Although NZScenics Tour Route is an enhancement
and extension of NZGolf.net, we have not
attempted to make it a golfer's journal.
We would like to think the pics in NZGolf.net
and the contact information included with
each golf course page, speaks for themselves.
On the same theme, when talking about travel
times we have not calculated any time for
playing golf courses. Whenever time becomes
a matter of importance, you will need to
factor in how long you intend spending on
them.
Seeing New Zealand while you still can
By David Hanger
40 Montgomery Road
Tauranga, NZ
In 1998 I found myself on the
too-old-to-be employed scrap heap, so instead
of using my computer to write for a local
newspaper, I sat at my computer and dreamt
up the NZGolf.net web site. Once it was up
and running I was lucky enough to strike
up a business partnership with Tom Mills,
the financial and marketing brains behind
South-Pacific-Golf.com Ltd, publishers of
NZGolf.net, NZ-Hotels.com, NZHere.com, Australia-Golf.net,
AU-Hotels.com and AU-here.com.
At the close of 2002, with the golfing
theme web sites ticking along as a financially
viable internet enterprise, I suffered a
minor, but nevertheless, life threatening,
health problem.
Fortunately it was serious enough to
get
me into the public health system's
outstanding
crisis treatment department. In short order remedial reticulation repairs
were
successfully completed and the red
stuff
started flowing again in the more or
less
unrestricted manner it is meant to.
Happily I found myself with new found
energy
and a restlessness to get more out
of life
than I had in the past.
Now, in 2005, at age 75 and having been forcefully
reminded that I am no longer considererd a productive economic unit. Therefore, because I am inelligible to go onto medical waiting lists for this and that lifestyle remedial operations, such as hip replacements, I am well advanced on a new plan. My goal now is to
see as much of New Zealand while I still
can - from ground level.
That is, while I'm
still capable of it and while the country
has yet to be fully overrun in the impossible
pursuit of infinite economic growth.
About 40 years ago, as the national editor/publisher
of a couple of service club magazines, I
managed to fly into and out of most of NZ's
medium to large towns and cities. Over
a decade or so I was away from home
half-a-dozen weekends too many; to have seen
far too many clouds; and to know where most
of the country's consumer society support-centres
are located.
In spite of all that travelling around
I still hadn't experienced the natural beauty
and visual excitement to be seen and experienced
in between those towns and cities.
I was
blythly unaware of what New Zealand had to offer
those who actually stayed on the ground and
motored from place to place in a leisurely,
life-extending fashion.
Having started on my new journey, I was inspired
to share my experiences with everyone who cared
to show an interest - and, in the process,
hopefully thereby obtain sufficient funds
to do even more travelling and sharing! NZScenics, Mark I, is
the result.
It is in essence a journal of just one road-traveller's
impressions and personal opinions. It is recorded
in pictures and includes my own personal documentary of
touring New Zealand's highways and some of its by-ways.
I travel with my mate Flossy, a lively
wired-haired fox terrior who never seems
to get enough of the passing scenery. For this reason, I chose stop-over holiday parks and or motels
which are not averse to the presence of man's
best friend. (My other best friend, Susanne,
a ballet teacher par excellance, has yet
to be persuaded that the must-travel-the-local-roads
while living in a tiny box is such a great
idea!)
Upmarket hotels, motels, holiday parks and
pricey tourists attractions are there for
the paying, and may very well suit your budget.
I understand some of the high-priced attractions
are great value for money. The NZScenics
commentary is influenced by the fact that I was looking to experience New Zealand's natural environment.
The good news is, my commentary is in the form
of picture captions and travel notes. It is
nothing more nor less than a personal opinion
and will in no way affect the joys you will
see and experience by touring our highways,
irrespective of where you stay, or on what or how
you spend your travel budget.
Like turning off the television or leaving
it behind altogether, you have the option of
reading the commentary by clicking "Travel Note" (and/or "Feature") links which produce new windows to scroll and read. Or just viewing the pictures by turning the pages. (Pages are turned by clicking the lower right arrows.)
Enjoy NZScenics' pictorial and editorial preview,
but waste not a moment longer before taking to New Zealand roads yourself. See real natural beauty of
unending variety - all packed into a quite
small land mass. If you haven't visited us
before, you will very often be surprised, if
not awe-inspired at the breath-taking scenery
which greets you around the next corner.
PS. In 2005 I was joined by tramping and photography enthusiast Patrick Kelly and writer Tony Steemson. Tony is providing easy-to-read and highly descriptive "Features" on a number of the areas covered in NZScenics. Pat is walking, tramping, mountain climbing and photographing the sights and scenes to be viewed on the walkways and tracks in the vicinity of our touring maps. Me, I'm sticking with "Scenes from the highway", that is views seen from the inside of a touring vehicle, or at least in the very near vicinity.