Who knew you could find something to do for two days in Matakana without the famous farmer’s market? Certainly not me. I was staying there for a Monday and Tuesday and didn’t know what could possibly occupy my time since the market is only open on Saturday mornings. Clearly Matakana’s Farmers Market has a very [...]
Honeymoons
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AprStay a night in the vines at Matakana
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13
AprA posh night at Bay of Islands Lodge
We were lucky to get in for a night at the Bay of Islands Lodge, and only managed thanks to a sudden cancellation. This fancy 5-star lodge clings to a cliff at Paihia and has stunning views over native bush to the Veronica Channel. (I have no idea who Veronica is either. Do feel free [...]
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AprTouring Northland: Waipoua Lodge
Remember that ad campaign that went ‘don’t leave town till you’ve seen the country’? When I was 17 my parents took heed of the advice and off we went on a 2-week driving tour around the South Island before I headed off to the US as an exchange student. With all due respect to the [...]
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MarSexiest hotels in Europe
Whether this is the defining list or not, I can’t confirm as sexiness quite possibly has something to do with the person you’re with. However, Tripadvisor’s many thousand voters have nominated these hotels as the sexiest in Europe and I figured you’d want to book tickets immediately: Berlin: Propeller Island City Lodge. Famous for its [...]
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Feb5 great things to do in Oman
Oman is the next big thing on the savvy globe-trotter’s agenda. It’s not as remote as you might think (an hour’s flight from Dubai and Abu Dhabi) and is still wonderfully traditional retaining its heritage and culture with stunning scenery ranging from golden sand dunes to rugged wadi (gorges) and ship-wreck dives in the ocean. [...]
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21
DecChilling out in an Ice Hotel
Personally I can’t think of much worse than tromping through ice to spend the night in an igloo. Oh sure it may be a fancy pants igloo, but an igloo by any other name is still an igloo. However hand carved Ice Hotels are incredibly popular, so if spending the night on an ice slab [...]
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14
DecA weekend at Milestone Cottages, Mangawhai
I am ashamed to say I’ve lived in Auckland for 15 years and I’ve never been to Mangawhai. Apalling I know. But this weekend I remedied that and headed 80 minutes north of the city – taking the fancy new toll road. (Oops, that reminds me, I’d better log on and pay my $2 each [...]
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OctNo Couples Retreat on Bora Bora
I just saw the movie Couples Retreat (with the spunky Vince Vaughn) last night which is set on the idyllic Tahitian island of Bora Bora. It was hilarious. I’m not one to laugh outloud in movies, but this one had me audibly gaffawing. Yes Bora Bora is designed by God for couples, but sometimes the [...]
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SepAussie! Olivia Newton-John’s Gaia Retreat
Gaia Retreat and Spa is Olivia Newton-John’s place. 20 chalet style rooms from standard to executive suites and a major focus on wellness. And for the record, I have it on very good authority that all these rumours about her ex showing up? Rubbish. I flew into Ballina from Sydney, picked up a car at [...]
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SepAussie! Bliss out in Byron Bay
I’d heard so much about Byron Bay – usually with much sighing, eyes glazing over and wistfulness – so when I was given the rough assignment of heading up there to write about its spas for Tourism Australia’s Explore supplement I rolled my sleeves up and took one for the team… It was actually part [...]
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