Luxury Accommodation

Most luxurious stays in New Zealand (price per night):

Eric Watson’s Westbury Estate, Auckland: $2250 per bedroom / $6000 for house.
Eagles Nest, Russell, Bay of Islands: $900 to $12,000.
Blanket Bay, Queenstown: from $1290.
Kauri Cliffs, Northland: from $640.
Wharekauhau Lodge, Palliser Bay, Wellington: from $795 to $5775.
Huka Lodge, Taupo: from $860.

Speaking Kiwi

Seems that many visitors to New Zealand have difficulty understanding our version of the English language. Overheard at the local pub - “There’s big bickies renting out the bach complete with bomb and barbie’ which left a couple of American tourists scratching their heads. If you don't know what they meant, check out the Kiwi/American dictionary at NZ.com.

Why are there (almost) no Maori Restaurants

Food and travel go hand in hand for most travellers. Seeking out traditional and indigenous foods is part of the whole travel experience. But finding out about traditional maori foods appears to be difficult. And finding places to try maori cusine seems to be limited. My searches so far have uncovered that the traditional Maori hangi can be experienced as part of the Marae visit. But as for actual restaurants that serve up Maori cuisine, have only found one so far - Kai on the Bay in Wellington. But the search will continue - stay turned.

Island for sale

New Zealand got a mention in a recent Forbes article Most Expensive Private Islands 2006. Pakatoa Island in the Hauraki Gulf is 30 minutes from Auckland and is accessible by boat or plane. Asking price $35 million. Want to know more, check out Vladi Private Islands or Luxury Real Estate.

Movie Review: No.2

Went to see No.2 the other day. Written and directed by award-winning New Zealand playwright Toa Fraser, No.2 was winner of this year’s audience award at the Sundance Film Festival.

If people go to see No.2 for more amazing New Zealand scenery, they will be disappointed. The Auckland suburb of Mt Roskill does not have the same stunning landscape as, say, The Lord of the Rings. But what it does have is heart and plenty of it.

No. 2 features Ruby Dee as an elderly Fijian matriarch who demands that her grandchildren create a feast where she will name her successor. Full of drama, humour, and love, the film looks at what it takes to bring a broken family together.

The heat and vibrancy of the South Pacific are interspersed with the starkness of the city suburb as Nana’s family try to please an old woman’s crazy idea.

It might be small budget, but it is definitely worth seeing.

For up-to-date information on the New Zealand movie scene, check out the film commission's website.

Farewell to the Godwits

This afternoon there was a special event held at the Avon-Heathcote Estuary in Christchurch to farewell the godwits. These North American birds fly here every September from Alaska (over 11000 kilometres away) and stay for the summer. Their departure during the month of March signals the end of summer in Christchurch.

Follow the Thread

Calls itself New Zealand’s fashion culture magazine and online store. If you’re interested in up and coming designers, fashion trends, reviews of funky places to eat and be seen, check out Thread, the Mag.

NZ Life & Leisure Magazine

One of New Zealand’s newest magazines, NZ Life & Leisure features homegrown stories about talented Kiwis, as well as travel, food, arts, and culture. The website provides an archives of its previous 6 issues. Well worth a visit.

Hokitika Wildfoods Festival

It’s almost time for the annual Hokitika Wild Foods Festival. Now in its 16th year, it’s the place to go to try out authentic bushtucker. Each year, more and more delicacies are added to the lineup. Not having the most adventurous of palates, last time I was there (2004) I could only watch with fascination as intrepid souls swallowed crickets, punga slugs, huhu grubs and stinging nettle soup.

This years festival is on 11 March 2006 and tickets can be purchased online at the official website . Here’s a few article on the previous festivals to get your taste buds going .

Getting ready for the Hokitika Wildfoods festival ( XtraMsn),
Five go wild on the West Coast (Cusine Magazine)
The Call of the Wild Foods (NY Times)
Grubs Treat (The Spectator, 2002)

Movie Tourism

New Zealand is making a name for itself as a place to make great movies. As a result, films like ‘Whale Rider’ and ‘Lord of the Rings’ have created a new form of tourism for New Zealand - movie tourism - spawning books and specialized tour companies. Check out Jim Eagles recent article in The New Zealand Herald ‘Land of the Silver Screen ’ to find out the locations of many of New Zealand’s best films.

Tourism New Zealand’s website provides more information on visiting the film locations of Lord of the Rings, River Queen, The World's Fastest Indian, and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Recent New Zealand Travel Articles

On the Road Again (The Age - January 22, 2006) With the wind in her hair and her home on her back, Carol West set off on an unforgettable adventure around New Zealand.

Hobbit Free Auckland (theglobeandmail.com - January 28, 2006) Most travellers to New Zealand make a beeline right from the airport to Lord of the Rings landscapes. But it's a shame to give the country's cities a pass…

Book of the Month: Kiwis Might Fly by Polly Evans

Having read a survey that ‘claimed the ordinary Kiwi bloke was about to turn up the toes of his gumboots…and move to the city', Polly Evans decided to take a motorbike trip around New Zealand to find out for herself if this was true. Her quest - to find out if the ordinary Kiwi bloke had all but disappeared ?

So it was with great interested that I started reading Kiwis Might Fly. Polly, it turns out, is quite adventurous. How many of us, after all, would attempt to ride a powerful (650 cc) motorcycle around an unfamiliar country after only a few lessons at home on a much smaller (125 cc) motorcycle. Not me!

Content to sit in my comfortable armchair, I followed Polly as she learned how to master the beast (motorcycle) and searched for nearly extinct Kiwi bloke. What evolves is a laid back, laugh out loud road trip through New Zealand’s cities and countryside.

Kawhia was home to Giant Penguin

A group of Hamilton schoolchildren on a fossil finding expedition have uncovered the remains of what may have been a Giant Penguin. The bones, thought to be 40 million years old, were found near Kawhia on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island.

The Great New Zealand Trek 2006

Ever dreamed of walking, cycling or riding a horse the length of New Zealand ? Not many people have. But for those of you with a thirst for the unique and with time and energy to spare, check out The Great New Zealand Trek.

Stage One begins on March 11 at northland‘s Cape Reinga, home to a solitary lighthouse overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea. From here, for 6 days, the trek will head south, arriving at Hokianga Harbour, Kohukohu on March 19th. That’s a distance of 250 kilometres or 40 plus kilometres a day.

The trek has been organized by Steve Old, the man behind the Great New Zealand Horse Rides (1996-2000) and horse coordinator for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Last Samurai.

Each year the trek will continue from where it finished the previous year. At this pace, Steve estimates it will take 12 years to complete the length of the country.

Any takers? According to the website that are still places available and late registrations will be accepted

Travel Article

New travel article on New Zealand (Girls Go Wild, Adventures in New Zealand by Elisabeth Eaves) can be found at Slate.com

Plans for whiskey distillery near Queenstown

Came across an article yesterday in The Press about Warren Preston’s plans for a $5 million boutique distillery to be built on the banks of the Kawarau River near Queenstown. It plans to be an all southern affair, with the barley grown throughout Otago and southland, distilled on site, and distributed through Preston’s Oamaru restaurant. This in turn, would allow for the development of a whiskey tourism business, offering tours, whisky appreciation and tastings. All this, of course, will take some years to develop.

This got me thinking. Does New Zealand have a whiskey tourism industry ? I know that there are a few boutique breweries around, but how many whiskey (or other spirits) distilleries are there in New Zealand. An internet search came up with a few surprises. Just down the road my home is Southern Grain Spirits, the ‘…only remaining distillery in Australasia making Gin using botanicals and original methods. Apparently tours are available Monday to Saturday between 10am and 8pm (bookings essential).

Then there’s 42 Below, distilling premium vodka and gin. First made in a Wellington garage (hence the name 42 below referring to the 42nd parallel below the equator), the company is the brainchild of Geoff Ross, who felt that pure spring water from Wellington’s Tararua ranges was the key to producing a superior vodka. He must have been onto something, with 42 Below winning metals internationally and becoming the vodka of choice at top bars throughout the United States.

National Geographic Traveler features New Zealand

Look out for the March issue of National Geographic Traveler, which is featuring an article on New Zealand called ‘Dreamland: 28 Ways New Zealand will Wow You.’ Basically an insiders guide to New Zealand, it focuses on New Zealand wine and food, products, music and locations through the eyes of the locals.

Christchurch is covered in flowers

The annual Festival of Flowers and Romance is on from 10 - 19th February. Check out http://www.festivalofflowers.co.nz for event information and times. Most displays and events are free.

New Zealand No.2 in Lonely Planet Bluelist 06-07

The recently published Lonely Planet Bluelist 06-07 declared New Zealand as N0.2 best value destination. Check out other NZ bluelists at http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/pacific/new-zealand/