February 2017
1
4 February 2017
NZ$100 rebate
and a
FREE
Tuatara Tours Backpack
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Otago Rail Trail
19 February 2017
NZ$100 rebate
and a
FREE
Tuatara Tours Backpack
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West Coast Trail
27 February 2017
NZ$100 rebate
and a
FREE
Tuatara Tours Backpack
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West Coast Tourism
Booms!
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Visitors to New Zealand are not disappointed by our amazing scenery.
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West Coast tourism has grown at a "phenomenal" rate, putting pressure on a creaking infrastructure funded by a small group of ratepayers.
About 850,000 tourists had visited the region in eight months since April, spending $420 million.
Numbers are expected to soar well beyond 1 million a year, prompting calls for more government spending on infrastructure and private investment in small businesses including shops, accommodation and services.
The Coast Road was voted the ninth best coastal drive in the world. An action plan on ways to boost the West Coast economy – from tourism to agriculture – would be released to the public in February.
Behind this plan is West Coast economic development manager Kevin Stratful, who said there was "huge opportunity" for smaller businesses to get started in the region.
"The cost of entry for an investment is so low here. $1m won't get you anything in Auckland but it would get you a hell of a lot here," he said.
Stratful said the region had seen 11 per cent growth in tourism – significantly more than the 7 per cent recorded nationwide.
Visitor numbers were forecast to rise to 1.3m by 2025 with a spend of $1 billion.
Stratful said he was talking to the Government about funding to develop the infrastructure needed to cater for growing visitor numbers.
But the Coast also needed people prepared to invest in a business.
"We need to be ready with the right accommodation and services. There's a huge opportunity for retail."
The key to successful economic development was not only tourism but a diverse range of small and medium businesses, he said.
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Have you ever noticed when you are out walking or cycling that some clothes you wear attract bees more than others.
Bees are trichromatic (have three photoreceptors within the eye). Whereas we base our color combinations on red, blue, and green, bees base all their colors on UV, blue, and green.
Bees do not see red and have a hard time distinguishing it from surrounding green leaf backgrounds. The colours bees see are blue-green, blue, violet, and ultraviolet, with research showing purple followed by violet then blue as their favourites.
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The Queenstown Cycle Trail
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The Queenstown Cycle Trail starts in Otago’s world renowned Wakatipu Basin.
Queenstown’s reputation as one of the world’s favourite adventure and cycling destinations is enhanced with the addition of this New Zealand Cycle Tour.
The new Queenstown Cycle Trail is part of the New Zealand Cycling Trails network and unveils stunning new vistas, hidden ruins, spectacular architecture and world-class food and wine.
The cycle trail meanders through some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking scenery, taking in the stunning landscapes of Lake Hayes, Frankton and Queenstown, Arrowtown, Gibbston Valley, Clyde, Alexandra (Roxburgh Gorge Cycle Trail), Roxburgh (Clutha Gold Cycle Trail) and Wanaka and brings to you 5 days of spectacular cycling and local experiences.
For the first time ever, you can cycle across unspoilt private land.... over mighty suspension bridges, ride alongside six iconic rivers and six lakes... all set in dramatic landscapes, some used for the now famous Lord of the Rings films.
We integrate into this New Zealand cycling tour The Queenstown Cycle Trail -The Roxburgh Gorge Cycle Trail and the Clutha Gold Cycle Trail.
- Roxburgh Gorge Cycle Trail – Discover another world. This cycle trail offers a wilderness experience through the remote and stunning Roxburgh Gorge. Sit back and become immersed in the splendid isolation that is the Roxburgh Gorge.
- Clutha Gold Cycle Trail – A journey of discovery - Ride alongside the powerful Clutha Mata-au River, through a secluded valley and gorge network and into lush green farmland. It is an easy grade trail that is full of variety, from undulating to flat to meandering.
Your fully guided Queenstown Cycle Trail journey starts and ends in the adventure capital of the southern hemisphere, Queenstown (or Christchurch), with transport available from Christchurch.
Cycle tour includes all accommodation, meals, and support vehicles and guide.
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IKEA-Style Home Can Be Built in 4 Days Using Only a Screwdriver
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French architecture firm Multipod Studio has come up with a revolutionary housing prototype – the PopUp House. This unique dwelling comes in the form of stackable blocks that anyone can put together IKEA style, using only a screwdriver. It’s supposedly as easy as building with Legos.
The PopUp House prototype, located in Aix-in-Provence, is a 1,614-square foot structure with an open layout – the living room is connected to a kitchen, dining area, and terrace. It also includes two bathrooms, an office, a master bedroom, and two smaller bedrooms. It doesn’t sound any different than a conventional house, but what really makes the PopUp House special is the construction process, which only takes four days and only requires an electric screwdriver.
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The Tongariro Crossing Walk: A Life-Changing Experience
The Tongariro Crossing Walk is recommended as a 'life-changing experience' by the Lonely Planet travel guide.
This guided walk features a variety of trips in the iconic Tongariro National Park in the North Island of New Zealand.
These include the world-famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, stark volcanic landscapes, and awe-inspiring views over the central North Island.
You'll walk through native beech forests and traverse alpine fields.
You'll see a host of sparkling (and sometimes steaming) crater lakes, including the well-known lake at the top of volcanic Mt Ruapehu.
Experience the dramatic alpine and volcanic landscapes of World Heritage Area Tongariro National Park, with a small group and experienced local guide.
Significant cultural heritage combined with arid badlands, crater lakes, sparkling rivers, breath-taking lunar landscapes, native beech forest and alpine meadows – with stunning alpine lodgings and fantastic meals and wine this New Zealand hiking tour is a once in a lifetime experience not to be missed
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World’s Spiciest Tortilla Chips Are Sold One at a Time in Coffin-Shaped Boxes
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Using extract from the hottest chilli pepper on the planet, American company Paqui Chips has created the world’s spiciest tortilla chip – the Carolina Reaper Madness. It’s apparently so hot that it only comes in packs of one.
Usually, when you open a bag of tortilla chips, you never stop at one, but when it comes to Carolina Reaper Madness chips, Jeff Day, Brand Manager for Paqui Chips, says that one is all you need. “It’s the hottest chip you’ll ever have, I can guarantee you that. After you eat that one chip, trust me, you’re not looking to dig back into the bag and have a second one. So, one chip is what we created to have the experience
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A national project mobilising New Zealanders to plant millions of native trees to mitigate climate change.
In 2017 DOC wants to see one tree planted for every New Zealander – that’s 4.7 million trees
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The project aims to keep a live count of the number of native trees being planted across New Zealand. But it’s also about planting trees that count – for climate change, biodiversity and restoring and enhancing our environment – native trees.
Trees That Count is being funded by The Tindall Foundation, and delivered by Project Crimson Trust in partnership with Pure Advantage and DOC.
Why keep count? -
Counting the trees means we can recognise all of the great work that thousands of Kiwis do each year.
It also helps measure the impact we could collectively have on climate change.
Get involved
Every Kiwi can play their part in slowing down climate change. Join the movement to plant and look after millions more trees for generations to come.
There are heaps of ways to get involved:
- pledge your plantings
- register your planting projects
- fund or gift trees
- pledge volunteer time.
What are the trees that count?
All trees must be native to New Zealand to assist with restoring and enhancing our environment, our biodiversity as well as impacting climate change.
Here are a few common native tree and shrub species that will meet Trees that Count's criteria for planting:
- pōhutukawa
- northern rata
- kōwhai
- kauri
- mataī
- kawaka
- red beech
- black beech
- titoki
- rewarewa
- mānuka
- rangiora
- tōtara
- rimu
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Tuatara Tours is a major concessionaire to the Department of Conservation and contributes to the funding of ongoing research in conservation.
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