Lake Pukaki, South Island, New Zealand

I have been lucky enough to recently return from a three week holiday in New Zealand. Having first visited as a backpacker in 2003 I was overwhelmed by the unspoilt beauty and varied landscapes of this amazing country and vowed to return.

Once again I was not disappointed, this time hiring a Maui motorhome, intent on trying some more of the adventure sports before tipping over into the wrong side of my thirties.

It is no wonder the quietly imposing, almost ethereal landscapes were chosen for Peter Jackson’s latest movie ‘The Hobbit’ due for release next year. From the jagged snow-capped mountains of the southern alps, to the wild, dramatic coastlines and hillsides carved out by volcanic craters, every bend threw up new and ever-changing scenery.

New Zealand is a country for all ages, if you’re young and looking for adrenaline fuelled sports you’ll be spoilt for choice. Take your pick from skydiving over a glacier to bungy jumping and river rafting – just a few of the options available.

If you prefer a more relaxing holiday New Zealand is famous for its tramping  (walking) particularly through the stunning national parks. Choose from one-day treks through to multi-day walks, staying overnight in hut accommodation (booking advisable).

Here are my top 10 suggestions for seeing the best New Zealand has to offer:

1. Tramping. Whether it’s a one day trek through Tongariro National Park or a four-day trek through Fjordland National Park.
2. Skyline Luge, Queenstown. Great for all ages and not to be missed. Once is never enough.
3. Cathedral Cove, Coromandel Peninsula. Stunning coastline, get there early before the crowds.
4. Rotorua. This smelly town is a fascinating place full of geysers, hot springs and bubbling mud pools.
5. Kiwi spotting. Now endangered, visit a wildlife park to see these cute, nocturnal creatures.
6. Kawarau bridge bungy. The first ever commercial bungy. Highly entertaining, even if you’re just a spectator.
7. Milford Sound. The largest of the 14 national parks in New Zealand. Take a wildlife cruise for a chance to spot dolphins, penguins and seals.
8. Wine tour. Famous for its outstanding Sauvignon Blanc, a New Zealand wine tour is a must.
9. Mount Cook. There are plenty of walks with stunning views of Mount Cook and a very informative visitor centre.
10. Kaikoura. Swim with dolphins, take a whale watching trip or look out for seals lazing about along the coastline.

If you have plenty of time on your hands New Zealand can be combined with a city break in many cities such as Bangkok, Hong Kong, Sydney and Dubai to break up the long flight, depending on who you fly with. 

 To book a tailor-made trip to New Zealand, call one of our New Zealand specialists on 01993 838 820 or contact us online.

Air New Zealand reveals its new all black aircraft

To celebrate their love of rugby and long-time sponsorship of the ‘All Blacks’ rugby team, Air New Zealand have produced the world’s largest commercial aircraft to be painted completely black.

The Boeing 777-300ER, which also incorporates the ‘All Blacks’ silver fern insignia, was revealed on the 16th December and was led out of its hanger by New Zealand World Champion rugby players, Kieran Read and Andy Ellis.

The paintwork took just over a week to complete (two days longer than it normally takes to paint a 777), with 14 painters working in shifts 24 hours a day, and 700 litres of chrome free paint were used.

View a time lapse video of the aircraft being painted on YouTube.

Remember to watch the skies in 2012, when this incredible looking plane will be flying into Heathrow, London.

To book a tailor-made trip to New Zealand, call one of our New Zealand specialists on 01993 838 820 or contact us online.

The starting point for the new trekking route in New Zealand, Cape Reinga

If you’re looking for inspiration to pull on your hiking boots and head out into the wide open spaces, this may be of interest to you. This month, New Zealand will be opening a new trail, Te Araroa – meaning ‘long pathway’ in the Maori language, which will run the full length of the country.

With the help of hundreds of volunteers, linking up existing routes and building new ones the new trail has taken over a decade to complete, and winds its way through New Zealand’s incredibly diverse landscape of mountains, volcanoes, lakes, valleys, and cities.

Running 3,000km from Cape Reinga in the north, to Bluff in the south, it will be one of the longest walking trails in the world. There are 300 stages along the route to choose from, varying in length from several days to a few hours. The full trek is estimated to take around four months to complete.

Visit the Te Araroa website to find out more about this new walking route in New Zealand.

To book a tailor-made trip to New Zealand, call one of our New Zealand specialists on 01993 838 820 or contact us online.

The ubiquitous smartphone: fast becoming the ideal companion when abroad

Today, there are literally thousands of travel apps (or applications) on the market for smartphones. I’ve picked my top 10, some of which are free to download.

Have a look and see if you agree?

If you have a favourite travel app which isn’t on this list, send it to us via the comments field!

1. Postagram Travel App

Take a photo with your smartphone and with the click of a button, Postagram will mail a physical postcard, along with a 140-character message of your choosing, anywhere in the world. It currently costs the equivalent of 99 US cents per postcard.

2. Off Exploring

There’s no need to lug a heavy laptop around anymore. With the Off Exploring app on your smartphone you can add your locations and photographs. You even get your own free web address so that friends and family can not only see what you’re up to, they can leave comments as well.

3. Google Translate

Often the most daunting aspect for many people when abroad is the language barrier. However, with Goggle’s Translate app things are now a whole lot easier. Type or speak into your phone and let it instantly translate into 17 languages. You’ll need to speak clearly though!  

4. GeoTipper
Tipping can be a bit of a minefield when abroad, sometimes leading to embarrassing situations. Geo Tipper works by giving you recommendations on how much you should add to your bill. It currently covers 42 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

5. Photosynth

Reviewing your photos often comes with a tinge of disappointment and the reason is often because you’re only seeing a part of what your eyes originally saw. With Photosynth, however, you can stitch together your photos to create real panoramic images. You can even send 360-degree views to friends and family while you’re abroad. 

6. TuneIn Radio

It’s comforting to take some old favourites with when travelling. With the TuneIn Radio app you can now take with you your favourite radio stations, music artists, sports and many more. It currently offers over 50,000 stations for you to choose from.

 7. Google Sky Map

Some locations in the world are perfect for the Google Sky Map app; if you’re in the middle of the Outback or Atacama Desert, simply point your phone at the night sky and it will show the planets and constellations.

8. Currency Exchange

We all need to know how much our money is worth when abroad. With the Currency Exchange app you can make sure you haven been short-changed, or are getting the best rate. This app is always up-to-date as well as it tracks currency changes around the world in real time.

9. Weather Pro

If you’re British, chances are you’ll be obsessed by the weather, so you’ll definitely want this app. It features seven-day forecasts and reports for over two million locations around the world, which includes Europe, America, Africa and Asia.

10. Trailhead

If your holidays are activity based then the Trailhead app could be for you. It finds walking/hiking trails and bike routes in your location, based on your GPS coordinates. It also tracks your route, distance, speed and elevation in real-time. You can then download this data onto a map to see exactly where you’ve been.

Audley Food Festival 2011

Friday 23rd September 2011 was the date of the first ever Audley Food Festival and, as with anything food related at Audley, the event was tipped to be a merry affair!

With each department given the task of cooking food from their region of the world and decorating their stands accordingly, the pressure was on to outshine the rest. More importantly, the event was being attended by Masterchef runner-up (and brother to Ben Whitaker, one of Audley’s India specialists) Tom Whitaker, whose job it was to taste test all of the food on offer before choosing a winning department.

For those of us who do not cover a specific area of the world, we were able to pick another country or region not covered by our programmes. The Ticketing department chose to represent Italy, while the Upper West Wing, which consists of e-Commerce, Marketing, I.T, Finance, HR, Commercial, Operations and Journey Desk, went with a USA theme, or more specifically, the TV programme, ‘The West Wing’.

With a fine spread on offer, the tasting began and not surprisingly it didn’t take long for the rest of the company to follow suit, tucking into such delights as Hoth’s Khmer curry and a tasty North African tagine.

After Ticketing and Upper West Wing were crowned the overall winners by Tom, it was time for the Masterchef contestant to give a select few employees a lesson in butchery and knife skills before the two winning teams went head-to-head with a Ready, Steady, Cook style omelette making competition. After some more taste testing by Tom, who was faced with some very dodgy-looking omelettes, the Ticketing department finally walked away with the prestigious title of ‘Winning Stand’.

The evening’s festivities continued with a bake sale and more food and drink before the sun went down.

Many thanks to Tom for popping along to teach us a thing or two about cooking, as well as judging some appealing (and not so appealing!) dishes! A big pat on the back also to Audley’s social committee for arranging such a successful social event, I certainly hope we will get to indulge again next year!

Uluru or Ayers Rock in Australia has been shotlisted for the new 7 wonders of the natural world

A global campaign organised by a Swiss philanthropist has begun to decide the seven wonders of the natural world, out of 28 that have been shortlisted.

Voting will take place until November on the New 7 Wonders of the World website, so get your vote in soon if you would like to take part.

From the Galapagos Islands to Halong Bay in Vietnam, many of the 28 wonders on the shortlist can be visited on a tailor-made trip with Audley. The finalists include:

• The Amazon
• The Galapagos
• Iguazu Falls
• Komodo National Park, Indonesia
• Milford Sound, New Zealand
• Table Mountain, South Africa
• Angel Falls, Venezuela
• Jeita Grotto, Lebanon
• The Maldives
• Uluru, Australia
• Bay of Fundy, Canada
• Dead Sea, Jordan
• Great Barrier Reef, Australia
• PP Underground river, Philippines
• Halong Bay, Vietnam
• Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

 Don’t miss out on your opportunity to vote now!

Christchurch, New Zealand

An architect from Japan, famous for his cardboard architectural creations, has been drafted in by the city of Christchurch in New Zealand to reproduce one of their most iconic buildings, badly damaged by two earthquakes in 2011.

While plans are made for the restoration of Christchurch’s cathedral, Shigeru Ban will create a temporary cardboard version of the structure which will be finished in time for the 1 year anniversary of February’s devastating earthquake. It is hoped this structure will stand as a replacement until the original building can be fully restored.

Using 86, locally produced tubes which are treated to ensure they are weatherproof and fireproof, the building will even incorporate a large stained glass window designed by a local artist!

To find out more about visiting Christchurch on a tailor-made trip to New Zealand, please visit the New Zealand section of our website.

Over the last couple of months I have been blogging about the fate of an Emperor Penguin found stranded on North Island in New Zealand. A penguin hadn’t been seen on the shores of New Zealand for 44 years until ’Happy Feet’  landed on Peka Peka beach, almost 3,000km from his home in Antarctica.

Conservationists became concerned for his welfare when the bird became lethargic, but after an operation to remove sand and sticks from his stomach the penguin recovered well on a diet of ‘fish milkshakes’. Wellington Zoo have now confirmed that plans are in place to ship Happy Feet back to subantarctic waters later this month on a scientific research vessel.

The ship, which will carry out research into Southern Ocean fisheries, will release the bird four days into the voyage near Campbell Island which is within the normal feeding range of Emperor penguins. He will be fitted with a satellite tracking device before he is released to enable the public and scientists to track his progress on the zoo’s website.

Having captured the hearts of New Zealanders and people across the world, everyone is hoping Happy Feet will swim home to his colony in Antarctica and there will be a happy ending to this story.

To plan a trip to Antarctica visit the Antarctica section of our website or phone our specialists on 01993 838615

Click here to view the embedded video.

Despite the disruption many Kiwi’s enjoyed the unusual weather conditions, building snowmen and sledging in the fields.  

June, July and August are considered New Zealand’s snow and ski season, although snow of this magnitude is unusual. With a similar climate to us in England, New Zealand experiences four, generally mild and temperate seasons, with summer being the peak time to travel to the country.

'Happy Feet' the Emperor Penguin

Just over a month ago I blogged about an emperor penguin that had lost his way home to Antarctica and was discovered on a beach in New Zealand’s North Island. Well there have now been developments to this story…

Nicknamed ‘Happy Feet’, the penguin is now recuperating at Wellington Zoo after eating too much sand, probably mistaking it for snow. A spokeswoman for the zoo said the penguin had gained about 4kg (9Ib) and has passed an x-ray and blood test. It is likely that he will be released from the south of the country in the next few weeks.

Watch the video of Happy Feet’s recovery or read about penguins in Antarctica in our travel guide.

Members of Friends of Flora and a Great Spotted Kiwi

Our dedicated New Zealand team continues to support Friends of Flora as their chosen charity, a community conservation group who, amongst other projects, are committed to re-establishing the Great Spotted Kiwi in the Kahurangi National Park, at the north-western end of the South Island.

The group is made up of dedicated volunteers (so dedicated that they have recently been out and about in heavy snow tracking the birds) and are about to celebrate their 10-year anniversary.

They send us a newsletter every couple of months so we can keep up to date on the great work they are doing. This month they’ve sent us some interesting facts about the elusive Kiwi that I thought I would share:

• did you know there are five species of Kiwi: great spotted, little spotted, north island brown, rowi and tokoeka, all differing in appearance and biology. All are flightless and unlike other birds don’t have hollow bones which help reduce their weight for flying.
• Kiwi feathers are more like human hair than regular bird feathers. The great and little spotted Kiwi’s feathers are particularly soft and fluffy.
• Kiwi birds’ nostrils are located at the tip of their beaks and they have a very well developed sense of smell; this helps them find their food source of invertebrates, such as worms, in the soil and leaf litter. They have super sensitive whiskers around their faces to help them feel their way around in the dark.
• Finally a Kiwi egg can weigh up to a quarter of the weight of the female which means that the chick emerges as a mini adult, fully feathered and able to feed itself.

Visit the Friends of Flora website

To find out more about tailor-made trips to this wonderful country visit the New Zealand section of our website, or call one of our New Zealand specialists on 01993 838 820 to discuss your ideas further.

The McCurdie family celebrate Christmas Day in the Masai Mara, Kenya

“Our visit to Malacca was an intriguing end to our visit to Malaysia, a country where numerous traditions, religions, cultures and cuisines meet and blend harmoniously.”
Nigel Wright, Malaysia

“Our heads and hearts are full of the images, sights, sounds, and smells, but perhaps the most lingering image of all is the one of the Cambodian people.”
Valerie and Raymond Gatward, Cambodia

“To have spent the time with the wonderfully friendly people of the Governor’s Camp among the enchanting wildlife of the Masai Mara made it an experience we shall treasure forever.”
Dr Ian McCurdie, Masai Mara in Kenya

These are just some of the comments we have received and which you can read in full in our Client Stories section of the Audley Magazine.

How to send us your Audley travel stories
It’s easy, if you’ve been on a trip with us simply click on this link and upload your text and photos. If you do you’ll also have a chance to win a £50 Bobbooks’ photobook voucher.

Antarctica

On Tuesday 5th July Orion Expedition Cruises are inviting Audley clients to attend a talk by Dr David Wilson, great nephew of Dr Edward Wilson who died with Scott of the Antarctica in 1912.

The talk, which is being held at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, will explore the six-week trip that Dr Edward Wilson undertook with Captain Scott into the depths of the Antarctic winter as they went in search of emperor penguin embryos. This fateful journey is now commonly known as the “worst journey in the world”.

In January 2012, on the Centenary of the Terra Nova expedition, Orion Expedition Cruises will be returning to Ross Island to give guests the opportunity of visiting the amazing site of the explorers’ hut that has been almost perfectly preserved by the chilled temperatures of the Antarctic as it was when Scott, Dr Wilson and the rest of the team were based there.  Details of this cruise will also be included in the talk.

Tickets for this event are £10 per person (payable before the event) and all of the proceeds will be donated to the Scott Polar Research Institute.

If you would like to attend this talk please call our New Zealand specialists on 01993 838 820 to book your tickets.

The route of the second voyage of HMS Beagle (1831-1836)

On this day 175 years ago HMS Beagle anchored in Simons Bay, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. It was on a momentous five year voyage and on board was a man who would become the world’s most famous naturalist – Charles Darwin.

Following in Darwin’s footsteps (or perhaps wake might be more appropriate) nowadays is a little tricky unless you have lots of money and around five years to spare, but with Audley you can visit many of the places he visited. To this end I have listed some of these and accompanied each with a quote from his journal in which he describes what he finds in these places.

Galapagos Islands
“[of a lizard] A seaman on board sank one, with a heavy weight attached to it, thinking thus to kill it directly; but when, an hour afterwards, he drew up the line, it was quite active. Their limbs and strong claws are admirably adapted for crawling over the rugged and fissured masses of lava which everywhere form the coast. In such situations a group of six or seven of these hideous reptiles may oftentimes be seen on the black rocks, a few feet above the surf, basking in the sun with outstretched legs.”

Salvador, Bahia Coast, Brazil
“Amongst the Batrachian reptiles, I found only one little toad (Phryniscus nigricans), which was most singular from its colour. If we imagine, first, that it had been steeped in the blackest ink, and then, when dry, allowed to crawl over a board, freshly painted with the brightest vermilion, so as to colour the soles of its feet and parts of its stomach, a good idea of its appearance will be gained.”

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
“Considering the enormous area of Brazil, the proportion of cultivated ground can scarcely be considered as anything compared to that which is left in the state of nature: at some future age, how vast a population it will support! During the second day’s journey we found the road so shut up that it was necessary that a man should go ahead with a sword to cut away the creepers. The forest abounded with beautiful objects; among which the tree ferns, though not large, were, from their bright green foliage, and the elegant curvature of their fronds, most worthy of admiration.”

Maldonado, near Montevideo, Uruguay
“Of lizards there were many kinds, but only one (Proctotretus multimaculatus) remarkable from its habits. It lives on the bare sand near the sea-coast, and from its mottled colour, the brownish scales being speckled with white, yellowish red, and dirty blue, can hardly be distinguished from the surrounding surface. When frightened, it attempts to avoid discovery by feigning death, with outstretched legs, depressed body, and closed eyes: if further molested, it buries itself with great quickness in the loose sand. This lizard, from its flattened body and short legs, cannot run quickly.”

Falkland Islands
“The only quadruped native to the island is a large wolf-like fox (Canis antarcticus), which is common to both East and West Falkland. I have no doubt it is a peculiar species, and confined to this archipelago; because many sealers, Gauchos, and Indians, who have visited these islands, all maintain that no such animal is found in any part of South America. Molina, from a similarity in habits, thought that this was the same with his “culpeu”; but I have seen both, and they are quite distinct.”

Russell, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
“In the morning I went out walking; but I soon found that the country was very impracticable. All the hills are thickly covered with tall fern, together with a low bush which grows like a cypress; and very little ground has been cleared or cultivated. I then tried the sea-beach; but proceeding towards either hand, my walk was soon stopped by salt-water creeks and deep brooks. The communication between the inhabitants of the different parts of the bay is almost entirely kept up by boats.”

Sydney, Australia
“At sunset, a party of a score of the black aborigines passed by, each carrying, in their accustomed manner, a bundle of spears and other weapons. By giving a leading young man a shilling, they were easily detained, and threw their spears for my amusement. They were all partly clothed, and several could speak a little English: their countenances were good-humoured and pleasant, and they appeared far from being such utterly degraded beings as they have usually been represented. In their own arts they are admirable.”

Mauritius
“The brilliancy of the green was the more remarkable because it is a colour which generally is conspicuous only from a very short distance. Towards the centre of the island groups of wooded mountains rose out of this highly cultivated plain; their summits, as so commonly happens with ancient volcanic rocks, being jagged into the sharpest points. Masses of white clouds were collected around these pinnacles, as if for the sake of pleasing the stranger’s eye. The whole island, with its sloping border and central mountains, was adorned with an air of perfect elegance: the scenery, if I may use such an expression, appeared to the sight harmonious.”

Footnote
An international group of scientists hope to recreate this voyage aboard a modern replica of HMS Beagle. They plan to set sail from London in 2014 assuming they raise the necessary $34 million to pay for the build and subsequent five year trip.

Air New Zealand is now offering beds in economy class

At the beginning of last year I blogged that Air New Zealand were going to be introducing beds into their economy class cabins, and from the 2nd April 2011 these will be available to book on the airline’s London to Auckland route.

Fast-becoming known as ‘cuddle class’, travellers will be given the opportunity to book all three seats in a block, the foot rest of these seats rising to create a flat ‘bed’ to sleep on. The Skycouch service is aimed at couples or parents with young children and has been described by the airline as “the first major improvement in economy class travel comfort in 20 years”.

For two adults sharing the Skycouch is likely to cost two regular fares plus one at half price, although exact pricing has yet to be announced.

The volcano in question is Marum, which is in Vanuatu in the South Pacific. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

Don’t forget to look at our 10 Volcanoes Worth Seeing magazine article. These are all volcanoes which you can see as part of an Audley tailor-made trip.

Heritage Expeditions

Ten years since their last expedition to the islands of the South Indian Ocean, New Zealand based cruise company, Heritage Expeditions, has organised a return to this remote location.

In November 2012 Rodney Russ and crew will venture to the small islands of Crozet, Heard, Kerguelen, St Paul and Amsterdam which dot the South Indian Ocean, in search of pristine wilderness and a plethora of delightful wildlife, from the rare Amsterdam (wandering) albatross to mosley’s rockhopper penguin. Setting sail from Mauritius the cruise finishes in Albany, Australia.

Very few expeditions ever venture into these latitudes so we are immensely pleased to be able to offer this cruise through Audley. Please contact our New Zealand team on 01993 838 820 to find out more about this expedition or to discuss your travel plans further.

The tuatara lizard is endemic to New Zeland.

Well, not a Tyrannosaurus rex of course, but it does date back 200 million years – the tiny tuatara lizard. What makes this sighting so unusal is that is is only the second time in more than 200 years that one has been spotted on the mainland, the first one being back in 2008.

Often referred to as a “living fossil’” the tuatara is endemic to New Zealand and the only place on the mainland where it exists is in Zealandia, a purpose build sanctuary in the capital Wellington.

Tuatara fact: The name “tuatara” derives from the Māori language, and means “peaks on the back”.

Air New Zealand is now offering beds in economy class

With a flight to New Zealand taking almost a day, the report that Air New Zealand will be implementing beds into their economy class cabins will come as welcome news to the airline’s passengers. 

From April passengers will be able to buy the seats, which work by foot rests rising to the level of three adjacent seats. Passengers will be required to purchase all three seats but the middle seat will be charged at approximately half the price of the standard economy fare. 

As an airline that we use regularly here at Audley I’m sure our clients will be pleased to hear about the new beds which will take up the first 11 rows Air New Zealand’s new Boeing 777-300 planes, as will our specialists, who often use the airline to visit New Zealand on familiarisation trips!

'Last Chance to See' on BBC2

Have you been watching the BBC’s news series ‘Last Chance to See’ which began on 6th September? Presented by Stephen Fry, the programme is a remake of a radio series from 1985 and book of the same name, released in 1990 as a companion to the radio series.

The aim of this programme is for Stephen Fry and zoologist Mark Carwardine to re-investigate a number of the species that appeared in the original series to see what has happened to both the animal and conservation efforts. 

Always a fan of anything presented by Stephen Fry, I was keen to watch this week’s episode in which Stephen and Mark visited New Zealand in search of the kakapo, a fat, flightless parrot on the verge of extinction (although I have to say my favourite part was one very amusing scene where a kiwi ’played dead’ as part of its defence!).

As always with Stephen Fry, this programme is informative and entertaining, and certainly worth adding to your series link, especially if you are keen to travel to Brazil, Kenya, Madagascar, Indonesia, Malaysia and New Zealand in the future – all of these countries are covered in the series and are also destinations that we cover here at Audley.

Alternatively catch up on this series through the BBC iPlayer.

Grapes in the Hawkes Bay area of New Zealand.

The summer season of client seminars kicked off on Friday 12th June with a presentation by some of Audley’s Australasia specialists. ‘Wildlife, Walking and Wines’ covered both Australia and New Zealand and was attended by 18 Audley clients.

The seminar began with Lucy Harrison who talked about a number of the walking and wildlife options available in New Zealand. From the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island where you can enjoy a walk with Kiwi Dundee, New Zealand’s answer to Crocodile Dundee, to Kaikoura on the east coast of the South Island, famous for its marine life such as dolphins, seals and sperm whales, there are endless walking options for walkers of all levels.

Next up was Jenny Bouquet who talked about the walking and wildlife options in Australia. As a fan of Tasmania, Jenny started her talk here, picking out Cradle Mountain and the Bay of Fires as two of the options for keen walking and wildlife enthusiasts as well as focusing on the lesser known Maria Island Walk, cited by some as the most diverse of Tasmania’s walks. Other options included a walk along the Great Ocean Road on either 3, 4 or 6 day walks with the opportunity of seeing wallabies, kangaroos, seals, whales and numerous bird life, Kakadu National Park walks which are great for flora and fauna, and the Bibulum Track in Western Australia where walkers can expect to see quolls, wombats, cockatoos and southern right whales.

To conclude the seminar, Chris Wilson discussed the famous wine regions in both Australia and New Zealand. With Hawkes Bay, Martinborough, Marlborough and Central Otago regions offering excellent vineyards in New Zealand, and with the likes of the famous Hunter, Yarra, Barossa and Clare valleys easily accessible in Australia, there are plenty of ways in which you can incorporate wine into your trip to Australia or New Zealand – getting to enjoy a glass or two of the local tipple isn’t a bad thing either!

To find out more about a tailor-made trip to Australia or New Zealand and incorporating walking, wildlife or wine into your itinerary, call our Australasia department on 01993 838 800, or fill in a quote request form online.

Arthur's Pass, New Zealand

On friday I attended the ‘Seasons of New Zealand’ client seminar which was presented by members of the New Zealand team here at Audley. The seminar aimed to show New Zealand as a year-round destination by highlighting just a few of the attractions available throughout the various seasons.

It is generally considered that the best to visit New Zealand is during their summer (December to February), however, as I, and 20 other people discovered there are some real benefits to visiting during spring, autumn and winter, a few of which I have detailed below:

Autumn – Autumn in New Zealand falls during March, April and May. Anyone travelling during these months can expect to experience cool, clear days with temperatures between 16 and 20 degrees. The main attraction of travelling during this season though is the spectacular autumn colours that can be experienced, as well as numerous festivals including Arrowtown Autumn Festival. Another advantage of travelling during the autumn season is that, on average, flights can be approximately £200 cheaper. If you are interested in the local wildlife then autumn is a great time to visit.

Winter – Winter in New Zealand falls during June, July and August and is renowned for it’s stunning snow-capped mountains and clear, crisp days.  As with autumn, the dramatic landscapes during winter lend themselves well to photography enthusiasts, and this is the best time of the year for winter sports fans who can enjoy skiing and heli-hiking amongst other activities. Most operators continue their excursions during winter and being out of season means attractions will be a lot quieter than during peak times. Most properties also offer winter rates.

Spring - Spring in New Zealand falls between September and November and visitors during this time can expect anything from cool, frosty mornings to warm, sunny days. The South Island is particularly good to visit during the spring as the snow still lies on the mountains whilst spring flowers are in full bloom. Wildlife such as whales, dolphins and royal albatross are present all year round in New Zealand, but are particularly accessible during the spring, and activities such as jet boating and white water rafting are also good. Tramping (walking) through New Zealand’s various national parks is brilliant during this time of the year as temperatures are more comfortable and peak season crowds can be avoided.

Summer – Summer in New Zealand falls between December and February and is the most obvious and busy time to travel to the country. Temperatures can reach the high 20′s. Although this is the peak time to visit New Zealand there are some amazing attractions to enjoy from the famous Louis Vuitton yacht racing in Auckland to the South Island’s Annual Festival of Flowers. Classic Kiwi activities such as swimming with dolphins, kayaking and scenic cruises are at their best during the summer, but with them comes the crowds.

The seminars are a great way to learn a bit more about the countries you are considering travelling to as well as giving you the opportunity to have an informal chat with our specialists. If you are interested in attending one of our client seminars take a look at our Seminar Programme for information on upcoming events.

The New Zealand Sea Lion (formerly known as Hooker’s Sea Lion) has only recently returned to breed on the mainland after an absence of 200 years.

The New Zealand Sea Lion Trust was formed to support research on, and public education about, this native treasure that has chosen to return to New Zealand’s mainland shores.

The charity has just completed a schools’ education programme in association with the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre at Otago University, and is hoping to have a sea lion education road show in 2009.

In the meantime research into the movement, foraging behaviour and diet of these unique, charismatic marine mammals continues. Much of this work is undertaken on a voluntary basis by two scientists on the board of trustees, Shaun McConkey and Simon Childerhouse, assisted by a team of enthusiastic undergraduate scientists and volunteers.

An overview of the Trust, its goals and current projects, can be found on the Sealion Trust website.

Fliss & Rachel accept our award

Following the success of the Canada department at the BACTAs last month, it was with high hopes that Rachel and I set off for the annual Tourism New Zealand Awards in London in early May. The awards this year were comprised of eight categories, of which we were eligible to enter five, and so with the help of the whole team we prepared our submissions and handed them over to TNZ during their recent visit to the Mill.

The awards themselves were presented by Gregg Anderson, the Regional Manager for Tourism New Zealand UK, with the assistance of Simon Calder – travel editor for the Independent, broadcaster and industry expert. Simon was also part of the judging panel.

The first award was for Best Brochure, and we were disappointed to hear that we had lost out to Tailor Made. However, it was onwards and upwards from that point as we took awards for Best Online Content and Best Responsible Tour Operator to New Zealand.

The moment of glory came when they announced the shortlist for the Supreme Award – Travel Specialist of the Year. The list included several of our major competitors, but we came out on top. Gregg Anderson said the following in presenting the award: “Audley Travel have a remarkable and growing range of New Zealand product. They provide a great example of tailoring holidays specifically to the traveller. Rigorous staff training and on-going educational opportunities are reflected in the detailed knowledge of each country specialist. The dedication this company has shown to developing their New Zealand Programme since 2004 is outstanding and evident in their great results.”

The champagne went down well after that! Huge congratulations go to the whole team, whose hard work and commitment are ultimately what have won us these awards.

For many years I had a strong desire to visit New Zealand, thinking it would be the perfect place for me. I’m a real outdoors person and love hiking, biking, rock climbing and getting away from it all. Growing up I spent many holidays in the Alps hiking with my parents, and then later spent two years working in Austria as a ski, walking and mountain biking guide. When I finally got to New Zealand five years ago it did not disappoint, and joining Audley was a great opportunity for me to indulge in my passion for the country. It has also given me the chance to broaden my knowledge of the region, branching out into the South Pacific.

Up until a few years ago my only real experience of the South Pacific was through ‘reality’ television programmes and glossy holiday adverts in the back of magazines, but recently I have got beyond the lagoons and the honeymooners! With trips to Fiji, The Cook Islands and Samoa I have had a real insight into the many faces of travel in the South Pacific, fulfilling my craving for active, off-the-beaten-track adventure. Of these the place that epitomised all that was wonderful about South Pacific destinations was Samoa.

I visited Samoa last October and fell in love with it. The people are immediately welcoming and the drive from the airport to the main town on Upolu, Apia, is both exciting and intriguing. The villages along the road-side are all focused around one communal meeting fale (open-sided hut) where much of everyday life takes place. With the system of chiefs still very much in place, this central fale is the epicentre of everyone’s lives. Just driving from the airport I could see how community life was buzzing in the little villages.

In addition to the strong feeling of community and the people’s pride in their culture, one of the aspects that made Samoa so appealing is how many diverse things there are to do. I spent time wandering through the vibrant markets in the main town of Apia, swimming beneath plunging waterfalls in the highlands and relaxing on the beach with a cocktail! One of my real highlights was hiking through the forest on Savai’i to the edge of the Tafua Savai’i crater. Although I did not see the resident Samoan flying fox the walk itself was a challenge, and the view across the forestchoked crater at the end was well worth it. What I love most about Samoa is that everything can be explored at your own pace, taking to the road by hire car, and travelling by ferry between the two main islands of Upolu and Savai’i. The beauty of the South Pacific is that it offers different things to different people. If you want a luxurious stay in an overwater bungalow, a fantastic diving holiday, the chance to swim with whales, an activity trip or a stay with an historic and cultural twist then it is all possible somewhere in this scattering of beautiful islands.