PURE NEWS
New
Zealand on
show during Festival of Spring
Visitors will be able to experience New Zealand's finest food and
wine, art and culture, and gardens at a number of events happening throughout
the Festival of Spring.
Regions throughout
New
Zealand will come
alive
during the diverse range of events happening from September to
November.
Event
dates:
Northland Kauri
Festival, 14 - 30
Septemberwww.kaurifestival.com
Montana World of
WearableArt Awards, 22 September - 1
October
www.worldofwearableart.com
Kaikoura Seafest,6
- 7
Octoberwww.seafest.co.nz
Toast
Martinborough, 19
Novemberwww.toastmartinborough.co.nz
Ellerslie Flower
Show, 15 - 19
Novemberwww.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz
Otago Festival of
the Arts, 6 - 14
Octoberwww.otagofestival.co.nz
Taranaki
Rhododendron & Garden Festival, 27 Oct. - 5
Nov.
www.rhodo.co.nz
Hunters
Garden
Marlborough,
1 - 6
Novemberwww.garden-marlborough.co.nz
Pacific Living Arts
Festival, 7 - 11
Novemberwww.pacificarts.org.nz
Bayleys
Garden
and Artfest, 6 - 12
Novemberwww.gardenandartfest.co.nz
SKI
UPDATE
Mt Hutt - Canterbury
Canterbury's Mt Hutt ski area
kicked-off its 2006
winter season on June 10. Skiers and boarders at Mt
Hutt can look forward
to an average snow base of 20 - 30 centimetres across the main trails
following
a succession of snowfalls and ideal snowmaking
conditions.
Web: www.nzski.com
Mt Potts - Canterbury
Mt Potts is getting
revved up for a big season with lots of people taking the
opportunity to combine cat and heli days with
staying at the lodge for their own customised
trip.
Web: www.mtpotts.co.nz
Coronet
Peak -
Queenstown
Coronet
Peak
launched its season on June 15 with an abundance of
snowfall. An average of
30cm of fresh snow already covers the mountain for skiers and boarders
to enjoy
the popular New Zealand
mountain.
Web: www.nzski.com
The Remarkables -
Queenstown
Snowboarders
and skiers will revel in superb snow conditions at The Remarkables Ski
Area
which officially opened to the public on June
24.The Remarkables is a
fantastic ski area for learners and families as well as freestylers and
backcountry enthusiasts. It offers fun for all age groups and all
levels of
skiers and snowboarders in a stunning alpine environment. Children aged
10 and
under receive free day passes at The
Remarkables.
Web: www.nzski.com
Treble Cone -
Wanaka
Treble
Cone
announced record numbers with over a 1000 ski and board
ticket holders enjoying
champagne ski conditions on Tuesday, June 27th,
to kick off winter
2006. What is likely to become the hottest ski pass on the
South
Island, season ticket holders and day pass lift
riders were enjoying making fresh tracks on day one of what promises to
be a bumper
year for the ski area. A snow base of at least 75cm of snow at the top
of both
the Main
Basin and
Saddle
Basin was recorded
recently.
Web: www.trebelcone.com
Big Daddy Skydiving Adventures - Cromwell,
Central Otago
Big Daddy
Skydiving Adventures is based at the Cromwell Equestrian Centre, and
offers the
opportunity to experience Central
Otago scenery from up to 1500 feet above the earth.
The company is one of
only two in New Zealand that offer a heli-jump
option.
Located 45
minutes
from Queenstown, Big Daddy Skidiving Adventures is run by Richard
Greene and
Byron Stephenson who have 24 years of sky diving experience between
them.
Phone 0800 BIG DADDY
(No website
available yet)
New Zealand
Caterpillar Experience -
Rotorua
Officially
opened
in May 2006, this new attraction takes visitors on a historical journey
demonstrating how man has reshaped the
New Zealand landscape and the role that
the
Caterpillar machinery has played in
that.
Web: www.caterpillarexperience.co.nz
Whakarewarewa - the
Thermal
Village
- Rotorua
A new
interactive
package has been developed at Whakarewarewa that allows visitors to get
up
close and personal with the Maori culture. Small groups will have the
opportunity to prepare and cook their own hangi within the geothermal
area of
the Whakarewarewa village. This hands on package includes a detailed
history of
the local Maori people as well as a guided tour and cultural
performance.
Web: www.whakarewarewa.com
Sidecar Sights
- Christchurch
Sidecar
Sights
offers personalised motorcycle and side car tours in
Christchurch and the surrounding
countryside. Tours are
for one hour and give participants a choice of pick-up and drop off
location.
Ideal for motorcycle enthusiasts, this tour allows communication
between the
passengers and the rider through microphones in the helmets.
Web: www.sidecarsights.co.nz
Astronomy Adventures -
Dargaville
Located in
Dargaville, this product allows visitors to gaze up at the heavens from
the
Skydome Observatory at Baylys
Beach, using the largest telescope
in the North
Island.
Web: http://homepages.igrin.co.nz/astronomy
Aqua Vida -
Tauranga
Located in
Welcome
Bay, Tauranga, Aqua Vida offers
pampering
services such as a revitalizing skin polish, honey aloe skin tonic wrap
and an
Indian head massage all set amongst the
New Zealand natural foliage that
surrounds the
property. Available seven days a
week.
Web: www.aquavida.co.nz
Kiwi Kopters -
Tauranga
Kiwi
Kopters
offers customers the opportunity to live out their M*A*S*H (television
series)
fantasies by offering scenic trips on their authentic Korean War era
helicopters. Tours are operated around the
Bay of
Plenty, with the unique bubble
front providing an
excellent platform for panoramic views. Each helicopters is painted
with the
M*A*S*H titles on the sides as well as the
4077th on the tail to
provide that extra bit of M*A*S*H
authenticity.
Email: mash@kiwikopters.co.nz
Abel Tasman - Maori
Uncut
This new
venture
aims to showcase the land and the sea from the unique perspective of
the Maori
people. Each tour incorporates traditional Maori values, mixed with the
scenery
of the Abel
Tasman
National
Park. Options include a full day trip featuring
both kayaking and a guide walk or the half day trip which is a guided
walk
through the serenity of the Abel
Tasman
Park. Ancient Maori knowledge
about the area is
passed on to each visitor, giving them a personal and insightful view
of
contemporary Maori and their relation to the surrounding
area.
Web: www.maoriuncut.co.nz
Aerius Helicopters - Te
Puke
Based in Te
Puke,
this operator specialises in scenic flights around the
Bay of
Plenty region. The tours include
the Magic Maketu
Experience where passengers journey over orchids and Maketu. There is
also a Motiti
Island experience available.
Web: www.aerius.co.nz
Cycle Touring Company -
Whangarei
This
Whangarei-based
cycle tour company introduces "The Flying Possum Night Ride". Cyclists
ride
through scented native forests, view Kauri trees, glow worms and
opossums.
Cyclists are met at their accommodation and driven to the location of
the ride
and receive a "Brauhaus Frings" voucher and a debriefing at the German
micro-brewery.
Web: www.cycletours.co.nz
Hawke's Bay Opera
House
The Hawke's
Bay
Opera House was opened in March of 2006 after extensive renovations.
Formerly
known as the Hastings Municipal Theatre, this category one historic
building is
unique due to its Spanish - Mission style architecture and its art
nouveau
interior. This theatre is regarded as one of the best lyric theatres in
Australasia.
Web: http://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/operahouse/index.htm
Able Tasman Waka
Tours
Able Tasman
Waka
Tours now offers some exciting new products for visitors to the park.
Products
include:
- Maori Journey - Guided walk. Discover
Able
Tasman
Park as
passed down to through the eyes of Maori tipuna
(ancestors).
- Koru in the
Park - A twilight kayak tour beginning after 3pm though the Abel
Tasman
National
Park.
- Tiki
Tours - Two-day, overnight tour including guided walks, twilight
kayaking, overnight stay on the house boat and a lodge stay
combination.
- Exclusive Maori -
Three-day
guided waka tours incorporating overnight stays in the house boat,
lodge stays, guided walks and twilight kayaking.
Web: www.wakatours.co.nz
Dart
River
Safaris
Dart
River Safaris now offer
heated seats in boats. Dart
River Safaris are the
first New
Zealand jet boating
company to offer this, and it
is available on all their vessels during the winter
months.
Web: www.dartriver.co.nz
Waimarino
Adventure
Park
This popular
Tauranga based operator now offers a moonlight kayaking trip to
glowworm canyon
in McLaren
Falls
Park. The trip is fully
guided, with light
snacks and drinks provided. Each tour begins at
6.30pm and concludes at
10.30pm.
Web: www.waimarino.com
Footprints Waipoua -
Hokianga
Crossings Hokianga
‘Historic by Nature' has an operational start date of November 2006 and
will be
a guided boat cruise of the historically significant Hokianga harbour,
generally accepted as being the first residential place of Kupe, New
Zealand's
first discoverer 1000 years ago and also home to early European
settlements.
This beautiful natural environment is
rich in history
and spectacular scenery. From the vast kauri forests to giant sand
dunes, the
landscape is home to small settlements and ancient sites of significant
interest. It is a place that is as important today to modern Maori and
European
as it was to their ancestors all those years
ago.
Web: www.footprintswaipoua.com,
www.crossingshokianga.com
Shantytown -
Greymouth
Shantytown has
introduced a new steam train experience - the ‘Footplate
Experience'. Designed for children and adults, the
activity offers visitors the opportunity to gain first-hand experience
of a
working steam train by riding in the ‘cab' of one of three, working,
vintage
steam trains.
Web: www.shantytown.co.nz
DID YOU
KNOW?
Statistics, Facts,
Awards
and Updates
Cardrona
Alpine Resorts - Queenstown
Cardrona Alpine Resorts has launched
launched a comprehensive e-commerce
web
site allowing skiers and snowboarders to enjoy the convenience of an
online
one-stop-shop when planning their winter
holiday.
Web: www.cardrona.com
Direct Trans-Tasman flights in to
Queenstown for
winter.
Qantas has
announced the addition of a
Melbourne to Queenstown
flight for winter, taking
the number of direct flights to Queenstown from nine in 2005 to 11 in
2006.
Web:
www.qantas.com.au
Lake
Plaza Rotorua name
change
From
June 1
2006, the Lake Plaza
Rotorua Hotel will be changing its name to the Sudima Hotel Lake
Rotorua.
Web: www.sudimahotels.com
Hotel Du Vin joins Heritage
Hotels
From
June 1
2006, the Hotel Du
Vin will be the latest addition to the Heritage Hotel group. The Hotel
Du Vin
will become known as the Heritage Hotel and Spa Du Vin and is part of
the
Heritage group's strategic expansion into the spa resort market.
Web: www.heritagehotels.co.nz
Carrington Resort -
Karikari
Carrington Resort
has
been entered into the Best of Golf New
Zealand network. The
resort has achieved a 5-star rating
with Qualmark for the accommodation and 100% in the tertiary assessment
criteria for golf
courses.
Web: www.carrington.co.nz
Grand Mercure Oakridge
Wanaka
Accor
hotels has announced its fifth hotel in Central Otago, with the Grand
Mercure
Oakridge Wanaka luxury spa resort
set to join the network the Accor network from 26 June.
Web: http://www.accorhotels.co.nz/
Essence
of New Zealand
expands
Essence of
New
Zealand
has recently acquired the addition of The Clark
Collection of heritage
properties. With two city locations
(Christchurch
and
Wellington) and two country
locations (Kapiti and Taupo), this prestigious group
of properties in exclusive settings compliment the Essence NZ portfolio
with
new destinations and experiences.
Web:
www.essencenz.com
Wildwood
Lakeside
Lodge -
Rotorua
Following a total
rebuild over the past winter, Rotorua's Wildwood Lakeside Lodge has
been re-opened
for guests, with two new-look king guest rooms. These rooms complement
the
existing guesthouse taking the lodges capacity to six. New luxury
features of
the lodge include central heating, large open fire, library, theatre
and a
helipad.
Web: www.wildtrout.co.nz
Sunset View Lodge -
Northland
Opening in Baylys
Beach, Northland in August 2006, Sunset View Lodge will contain six
rooms, all
with en-suite bathrooms, king-sized bed, plasma tv and private deck.
The lodge
also has its own state of the art theatre.
Web: www.sunsetveiwlodge.co.nz
Waima Lodge Guesthouse -
Northland
Waima Lodge
Guesthouse, Hokianga, is a 1920s character home, offering affordable
luxury and
comfort with superior beds and spacious well appointed rooms with
en-suites.
Waima has three bedrooms plus a self contained cottage. An excellent
location
for journalists looking for that off the beaten track
accommodation.
Web: www.waima.co.nz
Executive on Fenton -
Rotorua
The Executive on
Fenton has 20 suites. There are three types of suites including studio,
executive studio and executive one bedroom suites with the latter
including a
spa pool and individual courtyard. The spacious rooms and central
location make
Executive on Fenton ideal for film
crews.
| 
News 
Saturday, 05 July 2008
