Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand is the fourth, and currently last, of Billy Connolly
's decade-spanning ‘world tours’ that follow the comedian
on his various travels across the globe. In this tour, filmed in 2004, Connolly visited New Zealand
and travelled 8,500 km throughout the country, from Stewart Island in the south, through South Island and North Island, to Ninety Mile Beach
in the north. As he did on his 1996 tour
of Australia
, Connolly travelled on a custom-made Yamaha XV1700 Warrior trike
that had been built by the "Trike Shop" in the United Kingdom
. The trike is now in the hands of a new owner in Melbourne
, Australia.
The series was made up of eight episodes in which Connolly gave insights into the history and culture of the country, especially its Māori heritage, while also giving highlights from the New Zealand leg of his Too Old to Die Young tour. The leather
jacket he often wore sports a skull with glasses
, the logo
of the tour.
Continuing his catalogue of nude endeavours, he bungee jump
ed from the Nevis High Wire in Queenstown
.
The soundtrack, Billy Connolly's Musical Tour of New Zealand
, contained a track by folk singer Kate Rusby
.
Billy Connolly
William "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin...
's decade-spanning ‘world tours’ that follow the comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
on his various travels across the globe. In this tour, filmed in 2004, Connolly visited New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and travelled 8,500 km throughout the country, from Stewart Island in the south, through South Island and North Island, to Ninety Mile Beach
Ninety Mile Beach, New Zealand
Ninety Mile Beach is a beach located on the western coast of the far north of the North Island of New Zealand. It stretches from just west of Kaitaia towards Cape Reinga along the Aupouri Peninsula. It begins close to the headland of Reef Point, to the west of Ahipara Bay, sweeping briefly...
in the north. As he did on his 1996 tour
Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia
Billy Connolly's World Tour of Australia is the second in a line of ‘world tours’ that follow comedian Billy Connolly on his various travels across the globe....
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Connolly travelled on a custom-made Yamaha XV1700 Warrior trike
Tricycle
A tricycle is a three-wheeled vehicle. While tricycles are often associated with the small three-wheeled vehicles used by pre-school-age children, they are also used by adults for a variety of purposes. In the United States and Canada, adult-sized tricycles are used primarily by older persons for...
that had been built by the "Trike Shop" in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The trike is now in the hands of a new owner in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia.
The series was made up of eight episodes in which Connolly gave insights into the history and culture of the country, especially its Māori heritage, while also giving highlights from the New Zealand leg of his Too Old to Die Young tour. The leather
Leather
Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...
jacket he often wore sports a skull with glasses
Glasses
Glasses, also known as eyeglasses , spectacles or simply specs , are frames bearing lenses worn in front of the eyes. They are normally used for vision correction or eye protection. Safety glasses are a kind of eye protection against flying debris or against visible and near visible light or...
, the logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
of the tour.
Continuing his catalogue of nude endeavours, he bungee jump
Bungee jumping
Bungee jumping is an activity that involves jumping from a tall structure while connected to a large elastic cord. The tall structure is usually a fixed object, such as a building, bridge or crane; but it is also possible to jump from a movable object, such as a hot-air-balloon or helicopter, that...
ed from the Nevis High Wire in Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
.
The soundtrack, Billy Connolly's Musical Tour of New Zealand
Billy Connolly's Musical Tour of New Zealand
Billy Connolly's Musical Tour of New Zealand is the soundtrack to the television series Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand. It was released in 2004.-Track listing:#Billy's Bobby Theme#Billy's Fast Waltz#Billy's Slow Waltz...
, contained a track by folk singer Kate Rusby
Kate Rusby
Kate Anna Rusby is an English folk singer and songwriter from Penistone, South Yorkshire. Sometimes known as The Barnsley Nightingale, she has headlined various British national folk festivals, and is regarded as one of the most famous English folk singers of contemporary times...
.