Index
New Zealand News and Specials
East Cape Escape
Australia News and Specials
Great Ocean Road Touring Route
Pacific Island News and Specials
Planning a winter stopover
GINZ.com Newsletter
March 2007 Vol 1 No# 111
February has been a very busy month here in New Zealand for visitors from overseas. Demand for rental cars, motorhomes and accommodation has been at it's highest yet - if you are planning to travel over Easter, another busy period, or Christmas 2007, give us a call as soon as you can so we can ensure you get your prefered options booked early.
Ski New Zealand - last year was a fantastic season and there are some good airfares available from Australia now - book ahead to guarantee your winter holiday and we can arrange all you need for a great time in the snow this winter.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter onto anyone you know who may be planning to travel to Australia, New Zealand or the Pacific Islands in the near future. We have plenty of new offers, wonderful accommodations and experiences to recommend to anyone who wishes to discover these exciting destinations. Help is just an email or phone call away!
All the very best from the Team at GINZ.com
New Zealand News
The East Cape is an area often overlooked by travelers to New Zealand but, for those who like to get off the beaten track, it provides a refreshing change from the beach resort scene. Although traditional tourist accommodation is in short supply, the area is ideal for a camper or motorhome. I would advise anyone planning to travel this route to do it outside of Christmas and New Year but once you get a week or so into January, you should have no problem at all finding some great quiet spots to park up and enjoy.
Gisborne is not only the gateway to Eastland, it’s the perfect destination for those who want to soak up the sun, sand and surf, as well as sampling the local wine and food. It's the first city in the world to see the sun and the Maori name for the district is Tairawhiti – meaning "the coast upon which the sun shines across the water".
TWe spent 2 weeks camping here in late January, staying first at Tolaga Bay, 45 minutes North of Gisborne. The camp ground here is right on the beach and beside the famous Tolaga Bay Wharf, at 660m the longest wharf in New Zealand, it was opened in 1929 to allow ships to unload in all tides. In the evening, it is busy with locals and visitors strolling, diving and trying their luck with a hook and bait. There is a lovely safe beach here - we had alot of fun on boogie boards - and the atmosphere is laid back and quiet.
Hike the Cook's Cove Walkway, a gentle 5km walk across farmland to the place where Captain James Cook took aboard supplies and repairs to the Endeavour when he landed in New Zealand in October 1769.
Over the hill is Anaura Bay, another great camping spot with fine golden sand, grassy banks and bush clad hills, perhaps the most beautiful beach on the Cape.
Much of the land here is owned by Ngaiti Porou, local Maori, and this also gives the area it's very distinct regional flavour - it's a good area to immerse yourself in 21st century real Maori culture! There are many very beautiful and simple churches through out the area - worth visiting is St Mary's at Tikitiki. Another icon of the cape are the large and gentle horses ridden, mainly bareback, by many of the locals. A horse trek here is a worthwhile adventure and recommended is Eastender Horse Treks at Rangitukia.
For more information contact us.
New Zealand Specials
See a range of Last-Minute Rental Cars, Last-Minute Hotel specials and New Zealand Travel Packages.
Australia News
The Great Ocean Road region hugs the contours of Victoria's rugged south west coast and offers visitors one of Australia's greatest and most spectacular coastal drives. Pick up your rental car or motorhome in Melbourne and begin your journey here, travelling to Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula and discover beautiful beaches, great eateries, a fascinating heritage and an enormous range of recreational opportunities from fishing and golfing to diving and surfing. Take in the colourful and lively ambience of bayside Geelong, Victoria's second largest city, or visit quaint Queenscliff and discover the town's rich maritime history, excellent restaurants and heritage hotels.
Along the coast, seaside resort towns such as Lorne and Apollo Bay are the perfect base for a seaside escape. They offer stunning beaches and water sports as well as some of Australia's best rainforest scenery in the nearby Otway Ranges. GINZ can offer recommended accommodation having recently travelled through the area.
One of the most visited stretches of the road is Port Campbell. Buffeted by wild seas and fierce winds, the coastline around Port Campbell has been sculpted over millions of years to form a series of striking rock stacks that rise out of the Southern Ocean. Known as the Twelve Apostles, they are one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Victoria.
The Great Ocean Road region also has a rich maritime past. Historic towns such as Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland allow you to enjoy seafaring village life, with their fishing wharves, beautifully preserved colonial buildings and maritime museums recounting the stories of ships that have foundered off the rugged shipwreck coast.
For more information contact us.
Australia Specials
See a range of Australia Travel Packages, Last-Minute Rental car and Last-Minute Hotel specials.
Pacific Island News
As the summer temperatures start to fall and the days begin to shorten, here in New Zealand we start to think about a Pacific Island holiday to look forward to in the depths of winter. In general, the islands tend to be stormy and abit unreliable weather wise over our own summer period but in winter, we can be on a 3 hour flight from any major airport and transported from snow to sun, sand and snorkelling!
It's worth considering a side trip or a stopover in the islands if you are coming to New Zealand or Australia outside of our main summer season (November to March). Air Tahiti Nui offer stop overs in Tahiti on flights between New York and New Zealand. If your airfare does not include an island stop, GINZ can provide you with a very cost effective alternative by quoting on return trips to Fiji, Tahiti, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga and Rarotonga from Auckland, Christchurch or Wellington. Keep an eye on our specials page, regularly updated with all the latest deals from major resorts and smaller boutique island stays. These prices are quoted in New Zealand dollars - see our currency converter to check the value.
Tempted? Contact GINZ.com for quotes and further information or see package details here.
Pacific Island Specials
See a range of Pacific Island Travel Package and Pacific Hotel specials.
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