IN THIS EDITION…

• What is 2008 to you?
• Baby news – a new tramper at Hiking New Zealand
• Guide Profile – Mark O’Connor
• Guided Gondola Walks - Christchurch
• Hiking New Zealand and YouTube - WIN!
• New Zealand Net Guide People’s Choice Awards.

2008… What’s it to you?

2008 is well underway! Did you make any resolutions? Getting fit always features prominently in the list of things to do each year. This year, adopting a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle is also motivating many people. Why not combine them and make 2008 the Year to Take a Hike in New Zealand?

United Nations have named 2008 the International Year of the Potato, Year of Sanitation, Year of Planet Earth and the Year of Languages. The International Coral Reef Initiative have named it the International Year of the Reef, with intentions to raise awareness of our ocean’s coral reefs; proving that environmental issues and the discussions surrounding them will not be fading away this year.

At Hiking New Zealand we take great pride in our responsibility to promote tours that are not only great value for money, but are also an environmentally conscious way to see New Zealand. You can see our Environmental Care Code on our website plus information about our current projects – Trees for Trampers and Hector’s Dolphin Fund.

This year, resolve to leave the land undisturbed – Toitu te whenua.
Have a wonderful year in the outdoors in 2008.

Leah and the Hiking New Zealand team

New baby for Mark and Margaret

Founding Director, Mark Brabyn, his partner, Margaret, and daughter, Rata, are busy enjoying their second child, a boy - Matai Travers Brabyn. Those familiar with New Zealand wildlife will know that the Matai is an endemic New Zealand tree. Growing up to 40 metres high, the trees are known for their toughness – we hope the new Matai takes on these characteristics as well. We know that he’ll be a tramper, but how soon he can walk uphill faster than his parents is the real question!

The family are heading to Australia for around 8-9 months in March in their beloved campervan.

Well done Mark, Margaret and Rata! Matai was born on 30th October 2007

Matai gets hugs from dad, Mark and sister, Rata in a Matai reserve.

Mark O’Connor – Guide/Teacher/Panel Beater

Marko takes different track…

It was a sad day at the Hiking New Zealand base this week as Marko came in from what may be one his last tours for us. Mark is taking up a teaching post at Mt Hutt College in Methven. His subjects will be Geography and Social Studies. While Marko says he is going to miss spending so much time out in the mountains with great people from all over the world, he is looking forward to the move to Methven. The location of the school was a bit of a draw card with Mt Hutt ski field being on the back doorstep and plenty of tramping, climbing and mountain biking in the fabulous Canterbury high country in which Methven is located. Marko has been guiding for us for the last two seasons and in between has managed to finish his teaching qualification and spend 3 months rock climbing in Asia in the NZ winter.

He has been a great guide and we have almost forgotten about that tree stump that just came out of nowhere and put a huge dent in the door of our best van whilst Marko was executing one of his trademark, highly technical, reversing manoeuvres.

All the best Marko and don’t forget you could always do some guiding during all those holidays teachers get!

New Walk - Guided Gondola Walk

Hiking New Zealand and the Christchurch Tram and Gondola are proud to announce a NEW product - Guided Walks at the Christchurch Gondola. Visitors to Christchurch can now enjoy the experience of a top Christchurch attraction, the amazing views and the chance to listen to an enthusiastic guide as they bring the landscape alive with tales of geological and human history.

The walk will explore the Port Hills, taking you under Cavendish Bluffs and through pockets of native New Zealand bush. Your guide will send you back in time, reminiscing about the discovery of Banks Peninsula and its formation from volcanic eruptions 12 million years ago. Look over the harbour to the exact location where the Shackelton and Scott Antarctic Expedition departed from. You will also learn about the Maori settlements and the arrival of the first Europeans to the area. The walk is guided by locals who have endless knowledge of the Port Hills and surrounding areas.

Keep your eyes open for Hiking New Zealand’s City Activities page – a new addition to our website, with options to book single day activities in cities and towns around New Zealand. A great way to keep yourself entertained between hikes.

The recent launch of New Zealand Tourism’s campaign reached astounding numbers on YouTube on its first day, proving that multi-media and the internet are almost certainly the best way to find potential customers. Their “Youngest Country on Earth” campaign was viewed by over 500,000 internet users on its launch day!

A loyal guest from a West Coast Wilderness in 2006 has uploaded a great video to YouTube, capturing some of the spectacular locations you can visit on this safari. Featured are the Fox River Canyon and massive Ballroom Overhang, Okarito Lagoon, the Copland Valley and of course, the culinary highlight on each our hiking safaris – an amazing hangi.

You can see the video on YouTube here

WIN!
If you have a slideshow or video that you’ve taken on a hiking safari, load it on YouTube and send us a link. The best entry will win a $250 VOUCHER for use on a South Island Hiking Safari or Fault-line Adventure!

The voucher is transferable to a friend or family member, but can only be used for direct bookings on the tours mentioned above.

Over the years, Hiking New Zealand’s website has provided travellers with up-to-date information on tours and tracks, wildlife, conservation, natural history, and resources to help you find your way around New Zealand. Updating and expanding the website is an ongoing project and we believe we now offer one of the best outdoor and adventure travel sites in New Zealand.

The New Zealand People’s Choice Web Awards are now on and as a true “People’s Choice” award, you will decide the winners. The awards are the longest running and most respected Internet awards and have been running for 10 years. You can reward excellence and innovation in New Zealand online sites and services by voting online.

To vote, click on the link to the Net Guide Awards on our Homepage:
/hiking-in-new-zealand.htm
or go to: The NetGuide Awards Page and scroll down to the relevant categories.

If you have been on an adventure through Hiking New Zealand and would like to have your experience published in an upcoming newsletter please let us know. Send your story to:

info@HikingNewZealand.com

We will be giving away a free merino top with every experience published in our Hiking New Zealand Newsletter.

Your story is valued – it’s a great way to inform other travellers about adventures in Aotearoa.