WESTERN AUSTRALIA TAKES CENTER STAGE AS THE BACKDROP TO BAZ LUHRMANN’S SWEEPING ROMANTIC ADVENTURE, AUSTRALIA

The Kimberley region offers travelers a taste of the authentic outback experience

and is the “heart and soul” of this epic adventure

(PERTH; WESTERN AUSTRALIA; Nov. 13, 2008)—The Kimberley, the northwest region of Western Australia, makes its big screen debut this month starring alongside Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman in Baz Luhrmann’s epic Australia. Inspired by the magnificent color palette and breath-taking natural landscape, which he calls the “heart and soul” of the movie, Luhrmann traveled to Western Australia’s Kimberley region with more than 400 cast and crew to film pivotal scenes of this epic romantic adventure.

Covering an expanse of over 260,000 square miles with an estimated population of just 30,000, Western Australia’s Kimberley region is one of the most mysterious and captivating regions on earth. The sweeping and dramatic landscape brings to life several themes explored in the movie, including adventure, romance, and Australia’s Aboriginal culture.

Like Nicole Kidman’s character, Lady Sarah Ashley, Western Australia’s Kimberley region offers travelers the opportunity to embark on a journey of self-discovery and explore the unspoiled outback. Kidman has been quoted saying that her time spent in Western Australia “was a spiritual experience. There is a strength and power to this area that I haven’t seen elsewhere.” Whether in search of adventure, cultural enlightenment, or romance, the Kimberley region is home to the following not to miss destinations and attractions, including:

The Aboriginal Experience

Aboriginal culture is central to the storyline of Australia. As the world’s oldest continual culture and the first people of Australia, travelers to the Kimberley region can experience Indigenous art, safaris, and more. Intrepid travelers can explore the indigenous rock art galleries on the Mitchell Plateau and see the famous Gwion Gwion art, also known as the Bradshaws. A fantastic base for exploration of this area is Faraway Bay. For more information, please visit – www.farawaybay.com.au

Kununurra – Purnululu National Park

Kununurra, meaning ‘big water’ in the local Indigenous language, is the eastern gateway to the Kimberley region. Traversed for centuries by Aboriginal people, the Australia cast and crew based themselves in Kununurra, which is home to the World Heritage listed Purnululu National Park. This remote wilderness experience is famous for the Bungle Bungle Range, where constant erosion and river movements have formed its huge black and orange striped domes over the last 20 million years. Travel further into the range and a hidden world of gorges and pools are revealed with fan palms clinging precariously to walls and crevices in the rocks, perfect for a romantic sojourn. Stay overnight at one of the permanent tented accommodations. For more information, please visit – www.kimberleywilderness.com.au

El Questro Wilderness Park – Cockburn Range

Luhrmann chose to film some of the pivotal scenes for Australia at El Questro, a working cattle station on more than one million acres. This wilderness park encompasses some of the Kimberley region’s most breathtaking and untouched scenery including wide tidal flats, fields of boab trees, and pockets of lush gorges and waterfalls. El Questro is also home to the Cockburn Range, a fortress-like rock formation rich with deep gorges and permanent pools that can be explored by four-wheel drive, on private bushwalking tours, or via scenic helicopter flights. Also at El Questro, travelers can relax in Zebedee Thermal Springs, warmed by water rising up through the earth from the tectonic plates below.

For a luxurious and romantic adventure, visit El Questro Homestead—an exclusive six-suite retreat cantilevered over the magnificent Chamberlain Gorge. Sitting in contrast to Western Australia’s rugged Kimberley landscape, El Questro offers five star service to travelers seeking relaxation and privacy. Guests can choose from a selection of romantic, outdoor dining locations—including a private cliff top or the Homestead’s spacious verandahs—to dine under a canopy of stars. For more information, please visit – www.elquestrohomestead.com.au/

Home Valley Station

The backdrop to many key scenes in Australia, including Lady Sarah Ashley’s crossing of the Pentecost River, Home Valley Station is an outback adventure playground filled with towering gorges, sparkling waterholes, rivers, untouched beaches, waterfalls, and stunning ancient landforms and ranges.

For the ultimate combination of adventure and romance, Home Valley Stations’ Grass Castles offer the newest and most luxurious accommodation in the Kimberley. The large, freestanding guest rooms are located along the banks of the beautiful Bindoola Creek and shaded by towering eucalypts abundant with birdlife. Reminiscent of sturdy steel and timber homesteads designed by the Kimberley’s early pioneering settlers, each Grass Castle effortlessly combines historic touches with ultra-modern amenities. Design features include floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors, polished timber floors, private verandahs, and unobstructed views of the water. For more information, please visit – www.homevalley.com.au/accommodation/grass-castle-rooms.php

Digger’s Rest Station

An adventure accessible only by four-wheel drive, Digger’s Rest offers warm hospitality amidst the gorgeous scenery of the Kimberley and is the location where the cast and crew spent 21 days filming Australia. The property is well known for its extended horse treks, which take visitors back in time to when the original settlers of the land moved cattle throughout the Kimberley. Whether embarking on a two or 11 day trek, travelers can explore the magnificent scenery and stop each night near a watering hole for a dip, dinner, and stories around a campfire.

For more information on the travel options and itineraries in Western Australia’s Kimberley region or Australia the movie, please visit: www.westernaustralia.com/kimberley

About Western Australia

Western Australia, the largest state in Australia located in the western half of the country, is divided into five distinct regions: Australia’s North West, Australia’s Coral Coast, The Golden Outback, Experience Perth, and Australia’s South West. Unspoiled, unpretentious, and full of adventure, the travel experiences in Western Australia are as diverse and spectacular as the landscape itself. The North West region is a vast wilderness area home to spectacular natural attractions including the Bungle Bungle Range in World Heritage Listed Purnululu National Park, the world-famous white sands and turquoise water at Broome’s Cable Beach, and the million acre El Questro Wilderness Park. Travelers to the Coral Coast can dive with the world’s largest fish – the whale shark, snorkel with manta rays, and see wild dolphins at play. Western Australia’s Golden Outback, the Gold Rush country of the 1890’s, offers the ideal blend of history and heritage. Travelers can explore mines and museums, pan for gold, or visit one of Kalgoorlie’s historic pubs. In spring, travelers to The Golden Outback can see brilliantly colored wildflowers in full bloom. Western Australia’s capital city, Perth, and the surrounding region is a microcosm of the whole state boasting vineyards, fantastic restaurants, a lively and original music and arts scene, and stylish accommodation. Perth is also home to Kings Park, the world’s largest inner city park. Featuring beautiful beaches, tall tree forests, and award winning wineries, the South West is also home to the Margaret River region, which produces almost 20% of Australia’s premium wine. With over 220 wine producers in the region, travelers can explore more than 100 cellar doors which are open to the public.  For more information on Western Australia, please visit www.westernaustralia.com

NEW ZEALAND OFFERS GOLF ENTHUSIASTS MORE THAN JUST GREAT COURSES WITH ALL-AROUND GOLF PACKAGES

NEW ZEALAND OFFERS GOLF ENTHUSIASTS MORE THAN JUST GREAT COURSES
WITH ALL-AROUND GOLF PACKAGES

Luxury Golf Tour Packages (Land Only) From $1,644 Per Person

Combine Rounds of Golf with Wine Tours, Soft Adventure Activities and Much More

SANTA MONICA, CA, March 17, 2009 – For golf lovers on a personal quest for that “all in one” golf trip, New Zealand has teed up a variety of luxury travel packages combining love of the game and exploration of the destination – both in true Kiwi-style.  With its celebrated wineries, outdoor adventure offerings and famed Kiwi hospitality added to some of the world’s leading golf courses, New Zealand tempts golfers to drive beyond its spectacular fairways and greens.  Top-flight golf on dramatic courses with scenic backdrops is rounded out with car rental, exclusive food and wine experiences, soft adventure activities and more.

Best of New Zealand Golf & Wine: Golfers who want to play at some of New Zealand’s top golf courses as well as get an all-around culinary, wine and soft adventure experience, will appreciate Down Under Answers’ “Unforgettable New Zealand”.  This 10-day trip begins with a guided tour in the charming art deco town of Napier, with visits to the art deco buildings, wineries and art studios.  Enjoy a spectacular round of golf at the award-winning Cape Kidnappers Golf Club, with its championship layout making superb use of the natural countryside and hailed as a marvel of modern golf course design.  After journeying south to the outdoor adventure playground of Queenstown, discover the dramatic landscapes of Milford Sound; enjoy the thrill of a Shotover Jetboat ride before hitting the lush fairways and greens at Millbrook, a championship course nestled in an impressive alpine amphitheater of snow-capped mountains.  Conclude the adventure in Auckland, “City of Sails,” with a day trip to the vineyards of Waiheke Island.

“Unforgettable New Zealand” packages start at $2,359 per person (double occupancy), land only and include: 9-night accommodations (3 nights at The County Hotel, Napier; 4 nights at Browns Boutique Hotel, Queenstown; 2 nights at Hilton Auckland), round of golf (18 holes) at Cape Kidnappers; round of golf (18 holes) at Millbrook Resort; Napier Food & Wine, Artists & Walks Experience; Milford Sounds Nature Cruise including lunch; exclusive tour of Waiheke Island Vineyards including lunch; private roundtrip airport transfers in Queenstown and Auckland; car rental for 3 days in Napier; 10 meals.  Valid for travel until March 31, 2010.  For reservations and information, visit www.duatravel.com or call toll-free 1-800-889-1464.

North Island Golf Retreat: Down Under Answers’ “Discover New Zealand” is a seven-day journey that ushers golfers and sophisticated travelers into the pleasures of Auckland and the Bay of Islands.  The quest begins in Auckland, set in the midst of the sparkling Waitemata Harbour and home to two America’s Cup regattas.  From there take a ferry for an excursion on Waiheke Island, with its spectacular views and boutique wineries holding the secrets to Waiheke’s world-famous red wines.  Enjoy a round of golf on the Gulf Harbour Golf Course – offering challenging holes along the cliffs and overlooking the Hauraki Gulf.  Next drive north to Carrington Resort on the Kari Kari Peninsula in the stunning Bay of Islands, with its subtropical climate and myriad beautiful islands, bays and beaches.  In addition to a round of golf at the resort, travelers can opt to enjoy the resort’s heated swimming pool, spa services, clay targets shooting range, and more.

“Discover New Zealand” packages start at $1,644 per person (double occupancy), land only, and include: 6 nights accommodations (3 at Hilton Auckland and 3 at Carrington Resort, Bay of Islands); exclusive tour of Waiheke Island Vineyards including lunch; round of golf (18 holes) at Gulf Harbour Country Club; round of golf (18 holes) at Carrington Resort Golf Course; private airport transfer to Auckland Hotel; car rental for 4 days; 7 meals.  Valid for travel until March 31, 2010.  For reservations and information, visit www.duatravel.com or call toll-free 1-800-889-1464.

Recently named the “Golf Destination of the Year – Asia & Australasia” by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO), the leading golf tourism trade group, New Zealand prides itself on being the home of some of the world’s leading golf courses, and being able to offer golfers a holistic travel experience.  For more information about New Zealand golf, visit www.bestofgolfnewzealand.com.

For information about New Zealand’s extensive vacation options, log onto the 100% Pure New Zealand website at http://www.newzealand.com.

Wednesday Night Beer can races start

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Tons of Blubber, Critters and Crawlers, Natural Wonders,

Tons of Blubber, Critters and Crawlers, Natural Wonders,

World’s Tallest Trees, Tule Elk, Fun Trails and more

Find it all in California State Parks

We’ve got Buffleheads, tule elk and Ringnecks.  Go a little farther and we can show you the best views of the Los Angeles area or gray foxes and opossums.  At another location, we’ve got elephant seals that grow to 5,000 pounds and you will need to respect their space or find out how fast tons of blubber can move.  We’ve got trees taller than large skyscrapers and still here and doing well after a thousand years and more.    We’ve got really fast moving water and huge waterfalls and granite ledges that also demand respect.  And how about the 100,000 butterflies found in another of our State parks?

If anything on this laundry list of critters, crawlers, flyers, plants and places sounds like a good adventure, then we have a destination that will widen the eyes of your family and create the memories of a remarkable adventure into the outback of California.

You can call it eco-tourism, if you want.   We have just been calling it fun for the last hundred years or so.

California State Parks are home to the best of the state’s natural wonders. For eco-tourists, there’s no better way to discover the wildlife, trees, flowers, waterfalls, caverns – and more – that make the golden state a top destination.

Here’s just a sample of what you can find in California State Parks:

Bird Watching at Sunset State Beach

Sunset State Beach (SANTA CRUZ COUNTY), 16 miles south of Santa Cruz on Highway 1 via San Andreas Road, is a great place for bird watching, including the California Thrasher and Snowy Plover. Lawrence’s Goldfinch is often seen in the campground and House Wrens are in the park in late fall and winter. Along the coast in summer and fall you can see groups of Bottlenose Dolphins from the shore. The park phone number is (831) 763-7062 and the park web page is http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=544

Elephant Seals at Año Nuevo State Reserve

Año Nuevo State Reserve (SAN MATEO COUNTY), 55 miles south of San Francisco and the Golden Gate, is home to elephant seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals that come ashore to rest, mate, and give birth in the sand dunes or on the beaches and offshore islands. The park is the site of the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for the northern elephant seal. The males battle for mates on the beaches and the females give birth to their pups on the dunes. During the breeding season, December 15 through March 31, daily access to the Reserve is available only via guided walks. Advance reservations are recommended for walks. For reservations call (800) 444-7275. The park web page is http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=523

A reclaimed natural oasis in the city at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook

Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (LOS ANGELES COUNTY), just eight miles from Los Angeles International Airport in Culver City and close to Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles, is a soon-to-be-open 50-acre park where visitors can experience 360 degree views of the entire L.A. basin and the Pacific Ocean.  A state of the art visitor center sits perched upon a 500-foot hill with exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the area.  Winding trails give nature lovers a chance to explore a rehabilitated coastal sage scrub plant community and see wildlife such as birds, gray foxes, opossums, skunks and other small mammals.  Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is adjacent to Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, with a total of 387 acres of parkland to enjoy. The park phone number is (310) 558-4566.  The webpage is currently under construction.  The park is scheduled to open in late April 2009.

Bird Watching at Los Encinos State Historic Park

Los Encinos State Historic Park (LOS ANGELES COUNTY), less than a mile from the 101 Ventura Freeway and surrounded by the city, is a natural spring-filled pond which, especially in the winter, attracts several types of ducks including Buffleheads, Mallards, Woodducks, Ringnecks, and Hooded Mergansers. In this quiet, historic park, birders and photographers have unusually close access to their subjects.  Visitors are encouraged to bring along a picnic, tour the park’s historic structures, and enjoy the beauty and peace in the midst of the city. The park phone number is (818) 784-4849.  The park web page is: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=619

Tule Elk at Tule Elk State Natural Reserve

Tule Elk State Natural Reserve (KERN COUNTY), north of Gorman, south of Buttonwillow, west of I-5 via the Stockdale Highway, protects a herd of tule elk, once in danger of extinction. In the 1880s, vast herds of tule elk were greatly reduced by hunting and loss of habitat. The elk are most active from late summer through early autumn. Visitors are encouraged to bring binoculars for better viewing. The park has picnic areas and interpretive exhibits. The park phone number is (661) 942-0662. The park web page is http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=584

Redwoods at Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Calaveras Big Trees State Park (CALAVERAS COUNTY), four miles northeast of Arnold on Highway 4, features two giant groves of some of the oldest living redwood trees in California. The trees can reach a height of 325 feet and a diameter of 33 feet. They are a surviving species from a time when dinosaurs roamed, and birds, mammals and flowering plants began to appear. Some of these trees are thought to be as much as 2,000 years old. The park phone number is (209) 795-2334 and the park web page is http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=551

River walk at South Yuba River State Park

River walk at South Yuba River State Park (NEVADA COUNTY), eight miles north west of Nevada City on Highway 49, features many scenic vistas, including  fast-moving water pouring over massive granite ledges in the spring and warm slow moving emerald swimming holes during the late summer. Hikers have a choice of easy trails (Independence Trail) to more strenuous ones throughout the park. The park phone number is (530) 432-2546. The park web page is http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=496

Whale Watching at MacKerricher State Park

MacKerricher State Park (MENDOCINO COUNTY) features whale watching at Laguna Point on the Mendocino Coast,  three miles north of Fort Bragg. For more information, call: (707) 964-9112 or (707) 937-5804. The park web page is http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=436

Tidepooling at Crystal Cove State Park

Crystal Cove State Park (ORANGE COUNTY), off Highway 1 between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach, is a great place for visitors to explore tidepools. The park has 3.5 miles of beach and undeveloped woodland, which is popular for hiking and horseback riding. The offshore waters are designated as an underwater park. Crystal Cove is used by mountain bikers inland and scuba and skin divers underwater. The beach is popular with swimmers and surfers. The park phone number is (949) 494-3539. The park web page is http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=644

Wild flowers at Los Angeles State Historic Park

Los Angeles State Historic Park (Los Angeles County), located next the intersection of the 110 and 5 freeways just north of the 101 freeway, is the front porch of downtown Los Angeles, offers a variety of California’s native flora. Just east of Chinatown, visitors will find 32 acres of open space, dotted with Bush Sunflowers, Tidy Tips and the state flower – the California Poppy. Following springs showers, Arroyo Lupine, White Yarrow, Red Buds and Blue Dicks begin to blossom. The park phone number is (323) 441-8819, email at tcarroll@parks.ca.gov, and online at www.parks.ca.gov/lashp.

Mitchell Caverns at Providence Mountains State Recreation Area

Providence Mountains State Recreation Area (SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY), 40 miles west of Needles off I-40 on Essex Road, includes Mitchell Caverns Natural Preserve. El Pakiva and Tecopa Caverns are filled with intricate limestone formations and can be visited by taking cavern tours, which are offered daily year-round. The park has dramatic views of the surrounding Mojave Desert. The park phone number is (760) 928-2586. The park web page is http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=615

Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges State Park

Natural Bridges State Park (SANTA CRUZ COUNTY), on West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz, is temporary home for over 100,000 Monarch butterflies each winter. From mid-October through the end of February, the Monarchs form a “city in the trees.” The areas mild ocean air and eucalyptus grove provide a safe roost until spring. The park phone number is (831) 423-4609. The park web page is http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=541

Waterfall at McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park (SHASTA COUNTY), 11 miles northeast of Burney on Highway 89, has the beautiful 129-foot Burney Falls. Burney Creek originates from the park’s underground springs and flows to Lake Britton, getting larger along the way to the majestic falls. The park phone number is (530) 335-2777. The park web page is http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=455

Azaleas in Azalea State Nature Reserve

Azalea State Nature Reserve (HUMBOLDT COUNTY), five miles north of Arcata, is a reserve for western azalea (Rhododendron occidentale). Each spring, the pink and white azalea blossoms scent the air. Visitors should plan to visit in April and May when azaleas are in bloom. There is a picnic area available. The park phone number is (707) 677-3132. The park web page is:

http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=420

Poppies in the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve (LOS ANGELES COUNTY), 20 miles east of Lancaster, features California’s official flower – the California Poppy. Each spring, the reserve comes alive with the seasonal surprises of the Mojave Desert Grassland habitat. The duration and intensity of colors and scents vary from year to year, depending on winter rain. The park phone number is (661) 724-1180. The park web page is: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=627

Rare Pine Trees at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve (SAN DIEGO COUNTY), one mile south of Del Mar, is the home of the nation’s rarest pine tree – Pinus torreyana. Once the trees covered a large area. Now they only grow in the reserve and on Santa Rosa Island off the coast near Santa Barbara. The park preserves not only the trees, but also the last salt marshes and waterfowl refuges in Southern California. The park phone number is (858) 755-2063. The park web page is: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=657

The view at Mount Diablo State Park

Mount Diablo State Park (CONTRA COSTA COUNTY), five miles east of I-60 in Danville on Diablo Road is known for its spectacular view. On a clear day 35 of California’s 58 counties can be seen. Visitors with binoculars can see Half Dome in Yosemite. Other sites from the summit include the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Farallon Islands. The park phone number is (925) 837-2525. The park web page is http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=517

Hiking and Botany Exploration at Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park

Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park (LOS ANGELES COUNTY), just south of the 118 Ronald Reagan Freeway and west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, has rugged mountains with great hiking trails surrounded by city life. With moderate inclines, these sometimes rocky and uneven trails allow visitors to take in great views of the San Fernando Valley. During the spring, visitors can observe beautiful wildflowers including fields of mustard, unusual red sticky monkey flowers, Santa Susana tarweed, California poppies, and the rare chocolate lily.  Many visitors enjoy horseback riding and mountain biking on the trails, where allowed.  Trail access is located at the 10200 block of Larwin Avenue south of Devonshire Street.  City street parking only at this time.  The park phone number is (818) 784-4849, and additional information can be found on the website at http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=611.

For more information about California State Parks visit www.parks.ca.gov

Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi

Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi, which is set to enter the Guinness Book of Records as the ‘world’s most inclined tower.’ It will lean 4 times as far as Leaning Tower of Pisa. Capital Gate will accommodate the 5-star ‘Hyatt at Capital Centre’ hotel and will provide the most exclusive office space in Abu Dhabi.  The tower forms a major part of the Capital Centre development, a $2.2 billion business and residential micro city being constructed around the thriving Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The new 200 room, 5 star hotel to be operated by Hyatt International will open in late 2009 and will be the first Hyatt operated hotel in the UAE capital. In recognition of its significance and its stature, Hyatt

International has named the hotel ‘Hyatt at Capital Centre’. It will be one of the most exclusive business hotels in the world. Hyatt International already operates 3 luxury hotels in Dubai, UAE under the brands Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency.

 Capital Gate leans westward an astonishing 18 degrees; by comparison the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans less than 4 degrees.  Because of its unique posture, the tower is being constructed on top of an incredibly dense mesh of reinforced steel.  The dense mesh sits above an intensive distribution of 490 piles which have been drilled 30 meters underground to accommodate the gravitational, wind and seismic pressures caused by the lean of the building.

 Its graceful, asymmetric diagonal structure, known as a ‘diagrid’, supports the tilting external load of the building and we believe that this is the first building in the world to use a pre-cambered core. Other diagrid buildings include the Hearst Tower in NYC and the “Gherkin” in London.

Besides being believed to be the ‘world’s most inclined’ building, Capital Gate also features 728 unique custom-made diamond-shaped glazing panels. Due to the structure’s curving shape, each pane of glass is different and each will be fitted at a slightly different angle.

Talkintravel’s Rich Carlson on NPI’s The World/ travel tips by Jake Warga

Check out Tallkintravel’s Rich Carlson on NPI’s The World segment of travel tips by Jake Warga. He interviewed Rich while on a press trip to Taiwan. click on this link
http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/23244

Rich Carlson on NPI’s The World radio program

click this link to listern to Jake Warga’s travel tips, one from Talkintravel’s Rich Carlson
http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/23244

New Zealand’s Latest Media News

Tourism New Zealand News header
Tourism New Zealand

Media News
December 2008
In This Issue

What’s New

What’s Happening

Did You Know?

Kiwis You Need to Know

Upcoming Events

What’s New
Glacier-Fed Hot Pools
Fed by glacial ice from the nearby famed Franz Joseph glacier, the new Glacier Hot Pools live up to their name. What never runs hot and cold here: its status as a haven of rest and relaxation. The multi-million dollar pools take maximum advantage of their surroundings: a mature rainforest, native bush and pure local glacier water create a romantic, otherworldly setting complemented by state of the art facilities. Three warm main pools and three secluded private pools tempt guests to soothe their aching muscles after a day of ice climbing or hiking – and spa treatments are also available.

Photo: Courtesy of Glacier Hot Pools
Follow the Wine Trail
Northland, renowned for great chardonnay, pinot gris, shiraz and pinotage, now raises a glass to a new wine trail that meanders and undulates in and out of the region’s acclaimed vineyards. Travelers can start up north at the Karikari Estate with a glass of award-winning wine in New Zealand’s northernmost vineyard before turning south to Lochiel Estate for, naturally, a winery tour.

Photo: Credit to Ian Trafford

Discovery Never Tasted So Good
Claremont Country Estate Luxury Lodge, cradled in rolling countryside against a backdrop of the spectacular Southern Alps, is serving up five exclusive guest experiences this summer – each themed to either “Discovery” or “Gourmet.” Three packages lead to insightful discoveries of New Zealand’s natural and culinary delights. The “Chef-to-You” program does just that: dishing out a hands-on cooking session with Claremont’s resident chef. And the “Meet the Locals” approach to discovery ushers guests into the fresh thick of things at the area’s abundantly stocked farmers markets.

Huka Lodge’s “Alan Pye” Cottage
Huka Lodge, widely acknowledged as one of the world’s top retreats, this month unveils its Alan Pye Cottage – privately sited behind a gated entrance and perched on an elevated promontory above the Waikato River. Named for the lodge’s founder and emanating its trademark luxury – crafted to the same exacting standards using cedar, heart timbers, stone and brick – this two-bedroom enclave has all the style, space and opulent fittings one craves: open living room with fireplace, study, laundry, and kitchen thoughtfully equipped for either self-catering or the creations of your own personal chef. While cottage guests enjoy use of all Huka Lodge facilities, they can also choose to unwind in their private heated infinity-style swimming pool or revel in a separate spa pool integrated into a beautiful landscape featuring a courtyard garden and grand outdoor fireplace.

Oh Yeah, Ohtel
Ohtel, Wellington’s newest designer boutique hotel, is a sleek, sharp and inviting new eco-friendly property nestled into the upscale seaside neighbourhood of Oriental Bay. With only ten cozy bedrooms to call home during a stay in the capital city, the hotel is a crisp, stylish exemplar of international urban chic and trendy detail. Perfectly situated for impromptu explorations or all-day fun in the sun, Ohtel is a treat to the eye inside and out with fabulous views overlooking the Harbor and Waitangi Park. And it’s within easy walking distance to shopping and great nightlife.

Arc of the Story: NZ’s Latest Thrill
The same Kiwi team that launched the bungy jump onto the world stage has added a new (and this one’s adjustable) arc to the adventure story – unleashing another way to accelerate your pulse. For adrenaline junkies, the Nevis Arc is music to the ears, generating thrills along a graceful, giant arc that swings daring souls across a 390-foot gorge some 440 feet (when set to the max) above the ground. In this lofty playground for the world’s highest swing, you get to adjust its height!

What’s Happening
Have Yourself a Very Kiwi Christmas
A wintry Christmas blanketed in snow and eggnog is just around the corner in the Northern Hemisphere – but sunshine and a Shandy beer ring in the holiday season down under. Balmy skies and a mug of suds aren’t all that define a Kiwi-style Christmas. Here are some other ways Kiwis give the Yuletide celebration a holiday twist that visiting Americans will not soon forget.

Photo: Credit to Kieran Scott

In Like Wind, Out Like Water: Louis Vuitton Pacific Series
Befitting a nation of maritime traditions, New Zealand will kick off the New Year with a two-week sailing regatta January 31 – February 14. To be held in Auckland, aptly dubbed the “City of Sails” – thanks to the world’s highest boat ownership per capita – the one-off regatta will stir the nautical juices by filling the sails of some of the greatest sailing teams to take the helm at the peak of the southern hemisphere’s ideal sailing season. Ten teams from as many nations – including U.S team BMW Oracle and Emirates Team New Zealand – will hoist canvas in a rivalry to tack the waters of America’s Cup fame. The Series will regale sailing enthusiasts and visitors alike with the excitement of a world-class wind-powered event. Stylish Louis Vuitton has designed a special trophy for the winner. Photo: Credit to Scott Venning

Return of the Conchords
Brett McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, the Grammy-winning comic duo known as Flight of the Conchords, have pleased cable TV fans nationwide by announcing their return to HBO for a second season of their hit show. Quirky, original and Kiwi through and through, Brett and Jermaine, who first met as flat mates while studying at the Victoria University of Wellington, return to US screens on January 18, 2009, with more of their smart and wacky brand of hilarity and tune-making.

Homegrown Tunes
Wellington’s music scene can’t keep its light, or beat, under a bushel, growing exponentially as homegrown Kiwi tune-making flourishes. The indie- and reggae/dub-influenced genre comes alive in pulsing rhythms, striking chords and harmonies, and edgy lyrics at two local music festivals:

* Homegrown: The only Kiwi music festival staged on Wellington’s Waterfront, Homegrown showcases the largest collection of New Zealand bands ever assembled in one place. Strutting across five stages, the best bands and DJs rock the capital and an audience of music lovers.
* Sandwiches Summerset: Starting by day and ending by night, this outdoor festival packs seven hours of hot performances and warm hospitality onto the green grass of Basin Reserve.

Did You Know?
Ogling NZ on the Google Map
Google Maps’ popular Street View feature has just turned its cameras on New Zealand, allowing users the world over to explore the youngest country on earth – i.e., the last to be populated by humans – thanks to captivating, wonder-inducing 360-degree street-level imagery of the island nation’s cities and areas of interest (some at a fair remove from its’ main streets).

Nine-Year-Old Inventor Wins NZ Patent Prize
It’s no secret that Kiwis have a natural affinity for conservation – as if the impulse to preserve and protect is born with them. How’s this for starting young: a nine-year-old lad has been awarded a major patent prize for inventing his eco-friendly device to transform raw food scraps into fertilizer – without anyone ever having to leave the kitchen. Words he will never hear: take out the garbage.

Kiwis You Need to Know
Henry van Asch
Is life most intensively lived when the prospect of death is near? New Zealander Henry van Asch thought so – and he made a thriving commercial enterprise of tempting people to jump to their possible (but unlikely) demise. With fellow Kiwi A.J. Hackett, Van Asch transformed a bizarre Pacific Island ritual (and rite of passage of young boys into manhood) into a multi million-dollar tourism enterprise born in New Zealand (a rite of passage of tourists into adventure travelers).

Upcoming Events
Rhythm and Vines Festival, December 29 – January 1
Tall Ships Race, January 10
Auckland Seafood Festival, January 24 – 26
Auckland Anniversary Regatta, January 26
Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, January 31 – February 14
Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival, February 19 – 22

Online Resources
http://www.newzealand.com
The official site for New Zealand – destinations, activities, accommodation, itinerary planning and events

http://feeds.newzealand.com/travel/us/features
RSS feed on the latest news, videos, features and what’s going on

http://www.media.newzealand.com
Dedicated site for media to access story ideas and background information

http://www.images.newzealand.com
New Zealand image library – rights-free images for editorial use

http://www.tourismnewzealand.com
New Zealand tourism statistics and reports

http://www.newzealand.com/travel/getting-to-around-nz/getting-to-nz/travel-deals/united-states/travel-deals—usa.cfm
The latest in great travel deals to New Zealand

Sailing action on Monterey Bay by Rich Carlson of Talkintravel