The Globetrotter: 25 October
It takes many hours to fly all the way across the world to New Zealand, the longest of long-haul destinations for Brits. But it’s worth the journey.
Of course, thanks to The Hobbit – the second instalment of which will be in cinemas soon – and The Lord Of The Rings films, the country’s fantastic landscapes have become familiar. There’s plenty more to see and experience, though.
Head for Hawke’s Bay on the eastern coast of North Island and you can enjoy wonderful sightseeing, amazing wine and extraordinary wildlife.
I started my trip in the elegant seaside town of Napier, where we stayed at Navigate Napier. The town suffered a devastating 7.8 earthquake in 1931, but when rebuilt, Art Deco was all the rage. That means you can see – and covet – the most gorgeous houses, streets after street of them, and elegant public buildings.
In fact, Napier has been dubbed the Art Deco capital of the world. A hugely enjoyable way to see it all is on a unique vintage car and walking tour – we climbed into a classic 1939 Austin 16 for our tour.
On the subject of seeing things differently, a look at some of the region’s world-renowned vineyards by bicycle is not as hard as it sounds, as the terrain is flat. It’s best not to overindulge in tastings, though.
On Yer Bike Winery Tours offers a one-day cycling experience taking in the superb scenery of Gimblett Gravels, covering six wineries over 28km – you don’t have to do it all, of course. We stopped off at Sileni Estate, Trinity Hill and boutique wineries Salvare Estate, Ashridge Wines and Ngatarawa.
We also found time to visit Craggy Range, Elephant Hill and Mission Estate Winery, which was established in 1851 and is New Zealand’s oldest winemaker. It’s not just about the wine – as many of these estates have excellent restaurants, too.
The place to stay in the area is the truly wonderful The Farm, located at Cape Kidnappers. One of country’s most renowned luxury lodges it o ers gourmet dining, a full service spa, heated in nity pool, golf course and a number of remarkable activities.
A vineyard in Hawke's Bay
A visit to Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony, the largest and most accessible mainland gannet colony in the world, is extraordinary. We learnt about Maori culture with Waimarama Maori Tours. But most unforgettable of all was the kiwi walk.
This strange little ightless bird is rare and under threat from feral cats and other predators. Accompanied by an expert, we trekked into a secret forest where a handful of young kiwis were being raised under special protection.
There we were allowed to hold a delightful, sleepy little bird called Eclipse and help to weigh him and check his health. I’m pleased to say he’s doing absolutely ne.
How to get there:
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
HEAVENLY BREAK The 5-star Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is heaven on earth. In 2014, one week in a beach villa, including ights from Heathrow, costs from £2,673 per person. 01306-747008, www.kuoni.co.uk – quote KU9306.
GENTLE WALKS Adagio’s walking adventures include Hong Kong and Islands in the South China Sea: 12 nights from £2,075 per person, with flights. 01707-386700, www.adagio.co.uk
ART TOURS Cox & Kings’ 2014 art tours, visiting Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Lucknow, are organised with The Royal Academy of Arts. The Mughal Art & Architecture trip (12 days), from £3,195 per person, departs on 1 November. 020-7873 5000, www.coxandkings.co.uk
IF IT RAINS… The go-to boutique hotel in Mougins on the Côte d’Azur, Le Mas Candille, is o ering guests who book for four nights (until 19 December) a 50% money-back guarantee if there is more than 25mm of rainfall on one day of the break. Quote SUN2013 when booking: the package costs €996, based on two sharing. Go to www.reservations@lemascandille.com
Of course, thanks to The Hobbit – the second instalment of which will be in cinemas soon – and The Lord Of The Rings films, the country’s fantastic landscapes have become familiar. There’s plenty more to see and experience, though.
Head for Hawke’s Bay on the eastern coast of North Island and you can enjoy wonderful sightseeing, amazing wine and extraordinary wildlife.
I started my trip in the elegant seaside town of Napier, where we stayed at Navigate Napier. The town suffered a devastating 7.8 earthquake in 1931, but when rebuilt, Art Deco was all the rage. That means you can see – and covet – the most gorgeous houses, streets after street of them, and elegant public buildings.
In fact, Napier has been dubbed the Art Deco capital of the world. A hugely enjoyable way to see it all is on a unique vintage car and walking tour – we climbed into a classic 1939 Austin 16 for our tour.
On the subject of seeing things differently, a look at some of the region’s world-renowned vineyards by bicycle is not as hard as it sounds, as the terrain is flat. It’s best not to overindulge in tastings, though.
On Yer Bike Winery Tours offers a one-day cycling experience taking in the superb scenery of Gimblett Gravels, covering six wineries over 28km – you don’t have to do it all, of course. We stopped off at Sileni Estate, Trinity Hill and boutique wineries Salvare Estate, Ashridge Wines and Ngatarawa.
We also found time to visit Craggy Range, Elephant Hill and Mission Estate Winery, which was established in 1851 and is New Zealand’s oldest winemaker. It’s not just about the wine – as many of these estates have excellent restaurants, too.
The place to stay in the area is the truly wonderful The Farm, located at Cape Kidnappers. One of country’s most renowned luxury lodges it o ers gourmet dining, a full service spa, heated in nity pool, golf course and a number of remarkable activities.
A vineyard in Hawke's BayA visit to Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony, the largest and most accessible mainland gannet colony in the world, is extraordinary. We learnt about Maori culture with Waimarama Maori Tours. But most unforgettable of all was the kiwi walk.
This strange little ightless bird is rare and under threat from feral cats and other predators. Accompanied by an expert, we trekked into a secret forest where a handful of young kiwis were being raised under special protection.
There we were allowed to hold a delightful, sleepy little bird called Eclipse and help to weigh him and check his health. I’m pleased to say he’s doing absolutely ne.
How to get there:
- Discover The World: 01737-214291, www.discover-the-world.co.uk tailors trips to New Zealand, including accommodation at Cape Kidnappers – www.capekidnappers.com
- Qantas flies from Heathrow to Auckland (via Dubai and Sydney) from around £1,270 return. For details: www.qantas.com
- For further information: www.newzealand.com
Contact Wendy at wendy.gomersall@lady.co.uk
HEAVENLY BREAK The 5-star Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is heaven on earth. In 2014, one week in a beach villa, including ights from Heathrow, costs from £2,673 per person. 01306-747008, www.kuoni.co.uk – quote KU9306.
GENTLE WALKS Adagio’s walking adventures include Hong Kong and Islands in the South China Sea: 12 nights from £2,075 per person, with flights. 01707-386700, www.adagio.co.uk
ART TOURS Cox & Kings’ 2014 art tours, visiting Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Lucknow, are organised with The Royal Academy of Arts. The Mughal Art & Architecture trip (12 days), from £3,195 per person, departs on 1 November. 020-7873 5000, www.coxandkings.co.uk
IF IT RAINS… The go-to boutique hotel in Mougins on the Côte d’Azur, Le Mas Candille, is o ering guests who book for four nights (until 19 December) a 50% money-back guarantee if there is more than 25mm of rainfall on one day of the break. Quote SUN2013 when booking: the package costs €996, based on two sharing. Go to www.reservations@lemascandille.com