Te Papa is a landmark building in the heart of Wellington, with spectacular views of the harbour. Their collections span six floors and five areas: Art, History, Pacific, Maori and Natural Environment. Their exhibitions are interdisciplinary and interactive, and they have dynamic events and education programs.

Te Papa features the National Art Gallery, lots of hands-on fun, motion sensor rides, a waka (large Maori canoe) with hologram images so you can get a better sense of the size of it, an earthquake house where you can experience a 5.4 quake and much, much more.

For a visitor to New Zealand, Te Papa is a great place to visit. It puts New Zealand’s history, art, culture and its natural environment into context and creates an exceptional foundation of understanding of this great country – where it came from, where it is and where it is going. Te Papa is a must do when in New Zealand.

Wellington’s compact nature makes for a vibrant city with a natural soul. Embraced by ocean and hill, Wellington sets the native and historic stories of the youngest country on earth against world-class coffee, cocktails, cuisine and a world-leading film industry. It is the home of Weta Studios and the upcoming world premiere for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Wellington is an authentic cultural and creative hub, with the picturesque city packed with cafes, bars, restaurants, galleries, public art, sanctuaries and innovative museums, combined with the neighbouring boutique wine region of Wairarapa.

Wellington is one of those places where you feel completely at home immediately and yet, at every turn there is an exciting new adventure to discover. Wellington is a not-to-be-missed destination of superlative natural beauty that merges small village charm with big city style. And one night is never enough.

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Home to some of the rarest and most extraordinary wildlife on the planet, ZEALANDIA is New Zealand’s award-winning eco-attraction. A must-see if you want to get a real taste of New Zealand’s amazing natural heritage. Your ZEALANDIA experience includes an exciting new exhibition and walk in the ever-changing sanctuary valley. Or, for an even more unique experience, check out their ZEALANDIA by Night Tour – a special nocturnal experience.

I was fortunate enough to take the ZEALANDIA by Night Tour a couple of years ago. On the walk, we had a kiwi walk out right in front of us. It was one of those magical moments that seem to happen in New Zealand.

At ZEALANDIA, visitors can discover the extraordinary changes to New Zealand’s wildlife over the last thousand years and experience the sights and sounds of an ancient forest. There are life-like models of the majestic moa and fearsome Haast’s eagle. Learn how we humans almost destroyed what took millions of years of isolation to create and about the efforts being made to protect and preserve what makes New Zealand unique and extraordinary.

ZEALANDIA has the world’s first fully-fenced urban wildlife sanctuary, a safe haven for some of New Zealand’s rarest native animals like the kaka – their playful forest parrot – and dozens more species found nowhere else in the world. Through the popular ranger talks, visitors hear fascinating stories about some of the most exciting ZEALANDIA residents, such as kaka, weta and tuatara.

Heritage Hotel Management offers a preeminent range of luxury hotels that are unique to New Zealand and located in Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Hanmer Springs, Christchurch and Queenstown. Heritage Hotels are often based in unique or iconic sites, while CityLife Hotels are conveniently located in prime central business districts.

They offer stylish self-contained suites, award-winning cuisine, fully equipped health clubs, swimming pools – and even tennis courts and a golf course at some locations. Conference facilities are available to seat up to 500 guests for an event.

Opening in late 2012 is a new purpose-built 700-person capacity conference centre, adjoining the Rutherford Hotel Nelson, which will be the largest conference development in the South Island this year.

The Heritage Boutique Collection is another exciting innovation by Heritage Hotels. The new collection includes properties in the Bay of Islands, Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges, Rotorua and Akaroa. The latest addition is the prestigious Wellesley Boutique Hotel of Wellington. More boutique properties will be announced very soon.

Heritage Auckland has been a fore-runner in vegetarian haute cuisine and has established itself as a specialist in vegan and vegetarian dining. The hotel has created a world first – being the first international hotel to offer a solely vegan menu in its lobby café and an extensive selection in the hotel’s signature restaurant Hectors and on its conference banquet menus.

Heritage Hotels promise their guests they will feel like someone special staying somewhere special.

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Interislander is the New Zealand ferry service which travels between the North and South Islands, one of the most spectacular cruises in the world. With 92 km of breathtaking views, the three-hour journey between Wellington and Picton really is one of the country’s most iconic tourism activities.

Interislander, is turning 50 in August 2012, which I think is cause for celebration. (They gave me a glass of wine during our time to celebrate.) It operates three ships, the Kaitaki, Arahura and Aratere, for you and your vehicle. They have up to 11 sailings a day, so there is always a wide choice of travel times. Each ship offers a safe, comfortable and affordable journey between the North and South Islands of New Zealand. And each ship also provides a complete range of onboard services, to ensure that your trip across the Cook Strait will be both enjoyable and unforgettable.

Once you’re on your Interislander journey, you can take a stroll on the decks, enjoy a meal, a drink from the bar or even catch the latest movie releases. Or you could just choose to relax and take in the breathtaking view.

Did you know that musicians can ride the passage for free if they perform for the passengers on the sailing? And for those who have swam the Cook Strait, you qualify for free travel on Interislander for life in their “Freedom of the Ferries” program.

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The Classic New Zealand Wine Trail is a pretty exceptional opportunity for wine lovers. It serves up unforgettable wine and food experiences along the signposted 380km (240 miles) route. Encompassing Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough, the drive links three of New Zealand’s leading wine regions that account for more than 80 percent of the country’s wine production. Memorable tasting experiences really bring the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail to life (and I can personally attest to that!).

Travellers are taken off the beaten track. Visit Hawke’s Bay for fabulous reds, Art Deco architecture and wildlife tours; explore the vineyards and historic towns of the Wairarapa region; shop, dine and be entertained in Wellington; then catch the ferry to Marlborough, where you can fish, kayak the waterways of the Marlborough Sounds and find your way to over 50 cellar doors. Combined with the farmers’ markets, eateries and artisan food producers you’ll encounter along the way, the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail offers New Zealand’s most memorable wine and food experiences.

A new Classic New Zealand Wine Trail Guide has just rolled off the printing press – and just in time for TRENZ. Designed as a map of the Trail, with tips on how to make the most of the experience, it is the official visitor guide for the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail – distributed both internationally and domestically and supported by a refreshed website: www.classicwinetrail.co.nz/.

Travelling the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail enables people to taste the breadth of NZ wine. The part of New Zealand covered by the trail is far less touristy than NZ’s more well-known tourism destinations. The trail is a destination in itself.

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