Wildsouth Discovery Ltd

19/01/2024

A selection of images from a recent tour from Queenstown to Christchurch.

18/01/2024

Just recently, we took a family on a Lord of the Rings trip from Christchurch to Queenstown. Places visited were Edoras, Laketown, Lonely Mountain, Minas Tirith and Pelennor Fields.

13/07/2023

We recently had the opportunity to walk part of the Kepler Track, from Rainbow Reach. Beautiful native beech forest between Manapouri and Te Anau. An early morning, winter experience!

08/07/2023

The evening at Manapouri before joining our Fiordland Discovery cruise of Fiordland to Milford Sound...

29/06/2023

Morris Minor madness!!
Our motel stay at Manapouri before our Fiordland cruise has a quirky collection of Morris Minors. What a hoot!

28/06/2023

Moods of Milford...
These are images of our last day of a 7-day Fiordland Northern Fiords cruise with Fiordland Discovery. What an absolutely fabulous experience to see the remote fiords and wilderness of Fiordland National Park.
Now looking forward to sharing these experiences with our tour guests in the coming season.

08/06/2023

Edoras & Lord of the Rings...
Yesterday, 7 June, we took some friends on an exploratory trip to Edoras (Mt Sunday), a feature of the Lord of the Rings. An absolutely stunning day with the Misty Peaks in full view. The Canterbury high country is a NZ gem and the reflections of the Ashburton Lakes were superb. The geological features of the last Ice Age are so prominent as well as NZ's unique braided river systems. Truly amazing!

31/12/2022

New Year's eve - Happy New Year everyone. We are in beautiful Akaroa to see the New Year in!

24/12/2022

24/10/2022

Kea – Nestor Notabilis
New Zealand’s native alpine parrot

Named by Māori for the sound of its call, the kea (Nestor notabilis) is endemic to the Southern Alps of New Zealand. These sociable and highly intelligent birds are well adapted to their harsh environment.

Unfortunately, the traits that kea developed for survival, their curiosity and intelligence, have resulted in them being exposed to a range of threats and challenges which have dramatically reduced their numbers. With fewer than 7,000 individuals remaining in the wild, kea are now listed as Threatened - Nationally Endangered; the second-highest threat level in New Zealand.

National Kaitiaki and Taonga

Kea are considered taonga (treasure) to Maori. They were considered kaitiaki (guardians) of the mountains for the Waitaha Maori during their search for Pounamu (greenstone). Maori gave the name kea, describing the sound of its call. Its species name Nestor is from Greek mythology. Nestor was said to be a wise old counsellor to the Greeks at Troy. Notabilis (latin), means, ‘that worthy of note’.

Courtesy of the Kea Conservation Trust

21/10/2022

On our travels...

16/10/2022

The Remote Ahuriri Valley
At the bottom of the Lindis Pass and 20kms from Omarama, there is the Birchwood Road which heads up the Ahuriri Valley. This 24km gravel road follows the Ahuriri River all the way up the valley into the Ahuriri Conservation Park, and from there, there's a 8km 4WD track to the end of the road. The scenery is outstanding and along the way are natural wetlands.

08/10/2022

We are now Qualmarked!

06/10/2022

Hawk's Crag, Buller Gorge

05/10/2022

The winter beauty of Highway 73 to Arthur's Pass.

07/08/2022

Some more images from our visit to the Omaka Aviation Heritage Park. These are from the WW1 display and all are full scale replicas, not models. The Fokker Triplanes are in flying condition. Another wonderful product of Sir Peter Jackson!

More to come - watch this space!

06/08/2022

We were so fortunate to stay at Te Koi - The Lodge at Bronte for two nights on our ‘top of the south’ trip
Te Koi is a beautiful luxury lodge located in Bronte, approximately half way between Nelson City and Abel Tasman National Park, making it a great choice to explore the best bits of the northern end of South Island. It is in a tranquil natural setting, nestled on the edge of the Waimea Estuary on Nelson’s historic Bronte Peninsula.
As Nelson's premier 5-star waterfront property, Te Koi - The Lodge at Bronte is New Zealand owned and operated by Ian and Ali with their vast European and New Zealand hospitality experience. Plus, they are former restaurateurs and Ali is a professional chef. Beautifully decorated in European inspired aesthetic featuring calming neutral tones to complement the surrounding landscape, Te Koi is a relaxing luxury retreat, and great option for a romantic getaway.
The communal heart of the lodge offers aperitifs at sunset on the deck overlooking the estuary, fine dining in the evenings and a gourmet breakfast each morning, all featuring locally sourced seasonal produce and artisan goods. Partner your aperitifs and dinner with beautiful local wines selected carefully by the in-house sommelier, and really get a taste of the region!

05/08/2022

On our ‘top of the south’ exploratory trip, we stayed at the Maruia River Retreat and we were hosted by Cristina and Lasse. A fabulous place with exquisite accommodation, food and surrounds.

Maruia River Retreat is a relaxed luxury wellness & spa resort in a private rainforest estate. Cristina and Lasse are both yoga teachers and this experience, coupled with the New Zealand setting, make Maruia the ideal place to either start or deepen your yoga practice.

Situated along the magnificent Maruia River and protected by mountains from the east and west, the retreat is a stunning boutique resort and private nature estate where guests can relax, reconnect, explore and celebrate.

With only 7 luxury villas within a 500-acre of pure native beech forest, guests are welcomed with a sense of being far away from the clutter of everyday life, and invited to find shelter at the core of what is truly beautiful and peaceful.

We loved it!

04/08/2022

While on our 'top of the south' exploratory trip, we called in to the The Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre and met with Rachael, the Marketing Manager and she very kindly allowed us to have a look around the displays.
These images are from the 2nd WW display and one of the highlights is the Stalingrad feature - very moving. Omaka is a member of the Boutique Travel NZ group and I have to say, Paula had to drag me out or I would probably still be there! It is an absolutely superb venue with its airctarft, information and displays.
More to come with the WW! aircraft and displays produced by Sir Peter Jackson and Weta Studios.

04/08/2022

We have just returned home from an exploratory trip to the 'top of the south'. Along the way, we met some wonderful people and saw many beautiful places, despite the rain.
Our first stop was Breakers, where Jan and Stephen hosted us for an overnight stay. What a wonderful place! Here, you can experience peace, privacy and quiet on the secluded West Coast.
Breakers - Boutique Accommodation, an absolute beachfront bed & breakfast retreat that affords you peace, privacy and quiet with a little bit of luxury north of Greymouth on the Punakaiki coastline, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand.
And what a fabulous place to see the renowned West Coast sunsets.

17/07/2022

Yesterday, we made an exploratory trip to North Canterbury. First, Manuka Bay and the mouth of the Hurunui River, Point Gibson lighthouse and Cathedral Cliffs. The lighthouse was disappointing but it was amazing to see the sediment being carried into the Pacific from the Hurunui.

11/06/2022

Today, we went on a trip to Arthur's Pass National Park, and on the way home, we travelled on the Cheeseman Road and enjoyed these magnificent views of the Craigieburn and Torlesse Ranges.

28/05/2022

Nugget Point Totāra Scenic Reserve - the iconic Nugget Point (or 'The Nuggets' as referred to by the locals) is located near Kaka Point. Wave-eroded rocks, which are likened to the shape of gold nuggets, can be seen from the viewing platform at the end of the path. The lighthouse was built in 1869-70, is 9.5 metres high and situated 76 metres above sea level. Stunning!

Wildsouth Discovery 2022

25/04/2022

The Pacific, Christchurch, the Canterbury Plains and distant mountains...

25/04/2022

Today, the 25th of April (ANZAC Day) was another beautiful day, so we went for a walk on the Port Hills overlooking Christchurch…

25/04/2022

Yesterday, we visited Riccarton House and had coffee on the verandah - such a beautiful day. Afterwards, we walked through Riccarton Bush. This is a 7.8-hectare remnant Kahikatea Forest situated just 3km from the city centre of Christchurch.
So wonderful to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of being in a native forest that has trees that are up to 600 years old. As we went through this ancient forest, we were ‘accompanied’ by Piwakawaka/Fantails, including an all-black one. We also heard Korimako/Bellbirds and a Riroriro/Grey Warbler.
The Maori name for Riccarton Bush is Pūtaringamotu. It is the largest remnant of alluvial podocarp forest on the lower Canterbury Plains and Banks Peninsula, a forest type that today only covers a tiny fraction of its former extent. It is a key Mahinga Kai site for Ngai Tuahuriri, and the place of first permanent European settlement in Otautahi/Christchurch.
Mahinga kai literally means 'to work the food' and relates to the traditional value of food resources and their ecosystems, as well as the practices involved in producing, procuring, and protecting these resources.
Pūtaringamotu is thought to mean ‘the place of the echo’ or ‘the severed ear’. The latter is thought to refer to the bush being isolated from other forests. It is also believed by local Māori that at a certain place in the forest, those trained and skilled in the practice could hear the sound of people approaching on the trails through the surrounding swampland by putting their ear to the ground - hence the ‘place of the echo’.
The River Avon flows past Riccarton House and was wonderful to see an eel in the crystal clear water.