Cheers!

Anyway, time for a quick update on what’s happening to who in the Haka Tours world, particularly as it seems we’re all in different places at the moment!

Verve

Verve is the only person working today – on tour with a group of 10 currently up in Taupo, where no doubt they will be skydiving (weather permitting), sailing on the epically-sized lake, relaxing in natural hot pools and generally having a good knees up at the bar at Taupo Urban Retreat. He’s spoilt his group recently with not only taking them to the rugby but also buying them concert tickets for a big kiwi band The Black Seeds! They’re definitely getting the true NZ experience!

Stevo

Today is a much long-awaited day for Si-Dawg, who has flown up to Auckland this morning to meet his long estranged beloved Amanda, who he hasn’t seen for about 6 months! Ah, young love… In a few weeks they both will be escorting a Singapore TV production crew around the country who are filming a series similar to the ‘Amazing Race’ – check it out www.dhildaredevils.com!

Also up in Auckland somewhere is Stevo, who is resting up and taking some family time before starting a private guided tour from Christchurch on Monday – taking a Singaporean lady and her 12 year daughter around the South Island for 8 days! I’m rather jealous – they are going to some wicked locations. Our Private Tours have actually been taking off recently and we have run quite a number this year!

Ryan has spent the entire week in Sydney the lucky bastard but will be back tomorrow. The office has been rather empty without him but gotta say it’s nice having the comfy chair ha ha. It’s his birthday in a week but I won’t be cruel and say how old he’s gona be…

And as for me, El, I’m working on designing our new 2010 brochure, keeping the customers (past, present and future) happy and basically making sure the office is ticking over! Got the happy news this week that after months of waiting, immigration have finally granted me a visa to stay in the country which was a little bit of a relief all round really!

Will write again with something a little more informative soon…!

El

Ryan and El - August 2009

When it really comes down to it, you have 3 choices…

1. Do It Yourself.

A popular choice as it is the most independent and is potentially relatively cheap. Hire a car or campervan from someone like Jucy (right) and off you go – on your very own adventure with New Zealand at your beck and command. But is it really? Whilst the independence is great (plus nobody is going to shout at you too much for singing along to the car radio), you must consider the potentials of getting lost, having to organise everything for yourself, and perhaps worst of all, missing out on some real kiwi hidden gems. I’d only recommend it if you are organised or laid back enough to deal with navigating yourself.

Pros - fantastic independence and no need to rely on anyone else. Potentials of being relatively cheap if you are real good at organising your time and money, and research it well beforehand. If you have a large group of mates this could be an awesome NZ holiday, that is until you disagree on something!

Cons - can be quite stressful to find your own way around a foreign country, plus having to organise your own accommodation/activities/route and such… you will miss out on some great hidden spots and trust us, Lonely Planet does not have the knowledge to plan your entire New Zealand trip for you.

2. Hop on, Hop off.

The Big Green Bus

NZ doesn’t have a great rail network like some countries and so we often have to rely on coaches for long distance public transport. Hence the birth of the hop-on, hop-off bus passes, run by the national giants of Kiwi Experience, Magic and Stray. Easily recognizable by the huge coaches and large numbers of the loud 18-24 year old crowd that pours off them in some dazed or drunken state. It works well for certain people, but don’t be fooled by the expensive marketing and a big name… it is just a bus pass and they don’t include anything else.

Pros - could potentially provide a nice go between of giving you some independence and yet giving you a set route to travel, good way of meeting other people if you are young and looking to party

Cons – essentially whatever way you look at it they are a commercial giant and you are a number, the accommodation service most offer can be pretty limited, tour members can be quite limited to age range, any “inclusions” they advertise are usually free to the general public anyway, and when it comes down to it – do you want to spend most of your time stuck on a big coach?

3. Guided touring

Through either large groups – i.e. Contiki, Connections etc. who can have up to 50 on one bus, or the better alternative – small groups. This is where we fit in, with our fully guided, small group (up to 12 or 16) touring. (Check out our website and range of NZ adventure tours here.) Smaller groups will create a more of a “road trip” feel and immediately you are no longer a number to someone – it allows us to be more personal and flexible to your needs and you have a much greater say in what you can see or do. More things are included meaning less stress for you, and your tour guide will be able to include some wicked places that you would not think to go if doing it on your own. And that’s not to mention the local knowledge and stories they will tell you along the way.

If you are going to go down this route, choosing a New Zealand tour company is quite a difficult procedure – they all have their own vibes and include different things. In NZ quite a few will be more outdoorsy – choosing to camp and hike the majority of the time and hence demanding a certain level of fitness. We at Haka Tours focus on the supreme range of adventure that New Zealand is known for – for one, we’re the only company to offer our customers the ability to pre-book activities before coming on tour! With us, nothing is compulsory and you can do as much or as little as you like… your guide will still include heaps of low cost or free adventures along the journey anyway!

Pros – you will come away with a much greater depth of knowledge having experienced the country with a local guide, less stress involved as all your travelling and needs are looked after – and therefore allowing you to relax!, it’s probably the best way to make firm friendships (with others in your tour group), and you can choose a company that is most suited to your personality and likes. Potentially the best time of your life! Many of our tour members even describe their experience as life-changing!

Cons – if you are incredibly independent, this is probably not for you! Some companies can have a higher possibility of cancellation in low seasons – so check with them first.

Whoever you go with in the end, the best advice I would give is to feel out each company’s own buzz and find one that suits your own personality – and do read up on the reviews! Email them before you book – their response to your questions can be a very good indication on how they will treat you whilst on tour! And of course, do please consider us – www.hakatours.com – we’d love to have you onboard!

Rankers.co.nz is a great site for independent NZ travel reviews – click here for Active Bus and Van touring.

Hope that helps!

El

Tour and Marketing Co-ordinator

Haka Tours

EXTREME ADVENTURE AND SNOW TOURS – NEW ZEALAND

Key’s investigation is the result of a number of deaths over the last couple of years, the catalyst being Emily Jordan in April 2008, who drowned whilst river sledging in Queenstown. I remember this day clearly as I was in Queenstown myself – my own mother in the UK heard the news a 21 year old English female traveller had died and immediately assumed it was me. Although I didn’t pay too much attention to the news at the time, reading over the story now is quite moving – in particular to hear that her boyfriend had to watch from the side of the river bank whilst she was stuck underneath a rock. I cannot even imagine how hard that would have been. The comapny in question was later fined $66 grand and ordered to pay a further $88,000 to Emily’s family. It seems according to the media that they did not carry the adequate safety equipment to help her in time. To be honest, if so they are a complete disgrace to the industry and should not even be allowed to operate.

Nevertheless, it must be said that these deaths that Key is concerned about are far and few between. I think sometimes travellers often perceive the levels of danger in an activity to be a lot higher than they actually are – quite often because the activity operators like to make it seem so. There is a particular rafting company we use that I know like to hype things up as they go along and get people’s adrenalin through the roof… when really the trip is relatively tame.

When our tour members express concern over the risks of an activity I generally I advise two things to think about. Firstly, how many trips an activity operator will run, e.g. think of the 1000s of people that skydive everyday and have no problems at all. (There is some stupid statistic somewhere that you are more likely to win the lotto than die from skydiving.) Secondly, the cliche that yes you could go out tomorrow and just as easily die in your car at 50kph and not think anything of it beforehand. Life is a risk.

The other point I would like  (perhaps contraversially) to make is that many deaths in this industry happen because people do not take notice of instructions. The media are often keen to omit this, probably for the obvious reason of not wishing to offend the dead or come across as insensitive. There were 2 Australian brothers who was crushed to death by an ice fall on Fox Glacier in January who were a prime example of this – they were on their own and went outside of the area marked as safe. In 2007, the Conservation Department estimated about a third of the 600,000 visitors who walk to the Fox and nearby Franz Joseph glaciers each year ignore signs warning of the risk of ice falls.

As John Key was also keen to point out, most in the sector operate well and to a high standard of safety, which is true. Adventure tourism operators cannot afford to be slack – or tour companies such as ourselves would simply refuse to use them.

Overall, I admire Key for wanting to reassure our travellers that the industry has a high level of safety, and I would equally welcome any way through which we can show that our operators have some of the best standards in the world… but as Tourism Industry Association advocacy manager Geoff Ensor pointed out, I would be wary of “knee-jerk” legislation.

El

NB – this is my personal opinion and not representive of the company’s!! I still love New Zealand to bits and please read my last post to realise I’m not all negative! – El

1. Moeraki Boulders – Dunedin

They are just big rocks, sitting in the sand. No, actually, a lot of days they are probably just big rocks with an Asian tourist sat upon them. Plus, what’s with the supposedly compulsory donation at the top of the beach? I guess if you are driving past, you might as well stop – but don’t go out of your way to include them.

2. Rotorua

This might be a little contraversial, because we do include Rotorua on our tours, and it is a supremely popular tourist destination. But I don’t like it. To begin with, one of my first impression was getting off an Intercity Coach to see over the road, a brothel advertising for hookers. Apart from the small – which is of rotten eggs and permeates everywhere – there is a high level of shitty industry, and a high level of crime. As it is so popular with tourists, the place has become a little over commercial, which is unlike NZ way of life. Perhaps I am yet to see the nicer areas of this town, but if travelling down from Auckland, I’d skip it out and head straight for Taupo.

3. Franz Josef Glacier

I am very alone on this one! Heaps of people will trek across the glacier and say it was one of the best things they have done here… so don’t let me put you off! But on the day I went there, it was raining, I was hungover, a cold had begun to set in, and the very last place on earth I wanted to be was stuck on a huge bloody block of ice.

4. Auckland City Centre

Now don’t get me wrong, Auckland’s region can be very beautiful in some parts. Some of the suburbs are very pleasant, and it gets voted as one of the best cities to live in on Planet Earth. BUT I don’t get the city centre. If you are planning your time here, don’t waste it there – even on tour we prefer to take people out to the beaches or countryside. The congestion is terrible, there is nothing particularly special about the buildings, atmosphere or people, and overall I think it gives a bad first impression on the majority of travellers that arrive there. The other thing is that when walking down Queen Street you don’t feel like you’re in NZ, you might as well be abroad, because the foreigners do seem to outpass the natives. Sushi anyone?

5. A Certain Brand of Hostels that seems to crop up everywhere

Sorry xxxx, but I don’t think I’ve had a good experience in any of your hostels – due to rude staff, uncleanliness, leaking showers, rooms that wouldn’t lock, theft, and noise. The only exception would be Wanaka, who are quite new. So it’s a big red cross for ‘No, don’t go there’. Much rather check in to the YHA any day.

1. Star-struck at Kaikoura

I really feel for anyone who reaches Kaiks on a bad day but even with the cloud this place is a true piece of paradise. Stand at the lookout point and gaze at a dazzling turquoise ocean framed by tall snow-capped mountains. Walk the peninsula from the south bay and stumble upon the seal colony where woolen slugs bask on the rocks. Taste fresh seafood from one of the several carts along the esplanade. Take a trip out to swim with 100s of dusky dolphins, the world’s friendliest species, and keep an eye out for several types of whale at the same time. Surf in the morning and then go snowboarding in the afternoon at Mt Lyford. However, I think my all time Kaikoura moment was lying on the beach in the wee early hours hypnotised by the sheer scape of the clear night’s sky above me – absolutely epic!

2. Falling from the sky

Yes this is the Adventure Capital of the World and so you must do something out of your comfort zone! The actual experience of skydiving probably doesn’t vary too much wherever you do it the first time around. You’re so freaked out at the sheer thought you are have just jumped out of a plane and are plummiting to the ground at 200kph that it doesn’t occur to you that much to enjoy your surroundings. Fair enough. However, it does pay a little to think about where you want to take on skydiving, and New Zealand offers plenty of choice. My personal favourite is Taupo – no, not because it is the cheapest place (which it is), but becuase it is where you can view both sides of the North Island. Plus you have a lake the size of Singapore beneath you, which is a strangely comforting back up when that chute doesn’t open. Only kiddin.

3. A West Coast Sunset

First of all, note that when we say the West Coast, we mean the coastline on the South Island. I’ll be frank; the towns are nothing special down this side, so don’t spend too much time at them. However, this is one of the most untouched, purest parts of New Zealand – the view from your car along the coast road is of lush rainforest framing rugged cliff edges and deserted beaches. Whilst on tour (24 day Epic NZ or 12 day Adrenalin Junkie) we stay at a place near Punakaiki called Te Nikau Retreat – probably the accommodation venue on tour. The two houses and array of baches sit in the middle of the dense rainforest only minutes from the beach, allowing you to feel totally secluded and totally relaxed. On arrival, we like to take a few beers down to the cliff edge and watch the sun go down – beautiful. Just make sure you spray on the insect repellent to ward the sandflies off your feet… nasty little buggers.

4. Gorge yourself at the Ferg

Fergburger is now becoming famous worldwide. Even my 18 year old cousin had heard of the place, and she hadn’t even been near NZ. I won’t go into too much detail except this – best burgers on earth. Suitable for lunch, dinner or when you are stumbling out of the World Bar at 2am. The most difficult part is making the choice of which one to have.

5. Kayak to Split Apple Rock

Abel Tasman is New Zealand’s smallest National Park, and I know that I am yet to get around them all, but it has got to be one of the most beautiful. Golden sands, crystal clear water, lush vegetation, sunny climate and good people. The kiwis have never been the most original with their names and yes Split Apple Rock is as it sounds! There are many choices of half day and day walks in Abel Tas but be warned that some don’t give you much of a view – just a lot of forest to get through! I’d much rather grab a kayak trip out to the rock, and then spend the rest of the time relaxing on one of the bays – water taxis are available to take you as far or as close as you like. It is probably still worth a visit in the winter, just don’t expect much of a sun tan.

6. Punt down the Avon River

I have lived in Christchurch for a year, and don’t get me wrong, I like it just fine. But don’t spend more than a day here, particularly in winter when the city and its people go into some strange form of hibernation. In the summer there are some beautiful spots – perhaps the hidden romantic in me is called to the idea of floating down the river on an old fashioned punt (where you or someone else propells you forward by pushing a long stick into the river bed). Other than that, check out Cathedral Square and cruise down the Cultural Precinct, past the Art Gallery and touch upon the Botanical Gardens before a pint or two in the Dux de Lux pub. And yes, it’s all rather English darlings.

7. Drive the Crown Point Range Road

This might strike some people as a strange one to include but this journey holds many memories for me. The highest inland main road in the country, it takes you between Wanaka and Queenstown with an hour of stunning views. Each season has its own character – Autumn is my favourite with a vast range of red, orange, gold and green colours. In Winter beware the snow and ice! Somewhere half way along is a stopping point for cars where there stands this sole tree – not sure what it is about that tree but I just love it.

8. Spend a night on the town in Wellington

New Zealand nightlife is all about knowing where to go, and when to go there. If I has to choose the best city I would be a bit stuck between Queenstown and Wellington, but there is certainly about the capital that oozes a sophisticated and yet funky vibe. Pick a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, and make sure you include The Matterhorn on Cuba St – NZ’s best cocktail bar well loved by the Lord of the Rings actors when they filmed here.

9. Take a long soak in a natural hot pool

New Zealand sits on the Ring of Fire – the rim around the Pacific Ocean which is populated by large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic erruptions. Hence there is a fair bit of volcanic-related activity in the country, especially in the North Island. In some places this heats underground rivers and creates natural hot pools. At Hot Water Beach in Coromandel you can dig in the sand and create your very own tub at low tide. Rotorua, Wanaka, Franz Josef and Queenstown all have places where you can pay to go sit in hot pools. Better still, wait for the full moon and visit the park on Spa Road in Taupo – magical… and free.

10. Go tropo in Northland (picture below)

Many travellers skip out Northland for some reason – perhaps it is easier just to head south from Auckland. But what a mistake they make! A subtropical climate makes this region unlike any other in New Zealand – and at times you would be forgiven for thinking you were on a Pacific Island. Ideally take 4 or more days and make sure you include Paihia (Bay of Islands) and 90 Mile Beach (which is in fact 55 miles long) and do consider scuba diving, surfing, swimming with the dolphins, sliding down sand dunes, and generally letting your stresses drift away. We run a 6 day Adventure Tour of the region – click here.

All of the above can be done on one or more of our Adventure Tours!

Next time… over-rated things to do in New Zealand!

El

So where are we at? September, meaning the Snow Season is coming to an end – we only have 2 more 7 day Snow Safaris departing before we’re done for 2009! This season has been incredible though – you just need to check out all the cool photos on our Facebook group to see what a great time everyone has had! We’re offering $150 NZD off the last two departures as an added incentive to come along, but with all the lovely soft Spring snow, who needs an extra reason?!

Steve and our 6th Snow Safari Group Whilst on Tour

The good news is with the end of the winter, warm weather is on its way! From November onwards our Adventure Tours are changing slightly, with new routes and inclusions and (we hope) an overall better tour experience! As a team we have all put a lot of thought into this, and taken into consideration heaps of feedback from previous tour members. Speaking of which, a big thank you to everyone who have already given us awesome reviews online Rankers.co.nz – it makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

On a completely different note, we’re real excited to be involved in the filming of the new series of “Dare Devils“, which is a Singapore reality TV show where 10 contestants race their way down the country through a combination of mental and physical tasks and thrills. Filming starts next month, with location scouting going on next week (with our guide Si at the helm!).

That’s it for now – but will be writing again soon…

El