Index
New Zealand News and Specials
Tours on White Island
Australia News and Specials
Sydney - Sparkling Harbourside City
Pacific Island News and Specials
Luxury Cruises
GINZ.com Newsletter
November 2005 Vol 1 No# 100
Kia ora and thanks for taking the time to catch up on the latest travel news from New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Many of you have passed on our newsletter and recommended us to your friends and family planning to travel to these destinations - we appreciate your referrals and promise you the most up to date offers and advice and best service at all times!
February is traditionally the busiest month for travel in New Zealand - the peak of the high season which runs from November - March. Many accommodations are fully booked for February 2006 and rental cars and motorhomes are also experiencing heavy bookings. If you have your flights booked then please contact us soon for all other bookings. Every year we have last minute requests for services in these busy months and we hate to let you down!
All the very best from the Team at GINZ.com
New Zealand News
A visit to a volcano is on many visitors 'must do' list and this is best done with a trip out to White Island, New Zealand's most active offshore volcano. Situated 50 kilometres offshore, this island volcano constantly emits a cloud of steam and periodically erupts, expelling volcanic ash several thousand metres into the atmosphere. The main vent is below sea level and protected by crater walls. White Island is accessible from Rotorua by floatplane and helicopter with the latter allowing approximately one hour on the island for a tour of its volcanic features. Volcanic Air Safaris have been flying to White Island since 1968, allowing visitors to get 'up close and personal' with this living giant - one of the only accessible island volcanoes in the world.
At first glance, this living volcano covers just 2.4km by 2km – but beneath the ocean, White Island stands at 16 km tall and 18 km wide.The island’s almost lunar qualities and its constant volcanic activity make it one of the most awesome scenic attractions in the country. The bright yellow sulphurous vents, the smell of the volcanic gases and rumbling of the inner earth under your feet provide a unique experience.
Volcanic Air passengers can walk right inside its main crater just above sea level with a minimum of physical effort and without undue risk. This allows you to experience at first hand nature's immense power as gas and steam burst up from far below the Earth's crust.
White Island has a rich history, being mined for sulphur for decades. A massive landslide in 1914, which killed 10 men, ended all industry on the island. However, ruins from White Island's mining days remain and visitors enjoy exploring these.
White Island is also home to abundant birdlife, particularly gannets and mutton birds. From the air, you often see dolphins and whales in the waters surrounding the volcano.
For a full list of the tours available by floatplane and helicopter to White Island, Mt Tarawera and the Volcanic rift, Hells Gate and Orakei Korako Hidden Valley, see Volcanic Air Safaris.
Contact us for more information.
New Zealand Specials
See a range of Last-Minute Rental Cars, Last-Minute Hotel specials and New Zealand Travel Packages.
Australia News
Sydney is blessed with a beautiful harbour and beaches, plenty of sun and high temperatures from October to March (winter is cooler but still very temperate). This colourful city is stylish, colourful and relaxed and a great place for a short getaway or a longer family holiday. It is rare to find a city surrounded by so many beaches and a harbour excursion is a great way to spend an afternoon enjoying the sites from a different viewpoint. Water views are a feature of eating out, like the Woolloomooloo Wharf, or anything around Darling Harbour (Harbourside, Cockle Bay Wharf or King Street Wharf), and Balmoral Beach. Having spent almost a year living there and visiting several times since, I know there is nothing like tucking into a plate of prawns, a fresh salad and a glass of Hunter Valley wine under a big umbrella beside Sydney harbour. There are plenty of places available in the city, around the Rocks area, in the seaside suburbs around the harbour and on the Pacific coast beaches like Bondi and Coogee. See best restaurants for details on where to eat.
Sydney's reputation for maintaining one of Australia's best arts calendars each year is well deserved. Many productions from such world class groups as Opera Australia, the Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Company and the Sydney Symphony, Australian Chamber and Brandenburg Orchestras are developed and presented in Sydney. You'll be able to see all their performances here first.
Quite simply, there may be no greater setting in the world to hear a classical music performance than the Sydney Opera House. The impressive City Recital Hall at the city's Angel Place is a more intimate setting for Sydney's major classical concerts.
Great deals from New Zealand to Sydney available through until 31st March 2006 with return airfares from Christchurch, Wellington or Auckland flying Qantas, plus 3 nights accommodation from NZ$579.
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
How about a luxury cruise as an add on to your holiday to New Zealand or Australia? The Pacific Princess Cruise Ship and Air New Zealand offer 8 to 27 night cruise/fly deals from NZ$2499 pp share twin with a selection of destinations including the Great Barrier Reef and Northern Queensland, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands, Victoria and Tasmania. These sale prices are available for travel from now until the 8th March 2006 and include airfares ex Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch to Sydney where the ship departs for its tours. See the cruise specials page for maps of routes and all inclusions and rates.
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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