Index
New Zealand News and Specials
Nelson in Autumn
Australia News and Specials
Melbourne by Motorhome
Pacific Island News and Specials
Pacific Winter Getaways
GINZ.com Newsletter
May 2006 Vol 1 No# 105
Kia Ora and best wishes from the staff at GINZ.com, Guest in New Zealand from our offices here in Christchurch. From action packed adventure to luxury travel, eco tours or special interest, our goal is to provide you with the best information, best value and top quality friendly service in accommodation, rentals and activities to make your holiday experiences in New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific unique and memorable.
All the very best from the Team at GINZ.com
New Zealand News
Michael, our Managing Director, has just returned from a few days in the Nelson area, visiting accommodation suppliers and looking for special places for our clients. The weather was outstanding as it often is at this time of the year - in fact we consider April and May to be the best time to visit most parts of New Zealand if you want to avoid the crowds and don't mind cooler evenings.
Michael stayed at The Resurgence a boutique lodge accommodation 10 minutes drive from Motueka and located in a quiet bush clad valley with amazing natural springs. Guests have the option of a lodge room with ensuite facilities and private balcony or a large self contained cottage set in the bush.
This is a great base for those who prefer some privacy, want to be away from the city, and have some time to explore the Abel Tasman National Park and area around Nelson and Motueka.
Highly recommended is a walk to Wharariki Beach (commonly renamed Freaky Beach by overseas visitors!), a beautiful and remote landscape, where the wind and waves have created massive rock and sand dune formations.
Another excellent accommodation option is Awaroa Lodge. This eco lodge has an amazing organic garden, a major influence on the style of cuisine making each dish unique with fresh herbs and greens. Local seafood, beef and lamb are served along with vegetarian dishes.
Shelbourne Villa in Nelson is also a highly recommended for accommodation. The luxurious Loft Suite overlooks Nelson City and the Tasman Bay and all rooms are beautifully decorated and feature original art by local artists. This is a 5 star Bed and Breakfast with charming hosts and a perfect location for a stay in the Nelson area.
If you are driving to Nelson via the Marlborough Vineyards, LeGrys Cottage is a great place for a night or two. Set amongst the wine growers, it is a eclectic mix of European styling and Antipodean art and architecture. Set in an old plum and apple orchard, the owners have built the large house around a central courtyard and pool and have 2 large luxury guest rooms with ensuites. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual and the house is a showcase for local art and for furnishings from around the world.
For more information on a holiday in the Nelson area and some personal recommendations, contact Michael.
New Zealand Specials
See a range of Last-Minute Rental Cars, Last-Minute Hotel specials and New Zealand Travel Packages.
Australia News
Sabine Kane, who looks after accounts and administration at GINZ, flew to Melbourne at Easter with her family and hired a 4 berth motorhome. Sabine's children are 2 and 5 years old and they found travelling with children a breeze in the Maui Motorhome due to the fact that the children had the same bed each night no matter where they ended up camping! Here's Sabine's report on her holiday...
"When we arrived in Melbourne we picked up our camper from the friendly team at Maui Australia and leaving the city behind us we drove a couple of hours south to Wilson's Promontory National Park were we camped right near the beach. Rosella's and parrots were always present and at night wombats roamed around the campground grazing. The Park offers a variety of walks from 10 minutes to multi days.
Next stop was Phillip Island, a 2 hour drive from Melbourne, where the evening Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach and tree top boardwalks at Koala Park were highlights for us. We also recommend the "A Maze'N Things" mini-golf & puzzle world for a fun day out. Phillip Island is joined to the mainland by a causeway and has 97 km of coastline with massive rocky outcrops to sheltered golden sand beaches.
From Phillip Island, we drove to San Remo where we saw the Pelican feeding and then onto to the Healesville Sanctuary. Healesville is an hour east of Melbourne in the Yarra Valley. There are many wineries along the way where you stop for tastings. We all enjoyed the sanctuary's "Bird of Prey"show with hawks and owls flying inches over our heads. They have over 200 birds, mammals and reptiles here displayed in their native habitats. The newest edition to the park is a hospital wing where you can watch the vet at work performing an operation or sometimes a post mortem! We spent a day driving through the Dandenong Mountains with breathtaking views of the autumn countryside. This is a very popular weekend destination for locals from Melbourne and some very stylish B&B's are available.
The famous steam train "Puffing Billy" was our last stop before returning to Melbourne where we visited the Victoria Market and Melbourne Zoo with their famous butterfly house travelling by train and tram which was almost as exiting for the kids as the destination itself!"
If you would like more information on travelling by motorhome in this area, contact Sabine or see the official Melbourne website.
Australia Specials
See a range of Australia Travel Packages, Last-Minute Rental car and Last-Minute Hotel specials.
Pacific Island News
GINZ has access through our booking systems to all the latest package deals for Pacific island breakaways. There are numerous resorts and beaches throughout the pacific and we prefer to recommend ones which our staff have visited. The islands are an excellent add on for travellers to New Zealand or Australia, and are particularly popular with honeymooners. Talk to our staff about your requirements and budget and we can make personal recommendations. Check here for all the latest packages and deals ex-Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington and including cruises on the Tahitian Princess to Tahiti, Cook Islands and Hawaii.
Contact us for quotes and further information.
Pacific Island Specials
See a range of Pacific Island Travel Package and Pacific Hotel specials.
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