Marijke: Could you tell me in a few sentences a bit about your  activity ?

Charles:  Private Discovery Tours has a unique and special High Country property which we have exclusive access to. This enables us to provide some different and exciting activities or events for guests. An example we are working on is our “Chef on the Mountain” a full sit down waitered lunch with our colourful chef Dave.

Marijke: What do your customers particularly enjoy about the experience?

Charles: That they go to a location away from everyone else! Where they have incredible views, and can have a special picnic lunch and learn more about New Zealand and farm life in Paradise. The baking is pretty good too…………….

Marijke: What’s new this season?

Charles: We have changed our brand name to Private Discovery Tours……it was a logical move many of our guests are family groups and couples who are pleased to realise that they are essentially  on a Private Tour to an exclusive destination. Our attention to detail makes a difference, you get that with smaller operators and everyone has such a great time.

You also can learn more about the recent Hobbit movie shoot just up the road from the property we visit.

Hobbits in Paradise Valley

The Hobbit Paradise Valley Film set

Filming of The Hobbit has been in progress for several days now in the Paradise Valley near Glenorchy.

There have been around 300 people involved on the set in various roles, this shot was taken the week before filming began. Now security people and fences surround the set. Once again Peter Jackson will apply his masterful touch interpreting The Hobbit and generating more interest in the region for visitors in the future.

If you able to come on our High Country Discovery Tour this week you will most likely see the remaining set before it is removed.

This is a special time of year with snow still low on the mountains, the fresh vibrant colours of new vegetation and  the smell of fresh cut grass and blossom.

It is a favourite time for Private Tours to this region especially for photography. This photo captured of our native bird the Tui extracting nectar from the kowhai tree.

While you are here in the region consider a tour to Skippers Canyon or the Catlins Discovery Tour to experience the ruggedness and wilderness that New Zealand can provide. Or travel to Milford Sound that iconic world recognised easily accessible destination for a day through mountains, rain forests and the diverse farmlands of Southland.

Our walk up the Hooker Valley to The Hooker Lake inspired us

Hooker Valley Shelter

It was a beautiful day
the stillness and grandeur of the mountains
were
silent, strong and powerful
The occasional crack of ice
rumbling avalanche
blue stretch of glacial moraine
inspired us
to follow the track
carved by mountaineers before us

Mt Cook from Hooker Valley

Dwarfed by Glaciers and Mountains

Other news centres around Daisy, she is expecting unless it is a phantom pregnancy according to the vet. She seldom wants to venture out into the cold or far from home and has even lost interest in annoying cats!

The potential Dad was to be Cosmos a lovely small blackPoodle however his lack of experience and inattention has we believe resulted in Harry being the likely sire ( Dad ) a Jack Russell.

Harry proudly came around recently to see how things were progressing, don’t think we will see him again for some time.

So, Jackscoddles or Jackscotties may be the eminent outcome. We will know in 2 weeks……………….

Snow shoeing

Here is a glimpse of some exciting things we can do in the snow! The snow is coming………………watch this space!

Events are on this winter at Mt Earnslaw Station with one day set aside for Clay Target shooting, Quad Bike ( ATV) trailer reversing and 4WD Landrover tours up the mountain. Participants will be fed in the woolshed and kept busy with the activities.

We also have specialist Farm Tours covering all aspects of farming, Mt Earnslaw is a Certified Organic Farm a sustainable model for agricultural production.

If you are coming to Queenstown for some ski ing and would rather have safe mountain transport with experienced winter drivers and a ski host guide the we can arrange it all. Our Private Discovery Tours can allow you to make the most of your holiday ski ing several mountains and taking a break away doing other options such as a Milford Sound Discovery Tour or a Wakatipu Basin Tour.

Here are some shots of Daisy in last years abundant snow falls, Scottys have such a warm dense coat very well suited to cold winters.

Daisys winter playground

Autumn in Arrowtown is a must see at this time of year, just finished is the Autumn Festival and Parade last Saturday, vintage cars, local clubs and local dogs.

The surprise of the day was unthinkable……Daisy our Scottish Terrier was enjoying other doggies, smells amidst the autumn leaves when in the main parade the Scottish Highland Band proceeded up the street.

As they approached she was traumatised by the foreign sounds that eminated from the pipes…..

Well not a well rounded Scotty after all!!!!!!!!!

You can enjoy a visit to Arrowtown on our Local Area Queenstown Tour or get back into the back blocks on a High Country Discovery Tour.

We are all looking forward to the winter ski season, this shoulder part of the season when we wait for the snow is a time to catch up, tidy the garden and prepare for winter.

We will be guiding our usual small groups up on the mountain, providing a Landrover 4WD vehicle with experienced winter drivers again. They can take all the hassle out of coordinating your ski holiday to Queenstown and provide a relaxing comfortable stay including the various ski fields in the region for your level of ability and special interests.

Give us a call and we can help with all your requirements, and even Daisy can come along if you like!

Biking local trails you are reminded of this incredible place we are fortunate to live in. Rich, gold autumn colours of Willows and Sycamores mixed with Pin Oak reds and Rowan trees with their bright orange berries. Rose Hip reds are profuse amongst rocky crags and fissures. Biking to Jacks Point is such fun and yesterday we did the new Gibbston Valley trail connecting vineyards from the Bungy bridge following the clear water of the Kawarua River. No wine samples were had but the thermet tea will be a must for next time!

Invigorating is really the only word for it………..

Jacks Point Trail Lake Wakatipu

Gibbston Valley new Trail

Now is such a great time to visit Queenstown and the Southern Lakes Region. The weather is settled the temperature is warm ( Today 18 Deg C) and daylight hours long enough to fit plenty of activity in. Take a ride to Glenorchy and the High Country Discovery Tour into Paradise Valley or a local tour including part of Skippers Canyon and the brilliant autumn colour around Arrowtown. Or seek out gold mining history and venture to Skippers Canyon on a Heritage Tour with picnic lunch amidst the golden foliage.

Skippers Canyon Heritage Tour

Autumn in Queenstown

In visiting such a wilderness we can feel invigorated and content that there are still such places in the world.

Untouched, unpopulated and inhospitable at times but rewarding.

You can visit this area to see yellow Eyed Penguins at dusk ( one of the rarest Penguins in the world) sea lions in their territory and abundant marine birdlife.

Catlins Coastline

Deep, relentless forces

Buckle the layered land

Hiding bays and beaches between

Long, low folds of mountains

With rugged rocky headlands

Butting into the sea.

Purakanui Bay

Numerous requests for PRIVATE DISCOVERY TOURS and small group tours to the Catlins, Dunedin , Milford Sound, Skippers Canyon and nearby rugged High Country enabled guests to New Zealand to see more than they would have ever imagined. Sometimes the most demanding requests because they are so different turn out to be the most rewarding and interesting. We have seen numerous Yellow Eyed Penguins in the Catlins, Sea Lions on the beaches and walked beautiful trails through lush rainforest. Locally SKIPPERS CANYON rewards visitors with Gold Mining heritage, short walks and the opportunity to pan for gold and our HIGH COUNTRY DISCOVERY enables close up farming encounters, unique birdlife and stunning scenic mountain views in the Paradise Valley.

Go on a coach if you want to meet 48 other people,a journey that will take longer, be totally inflexible and go where everyone else goes….when you could experience a personalised small group tour to some of our unique locations.