Holidays In New Zealand

Cruising Around the Bay of Islands

2011-02-23T00:31:00.001-08:00

Most parts of New Zealand are very popular among visitors and indeed the people who live there. But the Bay of Islands, far up in the northern part of the North Island, has to be one of the most attractive of them all.

The name is appropriate, since you can visit a range of islands – well over a hundred in all – that are delightful and stunning to see. One way of seeing the islands more closely is to take your place on a cruise of the area, so you can visit them and see what goes on there.

One big advantage of being able to enjoy a cruise here is that this is a good area for seeing dolphins and whales. Whale watching is a great thing to do in New Zealand, but you have to pick your spot to have a good chance of seeing them. Taking a cruise around the Bay of Islands is one of the best ways to do just that.

There are lots of different cruises you could be a part of though, so check to see what is on offer before you book anything. One company offers an overnight cruise that should be delightful to take part in; you can enjoy a wonderful meal on board and watch the sunset from the deck as well.

But even if an overnight cruise doesn’t suit you there are plenty of day trip cruises that can be taken around different parts of the Bay of Islands. You can either book the trip that appeals to you the most or you can focus on booking two or three separate ones at various times during your holiday.

There is no doubt though that the Bay of Islands holds a lot of history. Indeed it is commonly thought of as the place where New Zealand as we know it today began to grow. Around one thousand years of history await you here, ready to be explored and looked for as you enjoy your time in the area. If you are visiting the North Island during your time in New Zealand, the Bay of Islands is an excellent place to start.

Abel Tasman – Plenty to Do in New Zealand

2011-01-21T08:28:00.001-08:00

Some place names in New Zealand are instantly familiar to most of us. Christchurch, Queenstown and several others will fall into this category. But would Abel Tasman be instantly recognisable too?

If you were to visit the South Island and stay somewhere in the uppermost region, you wouldn’t be too far from Abel Tasman. This is a National Park and its unusual name comes from the fact that it was originally named after a Dutch explorer – obviously of the same name. Abel Tasman National Park is a tiny park – the smallest one of its kind the country has to offer, no matter which of the two islands you’re on. However don’t let that put you off finding out what the park has to offer. Just because it’s tiny doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a lot in!

Its position on the coast means it has beaches to offer as well as the more traditional National Park experience. Indeed many people come here to swim and enjoy some time in the waves among other things. Make sure you have time to see Awaroa Bay, which can be found by following the coastline along and looking for the holiday cottages that will tempt you there.

One way to explore the park is to take a walk through it. This sounds simple but of course there is more to it than that. You can take a walk of a few hours, a day or even longer. But if you want some guidance to ensure you see the best parts of Abel Tasman, make sure you go on a guided tour to appreciate the best bits.

Another way to find out more is to opt for a boat trip. This enables you to see the park from the water, as you explore the coastline. Day trips are just one option you have available, but you can also book your spot on one of the many different cruise and walk tours that are available within the park. These enable you to get the best of both worlds, and the best of the Abel Tasman National Park too.

Visit Rainbow’s End In Auckland

2010-12-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

If you are visiting Auckland during your time in New Zealand, you will have to add a visit to Rainbow’s End to your list of things to do while you are there. You may not find a literal pot of gold there, but you will find plenty to do and lots of exciting experiences to have for sure.

So what exactly is Rainbow’s End and what can you expect to see while you are there? Well this is a theme park and it is actually the biggest one of its kind in New Zealand. If you love theme parks of all kinds you are bound to love this one too. Not only does it have large rides it also has plenty more for all the family to get their teeth into, so you definitely won’t get bored.

Let’s explore just a few of the rides that are available, so you know what you can expect. The Invader is a ride that only the bravest should go on, as it means sitting strapped into place on the edge of a huge disc. It sounds unlikely but when you get a look at the track you will be travelling along you can get an idea of what the ride itself will be like. It is quite something – and not even every roller coaster aficionado will be keen to try this one out.

There is a great log flume here as well so if you want to cool off a bit after having some excitement elsewhere you should definitely go for a ride on this wet and wild water ride. For the truly laid back and young at heart there is a mini golf course at Rainbow’s End as well, so you can see that there is something for everyone to enjoy and get into. You won’t run short of things to do and there are plenty of delightful experiences to have all over the park.

When you think of theme parks, New Zealand probably isn’t the first country that comes to mind. But as you can see they have one great park you definitely should visit.

Have You Heard of the Chatham Islands?

2010-11-24T01:24:00.001-08:00

When most people visit New Zealand they stay on the mainland and spend their time exploring the north and the south islands. But there are more opportunities here than that – you could also pay a visit to the Chatham Islands.

These islands are remote – some five hundred miles away from mainland New Zealand, yet they are still part of New Zealand itself, albeit as a separate group. As you can imagine you will need to prepare for a trip here, because it isn’t as simple as spending a day hopping over to another group of islands. You need to plan for the journey and make the most of the time you will spend there if you do decide to visit the islands as well as the main part of New Zealand.

The question is though, is it worth the trip in the first place?

There are actually eight islands here and Chatham Island itself is by far the biggest. The next one down in size is Pitt Island, which is considerably smaller than the previous one. A holiday on Chatham Island is much sought after because of the island’s geography – it enjoys a lagoon and two superb bays as well.

The islands as a whole are sometimes referred to as ‘New Zealand’s last frontier’, and it is a nice name to give to the islands. Chatham Island offers a wonderful holiday destination that is somewhat different from mainland New Zealand, although it offers you some of the same facilities. For instance sports are very popular here, as are beach holidays. It is easy to see why people come here because the islands as a whole offer a lot for the person wanting a holiday destination that is not well known or overcrowded. Plenty of people have already discovered it though.

If you want a holiday that makes you feel as if you really are miles away from built up civilisation, the Chatham Islands will certainly give you that. Just a few hundred people live here all year round, but they are very welcoming of visitors.

Visiting the Museum of New Zealand

2010-10-26T05:58:00.001-07:00

Isn’t it a natural feeling to want to find out all about New Zealand when you get there? After all it’s a stunning country, divided into two islands, and both halves have a distinct story to tell.

If you would like to find out more about it, there is no better place to go than the Museum of New Zealand. Otherwise called Te Papa Tongarewa, this is a delightful addition to put on your itinerary for any holiday. For starters it is completely free of charge and there is no chance of turning up to find it closed. There is literally never a day when it is shut.

Within its walls lies the story of New Zealand. As you might expect Maori history is prevalent here, but that isn’t all you will learn about. You can find out more about the wildlife that is on each of the islands, as well as the life that lives beneath the waves. The museum also has special events and exhibitions on at various times of the year, so even if you have been before you may well find something new to see this time around.

You can pay for a guided tour of the museum if you want to, but in all honesty it can be better to find your own way if you want to keep things free. The tours are sensational but if you have children with you, you might want to make your own way round. This will allow you to see the different areas they will find most interesting.

As with all museums, there are some unusual sights in the Museum of New Zealand. Perhaps the most unusual of all is the Colossal Squid – literally the biggest one ever caught in the entire world. There has never been a better chance to figure out just what makes this amazing creature tick, and it is all at the Museum of New Zealand.

So you see, you will uncover plenty of amazing experiences and sights once you walk through the doors. But you may find it very hard to give up your day there and leave again.

The Remarkable Remarkables

2010-09-24T02:45:00.001-07:00

Any mountain range with a name like this has to tell us something. The Remarkables are wonderful to visit all year round, but they are superb to look at too. If you happen to be staying in Queenstown you will be able to see the Remarkables from across the water.

The mountains themselves are quite incredible too, as they are craggy and spectacular to look at from the other side of Lake Wakatipu. Of course you can spend lots of time gazing at them from Queenstown, but the best way to see them is to explore them up close.

The Remarkables are a prime spot for skiing during the right season. People come from all over the world to ski here, and when you see it for yourself you will see why. The range is well set up for skiers of all abilities, and with lots of slopes to try out and facilities to use you will have a superb time here. If this will be your first time skiing you couldn’t choose much better than a skiing holiday in New Zealand, exploring the Remarkables and taking on all they have to offer.

The terrain here is very well split too, with good slopes and opportunities for all kinds of skiers. It is estimated that around thirty per cent of the slopes are ideal for beginners who have never set foot on a ski slope before. Intermediate skiers will love the Remarkables too as they have around forty per cent of the available slopes to tackle. Finally there is still thirty per cent left for experienced skiers to get their teeth into, so there really is a lot for everyone.

If you don’t fancy skiing you can always take a helicopter flight up the mountain to be dropped off near the top of the range. You can then follow the trails back down – but be sure to stop and marvel at the superb views before you do so. You will be glad you did.

There is no doubt that the Remarkables are stunning and quite beautiful too – whether they are covered in snow or not.

Grab A Tram In Christchurch

2010-08-26T05:27:00.001-07:00

When you decide to visit New Zealand for any length of time you really are spoilt with a huge range of towns and areas to visit. One of the best has to be Christchurch, because it has so much to offer. It may also remind you a little of England thanks to some of the surroundings you’ll see while you are there.

Now you can get around the city on foot if you wish but there is a better way to get right into the heart of things. This is the Christchurch Tramway, and while it may only offer a circuitous route around the main part of the city you will enjoy every moment of it. There is a total of eleven stops on the route and you can hop on and off whenever you want to, much like the tour buses you will see in many other cities . But there is no doubt that the Tramway is far superior to these, not least because it has some classy vintage trams to tempt you with.

The route has been carefully planned to take in some of the main sights in the city. When you come across a venue you’d like to visit – such as Victoria Square for instance – you can simply hop off and go and explore. When you are ready to get back on the tram again all you have to do is find the stop and wait for the next one to come along.

There is no need to book tickets for the tram in advance either. You can if you wish but it is just as easy to get tickets from the conductor when you board the tram at your chosen stop.

Victoria Square is always a good place to stop because you have a gorgeous park here to discover. Why not take lunch with you and relax and watch the world go by in this venue? Afterwards you can catch the tram to Worcester Bridge and try your luck at punting on the river.

As you can see, there is plenty to do within easy reach of the Christchurch Tramway.

Rotorua – A City Of Plenty

2010-07-27T12:27:00.000-07:00

When you are faced with a country as vibrant and alive as New Zealand, it’s hard to know where to go first. But you could opt for Rotorua, which has just about as much as you could expect to find in any city you could think of.

This is certainly a city which is based around many outdoor activities, all of which are well worth doing. If you love walking you can do just that with ease, because there are many different trails and hiking routes you can explore to your heart’s content here. Just be sure to wear proper footwear!

This is a geo-thermal area too, which means you can witness such sights as mud pools and geysers in more than one area. Lake Rotorua is the site of a huge eruption many years ago, which caused the lake area to be created. Lots of people enjoy the waters in the lake, and we have the original eruption to thank for them being there in the first place.

One thing you will soon come to realise about Rotorua is that the city has lots of different nicknames. But the one thing most of them have in common is that they are related to the city’s geo-thermal activity. Sulphur City and Rotten-rua are just two of the examples which relate to this.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about Rotorua is that everyone loves the city. It is simply impossible to be short of things to do here, no matter what you love doing the most. With relaxing activities, lots to explore and plenty of things to see and do whichever direction you turn in, you certainly won’t get bored.

Of course you can find out a lot about the Maori culture here as well. This city has a significant Maori population so you will find it easier to discover a lot about the culture here. You will be amazed how it permeates into everyday life in lots of different ways. This is one of the reasons why Rotorua is a delight to visit – but of course there are many other reasons as well.

Cycling In New Zealand

2010-06-28T07:04:00.001-07:00

New Zealand is known as being an ideal destination to visit for people who want a more active holiday rather than simply having one that involves lying on a beach. This is a beautiful country that not only offers a good variety of sports to get involved in, it also offers the chance to do it all in stunning surroundings.

Cycling is one of the most popular ways to get around for many people, particularly for those who are on holiday here. With general cycling and mountain biking on offer, there is plenty for any cycling fan to get involved in.

Whakarewarewa Forest in Rotorua is a popular choice if you want to go off road and make the most of the plethora of trees that stand tall in this area. Many mountain bikers love this area and it is a great way to discover a side of Rotorua that you may not see otherwise.

Of course you don’t have to go off road to enjoy mountain biking on either the North Island or the South Island in New Zealand. Instead, why not think about renting a bike and grabbing a map and simply cycling for a day or two to see what you can find out there? This is a sensational way to get around, and you should remember that New Zealand is known for being quite laid back and relaxed. What better way to get around than to get on your bike first of all?

In contrast, areas such as Central Otago are ideal for those riders who are used to having more of a challenge. This is not just a sightseeing expedition – it is a veritable challenge you will need to be prepared to undertake with all the right safety equipment. If you love your biking there is no better place to do it than right here in New Zealand.

Perhaps the most notable thing to bear in mind here is that there is biking for everyone in this country. So whether you rarely get in the saddle or you are there almost all the time, enjoy getting on your bike in this charming country.

Have You Ever Seen Whales In The Wild?

2010-05-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

You might just get the chance to do that if you have a visit to New Zealand planned for the near future. This is just about the best place in the world to see them – especially if you want to see sperm whales because they fairly congregate around this area.

The main place to head for is Kaikoura, which is situated on the eastern coast of the South Island in New Zealand. You might wonder why you would be able to see whales so close to the coastline in this part of the world, but it has to do with the unique geography of the area. You cannot see this from above the waves, but below them the sea floor drops sharply, providing deep water for the whales to use as they come closer to the land.

If you want to try and see the whales for yourself (joining the many other tourists who flock there each year) the best way to do it is to book a spot on one of the boat trips that regularly head out to the area. You must always book these in advance because they are very popular, and while several trips take place on a daily basis you can never be sure of a spot unless you pre-book.

But it isn’t just whales you could see when you head out off the coast of Kaikoura. You can also watch out for dolphins, seals and even albatrosses as you really make the most of your experience.

If you don’t happen to have brought your sea legs along, don’t worry. You can also go whale watching in a helicopter or aeroplane if you would prefer, and in fact the prices are not much different from taking the boat option. You can also have the chance to see more of Kaikoura from the air, which makes for a more unusual experience.

Whatever way you decide to see the whales, you will doubtless enjoy every minute of it. You can’t believe just how big they are until you see them for real in front of your eyes.

Do You Fancy Seeing Some Glow Worms?

2010-04-28T04:05:00.001-07:00

Would glow worms be top of your list of things to see when you arrive in New Zealand? The chances are they wouldn’t even have occurred to you. But if you want to plan a visit to Fiordland and its delightful surroundings, you will indeed get the chance to see them.

Make the most of it too because these glow worms don’t exist in the northern hemisphere. Those in charge of Fiordland know how to show you the glow worms when you arrive though. They offer a boat trip around the caves in which the glow worms reside, so you can see them in all their beauty.

The caves themselves are known as Te Anau. They are so called because they are on Lake Te Anau, and this name stems from the Maori phrase Te Ana-au. This phrase relates to the caves and the water within, so it is a good choice for a name.

You can expect to spend a couple of hours exploring the caves and going deeper inside them. Your journey in the small boat will take you further into the caves that are around twelve thousand years old. And once you are inside you will see the many thousands of glow worms waiting to greet you. Since the caves are pretty dark once you get inside them, you can imagine the light show you will get to see.

Imagination is one thing of course, but seeing them for real is another. This is purported to be one of the best experiences in the area, so don’t miss it.

Plentiful Outdoor Activities In New Zealand

2010-03-29T06:44:00.001-07:00

One thing you will notice about heading out to New Zealand is that the New Zealanders love the outdoors. And when you see what their country looks like, who can blame them?

With rolling hills, mountains to climb and plenty of great coastline to explore, you will find plenty to do in New Zealand, no matter what kinds of activities you love to do.

For example one of the best ways to see the best of the country is to go up. This could translate into walking up a mountain to get a view of the towns below. One good example that produces fantastic views is Bob’s Peak, and you can see down onto Queenstown from the heights. One particular spot gives you a view of two hundred and twenty degrees round view of Queenstown below you.

You can then choose whether you want to go down on foot or on the Skyline Luge. This is similar to a go kart and you have your choice of two tracks to go down to the bottom on. The first one is quite sedate and gives you the chance to appreciate the scenery around you. The second track is better if you would prefer to race your friends to the bottom!

This is a classic example of how New Zealand likes to present you with plenty of opportunities to get stuck into various activities all in the one day. There are various walking tracks set out in this area alone, but you will find plenty more dotted all over the country. Watch out for water sports, air sports and lots more besides when you arrive in New Zealand.

One thing you will notice is just how easy and enjoyable it is to be active in New Zealand. The surroundings pull you towards them and really make you feel a part of the country. Everything is stunning and it makes you feel glad to be alive.

So get those nerves out of the way and try the luge, as well as every other activity that comes your way. After all, why not?

Find The Buried Village In New Zealand

2010-02-25T02:07:00.001-08:00

Te Wairoa Village in New Zealand has a violent history that no one in the country is likely to forget. Even though its most notable event occurred well over a hundred years ago, the result of this event can still be seen today. Indeed it is one of the most popular visitor attractions for people coming to New Zealand on holiday.

Te Wairoa Village was the home of the Pink and White Terraces. The terraces got their name from their unusual colouring, but they can no longer be seen because of a violent volcanic eruption that led to Te Wairoa Village being renamed the Buried Village. While the original name is still known and used, the unfortunate renaming tells you a lot about what happened on that shocking day. On a day when well over a hundred people died, this village was buried along with the terraces. To call this event a tragedy is to underestimate the loss involved, since the terraces were often referred to as a wonder of the world.

The ruins of the village were eventually excavated to some extent, so it is possible to see how they were affected by the volcanic ash and lava. You could call this New Zealand’s Pompeii, for the feeling you get as you walk around the site and imagine what it must have been like is quite eerie.

One house in particular was excavated back in the 1930s, and the excavation has been done in such a way as to show you the huge effect the lava had as it poured over the village. Make sure you view the museum on site as well, as it contains much more in the way of knowledge and information about what happened. You can also discover what the village used to be like, and how devastating the eruption was when it took place.

The Buried Village shows you the consequences of a volcanic eruption when it occurs with virtually no warning at all. And as such the experience of seeing the village will leave you with a new respect for Mother Earth.

Hang On Tight For The Shotover Jet Boat Experience

2010-01-26T06:13:00.001-08:00

New Zealand is famed as having some of the most stunning and breath taking views and scenery in the whole world. And being New Zealand, there are some pretty spectacular ways to see it as well.

Take the Shotover Jet Boat for example. If you have the nerve for it this is the most amazing jet boat ride you can have. Queenstown is only a few minutes away so it’s nice and close to reach if you are on holiday in the area. And it gives you the chance to see the Shotover River in a very exciting way indeed.

The river itself consists of a series of canyons, and it is these canyons you will travel through in the jet boat itself. But this is no ordinary laid back sightseeing tour. You will see the best of the sights, certainly, but you will be seeing them at top speed and enjoying a thrilling ride that could leave you wanting more.

The river itself is narrow in places and winds its way through the canyons, offering the chance to zip across the water that you won’t have experienced before. And as you travel at speeds of up to about fifty miles per hour you can see that this is not a ride for the faint hearted. It is a ride that will give you one of your most memorable holiday experiences in New Zealand though.

You might think you would get soaked on a ride like this, but in actual fact some spray is about the limit of what you’ll get. You will be wearing a life jacket and you’ll need to hold on tight, but every second is worth it as you are taken through the canyons at top speed by pilots who know exactly what they are doing.

This is not a new experience either. The Shotover Jet Boat experience has been going strong since 1970, so you can see that they have all the experience to offer you a superb ride that will show you another side of Queensland. And one ride won’t be enough!

See Hobbiton Up Close In New Zealand

2009-12-07T00:06:00.001-08:00

If you are a fan of the Lord of the Rings films, you will probably be aware that they were filmed in New Zealand.

What you may not be aware of is the fact that you can see part of them for yourself if you happen to be going there in the near future. It may not all be the same as it was in the films, but enough remains in New Zealand to make it a great place to go for everyone who is a fan.

As you may be aware, New Zealand is split into two islands – the North Island and the South Island. Hobbiton - or what remains of it – is located on the North Island. You’ll find it not far from a town called Matamata. And once you are there you can delight in trying to recognise scenes from the movie as you walk around Hobbiton as it is now.

A farm was used to create Hobbiton when the films were due to be made, and that farm is still in operation today. But now they also have a superb movie set tour in operation, which tells you more about the location than you would learn simply by walking around the area yourself. Just under half of the so called ‘Hobbit holes’ remain; and they form part of several tours that you can take advantage of. Be sure you take a look at all the options available so you can pick the best one for you. Many of them have other attractions included as well, so they offer very good value for money.

You’ll not only see the remaining Hobbit holes when you pay a visit to the farm, you’ll also hear about the Hobbits themselves and how they live. Some key features from the film set still remain in place, so you should delight in trying to find them and remembering where they came into play during the story. The Hobbit hole of the two most famous characters in the film is still there – but can you remember who those two characters are?

Surf's up for a New Zealand gap year

2009-10-01T06:19:00.000-07:00

Up-and-coming talent will be on show at the World Junior Surfing Championships to be held at Piha Beach, Auckland, in January.

This event will be followed in April by the women's leg of the Dream Tour, the largest ever surfing event to be held in New Zealand and one that is expected to draw a television audience of around 50 million viewers worldwide.

The Dream Tour will be held in Taranaki, on the North Island, from April 14 to 18.

The Taranaki leg of the women's Dream Tour will also be the finale for a week of surfing events as part of the Taranaki Women's Surf Festival.

The New Zealand Working Holiday Visa program gives young people aged between 18 and 30 the chance to travel and work in New Zealand for 12 months, and can be extended to 23 months if you are from the United Kingdom.

For more information and holidays to New Zealand, call Co-op Travel on 01922 700007 or visit the website.

Apply here for your New Zealand Working Holiday Visa.

Philippines and New Zealand ink air agreement

2007-11-21T08:53:00.000-08:00

Philippines and New Zealand signed an air agreement establishing regular flights between the two countries.

This is the first time the two countries inked an air agreement since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1966.

The Philippines-New Zealand Air Services Agreement (ASA) was signed by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique Manalo and Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Murdock. It was signed after the bilateral talks between President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Under the ASA, Philippine and New Zealand air carriers are entitled to three services per week of passengers, cargo and mail from one country to the other from and to pre-agreed points.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the ASA is expected to increase visitor arrivals between the two countries, as well as further bolster bilateral trade and investment.

Bunye added that the newly signed agreement will also benefit some 27,000 Filipinos living and working in New Zealand.

Aside from the air agreement, President Arroyo and PM Clark also discussed matters related to tourism, trade and investment, development assistance and other mutual issues.

New Zealand is among the country's strong trade partners. The value of Philippine exports to New Zealand increased by 36.52 percent to $53 million in 2006 from $38.86 million in 2005.

For more information click here

New Website Showcases New Zealand

2007-07-02T04:12:00.000-07:00

28 June 2007

Top kiwi fashion designer Karen Walker is launching a new website, www.newzeal-and.co.uk, which lists top attractions and shops in New Zealand.

Radio 1 DJ Zane Low, Andy Cosgrove and Hamish Clark, the trio that form Anglo kiwi band, Break's Coop, name another kiwi band Fat Freddy's Drop, Black Grace Dance Company and radio station 95bFM as some of their favourites, while London based New Zealand chef, Peter Gordon, puts Blake Street Expresso in Auckland, the Dowse Gallery in Lower Hutt and Toast Martinborough, a spectacular food and wine festival in the Wairarapa amongst his top ten.

Strictly Come Dancing, Brendan Cole, puts Waiheke Island, known for its festivals, dance parties, wineries and art galleries, along with Auckland's Viaduct Basin with its reputation for some of Auckland's best restaurants and bars, as two of his favourite ten.

Backed by Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand, www.newzeal-and.co.uk will help young British travellers find out more about what the country has to offer in terms of city life, great food and drink, and contemporary arts and culture. New Zealand is rightly famed for its dramatic landscape and breathtaking scenery but the new website is hoping to raise the profile of its less well known urban culture.

As well as 'Top Ten Tips' from kiwi celebrities such as Karen Walker, Break's Co-op and Peter Gordon, the New Zeal AND website features a combination of interactive city guides as well as blogs on the latest trends and events in New Zealand and a Myspace profile allowing people to share the experiences of the country.

Barry Eddington from Tourism New Zealand, comments, "New Zealand is a young, innovative country populated with friendly, creative people. The natural environment is an essential part of what makes our country special but there is also a distinctively kiwi contemporary arts scene that is less recognised outside New Zealand. This new website helps visitors find out more about our people and culture, and where to go to discover it."

Scott Carr, Air New Zealand General Manager Europe, adds "We want to create talkability and buzz around the great contemporary culture that New Zealand has to offer. The Myspace profile is really exciting as it's the first time both organisations have worked with an online social networking community, which really adds to the dynamic nature of the main site and will be key in promoting the online competition which is also running on the site. "

The online competition offers the chance to win a £5,000 Air New Zealand Holiday experience for the most inspiring photo, video or words about New Zealand.

New Zealand Ski Season Kicks Off in Queenstown

2007-06-12T01:10:00.000-07:00

11 June 2007

New Zealand's ski season officially started today as Queenstown's Coronet Peak opened on a 20cm base.

Coronet Peak's Ski area manager Hamish McCrostie said a recent polar blast had kept temperatures low enough to allow snowmaking machines to work at capacity output. Early birds will be welcomed, as is traditional, by glasses of Lindauer bubbly as they board the Coronet Express quad chair for the first time this season.

"We're looking forward to the social day that Coronet's opening is renowned for… bubbles, catch up with old and new friends and some thigh burning early season runs."

Great winters, millions of dollars of investment in expansion and the latest technology continue to draw thousands of visitors to New Zealand's ski fields.

New Thrills

Part of the development and replacement of infrastructure over the last few years has been the 1.4km long High Noon Express at Mount Ruapehu's Turoa ski field, with fast moving six-seater detachable chair lifts.

Miles Davidson from New Zealand Snow Industries Federation said because the chairs slow down at loading and unloading points – going much slower at the top and the bottom – they are safer and can run more people faster.

They are capable of carrying more than 3200 people an hour at a speed of 5m/sec.

Coronet Peak Ski Area Manager Hamish McCrostie said they have just introduced new carpet lifts in the newly built beginners area.

"Its like a conveyor lift – you just slide onto it with your skies – it carries you up and delivers you to the top. You don't have to hold on to anything or sit down." He is expecting a good season.

"Bookings are up about 20 to 25 percent on last year from Australia so we are pretty happy about that – Australia did not have a very good year last season so that's obviously made Australians think New Zealand is quite a good proposition."

Google and Tourism NZ Create New Layer on Google Earth

2007-04-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

13 April 2007

The layer provides geographic and general information about New Zealand locations, visitor centres and scenic highlights

Google and Tourism New Zealand today announce a jointly created Google Earth mash-up site, which provides geographic and general information about New Zealand locations, visitor centres and scenic highlights.

It is a huge opportunity for Tourism New Zealand to be associated with Google Earth, says Minister of Tourism Damien O'Connor. The partnership with Google could potentially expose the www.newzealand.com website to Google Earth’s 200 million unique users. Tourism New Zealand’s official website has around 500,000 visitors in peak months, according to O’Connor.

Google has partnered with other organisations — such as National Geographic, the United Nations Environmental Program and Discovery Networks — to develop layers for Google Earth in the past, but this is the first time the search engine giant has worked with a tourism organisation to create a layer, says Rob Shilkin, Google’s recently-appointed head of communications for Australia and New Zealand.

Tourism New Zealand has provided information for the “100% Pure New Zealand” layer, which graphically illustrates visitor centres, “Points of Interest” (towns) and “Bubbles” (scenic highlights) on Google Earth.

New Zealander Craig Nevill-Manning, Google's head of engineering in New York, is in New Zealand for the launch and also to speak at the 5th New Zealand Computer Science Research Student Conference held at the University of Waikato.

"The ‘100% Pure New Zealand’ layer will allow users worldwide to explore the best that New Zealand has to offer,” he says. “It will also show how Google Earth can serve as a dynamic tool for discovery."

Originally from Blenheim, Nevill-Manning studied at Canterbury and Waikato universities before leaving for the US eleven years ago. He started working at Google in California six years ago, but moved to New York to start up Google’s software development centre there four years ago. Today, he is in charge of 350 software engineers at the New York centre.

“It’s a lot of fun working for Google,” he says. “Among the best things are building things that people use. The fact that [we are] building and improving products that we know hundreds of millions of people across the world are using is very rewarding.”

“It is a really interesting environment to be in, kind of like being at graduate school at university, but you are actually building real things,” he says.

Google now has an office in Sydney and has started hiring software engineers and computer scientists in Australasia, he says. It is “certainly possible” that Google will open shop in New Zealand, he says, but the company has no plans to do so at the moment.

New Zealand the Talk of Tokyo

2007-02-01T04:28:00.000-08:00

The opening of a major exhibition of Maori taonga in Tokyo has captured the interest of the Japanese media.

The exhibition represents a cultural exchange between New Zealand’s national museum, Te Papa, and the Tokyo National Museum. It will contain around 120 taonga, including weaponry, tools, items of personal adornment, woven goods and waka.

Japan’s three major daily newspapers – who have a combined audience of 7.5 million readers, all covered the opening of the event. Two television channels, Tokyo Radio and travel trade media have also been running stories on New Zealand and the exhibition.

Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand have planned a range of marketing activity that will both promote the exhibition and New Zealand as a visitor destination including a dawn opening ceremony, Maori performance, and media and advertising work.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive George Hickton says it is very unusual to get such interest from the Japanese media. “The Tokyo National Museum staff told us this is some of the greatest interest they’ve received for one exhibition.”

The presence of the Maori king, King Tuheitia Paki, at the exhibition is also creating significant media interest in Tokyo. The King and his wife were invited to an afternoon reception with the Japanese Emperor and Empress – a major event for the Japanese.

Air New Zealand General Manager for Japan/Korea, Chris Myers, says the exhibition highlights New Zealand’s diversity and culture. “Our culture is one of our strongest selling points in Japan. It is critical that we capitalise on every opportunity to expose Japanese travellers to what New Zealand has to offer.

Mr Hickton says Japanese baby boomers are a key target for New Zealand.

“This group has a strong interest in learning about other cultures, they seek authentic experiences and New Zealand Maori culture and history is of great interest to them.”

For more information visit New Zealand

New Zealand Happily Placed as Summer Tourists Season Starts With Record Arrivals

2007-01-29T01:44:00.000-08:00

In an encouraging start, New Zealand has witnessed an upsurge in tourists arrivals during the commencement of the summer tourist season. As per the info shared by Statistics New Zealand, visitor arrivals were up seven percent to 229,000 in November compared with the same month last year. During the 12 months to November, 2.4 million visitors came to New Zealand, a record for any month since records started in the late 1800s.

The biggest increases for the month were in arrivals from Australia, China up 10 percent to 70,700. Visitor numbers from were up 19 percent or 2200, and from Britain, up seven percent or 2000. Fewer visitors came from Indonesia, Hong Kong and Japan. New Zealand residents departed on 147,600 overseas trips in November, up two percent on the corresponding month last year.

As per the information available, ANZ economists said given New Zealand was a long-haul travel destination, visitor numbers were holding up well despite the high New Zealand dollar and oil price volatility.

Meanwhile, following recent dreadful incidents involving foreign tourists, it is being propagated that tourism organizations should do safety audits of their regions and improve the quality of information given to protect visitors from getting harmed.

The warning came after the rape of a 43-year-old German at the Te Toto Gorge scenic reserve, between Raglan and Ruapuke.

Tourism Industry Association chief executive Fiona Luhrs said though the industry “felt ill” about attacks on tourists, they would probably have to increase in frequency to have an effect on visitor numbers.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said it was an issue for the whole industry to help keep tourists safe. “Just because it (attacks on visitors) hasn’t had an impact, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be looking at what we can do better.”

Tourism New Zealand hands out safety leaflets to people arriving in New Zealand. They are also in tourism information centers, placed in campervans and the information is available online. Earlier this year, Vodafone and Telecom launched a free service in which people could send a text message to 7233 (Safe) to have their movements recorded on a central database, according to stuff.co.nz

For more information visit Travel Video.TV

Discover Each Other with Honeymoon Packages from Tourism New Zealand and Leisure Ways

2007-01-15T02:12:00.000-08:00

Take a gentle walk through the bush, experience the contrasts from mountains to bush to beach, take a cruise at the 'Eighth Wonder of the World - Milford Sound' and if you want a really different experience for your honeymoon - try some thrilling adventure activities. What's more - do all of this and more at your own pace with a self drive option! Tourism New Zealand and Leisure Ways bring you a special honeymoon package at Rs122,000 per person for a 15 day, 14 might vacation.

Making it even more special is an offer from Leisure Ways - complimentary upgrades to first class hotels for all days (except Mt. Cook). Leisure Ways is a Kiwi Specialist travel operator and work closely with Tourism New Zealand to develop and promote self drive vacations in the country.

New Zealand offers so many uniquely extraordinary adventures of the heart it is a dream romantic destination. Of course, there are the luxurious, pampering hotels and indulgent spas with petals-on-your-pillow kinds of treatment. And the shopping, vibrant nightlife, theatre and art appreciation cultures of the big cities. But consider also the rewards for more adventurous, new-style romantics.

So, whether you are looking for breathtaking destinations, or a honeymoon filled with different activities, New Zealand is the perfect getaway. With minimalist traffic and a breathtaking view at almost every bent which you want to cherish with your partner - self drive is an idyllic option. Importantly the Indian driving license is valid in New Zealand (only valid and English licenses), road signs are in English and it is a right hand drive - what more can one ask for?

Begin this love affair with a romantic setting in Auckland - a blend of harbors, Polynesian culture and modern city environment before heading off to Rotorua. On route, enjoy an underground boat ride and view millions of glow worms in the world famous Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

After feasting your eyes on the boiling mud pools and roaring geysers of Rotorua, move on to Wellington. En-route lies the serene Lake Taupo, created by an eruption so big the sun went hazy in China. If the serenity is too hard to resist, stop and soak in the surroundings at the popular lake resort here, before driving on through lush farmlands as you head to Wellington.

A ferry ride across the Cook Strait will get you to the South Island of New Zealand. Here lies sparkling clear waters and lush forests of Marlborough Sounds. Breath taking views await you as you travel further south from Wellington to Kaikoura. Experience a completely different thrill - a possible encounter with the giant sperm whale, humpback whale or maybe even an Orca (Killer whale)!

From Kaikora travel across the fertile plains of Canturbury and spend the night at New Zealand's highest mountain - Mt. Cook. While here - consider taking a scenic flight to Tasman Glacier. For the more adventurous and new-style romantics - spend day eleven in the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown. Bungy jumping, jet boating, white water rafting and many more adrenalin pumping activities await you and surely this experience will be etched in your minds for life!

A visit to New Zealand cannot be complete without visiting what Rudyard Kipling described as the 'Eighth Wonder of the World' - Milford Sound. Spend the day feeling the mist of the waterfalls, looking for the seals on the rocks or marvel at the steep sides of the fiord - simply spectacular!

So pack your bags and explore together the untrammeled paths, green pastures and rolling hills of this Pacific Island. We guarantee this will leave you asking for more.

Air New Zealand Doing What it Takes to be Nimble

2007-01-09T07:33:00.000-08:00

Air New Zealand's reincarnation is almost complete. Roeland van den Bergh looks at how the national carrier is positioning itself for growth.

Hunderds of jobs axed, new aircraft, long-haul cabins, uniforms, a doomed code-share and two new international routes – it has been a big year for Rob Fyfe, who took the helm of Air New Zealand in October 2005 and has not taken his hands off the throttle since.

Staff, reeling after a year of cost cutting and job changes, have been warned to expect more of the same as Air New Zealand tries to foot it with much bigger competitors.

The constant message from the top has been that Air New Zealand must be "more nimble" and able to "adapt faster" to industry change than its competitors.

"If I look at the year in aggregate, there has been a lot of tough decisions to deal with, a lot of change for the business," Mr Fyfe says.

"But we are pretty confident that we have got through a tough year in pretty good shape and we are now very well positioned to start growing the business."

To that end, it is expected another long-haul route will be announced within three months. Mr Fyfe will not give any hints as to what direction the new route will set, but planning has focused on Asia, particularly the fast-growing market out of China.

Last year the airline began new services to Shanghai and created the world's only dedicated round-the- world service by adding a London leg to its Hong Kong
service in addition to the Los Angeles route.

"The forward (booking) profiles on our new routes are looking very good," Mr Fyfe says.

Though demand is strong between Auckland and Hong Kong, the airline is struggling to drive sales on the new London sector, where budget start-up Oasis Hong Kong Airlines is having an impact.

The three-times-a-week Shanghai service is expected to increase this year, though not to daily.

Sentimentality was put aside as loss-making routes were culled from the network, including Singapore after 40 years and Nagoya, Japan, following a sharp fall in tourist numbers, as well as Taipei.

The arrival of eight new Boeing 777-200ERs fitted with the latest in passenger comforts, and similarly refitted 747-400s, has led to a significant increase in loads and yields, especially in business class and premium economy.

"Without doubt we are winning customers back from other airlines with that new product," Mr Fyfe says.

For more information visit stuff.co.nz

New Routes From Air New Zealand

2006-12-18T08:40:00.000-08:00

Air New Zealand plans new regional services next year.

The national airline will launch three direct regional services and increase capacity on some routes in the second half of 2007.

Norm Thompson, group general manager of short-haul airlines, said the non-stop Link routes reflected the domestic air travel market "holding up quite nicely".

"You've also got to try and create demand as well - and these services will."

The services would include an Invercargill-Wellington return service and a New Plymouth-Christchurch return service introduced in October.

A Tauranga-Christchurch direct service is due to be launched in December 2007.

Failed regional competitor Origin Pacific started a direct Tauranga-Christchurch service in June but the airline stopped passenger services around August 10.

Up till their wind-up, Origin criticised Air New Zealand's competitive tactics.

But Mr Thompson said taking on the route was nothing to do with Origin's work.

"We've sort of moved on from Origin, quite frankly," he said. "We're doing it because we do see there is a demand there and we want to fulfil it, it's as simple as that.

"Tauranga's growing phenomenally, population-wise. Not only is the business market strong into and out of Tauranga but you've also got a very strong leisure market as well."

Mr Thompson said the services would start each day in Invercargill, New Plymouth and Tauranga, and return to those base points in the evening, catering for the business market.

Additionally, frequency on the Dunedin-Wellington and Queenstown-Wellington non-stop routes would increase in December 2007 with the use of Air New Zealand's Mount Cook subsidiary aircraft.

The new services come after a decision to buy three additional Bombardier Q300 aircraft for Air New Zealand Link carrier Air Nelson, on top of 17 new Q300s to replace its fleet of 17 Saab 340A aircraft.

Mr Thompson said the decision to add new services also reflected a busy Wellington hub, with the direct routes removing need for a stopover and, hopefully, adding extra customers.

"Once you build the traffic up you can then put a non-stop in - and what we'll also see is the market grow."

New Westin Hotel to Open in Queenstown, New Zealand in 2009

2006-12-11T01:48:00.000-08:00

1 December 2006

Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Peninsula Road Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of Melview Developments Limited have signed an agreement for Starwood to manage a 177-room hotel in Queenstown, New Zealand. Scheduled to open in 2009, The Westin Queenstown further strengthens Westin’s position in the Pacific region.

The Westin Queenstown will be the fifth Westin property in the Pacific region, joining Westins in Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney and Denarau Island, Fiji. The signing of The Westin Queenstown also marks the continued growth of the Westin brand in Asia Pacific. This is the ninth Westin development announced by Starwood in Asia Pacific this year. New developments announced earlier in the year include Westins in Auckland, Guangzhou, Zhejiang and Beijing in China; Bangalore and Sohna in India; Fiji and Langkawi, Malaysia.

Located right on Lake Wakatipu at Kawarau Falls Station in Queenstown, The Westin Queenstown will feature 177 rooms, including 12 suites, 728 square meters of meeting space, a fine dining Restaurant situated on the lakefront, an all day dining Restaurant and Bar, as well as a luxury spa and wellness centre and gymnasium covering 1150 square meters, including a 25 meter indoor heated swimming pool.

Lake Wakatipu is the third largest lake in New Zealand and is renowned for its scenic beauty and mountain ranges. The hotel will be located approximately 3 minutes by car from the Queenstown airport and 5-7 minutes by car from central Queenstown.

'The new Westin Queenstown will enjoy the best site in Queenstown. The Kawarau Falls Station site is one of the few gently sloping north-facing sites left in Queenstown and as such enjoys late afternoon and evening sun. The site itself is beautifully located on the lakeside and on completion will, we believe, be regarded as one of the iconic residential, leisure and entertainment developments in the Southern Hemisphere,' said Mr. Nigel McKenna, Melview’s Managing Director.

Queenstown is one of New Zealand''s most sought after destinations from the perspective of its sheer variety and leisure offering. It is one of the rare places in the world that provides travelers with crystal clear lakes, magnificent mountains, ski fields on the front step and the whole lot surrounded by international class vineyards.

Queenstown is also one of the most beautiful regions of Otago and offers year round attractions. The town sits on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and is surrounded by the Southern Alps. The most magnificent sight is the Remarkables, which is a saw-toothed range of mountains on the opposite side of the lake from the town. Queenstown is approximately 1.5 hours by plane from Auckland and 3 hours by plane from Sydney and Melbourne in Australia. Because of the extensive list of action sport attractions in Queenstown, there are year round attractions that appeal to different needs.

For more informmation visit Asia Travel Tips

New Zealand in Top Ten Travel Destinations

2006-12-07T07:28:00.000-08:00

Renowned travel guide Lonely Planet has once again ranked New Zealand in the top ten travel destinations in the world.

New Zealand was ranked the number two 'favourite destination' of travellers worldwide, according to new book Lonely Planet Bluelist 2007, following Australia, and ahead of Britain, Thailand, Greece, Italy and the US. A number of New Zealand locations and activities also gained a mention in the book, with Lonely Planet Bluelist 2007 devoting a double-page spread to New Zealand.

'This recognition for New Zealand is all the more important as it comes from the people who are experiencing it first-hand,' says George Hickton, Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive. 'The world is moving more and more towards listening to what those who are experiencing the product have to say - blogs, podcasts and web forums are becoming increasingly important in spreading the word about destinations. I am delighted that New Zealand has been ranked so highly.'

Lonely Planet Bluelist 2007 is an annual book capturing the hottest trends, destinations, journeys and experiences for the year ahead, as recommended by Lonely Planet staff, authors, and travellers themselves. The 'favourite destination' list was compiled from a worldwide poll of 32,000 travellers.

Wellington is listed as one of the world's top 10 'Cities on the Rise' and recommended as 'gaining in reputation as a place to be in the southern hemisphere'. Diving the Rainbow Warrior is listed as one of the top ten dive experiences in the world, while tramping the Milford Track is one of the best 'slow travel' adventures in the world.

Mr Hickton says the high ranking is the result of the collective efforts of the New Zealand tourism industry. 'Our industry works very hard to ensure the quality of the tourism experience in New Zealand is as high as possible. This award is another endorsement of this hard work'.

For more information visit Tourism New Zealand

Immigration act review good for tourism in New Zealand

2006-12-07T07:21:00.001-08:00

New Zealand’s $8.1 billion international tourism industry will benefit from proposed immigration law changes, the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) says.

The proposals not only appear to offer greater flexibility for tourism business operators to overcome skill shortages, they may also improve the arrival experience for international visitors, TIA Chief Executive Fiona Luhrs says.

In its submission to the Immigration Act Review, TIA called for changes that would assist the tourism and hospitality industry.

“We emphasised that while it was essential for New Zealand to manage security risks and protect its borders, it was also important to have a system where international visitors felt welcome. We also wanted any changes to immigration laws to acknowledge labour market needs, with a system that would deliver greater flexibility to meet changing demands for skills and labour,” Ms Luhrs says.

Supportive immigration legislation that would promote the growth of the tourism and hospitality sector was a key plank of the Tourism & Hospitality Workforce Strategy (released by an industry Leadership Group comprising key industry associations and industry training organisations in July) which identified ways to ensure the industry had the people and skills it needs to meet growing visitor demands.

TIA is pleased its recommendation for a simplified visa system has been listened to.

“We will continue to seek assurances that any collection of biometric information will not detract from the visitor arrival experience. International travellers expect stringent border controls but a warm and
friendly welcome to New Zealand creates a good impression before the visitor has even left the airport arrival hall,” Ms Luhrs says.

“Tourism is a vital sector for the Government’s economic transformation agenda and we welcome immigration legislation that will help the industry grow and prosper,” she says.

Key statistics about tourism:

- Tourism is the world's fastest growing industry
- New Zealand tourism arrivals have doubled in size since 1994 to 2.38 million
- Forecast annual growth is 4% on average for at least the next five years
- Tourism is New Zealand's single largest export sector and contributed $8.1 billion dollars to the economy in the year ended March 2004. That is 18.7% of exports

- Domestic tourism contributes $9.4 billion to the economy each year
- Tourism directly and indirectly employs 10 percent of the work force. That is one in 10 jobs in New Zealand.
- Tourism represents 9% of gross domestic product and generates nearly $526 million in GST returns from international visitors each year. Tourism is the only export sector whose international clients pay GST.

For more information visit Scoop Independent News