This place must be high on your priorities when you plan your next visit to
Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown.
You may wish to read related articles The Queenstown-Glenorchy Road and Glenorchy Race Meeting - A very different side of Glenorchy
More than a gateway, a gem in itself
Glenorchy is a familiar name to trampers as it is the gateway to the
Routeburn Track and the Rees and Dart Tracks, but it is much more than a
gateway. It is a fascinating destination in itself.
Glenorchy people
The people who live in Glenorchy are famed for their friendliness.
Glenorchy was voted the most friendly destination in 1996 and 1998 by Conde
Nast Traveler Magazine, New York. On our visit we talked to local people
involved in two businesses.
Thor and Corrine Davis at Made in Glenorchy Fur Products
Thor and Corrine have lived in Glenorchy for ten years. At first Thor was
involved in hunting and selling dried possum skins, and then he made a
garment for himself. It was such a success that it was the beginning of a
new development putting to good use the skins of animals which are
threatening the existence of our native forests. He and Corrine have been
operating the business since 1997, first from home and then from premises
in the township.
Thor's view is, "The only good possum is the one you are wearing. "
|
Thor and Corrine model some of the fur garments.
|
With access on foot to the Caples, Dart and Rees track areas he still does
a lot of hunting, but buys skins to supplement his catch of 2000 skins per
year. He dries the skins and sends some 7000 skins to fur dressers and
dyers in Dunedin. When they come back he separates them into their
different colours. The natural colours of the skins are dark brown, red
brown, silver grey, pale grey and red grey. Some are bleached.
The next process is to cut sew, measure, spray and stretch the skin for the
garments. The sewing is done on a fur sewing machine in the workroom and
customers are welcome to watch the work in progress.
The products are varied. Furs have traditionally been used for insulation
and this accounts for the warmth of Thor's garments. The fur hats are
either in the Russian style with ear flaps or a beanie shape. Boot liners
for use with gum boots are very popular as the fur draws the moisture away
from the feet. They can also be worn without the boots as slippers.
Vests are fur-lined with fur-lined pockets, and may either feature a fur
collar or have no fur showing. These vests have been very popular with the
members of the Vertical Limit film crew. Fur bedspreads are also for sale
- ornamental and very warm. Shaving the skin leads to a velvet effect,
and shaved skins are sometimes used to line garments.
Other products for sale are carved deer antlers and maps of the area drawn
on skin.
Mt Earnslaw Motel
This enterprising couple has now opened motels in Glenorchy. There are
seven studio and two one-bedroom units, all with kitchen and TV.
For contact details see below under Accommodation.
Eileen Todd at Glen Roydon Lodge
Eileen was behind the counter when we ordered our excellent fish lunch at
the restaurant at Glen Roydon Lodge. Although she is the managing
director of the complex she is happy to be involved in all aspects of the
business. She told us her story. She is a people person deeply
interested in the hospitality industry.
A true family business
Eileen has five children and all have at times contributed to the success
of the business. Ian, the eldest, lives in Arrowtown and he and another
son, Jim, did a lot of the stone work on the buildings and will also be
working on the extension. Alan, the chef, has been a part of the operation
since it was a shop. When they added a cafe he took over the chef's role,
and younger brother Johnny took over the shop, with his little sister
Ngaire.
As the place developed Johnny and Ngaire helped in all aspects of
management and Johnny became a very successful fishing guide for the
lodge. Ngaire and Johnny are not in the business at present, but Alan's
partner Janet has worked there for five years in all aspects of the
business. As Julie, Jim's wife, puts it, "We all have seven children
between us, so mostly for the women we fit in where we can when we can. It
is a family orientated business and Eileen is the main cog in the wheel.
She keeps everything running smoothly."
Eileen was involved in the hotel business in Queenstown for thirty years,
and then moved to Glenorchy twelve years ago. Although some people told
her it was an unwise move she believed that there was a good future for a
fishing lodge in this beautiful place, especially once the road was sealed.
She bought the old Glenorchy store and had it extended with the old
building in the middle. Sadly after four years a wiring fault caused a
fire which destroyed the whole complex, so eight years ago this indomitable
woman had the whole place rebuilt.
|
Glen Roydon restaurant with the lodge to the left
|
The present complex features a restaurant and a lodge with eight
beautifully equipped bedrooms with private facilities. There are also
meeting facilities.
Work is just starting on extensions to the restaurant now and by the
spring there will be an art shop, and new foyer and office. The restaurant
will hold up to about 160 people which will be ideal for conferences,
weddings and the like. The garden bar seating will be extended and
landscaped with stone work features, a barbeque area and coloured
tussocks.
Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, a la carte food or bar food. There are
booking services for local trips or a fishing guide.
For contact details see below under Accommodation.
Eileen enjoys the visitors to the Lodge, welcoming tourists from round the
world, business people holding staff training sessions, or people working
in the area like film crews for Vertical Limit and construction
crews for Lord of the Rings.
Activities
For information on activities in the area talk to any of the friendly
locals or visit the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Tramping
The helpful staff at DOC will advise you on tracks suited to your fitness
level and the time you have available. They can also give you up to date
information about the avalanche danger, snow and river levels. The
well-known tracks that start from Glenorchy include the Routeburn,
Greenstone, Caples, Rees and Dart tracks. The office is open 9 am-4pm,
Monday to Friday.
Local walks
One easy way to gain an appreciation of the immediate area around Glenorchy
is to follow the signposted Glenorchy Walkway around the outskirts of the
town. Board walks take you across the lagoon which on a calm day mirrors
the mountains beyond.
Canterbury Net The gateway to online features and resources in Canterbury 
CyberMall New Zealand's first comprehensive virtual shopping mall
Cyber Place Canterbury An on-line resource site
