Auckland

Did you know that about a quarter of New Zealand’s population lives in Auckland?  While the city has all the assets you’d expect of a metropolis its size (great restaurants, bars, museums and shopping), there are also a few ‘Only in Auckland’ hotspots: Otara Market on Saturdays offers a slice of the city’s Polynesian culture; the Auckland Museum is wonderful; and outdoor movie nights at Silo Park reflect the creative energy behind shaping the city’s future.

Auckland’s urban sprawl is a cause for complaint among some residents and visitors, mostly in regards to the commute between destinations.  But one positive outcome of the sprawl is the development of distinct city suburbs, many of which deserve a visit.  Parnell and Newmarket are fun stops for boutique shopping and dining, while Devonport retains a cute, coastal village feel despite being just across the harbour from the CBD.

Wellington

Wellington is, according to Wellington, the coolest little capital in the world.  It’s hard to argue with them though: the city is nestled in between a picture perfect harbour and a semi-circle of forested hills.  Climb, drive or take a bus up Mount Victoria for a postcard-worthy view before you start exploring the dynamic little city.

When the sun is out, a walk along the waterfront can pass an entire day.  You can join the crowds diving into the blue harbour waters, or just watch from a park bench.  Pedi-carts and rollerblades are available for rent, as are paddleboats and kayaks.  Cafes, bars and restaurants abound, not to mention the museums and galleries along the way.  Te Papa, of course, is the area’s most famous attraction and well-worth spending half a day perusing.

Christchurch

Our hometown!  We could write a book on things to do in Christchurch, but to keep things short, we’ll just suggest you hop on a Hassle-free Tours bus for a Christchurch City Tour.  The tour will take you to many of the city’s best attractions, giving you a good feel of Christchurch’s heritage at sites like the Canterbury Museum, as well as a vision for the city’s future at the shipping container mall.

Away from the city centre, the beach suburbs of Sumner and New Brighton are great spots for a sunny afternoon rounded off with a dinner of fish and chips.  The Port Hills are great for walking and mountain biking—you can take the city bus up to the Sign of the Takahe for access to Victoria Park.

Dunedin

Once upon a time, during the Otago gold rush, Dunedin was the wealthiest city in New Zealand.  Those years of opulence are still visible in the architecture: check out the old train station and the stone buildings of the university.  Fittingly, the town is also home to the only castle in the Southern Hemisphere: take a tour of Larnach Castle for a well-preserved look at life for the wealthy during Dunedin’s boom years.

But there’s more to Dunedin than a rich history.  It is, above all else, a university town, and the nightlife reflects this.  Take your pick from a surprising number of tasty (affordable) restaurants and poke your head into the bustling bars.  Dunedin’s local music scene is legendary in New Zealand—see if you can find a live show and who knows, you may be watching New Zealand’s next rock star.

One of the comments we hear a lot, especially from locals, is how much new information they learned about the city.  There are plenty of interesting stories to tell about Christchurch (which is one of the reasons we think everyone should check out our Discover Christchurch tour).

Here are just a few interesting facts about Christchurch that might inspire you to dig a little deeper into the city’s history:

New Zealand’s Biggest Urban Park

It only takes a quick glance at the map to figure out that Hagley Park is Christchurch’s biggest park.  Created in 1855, the 164.6-hectare park has long been an important part of life in Christchurch.  It serves as a venue for recreation, relaxation and outdoor events, as well as a major tourist attraction.  But did you know that the park is also a heavy hitter nationally?  It’s the biggest city park in the country.

Antipodal Cities

There are only a dozen pairs of cities that are almost exactly on the opposite end of the earth from each other—Christchurch is one of these.  If you were to start in Christchurch and dig straight through the centre of the earth, you’d wind up in A Coruna, Spain.

Gateway to the Antarctic

Ever since the Scott and Shackleton set off on their Discovery Expedition in 1901, Christchurch has been the world’s gateway to Antarctica.  Evidence of the relationship between the Garden City and the world’s most desolate continent are visible: New Zealand, the US and Italy all have Antarctic research offices here, a statue of Scott (made by his widow) stands downtown, artefacts from early explorations are on display at the Canterbury Museum, and, of course, the Antarctic Centre is a major tourist attraction.

New Zealand’s Oldest City

Did you know that Christchurch was the first official city in New Zealand?  It was registered as a city on the 31^st of July, 1856, beating runner-up Nelson by two years.

Best in Travel 2013

Probably the least surprising fact of all: according to Lonely Planet, Christchurch is one of the world’s best ten cities to visit in 2013.  According to the venerable travel guide publisher, “New Zealand’s ‘Garden City’ is rising from the rubble created by devastating earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 with a breathtaking mix of spirit, determination and flair.”  Checking out the city’s pop-up mall and gap filler projects is highly recommended and is an interesting contrast with the heritage sites still standing.

Gardens

What could be more appropriate than getting married in a garden in the Garden City? True to its nickname, Christchurch has an abundance of charming garden settings you can hire for your wedding. Imagine your ceremony set among a backdrop of flowers, native trees and bird calls… What could be more magical?

The Botanic Gardens are a popular and very budget-friendly option for anyone looking for a garden ceremony. In addition to the Botanic Gardens, the city allows you to book spaces in a number of public parks around Christchurch, including Risingholme (Opawa), Abberley Park (St. Albans), Avebury park (Richmond), Edmonds Factory Park (Linwood) and Woodham Park (Linwood).

Vineyards

For a different kind of outdoor wedding, why not take advantage of the regions burgeoning wine industry? There are a number of vineyards edging the town that will happily accommodate weddings and events. Neat rows of grape vines running across gently rolling hills makes for a lovely background to any ceremony, plus it makes it easy to decide what kind of drinks to serve.

No matter what area of town you want to be in, there’s a vineyard venue close by. Take a look at Trent’s Vineyard (Templeton), Omarino Wine Park (Harewood), Rosebank (Northwood) or Rossendale (south of Halswell). Omarino Wine Park is convenient to the airport, which may be a consideration if you have a lot of guests coming in from out of town.

Central City

While the earthquake in 2011 closed most of central Christchurch for the better part of a year, the city is opening back up and being revitalised in really exciting ways. In addition to old favourites like the Antigua Boatsheds and the Christchurch Art Gallery, there are new bars and restaurants, the colourful container mall and an ever-changing collection of eclectic gap filler projects.

It’s an exciting time for central Christchurch, and there are a number of venues in the area that allow you to take advantage of the urban setting. Check out the Heritage Hotel, the George or Eliza’s Manor Boutique Hotel.

Wedding Transport

Of course, choosing your venue is only one part of the day—you’ve got plenty more decisions to make before the wedding. One area that sometimes gets overlooked is how your guests are going to move from the ceremony to the reception, but this can be a great opportunity to customize the experience and make sure that every aspect of your wedding day is especially memorable. Hassle-free Tours is always happy to work with you and work a charter around your needs. We can even arrange for a special license that allows your guests to enjoy bubbles and beer on the bus ride.

A wedding bus hire gives you use of our two vintage, double-decker buses for wedding transport as well as for use as a unique prop for wedding photos (you’ll love the way your wedding party’s outfits pop against the bright red buses). Don’t miss this opportunity to make your wedding extra special.

But before you make any plans, it pays to think a little about what you hope to get out of your event. Is your objective to build trust among the team? To introduce new members to the group? To reward a job well done with a fun day out? These are all great reasons for a social club event, but each objective might be best fulfilled by different kinds of events. For instance…

Team Building

If you’re looking for an activity that will build trust and co-operation among co-workers, try outings that push the limits of participants’ comfort zones. Jetboating is a fun and safe way to give your group a thrill.

If you have a bit of time, overnight trips are also perfect for team building. Overnights are also good for team building. This gives people a chance to spend down time with each other, in a less formal setting than usual. It’s a great chance to see people in a new light. Hassle-free Tours runs a great overnight programme in the Canterbury high country, if this sounds like the event for you.

Getting to Know Co-Workers

It is not uncommon for people to work in the same office for years without ever having a conversation. Specialty activities are a great way to break the ice between colleagues as well as give people a chance to learn about something new. Wine tours are guaranteed conversation starters, and it’s easy to divide the club into smaller groups to facilitate conversations between people who may not get a chance to chat during the work day.

Just for Fun

When it comes to just-for-fun social outings, almost anything goes. But for an activity with staying power, try to think of events that are a little out of the ordinary. Our Lord of the Rings Tour is a great way to enjoy the landscape in Canterbury and also learn a little about the filming of the movies around Canterbury. It’s a fun and new way to look at the remarkable region we live in.

No matter what you’re trying to get out of you event, no matter what your budget or amount of time, Hassle-free Tours can help you out. Contact our team to discuss your social club ideas.

Speaking of jetboats…  Did you know they were invented by a New Zealander?  It turns out that a number of kiwis have contributed to the field of adventure sports.  Maybe it’s the inspiring landscape, maybe it’s the innovative, can-do mentality, maybe it’s just a love of fun, but New Zealanders are always inventing new ways to get some thrills.  And where better to try these activities out than in their birthplace?  Be sure to add these ‘Made in New Zealand’ adventure activities to your itinerary:

Bungee Jumping

Bungee jumping is possibly New Zealand’s best-known invention.  Developed in the 1980s by AJ Hackett, bungee jumping entails connecting yourself to an elevated platform or bridge via a long, elastic strap and leaping off.  After a few seconds of plunging towards the ground below, the strap tightens and bounces you up.

The sport has made its way around the world, though the best place to do it is still in bungee’s home country.  The original bungee bridge is still open for business in Queenstown, though there are plenty of options around the country.  A hint for visitors to Canterbury: Hanmer Springs (90 minutes from Christchurch) is a good pick.

Jet Boating

Our favourite New Zealand invention!  Jet boating was conceived in 1954 by Sir William Hamilton.  Hamilton was trying to find a way to navigate New Zealand’s shallow rivers and found that the best way to do this was through jet propulsion.  Not only do jetboats make travelling shallow rivers possible, they make it fun.

Like bungee jumping, jetboating has spread around the country.  The shallow, braided river running through the Waimakariri Gorge makes for an awesome ride.  Be sure to look into Hassle-free Tour’s Alpine Safari Tour and 4WD Jetboat Tour for a chance to hit unbelievable speeds on the Waimak.

Zorbing

If you’ve ever seen a hamster running around in a clear plastic ball, you understand the concept of Zorbing.  Zorbers climb into a human-sized orb and go rolling down a hill on a course designed for maximum thrills.  Rotorua remains the world capital of Zorbing, though there are a few other destinations popping up.  Still, there’s no place like home—check out Rotorua’s four different track options and choice of wet or dry rides.

Blokarts

Another activity you might not be familiar with is Blokarting, which is effectively sailing on wheels.  Paul Becket invented these one-person ‘land yachts’ as a fun way to zip around over all kinds of terrain, including sand and ice.

Cycling Monorail

Another invention out of Rotorua: the cycling monorail.  Admittedly, the high-speed activity was created by an Australian, but it’s telling that Geoffrey Barnett chose New Zealand as the place to launch the attraction.  Hitting speeds of 70km/hour, riders pedal the machine along a track.  But it’s not just a great ride—the cycling monorail is hoping to make headway as a great form of urban public transportation.

So what are you waiting for? Check out our adventure tours today – we look forward to meeting you!

See our bus in action in the TV program Close Up below:

Mark and Nikki Gilbert, who together run Hassle-free Tours, brought the distinctive 1964 Routemaster bus to Christchurch last year and it, along with a closed top double-decker, has proved a big hit with visitors to the city.

Lonely Planet, in its just released Best in Travel guide, which places Christchurch at number six in an influential list of Top 10 Cities for 2013, suggests that Hassle-free Tour’s double decker bus tours are one of the best ways for visitors to explore Christchurch.
Read more here…

“Lonely Planet is the travellers’ bible so to get a mention in their guide is fantastic. Their suggestions carry huge sway with travellers so we could not have asked for a better start to our second year of running the double-decker tours”, Mark Gilbert says.

Lonely Planet’s endorsement of Hassle-free Tours caps off a successful month for Mr Gilbert.

Earlier this month he won the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Young Tourism Entrepreneur Award.

The award is recognition of the leadership and entrepreneurial flair Mr Gilbert has demonstrated since starting his business in 2003 when he was just 23.

The company now has five-purpose built vehicles to take passengers around the Canterbury high country and three double-decker buses and expects to carry 17,500 passengers this year.

The road to success though has not been easy.

Immediately after the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the company’s visitor numbers plummeted by 80%, but the company took quick action to continue operating and retain staff.

They introduced the double-decker bus tours of Christchurch and also started offering charter tours. Hassle-free Tours also developed new tours from Akaroa for the cruise market and targeted the domestic market with special offers and promotions.

“The earthquakes forced us to re-think our business but we were determined to continue offering visitors to the region a high-quality experience and we are thrilled that we have managed to do that. Christchurch has a very interesting story to tell and we are committed to being part of the story-telling”, Mr Gilbert says.

Read more about Lonely Planet’s endorsement of Christchurch:
Global travel guide hails Chch as top destination

All of the excitement over The Hobbit has got us thinking about the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and we’ve come up with a list of our five favourite Lord of the Rings filming locations.  Check out our picks and let us know which sites you’d love to visit the most.

1.  Edoras (Mount Sunday)

Mount Sunday

Naturally, Edoras is our number one pick—why else would we bring so many guests to see it?  Mount Sunday is instantly recognisable as Edoras, the capital city of the Rohan people, and the mountains make for a dramatic backdrop indeed.  From here, you can also see the location of the Misty Mountains and the area used as the backdrop for Helm’s Deep.  A favourite location with the cast and crew and is it any wonder? Being one of the most remote filming locations, you need to visit to see why it was their pick!

With Hassle-free Tours’ Lord of the Rings Edoras Tour, not only do you get amazing views of Edoras, home of the Rohan people, but your friendly guide will also show you photos taken during the film production, identify landscape features that allow you the opportunity to have your moment, right there in middle earth.  You will also have the opportunity to handle replicas and props, Gimli’s Axe, King Theoden’s sword.. used in the scenes—a highlight for a lot of LOTR fans!

2.  Dimholt Road (the Putangirua Pinnacles)

The Putangirua Pinnacles

Dimholt Road, where Aragon, Legolas and Gimli meet the Army of the Dead, is one of the most unusual Lord of the Ring destinations in the country.  The Pinnacles (on the south coast of the North Island) were formed though millions of years of erosion, which washed away loose dirt and gravel and exposed cemented pillars beneath.

There is a public track that goes through the Pinnacles, which should take 2-4 hours to walk.  It’s a great spot for a morning or afternoon hike, but anyone pressed for time can visit the site without doing the full walk.

3.  Mount Doom (Mount Ngauruhoe and Mount Ruapehu)

Lord of the Rings locations don’t get more dramatic than Mount Doom, known to locals as Mount Ngauruhoe.  In the film, Mount Doom is an active volcano in the heart of Mordor, and while Ngauruhoe isn’t currently spitting lava and smoke, it is an active volcano.  The steep lines of the mountain’s silhouette will be familiar to fans, and you can get some great views of it while hiking around Mount Tongariro National Park (on the North Island, south of Lake Taupo).

Scenes on the slopes of Mount Doom were filmed on nearby Mount Ruapehu.  A bonus for winter sightseers: Whakapapa ski field on Mount Ruapehu was the setting for several of the Mordor scenes.

4.  Dead Marshes (Kepler Mire)

In one of the creepiest scenes of the movies, Frodo, Sam and Gollum venture through the Dead Marshes.  The real marshes are not quite as eerie, though still a great stop for Lord of the Rings fans in Fiordland.  East of Lake Manapouri, the Kepler Mire is a photogenic rusty bog surrounded by mountain ranges—take pictures from the road (there’s a good spot off Mount York Road), since there are no tracks through the area.

5.  The Argonath on the Anduin River (Kawarau Gorge)

Even casual viewers will remember the scene where the heroes pass through the Gates of Argonath (two enormous statues on either side of the Anduin River) as they enter Gondor.  While the Pillars of the King are not a natural part of the scenery, the gorge is just as impressive in real life as it is in the films.  You can see it best from the Kawarau Suspension Bridge (near Queenstown).

Mark’s win has been attributed to his refusal to be beaten by the Christchurch earthquakes and subsequent visitor downturn.

Immediately after the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, the region’s visitor numbers plummeted by 80%.
Mark took quick action to continue operating and retain staff. He introduced New Zealand’s only open top double-decker bus tour, offering tours of Christchurch and Akaroa, as well as charter tours. He developed new tours from Akaroa for the cruise market and targeted the domestic market with special offers and promotions.

Congratulations Mark, a very well deserved win!

About the Tourism Industry Awards

The 2012 PATA Young Tourism Entrepreneur Award is part of the Tourism Industry Awards managed by the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA).

The PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Award is presented to a young person, 35 or under, who clearly stands out within the tourism industry as a young entrepreneur and inspirational leader.

A glorious morning to begin Tours in Christchurch…

Nobody missed out on the top deck as, although every trip was full, we transferred guests from the top to the bottom and the bottom to the top during our stop at Riccarton House and Bush…everyone was happy.

It was fun giving our guests a little sneak peek at what we do everyday in Christchurch on the London Double Decker.  The Discover Christchurch Double Decker City Tour runs around Christchurch and the surrounds everyday and departs @ 10am and 2pm.  Whilst it was nice to be able to board our families safely onto the bus from outside the Canterbury Museum, beside the Botanic Gardens, our regular Tour departs one block down Worcester Street, on Montreal Street close to the Christchurch Art Gallery.

We enjoyed some beautiful days out on the bus and we are looking forward to running a similar event next year when Christchurch is full of holiday fun for kids again.