Wednesday May 16, 2012
Want a million dollar view in a different location every night without it costing you a fortune? Consider exploring New Zealand in a motorhome or camper van. With so many roads and spectacular and varied scenery, it is little wonder that this is one of the fastest growing sectors of New Zealand tourism. And it's not just the international visitors; more and more kiwis are also taking to the roads each year to experience the freedom and fun of a holiday on wheels.
There are many companies throughout the country specializing in motor home rentals and the standard of vehicle and fitout is usually very high. Most of the roads, too, are well suited to motor home travel.
The two options for overnight stays are in a campground or to 'freedom camp'. The latter means to set up camp on any public land. It is popular to do this, but be aware there are rules and these vary from area to area. Parking illegally can result in an instant fine so it pays to be aware of where you can and can't stop.
More about Motor Home and Camper Holidays in New Zealand
Image Courtesy of Tourism New Zealand
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Sunday May 13, 2012
If you enjoy handcrafts, you will find that New Zealand has a very lively scene. Throughout the country there are many small businesses specialising in different types of handcrafts, including embroidery, textiles and fabrics. One way to see what is going on is to visit the Great New Zealand Craft Show, which takes place in various towns throughout the year.
In May the show will be in Blenheim in the South Island and Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty, North Island. These shows have been running for more than thirty years and attract a huge number of artisans and craftspeople. In addition to stalls and displays there are workshops and events. Everything from craft souvenirs and gifts to the supplies and instructions to make your own are available.
Image Courtesy of Random House New Zealand
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Thursday May 10, 2012
New Zealand has a great tradition of standup comedy and lots of homegrown comic talent. Iconic names from the past include Fred Dagg (the kiwi farmer bloke in black singlet and gumboots) and everyone's favorite Maori, Billy T. James. And of course the famous New Zealand dry sense of humor was shown to the world with 'Flight of the Conchords'.
New Zealand comedy all comes to a head with the International Comedy Festival. Now in it's 21st year, it is on once again this month in towns and cities around the country. There's a wide variety of performers, from New Zealand and a number of other countries, including Australia, the US and the UK. For fans of comedy, this is a seriously good event.
In Auckland, there are performances are being held in several venues throughout the central city district. If you're coming to Auckland to one of the shows, why not make a night of it and stay over in one of Auckland's five-star luxury hotels. The best are located in the central city area and are within walking distance to the festival theaters.
Image Courtesy of Getty Images/Jason Merritt
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Sunday May 6, 2012
Marlborough, as New Zealand's largest wine region, is an important indicator of the quality of New Zealand wine in any year. Now into autumn, the grapes are almost all harvested from the 2012 vintage, so how are things looking?
It seems that an unusual weather pattern over the summer has been a negative for quantity, but a plus for quality. Volume is down as much as 25 percent on 2011, itself a bumper year.
However, according to many winemakers the quality is looking well above average. It seems that a cooler summer and dry autumn has resulted in grapes with intense flavor. The region is particularly excited about the quality of the sauvignon blanc; Marlborough produces more than 85 percent of New Zealand's total for this grape and it makes up the majority of New Zealand's exports.
The true story won't be known until the first of the wines are released in a few months time. But it's certainly shaping up to be an excellent vintage year.
Image Courtesy of New Zealand Wine Institute
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