|
Presenter: Ian Wright
Pilot Guide traveller Ian Wright discovers that New
Zealand, far from merely being home to a larger population
of sheep than of humans, is a land of wonderful landscapes,
ancient Maori culture and the most extreme sports under
the sun.
After a long flight he arrives in Auckland.
Next day he gets to know the city in true kiwi style
'rap jumping' down 13 stories of a city skyscraper.
Ian has been invited to a Maori community
in Rawhiti, so he catches the ferry
across to the Bay of Islands. About 15% of the country's
population claim descent from the Marae tribes who first
came to New Zealand a thousand years ago from Polynesia.
Outsiders can only visit a Marai (the church and hall
at the centre of every Maori community) by invitation.
On arrival Ian has to undergo the powhirl ceremony to
find out if he's friend or foe. |
|
Ian Wright enjoys the beautiful NZ landscape
|
|
Living in a bubble: Ian takes on the mighty Zorb
|
|
Catching a ride back down south Ian arrives in Rotorua,
the Sulphur City. Because it's on a fault line the underground
activity bubbles up and comes up here as sulphur springs.
It's a thermal wonderland but it don't half stink!
Before leaving town Ian experiences Zorb,
another weird kiwi pastime which involves rolling through
the countryside in a giant transparent sphere.
The Kiwi Experience bus is a great
way to see the country. It's cheap and easy and Ian
is dropped off in the Akatarawa Valley near
Wellington. He's arranged to work on
an emu farm for a couple of days, as part of a scheme
called Willing Workers on Organic Farms. For 2 or 3
hours work a day you can get free board and lodging.
|
|
The Cook Strait is named after Captain
Cook, and Ian takes the ferry to the South Island,
and on to Christchurch by
train. There's an amazing view from the train and Christchurch
itself is a twee, leafy city built to a plan by members
of Christchurch College, Oxford, 150 years ago.
Queenstown is the extreme sports capital
of the world. Overlooked by the Remarkables
mountain range on the shores of Lake
Wakatipu it's popular with tourists, many of
whom, like Ian, just can't resist the lure of the bungee
jump. Nuttier still is the Fly by Wire, a bizarre contraption
literally dreamed up by some inventor, in which Ian
swings, high above a valley, suspended on a piece of
wire.
Ian spends his last night in New Zealand ten thousand
feet above sea level in the small, unheated Chancellor
Hut, half way up the Fox Glacier. He
flies to the glacier by helicopter and meets up with
his guide Kathy, whose trained eyes ensure they avoid
dangerous holes and crevasses. Ian gets up early the
next morning to end his stay in New Zealand with a 4
hour walk in stunning scenery to the top of the Fox
Glacier. |
