New Zealand, Australia, Pacific Island News and Travel Information

The Hokitika Wildfoods Festival has become a West Coast icon since it was first held in 1990. Held annually in March, the Hokitika Wildfoods festival is an extravaganza of gourmet bushtucker, based on The West Coast's natural food sources. The emphasis is on novel, tasty and healthy wildfood.

Fancy a Bushmens Billy Tea to wash down your West Coast Whitebait Fritters or be more adventurous and try gastronomic treats not found in your local cafe - gorse flower wine, sphagnum moss candy floss, high protein earthworms, blue fin tuna, scallops, whisky sausages, mussels, possum and bambi burgers, kumara patties, home made ice cream with wild blackberries or even pigs trotters.

Entertainment has always been a key feature of the festival. Clowns, folk singers, buskers, skydivers and the famous Kokatahi Band add something special to festival day. There are also cooking demonstrations and home brew competitions which feature some distinctive West Coast products. And no West Coast function would be complete without a bush dance. Festival goers love this unique local institution.

More details about Wildfoods Festival Hokitika.

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Australia News

The Sydney Opera House, a cultural and architectural masterpiece and Australia's foremost tourist attraction is home to some of the world's most celebrated performing arts companies. This winter include a night out at the Opera with your stay in Sydney - choose from The Mikado or Il Travatore both presented by Opera Australia.

The Mikado is the comedy classic in which W.S. Gilbert's 'topsy-turvy' words met with a supreme musical response from Sir Arthur Sullivan. This is the most widely-loved and, by general agreement, hilarious of the Savoy Operas, set in a wonderfully make-believe Japan. Its story, of the wandering minstrel Nanki-Poo; Ko-Ko, the tailor who has become Lord High Executioner; Yum-Yum, whose affections they both crave; Pooh-Bah, Lord High Everything Else and the feared Mikado himself includes such unforgettable musical highlights as 'A wand'ring minstrel I', 'Three little maids from school', 'The sun whose rays' and 'The flowers that bloom in the spring.' The Mikado also manages to poke fun at just about every democratic institution you can recognise. Australia Opera is Playing The Mikado through until October 2004.

Also playing until early September 2004, Opera Australia presents Verdi's Il Trovatore.

Musical Shows currently running in Sydney are' The Lion King' and 'Oh, What a night!' with prices starting at A$107 pp and A$97per person.

For further information contact us.

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Pacific Island News

With new reduced airfares from New Zealand to the Fiji Islands, there has never been a better time to include a Pacific island side trip to your holiday. Fiji has a number of resort options but you can't beat an island retreat and there is something to suit all budgets and tastes from backpacker style accommodation, family 2 bedroom bures and luxury beach front bures with your own (large) patch of white sandy tropical paradise.

A favourite winter escape and honeymoon destination for New Zealanders for years, Fiji is only 3 hours from Auckland and packages include transfers to the island by boat, plane or helicopter, accommodation and sometimes meals as well.

Each island resort has it's specialty - Mana has built a reputation for excellent diving and snorkelling and their shark supermarket dive is a must -do for thrill seekers. Planation Island is a great family destination with Kids club and excellent child entertainment and food. Other Islands exclude children under 12 years and cater mainly to couples. Beachcomber is for the younger party set and although quiet and relaxed during the day, really comes to life at night. Treasure Island next door tends to attract older visitors with many coming back year after year - an Australian couple recently celebrated their 30th stay! Treasure Island is also the first Fiji Island to receive Green Globe 21 certification for ecotourism with endangered species such as crested iguanas and nesting turtles living happily on the island.

For more information see Fiji Escape packages.

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