Abseiling into the Lost World

Over last weekend we sent Ailsa to Waitomo to discover what the Lost World is all about. Well, she sure found out while abseiling 100 metres into it! About 15 minutes drive out into rural New Zealand you got decked out with hard hats, boots, boiler suit and harnesses. From thick bush all around, it’s hard to see where this giant cave is – once sitting on the platform you really do though! The abseil is about 15-20 minutes and once landed you start the walk through the cave whilst the fantastic guide gave us a run down on the Lost World. If you want a bit more excitement than this then you could opt for the Epic trip - a 7 hour journey through the Lost World – starting off with the abseil, but instead of getting out the cave the dry way – this is the Wet way – swimming, climbing and walking upstream.

With many different options at Waitomo – it is a destination which should definitely be included in your itinerary in New Zealand.

For those of you with challenged eyesight, that tiny white dot is an abseiler entering the Lost World – yeehaa!

Lord of the Rings Fever hits Wellington

It’s only days now until the world premiere of the third movie in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and just about everyone seems to be going LOTR crazy. We’ve had so much interest in LOTR locations in New Zealand that we’ve begun compiling the different locations on our website – see www.firstlighttravel.com/lord_of_the_rings.html.

Some locations are easy to find, while others are so remote they are only accessible by white water raft or even helicopter.

We’re even working on some dedicated LOTR itineraries as we speak, and will have them up on the site within the next week.

If you fancy yourself as an Orc, or you’re vertically challenged like the Dwarves and Hobbits, check out the website for the various locations or ask us for more details.

Hollyford Track

One of the most popular activities for everyone from backpackers to luxury tours are the “Great Walks” around Fiordland on the South Island. Jane Campion, director of the amazing movie “The Piano”, recently walked the Hollyford Track and was so moved she wrote the following:

“While I was walking the Hollyford Track it occurred to me that this would be the actual original N.Z. experience of the characters in my movie “The Piano”. It was thrilling and moving to me that it was still possible to feel like one of the first arrivals in my country, or any country anywhere.

I don’t know why nature is so moving to me, but it is and the kind of encounter that is possible on the Hollyford Guided Track is New Zealand wilderness at its most undisturbed, personalised and impressive. The tracks are easy to follow, but no highways, the accommodation comfortable, welcoming and good spirited. And depending on the weather you may be treated to deep and mysteriously moody theatrics of mist, river, roaring surf, light and mountains that are heart tearingly beautiful.”

Demand over the peak season is enormous to say the least, with many tracks already booked out through to the end of February except for select few dates (for some obscure reason there is still availability for most walks for departures on Friday the 13th of February). But because the Hollyford doesn’t attract the same numbers as the other walks there is usually a good chance that we can still get departure dates that suit for peak season dates.

If you’re interested in the Hollyford, you can read more about it on our website,!

Update on DEMA and Birmingham Dive Shows

In the last 2 months we’ve been busy spreading the word on diving in New Zealand both in the UK and USA. Due to the exposure of things like LOTR, the 10 pages on diving in NZ that we did with John Liddiard and Diver UK Magazine, and all the hard work we’ve put into promoting NZ diving, the feedback and interest is growing exponentially. And why wouldn’t it when you can dive great sites like the Poor Knights, active volcanoes, clear fresh water and amazing wrecks.

We’ll certainly be attending these shows again next year, and are also looking at the possibility of the London Dive Show early next year and maybe even one or two in Europe. Keep reading our newsletters as sooner or later we’ll be at a dive show near you.

UK phone number

For anybody living in the UK we’ve now got a local phone number that will connect you through to our office in Kiwiland. The number is 0871 474 0083, and calls cost just 10p per minute to talk to us all the way over here.

Just remember before you call though, we’re 12 hours ahead and as keen as we are we’re not manning the phones 24 hours a day! But if we’re not awake you can always leave a message and we’ll give you a buzz back.

Christmas Cheer

Finally, but not least, we would just like to wish all and sundry a happy Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year!

We’ve been so lucky to meet many great clients and now friends in the past 12-months, with visitors from all over the world including Andorra, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, The Netherlands, Austria, Israel, Singapore, UK, Australia, Ireland, USA, Canada and Germany.

Here’s hoping that 2004 brings a little more peace and tolerance to the world, and maybe we’ll see you down our way.