Milford Sound is New Zealand’s most iconic tourist attraction.  The Fiordland National Park (the country’s largest) is home to 14 spectacular fiords that have been carved out by glaciers through many ice ages and over millions of years.  Of these 14 fiords, Milford Sound is considered the most spectacular, and the crowning jewel of this World Heritage area.

According to Maori legend, a god-like ancestor named Tu Te Rakiwharoa, sculpted the fiords with his Ko (digging stick).  He began his work in the far south before arriving at the location of what is considered to be his finest work, Piopiotahi (Milford Sound).

A visit to New Zealand is not complete without a visit to Milford Sound and nowadays there are a few different methods of making your way there.  A scenic 30 minute flight out of Queenstown is arguably the most spectacular, but for many however, the chance to drive the scenic alpine highway is also too good to miss.

Whether you are part of a coach tour or have your own vehicle, the day would start at the township of Te Anau, otherwise known as the ‘Gateway to Fiordland’.  From Te Anau is it a 120 kilometre drive north along SH94 that takes you through wide open plains, dense beech woodland and high mountain passes. It is the only road in and out of Milford, making the people who live there the most isolated community in New Zealand.

Along the Milford road there are countless opportunities for photo stops. Mirror Lakes, Eglinton Valley, the Homer Tunnel, The Chasm to name but a few.  If you’re driving yourself it’s worth making sure you have a map of the Milford road so you don’t miss a thing!  The drive can take anywhere between 2-4 hours depending on your stops.

Once you reach the end of the road, you’ll be greeted by the stunning Mitre Peak.  The country’s most photographed landmark – a towering sea cliff rising over a mile high out of the ocean floor.  Find yourself a space in the car park and then take the short 10 minute walk to the Visitors’ Terminal, where you can access your cruise.

When you come to board your JUCY Cruize, you’ll find smaller, more personalised vessel with a warm and welcoming interior.  Our friendly staff will be available throughout the cruise to answer any of your questions, and ensure there is a steady flow of complimentary hot drinks available.  The cruise is approximately 1.5 hours long and takes you along the southern coast of the fiord, out to the Tasman Sea, and returning along the northern coast back to the harbour.

During your cruise you will learn about the history, geography and wildlife of the area through an informal and informative commentary. You will see Mitre Peak in all its 1692 metre glory. You will see and hear the roar from the 160 metre Bowen Falls, and feel the spray as you get up close and personal with the 140 metre Stirling Falls. If you are lucky enough you will see Seals, Dolphins and the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin.

Check out dolphins swimming along next to our boat.  Keep your fingers crossed and you might get treated to this on your trip!

All in all it is an amazing experience not to be missed, but there is perhaps one thing that makes a Milford Sound cruise truly awesome – the rain!
The climate in Milford is different throughout the year, and can change remarkably quickly, but there is nothing more spectacular than seeing the fiord during a heavy downpour.  The Fiordland National Park is actually a designated rainforest, due to the amount of rain it receives each. You can expect rain for 180 – 200 days each year, and the record for Milford Sound is 550mm (22 inches of rain!) in a 24 hour period.  More than most places see in a year!

Most visitors are put off by the forecast of rain, but we strongly encourage you to take a cruise when it’s raining. The unique topography of the area, (the sheer cliff faces and lack of soil on the mountains) mean that the rain quickly gathers in cracks and gullies and soon form huge torrents of water which steam down the mountain sides.  In clear weather there are usually only a handful of permanent waterfalls, however during heavy rain there are literally thousands that flow into the fiord.

So whether you have sunshine or rainclouds, penguins or dolphins, you are always guaranteed to have a wonderful experience on your JUCY Cruize.  Just don’t forget the camera!

Love
Lucy xx

Some of the crew from JUCY HQ went on a weekend roadtrip to White Island and by the sounds of things and the look of their pics they had a ball!  Love, Lucy xx

On a Saturday we picked the JUCY car up from our Auckland City Branch which was a very fancy red colour.  Our journey should take us to White Island where we booked a White Island Volcano tour for Sunday.

We all were very excited to see the Island and couldn’t wait. Our first stop was in Matamata for lunch - a big feed and a coffee.  After refreshment we started our ride again because we had a couple of hours still to go to get to Whakatane.

The weather was beautiful so we decided to stop on a beach where we introduced Jucy Lucy to a local fisherman.

Finally we arrived in Whakatane – Phew what a long drive!  We took ourselves off for dinner to a fish and chips restaurant (Of course a MUST DO for Kiwi’s) and it was classical served in a wrap paper on a big plate. Yummy!

The next morning we woke up early and started our trip to White Island by boat. On the boat we learned that the Island volcano is calm one and has ‘only’ a level 1.  If it would have been level 5 no one would be able to go on that Island.  The environment is absolutely incredible like a moon landscape apart from the clouds of mist.  On the Island we had to follow our guide strictly because the steam is dangerous and was everywhere on the Island.   The crater is a big green lake and you wouldn’t believe that this is an active volcano crater.  The rocks have different colours (red, brown and yellow depending on the different minerals).  After a while we had to take off our jackets because it was so hot and humid.  At the beginning of the tour when were given gasmasks we didn’t believe that we would actually need them but sometimes you could hardly breathe and you were happy to have them.   The hot pools remind you how hot the ground is and you can feel it in your shoes as well. WOW!

Check out this video clip that we took to give you an idea of what the island is like…

Back on the boat we enjoyed our lunch before we started the journey back home.  We all agreed this was an amazing experience and a Must Do for everyone!

Annemarie, Carol and Gordon
Part of the JUCY Crew

It makes our day to hear from people travelling around New Zealand & Australia in our JUCY Rides.  Here is an email from some JUCY Lovers who spent seven weeks with us and a link to their blog which is definatley worth a read!  Thanks guys – so glad you enjoyed your JUCY Experience and thanks for writing about it!  Love, Lucy xx

 

Hello,

My girlfriend and I spent seven weeks travelling around New Zealand in a Jucy Crib. We handed the campervan back today, sad times!

We have been keeping a travel blog during our trip which might have a few good stories about our time in travelling around in the van. It can be found at www.jamesandpamela.blogspot.com

I have attached a few photographs of our travels around this amazing country!

Kind regards
James

 

Here is an amazing blog entry from a JUCY Lover who had one hell of an adventure in Oz!  Thanks Pamela for sending this through & we are glad you enjoyed your JUCY experience.  Love, Lucy xx

Picture yourself alone and stranded on one of the lonely stretches of road somewhere between Georgetown and Croydon in Queensland’s far north, in the middle of January. The mid-morning temperature is 38 degrees C in the shade, if you’re lucky enough to find some. The only sign of life since you left Georgetown was a road train that blew past more than an hour ago and two huge vultures circling what is left of a dingo pup from last night’s road kill. This, my friends, is the Gulf Development Road, a thread of bitumen that crosses Cape York Peninsular connecting Cairns on the Pacific Ocean to Kurumba on the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Instead of 4 wheel driving it and paying for hotel rooms every night, both of which can be very pricey in the outback, we chose to rent a Jucy campervan. These cleverly converted mini-vans with their kitchenettes and expandable tent beds on top allowed us to travel in comfort and offered us the freedom to stop where ever we wanted and stay as long as we liked.

We loved our little home on wheels, having the fridge within arm’s reach was a real advantage on the long stretches of empty road. The floor plan allowed for two double beds, one downstairs and one up. We had stocked up on movies and the two portable DVD players meant that we were able to watch the latest blockbuster even if we were in the middle of nowhere. I have to admit that we did worry about the fact that we would not have air conditioning when the engine was off but to our surprise when the scorching sun went down the temperature dropped to a very pleasant 20 – 24 degrees C and we were treated to a gentle breeze and a fabulously star studded night sky. We were given three insurance options – ‘no thanks’, ‘chance it ‘ and ‘stress free’.

Seeing as we were on vacation and heading into the great Australian unknown, we thought we’d better go ‘stress free’ – and so for $25 worth of insurance a day we bought ourselves complete peace of mind.

WHEN JUCY SAYS STRESS FREE – JUCY MEANS STRESS FREE

The thin strip of road unravelling before us was all we could see on our horizon. Not deviating even a millimetre from the perfectly straight line that it was, surrounded on both sides by the low growing scrub and arid grasslands of the savannah. This was the great outdoors all right; this is where one man’s property is as large as another man’s country. Not a human soul in sight for as far as we could see in any direction and then some. This is the frightening beauty and the life threatening isolation of the Australian outback. No cell phone reception, no radio, no internet, no gas, no water but a whole lot of respect for this gentle and yet formidable giant of a country.

The light was low and the shadows long as we chewed through the kilometres. Out of nowhere, a large rock appeared on the road ahead of us, followed immediately by a loud, clunking blow to our underbelly. It had happened before we knew it and without speaking we realised that all was not good. I’m not sure which thought crossed my mind first, thank goodness we bought “stress free” insurance or “we could die out here.”

Much to our relief, we seemed to have suffered no obvious damage and made the decision to continue on to Croydon. The thought of spending the night out there all alone, on the side of the road was a reminder to us of just how vulnerable we really were in that solitary and unforgiving environment.

It was not until we were safely parked under a shady tree in Croydon’s bustling CBD that we noticed oil pouring from the bowels of our vehicle. After a few phone calls from the only mechanic shop in town the decision was made that we would return to Cairns later in the week with Doug, a local station owner and stock man. Jucy stepped in and immediately took responsibility for the repair of the van which would involve waiting for parts to arrive from Cairns. Jucy staff were courteous and helpful throughout the whole ordeal and in terms of Australian rental car companies they have proven themselves to be one of the best in our opinion. Go Jucy!!

Pamela Mountjoy

Day 13 – JUCY Lucy Snorkels the Great Barrier Reef

The final activity on our JUCY East Coast adventure made an appearance on day 13, and the great news was that we had saved the best ‘til last!

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is one of the 7 wonders of the natural world and is quintessential to the completion of any holiday down under.  In fact I can’t think of a better way to finish our trip.

Looking at the reef from the top simply doesn’t do it justice!  Dive just below the surface and you will uncover a whole new and exciting world; a place where every living creature interacts and a rainbow of colours stretches as far as the eye can see.  The reef boasts a world of beauty that words simply cannot describe.  Spectacular, magnificent, breathtaking, awe-inspiring, stunning…nope, that doesn’t quite do it!

A day out here will let you get up close to the world’s largest reef system, where friendly locals like Wally the giant parrot fish and Nemo will pose just long enough to take a photo.  There really is no experience quite like it!

Sad to see it end, we cruised back to the shores of Cairns where we picked up our camper for the very last time and returned it to the friendly staff at the JUCY Cairns Depot.

It had been an adventure…one filled with amazing sights, great people, fantastic activities and memorable moments.  The freedom our JUCY Camper had given us really made it as unforgettable as it was and has me looking forward to future JUCY adventures in this Great Southern Land.

Hope you have enjoyed following our adventure & until my next roadtrip take care.  

Merry Christmas!

Love
Lucy xx

Day 12 – JUCY Lucy explores the Atherton Tablelands

A day of sightseeing lay ahead on Day 12 of our JUCY East Coast adventure, and instead of following the coast we decided to detour inland in order to reach our final destination of Cairns.

Stopping for a famous home-made pie in Cardwell was a must before taking the turn-off to Queensland’s number one attraction, Paronella Park.  Admission is hefty, so if you’re a JUCY traveler on a tight budget, just sneak a peak from the outside.

The scenic inland route took us through the glorious Atherton Tablelands where we uncovered a land of waterfalls, delicious homemade chocolates and cheeses, and potent liqueurs and wines.  There are so many great places to stop along the way and your JUCY Camper will give you the freedom to do so…unlike an organised tour bus.

After sampling delicious marshmallow and mulberry liqueurs at a distillery just outside Mareeba, we headed towards Kuranda.  Watch out for police on the bends of these roads.  We saw 3 picking drivers up for speeding!

After a rainforest hike to the spectacular Barron Falls, we reached the city of Cairns, which was by now a fairyland of colourful lights, glistening over the harbour’s surface. After checking in at the Cairns Holiday Park we headed straight to the Esplanade where we found crazy bargains at the famous night markets and a trendy array of restaurants, cafes and bars.

A moonlight walk along the lagoon’s edge was the perfect way to end the day before spending our last (hot) night in the JUCY Grande.

The Great Barrier Reef is calling my name tomorrow, so until then.

Love
Lucy xx

JUCY Lucy Cruises the Whitsundays

Day 1

74 Islands, 25 people, 3 days and 1 boat = the Whitsunday adventure of a lifetime!   

On day 9 of our JUCY East Coast adventure we said goodbye to our campa and boarded the Pride of Airlie, ready to embark on a Whitsundays Koala’s Reef Trip.  Airlie and the Whitsundays are notoriously known for their parties and wild nightlight, making this the ultimate social destination for JUCY travelers.

The first day of cruising exposed us to the vastness of these islands, with spectacular turquoise waters and incredibly jagged rocks creating a postcard-perfect scene.  We soon arrived at South Molle Island (also known as Koala Adventures Island) where we found a tropical resort with a huge pool, fabulous spa and incredible ocean and island views. A hike up to Spinion Kop rewarded us with unsurpassed views of the surrounding islands and an epic sunset.

After a scrumptious dinner, a few drinking games made their way onto the menu. Sculling jugs of beer broke the ice and 2-for-1 drinks between 8:30 and 9pm kept a Jucy night rolling!

Day 2

The sun rising over turquoise waters was magical to wake up to for day 2 on the Whitsundays, and the smell of bacon and eggs perked us up even more before heading out on the water again

First stop was Border Island, where we donned stinger suits and prepared to be dazzled by the reef.  While I’ve been snorkeling before, nothing can compare to this…so far anyway.  Coral of every colour, size and shape lay before my eyes, with fascinating green and purple clam tempting me to dive down for a closer look.  Tropical fish surrounded us, glimmering in the sun and shying away at the first sight of human contact.  I didn’t want it to end, but we soon hauled ourselves up into the boat where we enjoyed a tasty summer lunch.

The famous Whitehaven Beach was beckoning us next and here we saw our first turtles, cheekily popping their heads up out of the water to check out the action. The hike up to the lookout was a hot one, but once we reached the top all thoughts of the temperature diminished and were replaced with awe and wonder at the beauty and spectacle of Whitsunday Island.  The scene was everything everyone imagined it would be…just like the postcards.  It was even more amazing to swim in, with the waters crystal clear and the sand the purest white. Reef sharks were lurking in the shallows, but this didn’t seem to deter anyone from enjoying these pristine waters.

Exhausted and sun-drenched it was time to return to the luxuries of the island, where a relaxing dip in the spa was the perfect way to celebrate the sun going down.

A delicious dinner awaited followed by more free jugs of beer and a $1 pool comp. “Happy half-hour” saw everyone stocking up on drinks, making getting out on the dance floor an easy task.  Skinny dipping in the pool was off-limits so jumping in clothes and all it was!   There really is no better way to cool off!

Day 3

A yummy breakfast greeted us again on Day 3 of our Whitsunday adventure.  Our destination today was Hayman Island; a top-rated snorkeling destination.  Just like the previous day, the reef here was incredible with schools of colourful fish inquisitively exploring the castles of coral that once again took our breath away.  The coral practically glowed and the visibility was the clearest I’ve seen.  Dragging ourselves up the ladder we were once again greeted with another fresh and delicious lunch. With satisfied appetites it was time to return to reality, AKA, the mainland!

After saying goodbye to new-found friends, the Koala crew and without a doubt the world’s most pristine set of islands, it was time to once again get acquainted with our JUCY campervan rental.  After spending a few minutes trying to spot ours in another sea of green and purple campers, we cranked up the AC and left the gorgeous Airlie Beach; destination, Townsville.

A stop at the “Big Mango” in Bowen was a must…as was picking up some of the delicious home-made mango sorbet.

The 100 kilometres between Bowen and Ayr was a lot like the Marlborough stretch; barren, bare and practically uninhabited.  Be sure to stop in at one of the free Driver Reviver’s for a wake-up coffee and charge up those i-pods.

We reached Townsville just as the sun was coming down, with Castle Hill offering a beautiful silhouette view.  We headed straight to Adventurer’s Resort where we paid just $5 to camp our JUCY camper for the night…a real bargain for budget travelers!  While in town be sure to check out the Seaview Tavern; home to the best steaks in North Queensland and an ideal place to “eat, drink and groove”!

Next stop…Cairns!

Love
Lucy xx

Day 8 – JUCY Lucy Lucy Explores Airlie Beach

The allures of the beautiful Airlie Beach dragged me out of bed as the sun rose on Day 8 of our JUCY East Coast adventure.

A drive down to Shute Harbour rewarded us with spectacular views of the turquoise waters and magnificent mountainous islands.  JUCY Campervans were dominating the roads and a sea of green and purple flooded the marina car park.

We squeezed in a bit of retail therapy at some of the local shopping centres before heading towards Curtis Falls.  There’s about 2km of dirt road leading to these falls, so determined, I parked the JUCY Grande, hiked the track and found a stunning oasis of green pools and thundering falls.  The swimming was amazing, with the cool waters a welcome relief from the Queensland heat.

Airlie Beach is full of fantastic places to explore that a tour bus would never take you to.  Perhaps this is why so many tourists had chosen to explore it the JUCY way?

Above:  Kath and Kim from Denmark who thought our JUCY Ride was pretty cool & a photo of Airlie Beach

After meandering our way in our JUCY Campa down to Conway Beach we picked up some of the freshest lychees you could taste.  For $5 a kilo, we scored a bargain.

We returned to Airlie just in time to catch the sun’s reflection over the gorgeous waters, and wandered along the shorelines, being extra careful not to encounter any box jellyfish.

A relaxing dip in the Lagoon provided enough pick-me-up for another night on the town, while also working up an epic appetite.

KC’s puts on a mean steak for $10.50, while Oska’s has a great 2-for-1 deal on Tuesday nights.  Boasting live music until 3am, KC’s entertained us with the live vocals of an amazing 16-year old local talent who captured the audience and kept them hanging around til late.

3 days of Whitsunday cruising lay ahead, so a good night sleep in the JUCY Grande was in need.

So until my next update……

Love
Lucy xx

Day 7 – JUCY Lucy Parties it up in Airlie Beach

An awesome view greeted us from the windows of the JUCY Grande on day 7 of our JUCY East Coast adventure.  Coconut palms enclosed the glorious Emu Park beach, with the Keppel Islands not too far off on the horizon.

We soon discovered we weren’t the only JUCY travelers to take advantage of this top spot.  A group of 4 young European backpackers (all male, much to my delight) had squished themselves into a JUCY Choppa right next to us.  Describing the sleeping arrangements as “cuddly” they were having a fantastic time taking advantage of freedom camping in Australia.

Leaving Emu Park via Yepoon, we soon hit the Marlborough stretch; notorious for being Queensland’s most boring stretch of road. It lived up to its name, with no towns, shops or petrol stations seen for miles.  Make sure your travel buddy stays awake on this stretch; fatigue is common.  Charging up your i-pod is also a good idea, as very little radio reception can be found here.

We hit Airlie Beach just as the soon as the sun was going down and discovered that while the sun may go to sleep, this town never does.  After settling in at the new and JUCYlicious Nomads Airlie Beach, it was time to check out the famous Airlie nightlife.  For a Monday night, this place goes off! $3 basic spirits and limbo at Beaches and live entertainment and $7 beer jugs at Paddy’s Shenanigans kept backpackers on a high until the early hours of the morning, with Nomads just a short walk from the action making crawling into bed an easy task.

Nomads Airlie Beach is situated right in the centre of all the action, Nomads Airlie Beach is without a doubt the place to stay while in this party town.  Positioned just between Beaches, Paddy’s Shenanigans and the newly opened Down Under Bar, Nomads offers hostel accommodation and a huge grassy area to park your JUCY Campervan.

Clean bathroom facilities make getting ready to party a breeze, with a camp kitchen, laundry and pool and spa adding that little extra bit of luxury to your camping adventure. Wi-Fi hotspots can be found all throughout the grounds, while a breezy chillout area with couches and swing chairs also offering a heap of computers, ideal for catching up with loved ones.

Just a 5 minute walk to the beautiful new Lagoon, and close to all the shops and pubs, Nomads Airlie Beach is the place to be!

Until tomorrow,

Love
Lucy xx

Day 6 – Lucy Learns to Surf then hits Emu Park

The unpredictable Queensland weather had been on its best behavior until the early hours of today, when the rain began to fall.

Never one to let it rain on my parade, I set out to conquer the waves of Agnes Water, heading out for a surfing lesson.   After a run through on the sand we were ready to brave the waves. Everyone picked it up really quickly, and soon enough I was standing up…well once anyway. A great activity for travelers looking for a day of fun in the sun.

Worn out from using muscles I never knew I had, the road towards Emu Park lay ahead.  Flooded roads forced us to retrace our tire tracks from the previous day, adding 2 extra hours to the drive.  This is something you really need to take into account when driving in Australia as the weather here is incredibly unpredictable.

The road between Gin Gin and Rockhampton is no fun stretch to tackle.  There is basically nothing by the side of the road, including petrol stations, so make sure you fuel up in Gin Gin.  Several parts along the way are signed as driver fatigue areas so if you’re keen for some fun there are some trivia questions on the road signs to keep those eyes from closing.  If those don’t work, the endless potholes are sure to jolt you back into the land of the living.  Careful to avoid these though, because they will jolt your JUCY Camper around like there’s no tomorrow!

A free “Driver Reviver” in Calliope was a welcome sight and perfect for a free wake-up coffee and biccie.

Our JUCY adventure continued into the night, and when we arrived in the coastal town of Emu Park it was almost entirely asleep. We set up camp right on the beachfront and looked forward to the morning sunrise over the beach.

Until tomorrow,

Love
Lucy xx