
Billy Connolly's World Tour of New Zealand
2004–2005 · BBC One · 40 min · 1 season
S01E08 · Russell
Sun, 9 Jan, 9:00 am
On the final leg of his entertaining travelogue, Billy visits Kawakawa's public loos. Why have they become a tourist attraction? Plus a forage for tasty shellfish on Ninety Mile Beach and quiet reflection at Spirits Bay, in Maori folklore a sacred gateway between this world and the Maori ancestral home.
About
This series follows Billy Connolly as he explores the scenery of New Zealand's two islands, interspersed with clips of live stand-up shows from his 'Too Old to Die Young' tour.
Episodes
- E01
Stewart Island
Sun, 21 Nov· 40 minBetween Invercargill, the world's southernmost city, and Stewart Island, Billy sees ancient rock drawings, learns to fish for eels and shares his thoughts on how sex has changed since the 1960s.
- E02
Queenstown
Sun, 28 Nov· 40 minA breathtaking helicopter ride over the south island's Fiordland, with its mighty granite peaks, sparkling lakes and lush forests, sees Billy make an unusually favourable comparison with his beloved Scotland. But first he braves a bungee jump in the buff- a daredevil stunt that elicits ripe language.
- E03
Christchurch
Sun, 5 Dec· 40 minA museum dedicated to wearable art, corgi sculptures that mark a royal anniversary, tales of maritime heroism and a spot of whale watching - the Big Yin continues his odyssey through the breathtakingly beautiful country.
- E04
Wellington
Sun, 12 Dec· 40 minThe Big Yin leaves the South Island en route to New Plymouth via Wellington, and in so doing recalls two 20th-century transport disasters. In 1968, the inter-island ferry sank with 600 people aboard during a fierce storm. Boarding a train, Connolly then passes the site where, on Christmas Eve 1953, the Tangiwai Bridge collapsed, plunging a train into the river below.
- E05
North Island
Sun, 19 Dec· 40 minBilly trikes from Wellington to Palmerston North and takes a helicopter trip around Lake Taupo. Next stop is Napier, a town completely destroyed in 1931 by the biggest earthquake in the history of New Zealand.
- E06
Mount Tarawera
Tue, 28 Dec· 40 minA packed schedule for Billy, beginning on top of Mount Tarawera - a volcano that erupted in 1886. Following this, there's a visit to the Waitomo caves and an encounter with Maoris.
- E07
Auckland
Mon, 3 Jan· 40 minUp close and personal with some penguins, sky jumping from the southern hemisphere's tallest building, and experimenting with a Maori face tattoo - it's all in a week's work when Billy visits Auckland.
- E08
Russell
Sun, 9 Jan· 40 minOn the final leg of his entertaining travelogue, Billy visits Kawakawa's public loos. Why have they become a tourist attraction? Plus a forage for tasty shellfish on Ninety Mile Beach and quiet reflection at Spirits Bay, in Maori folklore a sacred gateway between this world and the Maori ancestral home.
Cast

Billy Connolly
Billy Connolly