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| Lake Waikaremoana |
A global search is underway to find four adventurers to
take on the challenge of a lifetime by completing all of New Zealand’s nine
famous Great Walks in just nine weeks.
Air New Zealand’s search for The Great Walker is being run
in association with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC) and will see
four global winners take on New Zealand’s premier DOC tracks; Abel Tasman
Coast, Heaphy, Kepler, Lake Waikaremoana, Milford, Rakiura, Routeburn,
Tongariro and Whanganui Journey.
The Great Walks span 550km of spectacular New Zealand
terrain from alpine peaks to glacial valleys, native bush, rainforests and
golden beaches.
Every year about 75,000 people from across New Zealand and
around the world enjoy these internationally renowned wilderness experiences –
each of which takes between three and five days to complete.
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| Lake Waikaremoana |
Both DOC and Air New Zealand are delighted to be able to
share these tourism treasures with an even wider audience through this online
competition which challenges keen walkers, trekkers and hikers to get creative
and demonstrate why they believe they deserve to win a place on this wild
adventure by uploading either a short YouTube video or a Pinterest board of
inspiring images.
The four winners begin their journey at the southern most
point of the country with the first of the nine Great Walks – Rakiura Track on
Stewart Island - and then make their way north conquering one track each week
for nine weeks. As well as undertaking
the Great Walks the winners will also enjoy other Kiwi outdoor experiences
including local wildlife encounters and adventure activities such as mountain
biking, canyoning and jet boating.
The group will be joined along the way by Air New Zealand
and DOC staff and celebrity guests. Each
winner will share their journey with the world via regular blog updates.
Air New Zealand Head of Sponsorship and Community James
Gibson describes the trip as a once in a lifetime experience. “New Zealand is internationally renowned for
its stunning scenery and we’re thrilled to be able to offer people the chance
to come and see it for themselves.
Whether someone is a nature lover, has a curiosity for the great
outdoors or fancies themselves as the next Bear Grylls, we want to hear from
them,” says Gibson.
DOC Director Commercial Business Unit Dave Wilks says: “We
are looking for Great Walkers with the total package - people with personality,
creativity, a knack for blogging and story telling as well as a passion for
outdoor adventure.
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| Tongarario Crossing |
“Our national parks are picturesque and sometimes wild and
rugged. Entrants should be agile and
have a moderate level of fitness to enjoy the variety of terrain the New
Zealand wilderness offers,” says Wilks.
The competition follows the recent announcement of Air New
Zealand’s three year commercial partnership with DOC. In addition to promoting the Great Walks, the
partnership sees Air New Zealandprovide support for new conservation programmes
around the National Parks Great Walks network and help moving endangered
species around the country via its domestic network.
Entries for the Great Walker are now open at
www.greatwalkernz.com until Monday 22 October, 2012. Entrants will then be shortlisted on the
website and four winners chosen as judged by an official judging panel and by
the public through the website. The
Great Walkers will then travel to New Zealand in February 2013 to complete the
epic Kiwi adventure of a lifetime.
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| Tongarario Crossing |
For further competition details and to apply, visit
www.greatwalkernz.com.
For information on DOC’s nine Great Walks, visit
www.greatwalks.co.n
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