THE GREAT JEEP GLADIATOR EXPERIENCE

Travel presenter and adventurer Tyson Mayr takes the all-new Jeep Gladiator off-road and on the ultimate adventure on New Zealand’s stunningly rugged South Island.

There is something special about being awake at 4.30am when you’re on holiday, especially when you know adventure is about to follow.

It’s day four of my six-day road trip around New Zealand’s South Island and I’m at the base of the country’s highest peak – Aoraki/Mount Cook – a location I’ve only ever dreamt of visiting.

Formed by tectonic activity over millions of years, the South Island is a true adventurer’s paradise, with alpine peaks, lush rainforests, ancient glaciers and rugged terrain adorning every inch of this 150,437-square-kilometre masterpiece.

Officially called Te Wāipounamu (“the greenstone waters”), the South Island’s name is a reference to the precious greenhued stone used by the Māori to make tools, ornaments and weapons. Despite being the larger of the two islands, it’s home to about a fifth of the country’s human population – and, having shared the dirt roads with mainly sheep and cattle, I believe it!

When I land in Queenstown, in the island’s south-west, I make a beeline for Yonder, a quaint local establishment brewing arguably the best beans in NZ. Gary, the cafe’s manager, asks what brings me to the self-proclaimed adventure capital of the world, but before I answer, he’s already glanced over my shoulder and spotted my ride parked outside: the all-new Jeep Gladiator.

And how could he not? The Jeep Gladiator defies convention and really sets the bar when it comes to off-roading. It’s without a doubt one of the most capable vehicles when it comes to four-wheel driving, it’s comfortable on the road and it has the iconic good looks and seven-slot grill that Jeep is renowned for.

As Gary and I chat about the fact I don’t have a set plan for my trip, we both watch on as water inundates Queenstown. This unrelenting torrential rain has blocked the main arteries for more than a week.

Undeterred by this challenge presented by the weather gods, I jump into the truck – equipped with a list of places to start my journey – and hit the dirt roads out of town in search of untamed excitement. First stop: the Mavora Lakes.