/lifestyle/travel/rss ¾ÅÒ»ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ Thu, 30 Jan 2025 23:13:00 Z en /lifestyle/travel/po-australia-says-cruise-staff-dressed-as-snow-cones-not-ku-klux-klan-in-viral-video/ /lifestyle/travel/po-australia-says-cruise-staff-dressed-as-snow-cones-not-ku-klux-klan-in-viral-video/ Cruise ship staff clad in pointed white hoods for an Australian costume party were “snow cones” not the Ku Klux Klan, a company spokesperson said on Wednesday. Video of the fancy dress faux pas showed staff strolling across the deck of an Australian cruise liner in all-white jumpsuits and cone-shaped hats. The costumes evoked the distinctive white robes and masked hoods worn by the racist Ku Klux Klan in the United States. But P&O Cruises Australia said the staff were actually dressed as “snow cones” for a Christmas-themed family fun day. “Several crew members dressed up as snow cones for a Christmas family event, not understanding how their costumes could be misconstrued,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “They were only in public view for a short time before management acted quickly and had them remove the costumes. “The crew members were horrified and extremely apologetic when they learned of the distress their outfits could cause.” P&O Australia communications director Lynne Scrivens said it was an innocent case of improvisation gone awry. “They live and work on the cruise ship, and they have to make do with what they’ve got,” she told Sydney radio station 2GB. “They are wearing their cleaning uniforms, and they’ve got something on their head that looks like an upside-down snow cone. “They had no idea, they were horrified when management said to them, ‘please take those outfits off’.” Scrivens said 2000 guests were onboard the Pacific Explorer for the Christmas party in December, and that none of them had complained at the time. - Agence France-Presse Wed, 22 Jan 2025 08:21:32 Z /lifestyle/travel/why-some-travellers-refuse-to-buy-flights-on-a-phone/ /lifestyle/travel/why-some-travellers-refuse-to-buy-flights-on-a-phone/ In the modern age of travel, the vast majority of people book their flights online. But how, exactly, keeps evolving. Some fliers use computers. Others scroll on their phone or tablet. According to social media, which one you use falls along a generational divide. Booking on your phone? A millennial would never. With 5G internet and mobile-first design, shopping on your mobile device has never been easier. Data provided by airlines shows many consumers are making the switch. But several people told us in interviews they are still reluctant to make big purchases on a small screen. Does booking on your laptop mean you’ve crossed over into no-show sock territory? The data says “no”. A fear of typos United Airlines said more than eight million customers booked through the United app last year, a 15% increase compared with 2023. The airline said that about a third of United’s millennial customers booked flights on the app in 2024. Kim Cisek, vice-president of customer experience for American Airlines said that both millennial and Gen Z travellers tend to book travel slightly more on their mobile app than Gen X or baby boomers. Experts say well-designed apps generally protect your security and privacy just as well as a website, although they do come with their own risks. For some users, perception is still catching up to reality. “I trust the security on my laptop more for big purchases,” said travel writer Jason Frye, 47. Scott Keyes, founder of the cheap-flight service Going, said he uses a computer to book flights 90% of the time. “It’s frankly just a little fear of typos,” said Keyes, 38. “A typo when you’re booking a flight can be a big deal.” Spell your name wrong or punch in the wrong date, and you won’t be boarding. The bigger the device, the more likely you may spot an error. The larger the keyboard, the less likely you are to make one. “You’ve got a lot less screen real estate on a phone than on a computer,” he said. For others, it’s psychological. Your phone is for scrolling on the toilet, not making three-figure transportation decisions. In an informal poll conducted on Instagram, I asked travellers about their booking preferences. Dozens of responders favoured computers over phones. Their overwhelming sentiment: Big purchases call for big screens. “Booking something as serious as a flight on a PHONE is unimaginable to me. Criminal,” said Allison Chin, 32, who lives in Los Angeles. Improved apps push users to phones When it comes to booking on a computer, members of Gen Z seem more like-minded on the issue than their elders think. I surveyed more than 30 travellers born between 1998 and 2007. Only five were adamant about exclusively using their phones to book flights. Most said they prefer laptops, referencing the “big screen, big purchase” adage. “I just find it easier, I guess, with [a] bigger screen,” said Will Hunt, 17, who’s recently been using his laptop to shop for cheap flights for an upcoming boarding school break. “Easier to compare options.” Plenty said they do both, mirroring a wider trend: After years of being clunky and unnecessary, airline apps are finally good and people are keen on using them - for shopping, booking or changing a flight, planning your layover meals, or begging an AI chatbot for frequent flier miles to compensate for a delay. For many travel tasks, the user experience feels smoother on a phone. Even booking sites without apps, like Google Flights, are much more pleasant on mobile than ever before, enabling easier online shopping. But with so many data points involved in airfare - connections, seat preferences - it’s understandable that some shoppers still want a keyboard and mouse. No difference in airfare Combine the dynamic pricing of airfare with the instant access of online shopping and you’ve got a recipe for paranoia. So I went to the founders of two companies that specialise in booking cheap flights - Keyes of Going and Aktarer Zaman of Skiplagged - to ask whether the device you use to book leads to better or worse prices. “I don’t think there’s much of a difference,” said Zaman, 32, who primarily books his flights through his phone. “I can’t speak for every company whether they do any fishy business, but we don’t,” he said. “For example, if you use our website on your desktop or you use our app on your phone, it’s the same exact price.” Keyes agreed neither is better for bargain hunting. Ahead of our call, he also compared prices for the same flight on Google Flights, Expedia, and Delta, both on his computer and on his phone, and got the same results. He has not seen any truth to the rumour that the higher quality the device, the higher prices you’ll get in a search: “So if you have the newest iPhone model, the airline is more likely to show you a higher price than if you’re booking on like a 2015 Dell desktop,” Keyes said. “I can understand why that could happen,” he added. “I’ve just never actually seen evidence that it happened in reality.” The same is true for the myth that your internet history affects your airfare. Keyes says no, airlines are not tracking your searches - phone or desktop - and raising the price to pressure you into booking. “For the folks who are convinced that this theoretical argument is actually true … they mistake the inherent volatility of airfare with a sort of Truman Show ‘they are watching me and trying to squeeze every dollar out of me,’” he said. You very well may see prices rise each time you search for flights, “but that’s not because of your phone versus your computer. That’s because airfare is constantly changing,” he said. Tue, 21 Jan 2025 02:19:59 Z /lifestyle/travel/turkish-airlines-eyeing-auckland-istanbul-flights-report/ /lifestyle/travel/turkish-airlines-eyeing-auckland-istanbul-flights-report/ Turkish Airlines — one of the world’s biggest carriers — is eyeing New Zealand for flights, according to a report from Turkey. The fast-growing airline last year started fights between Australia and Istanbul (via Singapore) and its chairman this weekend has been reported as saying Auckland would be among new destinations. Chairman Ahmet Bolat announced plans to launch services to Minneapolis in April or May this year and also to Auckland, Turkish website Turizm ekonomi reported. The Auckland flight would also stop in Singapore. He said that with the flight, Turkish Airlines would have the biggest flight network in the world and there has been speculation earlier the airline was eyeing New Zealand. The announcement came during the Turkish Airlines Management Summit 2025 in Antalya. Under a 2010 air services agreement, New Zealand airlines can serve any point in Turkey, via any intermediate point, and beyond to any other point. Turkish airlines have reciprocal rights. Turkish started flying in 1933 and now services 350 destinations in about 130 countries. As of June 2024, Turkish had a fleet comprising 125 twin-aisle, 307 single-aisle passenger aircraft and 25 cargo aircraft. It had a total workforce of 56,000. Half owned by Turkey’s sovereign wealth fund, in the 2023 financial year it had revenue of US$21 billion ($37b). Services between Istanbul and Melbourne are initially operating three times a week via Singapore, with reports stating non-stop flights are planned when new long-haul aircraft arrive. It will use Boeing 777s, 787-9s and Airbus A350s on the Melbourne route. The airline started four times-a-week flights to Sydney in December. It could use A350-1000s — the same planes as Qantas will use on its Project Sunrise flights to London and New York — for non-stop flights to Australia, and possibly New Zealand. Australia’s Executive Traveller last year described the airline’s business class as bringing ‘’fresh five-star style to the skies‘’. Auckland Airport has been courting airlines in the Middle East and has been asked for comment on the possibility of Turkish flying here. It would be a coup for the airport and add much-needed long-—haul capacity to and from New Zealand. Grant Bradley has been working at the Herald since 1993. He is the Business Herald’s deputy editor and covers aviation and tourism. Mon, 20 Jan 2025 02:24:02 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-savouring-the-flavours-of-blenheim/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-savouring-the-flavours-of-blenheim/ Bracketed by the biscuit-brown Wither Hills and the lofty prongs of the Richmond Ranges, Blenheim’s vast blanket of the Wairau Plain bursts with possibilities. When it comes to winery finery, few venues can hold a candle to the elemental elegance of Wither Hills Cellar Door & Restaurant. Exuding a mix of contemporary design and relaxed sophistication, coupled with soul-rinsing views from their four-storey tower; the Wither Hills Winery is pitch-perfect for a wine tasting and bite to eat. I met up with Steve from Explore Marlborough Wine Tours for lunch at Wither Hills, noshing on king prawns and parmesan arancini; salt and pepper squid; and BBQ eggplant. They do lip-smacking small and share plates or larger portions if you’re not in a sharing mood.   Be sure to take a stroll among the vines in the Vine Library, showcasing several dozen varieties; and savour the sublime Barrel Hall, a sensory treat with the seductive scent of oak and yeast. I also enjoyed a great wine tasting, sipping and swirling my way through a single vineyard wine flight. As the national powerhouse of Sauvignon Blanc, try Wither Hills’ Rarangi 2021, where minerality, sea salt and lime form the backbone of this delightful sav blanc. I also love their Taylor River Pinot Noir, which is a fruit-forward, light bodied pinot, bursting with plums, cherries and oak spice. For bubbles, you can never go wrong with Daniel Le Brun.  Wither Hills Winery. Photo / Destination Marlborough Steve and I then headed over to Vines Village, which is homebase for Explore Marlborough’s wine tours. They offer a great range of options, included guided or self-guided tours. Kitted out with a trusty e-bike, over the next few hours, we tootled our way around the vineyards, mostly on off-road trails, including the fabulous stopbank of the Wairau River, which serves up elevated views of the vast bucolic canvas. www.exploremarlborough.co.nz   Highlights included Forrest Estate Wines, home of the Doctors. John and Brigid Forrest led successful scientific research and medicine careers, but in the late 1980s, they ventured into wine-making. This distinguished family winery is located on the stunning grounds where the Forrest family grew up. The Cellar Door is a family-friendly, dog-friendly venue with lovely, leafy grounds. The Doctors range have been purposely designed as light alcohol wines. All below 10%, these wines still deliver a full flavour explosion in your mouth! I love their Pinot Gris.  But my biggest highlight was tasting the glorious wines of Hans Herzog Estate, widely acclaimed as one of the best wineries in New Zealand. Hans planted Pinot Gris, Viognier and Montepulciano over 30 years ago - rarely seen varieties in New Zealand at the time. Today the 11.5 hectare vineyard is densely planted and a complex patchwork of 26 different grape varieties, produces some of New Zealand's most treasured organic wines, adhering to both organic and bio-dynamic principles. All grapes are handpicked and the uncompromising dedication for tending to his vines produces wines layered with texture, complexity and purity. The effervescent Cellar Door Manager, Sharon guided me through a truly superlative tasting and a fascinating tour of the intimate estate. It is no wonder that Hans Herzog’s small-batch artisan wines are snapped-up by discerning wine-lovers, worldwide.  Hans Herzog vineyards. Photo / Hans Herzog The Marlborough Wine & Food Festival is fast approaching. New Zealand's longest-running wine and food festival is now in its fourth decade. It’s next outing is set down for February 8. Blenheim accommodation will book out, so lock in your in plans, pronto.  Despite Marlborough’s blockbuster reputation in the grape stakes, it’s not just wine that this plucky region produces with such panache. Blenheim’s thriving craft beer scene froths with discoveries. One of the popular boys on the block is Boom Town Brewing Company, turning out crisp, smooth, easy drinking craft beers. There’s the Alabama APA, Whites Bay IPA, Marlborough Lager, Baby Boom Pale Ale – and the big-selling, Pelorus Pilsener. Ship Cove Stout is well worth a try, too. The Boom Town Beer Garden is a popular go-to for fresh tap beers, sun and relaxed vibes in the warmer months, right through to late April. It’s now known as Boom Town in the Forrest – operating in a splendid park-like area at Forrest Estate Wines.  Boom Town beers. Photo / Destination Marlborough Add to your craft parade DNA Brewery, the Fancy Cow bar and restaurant, with sweeping views across the wreathed landscape. (Be sure to say Hi to the friendly Highland cow, Fanta.) DNA Brewery (Dave and Ant) was established by legendary brewer Dave Nicholls and creative oenologist, Ant Moore.  Dave is one of the New Zealand craft scene’s pioneers. He told me that he first started brewing as a 14 year old! His classic beer styles are faultlessly divine. I particularly enjoyed DNA’s Azacca Hazy Pale - bursting with passionfruit, while his Irish Red Ale is very malt forward with sweet toffee characters.     Just off Rapaura Road, on Jackson Road, pay a visit to the leafy, lawned surrounds of Moa Brewery. Open Thursday through Sunday, it’s a wonderful venue and the food trucks accentuate the ambience during the warmer months. Now entering its fourth decade, what I particularly like about their range is that they have kept their products affordable, accessible and sessionable, while also switching up their repertoire. A stellar example of that is their Apple & Rhubarb Cider. Exuding a seductive red hue, the delicate tart flavour of this crisp cider sings happy summer days. It’s like the cider equivalent of a glass of rosé. Hazy IPA’s are all the rage in New Zealand and Moa’s sessionable hazy, at 4.9% alcohol, is the easy-drinking Motueka Hazy IPA.  I also enjoyed a great gin tasting at the Vines Village, sampling the delights of Elemental Distillers in the Roots Gin Shack. Founded by Ben Leggett and Simon Kelly this craft distillery delivers premium craft spirits and liqueurs with complete transparency of all ingredients, processes and production, from root to cup. Garnering accolades aplenty, Roots Marlborough Dry Gin is a crisp and robust ‘London Dry’ style gin, bottled at a bold 45% alcohol by volume. It was crowned ‘World’s Best Gin’ at the 2023 World Gin Awards. I met up with Ben at the recently opened Roots Gin Shack and Tasting Room, which is a wonderful venue, combined with a garden setting for leisurely indulgence. Enjoy a signature G&T or a negroni on tap, while the menu also spans seasonal cocktails, exquisite wines and curated selection beers. Gin Shack have mixed up the distillation game with some delicious fare from the talented team behind Boom Sauce, Spice & Barbeque. The mouth-watering small plates and irresistible snacks complement their gin creations. Definitely try their grapefruit and gin sorbet!  Roots Gin Shack eats and drinks. Photo / Roots Gin Shack While at Vines Village, extend your exploratory and check out the Cheese and Cheers venue. This charming operator showcases an extensive range of New Zealand craft whiskies, and international brands, paired with three matching cheeses and bread. Order up a whisky tasting flight, with assorted cheeses. Don’t mind if I do. For great evening dining in Blenheim, I’m a big fan of Franks Oyster Bar & Eatery. This buzzing Scott Street establishment, under the command of Sam Webb, has an old-school New York bar vibe, with lots of tiles and industrial light fixtures. Despite its name, Franks delivers so much more than Marlborough’s magnificent molluscs. Share plates run the gamut from Merino lamb shoulder and grilled zucchini to jerk chicken and venison tartare. Can’t choose? Plump for the Frank Eats option and celebrate the feast of curated flavours.   Where to stay? Scenic Hotel Marlborough enjoys a prime perch, gracing the edge of Seymour Square. Flawlessly maintained with resplendent flower beds and crowned with the war memorial clock tower, it’s my all-time favourite New Zealand town square. Not only is the Scenic Hotel Marlborough perfectly poised in the heart of town, but this stylish property features superb facilities including a spa, pool, sauna, restaurant and bar. You’ll enjoy superb service, free wifi, complimentary car parking, spacious air-conditioned guestrooms with flat-screen SKY TV and super-comfy beds, swathed in their signature Kiwi-made wool and down bedding. www.scenichotelgroup.co.nz  Scenic Hotel Marlborough exterior. Photo / Scenic Hotels Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Sat, 18 Jan 2025 00:25:02 Z /lifestyle/travel/man-pees-on-sleeping-passenger-gets-banned-by-united-airlines/ /lifestyle/travel/man-pees-on-sleeping-passenger-gets-banned-by-united-airlines/ A man who allegedly urinated on a sleeping passenger on a United Airlines flight has been banned by the airline.  On December 27, United Airlines flight UA189 took off from San Francisco International Airport and headed to Manilla, Philippines.  SFGate first reported that four hours into the flight an unidentified man left his seat and started urinating on Jerome Gutierrez, who was sleeping in business class.  Gutierrez, sitting in his seat with clothes soaking, only realised what had happened after the man had finished urinating.  “He was asleep and buckled in and was surprised when he looked at the man and thought he was dreaming,” Gutierrez’s stepdaughter Nicole Cornell told SFGate.  “Jerome realised he was soaked from his stomach down in that man’s urine.”  According to Cornell, the flight attendants feared a violent confrontation if Gutierrez approached the man and asked him not to. They also provided him with pyjamas to change into.  Speaking to SFGate, a United Airlines spokesperson confirmed there was “a passenger disturbance” on the flight and they have “banned this passenger” after police arrived to meet him in Manila.  Cornell added that the man apologised and “begged them not to press charges”.  It is unclear as to why the man left his seat to urinate on Gutierrez.  It’s not the first time passengers have been impacted by pee-antics on planes.  Last January, two Kiwis successfully battled Qantas for a refund of their flights after claiming their plane seats were wet with a previous passenger’s urine.  Issues began when the Wellington-based couple took their seats on a Bangkok to Sydney flight and one placed his Qantas pillow, along with other belongings on the floor, under the seat in front of him.  When he picked the pillow up again, it was “wet and stained on one side”.  In December 2023, an Air New Zealand passenger was fined after urinating in a cup after landing at Sydney Airport.  Wed, 15 Jan 2025 22:48:43 Z /lifestyle/travel/british-airways-crew-member-accidentally-deploys-emergency-slide-costing-airline-more-than-200-000/ /lifestyle/travel/british-airways-crew-member-accidentally-deploys-emergency-slide-costing-airline-more-than-200-000/ A British Airways crew member accidentally deployed the aircraft’s emergency slide, delaying hundreds of passengers for hours.  On Monday, a British Airways flight from London’s Heathrow Airport to Brussels was being prepared for service when the incident occurred.  No passengers were on board at the time, although they were delayed around three hours after the Airbus A320 was taken out of service and a new aircraft was arranged to take them to Brussels.  The blunder was first reported by the Sun, which said the incident was likely to have cost the airline £100,000 ($218,034).  A source told the Sun: “The crew member wasn’t thinking and made the most basic of errors by deploying the emergency slide while on the ground at Heathrow.  “It’s a minimum £100,000 mistake and knocked out services for the rest of the day.  “This error is not easy to achieve.”  In a statement to the Sun, BA said: “We apologised to customers for the delay and our teams worked hard to arrange a replacement aircraft so customers were able to travel with us as planned.”  Footage of the incident showed emergency services stationed by the aircraft which had the inflatable slide extending from the fuselage.  According to Airbus' safety magazine, Safety First, one way of deploying a slide on an A320 Family aircraft requires removing a safety pin, moving a lever into the armed position, and then opening the door to trigger deployment.  Accidental emergency door activations are very costly for airlines. Rectifying it involves repacking and safety checks by engineers.  An unintentionally activated emergency slide that is attached to an air bridge can cause the door to be ripped off and block exits, taking planes and docking bays out of service.  Last February, a British Airways pilot was reportedly stood down after accidentally triggering the emergency exit on a busy A320.  A 22-year-old was piloting a service that had arrived from the Czech Republic at Heathrow Airport for a quick turnaround to Bucharest, reported the Sun.  The error allegedly cost the airline £50,000 ($100,000) and a new rubber slide.  Tue, 14 Jan 2025 23:16:53 Z /lifestyle/travel/what-are-the-brown-signs-for-tourist-destinations-in-new-zealand/ /lifestyle/travel/what-are-the-brown-signs-for-tourist-destinations-in-new-zealand/ Blue, green, white, red and yellow; New Zealand’s roads feature signs in many different colours but why are some brown? Sarah Pollok investigates.  This deep dive into New Zealand’s brown tourist signs began as most investigations do, with a question.  “I wonder who decides what tourist attractions get those brown signs,” my sister said as we zoomed through Rotorua on State Highway 5 several weeks ago. Different from the bright blue and white signs, which point to tourist information spots, these brown signs are spread throughout the country. Many point visitors to cultural or geographic points of interest but also to wineries and hot spring spas, museums and hotels.  So, how does a company get these large signs often seen on state highways around New Zealand? By meeting a very specific set of criteria.  What are brown tourist signs?  All one wishes to know about tourist signs can be found in a delightful little read titled “NZ Transport Agency Traffic Control Devices Manual Part 2: Direction, Service and General Guide Signs”.  To save you the trouble, the document states that, like any traffic sign, tourist signs are used to direct people, particularly visitors unfamiliar with the area who are seeking tourist attractions.  There are two categories of brown signs, touring routes (like the Southern Scenic Route), and tourist features. The latter includes geographical features, historical markers and scenic lookouts as well as tourist establishments and clusters of commercially operated enterprises (like wineries).  A tourist sign for Twin Coast Discovery on the road to Tutukaka. Photo / John Stone  “For traffic sign purposes, tourist establishments are commercially operated enterprises catering mainly for tourists. They must be of genuine interest to tourists and have some interpretive value such as guided tours or working demonstrations,” the manual states.  Examples of such establishments include: “museums, historic homes and gardens, tourist farms, fauna parks and zoos, wineries, craft centres, potteries and art galleries, theme parks and adventure sports facilities”.  How can a business get a brown tourist sign?  To “justify permanent brown tourist signs” an establishment must first meet 15 specific criteria.  It must have tourism as a core business activity, regularly provide a tourism experience beyond retail and have relevant Government and council licences to operate as a tourist facility.  There are also a lot of specifics about hours and accessibility. It must be open to the public without prior booking during opening hours (which must cover a minimum of seven hours), be open on the weekends and at least three other weekdays as well as public and school holidays.  For a coveted brown sign, you must also provide clean toilets and all-weather, off-street parking (with disabled options for both). You’ll also need space for coaches and other large vehicles if they’re expected.  Information about the days and hours of opening and prices must be clearly displayed at the establishment and at nearby and regional visitor information centres.  You’ll also need to prove you promote the location and directions to non-local visitors via digital and print media.  Oh, and your visitor contact staff must be “appropriately trained” and provide “high standards of customer service”. There are then additional criteria depending on the type of attraction, such as zoo, art gallery, botanical garden or brewery, which are specific to that industry.  If you pass all the checks, your approval is valid for five years and you must foot the bill for a sign to be built, installed and replaced if ever necessary. Once complete, you’re prohibited from altering the sign, which is built to painfully exact specifications.  Tourist signs must have white borders and lettering on a specific shade of brown background in one of two sizes (depending on how fast vehicles will drive past it) and be fully reflectorised.  A tourist sign for Ruapekapeka Historic Reserve. Photo / Michael Cunningham  As for symbols, “a lack of nationally recognised tourist symbols” means you’ll typically only see two; a bunch of grapes to signal vineyards or wineries and a house with a mangopore symbol to mark Historic Places Trust properties. “Consideration will be given to other symbols,” the manual adds.  There are a dizzying number of rules specifying exactly how many signs an attraction can have and where they can be. For example, an “advance sign” (which often reads like “Winery TURN RIGHT 300m”) can be used if “the tourist facility is located in an urban fringe area where 85th percentile traffic speeds exceed 75km/h”.  New Zealand isn’t the only country with cocoa-coloured signage. Around the world, the combination of brown and white is used to signify tourist spots.  France was allegedly the first country to introduce them in the mid-1970s and today you can find them in countries such as Italy, Germany, Great Britain, the US and Australia.  Tue, 14 Jan 2025 19:58:33 Z /lifestyle/travel/passengers-on-air-new-zealand-flight-from-san-francisco-to-auckland-experience-christmas-in-the-sky/ /lifestyle/travel/passengers-on-air-new-zealand-flight-from-san-francisco-to-auckland-experience-christmas-in-the-sky/ Travellers heading to New Zealand may have missed Christmas Day with their friends and families, but those on board an Air New Zealand flight from San Francisco to Auckland were treated to a bit of festive fun at 30,000 feet. Flying from the United States to New Zealand means crossing the dateline, with those on board effectively losing a day. If you left the US on December 24, you’d arrive in Aotearoa on December 26, missing Christmas on the ground. Having to skip a major holiday and time with loved ones is a downside to flying over the holiday period, but Air New Zealand decided to surprise passengers who had departed San Francisco on its NZ7 flight with an in-flight Christmas celebration. The 200-plus passengers were treated to a holiday menu – turkey, sweet potato mash and a yule log for dessert – as well as novelties like plane-shaped Christmas cookies and tree decorations. The cabin was illuminated with a festive light display. “Every detail was designed to bring the magic of Christmas to life, even at 30,000 feet,” Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran said. “It’s our way of spreading some Air New Zealand manaaki [hospitality] to one lucky flight full of festive travellers this year. What a terrific way to celebrate Christmas in the skies.” The company had teased a treat may be in store for some travellers via its Christmas campaign video, released earlier this month. There are other festive touches on the airline’s flights during December, including red-and-white incarnations of the carrier’s iconic lollies. “The new flavour tastes just like a Christmas candy cane, bringing some Christmas magic to fliers,” explained Kylie McGillivray-Brown, Air New Zealand general manager of customer experience. “It’s one way we’re saying Meri Kirihimete to our passengers as they travel around the world this Christmas season.” After their Christmas in the sky and a 12-hour flight, NZ7 passengers landed at Auckland International Airport at 5am on December 26, and though there’s a wet day forecast for Boxing Day and Auckland is at risk of experiencing thunderstorms, many will still be glad to be home. Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:48:21 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-elevate-your-stay-in-anaheim/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-elevate-your-stay-in-anaheim/ As home base for Mickey Mouse, Anaheim has been a Kiwi holiday favourite for decades. But the Orange County tourist magnet has been busy revving up its accommodation offerings of late. If your idea of memory-making vacations entails indulging in luxury hotel stays, Anaheim has recently unveiled and opened some alluring new options. I recently bedded down in two of the shiny new kids on the block – both of which I highly recommend! First up, JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort. Adjacent to Anaheim Garden Walk, this splendid hotel embodies the brand’s fresh approach it is taking with all their properties, amenities, design, ambience, and distinctive dining experiences. From their impeccably warm and helpful staff to the restful and fun in-house experience, this hotel is a stand-out. Exterior of JW Marriott Anaheim Resort. The entrance is grand with sprawling floor-to-ceiling light and decorative art fixtures in earth tones that exude a spa-like feel. From the mighty goddess-like sculpture that greets you upon entry to the serenity garden with edible produce and florals, unlike the steely sterility of corporate-style hotels, this property projects a calming, engaging vibe. The Secret Butterfly Garden and Digital Forest is a great innovation, powered by augmented reality. It will stimulate curious minds. The generously sized pool, with loungers and cabanas is just the spot to kick back after an exhausting day playing tourist. I stayed in a Deluxe Room with a theme park view, loaded with amenities including a bath tub, refrigerator, desk, large TV and a plush king size bed. The décor is modern and sleek with artful shades to block out the sun, if you’re hankering a siesta. Sleek linens, down comforters, and soundproof windows help to ensure uninterrupted sleep. Pamper yourself further with access to the Executive Lounge, complete with complimentary refreshments and bites, a wraparound balcony and a panoramic view of the city. A buffet-style breakfast can be enjoyed here, while another great spot to fuel up for the day is at Tocca Ferro. They serve up a cranking breakfast, while later in the day, it’s a go-to for hand-cut steaks, fresh hand-rolled pastas and ocean-fresh seafood. Pool deck, JW Marriott Rooftop bars remain very on-trend in Southern California and at the JW Marriott, the cherry on top is Parkestry. This is the tallest of the Anaheim rooftops, exuding garden party vibes as soon as you step out of the elevator. The plush seating and fire pits add to the fun social vibe. Stay late for a sublime perspective on the Disneyland fireworks. The craft cocktails are divine – order up a Raspberry Revelry, particularly if you’re partial to vodka. And if you’re peckish, the Smash Burger Sliders will slide down with a smile. Their bourbon cocktails are also superb. Try a Midnight Old Fashioned which consists of Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Averna Amaro and Cocoa Bitters. Pair it with their dessert staple - the Triple Chocolate Mousse, a triumph of Raspberry Coulis, Seasonal Berries & Crushed Smoked Almond. That was decadence personified. www.marriott.com Pool space at the Viv hotel. Another recent arrival to Anaheim’s accommodation scene is The Viv Hotel. If you like a hotel stay served with sophistication, excitement and a touch of whimsy – this is the place for you. With its swanky atmosphere, faultless service and prime location, The Viv raises the bar on distinctive hospitality. In a city renowned for enchantment and excitement, it’s the chic ambience, playful spirit and exceptional customer service that really impressed me. Entering The Viv Hotel, the lobby exudes stimulating contemporary luxury and avant-garde design, with sleek furnishings and artful décor. Guestrooms present as spacious sanctuaries adorned with creative artwork and subtle Disney motifs. I often found myself drawn to the sprawling views of the Anaheim skyline, out my floor-to-ceiling window. With a soothing colour palette and plush seating areas, accommodations serve as havens of comfort. Bathrooms are spacious sanctuaries with rainfall showers and upscale toiletries. There’s two pool areas at The Viv, including the adults-only rooftop pool. However, the lagoon-style below on the ground floor is far less crowded throughout the day, when the kids are at Disneyland! There’s a variety of dining venues, but once again, it’s the rooftop that is the sweetest seduction. Top of the V is the rooftop bar and restaurant - an elevated perch for dreamy Californian sunsets and the nightly fireworks at Disneyland. This dining destination accentuates the experience with a menu that matches the panoramic views. Swooned over for their sangria selections and Basque Country culinary traditions, I sunk into their Labios Riojia Sangria, a heart-warming concoction of red wine, peach brandy, zinfandel port, lillet and grenadine. Pair that with some beautifully executed pintxos, like patatas bravas and garlic shrimps. The jamon serrano croquettes with bechamel are melt-in-your-mouth magnificent. They are creamy on the inside yet perfectly crisp on the outside. Then there are dishes like the Spicy Salami Pizza and Truffle Veal Ragu, or the Wagyu NY Strip Steak. The culinary journey is as ravishing as the vistas. Top of the V is undeniably the hotel's crowning jewel, which must be savoured, whether you’re staying in-house or not. https://thevivhotelanaheim.com I flew from Auckland to Los Angeles with Delta Air Lines. As the airport’s number one global carrier, Delta Air Lines offers nearly 160 peak-day departures out of LAX to nearly 60 domestic and international locations. For extra-comfort, take the step up to Delta Premium Select. With more room to stretch out and premium amenities designed with your wellbeing in mind, including exclusively designed menus, touchdown in LA from the overnight flight feeling refreshed and relaxed. And when flying in Premium Select, you’ll also enjoy accelerated check-in, security and baggage service, plus priority boarding. For best flights, fares and seats to suit, head to www.delta.com Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings. Thu, 19 Dec 2024 22:56:59 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-kiwi-summer-holiday-hits/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-kiwi-summer-holiday-hits/ The great New Zealand summer calendar is liberally sprinkled with some guaranteed seasonal hits to add a bucketload of fun to your family holiday. I’ve rounded up a selection of signature events and exhibitions, strung across the nation, that you may well want to thread into your domestic vacation plans this summer.  String Auckland and January into the same sentence and those words are synonymous with the tennis, the ASB Classic, at Stanley St. But there’s another prime-time sporting spectacle waiting in the wings – SailGP. The long-awaited SailGP Auckland debut promises high-octane racing action in front of some of the world's most passionate fans on 18 and 19 January, off Wynyard Point. Elevated allocated Grandstand seating in the shoreside Race Stadium ensures fans are close enough to smell the salt as the high-tech, high-speed flying F50s do battle just metres from downtown Auckland on the Waitematā Harbour. Back hometown heroes the Black Foils led by local legends Peter Burling and Blair Tuke while enjoying live race commentary from a dedicated MC and post-racing entertainment for an unforgettable racing experience. Tickets are available. https://www.aucklandnz.com/events/sailgp-auckland    For something completely different in Auckland - Dinosaurs of Patagonia. Dinosaurs of Patagonia is a world-class, highly successful exhibition designed for science museums. Auckland was not initially included in the world tour, because Patagotitan, the latest dinosaur ever found, was too big for the preferred venues. However, a last-minute change saw the Logan Campbell Centre adapted so that the exhibition could be housed there. Featuring life-size casts of Southern Hemisphere dinosaurs, the starring attraction is Patagotitan mayorum.  The world’s largest dinosaur weighs 70 tonnes and measures 38 meters—about the length of three school buses! The exhibition is on until January 30. https://www.aucklandnz.com/events/dinosaurs-of-patagonia    For more mighty species, head to the Auckland War Memorial Museum for this summer’s Sharks exhibition. It’s just opened, running until April. Created by the Australian Museum, Sharks invites you to explore the fascinating, and often misunderstood, world of sharks. Come face-to-face with life-sized scientifically accurate shark models, including one of the most famous and feared species of shark, the Great White Shark. Learn through artifacts and tactile displays; be immersed in a 3D interactive scan of a shark body; and see the world in a 360-degree view through the eyes of a Hammerhead Shark. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a quarter of the world's sharks are threatened with extinction. Sharks presents the very latest information on conservation, sharks’ impact on oceans, and efforts to protect sharks  In Wellington, fashionistas will flock to Te Papa this summer. The museum will be the first venue to kick off the global tour of Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery. Designed and curated by the house of Vivienne Westwood and produced by Nomad Exhibitions, this touring exhibition dives into the extensive history of jewellery design and creation by the Vivienne Westwood house. From a stall in Portobello Road market, London in the 1970s and later incorporating costume jewellery as statement pieces within catwalk collections, the exhibition dives into the extensive history of Vivienne Westwood’s jewellery design and creation, across the decades. Staged at Te Papa for three months, it kicks off on January 17, 2025.  Not to be outdone, Dunedin has quite the exhibition this summer at Tūhura Otago Museum. It’s 2530, humans have left the planet, and a new world has risen! LEGO® Minifigures have taken over, building intricate civilisations in the artefacts left behind, each inspired by the objects they now call home. That’s the thrust of this immersive exhibition, RELICS: A New World Rises, created by Australian LEGO® Masters Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler. Among the relics, you’ll find a grandfather clock repurposed as a time machine, a cryonics facility tucked inside a vintage refrigerator, and a retro arcade that’s been transformed into a futuristic spaceport. After smashing ticket sales in Australia, RELICS: A New World Rises now lands in Otago for a limited time. This popular exhibition will inspire visitors of all ages to explore the world within a world, with an important message of sustainability woven through the stories and play. The exhibition is on until the end of April.  Photo / Supplied It might well be our favourite Kiwi summer headliner, the TSB Festival of Lights, which transforms New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park into a lavishly illuminated night-time wonderland. It opens December 21 and runs through to January 26, fusing arts, community and nature for five weeks of glowing summer evenings in the heart of Taranaki. Free to the public, the TSB Festival of Lights is New Zealand’s favourite, and longest-running light festival, with a host of massive lighting installations. Check out the lights from a different perspective – by boat! Eight ‘glow’ row boats are available to book each night. Over 150,000 people flock to the annual festival – half from out of town. www.festivaloflights.nz   I also have a major soft-spot for one of New Zealand’s oldest summer beach carnivals, the Caroline Bay Carnival. Timaru’s big bash celebrates its 114th outing this summer, running from Boxing Day for a fortnight, with a daily and nightly programme of family fun, live entertainment, fairground rides talent quests and competitions. There’s a timeless, down-home vibe to the carnival. Some say it’s a bit hokey. I think it’s as classic as Hokey Pokey. www.carolinebay.org.nz  Caroline Bay Carnival. Photo / Mike Yardley For a complete change of scenery, if you happen to find yourself on the wild West Coast in late January, make a date with Driftwood & Sand. Staged annually at Hokitika beach, this incredibly creative festival, transforms the beachscape, as participants compete to construct the most artistic, whimsical and wondrous sculptural pieces, washed up from the Tasman Sea. The size and audacity of some of the sculptures is outrageously good. The next festival is held from January 22-26. www.driftwoodandsand.co.nz   Towards the latter part of summer, wine buffs should make a date with the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival, New Zealand's longest-running wine and food festival, now in its fourth decade. It’s next outing is set down for February 8. Blenheim accommodation will book out, so lock in your in plans, pronto. www.marlboroughwinefestival.co.nz   Trip you way around the country with the low-fares leader. Jetstar’s domestic network encompasses Auckland, Queenstown, Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington. When you book on www.Jetstar.com, you're guaranteed the lowest fare. With their Price Beat Guarantee, if you find a better fare online, they’ll beat it by 10% - and that includes Jetstar flights you find on other websites. As the low-fares leader, only pay  for you want or need by tailoring your inclusions on meals, baggage and seat selection. Christchurch to Auckland one-way fares start from $49. www.jetstar.com    Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Wed, 18 Dec 2024 22:29:14 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-street-treats-in-dunedin/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-street-treats-in-dunedin/ Dunedin has very strong bones. There’s a strength and solidity to the streetscape, landmarked with stately stone central city buildings with echoes of the Otago goldrush. The sprawling trove of Victorian and Edwardian confections span a variety of architectural styles, from neo-Gothic and Renaissance-style to surprising flourishes of Art Deco, strolling central Dunedin is a sweet way to savour the storied, understated grandeur of its urban character and texture. The neo-Gothic glory of Dunedin Railway Station is the undisputed poster child, but gaze up at the building facades as you tootle around town and the sprawling heritage procession is a feast for the eyes. After three years of hard slog and a fair slab of controversy, Dunedin’s most significant infrastructure project in decades, the George Street makeover was recently completed. Spurred on by the need to replace aging water pipes, the $100m project was completed earlier this year on one of the country’s oldest retail streets. It is an absolute joy to shop, nosh and linger in the city’s pre-eminent retail area. The monumental revitalisation is undeniably pedestrian-centric, featuring new paving, inviting street furniture, fabulous plantings, a kerbside playground, carnival lighting and public art. I particularly loved strolling the street and admiring the ditties etched into the pavers, showcasing local luminaries, like poet Hone Tuwhare, writer Janet Frame, and some lyrics by seminal Dunedin band, The Clean. It is also so much fun to shop in a properly functioning CDB shopping district, pulsing with vitality. Unlike our other major cities, Dunedin hasn’t been hollowed out with suburban malls. The Meridian Mall, Wall Street and Golden Centre are all great CBD retail-magnets, luring the masses to shop on George St. Photo / Mike Yardley Another equally alluring central city neighbourhood well worth delving into is the Warehouse Precinct, wedged between Queens Gardens and Police Street. Just a few blocks south of the Octagon, this historic district was once the powerhouse of Dunedin’s commercial and industrial growth, on the back of the gold rush. Over the past decade, the revitalised district has been repurposed as a hip foodie haven, interspersed with trendy offices and apartments and a head-swirling array of street art. The precinct’s small collection of streets are photogenic joy to free-roam, with Vogel Street boasting some of the area’s finest features. The biggest concentration of Dunedin’s street art can be found here with building owners donating their wall space as a canvas for international and domestic street artists to splash and bedazzle. Don’t miss No Name Alley, which is like a wondrous corridor of murals. As a UNESCO Creative City, there’s more than 50 pieces of commissioned street art in Central Dunedin alone. Take a self-guided wander on the designated Dunedin Street Art Trail to savour these whimsical works. Not dissimilar to New York’s Meatpacking District, some of Dunedin’s buzzing food venues can also be found here in the Warehouse Precinct, including Vogel Street Kitchen. Housed in a 120-year-old printery, this ten-year-old café was the pioneeering hospo spot in the Warehouse Precinct. With its exposed brick interior and unique mezzanine floor, it’s a sure-bet for great coffee and wood-fired pizza. Then there’s Heritage Coffee, housed in an elegant cream building that began life as the Harbour Masters building. Coffee snobs also rave about Vanguard, a specialty coffee roastery and brew bar. I also enjoyed a great bite for lunch from Big Lizard Ōtepoti, in Vogel Street. The owners Alan and Renee are seasoned hospo pros and this recently opened bakery feels like its shuffled out of a Melbourne laneway, instantly fostering a red-hot following. This new deli-style takeaway offers coffee, ready-made focaccia sandwiches, and made-to-order rolls, while their legendary pastries are irresistible. For posh nosh, a mainstay is Moiety, the ground floor of the Terminus building. This former hotel from the 1880s has been converted into apartments, while the distinguished restaurant offers a five-course tasting menu showcasing ingredients from small local producers, with a stunningly curated wine list. Photo / Dunedin NZ Another great option to add to your bingo card is Graze & Glow, just down from the Octagon on lower Stuart Street. Everything on the menu costs $9. Aptly named, this small bites eatery is bathed in a neon-lit glow, and spans everything from place from tacos and croquettes to lamb skewers and gnocchi. Don’t be surprised to find a line out the door. For a fuss-free takeaway, I’m a long-time fan of Anatolia Turkish Kebab House, a Princes St institution. Murat Bay and his family have been feeding Dunedin for 25 years with their supreme kebabs. Be sure to plump for Anatolia’s special sauce. Dunedin’s brew scene has a long and storied past. First, there’s the mighty Victorian heft of the Speights Brewery, which looks like it could be cast as Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. Established in 1875, this is the oldest working brewery in New Zealand and the brewery tours are excellent in this landmark red-brick behemoth on Rattray Street. (You can also refill your water bottle for free from the tap that draws from the brewery’s freshwater spring.) Further your liquid education at Dunedin's iconic craft brewery, Emerson’s. Founded by Richard Emerson over 30 years ago, this brewery is widely considered as a trail-blazer for New Zealand’s craft beer industry. This much-loved Dunedin institution offers a vibrant atmosphere and outdoor beer garden, matched with delicious craft beer and a menu that caters for all tastes. I adore their Pilsner. While you’re in No Name Alley, check out a recent arrival that’s drawing a following, Steamer Basin brewery and taproom, one of the numerous micro-breweries to enrich the city’s craft scene in recent years. Photo / Dunedin NZ For splendid southern hospitality, blending heritage with style, book a stay at the Scenic Hotel Southern Cross. Dunedin’s largest and most established hotel delivers premier CBD accommodation, with all the major sights in easy reach on foot. Dating back to 1883 and the post-goldrush building boom, the landmark building celebrates Dunedin’s distinctive southern charm, honours the heritage and swaddles you in contemporary comfort. Originally known as the Grand Hotel, it was built by brothers James and John Watson – and no expense was spared in the magnificent architecture and ornate interior. Reporting on the opening, the Otago Daily Times wrote effusively about the opulent new hotel. “There seems to be no question that Dunedin can claim a hotel decidedly unequalled in the Australasian colonies.” The hotel has a 4-star Qualmark rating, plus Enviro-Gold award. If you’re feeling lucky, the Grand Casino is also on-site, which is a boutique and swish affair, showcasing the intricate craftsmanship of the original hotel.  With three in-house restaurants serving breakfast, lunch and dinner plus 24-hour room service, you certainly won’t go hungry. I particularly enjoyed Ports O’Call Bar & Grill which offers excellent food and wine in a relaxed environment. The menu is loaded with family-friendly options, too. All guest rooms and suites include SKY TV, minibar, bathrobes, in-room safe, tea and coffee making facilities, desk, ironing facilities and free WiFi. There’s also a fitness centre, guest laundry and car parking available (for a charge) on-site. www.scenichotelgroup.co.nz Ablaze with summer sightseeing possibilities and experiences to cherish, make your first stop Dunedin’s official website, packed with visitor tips and inspiration. www.dunedinnz.com Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings. Sun, 15 Dec 2024 21:58:34 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-free-wheeling-the-delights-of-otago-harbour/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-free-wheeling-the-delights-of-otago-harbour/ Plan a summer escapade to the hot-tub of southern hospitality in irrepressible Dunedin. You’d struggle to find a comparably sized city that serves up such a spoil of fabulously distinctive visitor experiences. Fanning out from the city, the long, plumped and ranging finger of Otago Peninsula, fringed with beaches, scalloped by bays, carpeted in lush pastures, furnished in dry stone walls and studded in volcanic peaks is a world unto itself. Bountiful, bucolic, an urban escape-hatch. Richly blessed with flippered and feathered possibilities, the wildlife alone is a perennial banner attraction, but the peninsula and harbour also abound with invigorating trails.  A supreme way of appreciating the rich tapestry of Otago Harbour is to hit the pedals and cycle your way around the water’s edge on Te Aka Otakou/ The Otago Vine. Finally completed last year, this riveting purpose-built trail for cyclists and walkers spans a 32km loop. The west harbour path from the city to Portobello and the sublime peninsula is called Te Awa Otakou/The Ocean River, while Te Ara Moana/The Ocean Path hugs the eastern edge of the harbour, linking the city to Port Chalmers. Best of all, to complete the circuit, Port to Port Cruises operates short and sweet ferry crossings, allowing you to cross the water with your bike from Port Chalmers to Portobello. Scenic cycling around the harbour. Photo / dunedinnz I have a major soft spot for cute-as-a-button Portobello and its peaceful village vibe. Just past the treasured Portobello Hotel, which my great great uncle was once the publican of, I followed the signposts to Okia Reserve and Victory Beach, the peninsula’s longest beach. Before reaching this 3km-long beach, the 20 minute walk from the carpark leads you to the striking Pyramids, two prism-shaped volcanic rock formations. The views from the top of Little Pyramid are ravishing, while the beach which takes its name from the partially visible 1861 shipwreck of the SS Victory, is home to hoiho, fur seals and sea lions. Keep your distance! Portobello is also the gateway to ‘the real’ Otago Peninsula - with world-acclaimed attractions like Larnach Castle and the Royal Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head.  I made my way up to the Royal Observatory Box where several dozen chicks, bulging fluffy balls of snow-white feathers, speckled the headland, waiting for their parents to return from sea with a squid smoothie. It was enthralling to savour these majestic seabirds up-close, in the world’s sole mainland albatross colony. The passionate guides captivated me with commanding insights on the northern royals, who will leave the colony on a two week day journey to the Chilean coastline, eventually returning home to breed on that wind-swept cliff they clumsily departed from, after several years of far-flung foraging at sea. The sound of pealing bells still rings out triumphantly from Dunedin churches and schools when the first juvenile returns for the next breeding season. The birds can reach a speed of 120km, courtesy of their awe-inspiring 3 metre wingspan.  Royal Albatross at Taiaroa Head. Photo / dunedinnz Just up the hill from Portobello, there’s no overlooking the crown jewel, Larnach Castle, built in 1871 by the merchant baron and politician, William Larnach. No expense was spared, with the finest materials deployed. Still privately owned, the Barker family purchased the home over 50 years ago, dedicating decades to the castle’s restoration, furnishing the palatial landmark with a trove of original New Zealand period furniture and antiques.  You could not wish for better custodians of history and the Larnach legacy than the Barker family. When they took possession of the rundown castle, it was devoid of furniture and many of the glorious architectural features were missing. Studiously researching the original décor, artwork and furnishings, the castle’s impeccable restoration has been undertaken while keeping the faith with its original glory. I particularly adore the Music Room. Like the home, the expansive hillside grounds were also in a state of extreme neglect, when the Barkers took possession. But today, just like the splendour of the castle, the 35 acres of grounds and gardens are a visual symphony, a wonderland of vistas, secret paths, radiant flower beds, hedge rows and trees. So much so, they’re feted as a “Garden of International Significance” by the New Zealand Gardens Trust.  Lanarch Castle gardens. Photo / dunedinnz Hop aboard a harbour ferry crossing with Port to Port, whisking you across the China blue water to historic Port Chalmers, backed by indented verdant ranges and mighty Mt. Cargill. lf you want more time on the water, book a Port to Port Wildlife Cruise. The charming and enterprising Rachel McGregor established this venture, which takes you out past the heads into the Pacific Ocean, where a vast menagerie of species had flocked to feed on the tide line. Over the course of 90 minutes, we gawped in awe at the wheeling aerodynamics, theatrical sea landings and take-offs of five different albatross species, alongside close encounters with shags, shearwaters, oystercatchers, red-billed gulls, before marvelling over the hollering sealions and snoozing fur seals. It’s a photogenic feast of coastal wildlife, backed by the beauty of Taiaroa Head, while Rachel’s perky, incisive narration greatly enhances the encounters. A class act. www.porttoport.co.nz  Head up the hill from Port Chalmers to the ‘cloud forest’ of Orokonui Ecosanctuary. As the welcome winter sun illuminated the sanctuary, the reaching views across Silverpeaks Scenic Reserve and Blueskin Bay are deliciously soothing for the soul. Orokonui is the largest predator free forest in the South Island and this super safe conservation refuge was teeming with endangered wildlife, including takahe and South Island brown kiwi. As | casually tootled through the forest-draped walking tracks, a roll call of native birdlife warbled, fluttered, preened and played up. The puffed-up male tui and bellbirds were in full operatic cry, as were the cheeky kaka. The unmistakeable whoosh of a low-flying kereru was swiftly followed by the bizarre spectacle of brilliantly-named brown creeper birds stealthily creeping between the branches. Orokonui provides a full-barrelled fix for twitchers and the bush walks are splendid. www.orokonui.co.nz   Orokonui Eco-sanctuary. Photo / Mike Yardley Back in Port Chalmers, I had walked and cycled up quite the appetite. Just around the corner, Carey’s Bay Historic Hotel is a blissful spot to savour the scenery and sublime local produce. Hello, seafood. Port Chalmers serves up spectacular viewing points. Check out Centenary Lookout, Hotere Garden Oputae and Flagstaff Lookout to determine which spot gets the gong for viewissimo. Constructed from the mast of a condemned pirate ship, the flagstaff, was the home of the first publicly funded timeball in the South Island in the 1860s. This is my favourite viewpoint down onto the quaint main street of the port, which looks like Toy Town from this perch.  If you’re in need of a re-caffeination, Union Co Café is a cracker spot — named in honour of the Union Steamship Company which operated here from 1875. Across the road, unleash your inner-salty dog and immerse yourself in Dunedin’s glorious seafaring heritage at the Port Chalmers Maritime Museum. It only reopened two months ago after a sparkling upgrade and extension. The 1877 Heritage Category 1 listed building is now a light-filled space light — thanks to the refurbished clerestory windows, a new glass extension and a wide internal laneway linking the museum to the Port Otago Annex where you can watch operations from the mezzanine. The interior walls are covered in story-filled panels and there are countless artefacts —big and small— on display. I particularly loved the “Wall of Ships”, gazing up the 12 metre high wall of ship models, collected over the years by the Port Chalmers Historical Society. Within the laneway is a wonderful ABCedarium, which is a series of photos, artefacts and information, built around each letter of the alphabet. A plaque outside the museum marks the spot where the first Scottish settlers came ashore, from the John Wickliffe, in 1848.  Scenic Port Chalmers. Photo / dunedinnz Riding back to the city from Port Chalmers, a huge highlight is crossing the Blanket Bay bridge — a 600m long boardwalk, suspended above the water. Bike hire? Get cycling with Bike House for an unforgettable exploration of the city’s trails and stupendous harbour. With flexible options for a 3-hour or full-day hire, they offer the perfect opportunity to absorb the grand-scale nature of the harbour trails, revelling in this elemental playground and its bounty of experiences. Bike House is at 67 Stuart Street.  Put yourself at the centre of the action with a great stay at Scenic Hotel Southern Cross, available on Booking.com. Offering accommodation, flights, bookable attractions and car hires, Booking.com takes the stress out of travelling all on one platform. Sign up to Booking.com’s Genius program to unlock even bigger travel discounts and rewards. www.booking.com   Ablaze with summer sightseeing and experiences to cherish, make your first stop Dunedin’s official website, packed with visitor tips and inspiration. www.dunedinnz.com   Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Sat, 14 Dec 2024 01:12:03 Z /lifestyle/travel/auckland-couple-s-50th-wedding-anniversary-trip-to-australia-cut-short-by-old-criminal-convictions/ /lifestyle/travel/auckland-couple-s-50th-wedding-anniversary-trip-to-australia-cut-short-by-old-criminal-convictions/ An Auckland couple’s 50th wedding anniversary trip turned “traumatic” after the husband was refused entry into Australia because of an assault conviction from 1971. On November 21, the wife, 69, and husband, 72, flew to Brisbane to celebrate their golden anniversary by visiting family and then spending 11 days on the Gold Coast. The pair did not wish to be named. “Everything was going according to plan, until we flew into Brisbane airport,” the woman told the Herald. After landing at 7.10am, the pair proceeded to border security, where the man disclosed his criminal history, which involved two charges for physical assault 53 years ago. The charges were related to two fights he got into when he was around 19 years old, which his wife described as similar to “a typical bar brawl where everyone joined in”. He was sentenced to nine months in prison and was released after six, determined to turn his life around. Decades later, at the airport, the couple were not nervous; they had visited Australia several times before and always declared his record without issue, including on a trip through Brisbane Airport in July 2023. This time, however, he was asked to proceed to an immigration desk. The couple were stopped at Brisbane International Airport. Photo / BNE After an hour, the couple claimed two Australian Border Force officers asked him to follow them to an interview room for questioning and told the woman she could not stay and must proceed through arrivals. “We were both taken aback because [the officer] then said that he might probably be leaving to go back to New Zealand,” she said. An Australian Border Force spokesperson told the Herald they could not comment on specific cases because of privacy considerations. Confused about the issue and unable to fully understand because of an hearing impairment, the woman said the situation was challenging physically and emotionally and she struggled to manage all of their luggage without support. “Here I was stranded by myself in a big airport, with all my bags and duty-free. I was sick to my stomach at the thought of my husband being detained,” she said. She claims to have waited four hours without any information from border officials, then received a text message from her husband saying he had been refused entry. She later discovered he was booked on a 6pm flight back to New Zealand and returned to their Henderson home at around 3am on November 22. Rattled by the events, she paid almost $300 to fly home early but could not make it back for their 50th wedding anniversary on November 23. “We had to spend our special day apart and that sucks and hurts. I still feel sad when I think of him in that room and the way they left me.” Visas in Australia Most countries have immigration requirements that demand a visa before arrival or provide visas on arrival or visa-free travel for citizens of certain countries, said Professor Kris Gledhill, of Auckland University of Technology’s Law School. “It is also common for there to be exceptions to visa-free or visa-on-arrival programmes for people with criminal convictions. Usually, they have to follow different processes,” he added. AUT's Professor Kris Gledhill. Photo / Supplied In New Zealand, visitors with a criminal record require additional checks and Australian citizens without a record must fulfil the “good character” requirement to use New Zealand’s visa-free regime. Likewise, most Kiwis automatically get a temporary Special Category visa (SCV) when they arrive in Australia, but they must not be a behaviour concern non-citizen (BCNC). The husband was classed as a BCNC because he had “been convicted of two or more crimes and sentenced to imprisonment for periods that add up to at least one year”, according to a letter from Australian Border Force, seen by the Herald. The couple remain adamant his prison sentences were “concurrent” which meant the judge allowed him to serve them simultaneously, which resulted in a nine-month prison sentence, of which he had to serve only six. “This brings us to the now-notorious section 501 of the Migration Act 1958, which has been used to deport many people from Australia who grew up there (the ’501s'),” Gledhill said. “Section 501(7A) was added by the Migration Amendment (Character and General Visa Cancellation) Act 2014 to indicate that concurrent sentences are to be added up,” Gledhill said. “So, a nine-month sentence for one offence and a three-month concurrent sentence is now counted as 12 months and so means that the character test is failed.” Since clean slate legislation only applied domestically, how long ago a crime was committed was irrelevant, he added. The husband said it was hurtful that a life dedicated to his family and community could be less relevant than a conviction from his teenage years. “I know laws are laws, but this time I feel I was really let down because of something I regretfully did all those years ago,” he said. Travellers with a criminal record will often need to complete additional checks. Photo / 123rf Can you visit Australia with a criminal record? This did not mean people with a criminal record could not visit Australia, Gledhill clarified, but they should apply for a visa in advance because they could not rely on visa-upon-arrival provisions. Australian Border Force said it “encourages New Zealand citizens wishing to enter Australia with past criminal convictions to apply for a visa and be assessed prior to their departure for Australia”. So, how did the husband travel to Australia previously without issue? There’s a possibility it was down to luck. “The thing about complex legal provisions is that much will turn on the particular immigration officer you present your passport to, whether they have remembered the provisions requiring them to add up concurrent sentences and so on,” Gledhill explained. “A person might get through on one occasion but be prevented on another occasion even though nothing has changed.” The wife said her husband was not proud of what he did decades ago but felt Australian Border Force’s approach was “discriminatory profiling”. “Both my husband and I were treated unfairly and unjust. It traumatised me so much I was not able to sleep well or eat well,” she said. The couple lodged a formal complaint and received an automated response stating they would have a reply in approximately 15 days. Tue, 10 Dec 2024 07:44:51 Z /lifestyle/travel/everything-tourists-need-to-know-about-visiting-notre-dame-cathedral/ /lifestyle/travel/everything-tourists-need-to-know-about-visiting-notre-dame-cathedral/ When you can buy tickets, visiting hours, and more updates for the reopening of one of the most famous attractions in Paris. More than five years after one of the most famous churches in the world was damaged by fire, a renovated Notre Dame Cathedral will reopen to visitors this weekend. In Paris, “people are so excited,” said Meg Zimbeck, who runs the food tour company and review site Paris by Mouth. Locals have been emotional as the cathedral tested bells ahead of opening ceremonies. “When they start ringing regularly, it’s going to mean a lot,” she said. A week of events are planned starting today, and French tourism officials expect up to 40,000 visitors per day, almost double the number of people who flock to the Chateau de Versailles. If you’re thinking about visiting soon, here’s what you need to know. A sound and light show was projected on the facade of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral on the eve of its reopening to the public. Photo / Getty Images How do you get tickets for Notre Dame? Tickets are free and available online through the cathedral’s official website. You should definitely reserve them in advance, said Kate Schwab, a spokesperson for the French tourism authority, Atout France. According to the site, reservations are available on the day of a visit or up to two days in advance. The first available slots for visits starting December 9 will go online today. “This option is entirely optional and aims solely to streamline entries and minimise unnecessary waiting,” the site says. Space is first come, first serve for attending Mass. A €10 ($18.13) fee is required for those who’d like to visit the Notre Dame treasury, which is considered a museum. You can make the purchase on-site. Alternatively, you can sign up for a free guided tour of the exterior with the volunteer organisation CASA. What special events are happening in Paris? The cathedral will host reopening events between December 8-15, with a private inauguration today ; event details can be found on the Notre Dame website. The Paris tourist office says giant screens will be set up around the church so members of the public can watch weekend ceremonies live. Notre Dame will also put on “Exceptional Concerts” featuring “20 international soloists, 15 guest orchestras and choirs, 12 grand organ recitals”, through 2025. As of December 16, the cathedral will resume its normal daily hours, from 7.45am to 7pm. French President Emmanuel Macron met US President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as foreign dignitaries descended on Paris for the reopening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Photo / Getty Images When is the best time to visit Notre Dame? Of course, Paris is a major tourist destination year-round, and Notre Dame is among its most popular attractions. Don’t expect to get the place to yourself no matter when you visit; the cathedral has a capacity of 2500 people at a time. Schwab recommends following basic sightseeing protocol to plan a visit. “Go either early in the morning when it first opens or in the last hour,” she said. “Try to avoid the peak of the day.” The same advice goes for time of year. You can expect the most crowds during the busy summer tourist season, and closer to the holidays, when Paris is also busy with “festive season”. Small religious groups of up to 10 people will be allowed starting February 1; cultural groups of as many as 25 people are allowed beginning June 9. Can’t get a ticket and don’t want to face a long wait? Worst-case scenario, you can still admire the cathedral from the outside, as many have over the last five years. What’s new at Notre Dame? A new roof, new furniture, new logistics: Notre Dame underwent a historic restoration in just five years. The interior is said to be “more majestic than before the catastrophe.” The undertaking required the expertise of more than 2000 architects, engineers and craftspeople using artisanal methods. Inside Notre-Dame of Paris Cathedral before its reopening to the public. Photo / Getty Images The 96m spire, which toppled in the inferno, has been replaced, with a new rooster perched on top. Attic beams have been re-created, and vaulted arches include new and salvaged stone. If you’ve visited before, you may first notice a small but significant change in traffic flow inside the cathedral. Visitors will now follow a path from north to south, “basically left to right”, Schwab said. What else should I see in Paris? Notre Dame is centrally located, so it’s easy to fit into a day of sightseeing in Paris. Zimbeck recommends a stroll to the flower market on the Ile de la Cite and visiting the Cluny Museum of medieval history. She says you could skip Shakespeare and Company, the always-crowded bookstore, and explore the fun shop Messy Nessy instead. Schwab says to walk to the Latin Quarter for more shopping. You’ll also find one of her favorite museums there: the Serge Gainsbourg House. The singer’s daughter, actress Charlotte Gainsbourg, does the voice-over for the audio tour, which explains what it was like to live in the house - which was preserved after his death and turned into a museum. It has a cafe open during the day, and by night, it turns into a piano bar. “It is of course very popular with the French public, but when I was there, there were no other Americans,” Schwab said. For dining, Zimbeck has compiled an extensive list of where to eat and drink near Notre Dame so you don’t get caught at one of the many tourist traps nearby. You don’t need to limit yourself to what’s immediately next to Notre Dame because “you can hop across the river in either direction and get on the subway and go almost anywhere within 15 minutes,” Zimbeck said. Paris is an easy city to get around on feet with the aid of a high-frequency metro system. Photo / Getty Images What’s a less crowded alternative? To escape the tourist rush, Schwab recommends a couple of lower-traffic museums, like the Musée Carnavalet which offers a deep dive into the history of Paris, or the nearby Hôtel de la Marine on the Place de la Concorde. “It’s like a mini Versailles, basically,” she said. The historic property was built in the 18th century and served as the headquarters for the government office responsible for furnishing all royal properties. To restore the property to museum quality, “they had 1000 craftsmen working on it,” Schwab said. Better yet, it’s “a museum that people don’t really know that much about and it’s definitely not going to be crowded”, Schwab said. For a less-visited church, Zimbeck goes to La Sainte-Chapelle, one of her favorite places in the city. “It’s a wonderful, amazing cathedral with stained glass that’s quite famous,” she said. “When I’m in a darker mood, I enjoy the Conciergerie, which is the dungeon ... where they locked up Marie Antoinette.” Clément Decré, founder and chief executive of the travel company Finding France, recommended Saint-Sulpice or Saint-Eustache churches, which he said in an email “offer remarkable architecture and history without the crowds typical at Notre-Dame”. For those who can travel outside Paris, he suggested the Chartres Cathedral for its “amazing” stained glass, Cathedral of Reims or the Amiens Cathedral. Are renovations ongoing? Work is continuing on the cathedral’s flying buttresses; the stained glass rose windows and areas around Notre Dame, including a park. The Paris tourist office says parts of the church, including the chevet and sacristy, are scheduled for restoration next year. Stained glass windows are expected to be installed in 2026. French tourism officials say work around the cathedral - including a clearing, 150 trees and an underground parking garage that will become a reception area - is expected to continue for at least three years. Do the bells still ring? Yes, the bells are ringing again at Notre Dame - and there are a few new ones. Their return is powerful. “I used to live around the corner from it and I could physically feel the vibrations from the bells in my body,” Zimbeck said. “So it has this resonance - pardon the pun - for me.” Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:47:48 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-eye-catchers-in-%C5%8Damaru/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-eye-catchers-in-%C5%8Damaru/ After getting my rocks off exploring the geological grandeur of the Waitaki district’s geopark, I reacquainted myself with a town that became my first home away home, just over 30 years ago. I began my radio career in Ōamaru in 1991, living there for a couple of years as I learned the ropes on the local community station. It was a town that I fast feel in love with – and the love-affair endures.    Ōamaru is undeniably one of New Zealand’s greatest towns, with its stately and seductive good looks, stirring local wildlife, astonishing heritage treasures, and alluring artisan verve. And it’s all anchored with a striking sense of community pride and passion. Eye-catching sights and an embracing spirit are what Ōamaru is all about (don’t miss a selfie with the beloved Humpty Dumpty statue in the stupendous public gardens). Whether you’re travelling as a couple, or enjoying a happy family holiday, Ōamaru delivers ins spades with a wealth of enticing experiences.  Bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun, the streetscapes are bewitching, housing a hive of temptations, from the science fiction meets Victoriana fun of Steampunk, to the creatives, craft brewers and boutiques within the harbourside precinct. There are so many inter-linking strands that weave the Waitaki geopark story together, bridging the past with the present, like how farmers taming the land chanced upon the limestone fossils, while their bountiful produce powered the development of Ōamaru’s port. Ancient penguin bones keep being found in the limestone, powerfully connecting with Oamaru’s magnificent colony of little blue penguins, on the foreshore. Little blue penguins in Ōamaru. Photo / Tourism Waitaki When I first started in radio in Ōamaru in 1991, the colony was a fledgling volunteer-led initiative, with just thirty breeding pairs. Today, there’s several hundred breeding pairs, so the nightly penguin parade of the birds returning home to their nest after feeding at sea, is an extravagant and intimate affair. They are so close you can virtually touch them, as they scamper up the rocks like nervous Nigels, navigating their way around bellowing fur seals, to reach their tiny homes. It’s a riveting twilight encounter. The summer months is peak season for the nightly penguin parade. Currently, there’s over 350 penguins coming ashore each night to return home.  Just adjacent to the penguin colony, the world’s largest colony of Otago Shags have commandeered the historic curving Sumpter Wharf, which played an early role in the world’s frozen meat shipments, after the famed first shipment from Port Chalmers on SS Dunedin. This elegantly curvaceous wharf, graced by white-painted handrails, welcomed the biggest oceangoing freighters running between New Zealand and Britain. SS Dunedin became a regular sight in Oamaru, lugging carcasses to England until it sailed into oblivion in 1890, presumed lost around Cape Horn.   Today – this decrepit wharf is all about the birds and the shagathon is just another gob-stopping spectacle on the Ōamaru foreshore. There’s history at every turn. One of the wooden sheds near Sumpter Wharf explains, Ōamaru has an Antarctic connection. In early 2013 the town marked the 100th anniversary of a boat from the Terra Nova breaking the news from Ōamaru of the death of British explorer Robert Falcon Scott and his companions. Peckish or thirsty? Overlooking the harbour, Del Mar eatery and beach bar is the perfect family-friendly spot for food and drinks from lunch till late.   Otago Shags on Sumpter Wharf. Photo / Mike Yardley  The creamy pure texture of Ōamaru Stone underpins the classic good looks of the historic town’s vast trove of architectural treasures. The southern end of Thames St is lined with glorious stone confections, including the neo-classical columned splendour of stately old banks to the sumptuous Ōamaru Opera House. But just around the corner, in Harbour Street, enjoy a frolic through New Zealand’s best preserved Victorian commercial streetscape. This evocative sweep stands like a siren to the past and the late 19th century boom era in frozen meat exports to the world. But these time-honoured totems are living and vital today, brilliantly restored and repurposed, brimming with enticing galleries, artisans, retailers and hospitality hot spots. There are also fabulous guided walking tours, spilling with stories about the precinct’s proud history.   Don’t miss Craftwork Brewery and Tasting Room. This beloved Belgian-inspired brewery produces Farmhouse, Abbey, and Barrel-aged sour beer – all worth a dabble in Craftwork’s delight tasting room in the heart of the Victorian Precinct. Pair the Belgian-style beers with cheese, from the variety of small-batch cow, goat, and sheep’s cheese offerings at Craftwork.  A stirring hospitality treasure, on the corner of Tyne and Harbour Street is the Criterion Hotel Bar and Eatery. The Criterion first opened in 1877, designed in elaborate Italianate style. The flagship building is looking resplendent and proudly shares its storied history on its walls, with loads of historic photos. Elegantly and thoughtfully furnished, there’s William Morris wallpaper in the bar area. Under its current enterprising owners, Brenda and Katrina, the heritage establishment has been enjoying a new lease on life for the past couple of years.    Criterion Hotel Bar & Eatery. Photo / Tohu Whenua The bar and eatery specialises in Asian-fusion and Mediterranean-style tapas dining, utilising the best in New Zealand produce from 21-day aged Merino lamb shoulders to award-winning local Whitestone Cheese and High Country Salmon. Whistle up the Alps to Ocean Platter, for a chance to sample a bit of everything. You must try a Criterion Black Doris Plum Cider, which was a collaboration project with local brewers’ Scotts Brewing Co. And sweet tooths will revel in a new dessert creation, the Pinky Bar. It consists of salted caramel semifreddo elegantly sandwiched between pink marshmallow and a decadent chocolate & coconut biscuit base.  Also based in the Victorian Precinct is Steampunk HQ, New Zealand’s premier steampunk experience. It is wacky, whimsical and eccentric. Steampunk HQ’s emblematic attraction is full-scale train engine that spits fire and billows smoke, outside on the street front. Inside, a museum of contraptions & bizarre machinery featuring heavy use of copper, gears, pipes & gas cylinders, as well as an ensemble of skeletal sculptures are lit by flickering lights & accompanied by film, projection & sound. A back door leads to a large yard with projects in various stages of being steampunked. As their website tellingly says, “Steampunk HQ must be experienced rather than explained.”  It’s utterly escapist. The annual Steampunk Festival is a rollicking three day bash, held over King’s Birthday weekend.  Steampunk HQ and train engine, Ōamaru. Photo / Mike Yardley Fromage fans fawn over Whitestone Cheese, a mainstay of the New Zealand premium cheese market for nearly 40 years. Bob and Sue Berry founded the company in 1987 and are still at the helm. This globally recognised artisan cheese company boasts over 25 different cheeses and the best way to immerse yourself in the fully glory of Whitestone Cheese is to head to their Diner & Deli on Thames St. Whitestone Cheese is at the heart of every dish, from gourmet burgers to cheese rolls. Try a High Cheese at the diner – but be sure to include their Mount Domett Double Cream Brie. Guided factory tours with lashings of cheese tastings are also available.   Just north of Oamaru, Riverstone Kitchen sits alongside the lavish homeware emporium of Riverstone Country Giftshops - and the spectacular crowning addition, Riverstone Castle, which is open for tours, four times a day, from Thursday to Monday. The castle is the creation of Dot and Neil Smith, built from Ōamaru stone. Surrounded by a lake and set on the Smith’s dairy farm behind Riverstone Kitchen, it makes for a dramatic backdrop to the rest of the Riverstone complex.  Riverstone Castle at sunset. Photo / Riverstone Castle Since returning home to his parents’ farm in 2006, Bevan Smith established the highly decorated Riverstone Kitchen, wrapped in food producing gardens, where his sparkling food ethos is powered by sustainability and hyper-local produce.  The menu celebrates the seasons – but many locals told me they regularly head to Riverstone simply for the cakes. They are exquisitely crafted. My tip? Order up a slice of Gooseberry & Blackcurrant shortcake with vanilla bean ice cream. It’s irresistible.   Where to stay? There’s nothing quite like the thrill of discovering and savouring a distinctive accommodation experience, anchored by a great back-story and helmed by hospitality pros. Introducing Casa Nova House, a salivating luxury bed and breakfast experience in Ōamaru. This sublime stone mansion, nestled in spacious grounds with sea views, was the first stone dwelling to be built in the district in 1861. Originally built for an early run holder, Mark Noble, this grand house has been impeccably restored and revitalised by your hosts, Katrina McLarin and Brenda Laverick, who also breathed new life into the Criterion Hotel. This dynamic duo clearly have an incomparable eye for detail, because the property’s designer furnishings and décor are a masterclass in luxury heritage living. The renovation cost close on $1 million.  Charming guestrooms at Casa Nova House. Photo / Mike Yardley There are three stylishly designed and distinctive guest rooms located on the first floor of this category one listed historic property, loaded with creature comforts. They include free wireless internet, a smart TV with complimentary Netflix, Freeview and mirroring capabilities, plus the complimentary bathroom amenities by Marihi Aotearoa. The evocative Burns Sitting Room is also available for you to use throughout the day, with complimentary tea and coffee on-hand. Katrina whipped me a ravishing breakfast which is also served in the Burns Sitting Room. Her secret ingredient yoghurt is quite the hit! Brenda and Katrina are exceptional hosts, nailing the art of personable hospitality – always wonderfully warm and engaging without ever being intrusive.   Last year, Casa Nova House was decorated with a five-star gold Qualmark award. Qualmark praised the mansion as “exemplary” for best practice of top-tier hospitality, and describing the property as an “immaculate Category 1 protected historic building” with outstanding décor and cleanliness. Be sure to check out Katrina’s cracking podcast, The Last Resort, which spills forth with amazing anecdotes and insights on their tour de force over the past five years, purchasing and renovating this stately mansion, changing their lives and taking this leap of faith. Their remarkable adventure warrants a TV show! You will absolutely adore staying in this hidden and freshly polished gem. casanovahouse.co.nz From the Victorian streetscapes, penguins and culinary treats of Ōamaru to the remarkable landforms and rich history of the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, summer road-tripping the Waitaki district is a sure-fire recipe for golden holiday adventures.  For more trip inspiration head to waitakinz.com   Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack tame Saturday Mornings. Fri, 06 Dec 2024 23:54:55 Z /lifestyle/travel/laos-methanol-poisoning-bali-tourist-s-warning-after-recalling-waking-up-blind-in-nz/ /lifestyle/travel/laos-methanol-poisoning-bali-tourist-s-warning-after-recalling-waking-up-blind-in-nz/ A woman has spoken out about the dangers of methanol poisoning after recalling a nightmare holiday in Bali that left her waking up blind in New Zealand, claiming she is only alive today because of the care she received here. In 2011, Mexican-Canadian playwright Ashley King was living in Byron Bay, Australia, when she decided to spend 35 days holidaying in Bali. Speaking to the Australian current affairs TV programme The Project, the 32-year-old detailed the “terrifying” ordeal after she went out on her last night to a bar in Kuta, south Bali, and ordered a mixed vodka drink. King, who now resides in Calgary, Canada, shared her story more than a decade after the incident took place in light of six tourists recently dying in the party town of Vang Vieng in Laos after unknowingly drinking alcoholic drinks containing methanol. She said it was “no different to any other night I had gone out”. However, things rapidly took a turn over the next two days while travelling to New Zealand as she felt progressively unwell. The first major sign of something being wrong was when she woke up the next day in her accommodation and noticed it was “really dim lighting”. “About 10 minutes later I was unable to breathe and gasping for air,” King explained on air. She ended up being hospitalised and “in the dark, blind”. “I couldn’t breathe ... they realised there was a large amount of methanol in my system”. Now with only 2% of her eyesight, King said the ordeal was the “most traumatic” thing she has been through. King credits her survival to the care she received in NZ, saying “The only reason I’m alive today is because I was poisoned on my last night and took a couple of days for the poison to start taking effect in my body and I happened to have made it to a first-world country and was able to be hospitalised in New Zealand”. Last month, two Australian teens, a British lawyer, two Danish women and an American man died after suspected methanol poisoning in Laos. Eight staff members from Nana Backpackers Hostel as well as three foreign nationals have been arrested, ABC reported. No charges have been made. Methanol is sometimes added deliberately and illegally to alcohol to cheaply boost the alcohol content of a drink. It can also be inadvertently generated during brewing. Tue, 03 Dec 2024 01:50:57 Z /lifestyle/travel/air-new-zealand-flight-from-gisborne-to-auckland-turned-around-after-engine-issue/ /lifestyle/travel/air-new-zealand-flight-from-gisborne-to-auckland-turned-around-after-engine-issue/ A flight from Gisborne to Auckland ended soon after take-off when an engine had to be shut down because of an “issue”. It comes less than 24 hours after an international Air New Zealand flight made a rapid descent following an engine problem. Head of Flight Operations Hugh Pearce said flight NZ5166 from Gisborne to Auckland experienced an “engine issue” shortly after take off. “As per Air New Zealand’s standard operating procedures, the engine was shut down and the aircraft returned to Gisborne where it landed safely after circling for a short time. “The matter is now being investigated.” The flight from Gisborne to Auckland was cut short after an engine issue. A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said they sent two fire and two water trucks to the airport. The spokesperson said they were joined by police and ambulances as they waited for passengers to disembark the plane. It comes after another Air New Zealand flight to Sydney experienced engine trouble and was forced to make a rapid descent last night. Ruth Ann Herd was a passenger on board the plane and told Morning Report she was having her dinner when the inflight entertainment stopped. “And then we dropped, then we descended and it was quite a rapid descent. “I looked out the window and I could see we were closer to the ocean then before and then we did a big swing and turned in another direction and I thought oh oh, we’re being diverted or something.” Other passengers told her they heard a grinding sound from one of the engines. “Someone thought they saw a bit of something coming away from the plane or smoke or smoke trail of some kind.” Air New Zealand said the engine was shut down, and the plane landed safely in Auckland. Sun, 01 Dec 2024 23:18:35 Z /lifestyle/travel/quite-a-rapid-descent-air-nz-wellington-to-sydney-flight-turns-back/ /lifestyle/travel/quite-a-rapid-descent-air-nz-wellington-to-sydney-flight-turns-back/ By RNZ A passenger onboard an Air New Zealand flight to Sydney that experienced engine trouble says the plane made a rapid descent. Flight NZ249 was about an hour into its journey from Wellington on Sunday when it had a problem. Ruth Ann Herd was a passenger on board the plane and told Morning Report she was having her dinner when the inflight entertainment stopped. “And then we dropped, then we descended and it was quite a rapid descent. “I looked out the window and I could see we were closer to the ocean then before and then we did a big swing and turned in another direction and I thought oh oh, we’re being diverted or something.” Other passengers told her they heard a grinding sound from one of the engines. “Someone thought they saw a bit of something coming away from the plane or smoke or smoke trail of some kind.” Heard said initially passengers weren’t told what was happening but she said that wasn’t a bad thing, it was good not to cause panic. She said the airline put passengers up in overnight at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland. “It was an inconvenience but I’d rather be able to tell the story about it.” Air New Zealand said the engine was shut down, and the plane landed safely in Auckland. “As per Air New Zealand’s standard operating procedures, the engine was shut down and the aircraft was diverted to Auckland where it landed safely just after 5.20pm. “The matter will now be investigated. The safety of our customers and team is our utmost priority.” Sun, 01 Dec 2024 22:00:35 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-summer-glories-in-the-waitaki-valley/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-summer-glories-in-the-waitaki-valley/ The wonderful Waitaki district sure knows how to wow. Whether neo-classical Victorian streetscapes, ancient Māori rock art, limestone formations, penguin parades or Steampunk is your bag, it’s a region ripe with riches. But before savouring the manifolds delights of Ōamaru, I headed west, into the Waitaki Valley, where the raffish charm of Duntroon is the launch pad into the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark. As New Zealand's first and only UNESCO Global Geopark, it threads together the spell-binding natural landforms, abundant fossil finds and rich cultural history of the Waitaki Valley, which was under sea when Zealandia drifted away from Gondwana. www.whitestonegeopark.co.nz Seismic forces later thrust the ancient seabed upwards, at the same time the Southern Alps were formed. Robert Campbell, the wealthy land-owner and runholder established Duntroon in 1864, naming it in honour of his Scottish birthplace. This cute-as-a-button village is home to the Vanished World Centre, but before heading there, don’t miss Duntroon’s assorted trove of evocative landmarks. St Martin’s Church is Christmas Card perfect, a lustrous limestone church, funded by the Campbell family. A flock of sheep suitably adorn and tend to the church grounds. On the highway roadside, step inside the 115 year old Duntroon Gaol for an indelible sense of the frigid confines of old-school incarceration. Directly across the road, I was guided through the rustic charm-factory of Nicol’s Blacksmith, one of the few operating blacksmith shops left in New Zealand. It’s irresistibly authentic, with the forge fired up on weekends and beginner blacksmithing courses still held, if you want to try your hand at ironwork. Wattie Yardley, who migrated to New Zealand in the 1890s from the Orkney Islands, first owned and operated the smithy. It soon became the community hub, as locals swapped stories over horseshoes. Tragically he was killed in a road crash in 1930, shortly after selling the smithy to Nicol Muirden, whose name still adorns the property today. Roady NZ. 25 million years ago, the land around Duntroon was the ocean floor. And over the ages, fossil fragments from the marine life of the time, settled on the seafloor, 75-100 m below the sea surface. The magnificent Vanished World Centre brings to life the pre-historic wealth of the region. It’s a scene-setter and a trophy-room that speaks to the geological wonderland bestowed on the Waitaki District. I marvelled over the displays of prehistoric dolphin skulls, whale and penguin bones, unearthed by local farmers from the limestone. All manner of discoveries have been found lodged in the region’s famous limestone, which was created by broken down ancient marine life. After getting to grips with the barebones geological back-story, free-roam the region on the Vanished World Trail and explore some of the 40 designated sites of significance that comprise the geopark. There’s a great self-drive touring route. The karst landscape and its whitestone are at the core of Waitaki’s identity. I called into Takiroa, the rock art site where ancient Māori, travelling through the Waitaki Valley for food-gathering, found shelter in the limestone overhangs, etching images of animals and early European contact into the cliff face. Elephant Rocks is a wonderfully whimsical affair, where towering limestone rocks have been sculpted and eroded by wind and water to form elephant-shaped outcrops. The site was used in the filming of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Nearby, at Anatini, the fossilised bones of a baleen whale have been exposed in the limestone, which also served as the setting as Aslan’s Camp in the Narnia film trilogy. The wider Awamoko Valley is dubbed the Valley of the Whales in deference to the abundance of fossilised marine life. Another awe-inspiring spectacle is strikingly called Waipata/Earthquakes, where monstrous slabs of limestone have splintered off the hillside when the land slumped thousands of years ago. It’s still a high rock-fall risk area -so be cautious. But it’s not just limestone that holds court in this geopark, volcanic cones and mesas rising above the rolling downs. Ōamaru itself is built on a long extinct volcano. Also on the trail, there’s the Moeraki Boulders, and Ōmarama’s pinnacled Clay Cliffs, 45 minutes further west from Duntroon. Tourism Waitaki. Don’t you love coming across something so unexpected and unusual, on a road-trip? That’s how most visitors feel when they first clap eyes on the bewitching glory and striking landforms of the Paritea Clay Cliffs. It’s one of the most popular geo-sites in the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark, just minutes from Ōmarama, on Henburn Road. It is absolutely worth the 15 minute diversion off the main road to savour this serrated geological wonder, complete with a slot canyon to shimmy through. It feels like a mix of Utah and Petra as you size up the fluted shapes of the tall columns and the beautiful pastel colours. They are a grand collection of ‘bad land’ sharp pinnacles and ridges separated by steep and narrow ravines, reminiscent of giant organ pipes, of varying sizes, thrusting up from the eroded cliff face. The landmark was created out of layers of silt and gravel deposited by ancient lakes and rivers around 20 million years ago. They have since been uplifted and tilted by the nearby active Ostler Fault, and eroded. The cliffs are on private land and there is an honesty box at the gate where you are asked to pay $5 per car. After passing through the gate, drive to the carpark. From here you can walk up to and among the cliffs (10-15 mins from carpark one way). The road and track can get a little rough after rain– and inside the cliffs’ slot canyon, those rocks do get slippery underfoot. Closed, sturdy footwear is advised. If you’re tracking back to Ōamaru from Ōmarama, dabble in the delights of the Waitaki Valley’s Lakes District, studded with hydro stations. Lake Benmore is New Zealand’s largest artificial lake, created by the Benmore Hydro-Dam. It was completed in 1965 and at the time was New Zealand’s biggest ever construction project. It remains our largest rammed earth dam. The lake holds about 1.25 billion cubic meters of water, which is roughly 1.5 times the water in Wellington Harbour! With its vivid blue colour and breathtaking hill country views, Lake Benmore is a peaceful haven, all year round. Popular with boating and fishing enthusiasts, Benmore also boasts fantastic walking and cycling trails. I highly recommend the Benmore Peninsula Track, a 4km loop walk just up the hill, for dreamy views down on the lake, while Mt Cook shimmers in the distance. Do it early in the morning, when the weather is typically calm. Pumpkin Point is a stunningly scenic spot on Lake Benmore to roll out the picnic rug. The Waitaki Valley’s exploits in viticulture is attracting attention with over a dozen vineyards in operation. Throughout the valley, seams of limestone provide the ideal foundation for producing Burgundy-style wines. The first vines were planted at the turn of the millennium and the limestone rich soils, combined with the arid climate give rise to delicate tones. Pinot Noir is the signature variety, alongside Pinot Gris and Riesling. River-T Wines is a small vineyard that was planted in 2007, and well worth a visit. They hand-harvest their grapes from April until mid-May, making it one of the last vineyards to harvest in New Zealand. The River-T Cellar door in Kurow has the largest selection of Waitaki Valley wines in the world. Not only stocking and tasting River-T but also some great wines from fellow producers in the valley. Finally, to metaphorically drink in the valley’s sweeping splendour, take the 45-minute climb up Kurow Hill walkway for panoramic views across the river to the Hakataramea Valley. I’ll raise a glass to that! www.waitakinz.com Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings. Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:48:42 Z /lifestyle/travel/hostel-at-centre-of-mass-methanol-poisoning-in-laos-deleted-reviews-warning-others-away-reports/ /lifestyle/travel/hostel-at-centre-of-mass-methanol-poisoning-in-laos-deleted-reviews-warning-others-away-reports/ As some of their number succumbed to methanol poisoning, other guests at the Laotian hostel at the centre of the probe tried to warn others to stay away - and the hostel reportedly deleted their warning. Australia’s ABC is reporting that online reviewers desperately tried to get the word out before news of the first deaths were made public. “Do not go here!! They have methanol in their drinks and me and three others have been hospitalised because of this,” one message shared by the ABC read. “I stayed at this hostel for five days. Myself and friends were sick from consuming the free vodka here,” another tourist said. “People we know were taken to hospital, some even in intensive care with serious problems. The ones in hospital have all had traces of methanol in their bloodstream which is incredibly dangerous. “The only event that connects all the different people is drinking at this hostel.” Six people have died and others have been violently ill after the suspected poisoning in Vang Vieng, popular backpacker town in the Southeast Asian country. Methanol is sometimes added deliberately and illegally to alcohol and the owner of a hostel has been detained by police for questioning. In response to the now-deleted reviews, the owners described the comments as a “slander case” and claimed to have “always prioritised the safety and wellbeing of our guests”. Kiwi comes home A Kiwi tourist believed to have been caught up in the poisoning returned home earlier this week. Australian teens Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles died in a suspected mass methanol poisoning event in Laos. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) earlier said a New Zealand citizen was thought to be one of the poisoning victims. On Monday, a spokeswoman confirmed the tourist had been able to return to New Zealand. “The New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok [which has responsibility for Laos] has been providing assistance to one New Zealander who we believe to have been poisoned with methanol in Laos,” she said. “They have now departed Laos and returned home.” Mfat has updated its travel advisory for Laos to note there have been several cases of suspected methanol poisoning after consuming alcoholic drinks. “Travellers are advised to be cautious about consuming alcoholic beverages, particularly cocktails and drinks made with spirits that may have been adulterated with harmful substances. Know the signs of methanol poisoning and seek immediate medical attention if poisoning is suspected.” It’s understood the owner of the Nana Backpacker Hostel where the two friends had been staying was detained on Friday for questioning by police in Laos, according to the ABC. The two Australian victims are believed to have started their night with free drinks at the hostel before heading out to other bars. The ABC reports the hostel previously claimed the drinks in question did not come from its bar. What does methanol poisoning do? Victims can go into severe metabolic acidosis, when too much acid builds up in the body. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, as well as depression of the central nervous system. This can cause people to become unconscious and potentially enter a coma. Methanol poisoning can also cause retinal damage, leading to vision loss. Treatment includes supportive care such as intubation and ventilation to help the patient breathe, and some medicinal care may be provided to remove methanol from the body. - Additional reporting, Melissa Nightingale Thu, 28 Nov 2024 01:12:28 Z /lifestyle/travel/laos-methanol-poisoning-danish-women-reportedly-vomited-blood-for-hours/ /lifestyle/travel/laos-methanol-poisoning-danish-women-reportedly-vomited-blood-for-hours/ Text messages from two Danish backpackers who died in a mass poisoning in Laossuggest the pair had been vomiting blood for 13 hours. Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, were later discovered dead at Nana Backpackers in Vang Vieng, Laos. The two women reportedly drank from a batch of alcohol allegedly laced with methanol. This same tainted batch has been linked to four additional deaths, including Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, and put 11 foreigners in critical condition, including a Kiwi. Nana Backpacker hostel, Laos. The young women from Roskilde, Denmark were staying in Vang Vieng, Laos during a backpacking trip around southeast Asia. They were planning to meet a Belgian man they met earlier on their trip. The pair reportedly texted this man to say they had been vomiting blood for several hours after they consumed the methanol-laced alcohol. A friend of the Belgian backpacker then took to social media to share a warning. “The past few days I have been busy with a Belgian friend looking for two girls he travelled with,” the post, also shared to Reddit, read. “For more than 72 hours, no contact could be made while they had agreed to meet in Vang Vieng. The strange thing was that their last message was that they had both been vomiting blood for 13 hours … They have both since died.” According to local police, Sorensen and Coyman had drinks at their hostel bar on November 12 then continued drinking at other venues. They returned to their room around midnight but remained inside after that. They were found unconscious on their bathroom floor by hostel staff around 6pm the following day. Although rushed to the hospital, both were declared dead by 3.30am on November 14. Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, right, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen with local children in Vietnam. Photo / via Instagram The same toxic batch of alcohol is thought to have also poisoned a Kiwi tourist. Today, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson provided an update on the tourist and how they were getting home. “The New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok [which has responsibility for Laos] has been providing assistance to one New Zealander who we believe to have been poisoned with methanol in Laos,” she said. Mfat has updated its travel advisory for Laos following several cases of suspected methanol poisoning after consuming alcoholic drinks. Two 19-year-old Melbourne travellers who stayed at the same hostel have also died from methanol poisoning. Freja Vennervald Sorensen seen drinking while the women were in Bangkok before travelling to Nana Backpackers in Vang Vieng, Laos. Photo / via Instagram Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones reportedly consumed cocktails that contained lethal amounts of methanol in Vang Vieng. Staff at Nana Backpackers Hostel claim they drank at the bar on November 11 and then went to another venue. The following day, they stayed in their room but later told staff they were struggling to breathe and needed urgent medical attention, according to Melbourne newspaper Herald Sun. Why would a bar use methanol in drinks? Methanol is often found in drinks when the intention is to cut costs, according to emergency specialist and toxicologist Dr Paul Gee. “The most likely way that a tourist is likely to get methanol mixed in with their drinks is if they have a cocktail for a mixed drink in a bar in one of these countries,” Gee previously told RNZ. “In those countries, bars often substitute commercially produced alcohol for bootleg alcohol because it’s cheaper.” Consuming methanol may initially provide a high similar to how you feel after drinking alcohol but the symptoms quickly take a turn. “When the body ingests methanol, it initially thinks it’s like ethanol, you’ll feel intoxicated, perhaps slightly high, but as the body converts the methanol into an acid you’ll get increasingly unwell,” Gee said. Mon, 25 Nov 2024 01:00:16 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-magical-encounters-at-disneyland-resort-anaheim/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-magical-encounters-at-disneyland-resort-anaheim/ I freely admit I’m a child at heart. In my book, nothing can reawaken your inner child quite like the escapist innocence, magic, and sparkle of Disney. Recently while I was in LA, I reacquainted myself with the enchantment of Disneyland Resort. If you’re sizing up a Disney vacation, 2025 is a particularly auspicious time to do swing through the Mouse House, because Walt Disney’s pioneering magic kingdom in Anaheim will be celebrating its 70th Anniversary. A fitting tribute will debut on Main Street USA with the first ever Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics as part of a new stage show, “Walt Disney — A Magical Life.”   It will give visitors a chance to imagine what it would be like to stop by Walt’s office, back in the day when he was dreaming big with his imagineers. Full details of the milestone celebrations are yet to be revealed, but you can expect nostalgic night time spectaculars, returning parades and reimagined entertainment. If you’re a history buff like me, a great way to immerse yourself in Disneyland’s heritage is to book a place on the Main Street Story Tour, with behind-the-scenes stories and a visit to Walt legendary apartment above the Disneyland Fire Station in Town Square. It’s one of the enticing extras you should add to your Disneyland experience.  With up to 90,000 daily guests pouring into Disneyland Park and up to 50,000 entering Disney’s California Adventure Park, one of the biggest dilemmas is where do you start, after passing through the gates? Billowing queues soon form for every ride, so I would suggest you head straight to Toon Town and line up for a personal photo inside Mickey’s House with the mouse himself. Rinse and repeat, right next door with Minnie Mouse. Do this early – and you’ll only have to wait about five minutes to get snap-happy. Toon Town is also home to one of the latest crowd-pleasing attractions, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.   Mike and Mickey. Photo / Mike Yardley  Located in the El Capitoon Theater, this family-friendly experience transports you into the cartoon world. Board a train engineered by Goofy and embark on a wacky adventure with Mickey and friends. Photo opportunities abound with a host of cartoon and big-screen characters, all over the parks. Some characters will be foot-loose around the parks, or you can take your turn getting selfies with a cast of characters around Disneyland’s Town Square and Royal Hall, Buena Vista Street, Pixar Pier and Avengers Headquarters are the best meet-and-greet character haunts in California Adventure.  What would I rate as the do-not-miss experiences and rides? Avengers Campus, a Marvel-themed land is the biggest recent addition at Disney California Adventure. Avengers Campus features WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, a truly stunning interactive attraction featuring Spider-Man. In Disneyland, check out the wondrously refreshed Adventureland Treehouse. This reimagining of Tarzan’s Treehouse takes inspiration from the past, paying tribute to the original treehouse that Walt Disney and his Imagineers built in 1962 for Swiss Family Robinson. Just opened, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is an instant hit.   Some of the original rides, reaching back to 1955, are still truly enchanting, like the Disneyland Railroad, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, It’s a Small World, King Arthur Carousel, Mr Toad’s Wild Ride, Peter Pan’s Flight, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Mark Twain Riverboat and the iconic Mad Tea Party spinning teacups. The Matterhorn Bobcats, Haunted Mansion and Indiana Jones Adventure should also be on your check-list. Across at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, definitely take a ride in the Millennium Falcon and be left agog at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, as if you’ve been thrust into a full-throttle battle scene against the First Order.   Disneyland Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. Photo / Disney Disney’s California Adventure is action-packed with big-screen movie hero and blockbuster cartoon attractions. One of my favourite rides is Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout. Join Rocket on a jaw-dropping thrill ride to rescue the Guardians of the Galaxy from the Collector’s fortress. But there’s a reason the queues are even more biblical in size for Radiator Springs Racers, as you zoom the undulating red-rock desert landscape of Cars Land. Start your engines! It’s a rollicking ride in overdrive – and my runaway favourite.   Take advantage of Lightning Lane access. Save time and skip the standby line with Lightning Lane passes on the most in-demand attractions, with considerably shorter queuing time. The way it works is you book a time to ride, via the Disneyland app. The multi-pass is available for a host of rides in both parks, while you can buy a Lightning Lane Single Pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racer.  Great eats? There’s only so many churros and Mickey Mouse waffles you can gorge on, right? Feast on New Orleans-inspired dishes at the recently opened Tiana’s Palace, inspired by Disney’s animated flick, “The Princess and the Frog.” It’s a newly reimagined quick-service restaurant. Try the 7 Greens Gumbo, a beef po’ sandwich and the gorgeous lemon-glazed beignets. For nostalgia buffs, head to the Golden Horseshow in Frontierland. Dating back to the park’s 1955 opening, Walt and Lillian Disney celebrated their 30th anniversary here.  You can still see Walt Disney's private box upstairs to the right of the stage. The interior of the saloon took its design cues from the 1953 Doris Day film Calamity Jane. The menu includes traditional American favourites like chicken tenders, funnel cakes, and ice-cream floats.   Mickey waffles at Disneyland. Photo / Supplied Another 1955 original is the Carnation Café, located on Main Street USA. Try the homemade meatloaf and Walt’s chili. I’m also a big fan of the Jolly Holiday Bakery Café, on Main Street. This Mary Poppins-themed restaurant offers deli and cafe-style food items like fresh pastries, sandwiches and sweets. Munch merrily on some Matterhorn Macarons. Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo is known for being one of the best Disneyland restaurants in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. This restaurant is themed to that of a “farm fresh” style restaurant but in a galaxy far, far away. The Chicken Yip-Tip is a popular choice and for vegetarians, the Felucian Kefta/Hummus Garden Spread is an option with more variety than a salad.  For great character dining, Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel is a huge hit. Guests will see Goofy in his chef outfit along with a variety of other characters that may include Pluto, Baloo from The Jungle Book, Aladdin and Jasmine, Alice from Alice in Wonderland, Chip or Dale, and Pinocchio. How could you say no to a peanut butter and jelly pizza? Meanwhile, the signature restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is Napa Rose. Acclaimed for its impeccable service, award-winning wine list and elevated “wine country cuisine”, the Black Angus filet mignon and the sauteed diver scallops are exquisitely executed dishes (Napa Rose also hosts daily Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures).  Goofy's Kitchen. Photo / Disney Throughout the day and after dark, there’s a host of parades and the famous fireworks extravaganzas to take in, too. If it sounds exhausting, yes Disneyland Resort can zap your energy. My biggest advice? Don’t try packing everything into one day. Your race against the clock is a recipe for stress. Buy a multi-day pass, whether it be two or three days, so you can strike out in the parks at a more leisurely, relaxed pace. I was struck by how many young families I saw in the late afternoon and early evening, in meltdown mode. So many children looked frenzied and fatigued, as the post-sugar hit tantrums hit fever pitch and panicked parents tried to pack more and more experiences into the fading light of day. That’s not a holiday and it’s certainly not fun. Yes, extending your stay is going to cost more, but it will be worth every cent!  Stay on-site. It will eliminate the stress entailed getting to and from the park. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the most luxurious of the hotel offerings, beautifully designed with nods to the early 20th Century Arts & Crafts movement and the woodsy lodge finery of Yosemite National Park in the soaring lobby and atrium. But it’s also a superb place for extra-pampering. Plunge into a world of aquatic thrills in the Mariposa, Fountain, and Redwood outdoor-themed pools! An enormous waterslide extends from a redwood tree trunk. If you're up for a different kind of exercise, why not join the Get Up & Go Power Walk through Disney California Adventure Park?   The atrium of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel. Photo / Disney It's not just a walk; it's a magical morning adventure before the park opens its gates. For the ultimate in personal pampering, the Tenaya Stone Spa is the answer. In addition to the headline Napa Rose restaurant, GCH Craftsman Bar is one of the best-hidden gems at Disneyland. The menu features fresh, California-inspired fare ranging from avocado toast to salmon salad to flatbread. The restaurant prices are reasonable for how good the food is, and this is a super relaxing spot for a bite. There’s a vast range of accommodation options to please all tastes, but the greatest amenity of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel is undoubtedly its proximity to Disneyland and direct entrance into Grizzly Peak at Disney California Adventure.   This entrance makes it the closest hotel to any Disney theme park in the United States. It’s also an incredibly short walk to Disneyland Park (either through Disney California Adventure or Downtown Disney). This is a huge benefit, especially when coupled with your early entry perks. Guests who are checked in and staying at one of the Disneyland Resort hotels can take advantage of 30-minute early entry to a designated theme park every day of their hotel stay. Get a jump start on the crowds and head straight to Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land!  Radiator Springs Racers. Photo / Disney  Try not to lose your cellphone. Of all the places in the world to misplace your phone, Disneyland wouldn’t spring to mind as the ideal locale. However, my misadventure opened my eyes to the herculean lost and found operation that happily hums behind the scenes at Disneyland Resort. Disney employs a vast cast of lost and found workers, who trawl the parks retrieving thousands of left behind items and set about reuniting them with their owners. In my case, after a moment’s inattention, my cellphone was duly picked up, dispatching to the sorting office and returned to me several hours later, after I filed a lost item form. Fun fact: of the tens of thousands of items that are handled by the lost and found department each year, that includes over 40,000 hats, 20,000 pairs of sunglasses and 8000 cellphones. The repatriation rate is remarkably high. And apparently the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride is notorious for parting people from their cellphones!   Finally, if you want to accentuate your Disneyland Resort experience, dodge the peak seasons. Mercifully for Kiwis planning a post-Christmas holiday in Anaheim, January, February and March are the quietest months for park visitors. In contrast, July and August is jam-packed. Mid-September to mid-November is also a quieter period, although the Halloween season spikes visitation. And try and book your visit for weekdays (particularly Tuesdays and Wednesdays) which are considerably less-trafficked than the weekends. disneyland.disney.go.com/  I flew from Auckland to Los Angeles with Delta Air Lines. As the airport’s number one global carrier, Delta Air Lines offers nearly 160 peak-day departures out of LAX to nearly 60 domestic and international locations. For extra-comfort, take the step up to Delta Premium Select. With more room to stretch out and premium amenities designed with your wellbeing in mind, including exclusively designed menus, touchdown in LA from the overnight flight feeling refreshed and relaxed. And when flying in Premium Select, you’ll also enjoy accelerated check-in, security and baggage service, plus priority boarding. For best flights, fares and seats to suit, head to delta.com  Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Sat, 23 Nov 2024 00:41:37 Z /lifestyle/travel/jetstar-refunds-family-after-bumping-them-off-auckland-flight-to-queenstown/ /lifestyle/travel/jetstar-refunds-family-after-bumping-them-off-auckland-flight-to-queenstown/ A family was stranded at Auckland Airport and then stuck in Queenstown without their luggage after a series of errors from Jetstar saw them bumped from a flight without warning. A woman and her 9-month-old baby were stuck at Auckland Airport with her elderly mother and cousin yesterday after she says Jetstar refused to let them board flight JQ295. Jetstar told the Herald the incident had been caused by unintentional errors, which included not loading the group’s luggage on to a flight they were rebooked on. Abhishek Bhalla recounted the “mental torture” faced by his wife, Atika, their 9-month-old son, Atika’s mother, and her cousin visiting from Canada. The group was heading to Queenstown for three days of sightseeing when the incident unfolded. Bhalla received a call at 6am yesterday from Jetstar offering an upgrade to emergency exit row seats for extra legroom. “I was half-asleep and said, ‘Yep, that’s fine’,” he explained, adding it was so early he didn’t consider the fact that infants cannot sit in emergency exits. Their original boarding passes were cancelled and they received new ones upon check-in. However, when Atika and her family arrived at the gate, the flight was overbooked and they were told they could not board. Bhalla claimed staff were dismissive and unhelpful and after an argument got heated, they threatened to call security. “My wife’s on the phone with me, she’s crying, the baby’s crying,” he recalled. After the flight was boarded, they were told one person could get on the flight. “Are you serious? We are showing someone who’s first time coming to New Zealand and there’s a baby with us, and you’re basically telling us that you have overbooked,” Bhalla said, adding that it wasn’t their fault. After returning to the Jetstar check-in desk, an employee rebooked them on the next flight and provided coffee vouchers. During this time, the employee allegedly said the group was moved to the exit row to try and solve a booking mistake, not realising the group was unsuitable to sit in the exit row. Eventually, the group caught a 10.20am Jetstar flight to Queenstown. When they arrived, they realised their bags had been forgotten and were still in Auckland. Jetstar admitted mistakes had been made and apologised for the disruption caused. “We’re really sorry to hear about Ms. Bhalla and her family’s experience and appreciate it would have been a very frustrating situation for them,” the airline said in a statement. “We acknowledge errors were made and will work with our team to learn from this experience.” The family has received a refund for their flights from Auckland to Queenstown and provided travel vouchers. Their luggage was also placed on a flight to Queenstown. Bhalla criticised Jetstar’s handling of the incident and said he felt the 6am phone call offering an upgrade had been deceptive. “What they have done in this situation by ringing us and playing a trick on us – that is something everyone should know,” he alleged. Jetstar said the incident was the result of a series of errors. The family is set to return to Auckland on Friday, but Bhalla said the experience was embarrassing for both his wife and her cousin visiting New Zealand for the first time. “I don’t know what to say. I mean, I’m still getting those jitters in my tummy out of anger,” he said. Thu, 21 Nov 2024 02:27:51 Z /lifestyle/travel/hot-prices-for-coldplay-hotels-get-sugar-hit-following-a-tough-winter/ /lifestyle/travel/hot-prices-for-coldplay-hotels-get-sugar-hit-following-a-tough-winter/ Auckland hotels got a much-needed shot in the arm this weekend after revenue per room had plunged in the lead-up to summer. Hotel room rates are this weekend up to double normal prices with Coldplay fans swelling the city. Horwath HTL reports occupancies soared to close to 90% with up to half the hotels in one chain - IHG - reporting no vacancies over the weekend. Airfares also shot up with one traveller facing a $670 one-way Auckland-Wellington fare on Air NZ on Saturday. Pearl Jam playing the previous weekend also boosted hotel occupancy in Auckland and pushed airfares up. “Many hotels were expecting to be full over the weekend with the final two Coldplay concerts at Eden Park. Pearl Jam at Go Media Stadium also drove demand,“ said Hotel Council Aotearoa executive director James Doolan. “These two concerts have been a much-needed shot in the arm for accommodation providers after a very poor winter with simply not enough major events or other demand drivers.“ New Zealand’s post-Covid tourism recovery appears to be stalled with Stats NZ figures out this week showing that for September international arrival numbers were 87% of those for the same month in 2019. The recovery has been consistently below 90% of pre-pandemic levels for the last year. Doolan said one way of boosting that was attracting more events. “Auckland Council and central government have been underinvesting in event attraction. Investment by Auckland Council was slashed from $30 million pre-Covid to $7m today, with even that funding possibly disappearing if current council proposals proceed.“ He said the view that residents don’t benefit from major events in the city was out of touch. “The vast majority of the 150,000 Coldplay attendees are permanent Auckland residents. Small businesses thrive when the city is buzzing. Auckland Council needs to wake up to the fact that fashions change. Libraries, public swimming pools and sports fields aren’t the only forms of entertainment that ratepayers value.“ Major international performers often require up front cash incentives, called “subvention payments”, before they agree to visit a particular city, said Doolan. “It’s absolutely normal practice for local and central governments to make subvention payments, because no single business or sector gets all the financial upside when a major event takes place,“ said Doolan. A key beneficiary of increased spending is always central government, which receives 15% in GST on top of every dollar spent during events, he said. “For everyone paying $500 for a Coldplay ticket, Uber ride, drinks and meal, the central government receives a $65 slice. We want more of that money going back into supporting the visitor economy.” Although Auckland hotels have had a good start to November, this followed a grim few months. According to the latest Hotel Data New Zealand statistics compiled by Horwath, revenue per available room (Revpar) in Auckland tumbled by 19.5% in October Average daily rates for hotels in the city were down from $216 for October 2023 to $198 per room. That compares with the $198 they were getting five years ago, before the big surge in inflation when prices in other sectors soared. “This underperformance is attributed to an oversupply of rooms, with a 7.9% year on year increase in inventory, and declining demand from both international and domestic travellers,“ Horwath HTL says. Statistics NZ reported a 2% decrease in visitor arrivals through Auckland Airport in October. The airport has experienced a loss of market share to Christchurch and Queenstown, especially for flights from Australia, Horwath said. Despite October events such as the Diwali Festival, demand remained insufficient to drive growth. Hotels across much of the country continue to experience the effects of the economic downturn and a sharp decline in government-related travel, compounded by Air New Zealand’s engine issues, which have affected domestic capacity and driven up airfares. According to Air New Zealand, government travel in some markets has dropped by as much as 30%. National revpar was down 3.5% in October on the same month in 2019 and average rates were down from $216 to $213. During the past five years, hotel supply has expanded by about 6800 rooms. This increase, along with the lag in room night recovery, has contributed to a 12.5 percentage point decline in occupancy levels compared to the same period in 2019. Queenstown bucked the trend with revpar growth of 14.8%, and a room rate up from $267 to $286. Queenstown Airport reported a 9.4% increase in passenger arrivals for the month compared to October 2023. Passenger volumes exceeded pre-Covid levels by 13%. Christchurch recorded steady growth with occupancy increasing slightly to 76% and room rates rising by 3.3% to $199, translating to a nearly 4% increase in Revpar. Non-resident arrivals at Christchurch Airport grew by 12%, according to Stats NZ, and further seat capacity increases have been announced for upcoming months with United Airlines and Cathay Pacific returning. These trends point to sustained growth and increased demand heading into the peak season. Horwath said Wellington experienced moderate gains, with occupancy rising from 70% to 73% and rates slightly increasing to $211. Events such as the World of Wearable Arts and the Wellington Jazz Festival attracted additional visitors. “There is a feeling that stabilisation in government restructuring announcements may contribute to reducing uncertainty in business and government-related travel.“ Horwath said summer was expected to be crucial for the New Zealand hotel industry, as airlines plan to expand long-haul capacities to accommodate the summer season, potentially boosting demand across key markets during the peak holiday period. Grant Bradley has worked at the Herald since 1993. He is the Business Herald’s deputy editor and covers aviation and tourism. Sun, 17 Nov 2024 01:14:43 Z /lifestyle/travel/airbnb-s-gladiator-experience-at-the-colosseum-leads-to-outcry-in-rome/ /lifestyle/travel/airbnb-s-gladiator-experience-at-the-colosseum-leads-to-outcry-in-rome/ The holiday-rental company is promising armour, swordfights and ‘victuals’ to a chosen few as part of a film promotion – to the dismay of some locals. Airbnb dangled an unusual possibility this week for fans of history, shields, and very long movies: “Suit up and unleash your inner gladiator inside Rome’s legendary arena”. The company is offering a chance for a small number of people to follow in the footsteps of fighters and various beasts - with a less bloody outcome - as part of an “exclusive gladiator experience” at the Colosseum that doubles as a promotion for the upcoming film Gladiator II. “For the first time in nearly 2000 years, the Colosseum returns to its original purpose as a venue for performances, inviting daring warriors to step foot inside the historic arena to forge their own paths and shape their destinies,” the announcement says. It promises the spectacle of a “thrilling showdown” by seasoned gladiators, a meal of “victuals like grapes, pomegranates, almonds, and walnuts”, and a face-off with “fellow warriors”. To some, those were fighting words. "We can’t turn one of the world’s most important monuments into a theme park,” wrote Massimiliano Smeriglio, Rome’s councillor for culture, in an Instagram post, as translated by the social media site. Other culture officials sounded similar alarms in media reports. Locals aren't happy about Airbnb's plan to use the Colosseum for an "exclusive gladiator experience". The tensions over the Colosseum-Airbnb arrangement come as popular European destinations such as Rome struggle to maintain their quality of life while dealing with influxes of tourists. Critics say the growing use of housing as short-term rentals, like Airbnbs, is contributing to housing shortages for locals in some cities. The Colosseum blowback is a different beast for the company. Lauren Donovan Ginsberg, a professor of classical studies at Duke University in the United States, said in an email that the site was where gladiators, condemned prisoners and animals were killed, sometimes “in brutal ways designed for degradation and spectacle”. “The idea of cosplaying the violence done to the bodies of professional gladiators, usually enslaved or lower class citizens or immigrants, on the site of so much violence as a ‘side benefit’ of your Airbnb stay - a company ALSO directly profiting from the over-touristing of Rome - seems to me to be the wrong kind of engagement with ancient Rome,” Ginsberg wrote. “It is certainly trivialising the life and death of gladiators and many more. Or at least, it isn’t the lesson I hope my students would take away from their study of the Roman arena.” Airbnb said its Colosseum evening experience comes with US$1.5 million ($2.6m) in support for the ancient site, part of a larger donation for historical attractions and homes in Europe. “We are proud to support the Colosseum’s ongoing conservation work to find new ways to inspire and educate visitors on the historical significance of this bygone era,” the company said in a statement. Airbnb added that the programme had been “sensitively recreated” with the archaeological team from the museum and re-enactment associations. Alfonsina Russo, director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, said in a statement provided by Airbnb that the site would update a permanent exhibition as part of the agreement. “The goal of the collaboration is to enhance the historical and cultural heritage of the Flavian Amphitheatre through immersive activities that fully respect the monument, based on rigorous historical research,” Russo said. People can submit a request to book the three-hour “Train for Gladiator II glory” experience between November 27 and December 9; those who are chosen to participate will visit on May 7 or 8. Two trainings will be held, and each can accommodate a total of 16 people. While the experience is free, an overnight stay at the Colosseum is not included and travellers have to get themselves to Rome. Airbnb said it was contributing to the Colosseum's ongoing conservation efforts as part of its agreement with the Colosseum Archaeological Park authorities. Photo / Getty Images The archaeological site says the programme “will take place outside of regular opening hours and will not interfere with the usual visits to the site, ensuring complete access to the monument”. Debra Levinson, founder and chief executive of the Florida-based tour operator Mr and Mrs Italy, has planned gladiator activities for groups in Rome, booking through an established “gladiator” school. But adults cosplaying as Roman warriors within the hallowed walls of the Colosseum is not appropriate, she said. “It’s a fantastic way for children to engage with history, because it offers a hands-on and memorable way to learn,” Levinson said. “But I also feel that when marketed primarily as an adult entertainment, it does risk diminishing the Colosseum and could turn it into something a little bit more of a novelty than a place of reflection and education.” Or, as city councillor Enzo Foschi told the Telegraph: “Rome is not Disneyland”. Still, for some gladiator enthusiasts, the experience sounded promising. Damion DiGrazia, the founder of non-profit Gladiators NYC, has travelled to fight in modern-day gladiator tournaments not only in the United States but in Tokyo, Poland, Spain, Portugal, and Ireland. He said he understands why the Airbnb promotion might be sensitive, but he hopes the experience will make history come alive in a respectful way. “The Colosseum is an incredible wonder of the world,” DiGrazia said. “If Airbnb wants to honour [Italian] heritage and bring it back to life, and is offering a great way to have some more tourism, I mean, why not? I think it’s a matter of how they go about it.” He and other members of the non-profit saw a private screening of Gladiator II recently at the invitation of Paramount Pictures. “I mean, we’re the gladiators of New York,” he said. “If we got to go to the Colosseum to fight, we would fight so hard. We would draw blood. We’re ready to go.” Sun, 17 Nov 2024 00:35:25 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-hospitality-heroes-in-anaheim/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-hospitality-heroes-in-anaheim/ In the heart of Orange County, Anaheim is a glittering hospitality hot spot, cultivating a red-hot reputation as a foodie destination, with all the Southern California feels. From fuss-free street snacks and quick bites to spectacular gourmet glories, you’re seriously spoilt for choice. Underscoring Anaheim’s epicurean stripes, the Anaheim area boasts over 30 Michelin-recommended eateries.   One such specimen is Poppy & Seed, in the Packing House District. This is such a dreamy destination to get a flavour for the Southern California brunch scene, with a lounge and bar nestled inside a greenhouse, and outdoor dining surrounded by citrus trees, herbs and flowers. Organic, sustainable and locally grown, raised or caught ingredients are all to the fore, here. Hero dishes include creamy Anson Mills grits topped with gravy and plump tail-on shrimp. Charred eggplant puree and pickled sea beans lend a bite to steak tartare, while fried Brussels sprouts are sweet and salty thanks to bacon jam and pomegranate.    Locavores flock to the weekly Downtown Anaheim Farmer’s Market, which holds court every Thursday from 11am- 3pm, on Center St Promenade. It’s an irresistible scene for on-the-go delights, like Ensenada Fish Tacos, King's Empanadas and Koko Moo Coconut milk.   For snacks on the go, Okayama Kobo Bakery & Café. This oven-fresh institution on Center St is beloved by the locals and it’s easy to see why when your sink your teeth into their breads and pastries. Try a Kabocha Custard bun. This soft bun filled with homemade custard made with kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) topped with pretzel stick and sunflower seed. Kids go crazy over their Kobo Kumas – a bear-shaped soft bun, filled with homemade vanilla bean custard. And you’ve got to try a Japanini – an original panini with shiso leaf, basil pesto, bacon, cheese and tomato.    Okayama Kobo Bakery in Anaheim. Photo / Visit Anaheim  A great headliner in the historic heart of Anaheim is the Anaheim Packing House. This upscale food emporium is housed in a repurposed, historic 1919 citrus-packing house, where hundreds of growers would previously unload their trucks, groaning under the weight of citrus. Its rich heritage adds to its charm. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2015, a year after this great totem to Orange County’s citrus production was refurbished into an edgy-new food hall. With twinkling fairy lights and an undeniably cool design, there’s a diverse array of interesting vendors and Insta-worthy food options.    My favourite haunt at the Packing House is the quirky, suitably furtive prohibition-style bar, the Blind Rabbit. It’s very well hidden and can only accommodate a handful of people at any one time. Check in at the counter on the lower level, to the right of the stairwell. You’ll be greeted by the Blind Rabbit’s gatekeeper and reminded of the house rules. Stays can’t exceed 90-minutes due to the small square meterage, phone calls are prohibited and there’s to be ‘no name-dropping’. Behind the thick door and the sake barrels is a cosy, low-lit rabbit hole of bar – perfect for romantic tipples from their wickedly delicious cocktail list, paired with tapas, like Duck Confit Mac & Cheese and Croissant Bread Pudding. The speakeasy has a dedicated Absinthe section on its cocktail menu. The Blind Rabbit is indelible fun – exit out through the bookcase.   Other top picks in the Packing House would have to include Popbar. The ice creamery offers a zany selection of flavours like Green Tea Kit Kat – a green tea gelato half dipped in chocolate with waffle cone topping and white chocolate drizzle.  Then there’s Strawberry Pocky –  a strawberry sorbetto half dipped in chocolate with waffle cone topping and white chocolate drizzle. Delish!   Check out 206 BCE and whistle up a bowl of their Insta-famous Anti-Gravity Noodles. These egg noodles are bathed in butter garlic sauce and topped with your choice of protein. As for what exactly makes them ‘anti-gravity’, it’s all an illusion. “Flying noodles” are generally propped up by either chopsticks or a secret prop. For example, a hidden potato, covered with a mound of noodles.  Another signature dish at the eatery is the Garlic Butter Shrimp.  Anti-gravity noodles at Anaheim Packing House. Photo / Visit Anaheim  Anaheim is the undisputed craft beer capital of Orange County with an abundance of local brewers to lustily sample from. Raise a glass or two at Golden Road Brewing. The LA brand has expanded its Anaheim taproom into a full-service restaurant and brewery, with the most enormous beer garden I have ever experienced. Why? Its location is the big clue – right across the road from Angel Stadium. There are more than 30 taps and new innovations crafted directly onsite. With tropical IPAs, Mango fruit beer, Boysenberry Wheat ales as well as hard seltzers, the menu offers plenty of refreshing pours.   Villian’s Brewing Co is another stand-out venue, where you can expect “awfully good beer and villainous vibes”, plus a cranking food hall. The craft beer list features regionally inspired options including a double West Coast IPA called Brethren of Filth and a Mexican-style lager, Saca La Bolsita, which really hit the spot.   My favourite spot for cheeky libations in Anaheim is Strong Water. The co-founders of the bar, Ying Chang and Robert Adamson, were also the brains behind the Blind Rabbit. Leaning into the history of tiki bars in California (where they originated in the 1930s), Strong Water is the most escapist of confections: a tiki bar in a shipwreck, as the spectacular theming goes. It’s like a magical, whimsical maritime adventure, with meticulous attention to detail in the décor and bar offerings, all infused with an infectiously convivial atmos. As you’d expect, the craft cocktails are ingenious and thoughtfully themed. I plumped for a Corpse Reviver, a tart and resurrecting blend of gin, orange liqueur, lemon and absinthe rinse. The small plates bar menu is mouth-watering.    Escapist interior at Strong Water. Photo / Visit Anaheim Tuck into some sticky wings with five spice glaze, topped with scallion and sesame seeds. The Hawaiian Garlic Shrimps won’t disappoint, either. Ying and Robert are just opening their latest enterprise, a new cocktail bar down the street called Double Luck, which is focused on Italian aperitivos and digestivos. They commissioned an artist to paint portraits of their favourite distilling icons (like Gaspare Campari who created the popular Italian amaro) wearing boutonnieres that feature the different herbs and spices that comprise each spirit. This multi-award-winning dynamic duo certainly has the Midas touch, continuing to raise the bar on the craft cocktail culture. Be sure to immerse yourself in the exotic, seafaring world and tiki bar mystique of Strong Water. And double your luck by checking out Double Luck!    Wining and dining with a view? (And an elevated perch for dreamy Californian sunsets and the nightly fireworks at Disneyland.) There’s two rooftop hotel restaurants I would add to the checklist. Try Top of the V on the roof of The Viv Hotel, swooned over for their sangria selections and Basque Country culinary traditions. I sunk into their Labios Riojia Sangria, a heart-warming concoction of red wine, peach brandy, zinfandel port, lillet and grenadine. Pair that with some beautifully executed pintxos, like patatas bravas and garlic shrimps.    Great eats at the top of the V. Photo / Mike Yardley The jamon serrano croquettes with bechamel are melt-in-your-mouth magnificent. Another seductive roost is the Parkestry Rooftop Bar at the gleaming new JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort. This is the tallest of the rooftops, exuding garden party vibes as soon as you step out of the elevator. The craft cocktails are divine – order up a Raspberry Revelry, particularly if you’re partial to vodka. And if you’re peckish, the Smash Burger Sliders will slide down with a smile.    If you want to have one serious culinary splurge, basking in the cradle of glamour dining, all roads lead to Anaheim White House. Bruno Serato’s beloved restaurant continues to be a glittery scene of posh feasts for celebrities and dignitaries, and the place where 4,000 meals a day are prepared for children in need. For nearly 40 years, Serato has wowed the crowds to his Italian steakhouse, which is also fawned over for its irrepressibly good pasta dishes. But disaster struck in 2017, when fire engulfed this 115-year-old plantation-style mansion. But Serato was unbowed, setting about restoring this gorgeous landmark restaurant in a massive 15-month-long project. An array of eye-catching design elements were incorporated into the multi-million-dollar rebuild, including polished resin flooring and hand-painted frescos and mosaics on the walls. Taking pride of place at the base of the stairway, a framed photo of Serato’s mother, Caterina, shines under the sparkle of the chandeliers. But Serato is not just an acclaimed restaurateur, but a celebrated philanthropist.    In 2005, Caterina and Serato were visiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Anaheim —in the same neighbourhood as his restaurant— when she noticed a 6-year-old boy eating potato chips for dinner. When she learned the boy’s family couldn’t afford a meal for the child, Caterina told her son to make some pasta for him. Soon realising how many local children were undernourished, Serato launched the “Feeding the Kids in America” initiative, where he fed 72 children a night, five nights a week.    Dine at Anaheim White House. Photo / Visit Anaheim That subsequently morphed into Caterina’s Club, which now serves over 30,000 meals a week to underprivileged children. Serato’s efforts have been globally recognised. He was given a CNN Hero award, received a blessing from Pope Francis and was even knighted by the Italian government. Be sure to check-out the gleaming cabinet of awards and accolades in the foyer. For diners, you can expect a sublime formal dining experience in a regal setting. I started with some tasty tapas, including a Volcano Roll, brimming with crab, whitefish tempura, avocado and aioli.    The Sweet Stuffed Peppers comprise a blend of crab-flavoured seafood, cream cheese, ponzu, mango papaya, and cucumber. There’s a seafood, steak and pizza menu, but you really need to savour Serato’s pasta dishes. My favourite? Cacio E Pepe, a Linguine pasta with Italian Pecorino cheese and freshly cracked black pepper. The most ancient dish in the treasury of Italian cuisine, the story goes it originates from the Roman Empire as the perfect meal of the Roman Shepherds. Grazie. Dining at Anaheim White House is a salivating, star-filled culinary experience that will twinkle long and bright in your memories – and will help Bruno feed hungry kids. www.visitanaheim.org    I flew from Auckland to Los Angeles with Delta Air Lines. As the airport’s number one global carrier, Delta Air Lines offers nearly 160 peak-day departures out of LAX to nearly 60 domestic and international locations. For extra-comfort, take the step up to Delta Premium Select. With more room to stretch out and premium amenities designed with your wellbeing in mind, including exclusively designed menus, touchdown in LA from the overnight flight feeling refreshed and relaxed. And when flying in Premium Select, you’ll also enjoy accelerated check-in, security and baggage service, plus priority boarding. For best flights, fares and seats to suit, head to www.delta.com    Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Sat, 16 Nov 2024 01:16:35 Z /lifestyle/travel/specsavers-flies-woman-to-iceland-after-she-mistakes-tomato-farm-for-northern-lights/ /lifestyle/travel/specsavers-flies-woman-to-iceland-after-she-mistakes-tomato-farm-for-northern-lights/ A woman has been flown to Iceland by Specsavers after she was ridiculed for mistaking a tomato nursery for the Northern Lights.  Dee Harrison was driving through Bramford, Suffolk, in eastern England at 5.15am when she saw what appeared to be the Northern Lights, also called aurora borealis.  “I held my phone camera up and I could see it even clearer,” the 56-year-old told The Mirror, recalling others who said the lights showed more clearly through a camera.  She shared the photos on the Stunning Suffolk Facebook page.  “Captured 5.15am today in Bramford, guess it’s an Aurora, not seen one before,” she wrote alongside the images of a vibrant red light crossing the dark sky. At first, people commented in amazement but soon someone pointed out that the lights were the glow caused by LED lights from the nearby Suffolk Sweet Tomatoes nursery.  “Some people were saying that it couldn’t be and, when I got home, I checked on maps and saw where the tomato factory was,” Harrison said.  “I didn’t know it had lights on it. I had to admit defeat after that.”  The story would have ended there if Specsavers hadn’t spotted an opportunity to get involved.  The retailer’s adverts typically show people mistaking objects for something else, with the implication that they should book an optician’s appointment.  Specsavers commented on Harrison’s post: “Sounds like you might need a trip to one of our stores, as well as a trip to Iceland”.  It asked her to get in touch if she wanted the tick the aurora off her bucket list.  At first, she thought it was a joke, but a few weeks later she was in Reykjavik, Iceland.  “After my mistaken Northern Lights pic taken in Bramford two weeks ago, Specsavers contacted me and asked if I would like to go to Iceland and see them for real,” she wrote in a follow-up Facebook post on November 10.  “Not a joke as I thought. I’m here now and did indeed get to see the lights last night.”  Specsavers commented again: “No eye test needed this time, we can confirm that’s the real Northern Lights”.  Harrison said she felt fortunate as she knew the experience was on many people’s bucket list and she got to do it for free.  “The Iceland lights were more impressive. Some people have said mine were better, though.”  Fri, 15 Nov 2024 00:08:25 Z /lifestyle/travel/auckland-airport-delays-concertgoers-out-of-service-security-scanner-cause-absolute-chaos-passenger-says/ /lifestyle/travel/auckland-airport-delays-concertgoers-out-of-service-security-scanner-cause-absolute-chaos-passenger-says/ An influx of Coldplay and Pearl Jam concertgoers arriving in and departing Auckland, paired with an out-of-action security scanner, caused delays in the Auckland Airport domestic terminal this morning. And Air New Zealand is warning travellers that due to high demand, this week could be the busiest this year for domestic air passengers. One passenger described the queue to Stuff as “absolute chaos”, with people queue-jumping and airport staff “chasing people down off of paper lists”. They said it took them nearly an hour to get through security. A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesperson said one security screening lane was temporarily out of service until December 5 - while a new scanning machine was installed - reducing capacity to four lanes. Auckland Airport was also relocating a structural pillar. CAA said it operated four lanes this morning during the usual morning peak, “but a higher-than-expected number of passengers, partly due to the Coldplay concert, caused delays”. “The queue began to form around 5.55am and was managed into the ponding area by 7.00am. We are reviewing CCTV footage to assess wait times.” Large queues were reported at the Auckland Airport's domestic terminal this morning amid a "higher than expected" number of passengers. Picture / Greg Bowker CAA added that Pearl Jam concerts were held in Auckland over the weekend, contributing to outbound queues at the airport this morning. “We’re expecting similar queue pressures as a consequence of the Coldplay concert this week/weekend.” CAA said it worked with Auckland Airport and airlines on queue management, but some interventions “may have contributed to delays”. It said the maximum queue time was 21 minutes and the queue was at an “acceptable length” just over an hour after it formed. “To further manage peak demand, we’re extending lane availability, opening the 4th lane from 5am to 7.30am to add capacity and prevent queues. “We appreciate passengers’ patience during this time.” Air New Zealand general manager domestic Scott Carr said it was shaping up to be the busiest week of the year for its domestic network. “[This is] driven by high demand for flights into Auckland for Coldplay’s concerts, as well as it being a peak week for student travel around the country.” Carr said Air NZ was expecting more than 230,000 customers on its domestic network throughout the week. “To meet the surge, we’ve added 3550 seats across 22 extra flights in and out of Auckland around the concert dates.” He said Friday, November 15 was set to be its busiest day across the network, with close to 40,000 customers expected to take to the skies. Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour is coming to Eden Parkin Auckland this week, with the British band set to play three shows at the venue on November 13, 15 and 16. It will be the first time they’ve performed in New Zealand since 2016. The band made history when they announced a third show on the New Zealand leg of their tour – they’re the first artist or act to play three consecutive shows at Eden Park. Coldplay is set to perform three shows in New Zealand this week. Photo / Anna Lee Media The Herald last week reported domestic flight bookings to Auckland had almost doubled this week as Kiwis flocked to the City of Sails for the three Coldplay concerts. Bookings to Auckland between November 12 and 16 were up 87% compared to the same week in 2023, according to Webjet data. The increase in flight and hotel bookings caused by the Coldplay concert indicates the power cultural events can have on tourism, said Webjet Group CEO Katrina Barry. “The travel buzz in line with Coldplay’s shows highlights the rise of ‘tour tourism,’ as fans embrace concerts as the ultimate excuse for a getaway,” she said. The band initially announced one show at Eden Park on November 13. After more than 200,000 people were reported waiting in a digital pre-sale queue the day tickets were released, the band decided to add two additional shows. Tue, 12 Nov 2024 03:26:05 Z /lifestyle/travel/flight-attendant-explains-how-to-check-for-bed-bugs-in-your-hotel-room/ /lifestyle/travel/flight-attendant-explains-how-to-check-for-bed-bugs-in-your-hotel-room/ A must-do once checked into your hotel or accommodation, these tips will help travellers avoid bed bugs. A Southwest Airlines employee has taken to TikTok to reveal her tips on how to check your hotel room for signs of a bed bug infestation, with one particular hack going viral for its simplicity and effectiveness. Hannah Hudson Kimmel is a flight attendant from Chicago who also works as a registered nurse. With over 50,000 followers on TikTok and 47,000 on Instagram, she posts videos that cover her travel experiences, nursing, lifestyle, and more. On TikTok, Kimmel explained that travelling to different cities and countries for her job requires her to take extra precautions, and said checking her hotel bed for the little critters is the “first thing she does” when arriving somewhere. In the now-viral video, Kimmel said the first step is to pull the sheets up from the bed and check the corners for the bugs, which can grow up to 4.5mm in size. But even if you can’t spot the tiny insects, that doesn’t mean they’re not potentially hiding somewhere else in the bed. Luckily, Kimmel said there is another way to “draw them out” using an everyday item found in hotel bathrooms and at home. Always check the mattress, furniture, and walls in your hotel room for bed bugs. Photo / 123rf The flight attendant said to leave a block of soap on the hotel bed when you first enter the room, then find something else to do to fill the time. According to Kimmel, the bugs will gravitate towards the soap bar if they are present in the bed. “First, you need to pull up all the sheets and check the corners to see if there are any bugs,” the Chicago resident said in the video. “The other thing you can also do is put a bar of soap at the end of your bed and then leave to go do something. “Whenever you come back, the bar of soap draws out the bed bugs.” Kimmel also noted that bed bugs are “attracted to the carbon dioxide that you breathe out” and said they will “come out” at night while you sleep. She advised her followers to “flip up the corner and start breathing on the bed” to try and expose any bugs potentially lurking in the sheets. “Bed bugs are no joke and when they bite you it’s painful, the bites are red and big and they cause swelling. So make sure you check for bed bugs,” Kimmel reveals. The Express previously spoke to UK-based homeware professional Nick Shacklock, who told the paper about other major signs guests should look out for to identify and get rid of potential bed bugs in their hotel room. On top of a close inspection of the hotel bed and room, including the walls and furniture, Shacklock said a musty, lingering odour should sound the alarm that bed bugs are hiding nearby. The insects omit a damp, stale scent from their scent glands, so double-check the mattress and bed for any foul smells. Other signs of a bed bug infestation include spotting tiny eggs on the bedding or furniture and waking up with red lumps and itchy skin around your body, Shacklock told the Express. Mon, 11 Nov 2024 01:32:53 Z /lifestyle/travel/sydney-airport-fires-flights-aborted-as-blaze-started-by-engine-explosion-causes-delays/ /lifestyle/travel/sydney-airport-fires-flights-aborted-as-blaze-started-by-engine-explosion-causes-delays/ Flights are unable to land at Sydney Airport because of a fire caused by an engine explosion on a Qantas flight. It’s understood the fire was started after an aircraft’s engine exploded on Qantas flight QF520 as the plane took off. Passengers onboard the flight to Brisbane reported hearing a loud bang. The plane circled and landed safely back at Sydney Airport with 174 people on board. No serious injuries have been reported. All flights have aborted landing while Aviation Rescue and Firefighting responds to the incident along with Fire and Rescue NSW. Looks like Fire at Sydney Airport pic.twitter.com/bv7nPh6Ya9— f l a t w h i t e (@coffeepakemilk) November 8, 2024 What's going on at Sydney airport? #sydneyairport pic.twitter.com/aSlUpbCw7T— HAL9000 (@HAL__90001) November 8, 2024 According to news.com.auQantas flight QF520, flying from Sydney to Brisbane took off just before 1pm. Passengers hear a loud “bang” shortly after. Reports state the plane circled Botany Bay before making its emergency landing. Channel Nine producer Georgina Lewis was on board the flight and described the scary scene. “We were taking off and we heard a bang just as we took off and one of the engines appeared to have gone. There was silence on board for a while, it felt like we weren’t gaining much altitude,” Lewis said via Channel Nine. “The pilot came on about 10 minutes later to allay concerns re safety and to explain that they had a problem with the right-hand engine on takeoff and they had to shut it down for safety reasons. “I’m assuming they then had to prepare everyone on the ground so we were circling Sydney over the water for quite some time until we were able to land, it appears on one engine, safely, with a lot of cheering from on board, I can tell you that.” Lewis said it was a full flight and there were “cheers of elation on touchdown”, news.com.au reported. “Fire trucks have been assessing the plane from the outside and we’re being escorted by them from the terminal,” she said. “I can just see some emergency service vehicles around us, but when we came in for landing I could see a big line of smoke and we’re assuming that may have come from us, we don’t know on board.” Huge smoke plumes could be seen from the airport’s terminal. The Herald contacted Sydney Airport for comment. A spokesperson confirmed the emergency landing took place just after 1pm on Friday. “Earlier today a Brisbane-bound flight made an emergency return to Sydney Airport, landing safely just after 1pm. This departure of aircraft coincided with a grass fire along the eastern side of the airport’s parallel runway, which was brought under control by teams from the Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service. It’s not clear at this stage if the two incidents are linked and investigations are continuing. Our landing at Sydney airport was aborted by a grass fire next to the runway. Have the fire crews something to do. pic.twitter.com/EbTwYD6ZGV— Nigel Withers (@MajorBlipvert) November 8, 2024 A grass fire has broken out at Kingsford Smith Airport, with initial reports indicating it was caused by an engine explosion on a Qantas flight bound for Brisbane, which has since returned to Sydney. https://t.co/3Z2Q7gsBGy pic.twitter.com/k1eMzeLH4P— Evan (@fictillius) November 8, 2024 “With the safe arrival of the aircraft, Sydney Airport’s priority is to conduct a full inspection of its parallel runway and to return it to service as quickly as possible. Sydney Airport’s main runway is operational; however, passengers should also expect some delays and we thank everyone for their patience. “Passengers travelling today are also encouraged to check with their airline regarding the status of their flight, or via the online flight information boards on Sydney Airport’s website.” - additional reporting news.com.au Fri, 08 Nov 2024 04:11:39 Z