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ISSUE 14
Winter 2015
NZ$6.95
on
experience all the best spots on the planet
Blue Lagoon
Cruising
EXPLORING
FIJI’S REMOTE
YASAWA ISLANDS
INSIDE:
France and Spain touring
with Peugeot Eurolease
Croatia adventure
Fashion-filled girls’ trip to Brisbane
Find your local
Harvey World Travel
professional
Avonhead . . . . . . . . . . . . 03 358 2922
Cnr Merrin St & Withels Rd,
Avonhead, Christchurch
Mid City Nelson . . . . . . . 03 548 3300
46 Bridge St, Nelson
Richmond. . . . . . . . . . . . 03 544 6640
231 Queen St, Richmond
Milford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09 489 2597
186 Kitchener Rd, Milford, Auckland
Rotorua. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 349 4130
1235 Tutanekai St, Rotorua
Miramar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04 388 1107
37 Miramar Ave, Miramar, Wellington
Taupo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 378 9028
28 Horomatangi St, Taupo
Mt Maunganui . . . . . . . . 07 572 3040
149 Maunganui Rd, Mt Maunganui
Tauranga. . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 578 0936
Cnr First Ave & Cameron Rd, Tauranga
New Plymouth. . . . . . . . 06 758 5712
110 Devon St East, New Plymouth
Botany Town. . . . . . . . . . 09 277 2010
Park Way, Botany Town Centre,
Auckland
Te Kuiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 878 8184
16 King Street East, Te Kuiti
Newmarket. . . . . . . . . . . 09 524 5064
10 Kingdon St, Newmarket, Auckland
Thames. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 868 9260
642 Pollen St, Thames
Browns Bay. . . . . . . . . . . 09 478 4416
24 Clyde Rd, Browns Bay, Auckland
Northcote . . . . . . . . . . . . 09 481 1747
13 Pearn Pl, Northcote, Auckland
Timaru. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03 688 6099
257 Stafford St, Timaru
Dinsdale . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 847 1571
21 Whatawhata Rd, Dinsdale,
Hamilton
North Harbour . . . . . . . . 09 477 0212
2/49 Apollo Drive, Mairangi Bay,
Auckland
Gisborne. . . . . . . . . . . . . 06 868 7700
37 Bright Street, Gisborne
Ohakune. . . . . . . . . . . . . 06 385 9512
27 Clyde St, Ohakune
Havelock North. . . . . . . . 06 877 4219
Shop 4 Porter Drive, Havelock North
Palmerston North. . . . . . 06 357 4605
103 Broadway Ave, Palmerston North
Henderson . . . . . . . . . . . 09 839 0371
Catherine Street Arcade, 356 Great
North Road, Henderson, Auckland
Paraparaumu . . . . . . . . . 04 296 1118
Coastlands Shopping Centre, SH1,
Paraparaumu
Howick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09 535 9747
63 Picton St, Howick, Auckland
Ponsonby . . . . . . . . . . . . 09 360 0443
293 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby,
Auckland
Bayfair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 574 1150
43 Girven Rd, Bayfair, Mt Maunganui
Birkenhead. . . . . . . . . . . 09 480 0652
25 Birkenhead Ave, Birkenhead,
Auckland
Blenheim . . . . . . . . . . . . 03 578 8575
98 Market St, Blenheim
Kaiapoi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 03 327 9247
Kaiapoi Village Arcade,
123 William St, Kaiapoi
Lower Hutt . . . . . . . . . . . 04 569 7504
Shop 10 Centre City Plaza,
49 Queens Drive, Lower Hutt
Masterton. . . . . . . . . . . . 06 378 2454
12 Perry St, Masterton
Porirua. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04 237 4409
IOOF Building, 1st Floor,
16 Hartham Pl, Porirua
Pukekohe . . . . . . . . . . . . 09 237 1108
67 King St, Pukekohe, Auckland
Rangiora. . . . . . . . . . . . . 03 310 6288
99 High St, Rangiora
Tokoroa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07 886 6258
231 Leith Pl, Tokoroa
Upper Hutt. . . . . . . . . . . . 04 527 7114
156 Main St, Upper Hutt
Waipukurau. . . . . . . . . . . 06 858 8140
49B Ruataniwha St, Waipukurau
Waiuku. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09 236 5005
5 Bowen St, Waiuku, Auckland
Wanganui . . . . . . . . . . . . 06 348 8190
Trafalgar Square Centre, Wanganui
Warkworth . . . . . . . . . . . 09 425 7989
6 Baxter St, Warkworth
Wellington City . . . . . . . . 04 473 1199
Cable Car Centre, 280 - 292 Lambton
Quay, Wellington
Whakatane. . . . . . . . . . . . 07 307 0122
45 Kakahoroa Dr, Esplanade Mall,
Whakatane
Whangarei . . . . . . . . . . . . 09 430 2862
35 Rathbone St, Whangarei
Blue Lagoon
cruising through
Fiji’s Yasawa
Islands
8
World
Journeys
- Myanmar
revealed
14
Touring
France
and Spain
with Peugeot
Eurolease
16
Croatia
- in the
driver’s
seat
20
contents
5 Stunning snapshots from around the globe
6 Diary dates
12 48 hours - Tasmania’s Hobart
13 Q & A - Travel questions answered
18 What’s hot around the globe
23 Cruise news
27 Croatia self-drive top tips
28 Experience this – Luxury spots
around the globe
33 Honeymooning in Thailand and Phuket
Exotic
India
24
10 days
in the
stunning
Whitsundays
30
Fashion-filled
girls' trip to
Brisbane
34
Experience
nature’s
best in
Alaska
42
36 Travel diary - A snapshot of
Normandy, France
37 Taste of travel Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
38 What to pack for a holiday in the sun
39 Airline update
40 Travel bag – Snippets to fill your suitcase
44 Gadgets to go - Making travel easier
45 Favourite spot on the planet The magic of Morocco
46 On tour – Harvey World Travel’s
best deals on offer
Is it still a workout
if you’re this relaxed?
Come to the place where a morning walk is taken along a white sand beach, and
exercise is rolling a paddle through crystal clear waters. It’s not hard to see why
Fijians are such happy people, and it’s not hard to be just as happy as they are.
Make a booking at www.fiji.travel
www.fiji.travel
Welcome
HARVEY WORLD TRAVEL GENERAL MANAGER Adrian Turner
A fond farewell to summer
The summer of 2014-15 will be remembered for its fickle spring
welcome that buffeted us with gales, drowned us in rain and
dumped unseasonal snowfalls in parts of the country, leaving us
wondering if summer had skipped us altogether.
But then it arrived in all its glory, and what a summer it has been
with endless days of clear blue skies and hot weather – perfect
beach and summer holiday times. Winter is on our doorstep though
and the drop in the mercury and the shorter days are certainly a
shock to our summer lifestyle.
What better time than now to sit down with a copy of on location
magazine and plan a midwinter escape? This issue is full of great
ideas, from chasing the sun to the other side of the world and
hiring a Peugeot Eurolease car and self-driving through France
and Spain, to touring the glorious Adriatic Coast of Croatia.
Nearer home, why not holiday in Brisbane and Tasmania where the
shopping and cuisine might surprise you.
If you’re in honeymoon-planning mode, have a read of
Harvey World Travel customer Tanya Adams’ exciting trip to
Thailand and Phuket.
Happy winter holiday planning!
EDITOR Tracey Mehrtens
Blue Lagoon Cruising bliss
In a word, it was perfection. Endless days of smooth sailing,
crystal-clear warm waters, tasty local dishes, a touch of culture
and newfound friends – that’s just some of the sheer magic of a
Blue Lagoon Cruise around Fiji’s northern Yasawa Islands.
Prompted by New Zealand’s abysmal weather leading up to
Christmas, and fearing there was no summer to be had on our
shores, I booked a cruise on board Blue Lagoon’s boutique
cruise ship, Fiji Princess.
A lot of Kiwis avoid Fiji and her islands over the New Zealand
summer, fearing cyclones and bad weather, but I’ve holidayed
in Fiji in January for the last two years with perfect weather every
day and barely a drop of rain. While it can be humid and hot,
our pre- and post-stopovers at the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on
Denarau Island were cooled with sea breezes, as was cruising
at sea.
My advice is to ignore the TV weather forecasts that always
show Fiji clouded in thunder and lightning over the summer months.
It probably is if you’re heading to Suva, but that isn’t the case in
Nadi where most tourists stay and it’s the same out on the water!
Read more about my Blue Lagoon cruise on page 8 and create
your own taste of Fiji with a recipe from the Head Chef at Sofitel
Beach Resort & Spa on page 37. And don’t forget to book a
Blue Lagoon cruise!
location
on
EDITOR Tracey Mehrtens
SUBEDITOR John Corbett
Contributing Writers
Tracey Mehrtens
Carly Flynn
John Corbett
American Express®
Cardmember?
Contributing Travel Agents
Shonnie Poole, Harvey World Travel Te Kuiti
Liz Ditmer, Harvey World Travel Rangiora
Laura Dawes, Harvey World Travel Masterton
Tracey Lynch, Harvey World Travel Mid City Nelson
Rae Walker, Harvey World Travel Waipukurau
Lynne Moore, Harvey World Travel Dinsdale honeymoon story written by a client
Gloria Hooker, Harvey World Travel Milford story written by her husband Roger
Publisher
Harvey World Travel and Lexlee Media Group Ltd
Harvey World Travel Project Manager
Maria Beer, Harvey World Travel
Production & Design
Rachel Cruickshank & Kirsten Beros, Harvey World Travel
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all or part of your
next trip with
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on location (ISSN 1179-9943) is subject to copyright in its entirety. The
contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part,
written or electronic, without the written permission of the publisher. Opinions
expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of
Harvey World Travel or Lexlee Media Group Ltd.
harveyworld.co.nz
0800 088 802
SNAPSHOT
We arrived at Fox Glacier cafe about
8:30am one morning, just as the clouds
were just starting to lift from Mount Cook
and Mount Tasman, one of the best times
for views and reflections. We treated
ourselves to a gorgeous breakfast of
bagel topped with smoked salmon and
hollandaise sauce and plenty of coffee,
before setting off on our walk.
Sally Rogers
Southampton Traveller
It took about 20 minutes to reach the
viewing platform and the sight of the
mountains reflecting in Lake Matheson
was breathtaking! I’m sure this is a
photographer’s dream shot but it was only
taken on my iPhone, which did surprise
some of my photography friends!
Framed to perfection, the breathtaking
view across Lake Wakatipu from Aro Hā
Wellness Retreat near Queenstown. The
eco-chic luxury retreat offers an
all-inclusive Wellness Adventure
programme based on yoga, sub-alpine
hiking, functional strength training,
meditation, therapeutic massage,
mindfulness and detoxifying
vegetarian cuisine.
Read more about Aro Hā retreat on
page 28.
Photo courtesy
A ro Hā Wel
of
lness Retrea
t.
Diary dates
Check out some of the amazing events coming
up in the destinations featured in this issue…
4 Apr
Krabi Rock & Fire
International Contest
Taranaki Truck Show
New Plymouth
Get up close and personal with some of the
country’s finest machines.
Krabi, Thailand
Rock climbing, surf-skiing, sea
kayaking.
www.eventfinder.co.nz/2015/taranaki-truck-show/
taranaki
www.tourismthailand.org
10-19 Apr
Orange F.O.O.D Week
Orange, NSW
Experience the region’s best food
and wine in a festival atmosphere.
www.destinationnsw.com.au
Paymark Xterra Rotorua
Festival, Rotorua
NZ’s largest multisport event includes the
Blue Lake and Whakarewarewa Forest.
www.runningcalendar.co.nz
Fiesta de San Isidro
Madrid, Spain
The commemoration of the city’s
patron saint with processions and
open-air performances.
www.spain.info
8-16 May
Jazz under the Apple
Trees, Coutances
Normandy, France
An eclectic jazz festival.
www.france-voyage.com
Costumes from
the Golden Age
of Hollywood
Museum of Brisbane
Brisbane
www.visitbrisbane.com.au
Anzac Day
Gallipoli, Turkey
The centenary of
remembrance.
www.tourism-in-turkey.com
May
Rose Festival
Dadès Valley, Moroccoa
A celebration or Morocco’s rose
water industry with traditional
music and dancing.
www.worldtravelguide.net/morocco/
events
23-24 May
Vivid Sydney
Sydney, NSW
The city is transformed into
a creative canvas of lights, music
and creative forums.
www.destinationnsw.com.au
6
harveyworld.co.nz on location
The Tasmanian
Red Wine
Weekend
Hobart, Tasmania
A showcase of superb
vintages.
www.weekendnotes.com
1-30 Jun
Hunter Valley Food
and Wine Month
Hunter Valley, NSW
A month-long celebration of the
region’s unique culture of fine
food and wine.
www.destinationnsw.com.au
6-15 Jun
Painting Paradise
History Alive: A Journey
Through Time
Savusavu, Fiji
Fort Lytton National Park, Brisbane
A unique re-enactment and living history event
including Roman gladiators, Vikings and Aussie
Diggers. www.weekendnotes.com
Learn how to paint
seascapes and landscapes
on a week-long retreat
with an award-winning
Australian artist.
www.fijitravel/events
Bordeaux’s
Épicuriales
Allées de Tourny
Bordeaux, France
The major event of the
early summer dedicated to
gastronomic pleasures, with
pop-up restaurants.
www.bordeauxtourism.co.uk
19-28 Jun
American Express
Queenstown
Winter Festival
West Lake Lotus Festival
The southern hemisphere’s
biggest winter celebration
A month-long festival of music, dance
and floral exhibitions.
Queenstown, NZ
Hangzhou, China
www.queenstownnz.co.nz
www.worldtravelguide.net
9-12 Jul
Rendez-vous à la Cathédrale
Elephant Festival
Three times a week the town’s medieval
cathedral and surrounding monuments are
adorned with 360° projected colours.
The state’s most renowned
festival, with processions,
events and exhibitions.
Bayeux, France
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
www.bessin-normandie.com/uk/evenement/index.php
www.mapsofindia.com
14 Jul
Dubrovnik Summer
Festival, Croatia
Whitsunday Reef
Festival
www.worldtravelguide.net
www.tourismwhitsundays.com.au
Croatia’s oldest cultural festival
with performances in and around
the Old Town.
Full of family fun and largely free
entertainment with something for
everyone.
21-23 Aug
Blueberry Arts
Festival
Gourmet Festival
Dusseldorf, Germany
www.amazingcapitals.com
Ketchikan, Alaska
www.cookingclassesdirectory.com
Aug
Taungbyone Nat Pwe
Mandalay, Myanmar
An animist family festival attended by
many nat kadaws (mediums), many of
whom are gay and transgender.
www.worldtravelguide.net
Abu Dhabi
International
Chess Festival
Tomatina Festival
www.abudhabichess.com
www.latomatina.org/tomatina-festival
Adu Dhabi
Valencia, Spain
Join the crowds in a harmless battle
where more than 100 tons of overripe
tomatoes are thrown in the streets.
on location harveyworld.co.nz
7
Cruising the Blue Lagoon
A four-night Blue Lagoon Cruises voyage
around Fiji’s Yasawa Islands was more than
just a journey through paradise, says
on location’s editor, Tracey Mehrtens. It was
also an opportunity to see the authentic
way of life of this beautiful part of Fiji.
Rendezvous with a Princess
Every Fiji holiday has to begin with sun and
cocktails, and the Sofitel Fiji Beach Resort
and Spa at Denarau was the perfect base
for a couple of days of easing into the
relaxed Fijian lifestyle before we boarded
our Blue Lagoon Cruise.
On the first morning of our voyage, the
high-speed transfer vessel Cougar II left Port
Denarau and the Sofitel Fiji swiftly in its wake,
pointing its nose at the jagged silhouettes
of the Mamanuca Islands on the distant
horizon. As we glided past the popular
resorts of Beachcomber Island, Treasure
Island and the Sheraton Resort & Spa on
Tokoriki Island, the “Welcome On Board”
French bubbles flowed freely and got the
cruise off to a great start.
Nosing into a sheltered bay in the
Sacred Islands – a cluster of four beautiful
uninhabited pieces of paradise that are
believed to be the birthplace of Fijian
culture – we caught our first glimpse of
the elegant MV Fiji Princess glistening in
the afternoon sun. Purpose-built for Fiji
cruising and accommodating a maximum
of 68 passengers, the 55-metre vessel
accesses bays and islands that would be
impossible to reach in a large ship. It can
tie off to a coconut palm during the day so
you can swim to the shore – about which,
more later.
The Fijian crew welcomed us aboard with
big grins and local songs accompanied
by strumming guitars. We made the
pleasant discovery that there were only
23 passengers on our voyage and a
very global mix from the UK, Switzerland,
the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, the
USA, Québec, Australia, and of course us
Kiwis. Everyone soon acquired a national
addition to their name.
After settling into our cabin we gathered our
beach gear and snorkels and masks and
boarded a tender that took us to the white
sandy beach of a nearby island. Here we
whiled away the rest of the day snorkelling,
swimming and relaxing and enjoying a
Fijian-style “High Tea” on the sand. One of
the things I loved about our Blue Lagoon
Cruises voyage is that it contained a
maximum of three hours’ cruising a day. There
was always ample time to step ashore and
experience true island life.
Back on board, our appetites were further
appeased by a four-course meal, after
which the kava mat was unrolled, the kava
drink prepared and the crew members
strummed guitar until the last of us retired
to our cabins. I think that Elvis’s Blue Suede
Shoes has never been sung in a more
exotic setting.
Private Beach Paradise
“Dive-bombing” into the water from the
first deck is OK according to Cruise
Director Jone, but if you dive from any
further up you owe the Captain a beer.
Overnight, Fiji Princess had cruised north to
Matacawalevu Island in the Yasawa Group
and Southampton-ite Steve got the divebombing going by launching himself off the
stern of the ship into the turquoise-coloured
water and swimming along the mooring rope
to the beach.
Snorkelling at Matacawalevu is akin to
swimming in an aquarium of swarming
tropical fish. angelfish, clownfish (“Nemos”),
wrasse, piper, sergeant-major fish and
seahorses all dart past sucking up the
morsels of floating bread we fed them – it’s
a tropical fish tank in the ocean. Masses of
overexcited sergeant-majors even nibbled
our fingers in their frenzied hunt for the
confetti of breadcrumbs.
Island Exploring
9.30am the next morning was walk time. As we trekked
over a hill on Nanuya Lailai, Cruise Director Jone pointed
out local plants and crops: bananas, noni, pineapple,
mangoes, breadfruit growing high in the trees and the root
crop, cassava, on the ground. From a vantage point, Jone
pointed out the next destination of the cruise, the island of
Sawa-i-Lau in the northern Yasawas.
Late in the afternoon a lovo – an in-ground traditional Fijian oven
– was layered with baskets of food for the evening meal. Beef, fish,
pork, sweet potato and taro were placed atop a steaming-hot bed
of embers, covered with coconut leaves and finally sand to trap the
steam. The meal was then left to slow-cook to tenderness.
While dinner was being readied the afternoon passed with a few hits
of volleyball and a coconut-husking demonstration. Second Officer
Inoke sat under the shade of a coconut tree weaving baskets
from coconut fronds on which to serve up the evening feast. Our
nightcap was a traditional meke (song and dance) performance by
villagers from Matacawalevu village across the bay who entertained
us under the stars. With the ship’s mooring rope wrapped securely
around a coconut tree on Blue Lagoon Cruises’ tranquil private
beach, the island of Nanuya Lailai was our overnight home.
In the meantime we headed to our immediate goal at Lo’s
Tea Shop. It’s a simple hut nestled on the beachside with
cut-out holes for windows through which the welcome sea
breeze swirls and gently flutters the hibiscus-print tablecloths.
Guests sit on matching cushions on colourful benches. The
freshly-baked cake on the day of our visit was banana with
chocolate icing, washed down with a mug of lemon tea
brewed from leaves picked that morning from a lemon tree
on the hill. With our morning walk complete we swam the
short distance back to our floating hotel and enjoyed lunch
as the Fiji Princess’s crew released the rope from the tree
and we motored away towards our next stop.
Snorkelling at Matacawalevu
is akin to swimming in an aquarium
of swarming tropical fish
on location harveyworld.co.nz
9
Fiji meets Hollywood
The magnificent limestone caves of Sawa-i-Lau are a magical
experience. They are reached by stairs along the steep cliff face
of the island and as your eyes adjust to the dark you find yourself
above a cavernous pool dappled with sunlight. The fresh water is
cool and refreshing and the cave fills with echoes of laughter as you
jump in.
Those with a bit of daring suck up a deep breath and dive down
through an underwater tunnel to pop up in the darkness of the
secondary cavern. Not me. I was content to float peacefully in the
first pool and remember the scenes featuring the caves in the Brooke
Shields-Christopher Atkins movie, The Blue Lagoon.
Dinner that night was ashore at the local village of Tamasua, where
the gifts of rugby balls that my husband Gary brought along were
quickly snaffled up, with one of the mothers writing the name of twoyear-old Luke on a ball for him to claim. We were welcomed into
the village hall where our nominated “Chief for the Night”, Bill from
California, presented our token gift of a fresh kava root to the village
chief. The kava ceremony followed, and quite a few fellow-cruisers
were keen to sip the murky brown mix from the coconut bowl.
The feast, prepared exactly as the villagers would do for themselves
for a special occasion, was eaten as we sat cross-legged on
cushions on the floor. We tapped out delicate morsels of land
crab from their shells, adding chunks of cassava chunks, rourou (taro
leaf prepared with coconut milk and tuna), eggplant and tuna,
vegetable curry and fish curry to our plates and ate, Fijian style, with
our fingers. Dinner was “washed down” with a hip-swaying conga
dance before we took the tender back to the ship.
On board, we headed to the top deck for a viewing of – what
else? – the 1980 Blue Lagoon movie on an outdoor screen.
Backdropped by the entrance to the Sawa-i-Lau caves and
accompanied by popcorn and Mai-Tais, it made for the perfect
South Pacific setting.
A school bursting with smiles
school next door, the school serves the whole of the Yasawa
Islands. Smartly-groomed boys in their white shirts and lime-green sulu
vakataga (wraparound mens’ skirts with pockets), and girls in their
green pinafores topped with pristine white collars, welcomed us with
a song before placing a red hibiscus behind our ears. Keen to show
us their classroom and carefully written schoolwork, they took our
hands and pulled us inside.
Naviti District School is supported by the Vinaka Fiji charity, which
recruits volunteers for one-on-one reading sessions with the children
and building work on the school grounds. Donations of books
and stationery also arrive by the boxload. The island is aiming to
become self-sustainable and a recently-built greenhouse will nurture
crops such as tomatoes and cucumber that don’t thrive in the
island’s hot and dry climate. The next step is a poultry farm to supply
eggs and meat to supplement the local diet of fish, crab, cassava,
spinach and sweet potato.
That evening, as the sun slipped below the horizon, we gathered on
the top deck of Fiji Princess for cocktails and a farewell barbecue to
mark our last night on board. After a few post-dinner moves on the
dance floor we headed to bed.
Mainland ahoy!
Early the next morning Fiji Princess weighed anchor back towards
Port Denarau. Along with our fellow-passengers we disembarked with
heavy hearts as the Captain and crew (and Johnny from Melbourne)
sang the traditional Fijian farewell song, Isa Lei, in harmony. After
saying fond farewells, the group filtered off to nearby resorts for a
last few days of Fijian sun and hospitality, with some members already
planning another cruise. Bill and Martha from California lead the Blue
Lagoon Cruises fan club in our group with three cruises in their wake,
and plans for a fourth.
Two more nights at the Sofitel Fiji eased us back into life on terra
firma and we boarded the plane home with fond memories of the
sights, culture and tastes of Fiji, and some new-found friends. We also
had an autographed map on which the Captain charted our Blue
Lagoon Cruises voyage. It’s bound for the wall at home.
If you want to see happy and energetic school kids, Naviti District
School is the place to go. Teaching years 1 to 8, with a high
Some “Bests” of our Blue Lagoon Cruises Experience
Best beach – Nanuya Lailai beach
Best offshore excursion – Swimming at Sawa-i-Lau caves
Most smiley children – Naviti District School primary children
Most enjoyable onboard entertainment –
The Fiji Princess’s crew singing and playing the guitar and ukulele
Most memorable cultural experience – Tamasua Village visit
Nicest cocktail – Mai-Tai
Tastiest local food – Local taro leaf, spinach and land crab
10
harveyworld.co.nz on location
Pre-and post-cruise hotel favourite –
Sofitel Fiji Beach Resort & Spa
Drop anchor in a Blue Lagoon
...tie up to a coconut palm
...& experience the Fiji Islands
Unpack once and go explore in our unspoilt paradise. ‘Fiji Princess’ is a boutique style cruise vessel
with only 34 cabins and is able to access remote bays and islands that are impossible to reach for other
larger vessels. Experience our personal ‘floating hotel‘ service and friendly Fijian smiles. A different day,
a different bay, inclusive itineraries keep you as active or as relaxed as you need to be. Select the 4 or 7
night cruise to swim in the world famous ‘Blue lagoon’ and enjoy our own private beach ‘Nanuya Lai-lai’.
For more information contact your local
Harvey World Travel Professional 0800 088 802
harveyworld.co.nz
BLC5408
48 HOURS IN HOBART
Vibrant street markets, beautiful architecture, amazing cultural offerings and fine food and wine make
Tasmania’s capital city of Hobart a tourism magnet, says John Corbett.
DAY ONE
AM: “Start with the market,” said our local friend Simon, so with a weekend
up our sleeves after attending an industry event we strolled a few hundred
metres down the Hobart waterfront to Salamanca Wharf. We were staying
nearby at Sullivan’s Cove Apartments in the iconic old IXL Building, a former
jam factory. It’s a great place: central, quiet and spotlessly clean, with great
views of the waterfront.
Salamanca Market is reputed to be the largest weekend market in Australia
and is a cornucopia of food and beverage stalls, crafts, knick-knacks and
fascinating oddities. The highlight for me was the beautifully preserved old
sandstone buildings from the 1830s which once housed the businesses
of whalers and traders. Mary McNeill of Gourmania Food Tours offers an
excellent three-hour walking tour (with a snack and lunch included)
– highly recommended.
Simon next took us on a quick “tiki tour” of the city through Battery Point
(once working-class, now gentrified) and South Hobart to the Alexandra
Battery Lookout at Sandy Bay which has excellent views towards Bruny
Island and back over Hobart. We also saw the Cascades Brewery,
whose famous beer you should make a point of enjoying when in Tasmania.
Hobart also has a fine collection of colonial architecture including lots of
stone churches.
PM: Much has been written about MONA, the revolutionary Museum of Old
and New Art since its 2011, and the only thing to do is go and see it for
yourself, if you don’t mind a bit of adults-only content. It’s an extraordinary
place, dug deep into a hillside on the Derwent River like something out of a
James Bond movie. You can take a water taxi from Hobart, reach it easily by
car and even stay there – there is good accommodation on-site.
EVENING: Dinner was more amazing, cutting-edge food at Garagistes
restaurant in downtown Hobart. (The night before, we dined at Ethos in
Elizabeth Street, also recommended.) In recent years Tasmania has gained
a worldwide reputation for the quality of its produce and top chefs now
come to live and work here. Tasmanian wines are also fantastic and the
pinot noirs give Central Otago’s a run for their money!
DAY TWO
AM: More markets, this time the excellent Farm Gate Market held each
Sunday on two blocks of Elizabeth Street, and which specialises in food.
Lots of locals come to buy their weekly fruit and veges here and you can
see why. Hobart’s hinterland now supports a host of enthusiastic growers
following their passion for raising the perfect turnip or potato or shallot,
and all manner of butchers, bakers and condiment-makers also sell their
products here. You’ll also find incredible seafood, including big fat oysters
from Bruny Island.
PM: We held off from nibbling too much (it was hard) because we knew
were having lunch at Frogmore Creek Winery near Hobart Airport before
we headed home. Frogmore has a lovely rural setting and the restaurant’s
Executive Chef, Ruben Koopman, has worked under the guidance of
Michelin-starred chefs such as Raymond Blanc, Marco-Pierre White and
Albert Roux. I thought the food I had enjoyed in Hobart couldn’t be
bettered, but the best came at the last. It’s worth noting too that the
distillery of Lark, Tasmania’s most famous whisky, is visible across the fields from
Frogmore’s dining room. 48 hours in Hobart wasn’t nearly enough and I am
definitely going back!
12
harveyworld.co.nz on location
QA
From Apps to sun block, Laura Dawes of Harvey World Travel Masterton
offers practical tips to help smooth every journey.
Q. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY
Q. WHY USE A TRAVEL
A.
A.
TO TAKE MY MONEY
OVERSEAS?
A multi-currency Cash Passport
is the safest way, allowing you
to load up to nine different
currencies. It can be used as a
debit card and to withdraw cash
from ATM machines.
Q. WHERE’S THE BEST
PLACE TO SIT – WINDOW
OR AISLE?
A.
On a long journey we recommend
an aisle seat in the middle block.
It means you won’t have people
clambering over you and you can
get out whenever you need to.
AGENT VS BOOKING
ONLINE?
Q. WHAT IS THE BEST
WAY TO HELP YOUR
BODY COPE WITH
LONG FLIGHTS?
A.
Q. WHAT’S THE BEST
TRAVEL APP?
A.
TripCase. This App downloads
your flight itinerary and updates
you with any schedule changes or
flight delays. It also allows you to
share your trip with others. Q. WHY DO I NEED TRAVEL
INSURANCE?
A.
Because the unexpected doesn’t
take a holiday. Unforeseen
medical bills overseas can cost
thousands of dollars. You are also
covered from the day you take out
travel insurance.
Because we are people you
have a direct line to. We listen
and remember you and are
there to help if anything goes
wrong. We also have personal
travel experience and so do our
hundreds of clients.
Drink lots of water and limit alcohol
before and during your flight. Eat
small meals, take jet-lag pills and
use saline nose spray to help
with dryness. Use hand and face
moisturiser and lip balm to help
keep you hydrated.
Q. WHAT ARE THE
ESSENTIALS TO TAKE
ON A SOUTH PACIFIC
HOLIDAY?
A.
Sun block, mosquito spray, sun
hat, sarong, jandals, first-aid kit
(antiseptic spray, plasters, Panadol,
sunburn lotion, aspirin), sunglasses
and your favourite selection
of swimwear.
on location harveyworld.co.nz
13
MYANMAR
‘This is Burma. It is quite unlike any place you know about’ wrote Rudyard Kipling.
More than a century later these words still ring true and Burma (or Myanmar) has
retained its old world charm by holding onto the traditions lost elsewhere in Asia.
Discover this emerging new destination with World Journeys.
A WORLD APART
HIGHLIGHTS OF MYANMAR
Yangon is abuzz with busy markets and
crumbling colonial buildings, overlooked
by the golden Shwedagon Pagoda. Tour
Myanmar’s highlights including the stunning
plains of Bagan, dotted with thousands
of temples, Mandalay’s teak monasteries,
Pindaya Caves, the hill tribes of Kalaw, and
tranquil Lake Inle.
Cruise aboard the luxury Belmond Road
to Mandalay river cruiser along the
Ayeyarwaddy River. Get to the heart of
Burmese culture, visiting the interesting rural
villages dotted on the shore, discovering
ancient pagodas, experiencing the ancient
capital of Mandalay, and witnessing sunset
over the Bagan plain.
11 days from $4,860*
4 days from $2,715*
Includes: Independent touring with local English
speaking guides; 10 nights 4-star hotels with breakfast;
5 lunches; fl ights and road transport within Myanmar;
sightseeing and entrance fees. Departs: daily (price
quoted valid for travel 01 May –30 Sep 2015).
Includes: 3 nights Superior Cabin accommodation;
all table d’hote meals and complimentary house wines/
beers with meals; complimentary cocktail parties; fl ights
Yangon>Mandalay & Bagan>Yangon; on-board talks
and cultural shows; all transfers, guided sightseeing and
entrance fees. Departs: selected Wednesdays.
Contact your local Harvey World Travel professional
0800 088 802 | harveyworld.co.nz
*Conditions: Prices are in NZ dollars on a per person share twin basis. Pricing
varies seasonally and is subject to currency fluctuation and availability. As
cancellation fees apply, travel insurance is mandatory. Travel agent service fees
are not included. Other conditions apply as per the ‘ World 2015’ brochure.
MYANMAR
REVEALED
with World Journeys
Now is the time
to visit a land of
magical landscapes
and great traditions,
untouched for
centuries by the
modern world.
Rudyard Kipling’s oft-quoted line that
Myanmar is quite unlike any other land you
know about, is as accurate today as when
it was written. Myanmar has its own vibe,
and is coming into its own after years of
being largely off-limits to tourists. With the
country now moving towards democracy
and its beloved national figure, Aung San
Suu Kyi, now free and active in politics,
now is the time to visit Myanmar.
The most comfortable and enjoyable way
of exploring Myanmar is by river cruise.
The name of the Belmond-operated
luxury river cruiser, Belmond Road to
Mandalay, clearly reflects the importance
of the Ayeyarwady Irriwaddy) River as the
country’s main transport route. Relax on
the top deck and watch river life glide by,
stopping to take excursions during the day
and retreating to comfortable cabins and
delicious cuisine each night.
Most visitors fly into Yangon, Myanmar’s
largest city and home to the absolutely
dazzling Shwedagon Pagoda, a golden
Buddhist temple that draws Pilgrims
from around the world. A walking tour
of Yangon reveals beautiful colonial
architecture, busy street markets and
traditional dress still worn on a daily basis.
Wonderful accommodation options in
Yangon range from the boutique Belmond
Governor’s Residence with its teak
construction and beautiful pool to the
grand Sule Shangri-La where high-ranking
officials host swanky weddings
at weekends.
River cruises run mainly between Mandalay
and Bagan, with longer itineraries
extending to fascinating landscapes
further north and others westward on the
picturesque Chindwin River. Beautiful views
out over Mandalay and surrounds can
be enjoyed from the Sagaing Hills, and a
must-see is the Kuthodaw Pagoda, home
to multitudes of marble tablets telling the
story of Buddha – the “world’s biggest
book”. Mandalay’s artisans are renowned
for their gold-leaf beating, silk weaving
and marble carving. At the end of the
day, take in sunset with the locals at the
picturesque 200-year-old U Bein Bridge.
Wherever you go in Myanmar, temples
are never far away, and no more so than
in magical Bagan, where over 2,000
temples dot the landscape as far as the
eye can see. Other off-ship excursions may
be to countryside villages that are largely
unchanged for centuries. Chickens cluck
about your feet as you stroll the streets,
with nothing more on sale for tourists than
a cup of tea at the busy village teahouse.
Here, horse-drawn carts are a common
mode of transport and a smile at a
stranger will always be genuinely returned.
WHEN TO GO TO MYANMAR
Myanmar has three distinctive seasons:
Hot (March to May) –
Average temperature 25-38 degrees
Rainy (June to October) –
Average temperature 23-33 degrees
Cool (November to February) –
Average temperature 18-24 degrees.
The Northern Highlands tend to be cooler
while the delta area can be warm and
muggy. During the rainy season, many days
dawn clear and bright and the landscape
is green and lush. It can even get down to
near freezing at night around Inle Lake.
It pays to keep an open mind in Myanmar.
Do visit that next temple as it will
undoubtedly reveal something surprisingly
different. Do realise that many still live in
poverty, so try to buy your mementos from
small local artisans. And do be prepared
to fall in love with a country of great
traditions, unfailingly friendly people, and
(we hope), a bright future.
on location harveyworld.co.nz
15
life’s a picnic
Leisurely lunches and frequent
picnic stops were only a few of
the many highlights of Steven and
Diana Marshall’s idyllic 35-day
tour through France and Spain
in a Peugeot EuroLease.
After we collected our brand-new Peugeot
308 diesel manual in Paris, the car’s
GPS directed us (in English) to Épernay
in Champagne country where we had
arranged to meet friends from the UK whom
we hadn’t seen for 20 years. The worldfamed wine region is also deeply historic
and we visited sites like the room in a school
in Reims which has been kept as it was in
May 1945 when it was the headquarters of
US General Eisenhower. Here is where the
German surrender documents were signed
that brought an end to World War II.
A short drive away near Compiègne is the
clearing where the Armistice was signed in a
railway carriage at the end of WWI. It is the
same place where Hitler insisted the French
sign their capitulation in 1940.
Next we took a long but relaxing cruise
down the autoroute to Le Mans and up to
St-Malo on the Brittany coast. Friends from
Guernsey had booked us an apartment
inside the old walled city and joined us for
a stay. Brittany’s famed dairy produce was in
abundance at the nearby Rocabey food
16
harveyworld.co.nz on location
market and renting an apartment enabled
us to buy lots of small goods, cheeses and
other treats. We always take a small picnic
set with us when we go to Europe, for the
many roadside picnics.
Cancale, 30 minutes’ drive east of St-Malo,
is a byword in France for oysters and
seafood restaurants but it took a similar
amount of time to find a parking space as
it was Fête des Mères (Mother’s Day). We
were glad we persevered though because
there’s something special about sitting on the
seawall at Cancale overlooking an expanse
of oyster beds, eating freshly-shucked oysters
and flicking the shells to the attendant
seagulls to pick clean. The oysters are sold
by size, and the friendly sellers even provide
a plate, fork and fresh lemons!
Our next stop was St-Nazaire at the mouth
of the River Loire on the Atlantic Coast. We
were impressed by the famous bridge (prior
to its opening in 1975 the wide estuary of
the Loire could be crossed only by ferry), but
were astonished to find that the tourist office
is located in the massive U-boats pens that
were built to protect the marauding German
submarines in WWII. It is also remarkable that
French tourist offices close for lunch.
Heading farther south, we stayed for nearly
two weeks at a wonderful B&B, the Logis de
Bresdon, about 35 minutes’ drive north of
Cognac in the glorious French countryside.
We ate, swam, slept, toured the local
villages, attended a wine and food
festival where there were fabulous duck
sausages and the most delicious escargots,
and enjoyed a visit to the Rémy Martin
cognac distillery.
As we were there in early June we also saw
wild deer on the side of the roads, fields
of sunflowers shooting up although not yet
in flower (what a sight that must be), and
several fields of poppies – grown, we were
told for pharmaceuticals – in soft hues of pink
and lavender.
As they say in
France, it was
magnifique!
Two days in the Dordogne followed, where
we visited Lascaux to see the 17,000year old cave drawings and spent an
educational hour at the National Museum
of Prehistory in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sureuil
learning more about prehistoric man.
The days of leisurely lunches and picnic
stops continued, including a visit to
Rocamadour, a town dating from the 12th
century and which clings to a hillside; some
very tasty samplings in the famed food
markets at Sarlat; and a stop in Domme,
a hilltop town overlooking the majestic
Dordogne River. As we enjoyed this
extraordinary vista, we dined on omelettes
prepared using fresh girolles (chanterelle
mushrooms) which the restaurant manager
had harvested at his farmlet that
very afternoon.
Moving on to the pretty wine town of
St-Émilion we were able to appreciate the
endless expanse of vineyards in all directions
from the top of the church bell tower. We
then enjoyed a day-trip to Bordeaux. Initially
we were apprehensive about navigating the
traffic and finding a car park in the city, but
our hotel manager in St-Émilion suggested
we follow the “park and ride” signs. We duly
did, parked easily and travelled into the city
by tram. All very relaxed!
We found Bordeaux to be a very
aesthetically-pleasing city with many of
the buildings being of a similar height and
stone colour. Exploration always turns up
something unexpected, and here it was the
award-winning architecture in the Justice
Precinct where the courtrooms are shaped
country restaurant in search of the definitive
interpretation. We watched the paella being
prepared over a traditional wood fire and
later saw some of the rice fields that produce
the special short-grain rice essential to the
perfect result.
while the Spanish can be deciphered with
a little thought and knowledge of French,
there’s absolutely no chance with the
Basque, which is unrelated to any other
language. After six very pleasant days in
San Sebastián, from where we day-tripped
to Bilbao to admire the Guggenheim
Museum, we headed for Valencia on the
Mediterranean coast. On the way we
lunched in Pamplona and overnighted in
Zaragoza, passing hundreds and hundreds
of power-generating windmills and solarpanel farms en route.
like beehives and arranged in rows. A French
army band played in the city square as
part of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day
landings that were being commemorated
that day.
After a night in Biarritz (favoured as
a fashionable seaside resort by the
Edwardians), we crossed the border into
Spain, a little unsure about how we would
get on because of our inability in spoken
Spanish. Our misgivings were soon forgotten
as we fell in love with San Sebastián with
its perfect crescent-shaped beaches,
seemingly permanent sunshine, compact
town centre and the exceptional tapas (or
pintxos, as they are known in this Basque
territory) rivalling those of Barcelona for
food supremacy.
The signage here is in Catalan
(conventional Spanish) and Basque, and
Another impressive sight in Spain is the
large public works of art located near the
motorways. And while one can “overdose”
on old buildings, even the most jaded visitor
will be impressed by the Basilica of Nuestra
Senora del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar) in
Zaragoza, built in the Baroque style and
completed in 1686. Its size, colourful tiles
and position on the banks of the river Ebro
are simply wow! Incredibly, during the Spanish
Civil War of 1936–1939, three bombs were
dropped on the church but none of them
exploded. Two of them (defused of course)
are on show in the Basilica.
Our next and final stop was Barcelona,
where we returned our Peugeot 308. Our
trusty car had swallowed a huge amount
of luggage and enabled us to travel in
relaxed comfort for 35 days over 5,343
kilometres. Its computer told us that we
journeyed at an average speed of 64km/
hr with a fuel consumption of 4.9 litres/100km
– all very satisfactory. The excess-free
Peugeot EuroLease insurance was also
much appreciated, especially after a minor
parking mishap in a cramped Spanish hotel
car park.
Valencia was the scene of a flooding
tragedy in 1957 when the River Turia coursed
through the city causing huge devastation
and 81 deaths, so the decision was made
to re-route the river three kilometres to the
south. This massive project was completed
in 1976 and the former riverbed has been
developed into a city park with gardens,
amusements and sports fields – an attractive
and well-patronised green environment in
the city’s heart. And as this part of Spain is
the home of paella, we lunched at a small
Now only one final decision remained: where
would we go next year?
Are you planning a driving holiday in Europe?
Peugeot EuroLease allows you to drive
a brand new Peugeot at incredibly low
tax-free prices, only available to nonEuropean residents.
Other benefits include unlimited
mileage, comprehensive insurance
(with no excess), plus you can drive your
Peugeot into a lot more countries than a
normal rental car allows.
For more information contact your local Harvey World Travel
Professional 0800 088 802 | harveyworld.co.nz
on location harveyworld.co.nz
17
what’s
HOT
Reserve Restaurant and the sophisticated
Socialites Bar, both designed to recreate
the ambience and glamour of Brisbane’s
1920s socialite scene.
The rich history of the heritage-listed hotel
dates back to the 1880s when immigrant
Dr John Thomson chose the site to build
his personal residence. The accomplished
doctor, scientist, astronomer, psychologist
and photographer (who was also a
founder of St. John’s Ambulance and
Queensland University), named his home
Inchcolm after Scotland’s Inchcolm Island.
Stylish new MGallery opens in Brisbane
Accor has added to its upscale MGallery
Collection of hotels with the addition
of The New Inchcolm Hotel & Suites,
the brand’s first MGallery for Brisbane.
Centrally located at 73 Wickham
Terrace, close to the CBD and Fortitude
Valley, The New Inchcolm Hotel & Suites
is secluded yet connected to Brisbane’s
commercial and cultural pulse.
18
harveyworld.co.nz on location
Following an A$8-million refurbishment,
the AAA 5-star-rated hotel can now be
described as “truly boutique”, offering
a new level of comfort and impeccable
styling for discerning travellers. It features
50 room options including one- and
two-bedroom suites and Brisbane’s first
loft-style hotel suites that lend an elegant
contemporary edge to the property.
Two new-look “wine & dine” options are
available with the addition of Thomson’s
The building that is The New Inchcolm
Hotel and Suites today was built during
the 1920s. In 1997, the building was
purchased by its current owner, Brisbane
developer Peter Flynn, who has a special
connection to the property having been
born in the building during its days as a
medical practice. Flynn’s vision to create
a New York-style boutique hotel saw The
Inchcolm Hotel open its doors in 1998. In
2014, The New Inchcolm Hotel and Suites
underwent a major refurbishment and
expansion and has now relaunched as
a premier accommodation option in the
reinvigorated Spring Hill precinct.
New dining
experience at
Skyline Queenstown
Located high above Queenstown, with
panoramic views of Lake Wakatipu
and the Remarkables mountain range,
Skyline Queenstown’s restaurant is one
of the most popular dining experiences
in New Zealand. Skyline Queenstown
has now unveiled its new restaurant
and bar, Stratosfare, born from a
refurbishment of its famous restaurant
and bar and offering a fresh new
dining experience.
Chef and guests interaction is one
of the highlights of Stratosfare, where
guests can watch expert chefs prepare
Millbrook Resort’s
spa scoops another
accolade
The luxurious spa at Queenstown’s five-star
Millbrook Resort has been named the best
of the best, taking out the coveted title of
“New Zealand’s Leading Spa Resort” at the
World Travel Awards.
The World Travel Awards, celebrating its
21st anniversary this year, acknowledge,
reward and celebrate excellence across
all sectors of the global travel and tourism
industry, with half a million votes cast
annually by travel professionals and highend travellers.
dishes using some of New Zealand’s
finest produce at interactive cooking
stations. A further enhancement to
the guest experience is a mussel bar
serving New Zealand Green-Lipped
Mussels. A central feature of the new
Stratosfare is a purpose-built rotisserie
oven where guests can see locallysourced chicken, beef and lamb
cooked before their eyes. A tempting
dessert display featuring an array of
sweet treats provides the perfect end
to a dining experience.
The name Stratosfare is derived from
“Stratos”, meaning “up high’” and “Fare”,
a collection of food. It was an obvious
choice for both Skyline Gondola
properties in Queenstown and Rotorua
and it sums up the elevated location
and new dining experience perfectly.
Known the world over as one of the most
picturesque resorts in the world, Millbrook
is no stranger to winning awards, having
garnered multiple accolades over the
years for its five-star luxury accommodation,
world-class 27-hole golf course and
restaurants.
Nestled in its beautiful natural setting, The
Spa at Millbrook prides itself on pampering,
soothing and rejuvenating guests with the
finest and most energising spa experience.
Staying at Millbrook Resort too is like
immersing yourself in another world: guests
can step out of their hotel room, stylish
apartment or fairway home right onto the
golf course. It’s an easy stroll down to The
Spa at Millbrook for a treatment to soothe
away the stresses of busy lives.
stainless steel rails using only the force
of gravity.
The sealed containers travel along a
network of double loops, spirals and turns
spread throughout the 1,300-square
metre, 360-seat restaurant. The
restaurant’s visual highlight is a gigantic
tornado-shaped spiral that gets narrower
from top to bottom.
It’s a unique experience as you order
your food and drink in the restaurant of
your choice via a touch screen or tablet
and then sit back and relax until the roller
coaster delivers the order right to your
table.
Roller coaster dining
Only in Abu Dhabi.... The world’s largest
“Roller coaster restaurant” has just opened
at the Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, the largest
mall in Abu Dhabi, located just outside the
city on Yas Island right by the Formula 1
racetrack and Ferrari Park.
And from this year onwards, a minimum of
two additional themed restaurants will
open every year.
With roller coaster dining, you choose your
cuisine which is delivered on a network
of 30 individual roller coaster tracks, the
food and drink arriving via a network of
The silent delivery system is a thrill for diners
as they watch their food make a gravitydefying 360-degree journey to their table.
on location harveyworld.co.nz
19
In the Driver’s Seat
On a 14-day self-drive tour,
Tony Antunovich is fascinated by
the beauty, history and hospitality
of Croatia’s Adriatic coast.
Almost 50 years had passed since I made the month-long journey as an infant, travelling
with my mother from my birth city of Split on the Adriatic coast, to join my father in New
Zealand. Croatia at that time was not the tourist mecca it is today, but since then I’ve had
the pleasure of returning many times. I’ve always been fascinated by the history and beauty
of this centuries-old region, so when my friend Stefan, who I’d met on a Contiki trip in 1987
asked if I was planning another visit, I jumped at the idea.
20
harveyworld.co.nz on location
Landing by plane in Split is a refreshing
experience that is not unlike coming into
Wellington on a good day. The plane
seemed to barely clear the rugged and
stark coastline mountain range as it banked
to reveal a spectacular view of the clear
blue sea and the historic island of Trogir. The
open-air museum city is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
To showcase the Dalmatian coastline in the
two weeks that we had for our tour I chose
my favourite mode of transport, the rental car.
I was fortunate in having a family connection
to the region as we moved about and I left
the work of creating an itinerary that fitted
in sightseeing, family, rest and activity times
to my travel agent, who put together an
amazing 14-day package.
After clearing customs at Split we collected
our car from the Hertz counter and headed
90 kilometres southeast to the Makarska
Riviera and our pre-booked seaside villa.
This drive remains a picturesque highlight of
our trip. Passing through countless coastal
villages nestled between the impressive
backdrop of the Biokovo mountain range
and the romance of the beckoning islands of
Brač and Hvar is as refreshing to one’s senses
as an eight-hour sleep after a full day’s work.
Awaiting our arrival at the rustic stone villa
on the water’s edge was a banquet put
on by our hosts. Platters of local antipasto
were followed by freshly caught squid and
mullet prepared on a traditional wood-fired
barbecue. This was served with home-grown
potatoes, salads dressed with local olive
oil and vinegar, bread baked under the
peka (a lidded pot placed on the embers
of a fire) and accompanied by local wine.
The food and wine was delicious and the
hospitality was exceptional. This was to be a
recurring theme during our stay.
The pride of the city of Split is the UNESCOprotected Diocletian Palace, built by the
Roman emperor at the turn of the 4th century.
It is a fascinating fortress-like place with its
intricate cobblestoned passageways and
adjoining shops, galleries, restaurants and
marketplace.
The rest of our itinerary was filled with a
mixture of day-trips and time spent with family
and friends. Highlights included a visit 150
kilometres down the coast to the old fortified
town of Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic”
and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The
area was busy and we counted three large
cruise liners in port, but as we crossed the
drawbridge into the Old Town it was like
stepping into a medieval kingdom. I can see
why Game of Thrones is filmed there.
We also had time to visit some of the Adriatic
islands by car ferry. A favourite of mine is
Brač, Croatia’s highest-peaked island which
is known for its high quality marble and
beautiful coastal spots such as Bol and the
famous beach Zlatni Rat.
On the way back we stopped in the ancient
town of Ston on the Peljesac Peninsula. Ston is
popular for its oyster farms and its five-kilometre
defensive wall that is likened to a miniature
European version of the Great Wall of China.
We enjoyed an excellent meal of shellfish at
the Kapetanova Kuća (Captain’s House)
Restaurant, well recommended by our agent.
Our visit was in mid-October and despite
winter being not far away the temperature
every day averaged a comfortable 27C
and the weather was excellent. The sea
was crystal-clear and incredibly warm for
the time of year, allowing for daily swimming.
As we crossed the drawbridge into the
Old Town it was like stepping into
a medieval kingdom
While we were
in the Makarska Riviera
my aunty Slavka asked if she could
join us on a trip to Medjugorje for prayer and
reflection. The 90-minute drive took us inland
over the border into Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Every year over one million visitors and pilgrims
come to the small village of Medjugorje
where it is professed that the Virgin Mary first
appeared to six children in 1981. We all
noted the sensation of calm and peace
upon arrival. We attended a Catholic Mass
given by an Irish priest and later walked up
Apparition Hill where the first vision of the Virgin
Mary appeared.
Most days
we ventured for walks in
the Biokovo Mountains, visiting old
villages and uncovering what life would have
been like many years ago.
I have to say that my friend Stefan was
enthralled by Dalmatia and its Adriatic coast
and his bucket list now includes Croatia’s
capital city of Zagreb, the Plitvice Lakes
National Park and Pula in the region of Istria.
I trust it will not be too long to wait for the
next trip.
We made several trips back to Split, first
established as the Ancient Greek colony of
Aspálathos in the 6th century BC. On one
occasion we visited the famous Ivan Meštrović
Gallery on Marjan Hill, which contains numerous
works by the Croatian artist who is ranked
as one of the greatest sculptors of the 2oth
century. The art museum has fabulous views of
the harbour and outer islands.
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Croatia is renown for it’s remarkably diverse landscapes, with a jagged coastline softened by glimmering
crystal clear Adriatic Sea with picture perfect islands on one side and the sheer beauty of stark silvery
mountain ranges on the other. Travel inland and one passes through the hinterland, Castle region and
along the golden plains. From the Mediterranean soul to the Continental heart of this small country you
will find over a thousand reasons to stop and enjoy the beauty that surrounds, and what better way to
explore this trove of treasure than on a self drive.
Croatia Times Travel takes the hassle away when it comes to choosing the car, route and what to see and do. We know
about speed restrictions, motorway tolls and can advise you on the best itineraries. Personalised self-drive packages
offer choices of sightseeing, experiences and much more.
ISTRIAN TALES
8 days / 7 nights
From Opatija to Zagreb
Visit Pula, Brijuni, Rovinj, Poreč, Brtonigla, Motovun
$1,890* per person twin share
Includes
• 7 nights in selected hotels with daily breakfast
• Rent a Car Opel Zafira 1.9l A/C Auto or similar (Day 2 - 8)
• Vehicle unlimited mileage, CDW, TP
Excludes one way fee €20, entrance fees, fuel & parking
CLASSIC CROATIA
8 days / 7 nights
From Zagreb to Dubrovnik
Visiting Plitvice Lakes, Zadar, Trogir
$1,200* per person twin share
Includes
• Airport transfers Day 1 & 8
• 7 nights in selected hotels with daily breakfast
• Rent a Car Toyota Yaris A/C Auto or similar (Day 3 - 6)
• Vehicle unlimited mileage, CDW, TP
Excludes one way fee €25, entrance fees, fuel & parking
PRIVATE TOUR OPTIONS
If you’d rather relax and let the experts take care of the driving allowing you free time to absorb the scenary, that’s easy, we
have private tour options available ensuring you don’t miss out.
For more information contact your local Harvey World Travel Professional
0800 088 802 | harveyworld.co.nz
Conditions & General Information: *Prices are in NZ dollars twin share per person unless otherwise stated &
valid for new bookings. Prices are correct at time of printing & subject to availability & change without notice.
Travel agent service fees are not included. For more information & full terms & conditions please view Croatia
Times Travel 2015 Brochure & contact your Harvey World Travel Professional for assistance
new
CRUISE
Cunard unveils new animated timeline
Cunard has unveiled a brand new animated timeline, giving
viewers an insight into some of the most iconic moments in the
shipping line’s illustrious 175-year history.
The story continues right to the present as the cruise line
celebrates its big anniversary year, and is sure to hold many
surprises for those unfamiliar with Cunard’s rich history.
The animation, which can be viewed on Cunard’s official YouTube
channel or on the Cunard website, takes viewers on a journey
through some of the company’s most significant moments. It begins
in 1840 as Britannia makes her maiden transatlantic voyage
to Halifax, Nova Scotia. The timeline then takes in Cunard’s
participation in WWI, the first World Voyage in 1922 on Laconia,
and the glamour and glitz of the 1950s.
It details in particular how many of the world’s most iconic stars of
the worlds of movies and fashion graced the Promenade Decks of
Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth in the 1950s. Fred Perry, Fred
Astaire, Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor, to mention just a few,
were regular guests as they made their way across the Atlantic.
New-look Pacific Dawn emerges
Flying fox, which have all become fast
favourites on Pacific Jewel, Pacific Dawn will
launch some thrilling new activities including
a nerve-wracking Walk the Plank extending
off the side of the top deck; a second flying
fox; a Crow’s Nest offering panoramic views
above the ship and a Boulder Wall for
some thrilling sideways rock-climbing. The
addition of racing car simulators to
Pacific Dawn means the entire fleet now
offers the high-speed thrill of famous race
circuits like Mount Panorama.
P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn has emerged
from a multimillion-dollar makeover boasting
some exciting new onboard products.
The Brisbane-based superliner is the first in
the fleet to wear the cruise line’s new livery,
which will be introduced across all
five ships.
The new livery gives landlubbers the clear
message that life onboard a P&O Cruises’
ship is “Like No Place on Earth”, with the
tagline emblazoned across the ship’s stern.
A chic poolside makeover also gives
a taste of the cruise line’s modern new
look, with the pool deck receiving fresh
turf, new poolside water features, lighting
enhancements and private seating areas
that create a resort-style ambience. It
also sets the tone for what will form the
centrepiece for the latest additions to the
fleet, Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden.
In other changes, the ship’s main restaurant,
Waterfront, has been refreshed with a
soothing blue palette, stylish table settings
and an intimate Chef’s Table venue,
while the Asian-specialty restaurant,
Luna, will offer a new Japanese menu.
The refurbishment has also refreshed the
Promenade Deck, public areas and
staterooms and the cruise line’s new VIP inroom service has been introduced, offering
a menu of extra services such as express
ironing and shoeshining.
Pacific Dawn has also become the second
ship in the fleet to feature the popular P&O
Edge adventure park, with 19 adrenalineinducing activities. As well as a Funnel
Climb, Bungee Tramp, Titanic Moment and
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23
Colour, adventure and wonderment
Tracey Lynch of Harvey World Travel Mid City Nelson
is astounded by the sheer exoticism of India.
24
As I write I am about to depart
on my third THO escorted tour
to India. I escorted two tours
to Rajasthan in 2013 and
2014, and this time we are off
to Mumbai, Rajasthan
and Kashmir.
The distances that have to be travelled in
India are long, hot and not always on the
best roads, so a private air-conditioned
coach with our own driver on my recent
Rajasthan trip was a bonus. Our THO tour
escort, Bishan, was a total asset as well; he
knew everything about everywhere, so any
questions the group had were answered
without hesitation.
India is exotic. It assaults all the senses: sight,
sound, taste, smell and touch, and in my
opinion Rajasthan is the most colourful and
adventurous of all of the states of India. It
was the royal seat of the Maharajas and so
has a very regal feel to it. The history and
stories that you see and hear as you travel
around leave you reeling with wonderment.
The architectural achievements are
astounding, like Jantar Mantar in Jaipur, an
observatory chiselled out of stone centuries
ago that still keeps accurate time.
Bishan also ensured that we could stop
when and where we wanted along the
way, as long as we kept to the basic
itinerary. For example, on the road to
Jodhpur we saw a man sitting on a crossbar with his beast walking in a circle and
pumping water to the fields while the
women of the village washed their laundry
in the river. We were able to stop, watch
and take photos and videos. We even
got to talk with the women, via Bishan.
harveyworld.co.nz on location
While we were
in Jaisalmer, the
group spotted an
Ayurvedic hospital
and asked Bishan if
it might be possible to visit there. Later that
evening Bishan had made contact with a
friend and arranged for us all to visit the
hospital the next day. Another day, when
two members of the group were feeling
under the weather and decided to stay
behind instead of taking the city tour,
Bishan arranged with the local guide to
take those two on the same tour the next
day and didn’t expect a thing for it. We
had two birthdays on tour and the trouble
the THO team went to was very humbling
indeed. The gentleman who turned 81 on
tour said it was the best birthday he had
ever had.
India is not only stunning palaces,
architectural wonders, temples, shrines
and forts, but it is also colourful markets,
gorgeous textiles, happy people, artisans
at work, vast open spaces, unusual animals
and the most varied array of delicious
foods from all the different states within
its borders.
We visited Delhi, Udaipur, Jodhpur,
Jaisalmer, Gajner, Jaipur and of course
Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal. Together,
THO and I tailor-made the tour to suit
what we thought would show the very best
of Rajasthan in three weeks, allowing for
leisure, shopping and time to really get
a feel for each city. There were so many
monuments and historical buildings to see,
and THO ensured we saw the very best in
each city and tried to avoid the crowds
where possible.
My favourites included Raj Ghat and
Qutab Minar in Delhi, City Palace and
Saheliyon-ki-Bari in Udaipur, Mehrangarh
Fort and the rural village visit in Jodhpur,
tops with sleeves. To respect the locals,
keep your shoulders and legs covered.
The shopping in India is fantastic and it’s
an opportunity to buy pashminas, silver
jewellery, precious stones and trinkets.
There are also wonderful bedspreads, rugs
and marble, and much more.
the Fort and Havelis in Jaisalmer, the bike
ride to the local brick-makers in Gajner,
the Amber Fort and Jantar Mantar in Jaipur,
Fatehpur Sikri en route to Agra and the
best of all, the Taj Mahal in Agra. I can
recommend a THO tour as being very
well organised, with excellent local guides
and tour escorts who cannot do enough
for you.
The traffic is out of this world, especially
in Delhi, so expect to be amazed and
annoyed all at once. Poverty? Yes, there is
and you will see it, but you can’t change
it and you just have to show respect
and move on. India is generally a safe
destination, but as in any other be mindful
of your belongings.
The accommodation in India is as varied
as the destination, from backpacker
hostels to cheaper hotels all the way up
to magnificent palaces and heritage
hotels. We stayed in beautiful 4- and
5-star hotels which were always spacious,
luxuriously decorated, safe and clean. Their
restaurants offer Indian, Asian and Western
cuisine of the highest standard and there is
little chance of getting “Delhi belly”.
I first visited India in 1985 with a backpack
and it has taken me this long to get back
there. I found that it has changed a lot.
It’s safer, with fewer beggars and horrible
dogs and is more open and friendly to
Westerners. May be it was because we
were travelling in style this time, but I don’t
think so.
We travelled in March, so it was not
yet too hot and the daily temperatures
ranged from 28 to 45 degrees. My advice
about visiting India is to pack lightly and
include sandals, light cotton trousers and
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25
Incredible
INDIA
THE MARIGOLD HOTEL
12 DAY PRIVATE CAR TOUR
From
$1424
*
pp
This new and exciting private journey takes
in some of the sites of the much talked
about The Second Best Marigold Hotel
film, and where possible has you staying at
locations where the movie was filmed.
INCLUDES
• Hotel accommodation with private
facilities
• Private air-condtioned car with English
speaking driver
• All buffet breakfast and dinners
• Sightseeing with private English speaking
tour guide
• Entry fee and monument charges,
elephant ride in Jaipur, rickshaw ride in
Delhi and boat ride in Udaipur
• Assistance and transfers
LAND OF MAHARAJAS
16 DAY PRIVATE CAR TOUR
From
$2342
*
pp
Land of Maharajas leads you through
some of the exciting cities of Rajasthan
and unlocks a few hidden gems which lie
slightly of the well known route. The Thar
Desert and Aravalli Hills combine to create
a stunning visual backdrop to this journey.
INCLUDES
• Hotel accommodation with private
facilities
• Private air-condtioned car
with English speaking driver
• All buffet breakfast and dinners
• Sightseeing with private English speaking
tour guide
• Entry fee and monument charges,
elephant ride in Jaipur, rickshaw ride in
Delhi, boat ride in Udaipur and camel ride
in Jaisalmer
• Assistance and transfers
MAGICAL SOUTH
12 DAY PRIVATE CAR TOUR
From
$2355*
pp
This tour encompasses some of the
finest sites in South India. The Karnataka
temples, Mysore Palace, Conoor tea
gardens and topical Kerala
INCLUDES
• Hotel accommodation with private
facilities
• Private air-condtioned car with English
speaking driver
• All buffet breakfast and dinners
• Sightseeing with private English speaking
tour guide
• Private backwater cruise, one Ayurveda
oil nassage in Kovalam, boat ride in
Cochin and wildlife safari
• Assistance and transfers
For more information contact your local Harvey World Travel Professional
0800 088 802 or visit harveyworld.co.nz
*Conditions apply: Prices are per person, twin share based on travel in low season. Sale ends 30 Mar 2015. Travel to 15 Sep 2015. Seasonal
surcharges may apply. Prices are land only and are correct as at 01 Mar 2015. Offers are subject to availablity and prices can change without
notification due to fluctuations in changes and currency. Pricing is valid for new bookings only. A deposit must be paid at time of booking and
full payment must be received by the “book and pay by” date. Other conditions may apply. Travel agent service fees not included. Please ask
your Harvey World Travel Agent for full terms and conditons.
6 top tips
For self-drive touring on Croatia’s Adriatic coast
THE ROADS ARE GOOD
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN HISTORY
Roads in Croatia are of a pretty good standard and motorways
link the capital, Zagreb, to the main centres of Pula, Rijeka, Zadar
and Split. Driving is on the (European) right-hand side of the
road and petrol stations offer unleaded and diesel as standard.
Websites like Visit Croatia offer good road-touring information
and smartphone apps are available.
Cities like Split were founded by the Greeks in the 4th century
BC and the Romans, no slouches when it came to selecting
attractive places to live, favoured the Adriatic coast as a
resort for aristocrats and emperors. The former empires of Venice
and Byzantium also held sway here – there are endless cultural
attractions and sites.
THE FACILITIES ARE SIMILAR
TO THOSE IN NZ
Accommodation in Croatia is varied and plentiful and includes
hotels, villas, private accommodation options (apartments and
rooms), hostels, campsites and even lighthouses. Average prices
are cheaper than in New Zealand.
THE ADRIATIC COAST IS STUNNING
The highway between Rijeka and Dubrovnik is often compared
with the famous Highway 1 between LA and San Francisco,
but the locals say it’s prettier. The coastline is studded with
historic old towns and villages and the Makarska Riviera, as it is
known, lives up to its name with chic hotels and restaurants and
picturesque views. Dozens of Adriatic islands lie close offshore.
SAVOUR THE FLAVOURS OF
THE CROATIAN COAST
Croatian cuisine excels in its seasonal ingredients and specialties
such as paški sir, a salty, sharp cheese made from the milk of
sheep who graze on wild herbs. And Pršut, a prosciutto-like
Dalmatian ham; pašticada, beef slow-cooked in wine and
spices, and viška or komiška pogača, focaccia-type bread filled
with sardines, onions and tomatoes. Seafood is of prime quality
here and oysters from the town of Ston on the Pelješac Peninsula
are top quality. Make no mistake, this is a gourmet’s paradise.
PASSPORTS NEEDED FOR
BORDER CROSSINGS
If you hire a car and intend to visit other parts of the region (or
Europe), check with your hire company that the car is allowed to
go there. If you’ve hired a car in Croatia, you should be allowed
to drive into Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro (but do
please check). Cars hired outside of Croatia, e.g. in Italy, may not
be able to travel in other parts of the region.
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27
experience this
Aro Ha Wellness Retreat
scoops international accolades
amount of organic produce on its 8.4-hectare property.
Aro Hā offers innovative, all-inclusive Wellness Adventure programmes.
The offering is based on yoga, sub-alpine hiking, functional strength
training, meditation, therapeutic massage, mindfulness and detoxifying
vegetarian cuisine.
Aro Hā’s latest international accolades are from readers of renowned
travel magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, who named Aro Hā #8 in the
Top 100 Hotels & Resorts in the World – the only Australasian resort in
the top ten. Condé Nast Traveller’s readers also named Aro Hā the #1
Destination Spa in The World.
Open for just over a year, Aro Hā Wellness Retreat near Queenstown
is scooping international accolades. The eco-chic luxury retreat is
located 45 minutes from Queenstown on the shores of Lake Wakatipu,
protected by soaring alpine peaks.
The retreat generates more than 90% of its power needs on-site,
supports environmental education, uses New Zealand’s first renewably
sourced distributed heating scheme and is growing an increasing
The retreat was also named the Best New Property to Visit by Luxury
Travel magazine, ranked #2 Best Wellness Retreat in the world by
Virgin Australia and nominated for a Spa Finder 2014 Wellness Travel
Award and three Asia Spa Baccarat Awards, including New Spa of the
Year, Destination Retreat of the Year and Spa Cuisine of the Year.
Stand by for the second year of operation and more potential awards
as Aro Hā has been nominated in the 2015 Condé Nast Traveller Spa
Awards and the Travel + Leisure Hotel Awards.
Devon Hotel New
Plymouth transforms
into a Heritage Hotel
One of New Plymouth’s iconic hotels, the Devon Hotel, is now a
Heritage Hotel. Centrally located, the Devon Hotel has a fresh new
look, including updated accommodation rooms – many with sea or
mountain views – reception and lobby, and will now be known as The
Devon Hotel, New Plymouth - A Heritage Hotel.
The hotel is in walking distance to the CBD and the coastal walkway,
where guests can use the hotel mountain bikes to explore the popular
trail. There is also a restaurant and lounge bar and a heated outdoor
swimming pool and spa pools.
28
harveyworld.co.nz on location
New Plymouth is an eclectic mix of diverse cultures, contemporary
style and a traditional friendliness that has fashioned New Zealand
since colonial times. The city has numerous assets, from epic surf to
spectacular gardens, international events, a legendary mountain, great
galleries, fascinating museums and wonderful walks and cycle trails.
Azure Qiantang
in China welcomes
first guests
The Azure Qiantang, a Starwood Hotels & Resorts Luxury Collection
Hotel, recently opened in Hangzhou, the capital of China’s
Zhejiang province.
Located on the Qiantang River, legendary for the world’s biggest
and most spectacular tidal bore, The Azure Qiantang is a perfect
blend between Hangzhou’s traditional foundation of simplicity and
elegance, combined with contemporary design elements.
Designed by world-renowned architect Pierre-Yves Rochon, the
hotel is showcased by a blue-glassed exterior highlighting design
elements that reflect the surging waves of the Qiantang River and
the colours of the sky.
Guests can enjoy authentic culinary experiences at the Lan Ting
Chinese Restaurant which features 14 private dining suites in
addition to its main dining area, and a menu inspired by ingredients
from Hangzhou’s lakes, rivers, streams, canals and the sea. Guests
can taste dishes such as the Four Treasures Water-Shield Soup
made with herbs native to the West Lake, and Steamed Crabs with
Chicken Oil and Rice Wine with fresh locally sourced crabs.
Another dining option is the Panorama Restaurant & Bar serving
local snacks and international dishes, with majestic views of the
Qiantang River. The Riverview Terrace bar on the 22nd Floor is the
perfect sunset cocktail setting, while the Lobby Bar with its beautiful
garden views is an ideal spot to unwind and indulge in a lavish
afternoon tea.
Pullman opens luxury Thailand resort
The luxurious Pullman Khao Lak Katiliya Resort and Spa in Khao Lak, in the southern province
of Phang Nga, Thailand, is now open.
The beautiful, contemporary-styled resort combines nature,
modern design and authentic Thai culture, making it the perfect
holiday destination. Just an hour’s drive from Phuket International
Airport, the locality of Khao Lak is renowned for its white beaches,
unspoiled natural resources and world-class diving sites.
The resort, overlooking a stunning 600-metre stretch of private
beach and the turquoise-coloured Andaman Sea, offers 223
rooms and suites and 97 lavish villas, many of which come with
their own private swimming pool. The room and villa designs blend
Thai design influences with contemporary, resort-style comfort. The
villas offer a private retreat for honeymoon couples, family groups
or discerning travellers looking for a private getaway.
The resort’s six restaurants range from casual beachfront venues
to specialty restaurants, as well as two bars serving light meals,
cocktails and beverages. They include Terrace Oceanfront, an
all-day dining restaurant offering local seafood and international
specialty cuisine with 180-degree views of the Andaman Sea.
Café Lilawadee, located in the resort’s central garden area
overlooking water features and tropical gardens, serves
international cuisine. The signature alfresco restaurant, Mosaic
Italian, offers authentic Italian cuisine in a cozy and rustic
environment. Baan Thai restaurant offers authentic Thai cuisines
from the four regions of Thailand, while Kuk Kak restaurant is
designed for private groups and offers Indian, Japanese and
Korean cuisine options. Bamboo restaurant, located right on the
beach, offers casual lunches and dinners.
Leisure facilities at the resort include five swimming pools, a
luxurious spa, two fitness centres and a Kids’ Club. A dedicated
Lifestyle Team is on call to assist with leisure activities which
include mini golf, archery, Muay Thai boxing, mountain biking,
yoga and tennis.
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29
Ten days in the Whitsundays
For Shonnie Poole of Harvey World Travel Te Kuiti, the snorkelling, diving and touring activities
of Australia’s Whitsunday Islands deliver all the ingredients for a memorable tropical holiday.
In late August my friend and I
visited the beautiful Whitsunday
Islands, an easy trip from Auckland
via Brisbane, and then on to
Hamilton Island Airport and a ferry
to the mainland town of Airlie
Beach where we spent the first five
nights of our holiday. We both love
snorkelling and diving so we were
excited at the prospect of visiting
the Great Barrier Reef.
The weather was nice and warm, between
22-25°C, and the water temperature was
about 18°C – refreshing, but definitely warm
for swimming in at the end of winter!
We spent the first two nights at the beautiful
Water’s Edge Hotel, which is a short stroll
from town and across the road from a
supermarket. We stayed in a massive
one-bedroom apartment which had a full
kitchen and laundry facilities and offered
lovely views of the ocean. This property
would be great for families as the rooms are
huge and having a supermarket across the
road is ideal.
For the next three nights we stayed at the
lovely Coral Sea Resort. Although located
a little further away from town it is still an
easy walk. We stayed in a Coral Sea
Spa suite, which I highly recommend you
upgrade to if you get the chance. The
suite had a hammock and a small spa on
30
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the deck, which made it a great place to
relax and enjoy the ocean views after a
long day’s exploring. The on-site Clippers
Restaurant also offers good food.
One thing I have to say about Airlie Beach
is to not let the name fool you: there is only
one main beach in Airlie beach, which is
man-made, and the rest of the coast is
very rocky. There is a lovely man-made
lagoon which is perfect for swimming if you
are travelling in the months (December to
July) when there are jellyfish. The small town
offers a great range of facilities, shopping
and activities for travellers and a good
selection of restaurants and bars. If you like
seafood, I can highly recommend the Rum
Bar, and Shipwrecks. To top it off, for the
young and the young-at-heart, the bars
are open every day until 5am!
While in Airlie Beach we visited the local
markets, which are held every Saturday.
Here you find plenty of local produce,
handicrafts, clothing, and best of all, camel
rides! Another day we did a half-day Jet Ski
tour, which was a fun way to see the sights
of Airlie Beach from the water. This tour is
also excellent for anyone who, like myself,
loves turtles, as you visit Turtle Bay where
the animals go to feed and it’s a wonderful
opportunity to get up close and personal
with these amazing reptiles.
No visit to the Whitsundays can exclude
Whitehaven beach, ranked as one of
the best in the world. Several companies
operate trips to the beach, which is
located on uninhabited Whitsunday Island,
and I recommend the tours by Airlie Beachbased Ocean Rafting. The company has
an excellent group of staff and you are
guaranteed a great day out. In addition
to visiting Whitehaven Beach, the tour we
took visited two snorkelling sites.
Lastly, who can forget one of the “Seven
Wonders of the World”, the Great Barrier
Reef? We visited the reef twice and it is
quite a long day from Airlie Beach, but
very much worth it. The tour staff were very
helpful and the snorkelling and diving on
the reef is amazing! As my friend and I are
not yet certified divers we participated in
the beginner’s dive. I was extremely nervous
at the start but the staff were very friendly
and reassuring and made the experience
so much better.
From Airlie Beach, we caught a ferry to
Daydream Island where we stayed for
two nights. The trip takes about an hour
so I recommend taking a pack of cards or
something else to keep you entertained.
Daydream Island is a family-friendly place
and on arrival we were greeted with a shell
necklace and a welcome drink and had our
photo taken, which all guests get to take
away with them at the end of their holiday.
many places do you get the opportunity to
parallel-park a golf cart? One of the great
things about Hamilton Island is that guests
can use the pools at all of the resorts, so if
one day one of the pools is too crowded
for you, there is still a range of others to
choose from.
The island has heaps to do including
minigolf, an outdoor cinema, relaxing
treatments at the day spa, snorkelling at
Lover’s Cove, or you can hire a wide range
of water equipment. We chose to laze by
the pool for the majority of our stay. The
property has so many swimming pools that
we pretty much had our own pool for the
whole day.
If you have a smart phone, I also
recommend that you download the
Hamilton Island App. This app contains
everything you need to know about the
island, including an activities programme
that lets you know what is going on around
the island each day, a map so you don’t
get lost on your golf cart, a restaurant
and bars guide that shows opening hours
and menus – and best of all the app is
free. Some of the highlights of our stay on
Hamilton Island were cocktails on top of
One Tree Hill at sunset, relaxing at one
of the many swimming pools, breakfast at
Wildlife Hamilton Island and lastly, exploring
the island on our golf cart.
Next we caught the ferry to Hamilton Island,
where we spent our last two nights in the
Whitsundays. We stayed in the beautiful
Reef View Hotel and had amazing views
over the ocean from our room on level ten.
Hamilton Island is quite large and parts of
it are steep, so I recommend hiring a golf
cart for the duration of your stay. Not only
is it a great way to get around, but in how
August and November; the presence of
jellyfish in other months makes swimming very
dangerous unless you have a stinger wetsuit
– and who wants to go to such a beautiful
destination and have to stay out of the
water? Between August and November too,
humpback whales migrate to the warm and
sheltered waters of the Whitsundays to give
birth to their young, which gives travellers
a number of opportunities to see these
beautiful creatures in their natural habitat.
While we were there we saw a whale every
day we were out on the water. It was an
amazing experience and our tour operators
always stopped or slowed down so we
could take photos.
So if you have travelled to every Pacific
Island but are still looking for a warm
and sunny destination, and you love the
water like I do and want to tick off visiting
the Great Barrier Reef, the wonderful
Whitsundays is the destination for you.
If you are thinking of visiting the Whitsundays
I definitely recommend travelling between
Getting There
Climate
What to See and Do
The Whitsunday Islands are approximately
1120km north of Brisbane and 630km south
of Cairns. Brisbane offers the best range
of connecting flights into the region and
there are also domestic flights from Sydney,
Melbourne and Cairns to Hamilton Island
Airport and Proserpine.
The Whitsundays have a tropical climate
of hot summers and warm winters. Average
daily temperatures range from around
22-23 degrees C in June and July, and up
to 29-30 degrees C in December and
January. The wet season occurs during
January to March when days can be
steamy, with frequent rain showers. Water
temperatures average 25 degrees C for
most of the year.
The Whitsundays offer amazing experiences
for all travellers, from adrenalin and
excitement to relaxation and rejuvenation.
The Great Barrier Reef is a standout
attraction, and humpback whales are a
common sight in these waters from June to
September. There’s much more, including
historical sites and heritage and scenic
touring and walks – see main story.
on location harveyworld.co.nz
31
Wedding
Honeymoon
Design your own
&
website
Honeymoon ad?
Communicate with your friends & family
via your own website.
Harvey World Travel will help you
design a personalised website all
about you and your special day.
Share your wedding details
whether you are saying “I do” in
New Zealand or overseas, post
photos and set up a wedding registry
for contributions to your honeymoon.
If you are looking at an overseas
wedding your guests can find travel
packages to join you that suits
all budgets on your personalised
website. These deals will be
handpicked by you with the help of
your Travel Professional.
All you need to do is visit our website harveyworld.co.nz/weddings
and complete the registration page, call in-store or contact your local
Harvey World Travel Professional on 0800 088 802.
Wedding Registry conditions apply. Please see harveyworld.co.nz/weddings or ask in-store for full details.
Towers, Tigers
Luxury Tents
& Elephants
With the assistance of Lynne Moore of Harvey World Travel Dinsdale, Tanya Adams and her partner honeymooned
in Bangkok and Phuket. The couple enthusiastically recommends Thailand as a destination for newlyweds.
“After considering our options and getting
mixed reviews from friends about other places,
we decided to go to Thailand for our
honeymoon. No-one had anything bad to
say about it and as a destination it seemed
to offer a lot more than just islands with nice
beaches.
After shopping around we booked our trip
with Lynne Moore at Harvey World Travel
Dinsdale, whose helpfulness, knowledge and
service stood out. We were a bit concerned
about the long flight to Thailand but were very
pleasantly surprised. Flying direct from Auckland
to Bangkok with Thai Airways, the service was
great, the food delicious and by the time we
had watched a few movies, had a couple of
meals and a nap we were there!
We started with a four-night stay in Bangkok at
the Centara Watergate Pavillion Hotel, which
was very nice and put on a brilliant buffet
breakfast. Bangkok was certainly different to
anywhere I’ve ever been, being incredibly
crowded, with crazy traffic and streets lined with
stalls selling all sorts of things including an array
of foods that neither of us was game enough
to try.
While in town we explored the enormous
shopping malls like MBK Center, which has
seven floors packed with shops. We visited
the beautiful Grand Palace which has been
the official residence of the Kings of Siam
since 1782, saw Wat Pho (the Temple of the
Reclining Buddha) which was amazing in its
size, and took a longboat ride down the Chao
Phraya River.
One of the taxi drivers we met while exploring
Bangkok offered, for a fixed price, to take us
out the next day to see the floating markets
and a tiger park. The floating market was
interesting enough, but even after we had
negotiated a discount was still well overpriced.
At the tiger park we got to feed a bottle to a
tiger cub and play with it for a while and take
photos. I loved this. Who wouldn’t?
restaurants just outside. Although Karon Town
was overcrowded with tourists, after we saw
nearby Patong we were glad we were staying
a bit away from the action. We had every
intention of trying new places to eat, but
after our first meal at Two Chefs Bar & Grill at
Karon Beach we couldn’t help but go back.
We had several lunches there, escaping the
heat to enjoy their fans, cold beer and melon
daiquiris and the most delicious food! We also
had dinner there a few times and there was a
great live band.
Our hotel had a rooftop bar where we went
for a drink each night to enjoy the view. From
the bar we could see a tower and, after
asking the staff what it was, discovered it was
the Baiyoke Sky Tower which has a restaurant
at the top. We set out to find the entrance
and have dinner there; our dinner was
fantastic and the views from the observation
deck were amazing!
Another night we went on the Wonderful
Pearl Dinner Cruise to see the city from the
river at night. I absolutely loved this and had
a fantastic time enjoying the sights, the food
and the great live music.
We booked a tour of Phi Phi Island, a must-do
to see the famous beach from the movie,
The Beach, and at another island on the
tour we were able to snorkel among the fish,
which was good fun. Speaking of which, we
also went to see the famous “lady-boy” show,
Simon Cabaret. The show and costumes were
very impressive and the cast were beautiful;
it was hard to believe that none of them is
actually female!
From Bangkok we headed to Phuket, starting
with a two-night Elephant Hills Jungle Lake
Safari, a luxury tented camp experience.
This was by far the highlight of our trip. The
tents are amazing and are basically a 5-star
room and en suite in the middle of the jungle.
A relaxing canoe trip down a river was
followed by an amazing elephant experience.
In addition to learning a lot of interesting
things about the elephants we got to wash
and feed them, which really highlighted their
individual and sometimes cheeky personalities!
One day we decided to grab a tuk-tuk and
go and see the Big Buddha, which sits on a
lofty site with amazing views over Karon. For
no extra charge, the driver was happy to
stop and wait while we went for an elephant
ride. My dad had warned me that this is not
the most comfortable experience and he was
right, but it had to be done!
At night we enjoyed a film about the jungle, a
cultural dance by local schoolgirls, a cooking
demonstration and a delicious buffet dinner.
On the second day we left the jungle camp
and were taken to the floating tent camp
which is was every bit as beautiful as the
pictures you can see online. Words though
can’t describe the peacefulness and serenity
of the setting. There are only ten tents in the
camp, which means a maximum of ten couples,
and after the urban bustle of Bangkok it was
idyllic. My only regret is that we didn’t choose
the three-night tour and have a second
night there.
The best part was that they had a baby
elephant and we were able to play with him
afterwards. He kept wrapping his trunk around
me while trying to get into my backpack and
grabbing my arm to put it in his mouth. He also
gave me a big kiss on the neck with the end
of his trunk. It was such pure joy interacting
with him. To sum it all up, we had an amazing
honeymoon, and would definitely recommend
Thailand as a destination to anyone.”
For our last seven nights in Phuket we stayed
at the Centara Karon Resort, a 4-star
hotel in a great location with shops and
on location harveyworld.co.nz
33
Queensland
Cool
Ladies, gather your girlfriends. Brisbane is a must-visit for a fashion-filled girls’ weekend, says Carly Flynn.
34
harveyworld.co.nz on location
for its fresh local produce and friendly
casual atmosphere. The service is also fast
and efficient so you can get back to your
shopping quickly if you want, and expatKiwi chef and owner, PJ McMillan, hasn’t
forgotten his roots and is eager to say hi.
in and at Davies Park the retail action
takes place under the welcome shade of
enormous fig trees. Here amongst many
other things you’ll find interesting clothing,
bags, textiles and accessories as well as
plenty to eat. The coffee is brewed locally,
the muesli is made on-site, and tea stalls
are the hip new offering, along with rows
and rows of fresh drinking coconuts.
At night-time, the amazingly decorated
Cloudland nightclub in Ann Street in
Fortitude Valley is the destination and is
often booked out for big occasions. It’s
worth popping your head in though to
check out the incredible décor or to enjoy
a lunchtime aperitif.
I had forgotten the array of delightful
fresh pineapples, coconuts, mangoes and
other fruits that Australia has to offer and
I watched enviously as locals filled their
bags with organic produce for the week
ahead, wishing for once that our border
controls at home weren’t so strict!
By day and night, Brisbane’s streets
are busy with colourful street performers
and music to keep you entertained.
Architecturally, the city is a mix of old and
new, with its proximity to the river now fully
embraced, No less than six bridges with
interesting designs span the water around
the CBD.
An easy 15-minute walk over the river took
me back to the brand-new Next hotel in
Queen Street, a calm oasis away from the
hustle and bustle. This is the country’s first
smartphone-enabled hotel where you can
do almost anything from either your own
or your room’s smartphone. You can book
a table for dinner, order a newspaper
and even a poolside cocktail without
ever having to speak to anyone, if you so
choose. I also discovered the hotel’s sleep
pods, which are genius – they offer guests
a 20-minute nap complete with meditative
music at any time.
How have I
not known
about the
bright city lights
and fabulously
fashionable
streets of
Brisbane before?
It’s a place where you can shop for
a Tiffany & Co. trinket right next to a
Sportsgirl store. Take in cultural shows. Get
out and about on foot, on a bike or on
the river. And sip cocktails in fancy hotels.
Only three-and-a-half hours’ flying time
from Auckland, Brisbane is a must-visit for a
fashion-filled girls’ weekend.
I spent the first morning of my visit at Davies
Park market in the inner-city suburb of West
End by the Brisbane River. Everyone gets
out and about early, I suspect to get jobs
done before the heat of the day sets
Brisbane’s town planners have also shown
great vision in dividing the city into four
“bank” areas. Southbank, for example, is a
dedicated cultural and lifestyle precinct
with 17 hectares of lush gardens and
gorgeous buildings just across the water
from the CBD.
The Museum, Performing Arts Centre,
Library, Convention Centre and Art
Gallery are all within walking distance of
each other and overlook the river. Large
sculptures dot the gardens and make for
interesting conversation-points
and photographs.
The pool at the Next hotel, looking
down on a busy pedestrian street where
shoppers scurry like ants in and out of
Myer and the Queen Street Mall, is nicely
positioned for people-watching, After a
dip in the pool it was time to head to the
über-cool shopping district of James street
near Fortitude Valley. Not so long ago it
was a grungy area but now it’s now an
epicentre of cool that has attracted a lot
of local high-end fashion designers
and cafés.
Brisbane is a city that promotes getting
out of the car and onto a bike or walkway.
You can even get a tuk-tuk ride across
the river if your heels are hurting! And
you can check the city out from the river;
the CityCat and other ferry services
offer wonderful public transport from 24
terminals along the Brisbane River and
offer gorgeous glimpses into some of the
most luxurious riverside homes as you
cruise by.
The colours of Gorman, the cool of Sass
& Bide and the classic beauty of Scanlan
Theodore pop out at you from shop
windows as you walk along. There is a
perfumery that searches out your “perfect
scent” for life and you can even channel
royalty by eating an incredible brownie
that Princess Catherine reportedly enjoyed
during her first pregnancy.
After my recent visit, I’m convinced that
Brisbane is no longer just a gateway to
the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, but
a city of the future that is worth stopping
and staying put in, especially for the
shopping and high-end fashion. It’s the
perfect place for a girls’ weekend – just be
prepared to come home with a little bit of
excess baggage!
There’s nothing snooty about Brisbane
though. It’s warm and friendly, with a lovely
quirkiness that makes me think that it is still
an untapped tourism destination. As you
move around, people ask where you’re
from and are refreshingly interested. The
shop assistants are super-friendly, whether
you’re buying something or not, and are
helpful with tips and tricks for the best
places to relax, shop and eat.
Speaking of which, Harvey’s Bar & Bistro
on James Street close to Fortitude Valley
is a fantastic day or night eatery famed
on location harveyworld.co.nz
35
Liz Ditmer’s*
snapshot
of
Normandy
France
See
I recently had the opportunity to experience the beautiful
Normandy region of France for just a few days. But after sampling
its amazing ancient and modern history, its countryside and
coastline and its famous gourmet delicacies, it is now very firmly
on my list as an area to return to.
My exploration of Normandy started in the historic township of
Bayeux, 260 kilometres west of Paris. Bayeux has a population of
around 14,000 so it provides travellers with everything they need
from taxi services to restaurants and cafés. The one thing that
really amazed me about it was the history of Bayeux and its area.
influence. The New Zealand flag was on display at both sites,
which made the reality of the events that took place here even
stronger. Arromanches has a good museum with information about
the Allied invasion of France, which is well worth a visit.
Eat&Drink
Most of the “Old Town” of Bayeux is full of cobblestoned
roads and historic buildings which fortunately escaped the
bombing that took place during the Second World War. Bayeux
Cathedral in particular was captivating, having been built in
1077 and used to shelter injured soldiers during the Normandy
landings of 1944.
Bayeux is of course also home to the famous Bayeux Tapestry, as
important to Britons and Kiwis as is it to the French because it tells
the story of the Norman Conquest of England and the reign of
William the Conqueror.
You can’t visit Bayeux without enjoying the gourmet offerings of
the Bessin region which surrounds the city. Normandy is famous
for Calvados, its unique apple brandy; for cheeses such as
Camembert, said to have been invented here; for wonderful
seafood and traditional lamb dishes and salted caramels, a gem
of French confectionery. There are plenty of opportunities
to overindulge!
Travel tips
Bayeux is an easy rail journey from Paris, with the fastest route
taking just over two hours.
I also enjoyed the experience of visiting the Normandy
beaches area where several of the D-day landings occurred in
June 1944. At the time of my visit there were a lot of preparations
taking place for the 70th anniversary commemorations of
the landings.
To really explore the region properly, hire a rental car because
many of the small villages of interest are off the public transport
routes and sometimes a bit remote.
A couple of sites stood out as particularly memorable, the first
being Omaha Beach where there is an American Cemetery
with thousands of white crosses serving as a memorial to the US
soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of Normandy. The
second site was Arromanches, where there was a lot of British
*Liz Ditmer is the Store Owner of Harvey World Travel Rangiora.
36
harveyworld.co.nz on location
The Tuna
Seared tuna loin on a bed of ota, tomatoes and onion
with coconut cream salsa and mandarin oil
Located on the beachfront of beautiful
Denarau Island, Sofitel Fiji Resort and
Spa blends five-star luxury with vibrant
local culture and the elegant French
style of l’art de reçevoir (hospitality).
Located adjacent to the world-class
Denarau Golf and Racquet Club and a
nearby marina and cultural temples, the
five-star Sofitel Fiji resort offers 296 rooms,
each with a private balcony, lavish spa
treatments and gourmet and alfresco
dining in award-winning restaurants.
Local ingredients are the stars of this
dish. They include tuna, one of the main
sources of protein in Fiji; freshly grated
coconut; ota - a fern tip full of healthgiving antioxidants and minerals, and
Fijian mandarin which has a uniquely
intense taste. Even the pepper and
salt flakes are locally produced – but in
generous Fijian style the recipe permits
substitutions. Eat, savour and remember
the Fiji holiday of your dreams.
Ingredients (serves 2)
Method
10g grated coconut
Zest the mandarin into a bowl and
infuse slowly in extra-virgin olive oil at a
temperature above 45 degrees C.
800ml coconut milk
Zest of 2 mandarins
Blanch the ota. Peel and dice the
tomato. Chop the onion finely. Place
in a bowl with the coconut milk and
marinate for a few minutes.
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
20g tomato, diced and peeled
10g onions, finely chopped
Cut the tuna in a long tube, season with
pepper and sear on both sides for 30
seconds. Slice into thin medallions.
40g ota, blanched (or use pikopiko
or cooked asparagus tips)
Remove the ota, tomato and onion
mixture from the marinade and arrange
on a serving plate. Drizzle over the
mandarin-infused oil. Sprinkle with grated
coconut. Arrange the tuna medallions
beside the ota salad. Sprinkle with salt
and pepper to taste and serve.
220g tuna
(allow 110g tuna per person)
Pepper and salt flakes to taste
on location harveyworld.co.nz
37
smart
PACKING
Laura Dawes* of Harvey World Travel
Masterton draws up her list of essentials for
holidays in the sun.
A sarong
Rolled-up clothing
Try rolling up your clothing when
you pack. It saves ironing on
arrival and you can fit more in
your suitcase.
Ideal for covering
up your togs and
draping over your
shoulders when you
go into a temple.
It also converts
quickly to a dress
for an impromptu
lunch date.
Toilet tissues
For when you’re out
and about and
“caught short”.
A flannel
Wet a small face cloth,
place it in a zip-lock
bag and chill it in the
hotel fridge overnight.
It’s great for cooling
you down when you’re
out sightseeing in the
scorching sun.
A drink bottle
A metallic bottle which can be
filled at night and put in the
fridge gives you nice cold water
for your next day’s sightseeing.
Staying hydrated is a must in
hot countries. Kathmandu-brand
bottles are good.
Earphones
Take your own.
They can be used as
earplugs too.
Soap powder
Lets you keep on top
of your washing. Hotel
laundry costs can be
very expensive.
Snorkelling gear
And reef shoes. Some
resorts charge (quite a bit)
for these.
*Laura Dawes is a Director of Harvey World Travel Masterton.
38
harveyworld.co.nz on location
AIRLINEupdate
VIRGIN AUSTRALIA ADDS BUSINESS CLASS TO TRANS-TASMAN ROUTES
The move, which extends Virgin Australia’s top-ranked Business Class
service into one of its key international markets, offers trans-Tasman
customers a premium travel experience that flows seamlessly from
premium check-in through lounges, priority boarding, enhanced onboard comfort and a priority baggage service on arrival. Business Class
passengers have access (depending on the airport) to Virgin Lounges
or Koru Lounges operated by codeshare partner Air New Zealand.
Corporate and high-end leisure travellers
are welcoming the debut of Virgin
Australia’s new Business Class service
which commenced between Sydney and
Auckland on February 28. Other Tasman
routes are due to follow from 31 March,
and Pacific Island destinations during 2015.
Virgin Australia’s ten New Zealand-based Boeing 737-800s are
being progressively refurbished to provide a Business Class cabin
with eight seats in a 2:2 configuration with a 96.5cm (38-inch) pitch. A
coat check-in service (with a complimentary coat bag) is available,
and newspapers until noon daily. International-style amenity kits
featuring Australian organic cosmetics by GROWN are provided on
flights of more than three hours. In-flight entertainment includes Samsung
Galaxy tablets and Virgin Australia’s in-flight entertainment app.
A highlight for food and wine lovers will be the full-service on-board
dining experience created by Virgin Australia’s resident head chef,
Luke Mangan, offering a choice of two gourmet meals on each flight
and premium Australian and New Zealand wines. Virgin Australia’s
Australian domestic Business Class was voted Best Domestic Business
Airline in Australia by Roy Morgan in 2014. A 2013 rating by CNBC
also ranked it with the international services of top-rated airlines
around the world.
STYLISH NEW UNIFORMS
FOR ETIHAD AIRWAYS
Etihad Airways has revealed its much-anticipated new uniforms,
paving the way for a new age of glamorous and sophisticated flying.
EMIRATES ADDS DUSSELDORF AND
MADRID TO A380 FLIGHT SCHEDULE
New Zealanders can now fly all the way from Auckland on
an Emirates A380 aircraft to more centres in Europe with the
announcement by the airline that it is adding two further A380
destinations in Europe: Dusseldorf and Madrid.
For both cities, commencing with Dusseldorf in July and Madrid in
August, Emirates will be the first airline to operate a scheduled
A380 service, offering an unmatched travel experience to
business and leisure travellers alike. In all classes, Emirates
passengers enjoy spacious seating and the excellent service
delivered through its multilingual cabin crew. Business Class and
First Class long-haul passengers also benefit from a complimentary
chauffeur-drive service as well as access to Emirates’ global
network of airport lounges. As with all Emirates flights, passengers
enjoy an extra-generous baggage allowance of 30kg in
Economy Class, 40kg in Business Class and 50kg in First Class.
Created by Italian haute couturier, Ettore Bilotta, at his atelier in
Milan, the new uniforms exude a classic elegance that merges
dramatic elements of Old-World haute couture from 1960s Paris and
Rome with contemporary looks seen on the runways of London, New
York, Milan and Tokyo.
The new uniforms will appear on the airline’s Butlers in The Residence
by Etihad, First Class In-flight Chefs, Business Class Food & Beverage
Managers, Cabin Managers, Cabin Crew, Flying Nannies, and
airport and lounge teams. The uniforms incorporate almost all of
the colours of Etihad Airways’ brand palette: a warm chocolate
brown forms the base colour with a deep purple accent for cabin
crew and lounge teams and a burnt-orange accent for ground
crews and Special Services teams. Bilotta has also introduced the
secondary colours as accents on blouses and accessories. It’s a
sophisticated and elegant look that captures the understated style
and innovation of Etihad Airways.
From Auckland, Emirates flies three daily A380 services (via
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane) to Dubai and, with direct
connections at Dubai, currently offers A380 service all the way
to several European destinations including London, Manchester,
Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich.
on location harveyworld.co.nz
39
Travel
Bag
Could this be the world’s best
travel bag?
Widely described as one of the most
travel-friendly travel bags in existence,
the Tylt Energi+ Backpack is a briefcase,
backpack and phone charger all in one.
Weighting in at just 2kg including its builtin lithium-iron battery, the water-resistant
backpack has a generous 28 x 25 x 8cm
main storage compartment, a separate
laptop compartment and 11 other pockets
for holding sunglasses, cell phones (it will
charge up to three at once via USB ports)
or a tablet.
Its designers seem to have thought of everything
because there’s also a trolley slot hidden in the
backpack panel, a headphone-carrying compartment
on the backpack strap and a full-length zipper pocket
on the front of the bag for holding airline tickets
and passports. The backpack is made of sturdy poly
material with brushed metal zippers, and the battery
recharges overnight. Tylt products are available online
and at authorised outlets around the world including
Harvey Norman in Australia.
Do you hate tablet keyboards? Read on...
Tapping away on a keyboard is second nature to us today, but the dinky little
ones on tablet screens annoy a lot of people. It can be impractical to pack
a bulky plug-in keyboard when you’re travelling, so now Logitech has got
around the problem with an ultrathin screen cover with a built-in keyboard
that snaps on to your iPad with a magnetic clip.
When it’s time to write an IM or email, simply open the cover and an instant On/Off
function wakes the iPad and it’s ready to go. The Bluetooth wireless keyboard offers
smooth typing, including shortcut commands such as copy, paste, undo and many
more, and a handy slot in the keyboard lets you view the iPad screen at an easy
angle. When you’re done, simply close the cover and the device goes to sleep.
40
harveyworld.co.nz on location
Credit: Courtesy of Hydro-Photon, Inc.
These sandals are a mobile safe
Zap your way
to safer water
We’ve all been there... You can’t resist an inviting dip in the
pool or the waves but it’s difficult to enjoy it when you’re
constantly checking that no-one has found the hotel keys and
other stuff you hid cunningly under your towel.
We all know the advice about
drinking the local water etc. but
sometimes you find yourself in
situations where you’re still in doubt.
Affordable handheld water purifiers
like the Hydro-Photon use ultraviolet
light to render more than 99.9
percent of potentially hazardous
microorganisms harmless in less than
a minute. The simple, chemical-free
method doesn’t alter the water’s
taste and certainly makes it much
less worrying to drink.
Reef Stash Sandals are a practical choice for the beach and poolside, but
their real use is as a mobile safe. A secret tray in the sole of each sandal slides
out to hold personal items so no one knows they’re there. They are priced at
around US$45.
Now showing in Dashcam: your road-trip
Dashcams – small cameras attached to car
windscreens or dashboards that record
what happens while you drive – are in the
news more and more. As well as capturing
footage ranging from the hilarious to the
downright terrifying, dashcams are helping
to make travelling a bit safer and are
assisting with accident and insurance claims.
Dashcams are designed to record continuously to
a media card and when their data card is full, to
start overwriting. They can also be switched on if a
driver notices a problem such as erratic driving or an
outburst of road rage.
Prices start from less than $100 and go up from there.
A typical low-end camera records low-resolution
video while a mid-range unit will usually deliver HD
resolution, a colour display, embedded GPS location
and speed data, and time-stamp overlays. Flasher
models will even register G-forces and whether the
vehicle was stationary or moving at any time. Most will
work to a greater or lesser degree at night.
There are a variety of UV water purifiers
on the market, with prices ranging between
US$50 and $150. Some are made to fit
commercial water bottles, some are powered
by hand cranks and others by solar power.
USB-powered UV models will soon be
available. Whichever you choose, UV water
purifiers are a worthwhile option if you’re
travelling to dubious destinations.
Designed for one end,
used on the other
The complimentary disposable shower
caps you find with the shampoo and
conditioner in hotel bathrooms have a
nifty use you might not have thought of.
If you find yourself short of shoe bags
or plastic bags when packing, slip a
shower cap over the base of your
shoes and you’ll have one less worry
about getting marks on your clothes.
Another tip for reducing travel stains:
turn light-coloured clothes inside-out.
The use of dashcams in providing independent video
evidence is generally being welcomed by insurance
companies and traffic police. And they have a fun
side too: they can be programmed to record and
store your road trip, so now your friends and family
will have to believe your story about the guy on the
tiny moped who was carrying 100 chickens down the
road to the market.
on location harveyworld.co.nz
41
ALASKA
EXPERIENCE NATURE’S BEST
When it comes to “must-visit” destinations, the northernmost
state of the USA gets Roger Hooker’s enthusiastic vote.
Selecting a holiday destination from
your “Places I Must Visit” list depends on
several very important factors: cost, ease
of travel, good food, accommodation
and of course what you expect to get
from your vacation time. For most people,
the expectation is enjoyment, followed by
years of wonderful memories.
Visiting Alaska gets my vote on all counts.
Bought from the Russians in 1867 for
$7.2 million, this vast, wild and beautiful
US state welcomes you with open arms,
although some of those arms have very
sharp claws! The scenery is majestic, the
wildlife abundant, and the travel options,
accommodation and food are first-class.
Don’t be afraid to try reindeer sausages
or caribou steaks and of course the
seafood, which includes halibut, salmon,
lobster and crab. Here are some of the key
experiences that Alaska delivers...
Weigh anchor in Anchorage
The point of entry for most people is the
city of Anchorage, largely rebuilt after a
1964 earthquake in which the shoreline
dropped six feet in just four minutes! From
May to September the daylight hours are
long, with wonderful sunrises and sunsets
over the harbour and snow-covered
mountains.
Anchorage offers a variety of attractions.
Try not to miss the Anchorage Museum,
which has major displays of everything
Alaskan. The Anchorage Market & Festival
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takes place every summer Saturday and
Sunday on 3rd Avenue in Downtown, with
music and dance and local delicacies. If
you haven’t bought all your souvenirs, just
follow your ears and nose.
Most tour operators, coach, train and
airline offices are located downtown
and if you are able to spend a little more,
there are several flight operators willing
to show you parts of the country not
readily accessible by road, including a
trip for those wishing to travel within the
Arctic Circle. On this tour you receive a
certificate and a walk on the Arctic ice,
and perhaps see a polar bear.
Head out on the highway
Alaska’s state highways are one of the
most spectacular ways to see its scenic
wonders. The roads follow the old trails
that miners once walked to get to the
remote northern goldfields, carrying all their
possessions on their back. Points of interest
vary from cabbages that grow to 32kg
and carrots and parsnips that resemble
baseball bats (the result of volcanic soils
and long hours of summer sunshine), to
strange three- to five metre-high poles on
the roadsides near the Matanuska and
Worthington Glaciers; these turn out to be
road markers for snow ploughs so they can
keep lined up on the road in winter.
Get amongst the ice
Talking of ice, there are
77,700 square kilometres of
glaciers in Alaska, some of
them over 600 metres deep.
A few glaciers are “calving,”
constantly breaking up at the
coastline and producing many
large icebergs. The Columbia
Glacier in Prince William Sound
is the largest in North America,
measuring five kilometres wide and rising
180 metres from the sea. Yourcruise ship
looks like a toy when it’s close to this
wonder of nature. You can also step out
of your car or coach onto a glacier at
many stoppingpoints along the Alaskan
highways. Speaking of which....
From the fishing port of Valdez, a
startingpoint for boat trips to Prince William
Sound and wildlife tours and alpine
activities, the highways take you north to
Fairbanks through forested country where
moose and caribou often use the road as
an easy path to follow. Speaking of which...
Immerse yourself in the Wild
Covering more than 1.9 million hectares,
the World Heritage-listed Denali National
Park & Preserve 190 kilometres south
of Fairbanks is big, and it also includes
6,193-metre Mount McKinley, the highest
mountain on the North American continent.
Denali has to be on your must-see list. No
report can describe the beauty, diversity
or the variety of wildlife you can see here
– you have to see it for yourself. There
are several optional tours run by the park
service ranging in duration from a couple
of hours to two or three days. There is
an excellent park headquarters, a good
eating house and accommodation nearby.
We left vowing to return.
Cruise the Inside Passage
If I get my wish and go back to Alaska, the
town of Haines is my choice of where to
stay. Surrounded by wilderness parks and
wildlife reserves, it was the first stop on a
cruise to Vancouver, which also visited
Juneau and Ketchikan. The site of a former
let Alaska fill you with truly great images
and memories that will last for ever.
US military base, Haines now serves as
home to many art and craft stores and
information and cultural outlets. It offers a
raft of summer and winter activities and
your camera will be very busy trying to
capture close-up wildlife at its best. Every
autumn, thousands of American bald
eagles come to compete with the bears
for the salmon run, and you can watch
this unbelievable sight close up from many
vantage points. My advice is to get a
guide, and remember that the bears are
big and hungry and can run fast.
Getting there
Alaska’s principal airport at Anchorage
has frequent services from Vancouver,
Seattle, Chicago and other US cities.
Alaska Airlines serves many towns within
the state while “bush planes” can
be chartered to the most remote
areas. Alaskan ports feature on
many cruise itineraries.
Juneau, the state capital, is unique in
that you can only get there by plane or
boat. Founded in 1870 in conjunction
with the native Tlingit people, the city
(population 33,000) is surmounted
by Mount Roberts, whose summit
is reached by a cable tramway;
the views from the top are well
worth the effort. The last stop on
the Inside Passage cruise was the
town of fishing port of Ketchikan,
an interesting town with plenty of
history and fine seafood eating.
Language and currency
To sum up my trip to Alaska....
It’s not a place to sit and wait
for things to happen; it’s a get-up-andexplore, go-and-find-the-true-beauty
place. Experience the life of the first
people, Indian and gold rush miners alike.
Feel the atmosphere of the many ice fields.
Wonder at Mother Nature in all her glory.
Pan for gold. Ride behind a dogsled
team. Seek out the wild life, but above all
The peak tourist season is from early July
to mid-August, when reservations for ferries
and accommodation are essential. May
and September offer milder weather, fewer
crowds and lower prices.
Alaska is a state of the USA.
Climate
Alaska is big and varied and so is its
climate, whose interior can top 32°C
during the summer and -55°C in winter. The
Southeast, and the South-Central maritime
regions stretching down to the Canadian
border are milder but rainy. Keep in mind
that Alaska is situated between latitudes
54 and 71 degrees north.
What to see and do
How long do you have for a visit? Alaska
offers an infinity of sights to see and things
to do – see main story.
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Three apps you
will definitely
want to use...
gadgets
to go
Rome2rio
is your ticket to ride
No matter how organised you are, there are always times when you arrive in an unfamiliar city
and face several transport options for getting to where you want to go. But at what cost?
Rome2rio stops you getting ripped off. Simply enter your destination into this nifty smartphone
app. It locates where you are by GPS and comes up with all the road, rail, air and sea
options to your destination, with prices. It can also help you plan long-distance trips. You’ll
never negotiate with that wily taxi driver in quite the same way again.
Sniff out
free Wi-Fi
around
the globe
Wi-Fi spots are a boon when
travelling, and with the Wi-Fi Finder
app, iPhone and iPad users can
track down over 650,000 Wi-Fi
locations in 144 countries. WiFi Finder works closely with Wi-Fi
providers to ensure that information
is constantly updated and accurate
and even gives directions to the
closest locations. You’ll certainly
notice the lower data bills when you
get home.
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Lyve means ~
keep on snapping
Do you spend hours searching for photos in folders on your computer? The free Lyve app
puts an end to that by organising all of your photos and videos into a single, unified library
that is accessible from any of your mobile devices and computers, whether Apple, Android
or Windows. It also optimises your photos so they don’t take up tons of space and offers
two terabytes of backup storage.
To help you keep track of your photos, the Lyve library is arranged sequentially by date
and is viewable on a timeline, and it also makes it easy to share photos to social channels
like Facebook and Twitter. For TVs with Google Chromecast attached, photos and videos
can also be viewed in high-definition resolution. Keep on snapping!
Morocco
Favourite spot on the planet
Rae Walker of Harvey World Travel Waipukurau loves the
diverse culture and rich colours of this North African nation.
Why is it your favourite spot?
What’s the food like?
Morocco has an incredibly diverse culture
and so much rich colour. It is one of the
few peaceful countries in Africa and
its scenery is breathtaking, with rugged
mountains and beautiful beaches. The
mighty Sahara Desert looms out of the plains
to the southeast.
Delicious. I loved the rich, meaty tagines of
every description and the best fresh orange
juice in the world. I enjoyed the warm, juicy
fresh dates bought from a roadside market –
simple, delicious, healthy and low-carb!
Where did you stay?
We stayed in Marrakech, the Todra
Gorge in the eastern High Atlas Mountains,
the Draa Valley in the south (a producegrowing area known as the “date basket” of
Morocco), and Essaouira on the
Atlantic coast.
What are the tourist must-dos?
How did you while away your
time there?
Where in the world is it?
Morocco is situated on the northwestern
tip of the African continent. It has a
Mediterranean coast to the north and
an Atlantic coast on its west. Morocco’s
eastern neighbour is Algeria and the
Sahara Desert is to the southeast.
What’s the best way to get there?
Morocco is linked by scheduled and charter
airline services to destinations throughout
Europe, the Middle East and North America.
We flew with Emirates from Auckland to
Dubai and then on to Casablanca,
switching to Royal Air Maroc for the short
220-kilometre hop to Marrakech.
Take a camel-train tour in the desert and
sleep overnight in a Berber camp. Buy
a handmade Berber rug from one of the
Berber Rug Co-operatives: the rugs are
handmade by Berber women and are
authentic and much cheaper than in the
souks at Marrakech. Speaking of which,
make you sit at least once in the Jemaa elFnaa, the UNESCO-recognised main square
in Marrakech, with a mint tea and watch the
evening crowds.
We took an escorted 11-day airconditioned minibus tour with nine other
travellers, which was a fabulous way to
see quite a lot of the country and meet
other travellers – we now have Facebook
friends in Toronto, Chicago and the UK.
The trip was very comfortable and I would
definitely recommend travelling in a smaller
group as it makes it friendlier and more
informative – there is plenty of opportunity
to ask questions as you travel around. Our
Moroccan guide was very good, and quite
a character.
What are the essential items
to pack?
A sense of adventure. Swimming gear. Hand
sanitiser. Sunglasses. A good camera.
What were some of your
favourite sights?
When is the best time to visit?
The bustling fish market at Essaouira as the
fishing boats unloaded the day’s catch
was an amazing sight. On the fringes of the
Sahara near the Todra Gorge we took an
overnight camel-train tour; the full moon and
the sunrise over the dunes of the Sahara
were truly picturesque moments that I will
never forget.
We visited in early September and the
weather was perfect, with the temperature
in the low 30s. The summer crowds had
gone and Morocco was uncrowded.
Morocco has a variety of climates, from
Mediterranean to mountain and desert, and
daily temperature ranges can be high. Dress
in layers.
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45
On Tour
Splendours of India
Flights & 22-day escorted tour with Anil Gujral
See the diversity of this amazing land, where food, customs, traditions,
dress and language change every 100km. Experience the best of
North and South India on an unforgettable journey which takes you
from the timeless city of Delhi to the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi.
See the most-photographed building in the world – the Taj Mahal. Visit
the colourful and royal cities of Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur with their
magnificent forts and palaces followed by an overnight stop in Mumbai.
Also visit ‘God’s own country – Kerala’, witness the humble life-style of the
South treasuring some of the most remarkable pieces of architecture.
Enjoy an enchanting Houseboat Cruise on the backwaters before
chilling out on the famous beaches of Kovalam.
INCLUDES: Return flights from Auckland, domestic flights within India, 19
nights' accommodation, many meals, private coach transport, city tours
& excursions, local English-speaking guide & monument entrance fees
& taxes.
Departs: Auckland 7 Sep 2015 & 7 March 2016
Ask us about joining the tour from
other New Zealand cities.
From
$7,665*
pp twin share
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Harvey World Travel Birkenhead, 25 Birkenhead Avenue, Phone: 0800 088 802 or visit www.harveyworld.co.nz/tours
Rythms & Flavours of America’s South
15-day escorted tour with Greig Lysaght
Experience Southern hospitality – from Nashville’s Country Music Hall of
Fame and Elvis’s Graceland to Creole cooking in New Orleans. First stop:
San Francisco where you will enjoy 4 nights exploring this amazing city,
Alcatraz and Yosemite National Park. Next stop: Nashville, Tennessee!
Join Trafalgar’s 10-day tour from Nashville to New Orleans, including 3
nights Nashville, 2 nights Memphis, 1 night Natchez and 3 nights New
Orleans. Enjoy being hosted by Johnny Cash’s family and exploring
the infamous recording studios where Elvis recorded his iconic sounds
in Nashville. This tour includes an excursion to legendary Graceland,
including the Museum dedicated to Elvis Presley. Last stop: New Orleans
where you will indulge in the world of Creole cooking and experience the
jazz bars & cafes along Bourbon Street – this is New Orleans at its best!
INCLUDES: Return flights from Auckland, 13 nights' accommodation, some
meals, sightseeing in San Francisco, Nashville, Memphis & New Orleans,
services of Trafalgar Tour escort, services of Professional Tour escort
from New Zealand
Departs: New Zealand on Sat 03 Oct, returning Sun 18 Oct 2015
Enquire for pricing. Limited numbers so please contact us today.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Harvey World Travel Rotorua, 1235 Tutanekai Street, Phone: 0800 088 802 or visit www.harveyworld.co.nz/tours
*Terms and conditions apply. Please contact your Harvey World Travel Consultant for full details.
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On Tour
Grand France River Cruise
Flights & 15-day escorted river cruise tour with Lynne Moore
Join Lynne on the ultimate voyage. You’ll experience nothing less than
the full scope of France, from north to south, sailing three rivers and
embarking upon 26 in-depth shore excursions. From the beaches of
Normandy to the verve and romance of Paris, from rich vineyard country
to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean, this itinerary in France is
truly nonpareil!
INCLUDES: Return flights from Auckland, 15-day river cruise, 5-star meals
on board, unlimited beverages including wine/beer/spirits/soft drinks
and speciality tea and coffee, first-class train travel between Paris and
Lyon, airport transfers, onboard entertainment and all excursions.
Departs: Paris 2 Aug 2015
Ask us about joining the tour from other New Zealand cities.
From
$14,795*
pp twin share
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Harvey World Travel Dinsdale, Whatawhata Road, Phone: 0800 088 802 or visit www.harveyworld.co.nz/tours
European Gems River Cruise
Flights & 21-day escorted river cruise tour with Bruce Blacklock
Visit Prague, a city where stone bridges, Gothic cathedrals and golden towers
are all overseen by a commanding castle. You’ll experience the charming
Czech town of Velké Bílovice, steeped in wine-making tradition. From the
Hungarian capital of Budapest we board our luxury Travelmarvel river ship. In
the medieval town of Regensburg see the ancient Stone Bridge, the Old Town
Hall, the World Heritage-listed city centre and the Porta Praetoria – gates
to a Roman fort built in 179 AD. Upon arrival in Amsterdam, we dock in the
heart of the city. Board a glass-top boat and glide past the city’s impressive
waterside facades. After the river cruise we traverse the beautiful landscapes
of The Netherlands, Belgium and northern France and say ‘bonjour’ to the
spectacular French capital of Paris. Representing the essence of France, this is
a brilliant city in which to conclude your European journey.
INCLUDES: Return flights from Wellington, 3 nights in Prague, 15-day river cruise,
3 nights in Paris, services of a dedicated Travelmarvel Cruise Director during
your river cruise, services of a Travelmarvel Tour Director during your land
touring, fine-dining meals on board, daily bottled water, tea & coffee, plus soft
drink, beer & local wine during lunch & dinner on your cruise, & airport transfers.
Departs: Wellington 14 Sep 2015
Ask us about French Balcony upgrades as well
as joining the tour from other New Zealand cities.
From
$11,390*
pp twin share
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Harvey World Travel Wellington City, 282 Lambton Quay Phone: 0800 088 802 or visit www.harveyworld.co.nz/tours
*Terms & conditions apply. Please contact your Harvey World Travel Professional for full details.
on location harveyworld.co.nz
47
On Tour
Amazing India, From Tee to Taj
Flights & 16-day escorted tour with Ian Middleton
Our Golf Tour of India not only gives you the privilege of playing golf
on some of the oldest and most historic golf courses in India but also
the opportunity to visit the greatest monument of love, the Taj Mahal, as
well as staying in some of the Grand Palaces of India, sampling mouthwatering cuisine and taking advantage of the fantastic shopping. These
are just a few highlights of this tour. In India you can play golf almost
anywhere from the hills and high Himalayan fastnesses, to metropolitan
cities and small towns, or by lakes and forests, surrounded by tea
estates, out in the desert and in old British cantonments…The flavour of
India is evident everywhere golf is played in the country.
INCLUDES: Return Economy Class Singapore Airlines flights from
Wellington, accommodation in 5-star hotels in India with private facilities,
travel, transfers, sightseeing & gratuities, local Tour Manager & services
of local English-speaking guides, cycle rickshaw ride at Chandni Chowk
(Old Delhi), Elephant ride and Jeep ride at Amber Fort (Jaipur), one round
of golf at Jaypee Greens golf course in Delhi, Agra Golf Club in Agra &
Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur (green fee and caddy or cart included).
Departs Wellington 1 Sep 2015
Ask us about single supplement surcharges as well
as joining the tour from other New Zealand cities.
From
$7,399*
pp twin share
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Harvey World Travel Paraparaumu, Shop 55A, Coastlands Mall Phone: 0800 088 802 or visit www.harveyworld.co.nz/tours
Winter in Europe River Cruise
Flights & 21-day escorted luxury river cruise tour with Bill Kwan & Justin Du Fresne
Explore magnificent Europe from a luxurious river ship. This tour incorporates
Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany and The Netherlands. In Budapest, visit
the Hungarian State Opera House for a glass of Champagne and a private
opera recital. Enjoy a historic tour of the city of Nuremberg and marvel at the
fascinating World War II sites. Visit a local beer haus in Bamberg. Upon Royal
Invitation in Rüdesheim, we ride a gondola, cruise through the Rhine Gorge
to Andernach and explore Burg Namedy before a lavish banquet served in
the castle’s ballroom. Our European journey concludes in Amsterdam with a
canal cruise, a tour the Van Gogh Museum or a visit to the Zaanse Schans
windmill village.
INCLUDES: Return flights from Wellington, 1 nights' accommodation in
Budapest, 15- day river cruise, services of a dedicated APT Cruise Director
during the entirety of your river cruise, services of an APT Tour Director during
your land touring, fine-dining meals on board, daily bottled water, tea &
coffee, plus soft drink, beer & local wine during lunch & dinner on your cruise,
airport transfers, 2 nights' accommodation in Singapore on the return journey.
Departs Wellington 24 Nov 2015
Ask us about single supplement surcharges as well
as joining the tour from other New Zealand cities.
From
$9,910*
pp twin share
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Harvey World Travel Porirua, 16 Hartham Place Phone: 0800 088 802 or visit www.harveyworld.co.nz/tours
*Terms and conditions apply. Please contact your Harvey World Travel Consultant for full details.
48
harveyworld.co.nz on location
Your
Travel
Professionals
0800 088 802
harveyworld.co.nz