'what on earth'

 

 

The newsletter of active earth New Zealand

4 September 2007

Kia ora

What’s new with active earth New Zealand? Our website for one; we’ve gone ahead and given it a spring clean. We’re hoping to keep you interested with lots of new information – not just about our trips but interesting things as well too. We have the latest results from the books and films survey to inspire you, we have outdoor tips and quotes to amuse you, and we have crazy stuff to entertain you.

If you think our new site is unworthy, feel free to destroy it with Net Disaster (virtually at least); offload some anger on websites that make you mad!

We’ll try and keep our newsletters short, sharp and occasional because we are much happier running the best little wilderness trips in NZ than writing newsletters!

Our trips are as affordable as ever, & better than ever.

Happy reading,

The active earthlings

PS the site has only just been updated, if you notice anything that you think we haven’t, it would be just fantastic if you let us know - thank you

 

in this edition

• are you a bargain hunter?
• new trip – Volcanic Plateau
• man sells South Island for $1
• North Island special
• has someone squashed your tomatoes?
• what’s happening in New Zealand?
• interesting oddities

 

are you a bargain hunter?

There was never a better time to travel to New Zealand. Book any two different trips and receive NZ$200 off. Bargain! See the specials page.

In addition, Virgin Blue just commenced domestic flights in New Zealand. Thanks to the extra competition, travelling around New Zealand has never been better value (all the other airlines are dropping their fares too). This makes it really simple to link up trips.

 

new trip - Volcanic Plateau

Our market research revealed the need for a shorter trip. We've delivered this in the form of our new Volcanic Plateau 5-day trip through the central active volcanic area. Experience the famous icons of New Zealand in (relative) comfort but still get a really good trek done. See Rotorua's thermal zone, discover hot streams, hike along lakes and trek among volcanoes in Tongariro national Park. This is the perfect trip if you're short on time or you like a bit more comfort, as the camping is optional. We stay in either budget lodges or comfy huts. You can start and finish in Auckland, or link with the spectacular Overlander train down to Wellington.

 

man sells South Island for $1

Not true - everyone knows it's worth ten times that, but it was the best title we could come up with to tell you that we now have trips in the fabulous south.

Truthfully, the South Island is now on sale. For your adventuring pleasure you can now experience the dramatic locations in the South Island with our West Coast Wilderness and Secret South safaris.

 

North Island special

We have always known the North Island was special. Book any North Island trip before 01 October 2007 NOW 01 November 2007 and get NZ$50 of hire gear thrown at you for free. And with our new Volcanic Plateau trip there are now three safaris to choose from (offer not valid if you are already scooping up our $200 off offer –sorry about that).
• The Far North
• Volcanoes and Rainforest Safari
• Volcanic Plateau

 

has someone squashed your tomatoes - outdoor tip

In our quest to obtain the combined knowledge of all the trampers (hikers) on the planet, we accumulate useful outdoor tips on our website. Submit your own tips and return regularly to our website to see what handy outdoor hints others have sent us, or that we’ve stumbled onto when we’re not in the office.

Tired of hiking to the perfect lunch spot only to find your tomatoes are squashed? Pack all your soft food items inside a billy or pot. This will protect them from getting hammered inside your pack. It also helps prevent any nasty juices leaking into the rest of your gear. Uurgh! No worries now mate.

 

what’s happening in New Zealand?

Volcanic mudflow produced from collapse of Crater Lake.
On 18 March 2007 this long-awaited event occurred in Tongariro National Park. Water broke through the rim of the Crater Lake of Mt Ruapehu which had been in an unstable condition since the 1996 eruptions.. Fortunately it didn’t turn out like the Tangiwai disaster of 1953 where a rail bridge was washed away and a passenger train plunged into the river.
The images live on and you can watch them over and over again thanks to YouTube. See the lahar

 

interesting oddities

Swat a fly. Get some online practise in swatting pesky flying fiends.

Are you faking it? Find out if you can tell whose smile is genuine and whose isn't. It's trickier than you might think.

Know which book you're reading next? A new way of choosing what to read to match your mood is provided by whichbook.net online.

If you think our new site is unworthy, feel free to destroy it with Net Disaster (virtually at least); offload some anger on websites that make you mad.

We hope you liked our newsletter,
We’d love to see you on another trip some time, keep us in mind.

The active earthlings (at the end of the earth).