Archive for the 'Activities' Category
GreatSights Overnight Cruises
Posted by Ruth Atherley on June 10, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I had a great (get it!) conversation with Daniel of GreatSights. Along with a few other interesting services, they offer overnight cruises in the Bay of Islands on a brand new and beautiful ship called the Ipipiri. (And another wish goes on my list for my next trip to New Zealand.)
Ipipiri is the scared Maori name for the Bay of Islands and the InterCity Group graciously accepted the generous offer to use the name after consultation with the people of Rawhiti.
On the Ipipiri, which launches in October 2009, you can surround yourself in nature, immerse yourself in history and treat yourself to a truly unique night of style. The Ipipiri is the largest overnight cruise ship permanently based in New Zealand.
The Ipipiri will depart daily at 1:30 p.m. and return at 11 a.m. the following morning. Each cruise will include full commentary on the history, environment and some of the Bay of Islands most spectacular landmarks.
From Kupe, the very first voyager and Maori to discover New Zealand over 1,000 years ago, to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, Northland brings together the unique culture and history of the original Maori and European settlers of New Zealand. With some of the warmest waters in New Zealand, the Bay of Islands is home to an abundance of marine life – including dolphins, whales, seals and penguins.
The ship can be used as a self-contained conference facility. Imagine having a workshop and at the end of the day, sitting on deck with a drink and watching dolphins frolic!
Check out some of the images here.
Naked rugby, Chocolate Carnival and “The House of Pain”
Posted by Ruth Atherley on June 10, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Dunedin, New Zealand could just be the most fun place in the whole world. Where else can you see a naked rugby game (really!!) or take part in a chocolate festival? I have lots of things to tell you about Dunedin, but c’mon, you must want to know about naked rugby?!!
Check out the photos from last year. (Warning!! There’s nudity – it is called NAKED rugby after all.) The annual nude rugby match will coincide with National Nude Day. A mixed international team will take on the unbeatable Nude Blacks. Guest referees in the past include ex-All Blacks’ Josh Kronfield and a blind referee. A nude haka will start the proceedings. (For those of you who haven’t seen a haka – it’s an incredible traditional Maori dance. It is very powerful and emotional…and well, now they’re doing it naked – go figure.) This is happening this coming Saturday, June 13.
The Cadbury Chocolate Carnival doesn’t happen until the summer, but who could resist talking about it! It is a week long celebration of all things chocolate, including a race of 30,000 Jaffas down the world’s steepest street.
30,000 Jaffas rolling down the street!
The carnival, now in its ninth year, includes other family activities such as a hot chocolate ceremony, chocolate fishing, chocolate facials, a Crunchie train, choc-art creativity classes and chocology with choc-therapist Murray Langham.
Also coming this weekend, Dunedin will host the first match between France and the All Blacks since the Kiwis were defeated at the Rugby World Cup in 2007.
The match will see France play their first ever game at Dunedin’s Carisbrook Stadium. Carisbrook, aptly known as “The House of Pain,” is set to be replaced by a new 35,000-seat stadium just in time for the Rugby World Cup 2011.
You have to admit, this is a city with a lot going on…and coming off!
Hawke’s Bay
Posted by Ruth Atherley on June 10, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Some quick facts and figures about Hawke’s Bay that might be of interest:
- It is New Zealand’s oldest wine growing region and home to New Zealand’s oldest winery, Mission Estate Winery.
- It produces 80% of New Zealand’s red wine.
- There are over 720 vineyards in the region, with 42 cellar doors open for wine sampling.
- It has the largest farmer’s market in New Zealand, held every Sunday all year-round.
- There are over 2200 hours of sunshine annually.
- There are 17 golf courses in the region.
- It is home to a world-class concentration of Art Deco and Spanish Mission architecture.
- It has the largest and most accessible mainland Gannet colony in the world.
- Lake Waikaremoana Walk is ranked in New Zealand’s top 10 walks.
- Hawke’s Bay’s coastline resembles a fishhook. According to Maori legend, Maui, Hawaii pulled Hawke’s Bay from the sea. With this good fortune, the region has continued to flourish ever since. Come and enjoy the fresh burst of spring, the long hot lazy days of summer, the golden hues of harvest or the crisp air and blue skies of winter at Hawke’s Bay.
Wine, golf, beautiful scenery and welcoming people – what’s not to love? For more information check out their website at www.hawkesbaynz.com.
Funny name, special place
Posted by Ruth Atherley on June 10, 2009 at 5:19 pm
For a non-Kiwi, it might seem that many places in New Zealand have hard-to-pronounce names for places. Once you get past worrying about sounding silly (let’s face it, we’re tourists – we all sound silly at some point!) or mangling the name and offending someone by accident, you start to see the history, the romance and the adventure in the names. This is especially true when you ask what they mean. Everyone I have asked seems pleased to share a little bit of the history of New Zealand and the Maori culture with me. It’s very interesting and lets me feel a little more connected to the “youngest country on earth.”
I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with the team from Te Kahui Tupua, which encompasses the three regions of Rangitkei, Wanganui and Ruapehu. I now have another note on my wish list of places to see in New Zealand. This region sounds amazing. Check out their website.
This is the land of the Sacred Peaks and it is a little off the beaten path. Not so far off that it’s not accessible, but off the main highway on the North Island. The words that are being used to market this area are fabulous and they give you a sense of what it would be like right away:
Majesty
Exhilaration
Enchantment
Legacy
Expression
There are many things you can do in this area – from whitewater rafting to jetboating to walking in the forest and enjoying the sounds of nature. This area isn’t as well known or as visited as some of the areas. If you are interested in doing something a little different, in taking the road less travelled, in discovering something special – this is a region to visit. The website will give you a sense of the magic that I believe lives here.
Monarch Wildlife Cruises & Tours
Posted by Ruth Atherley on June 10, 2009 at 5:50 am
I had the pleasure of chatting with the folks at Monarch Wildlife Cruises and Tours here at TRENZ. With this cruise, you get to see what cannot be seen from land. It sounds like a great cruise and there are several different choices – from a one-hour to a full-day tour.
Out of Dunedin, you take a cruise on a classic restored fishing vessel, where you will experience the exciting diversity of the wildlife that abounds on Taiaroa Head. You may see albatross, fur seals, yellow eye penguins, shags, gulls, terns, oyster catchers, herons and sometimes even dolphins, sea lions, blue penguins, shearwaters, royal spoonbills, cape pigeons and petrels.
It sounds like an unforgettable experience and the opportunity to take in the dramatic scenery of New Zealand, as well as the wildlife.
