New Zealand Road Trip 2019 - Te Anau to Wanaka - Including Kingston and Queenstown
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2020
- We woke to a perfect morning in Te Anau, it’s hard to leave such a beautiful place, to make it easier we were heading to Kingston, Queenstown and Wanaka via some of the most awesome scenery imaginable, deep blue lakes, turquoise rivers, towering mountains and some typical New Zealand adrenaline junkie activities.
We witness New Zealanders moving house “literally” followed by a look at the legendary “Kingston Flyer”, sadly out of action at the time of our visit. In days gone by, visitors to Queenstown arrived in Kingston by train to complete the last leg of their journey by steam ship on the stunning blue waters of Lake Wakatipu.
We gave up after spending half an hour looking for somewhere to park in Queenstown, a place sadly disfigured by cranes and building sites, it’s lost some of its magic, developers make it possible for thousands to move to the place of their dreams, in doing so they often kill the very reason people fell in love with the place.
We departed Queenstown much earlier than intended, on the way out we crossed high above the Shotover River, looking down we couldn’t help noticing the bright red jet boats, as we unexpectedly had time to spare, we dropped in for a closer look, there was space on the next boat, I looked towards my sister, the look on her face said we weren’t leaving without first taking a ride through the gorges carved by the turquoise river on one of those futuristic looking boats. With my heart in my mouth and a camera on my head we roared our way through narrow rock sided canyons, over shallow rapids, with 360 degree spins, this was pure Kiwi magic and we loved every mad moment.
Not long after leaving the Shotover jet boats, we pass another of Queenstown’s most notable claims to fame, the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, in 1988 thanks to AJ Hackett it became the site of the world's first commercial public bungy jump and thrill seekers can still make the same death defying leap today.
We were banned from taking our camper van over the direct route to Wanaka via the “Crown Range Road” also New Zealand’s highest main road reaching an altitude of 1121 metres, instead we follow the equally spectacular “Route 6” along the scenic gorge carved by the Kawarau River, to arrive at the pretty lake side town of Wanaka with its sandy beaches and wonderful views over the lake.
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Visit - www.backpack-newzealand.com/ to help plan your visit to New Zealand.
Music - Track - Composer/Collection - Source
00:00 & 45:15 - ES_Lower down the Bridge (Instrumental Version) - Tommy Ljungberg - epidemicsound.com
21:03 - World - Travel Atmospheres (Ascension) - Pinnacle Studio
29:17 & 31:10 - World - Tribal Culture (Night Fusion) - Pinnacle Studio
Excellent. Thank you for sharing. Brought back fond memories of 3 years ago! Best wishes for 2021 from Spain.
Hi, I'm pleased you enjoyed it, New Zealand is a beautiful country, some of it reminds of Northern Spain. Take care and all the best for 2021.
@@Timsvideochannel1 take care!
Super filming as usual thoroughly enjoyable
Thank you, it's nice to know you enjoyed it.
ANOTHER AWESOME VIDEO TYVM BE SAFE GOD BLESS
Cheers, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.
Nice film!
Thank you 😊
Tim,
Re “The Kingston Flyer”, comparing the earlier ‘in action’ visit with the more recent overgrown tracks and sad stillness of the later film, underscores the risk and investment needed to sustain ‘heritage’ tourist facilities. No matter how we may ‘value’ such industrial or transport ‘relics’; that is what they will become if abandoned or ignored. That part of the film was tinged with pathos.
Yet the lasting mammoth splendour of the natural contours, rivers and lakes was magnificent; putting human scale in its puny place. Not even exceeded by heart stopping bungy jumping and frenetic jet boating.
As always, your unhurried, calm recordings ooze the best travel information. Regards Peter
The Kingston Flyer looked sad, but there could be good news on the horizon according to this news bulletin - www.stuff.co.nz/travel/121613641/kingston-flyer-steam-train-hopefully-back-on-track-for-summer
Queenstown is a tourist magnet with lousy parking and too much out of keeping development, maybe spreading the tourists would work better, I'm sure a day spent cruising on the lake to Kingston followed by a ride on the train with a bite to eat on the way will appeal to a lot of people. Queenstown desperately needs a park and ride scheme, with out of town parking and buses or boats to bring people into the town, twice now I have failed to find a parking space big enough for a hired camper-van forcing me to carry on without stopping.
The scenery is wonderful, I particularly love the colour of the rivers. Bungy jumping may not be for everyone, but there was no way my children were going to miss the chance to take a death defying leap from the old bridge. The jet boats are nowhere near as dangerous as they look, they are fun and realistically unless you are a world class canoeist it would be really difficult to see the scenery from the river any other way. I'm pleased you enjoyed it. Take care. Tim.
Back up and running.😊
Esse vídeo transmite muita paz⚘⚘💕💕
A maravilhosa paisagem da Nova Zelândia é relaxante e bonita 😊👍💖
magnificent scenery, thank you 👏🏞🏔
Cheers 😊
instablaster
26:00 Riding those jetboats, I'd imagine, would be best done on an empty stomach, if you catch my drift! LOL
I once had a penpal in Auckland. So nice to see how pretty it is.
My son lives in Auckland, it is a lovely city, especially if sailing is your thing, the city is often referred to as the "city of sails".
I really enjoyed the NZ series of videos. I noticed the constant reminders (The arrows) to drive on the left, there must be a lot of tourism there.
Hi, I'm glad you are enjoying this series, tourism is big on South Island and most of the tourists are not used to driving on the left.
I basically did this trip in reverse on a motorcycle back in 2001. I was able to ride the train then. I drove by where the train was, stopped in and found out that the train left in ten minutes! So I took it and it was a ball, one of the highlights of my trip. I am glad to hear it may run again, it really was amazing. I also rode the jet boats then as well, also great fun. I circled the South Island in a week on the rented motorcycle. Great video, fun to retrace sections of that trip on videos.
Hi, it must have been fun riding a motorcycle on New Zealand's roads. I've only ridden the train once, back in 2005, although it was simmering in the platform when I called in in 2008, I would have ridden it again, if it had not been a two hour wait before it departed, ever since then when I've called in everything has been closed. It will be nice to see it running again. South Island is truly beautiful and I'm glad this video rekindled memories from your own tour of the Island.
@@Timsvideochannel1 I circled the whole South Island on a Triumph that I rented in Nelson. It was very late fall there and I had some very memorable days rides while I was there. The 200 mile ride from Greymouth to Haast was among the most memorable of the whole trip. I got wet through my rain gear and was pretty hypothermic by time I got off the bike in Haast. I really learned a lesson that day. Here's a link to my web page and there's a link to pictures from that trip. www.webgrafex.com/ducatibeltbuckles/
@@trolland Hi Tom, thanks for the link, I found your photos of the Haast Pass and the Kingston Flyer. It rains a lot on the West Coast of South Island, it's often windy too. I recognized most of NZ photos and a number of those taken in Oz. One of my workmates owned a Ducati, it was his pride and joy, it had s blue vinyl/leather cover on the petrol tank, I never graduated past my trusty Honda 125, I crashed it into a police car that pulled out in front me, the police woman driving it was prosecuted for driving without due care and attention, the bike was badly damaged, I replaced it with a Vauxhall Viva car, the car was almost new, today I'd have to go to a car museum to see one, a reminder that I'm no longer a spring chicken. It was nice to share a few memories. Take care. Tim.
@@Timsvideochannel1 That's too funny. I went all the way to the south tip of the Island and then went back north on the east coast. But I also went inland through Middlemarch to see Mount Cook. While riding in steady 30-40mph winds I had a really big gust move me and a loaded 500 motorcycle from the lane I was traveling in into the oncoming traffics lane in a heart beat. I pulled over and had a smoke, my hands were shaking, and I slowed down a lot on the rest of that section of highway. It was a very memorable trip in so many ways.
@@trolland That must have been a scary experience, it's quite a trip to Mount Cook, but well worth it to see the wonderful Blue Lakes. New Zealand reminds me very much of another of my favorite places, North Wales in the UK, both are renowned for their rainfall and dubious weather.
Beatiful new zealand
Hi tim,Another wonderful nz road trip,I looked up wiki and it said the kingston flyer will be up and running by the end of this year?Cheer,s bob.ps nice driving tim take care.
Thank you Bob, I'm glad you enjoyed it and I hope to see the flyer running next time I'm in the area, it would have been so sad to loose such an iconic train.
Nice👍👍👍greetings from indonesia🙏🙏🙏
Hello, its nice to hear from Indonesia, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Best wishes from England.
Why does the White Island Volcano come to mind while watching the jet boat video?
Both are perceived as risky, sadly White Island proved it is a dangerous place, the jet boats are fun and occasional accidents have happened, when you are in one, they feel perfectly safe and I'm sure they wouldn't be running if the level of risk was deemed too great.
Hi Tim! Action-packed video. The way this "captain" goes by boat is no longer funny. No rafting boat or swimmer is allowed to come in the opposite direction. Should he ever brush against a rock, there are certain to be seriously injured or dead. I wouldn't sit in there. Best regards from Hans and stay healthy.☺
Hello Hans, this part of the river is reserved for Jet Boats, they are nowhere near as dangerous as they look. They were invented in New Zealand as a way to negotiate the fast flowing rivers, at full speed they only need 50mm (2 inches) of water making them ideal for shallow rapids where no other boats can go. There is plenty of river for rafters and canoeists to use, although only very experienced people would tempt to sail on this river, it is far too dangerous. I love to ride the jet boats, when I look around me most of the other passengers are even older than I am. Take care. Tim.
Where are you Tim? Spring time is coming, it's warming up!
I am watching all your vids
Hello Chris, I am in the UK, about as far away from Dunedin as it is possible to get without leaving the planet. We have enjoyed a wonderful summer here, the weather is still pleasant, although the days are shortening and the leaves are starting to gain and Autumnal shade. My son moved to New Zealand about 15 years ago, I visit as often as I can, sometimes alone, other times with family members who want to see something of the country, hence why I have probably seen more of the country than most New Zealanders. I have fallen in love with the place, if I was younger, I'd want to make NZ my home.
@@Timsvideochannel1 I left Britain in '74 for Sydney, 10 years there and came to Dunedin in '84. Worked in London West end theatre as a teen and many years in theatre and television Down Under. I am 70 now and mostly retired beside a good surf beach and great salmon fishing in Otago harbour. Currently NO Covid in the south island but masks are required on the local buses anyway.
@@goodladdn Hi Chris, you have led a interesting life, I bet you have some great memories from your time working in theater and television. At 70 years young, it must be wonderful live where you do and have the time to enjoy it. I live near the sea and as I look out of the window, I can't help noticing the glorious weather, I'm just off for a walk around the creek at Fishbourne, on England's South Coast. Covid is affecting us here, but so long as people are sensible, they are safe enough.Take care. Tim.
New friend here.♥️♥️♥️
Hi, I enjoy meeting new people 😊
Boa noite Abreu e Lima Pernambuco Brasil
Obrigado, espero que estejam se mantendo seguros e bem no Brasil.Boa noite e melhores desejos. Tim.
Isso é um Rio de água doce???
"Sim" é um rio de água doce, é a cor que é porque é alimentado pelas geleiras no alto das montanhas.
"Yes" it is a fresh water river, it is the color it is because it is fed by the glaciers high up in the mountains.
No overseas tourists in these places now, Queenstown and Wanaka are pleasant quiet places, thank you Covid 19
It must be nice to see these places with less people. I spent some of my younger days living in a tourist village in the UK, we used to look forward to the winter when we effectively got our village back. I guess life must be tough for those who rely on tourism for their livelihoods.
Gosh, I'm now a left-hand driver. I'm ruined for life!
i'm sure you can get therapy for that 😊
30:00 Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhh! Definitely not for me! YIKES! LOL
That's my youngest daughter jumping, she loved it.
@@Timsvideochannel1 Better her than me. I heard that Stevie Wonder went Bunjee-jumping.....scared the living daylights out of his seeing-eye dog! LOL(only a joke, never really happened!)
Wonderful video of some absolutely beautiful scenery. However I heartily dislike the jetboats. Extremely environmentally unfriendly!. The best way to enjoy a gorge is surely by paddling your own canoe or on a raft or something similar. The presence of the jetboats makes enjoying the gorge by slow self-propulsion impossible.
Jet boats are powerful, so it stands to reason they give off more than their fair share of pollution, although I've no idea how much. The gorge is long and divided up for different activities, most of the river is free from jet boats, although I didn't see a single raft or canoe on the journey to Cromwell, where the road follows the river gorge. The river looks very dangerous, fast flowing with deep rocky sides, if someone got into difficulty, rescuing them would be almost impossible.
NZ will pick itself up again, thank god for the welfare state, I am in Dunedin but we have biz in Qtn, Wanaka, Alex, Cromwell and travel frequently. The only campervans are Kiwis mostly.
Hi Chris, Kiwis aren't easily beaten, I'm sure New Zealand will quickly get up and running again as soon as a vaccine is available to keep everyone safe. You live in my favorite South Island city, I should have been setting off from Dunedin on a train bound for Picton around now, sadly Dunedin Railways find themselves in a difficult situation as they rely heavily on foreign tourists, sadly the holiday train I was hoping to travel on has been cancelled. I look forward to my next trip to NZ, whenever that might be.