James Cameron’s love for New Zealand is as strong as Jack’s for Rose and it’s not just because of its beauty, which he describes as “very seductive”.
It’s been almost four years now since Cameron and his wife, Suzy Amis Cameron, chose the Land of the Long White Cloud as their second home and now the Titanic director is ready to tell the world why it’s his “kind of country”.
Cameron fronts the latest 100% Pure New Zealand video campaign, which he and his wife filmed in four days.
Taking in the natural wonders of New Zealand, the video captures the couple walking on the Tasman Glacier, kayaking through a Dart River canyon and enjoying the sweeping views of Blanket Bay by helicopter. They also hike on the alpine Routeburn Track, cycle beside Lake Pukaki and visit Mount Alfred in the Glenorchy area near Queenstown.
“If you happen to like helicopters like I do, you could see ten of the most stunning places you’ll see in your lifetime in a day.”
James Cameron
“If you are driving, an hour and a half or two hours, the country just unrolls toward you like an IMAX film.”
The Cameron video will roll out in Tourism New Zealand’s key markets around the world and Chief Executive Kevin Bowler is confident it will inspire more people to visit New Zealand.
To help promote the release, James Cameron did a little Q&A session with Tourism New Zealand and this is what he had to say:
What other activities do you enjoy in New Zealand?
There is so much to see and experience and you can do it all because everything is so close together. We go on hikes, cycle the incredible trails, kayak in the ocean and walk through the forest. If you enjoy the outdoors and a sense of adventure you’re not going to be able to beat this place anywhere in the world.
Your love of the ocean has been widely documented, what is the marine life like in New Zealand?
New Zealand is blessed with incredible coastlines and offshore islands where reserves allow for a beautiful host of marine life to live in a natural habitat. Kaikoura, just off the east coast is a diverse paradise. You’ve got dolphins, pilot whales and sperm whales feeding on squid down in the Kaikoura Canyon, you can see just about every kind of marine life, and it’s pretty amazing. I actually haven’t done as much diving here as I need to but I’ve got a checklist of dive sites that I have got to do.
What are New Zealand’s creative hotspots?
New Zealand’s cities are incredibly dynamic, particularly in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. There’s a lot of energy in the arts scene there. New Zealanders have always been inventive and highly individualistic, take that and funnel it into the arts and you get some pretty amazing things.
Where do you like to eat in New Zealand?
There is a strong food culture here, again it’s that community spirit and people enjoying each other’s company. You get to know the restaurateurs and the chefs and so on. I’ve had some fantastic meals here. As a vegan, it’s challenging everywhere but we have excellent vegan chefs that we know here.
What are your top tips to live like a local in New Zealand?
There’s so much to do in New Zealand. Every day is different and you never really experience that same thing twice. There are so many shops, cafes and restaurants to explore and if you ask someone on the street for a recommendation, they’ll be more than happy to help. I find New Zealanders just to be kind of the sanest people in the world. I mean they’re nuts when it comes to jumping off bridges and flying you around in helicopters, but nuts in a good way! They’re self-sufficient, they’re hardy, they’re friendly, they wanna talk to you, they wanna hear your story and they’re happy to tell you theirs.
You’ve lived in New Zealand for a while now, if you could pick three places to recommend, which would they be?
Wellington – It’s exactly the right size for a city. One of the best museums in the world, the Te Papa Museum, is in Wellington.
Auckland – If you like sailing, you can’t beat Auckland for the maritime culture.
Martinborough – wine country. It’s a beautiful, long valley, you come all the way down the coast, you get to Cape Palliser and it’s just stunning, one great view after another. Martinborough is fantastic, there are some really world-class wines there.
Why should people choose New Zealand for a holiday?
There is so much to see and experience and you can do it all because everything is so close together. You throw a stick in the air, it falls on something great in New Zealand. Just drive around and feel it. It will be just beautiful, the country will unroll toward you like an IMAX movie.
New Zealand’s cities are incredibly dynamic, particularly in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. In the Wairarapa and Martinborough, there are some really world-class wines. If you like sailing, you can’t beat Auckland for the maritime culture. If you enjoy the outdoors and you enjoy a sense of adventure, you’re not going to be able to beat New Zealand anywhere else in the world. There’s diving, sailing, kayaking, motorcycling, bicycling, and so much more.
What sets New Zealand apart from other destinations?
New Zealand is this mix of a beautiful country and a great kind of national character. The country is just stunning, one great view after another – it’s like a living painting. The people are so friendly. I find New Zealanders to be kind of the sanest people in the world. They’re, they’re hardy, they’re friendly, they want to hear your story and they’re happy to tell you theirs. One of the things that’s really part of the rich experience of New Zealand is the indigenous culture and how it’s still a big part of life here for all New Zealanders. It’s really part of the fabric of New Zealand life and it’s not only in museums. Here in New Zealand it’s alive and it’s dynamic.
What can people expect when they go to New Zealand?
There’s something about New Zealand – it’s the energy of the place. You feel more alive when you’re in New Zealand. You never know what you’re going to get because every day is different – the suspense is fantastic. When I’m in my writing office, I just have to open the drapes and look out – it’s never the same view two days in a row. There is so much to see and experience and you can do it all because everything is so close together. The people are so friendly. Here in New Zealand it’s alive and it’s dynamic.
Check out the new James Cameron 100% Pure New Zealand video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TdKLyvesVE&feature=youtu.be
