Into the wild
btravel
Into the wild You can pack a week’s adventure into a single day trip into the New Zealand wilderness, writes Margaret de Silva
P
There is no road access to the remote Fiordland National Park
icture this. A helicopter flies an hour and a quarter from Queenstown to drop you off somewhere in the south Tasman Sea. You’re surrounded by a sea full of crayfish, blue cod, groper and other marine delights, while off the rugged coastline herds of deer roam wild. Armed with a rod, rifle and pumping with adrenaline, the only question is – where do you start? No, it’s not the location for the latest Bear Grylls television series, but it is certainly an adventure. If you’ve never thought of shooting your own deer, catching crayfish or how you’d fare marooned off a deserted coastline, you’re not alone. Queenstown locals Henare Dawes and Gordon Watson are used to finding people who are eager for a taste of adventure but aren’t exactly sure what’s out there. “We suggest a lot of things because we find that most people don’t actually know what they can do,” Dewes
says. “We pretty much just ask if they have a budget in mind and go from there.” Queenstown has long been the adventure capital of New Zealand, boasting the world’s first bungee jump and other high-action adventures. But despite the town’s proximity to national parks, fiords and spectacular southern terrain, it’s only more recently that the region has been seen as a base for naturebased adventure tourism. What started as a touring business stalking “monster trout” across South Island rivers has evolved to become a more complex operation for local guide Henare Dewes. He developed his love for the outdoors growing up on a North Island farm and began fly fishing tours in the South Island’s back country 12 years ago through his business Dream-waters. Since then he’s found demand for custom hunting trips, fiord and glacier experiences, and guided heli-skiing has increased
IMPORTERS CLEARANCE misleading advertising big rent and staff costs, fancy shop fronts, Just realistic prices direct from Importers warehouse Retail Prices! UP TO
SAVE
50% OFF
through his separate business South Island Outfitters, which he runs with business partner Gordon Watson. Dewes understands that time-poor people are still interested in action-packed holidays but may need to condense a week’s worth of adventure into a single day. While packages are available on the website (www.sionz.co), these are by no means the end of what’s on offer and Dewes says the only limits are imagination and, it being New Zealand, the weather. Even then, contingency plans are made in advance and poor conditions may just mean heading to a different spectacular location. One recent trip taken by Brisbane car dealers Graham Oldham and Paul Norris involved flying to Preservation Inlet, the last sound off the South Island in the middle of Fiordland National Park, one of the largest and most remote in the region. The area is about a two-day journey by boat
OPEN
Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm
Sunshine Coast Outlet Opening
SOON
modern dining, bar stools & stainless steel furniture
Phone (07) 3806 3800 Unit 3, 20-24 Riverland Drive, Loganholme Qld 4129 (Behind STONE WORLD) Visit us at 42 bmag.com.au I Read Brisbane’s Best
OPEN: Monday-Friday 8am-3.30pm I Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm
www.outtherefurniture.com
Paul Norris with a catch of the day, a trout, and the chopper that drops adventurers into the remote Fiordland National Park in New Zealand
throw out a line to catch blue cod and groper fresh from the sea or head to nearby “secret spots” for trout. “It really is the ultimate for wild fishing, it’s totally unspoilt,” says Graham Oldham. “We didn’t see any other humans the whole time we were out.” The New Zealand government places limits on catches but there’s always more than enough to feed hungry adventurers. On-board chefs prepare a gourmet feast from freshly caught seafood and deer, as well as sushi, fruit and organic meats, accompanied by local wines back on the boat. Dewes explains that this aspect of the
holiday really sets the tour apart – a taste of wilderness without losing any creature comforts. “People can shoot a deer, have that butchered and have it for dinner while they are there,” he says. “There’s food, wine and the out-there experience that people came looking for.” Dream-waters and South Island Outfitters offer custom trips for single day or multi-day adventures, with Dream-waters specialising in back-country guided fly-fishing trips for beginners to experienced anglers and South Island Outfitters focusing on adventures that can include hunting, fishing and heli-skiing
6
Vitamin Me levels: Escaping the office on a Friday afternoon Bunya Mountains
in Fiordland, Aspiring and South Westland National Parks. Groups of 10 or less are preferred. Dewes estimates that Aussies make up about 85 per cent of clientele, followed by American fly-fishermen. It’s common for groups to book repeat trips but Dewes sees the family market as a future growth area as time-poor families look for a unique holiday. “The great thing is that most of our clients meet our wives and kids and we meet theirs, so you become a group of friends,” he says. “That’s what we want and, for us, it’s the best part.”
Escaping the crowds with a summer country break HILLVIEW COTTAGES Kingaroy
Discover local wineries & Bunya Mountains from these spa cottages. Slow down & create a memory during your short break.
PER COUPLE PER NIGHT FROM
$150*
TASTE SOUTH BURNETT Kingaroy
‘The South Burnett’s Cellar Door’ - local wines, liqueurs, cheese, fudge, deli and more. Offer includes a takeaway platter for 2, local wine and 2 glasses to keep!
TAKE HOME REGIONAL DELIGHTS PLATTER JUST
$50*
600
COBB+CO MUSEUM Toowoomba
It’s not just about what you can see but what you can do. See hear and touch interactive exhibitions and get behind the scenes with a free guided tour.
SPECIAL SUMMER ADMISSION PRICE
ADULTS
07 4162 1727 hillviewcottages.com.au
07 4162 8222 tastesouthburnett.com.au
07 4659 4900 cobbandco.qm.qld.gov.au
* Surcharges apply for long weekends & 23/12/11-2/1/12.
* Offer valid to 29/2/12, subject to availability. Set combinations apply, see website for further details.
*Valid until 27/2/12. Conditions apply.
PRESTON PEAK WINES Toowoomba
Preston Peak Wines stunning Cellar Door and Café is only minutes from Toowoomba with superb wines, amazing views and great food.
GOURMET LUNCHEON FOR TWO PEOPLE
07 4630 9499 prestonpeak.com
$50*
* Offer includes wine tasting and luncheon for two. Bookings essential. Valid to 30/4/12.
SPRING CREEK MOUNTAIN CAFÉ AND COTTAGES Killarney
$10*
RAVENSBOURNE FOREST CHALETS Ravensbourne
High Altitude Deal includes full gourmet breakfast plus a bottle of sparkling wine and cheese platter on arrival.
Only 90 minutes from Brisbane, rejuvenate in the double spa & the peace and quiet of your self contained chalet. Perfect for your next get away.
HIGH ALTITUDE DEAL PER PERSON PER NIGHT
STAY 2 NIGHTS & RECEIVE LIGHT BREKKIE DAILY FROM
$120*
07 4664 7101 springcreekcottages.com.au
* Available Sun-Thurs only. Bookings essential. Valid to 28/2/12. Based on a 2 night minimum stay.
NIGHT $210* PER
07 4697 8185 ravensbourneforestchalets.com.au
* Queen chalet $210 per night. King chalet $240 per night. Valid 1/12/11-28/2/12. Mention this offer when booking.
TGWT10362
from Invercargill or an eight-day walk for the hardy but, thanks to a high speed chopper, the group of eight arrived in less than 90 minutes and transferred to a chartered commercial fishing boat. From there, the professional fisherman on board spent the day showing the group the ropes, pulling enormous crayfish on board, while a diver hunted puau, or black abalone, off nearby rocks. But it’s not just a matter of sitting back and relaxing for the guests. Dewes organises rifles for any hunters, allowing them to shoot straight off the boat, while fishermen can
For more information visit escapethecrowds.com.au Read Brisbane’s Best I bmag.com.au 43
Into the wild You can pack a week’s adventure into a single day trip into the New Zealand wilderness, writes Margaret de Silva
P
There is no road access to the remote Fiordland National Park
icture this. A helicopter flies an hour and a quarter from Queenstown to drop you off somewhere in the south Tasman Sea. You’re surrounded by a sea full of crayfish, blue cod, groper and other marine delights, while off the rugged coastline herds of deer roam wild. Armed with a rod, rifle and pumping with adrenaline, the only question is – where do you start? No, it’s not the location for the latest Bear Grylls television series, but it is certainly an adventure. If you’ve never thought of shooting your own deer, catching crayfish or how you’d fare marooned off a deserted coastline, you’re not alone. Queenstown locals Henare Dawes and Gordon Watson are used to finding people who are eager for a taste of adventure but aren’t exactly sure what’s out there. “We suggest a lot of things because we find that most people don’t actually know what they can do,” Dewes
says. “We pretty much just ask if they have a budget in mind and go from there.” Queenstown has long been the adventure capital of New Zealand, boasting the world’s first bungee jump and other high-action adventures. But despite the town’s proximity to national parks, fiords and spectacular southern terrain, it’s only more recently that the region has been seen as a base for naturebased adventure tourism. What started as a touring business stalking “monster trout” across South Island rivers has evolved to become a more complex operation for local guide Henare Dewes. He developed his love for the outdoors growing up on a North Island farm and began fly fishing tours in the South Island’s back country 12 years ago through his business Dream-waters. Since then he’s found demand for custom hunting trips, fiord and glacier experiences, and guided heli-skiing has increased
IMPORTERS CLEARANCE misleading advertising big rent and staff costs, fancy shop fronts, Just realistic prices direct from Importers warehouse Retail Prices! UP TO
SAVE
50% OFF
through his separate business South Island Outfitters, which he runs with business partner Gordon Watson. Dewes understands that time-poor people are still interested in action-packed holidays but may need to condense a week’s worth of adventure into a single day. While packages are available on the website (www.sionz.co), these are by no means the end of what’s on offer and Dewes says the only limits are imagination and, it being New Zealand, the weather. Even then, contingency plans are made in advance and poor conditions may just mean heading to a different spectacular location. One recent trip taken by Brisbane car dealers Graham Oldham and Paul Norris involved flying to Preservation Inlet, the last sound off the South Island in the middle of Fiordland National Park, one of the largest and most remote in the region. The area is about a two-day journey by boat
OPEN
Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm
Sunshine Coast Outlet Opening
SOON
modern dining, bar stools & stainless steel furniture
Phone (07) 3806 3800 Unit 3, 20-24 Riverland Drive, Loganholme Qld 4129 (Behind STONE WORLD) Visit us at 42 bmag.com.au I Read Brisbane’s Best
OPEN: Monday-Friday 8am-3.30pm I Saturday and Sunday 10am-3pm
www.outtherefurniture.com
Paul Norris with a catch of the day, a trout, and the chopper that drops adventurers into the remote Fiordland National Park in New Zealand
throw out a line to catch blue cod and groper fresh from the sea or head to nearby “secret spots” for trout. “It really is the ultimate for wild fishing, it’s totally unspoilt,” says Graham Oldham. “We didn’t see any other humans the whole time we were out.” The New Zealand government places limits on catches but there’s always more than enough to feed hungry adventurers. On-board chefs prepare a gourmet feast from freshly caught seafood and deer, as well as sushi, fruit and organic meats, accompanied by local wines back on the boat. Dewes explains that this aspect of the
holiday really sets the tour apart – a taste of wilderness without losing any creature comforts. “People can shoot a deer, have that butchered and have it for dinner while they are there,” he says. “There’s food, wine and the out-there experience that people came looking for.” Dream-waters and South Island Outfitters offer custom trips for single day or multi-day adventures, with Dream-waters specialising in back-country guided fly-fishing trips for beginners to experienced anglers and South Island Outfitters focusing on adventures that can include hunting, fishing and heli-skiing
6
Vitamin Me levels: Escaping the office on a Friday afternoon Bunya Mountains
in Fiordland, Aspiring and South Westland National Parks. Groups of 10 or less are preferred. Dewes estimates that Aussies make up about 85 per cent of clientele, followed by American fly-fishermen. It’s common for groups to book repeat trips but Dewes sees the family market as a future growth area as time-poor families look for a unique holiday. “The great thing is that most of our clients meet our wives and kids and we meet theirs, so you become a group of friends,” he says. “That’s what we want and, for us, it’s the best part.”
Escaping the crowds with a summer country break HILLVIEW COTTAGES Kingaroy
Discover local wineries & Bunya Mountains from these spa cottages. Slow down & create a memory during your short break.
PER COUPLE PER NIGHT FROM
$150*
TASTE SOUTH BURNETT Kingaroy
‘The South Burnett’s Cellar Door’ - local wines, liqueurs, cheese, fudge, deli and more. Offer includes a takeaway platter for 2, local wine and 2 glasses to keep!
TAKE HOME REGIONAL DELIGHTS PLATTER JUST
$50*
600
COBB+CO MUSEUM Toowoomba
It’s not just about what you can see but what you can do. See hear and touch interactive exhibitions and get behind the scenes with a free guided tour.
SPECIAL SUMMER ADMISSION PRICE
ADULTS
07 4162 1727 hillviewcottages.com.au
07 4162 8222 tastesouthburnett.com.au
07 4659 4900 cobbandco.qm.qld.gov.au
* Surcharges apply for long weekends & 23/12/11-2/1/12.
* Offer valid to 29/2/12, subject to availability. Set combinations apply, see website for further details.
*Valid until 27/2/12. Conditions apply.
PRESTON PEAK WINES Toowoomba
Preston Peak Wines stunning Cellar Door and Café is only minutes from Toowoomba with superb wines, amazing views and great food.
GOURMET LUNCHEON FOR TWO PEOPLE
07 4630 9499 prestonpeak.com
$50*
* Offer includes wine tasting and luncheon for two. Bookings essential. Valid to 30/4/12.
SPRING CREEK MOUNTAIN CAFÉ AND COTTAGES Killarney
$10*
RAVENSBOURNE FOREST CHALETS Ravensbourne
High Altitude Deal includes full gourmet breakfast plus a bottle of sparkling wine and cheese platter on arrival.
Only 90 minutes from Brisbane, rejuvenate in the double spa & the peace and quiet of your self contained chalet. Perfect for your next get away.
HIGH ALTITUDE DEAL PER PERSON PER NIGHT
STAY 2 NIGHTS & RECEIVE LIGHT BREKKIE DAILY FROM
$120*
07 4664 7101 springcreekcottages.com.au
* Available Sun-Thurs only. Bookings essential. Valid to 28/2/12. Based on a 2 night minimum stay.
NIGHT $210* PER
07 4697 8185 ravensbourneforestchalets.com.au
* Queen chalet $210 per night. King chalet $240 per night. Valid 1/12/11-28/2/12. Mention this offer when booking.
TGWT10362
from Invercargill or an eight-day walk for the hardy but, thanks to a high speed chopper, the group of eight arrived in less than 90 minutes and transferred to a chartered commercial fishing boat. From there, the professional fisherman on board spent the day showing the group the ropes, pulling enormous crayfish on board, while a diver hunted puau, or black abalone, off nearby rocks. But it’s not just a matter of sitting back and relaxing for the guests. Dewes organises rifles for any hunters, allowing them to shoot straight off the boat, while fishermen can
For more information visit escapethecrowds.com.au Read Brisbane’s Best I bmag.com.au 43
