Archive for the 'Hawke’s Bay' Category
Cycling Your Way Through the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail
Posted by Ruth Atherley on June 3, 2011 at 10:48 am
I spent some time with the fabulous people at Cycle Turismo at TRENZ. Cycle Turismo offers high quality guided cycling holidays for the discerning cyclist. Each tour allows participants to sample the deliciously indulgent Classic New Zealand Wine Trail and serves up luxury accommodation, fine dining, world-class wines and abundant natural beauty. We were fortunate to do a little bit of the Classic New Zealand Wine Tour when we were in Hawke’s Bay and loved it! (Click here to see the blog post.)
Cycle Turismo’s extraordinary cycling package is enhanced by authentic Kiwi experiences, knowledgeable local guides and best in class service to ensure that participant comfort is not comprised.
Think of sun-drenched days riding meandering roads through the quiet countryside, wide-open spaces, rolling hills, breath taking scenery and rural off-the-beaten-track charm.
Imagine being on this kind of a vacation…your riding companions are friends and locals. They know the route and provide directions, offer insights as to what lies ahead, and ride at your pace. They also provide any and all support you might require, and carry the tools, pumps, refreshments and spare clothing. The ride itself is a joy. Not too long, but challenging enough that you can be proud of your accomplishments.
Cycle Tourismo focuses on small group tours (of 2 to 6 cyclists) that enable the group to have a more personalized and interactive experience; to discover new places, to stay in boutique lodgings surrounded by vineyards, to meet and make friends with the locals; and to experience authentic “kiwi” culture.
With Cycle Turismo, the tours include afternoon “free-time” sessions so you can do the activities and sightseeing that interests you. They also provide recommendations and bookings at your request.
It sounds like the perfect cycle tour to me.
TRENZ 2011 Images
Posted by Paul Holman on June 3, 2011 at 8:43 am
Wanna see what TRENZ 2011 looked like?
Click here to see a few images from Travel Rendezvous New Zealand 2011.
Glen Aros Country Estate
Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 24, 2011 at 1:52 pm
I recently had the chance to learn more about Glen Aros – a classic New Zealand country estate, set in the foothills surrounding the wine-growing region of Hawke’s Bay. Everything I heard makes me want to go there.
From its beautifully secluded location, Glen Aros is only a short drive to the many world-class attractions of this diverse region – including wineries, winery restaurants, the lovely Art Deco city of Napier, fishing and golf. As a fully-serviced lodge, Glen Aros is ideal for high-end FIT travellers or small groups of friends can have exclusive use of the lodge. And the weather there is fantastic!
Luxury Accommodation
At Glen Aros, travellers enjoy a 5-star Guest & Hosted Qualmark Luxury accommodation with 24-hour concierge. Six spacious bedrooms, each with a super king-sized bed and a modern ensuite bathroom, are available for single or double occupancy. Tasteful furnishings lend individuality to every room and enhance the original character of this elegant Hawke’s Bay estate. Quiet, independent climate control assures your comfort winter or summer, throughout the house.
Dining
Enjoy creative meals prepared by their on-site chef, with an emphasis on fresh, natural foods and local produce. Menus can be arranged to suit your preferences. Choose a wine from their extensive cellar of carefully selected New Zealand and international vintages.
At TRENZ 2011, Glen Aros is promoting the incredibly talented Nigel Marriage – a top chef with Michelin star experience. He is classically trained and has worked as Head Chef in some of the finest restaurants in Europe and New Zealand, including Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, John Burton-Race’s (of French Leave fame), The New Angel in Devon and Eight Point Two in Birkenhead Auckland.
Nigel enjoys using the vegetables and herbs from the kitchen garden at Glen Aros along with the wealth of locally grown produce available at the well-known Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Market and the nearby port in Napier. The Glen Aros garden also has an olive grove and a vast range of fruit trees, including greengage plums, guavas, pomegranates, persimmons, figs, feijoas, gooseberries, black currants, apricots, artichokes and walnuts.
It sounds like a fabulous place.
Central Park, New Zealand
Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 24, 2011 at 1:36 pm
The only thing that can be difficult about planning a trip to New Zealand is choosing amongst the endless possibilities of places to go and things to see and do… it is a huge challenge. At TRENZ, I just learned about Central Park.
Central Park is comprised of seven regions including Rotorua, Ruapehu, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Taupo and Waitomo.
“Each region offers unique experiences… collectively they are Heaven!”
No other gateway in New Zealand offers such fascinating diversity, from snowy-capped ski mountains and sun-drenched coastlines to housing some of the world’s most renowned wines – all of this is wrapped up in a deep cultural and geothermal history, all within a short scenic drive of an international gateway.
And – just announced at TRENZ 2011 – Rotorua International Airport is New Zealand’s newest international airport, providing Australians and the world access into the Central Park region via a convenient twice-weekly service direct from Sydney to Rotorua.
Central Park has so much to offer the traveller – be it mountain biking, golfing, skiing, fishing, surfing, walks, hikes and events. Whatever your passion, they will provide you with in-depth knowledge online, with the ability to research, plan and book your vacation be it via wholesale deals, packages or customized to suit your needs.
Going Back In Time
Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 24, 2011 at 11:39 am
Image Credit: Chris McLennan
Napier is one of those places that you want to live in. It is a charming little seaside city that has something different – it is an Art Deco city. So much so, that when in Napier, you kind of feel like you stepped into a 1930s movie. (I was the star in my movie, of course!)
Napier was rebuilt in the early 1930s following a massive earthquake that hit 7.8 on the Richter scale. The earthquake, we were told, hit once and then the world went deadly still for a moment – and people ran into the streets – and then it hit again. It was the second quake that did the most damage and killed the most people. Back then, chemists in the pharmacy used Bunsen burners. Many of the burners fell off the shelves starting a fire that destroyed the commercial heart of the city.
When rebuilding began, the town decided to build in the Art Deco style, which represented new beginnings and hope for the future – something the city so desperately needed after the devastating earthquake and fire. Today, we get to enjoy the history and beauty of the city – and marvel at the courage of the people who rebuilt the city and their lives
after such tragedy.
We were fortunate enough to meet up with Anthony from Art Deco Trust, who took us on a tour of the city in a vintage car. It really felt like we stepped into the past. Touring around town with Anthony was magnificent – people waved to us as we drove by. And our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and its history.
One of the interesting things about Napier is the Art Deco Trust. It was formed in 1985 for the preservation, enhancement and promotion of the unique Art Deco architecture and it is an excellent example of a community coming together and doing something wonderful. This organization does great things – and when you visit Napier, they are the people to see. They have incredible tours – walking tours, vintage car tours, and films that outline the history of the town and tell you the story of the people that lived there. And – they have a great little gift shop that has something for everyone.
Each year, Napier has an Art Deco Weekend (July 15-17, 2011), where everyone in the town dresses in 30s’ style and goes to events, parties and picnics and just has a huge amount of fun. That is one event that is on both our bucket lists!
There are quite a few Art Deco homes throughout the area and one of the highlights of our tour was driving down residential streets and seeing them. Napier is one of those magical places where you feel at home. I am not sure if it is having the sea right there, the Art Deco look or if it’s the friendly, welcoming people – or perhaps it’s all three – but as soon as you arrive here, you feel like you belong. This city is one of my all-time favourites in the whole world. And I am counting the days until I can return.
