20-21 April 2015
Glenorchy is 45 minutes from Queenstown. The stunning 45km lakeside drive offers breathtaking views of Lake Wakatipu, hanging valleys and sheer mountains. Make sure you stop at the Bennetts Bluff Lookout (on the left, 25kms from Queenstown) for an amazing view of the head of the lake and an excellent photo opportunity. On a sunny day, the Lake Wakatipu is awesome with blue water.
Glenorchy is an outdoor enthusiasts paradise. Glenorchy has provided the backdrop for many films including Lord of the Rings, Vertical Limit, and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
The Funky Bunker was built by a local metal worker, Hamish. The bunker was originally from the mountaineering film set of "Vertical Limit." The bunker has been flown around New Zealand under a helicopter, also appearing on Mt Cook with film crew poring over it.
Once the film was finished Hamish inherited the Bunker of which he then lived in the forest on an area of land 20 mins up the Valley called Camp Hill, below lovers leap a bluff that two young Maori lovers from apposing tribes jumped to their deaths from. Here he was living off the grid under solar power, gas bottles, out door bath, the works. This land was sold and Hamish had to move, James heard of this tale a few days before he was leaving to work and offered Hamish to move onto his land.
One and half years later James returned to New Zealand after circumnavigating the Pacific, at which time Hamish had brought a house in the village, so James brought the bunker from Hamish and renovated it a into a funky cosy cabin like a little yacht. A minimum two nights stay is required.
It consist of one main cabin inclusive of: shower/laundry, fire place, kitchen, lounge area, opening onto a deck adjoining a 1940s caravan (the bedroom has a queen size mattress) in a large private garden setting surrounded by a hedge and mountain vistas
Main Cabin
Second cabin (Bedroom)
The toilet is very basic with no flush
You shall be able to locate the iconic Glenorchy red shed at the wharf. Make a walk out on the pier, it will provide you with those beautiful postcard style photographs. I was sad for the weather at first, but later I realized the landscape taken in mist and fog was not so bad.
Lake Sylvan Track is about two hours return. The track leads through old moraine river terraces and very tall red beech/tawhai raunui to pretty Lake Sylvan, home to brown trout and numerous small native fish. We nearly gave up on this track as it was drizzling and we were worried we could not return to the car park before dusk since we started the track late. 
The Dart River Safari was highly recommended by my friend and it was one of the most costly tour in our itinerary. The Funyak tour combines an hour of high-speed Wilderness Jet boating through the waters of the Dart River and kayaking through canyon on crystal clear waters. The poor weather would not make the trip worthwhile and hence we were given option to cancel the trip with full refund. We however decided to proceed.
It was a very cold day. We were wearing wetsuit, flea jacket, waterproof wind jacket and life jacket.
We boarded the Wilderness Jet Boat
It was a fun jet boating on a shallow dart river. The boat ride was bumpy but adventurous.
I expected most to visit the canyon but it was canceled as the river was flooded with rain water
We stopped for picnic lunch in a hut. We stayed closed to the heater to keep ourselves warm.
Pouring hot water on the feet may sound insane. This was the trick taught by our guide to warm our feet and it worked perfectly.
The picnic lunch impressed me very much. The guide carried all the food (sandwiches, cakes, soup, fruits) and drinks (Coffee, Tea, Cocoa powder) with him from the beginning through out the jet boating and kayaking.
Our guide was preparing the food
As a replacement for the canyon, we were taken for a short walk to see a waterfall instead, not very impressive though.
We continued the kayaking after lunch back to the "Paradise" where we would be transferred to the center by van
We helped clearing the leftover food while taking rest. Yummy.....
We helped to deflate and fold the kayaks
Our guide made fun with my mother. He pushed her down to deflate the kayak. The guide is a funny and nice person. He must be bored as the group was all Asians and we were being quiet.
Paradise is 20 kilometres from Glenorchy. 8 km is sealed road and the last 12 km is unsealed. Paradise is 'just that' there is no cafe, no shop, just an amazing setting on Diamond Lake below Mount Eearnslaw and Mt Alfred. Having no idea Paradise was not an attraction spot but rather a remote place with no cafe/shop, my friends and I were driving hard to locate this place during my last trip here. We thought we were lost and decided to turn back. We did drive on the unsealed road but we had no idea how far we had been driving.
Please also read my previous post on Glenorchy.
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