Open doors at Camp Glenorchy

ECO-CONSCIOUS travellers arise, Camp Glenorchy, a new era in sustainably designed accommodation, has opened its doors in New Zealand.

Aside from providing beautifully appointed, comfortable accommodation, the founders behind Camp Glenorchy hope to inspire and share learning about new standards in sustainable tourism.

Set in the foothills of the Southern Alps in New Zealand’s South Island, Camp Glenorchy is a scenic 40-minute lakeshore drive from Queenstown along one of the country’s prettiest routes. The region is famed for beautiful movie locations and as the setting off point for some of the country’s best known hiking trails, water-based adventures on Lake Wakatipu and braided rivers, and access to two national parks.

Camp Glenorchy’s resource-efficient guest accommodation comes in a range of budget options from the seven cabins, to two bunkhouses and seven powered RV/campervan sites with common areas for guests. It also boasts the South Island’s largest solar garden and three wetlands developed to collect and fully process all wastewater onsite, producing clean water for irrigation of native plant landscaping.

The third stage of an environmentally sustainable tourism development known as The Headwaters, Camp Glenorchy’s profits will go to the local Glenorchy Community Trust to support initiatives that enhance the liveability and vibrancy of the small town.

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An unlikely social media sensation

A lone tree that grew from a fence post in the South Island of New Zealand has become an unlikely social media sensation. The straggly crack willow tree on the shores of Lake Wanaka is thought to be at least 80 years old and is attracting photographers from around the world, keen for the perfect shot.

Amateur and professional photographers gather on the shores of Lake Wanaka at dawn and dusk to photograph the “most photogenic tree in the world”. The tree even has its own dedicated Facebook page and has been featured in international publications such as The Guardian and The Sydney Morning Herald. The hashtag #thatwanakatree has been used more than 13,000 times on Instagram.

The tree is the focus of photography tours and people pose naked beside it, have their wedding photographs taken in front of it or meditate beneath it.

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Be inspired in Otago

TOURISM New Zealand has welcomed the launch of Landmarks Whenua Tohunga in Otago, which recognises 12 of the region’s most important historic and cultural sites. The initiative is designed to inspire locals and visitors – both domestic and international – to learn more about the places and stories that have shaped #NewZealand.

The Landmarks-recognised sites are located across the region, encouraging people to travel to less-visited areas of Otago.

Otago is a region in the South Island its major tourist centres being Queenstown, a lakeside resort town which is a magnet for adventure sports and Wanaka which is the gateway to the Southern Alps Mount Aspiring National Park.

Sites recognised by Landmark in Otago include:

• Arrowtown
• Bannockburn Sluicings
• Dunedin Railway Station
• Hayes Engineering Works
• Historic Oamaru
• Kawarau Suspension Bridge
• Larnach Castle
• Olveston
• Otago Central Rail Trail
• Taieri Gorge Railway
• Totara Estate
• TSS Earnslaw

Information about Landmarks will be made available to tourists via the i-SITE Visitor Network and at www.landmarks.nz.

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Picture Credit: Pintrest

New in New Zealand …

SET in more than 600 acres on the shores of Lake Taupo in #NewZealand, the Kinloch Club is expanding with the addition of 26 one-bedroom apartments and two- or three-bedroom villas. 

The self-catering villas have log fireplaces and vista windows, and the club has a spa, gym, and a restaurant, plus its 18-hole Jack Nicklaus #golf course.

www.kinloch-golf.com

FANCY living in a glass box? Following the success of the first Pure Pod in Little River, Canterbury, New Zealand’s South Island will see the launch of two pods –made completely of glass from the roof to the floor – in Kaikoura.

Guests can sleep with the stars of the Southern Cross and awake to pure NZ native bush.

With sliding glass sides for hot weather and bio-fuel fires for winter months, the pods offer year-round nature experiences, reached by a walk through the bush to private area that has 360-degree views of the valley and the Pacific Ocean in the distance.

Facilities include a kitchen for self-catering, a king-size bed, and separate bathrooms. 

www.purepods.com

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/55109501@N06/6324622154">Lake Taupo Carvings</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license), www.purepods.com