Bear Grylls takes Lake Wanaka to the world   31 Jul 2013

Millions of US households got their first taste of New Zealand's Wanaka region when new reality show Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls screened on prime time television last week.

Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls, which debuted on NBC to an audience of more than 4.2 million viewers, was filmed in the Matukituki Valley and Mount Aspiring National Park - located on the shores of Lake Wanaka in the South Island. It is the first time a major American network has made a complete television series in New Zealand.

Lake Wanaka’s stunning and varied landscape was an ideal location for the two-month production shoot. This combined with the town’s easy access to infrastructure, helicopters, jet boats and mountain guides, ensured that the production company’s demands for accessible wilderness, technical expertise and backcountry knowledge were met.

Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls is an adventure reality competition hosted by world-renowned survivalist Bear Grylls. In the show 10 two-member teams venture into the dramatic Southern Alps to survive a wild journey and avoid elimination. Each week a team is sent home with the winning duo scooping the grand prize of US$500,000.

International exposure
James Helmore, general manager at Lake Wanaka Tourism, said that advertising couldn’t buy the exposure the series will deliver for the South Island holiday destination.

"This level of reach to our key visitor markets is invaluable and to have the series filmed around the Lake Wanaka region is an absolute bonus," Helmore said.

"For nine weeks our awesome scenery will be seen by millions of households in the US. This will significantly raise Lake Wanaka and New Zealand’s profile as an international destination."

The series will be distributed on networks around the world later in 2013.

Matukituki Charitable Trust
Endorsing Lake Wanaka’s values of kaitiakitanga (guardianship, care and protection) Grylls’ production company contributed NZ$10,000 to a major conservation project underway in the Matukituki Valley.

The joint project between the Department of Conservation and Matukituki Charitable Trust aims to reduce pests in the West Matukituki Valley to benefit native wildlife such as birds, bats and lizards and native plants.

Lake Wanaka is the gateway to Mt Aspiring National Park in the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. The region offers a host of activities and attractions including golf, wineries, skydiving, jetboating, canyoning, tramping and boating, as well as a wide variety of dining and entertainment options from historic pubs to luxury lodges.

Source NZ Immigration

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