April 14, 2006
NZ Holidaymaker -- Issue #003 -- April 2006
Table of contents
1 Rotorua attractions
2 New Air NZ flights
3 Lower speed limits on the Queen Charlotte Drive
4 Healty kiwis - continued
5 New Zealand sheep
6 Walks in Christchurch
7 Rising fuel prices, low dollar
Rotorua attractions
Whatever your plans, don't skip Rotorua when touring New Zealand's North Island!
Rotorua has so many attractions, that you can easily spend a couple of days in this small town and not be bored for a minute.
Even at night! The Agrodome, a 160 ha working farm,
now has a fantastic new observatory, with very sophisticated equipment.
Take your chance and have a closer look at the famous Southern Cross constellation!
For another unique night experience, visit Rainbow Springs Nature Park.
The park recently had 700 spectacularly coloured lights installed to enhance its presentation of NZ's foliage and wildlife.
And last but not least, be sure to take a relaxing bath in the world famous Polynesian Spa,
which has (for a third time!) been voted one of the world's top10 medical and thermal spas
by readers of the Condé Nast Traveller magazine.
New Air NZ flights
From October 28 this year, Air New Zealand will add a second daily service from Auckland to London, via Hong Kong.
Demand for travel between New Zealand and the UK has grown a lot in the past few years,
and in peak season the existing service (Auckland-Los Angeles-London) is 90-100% full.
Later this year, Air New Zealand will also start a direct service to Shanghai,
which will be operated three times a week.
For more information about flights to New Zealand, see our website.
Lower speed limits on the Queen Charlotte Drive
We always wondered how on earth you could reach 100 km/h on the Queen Charlotte Drive.
This stretch of road between Picton and Havelock is one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand,
but also one of the most windy. Driving 100 km/h (the speed limit) here truly seemed insane to us.
And not only to us apparently, for the speed limit will be lowered to 50 km/h in most parts.
A study by LTNZ (Land Transport New Zealand) showed that only the fastest of drivers
were able to drive 100 km/h and only in a short section of road through the small village of Linkwater.
So take your time and be sure to enjoy the spectacular views!
Healthy kiwis -- continued
Last month we wrote a paragraph about the many health benefits of the kiwi:
it can reduce the risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes and sometimes prevent cancer.
But it seems there's even more!
Gastroenterologist John Wyeth is helping to develop a supplement based on kiwifruit which could reduce acid reflux.
As a lot of people suffer from some form of indigestion, this could provide a natural solution to their problem.
We suspect that a kiwi a day can keep the doctor away!
Cannot wait to visit New Zealand?
Then order this twin pack of New Zealand video's for US$ 30,95:
- New Zealand Wonders of Nature: presenting NZ's stunning natural wonders: geysers, mud pools, glaciers, flora and fauna
- New Zealand Kiwi Country: a popular video compilation of the most spectacular sights and attractions, to really get you into the mood!
New Zealand sheep
Ever wondered how many sheep there are in New Zealand? Our friends and family always ask us this question when we're leaving for New Zealand, and we always had to answer them we didn't know (too lazy to do some research). But by accident we came across some official 'sheep' numbers from Statistics New Zealand. So, for those interested: in 2005 there were 39.9 million sheep in New Zealand, a 2% increase since 2004. That means there are about 10 sheep for every person in the country!
Walks in Christchurch
If you enjoy walking, pick up the seven Walk Christchurch booklets published through the Christchurch City Council. In them, you'll find 49 short (30 mins to 3 hours), scenic walks in and around Christchurch. At the end of each booklet there is a specially designed longer day walk of approx 3-5 hours each way. The set of seven booklets is sold for NZ$15. A limited number are available individually for NZ$3 each. The booklets are area-based: The Sea, Spit and Estuary -- Coast, Cliff, Caves -- Avon River Walks -- Heathcote River Walks -- Wetland Walks -- Gardens and Homes -- Into the Hills. For more information and sample pages of some of the walks, visit: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/publications/WalkChristchurch/.
Rising fuel prices, low dollar
When planning a New Zealand camper van vacation, you're bound to be interested in two things: the fuel prices and the exchange rate of the New Zealand dollar against your own currency. Well, petrol prices are rising at the moment, while the dollar is at a two year low (against the US dollar). A low exchange rate means you'll have more money to spend -- which you'll spend on fuel probably! To check out fuel prices in New Zealand, visit www.pricewatch.co.nz. For current exchange rates, see www.x-rates.com.
Happy travels,
Boukeline & Rob
www.new-zealand-camper-van-adventures.com