Second Tour of the South Island Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. We once again begin our tour in my home town of Timaru. Travelling north, we arrive in the South Island's biggest city, Christchurch. What is the name of the wildlife park we visit?

Answer: Orana Wildlife Park

Orana Wildlife Park is an open range zoo where the animals are enclosed in areas resembling their natural habitat. In Maori, Orana means welcome or place of refuge. Orana Wildlife Park is internationally recognised for the conservation of endangered species.

2. After enjoying the delights of Christchurch, we travel east along Banks Peninsula and arrive in the picturesque town of Akaroa. Akaroa was founded by what nation?

Answer: France

The British arrived in the area in 1830 when Captain John Stewart arrived at Takapuneke, very close to the current location of Akaroa, with a contingent of Maori from the North Island who attacked and destroyed the Maori settlement there. He subsequently headed back to the North Island.

It was a French whaler in 1838, Captain Langlois, who wanted to form a French colony at Akaroa to service whaling ships. He returned to France after "purchasing" the Peninsula from a local Maori. He arrived back in 1840 with French and German settlers after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between Maori and the British.

Despite British sovereignty over the South Island and the British keeping a watch on them, the French settlers stayed and founded Akaroa with the knowledge they could not claim Banks Peninsula for the French. Today the French influence can still be found in Akaroa.

3. After arriving back in Christchurch we once again turn north and find ourselves in a town with the large crayfish. What is the name of this town?

Answer: Kaikoura

Kaikoura is situated on the shores of the Pacific Ocean with the snow-capped Kaikoura Range providing a spectacular backdrop. In Maori, Kaikoura means "meal of crayfish". Mounted over a restaurant is a seven metre long crayfish. Since 1989, a whale watch business has started, taking people out by launch to view these magnificent animals.

4. After stopping for a meal of crayfish we continue heading north up the coast until we arrive in Picton. What is the name of the sound that Picton is situated at the head of?

Answer: Queen Charlotte Sound

Picton is the first place travellers come ashore after travelling by ferry across Cook Strait from Wellington. Like many towns around the coast of the South Island, Picton was settled in 1827 as a whaling station. Queen Charlotte Sound was named after the wife of King George III.

5. After leaving Picton we travel west until we reach Nelson. What is the name of the bay Nelson is situated on?

Answer: Tasman Bay

Tasman Bay was named after the first European to discover New Zealand, Abel Tasman in 1642. The geographical centre of New Zealand is located in Nelson at Botannical Hill.

6. Leaving Nelson we now travel to the northern most area of the South Island. Where are we?

Answer: Cape Farewell

From Cape Farewell, Farewell Spit guards the entrance to Golden Bay, protecting the site of an important bird sanctuary from the Tasman Sea. Sand and sand dunes cover one side of this 35 kilometre long spit while vast tidal flats comprise the other side.

7. We can go no further north so we head for the West Coast. We arrive at an interesting stack of giant rocks at Punakaiki. What are these rocks known as?

Answer: Pancake Rocks

The Pancake Rocks were formed when layers of lime enriched mud were over-layed with softer mud and clay. The seabed was then lifted and tilted to form cliffs. Over time, sea water has eroded away these layers of softer mud and clay leaving the sculpted limestone.

They resemble stacks of pancakes. Seawater has also formed caverns and blow holes. The water flows into these caverns and is forced upwards and out through the blowholes forming spectacular geysers.

8. After being astounded by the rocks at Punakaiki we travel further south down the West Coast. Ten kilometres south of Greymouth we come across a recreated 1860's gold mining town. What is the name of this town?

Answer: Shantytown

Shantytown comprises over thirty historic buildings including a blacksmith, a saw mill, a printing works, and a gaol. They all display tools and equipment used in a bygone era. Gold panning is another attraction.

9. After panning for gold we now head further south down the West Coast. We now arrive at the twin rivers of ice. What are the names of these two glaciers?

Answer: Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier

Fox Glacier was named after an early New Zealand Prime Minister, William Fox. Fox Glacier drops 2600 metres and travels 13 kilometres towards the coast.
Franz Josef Glacier was named after an Austro-Hungarian Emperor. Franz Josef Glacier takes a 12 kilometre journey towards the coast and ends just 19 kilometres from the sea.

10. We have one more place to visit on our journey back to Timaru. We travel back up the West Coast and traverse the Southern Alps via the Lewis Pass. We stop off for a relaxing soak in thermal springs. Where are we?

Answer: Hanmer Springs

The mineral springs were discovered around 1860 by a farmer looking for missing cattle. Water is heated by the Earth's core in a reservoir two kilometres beneath Hanmer Springs. It then bubbles to the surface and forms soothing pools.

Source: Author Howie72

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Having arrived back from our Southern tour, we now see what the top half of the South Island has to offer.

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