HELI-SIGHT SEEING TOURS
Embark on the journey of a lifetime with Hanmer Springs Helicopters- one of New Zealand’s leading tourist flight and commercial helicopter services company.
Hanmer Springs Helicopters is renowned for exciting helicopter tours, top hunting and fishing trips and spots. We have 25 years expertise in heavy lift operations and reliable agricultural aerial services in North Canterbury and the Southern Alps regions of the South Island.
Hanmer Springs Helicopters offers these services as a trade name of Amuri Helicopters Ltd.
Choose from four tour options, or create your own family adventure and customise your own trip! We also offer a drop off and pick up service for whale watching & winery transfers. Hanmer Springs Helicopters is proud to be able to provide services to those wishing to experience the many attractions of this amazing area of the world.
TOUR OLIVE GROVE & GARDENS – ‘A TASTE OF ITALY’ EXPERIENCE
When in Hanmer Springs do something special and experience ‘A Taste of Italy’ in the middle of traditional sheep and cattle high-country. Taste delicious freshly pressed olive oils from around New Zealand, and learn about the different ways you can use this healthy New Zealand-made product. Tour the picturesque olive grove followed with a comparative oil tasting and short description of New Zealand extra virgin olive oils, and then enjoy an alfresco lunch served with premium local wine.
ALPINE GOLFING
Games can be played all year round with spectacular scenery to enjoy: changing leaves in the autumn, colourful flowers in bloom in the spring, snow-capped mountains in the winter and sunny temperatures perfect for summer.
The Hanmer Springs 18-hole golf course is set amongst a beautiful mountain backdrop at 385m above sea level.
The Hanmer Springs Golf Club was opened in 1911 and has been a premier golfing destination since.
Equipment hire and electric carts are available for your convenience.
Hanmer Springs also has a great 18 hole mini golf course with a Gold Rush theme to be enjoyed by all ages for school trips, parties, team building, and social events.
For brushing up on the long shots, visit Hanmer Pitch ‘n’ Putt for the 300 metre driving range and 18 hole Pitch ‘n’ Putt golf course.
The golfing in Hanmer Springs is unsurpassed with the views and greens.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Explore the New Zealand High Country or the Hanmer Forest Park up close. Hanmer Springs is a great place for mountain biking, with excellent tracks available for all levels of expertise and fitness. Take a gentle ride in the Hanmer Forest Park among mature trees – a perfect way to get into the Hanmer landscape for a short time. Your bike can take you around the village, up into the mountains or along one of the many forest tracks.
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HORSEBACK RIDING
We are grateful to local landowners for enabling us to have access to thousands of acres in the area for horse trekking. We have developed trails of varying length, difficulty, and scenery. The trail length begins with 1hr rides, which are the shortest rides we offer. Remember each ride is preceded with a partnering up session, so these times do not include that session; they are riding times only..
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The Colours of Tuscany
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Spring is finally here, making the yellows of Villa Toscana even brighter:
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The year Gone By
Guests enjoying the wine
We have had a very interesting year, and amongst other things hosted a beautiful wedding with 90 guests ……..
Wedding guests soaking up the view
And at the same time
combined at the very same time with Margherita exhibiting in the most popular Art Exhibition of the year in Mercury Bay: “The Art Escape”.
Art Escape
Margherita’s open studio
The Art Escape is a self drive tour of open artists’ studios which enables anyone to visit the private art studio selected, meet the artist, enjoying the exhibition and experience the personal space where the artwork is created.
It looked like a crazy idea to run the two together… but the bride happily pushed for it!
It was a lot of hard work, but good weather, good staff, a bit of creativity and a good group of friends on duty made the day super-great!
A big boy, very friendly, very welcoming…but not the boss!!!
Romeo knows that he is the love of our guests
Peace, romance and relaxation
…. Giorgio & Margherita, Villa Toscana
65 Tarapatiki Drive, Whitianga
PO Box 43,
Ohuka Park,
Whitianga
[email protected]
www.villatoscana.co.nz
64 7 866-2293
]]>I cannot believe it is November already, where has the year gone ??.
Over the south end of Lake Te Anau, Dock Bay Lodge highlighted in red
Te Anau in the News
As you may know Te Anau has been in the news lately for a number of reasons, first we fought off a private venture company who wanted to put a tunnel through the mountain from Glenorchy to Milford Sound so that Queenstown could monopolize the tourists and trick them in to thinking there is no reason to come to Te Anau, and now we have another private venture wanting to build a monorail from Mt Nicholas to Te Anau Downs which would also bypass Te Anau. For a small town it is no mean feat defending what we have but we have certainly held strong in letting our country leaders know our feelings on this idea as well and we will find out their decision by the end of the year.
Haast to Hollyford and Te Anau
As well, there is a proposal to build a continuance of road from the Haast down through the Hollyford Valley to link up with the Milford Road. The proposed route, through national park land, follows a paper road that was originally surveyed in the 1880’s and work was to start about the same time as the Homer Tunnel but this project came to a halt with the outbreak of WW2. In the meantime some of the paperwork for this road has mysteriously disappeared which is making it very difficult to progress with the new plan. This road is seen by the majority of locals as an absolute must for the future of our town.
Exciting new things to do around Te Anau
In the meantime we have some new operators starting up some activities for the tourists which I hope will be well supported.
Dominie Flights
Dominie DH 89, a piece of history
Yesterday Mark and I were lucky enough to be invited by Adam Butcher from Airscapade Affairs to go for a flight in the 1943 De Havilland DH89 Dominie plane that they have brought to Te Anau to offer scenic flights over the Te Anau basin. It was an amazing experience and one that I truly recommend doing.
Back Country Hiking
We also have a new company called BushBash who are taking people on off the track walks and experiences around Fiordland.
Looking north towards Lakes Manapouri, and Te Anau beyond
Why do you climb mountains ????… because they are there
Amazing mountains and scenery
Fishing
The catch !!!
FishJet are offering full day or afternoon fishing trips on the Waiau river, they supply all the gear and the knowledge plus scrumptious food and you can be sure there will be fish to catch.
Fishing the mighty Waiau River
And lots of other activities beside ………
Of course there are many other operators in Te Anau waiting to deliver our visitors the experience of a lifetime and the regular comment from our guests is “we wish we were here for longer”, and of course we wish they were too. Follow this link for some ideas
…. Dawn & Mark, Dock Bay Lodge
192 William Stewart Road,
Te Anau,
Fiordland
[email protected]
www.dockbaylodge.co.nz
64 3 249 7709
]]>WELCOME to Spring in New Zealand. The changeable landscape is changing again and we are inspired by this Haiku composed by Lynne Hopkinson, Mount Hope, Ontario (Canada). Lynne explored NZ in springtime 2012 and has graciously shared her Haiku with her hosts and now with all of you.
winter slowly passed
the land of the long white cloud
spring comes, the sun warms
thin snow-fingers creep
foreboding snow-capped mountains
peeking down at clouds
shadows long and dark
coming from one direction
shortening to naught
hoping not to fall
bare tree roots cling to grey rocks
and to each other
grey rivers rushing
impeded by rocks and stones
slow to a trickle
boulders in bare fields
interfering with the land
from where have they come
soft winds whispering
clouds creature-shaped and wispy
drift across the sky
stands of brown beech trees
shriveled leaves grasping branches
await new spring coats
sporting new crew cuts
long stands of border hedges
shelter furrowed lands
young spring lambs crying
all searching for their mothers
dot newly greened fields
reflected in pools
yellow and white daffodils
reaching for the sun
spreading silver ferns
protect trickling streams and brooks
and dark pine forests
lakes turn grey to green
fruit trees bud, blossom and bloom
exquisite birds call
tussocks wave and sway
long brown grass turning to green
greets the new season
Lynne on one of her adventures, exploring White Island, NZ. White Island is an active Volcano off the coast of the Bay of Plenty
Thank you Lynne for your delightful Haiku.
We look forward to more words of wisdom from your next adventure.
Franz Joseph Glacier, South Westland
Lynne also visited the Franz Josef Glacier in South Westland (South Island), staying at
Holly Homestead
Holly Homestead. Hot one week and cold the next!! New Zealand can have “four seasons in one day” so always be prepared with your sunscreen and your jacket.
The Franz Josef Glacier is located within the Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Many visitors expect that we live high in the mountains, whereas the township is located approx 150 metres above sea level. Our wonderful region has lush rainforest, stunning coastal scenery, rivers, reflective lakes, snow capped mountains year round, and (of course) glaciers.
If you need some adventure with your scenery, here is a sample of some activities in Glacier Country:
Kayaking Lake Mapourika
Franz Joseph Glacier Group in crevasse
Quad Bikes-Franz Joseph
Thanks again to Lynne for her Haiku.
Happy springtime to everyone, everywhere.
Best wishes from Bernie & Gerard at Holly Homestead.
2900 Franz Josef Highway (SH 6 – P O Box 35 )
Franz Josef Glacier 7856
South Westland
Jeanne and I are just back from a leisurely walk down to the waterfront for a coffee, then along the Queen Charlotte Sound foreshore.
Picton Harbour from Coathanger Bridge
Picton Winter weather has been very kind to us, with the firewood shed still over half full.
The first few days of the Spring season have given us fantastic sunny weather. May it long continue!
Garden Club Visit
Woodpigeon in Kawaka
We have just hosted a bus load of local Garden Club members for a look around McCormick House native forest gardens.
They were very interested in the many different types of native trees, shrubs and flowers.
We have compiled a list of around 30 identified species with their common, Maori and Latin names for our guests to look over.
Spring Blooms, Avian Visitors and our Garden
Tui in Kowhai
Our daffodils are in full bloom. Tuis and Belllbirds are enjoying the nectar on our Kowhai trees and native clematis vines.
We have had a visit from a curious local Weka in our garden. They are very similar to kiwi birds.
The garden is a credit to Jeanne, who puts most of her time in our quieter months.
Our shaver brown chickens are still laying plenty of fresh eggs for breakfasts
Weka in McCormick House Garden
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The strawberry patch has increased in size, providing colour and juicy flavour for our fresh fruit salads.
The Man’s Cave
Guest Dining room
I have been busy in my wood-shop restoring, repairing and creating furniture during the cooler months.
Our guest dining room now has a NZ rimu wood sideboard to match the antique rimu table and a newly constructed, outdoor guest dining table, complete with sunshade.
There are several other woodworking jobs waiting for my attention, along with some tree branches needing chainsawing and our 1950’s clinker white pine and mahogany speedboat project.
Great Season and Wonderful Guests
Amber & Matt McCormick House
We have had a very enjoyable season hosting guests from around the globe.
A lovely couple from Perth Australia chose McCormick House for their boutique wedding ceremony. We were nervous at first, but it all went without a hitch.
Local Attractions for Guests
Local Sea Kayaking
Our local Queen Charlotte Track,continues to attract large numbers of visitors.
Many staying with us at McCormick House before and after the track.
There are not many walking tracks where luggage is transported by water taxi to your accommodation each night.
Choose between walking, kayaking or mountain biking each section of the track.
You only carry your lunch, water, camera, sunhat and coat.
We are happy to help with bookings and offer complimentary secure luggage and vehicle storage for returning guests.
Picton waterfront development is now complete and hosted over 9000 people for New Year’s Eve with bands, festivities and fireworks. Picton’s boat marina expansion is due to be completed in the next few weeks.
The Interislander Ferry “Kataki” is currently having a makeover in Australia and is expected to be back on the Wellington to Picton crossing by the 18th of September.
Wine tours in New Zealand’s largest and most awarded wine growing region continue to be a favourite recreation.
Jeanne & I continue to enjoy the diverse range of unique Marlborough wines and have got to personally know many local Marlborough winemakers.
We are both happy to share our wine knowledge with guests.
Centenary !!!!
McCormick House turns 100 years old next year, so we had better start planning the party……..
…. Jeanne & Carl, McCormick House
21 Leicester Street
Picton 7220,