TRENZblog POSTS
Relax and Unwind at Marlborough Vintners Hotel
Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 12, 2012 at 4:09 pm
I think that Marlborough Vintners Hotel must be something close to heaven. Surrounded by vineyards in the heart of sauvignon blanc country, it is the perfect cuisine and wine destination. The boutique vineyard accommodation and restaurant are set in six acres of grounds that showcase the tranquility and beauty of the vines.
There are several new packages that I learned about at TRENZ, including one that gives you all the benefits of a hotel, a gourmet dinner, along with a trip out to the ocean to sightsee and to gather green lipped mussels, which are served to you with wine on the trip home. And, of course, being in the heart of wine country, you can spend some time visiting local cellar doors and wine tasting your way through the region.
Each suite is complete with all the amenities and facilities you would expect such as king size beds, toweling robes, a DVD player, TV, a great range of complimentary DVD’s for loan, private patio and a small kitchenette with tea and coffee making facilities. High-speed wireless broadband access is also available.
A warm and welcoming atmosphere and attentive service set the scene for the ultimate in-house dining experience. The cherry orchard set dining room, bar and guest lounge is the perfect place for visitors to relax during their stay. Here, you can sit back and enjoy the extensive, hand-picked wine list which includes some of Marlborough’s finest vintages from well-known cellars and boutique wineries.
High Praise for Blanket Bay
Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 12, 2012 at 3:41 pm
At TRENZ, I had the chance to connect with the team from Blanket Bay and learned a bit more about their fantastic accommodation.
Blanket Bay is the South Island’s pre-eminent luxury lodge. It is the closest property, by air, to Milford Sound and all activities are on-site. Popular activities include guided fly-fishing, heli-flight-seeing to Milford Sound, jet boating, hiking or horseback riding on Wyuna High Country Station, and much more. In winter, the lodge is the perfect base for heli-skiing.
Just a 40-minute drive from Queenstown, the lodge houses three magnificent suites and five intimate lodge rooms, all with stunning lake and mountain views. Two chalets with sensational lake views offer four suites. Facilities include an intimate den, games room, gym, Jacuzzi, steam rooms, a massage suite and a heated outdoor lap pool.
Chosen from an a la carte menu, dinner is served the dining room, in the privacy of the wine cave, or on the terrace. Pacific Rim cuisine is a strong feature of the menu, complimented by an impressive choice of local and international wines.
Built in the grand style of the finest alpine lodges, Blanket Bay has received international accolades since opening in 1999. Andrew Harper’s Reader Survey placed the lodge as being in the top ten since 2002. Blanket Bay was featured as The Best Lodge in the 2007 Discovery Channel’s Five Star Insider. In 2011, Hotel Management Magazine in Australia named Blanket Bay “Best New Zealand Lodge” for the second time. They also were a finalist in this year’s Gold List compiled by the readers of Australia’s Luxury Travel magazine. Blanket Bay was voted the 3rd Best Overseas Boutique Property, Villa or Lodge and came second in the rankings as Best New Zealand Property Within Three Hours of the City.
If that weren’t enough high praise for the beautiful lodge, frequent guest, Sir Ian McKellen (Gandolf in Lord of the Rings), remarked in the guest book: “Who needs an after-life when there is Paradise on Earth? Thanks to everyone at my favourite hotel – Ian McKellen, April 2012.”
Wellington – The Coolest Little Capital in the World
Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 12, 2012 at 3:27 pm
It is always a pleasure connecting with the team at Positively Wellington Tourism. I love Wellington – it has so much to offer.
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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Guided Walks NZ – YOU vs WILD
Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 12, 2012 at 1:53 pm
The team at Guided Walks New Zealand is very knowledgeable and passionate about what they offer visitors. It’s always interesting to connect with people that love what they do.
Guided Walks’ philosophy is to give their guests an interactive nature experience – a hands-on understanding of every component of New Zealand’s South Island wilderness. They are the only guiding company permitted to walk “off track” in the National Park. This allows you to avoid the crowds and experience a true wilderness walk, letting you touch, see and feel the real New Zealand.
Visitors to Queenstown and Wanaka have a choice of expeditions on foot – either privately guided walks, specially tailored to their requirements and abilities, or half and full-day hikes in small groups.
This is a very exciting time for the team at Guided Walks New Zealand. They have a new product, YOU vs WILD, which has given people a whole new way of taking a walk – and it’s this product that they showcased at TRENZ. This walk has a similar approach as the Bear Grylls survival show Man vs Wild.
They also just bought a new 11-seat Ford Transit. Their next new purchase was of course another vehicle – a new Mitsubishi Delica D5 – which can take six passengers, in the luxury they have come to expect from Guided Walks. The Delica D5 is for private clientele – agents can be assured of a high-end product from beginning to end.
You learn so much in New Zealand when you take a guided walk. It is an excellent way to experience the beauty of New Zealand, to spend time in nature and to hear incredible stories from a guide who is passionate about their life in NZ. This is a great way to discover what really makes New Zealand different – every step has a story to fascinate and astound you.
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Toru Tours Offers an Authentic Welcome to New Zealand
Posted by Ruth Atherley on May 12, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Toru Tours focuses on bringing the Maori culture to their guests in a very authentic way. They aim to give their guests an interactive and enriching experience, with their day tours of Auckland, and they believe they give the most authentic welcome to New Zealand.
At TRENZ, I was able to connect with the team at Toru Tours and they have lots to be excited about. They are the only company that visits a Marae (Maori village) on a daily basis in Auckland – so guests who wish to visit a living, breathing, working Marae can now do so. Here they will experience a Maori welcome (powhiri) and will be able to see some Maori performing arts in an authentic setting. And Auckland now has an authentic Maori food option. There will be hangi lunch and dinner options with the Marae visit.
It sounds to me like Toru Tours are the people to contact for a perfect, authentic introduction to Auckland and New Zealand.
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