This biennial fest is a mix of enormous power, beauty and intensity. Te Matatini, a three day Maori cultural festival is a platform for different groups to perform their own type of Haka dance, with awesome music to compliment the dance. It tries to give New Zealanders a sense of pride in their ancient historical roots. As a cultural festival, it includes flax weaving, art works, stalls selling Maori food and Maori arts and crafts, special events for old Maoris and even a special area where Maori kids can play and entertain themselves. Today Te Matatini is an enchanting mix of the traditional/contemporary performance of song,dance, poi within Maori culture which expresses love, passion, defience, pride and many more emotions. The subjects are diverse from political, social, enviromental, to anything life can throw at one, good or bad The main incentive for the haka dance competitors remains an overseas trip for all the forty winning group members. Groups from all over the country have competed in regional finals and the thirty groups which have won their regional competitions come to Te Matatini to compete against each other for the prize of Best National Kapa Haka group. A Kapa Haka comprises a number of songs and dances performed over a space of 25 minutes( flexible). The performance will include a haka, a dance with poi (the coloured balls on strings), as well as a song that has a contemporary theme. These 25 minute performances, each with the same structure but with different songs and dances, continue from 10.00am until 8.00pm for two days. At the end of those two days the panel of judges chooses six groups to compete, on the third day, in the final. Kapa Haka removes the battlefields of Maori ancestors with inherent competitiveness now taking place on stage. Kapa Haka recgonises the strength of diversity among Maori tribes, iwi, hapu, whanau, while equally encouraging all of them to come together and celebrate as one. The New Zealand national football team, the All Blacks have used the blood-curdling roar of the haka which is accompanied by thigh slapping and foot stomping to put fear in the minds of there opponents before a game. The haka they perform is just a glimpse of the real thing. To experience it in essence and in a magical way you must come to Te Matatini, Maori Kapa Haka Festival. Source: The Age
Accolades for Australia’s National Museum
The national museum of Australia claims to explore the land, nation and people of Australia, seems like it’s a genuine claim since its set to receive 500,000th school student visitors today itself! Location: Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Canberra Acton Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm, Monday – Sunday every day except Christmas Day Fee: General admission to the Museum is free. Most national and international temporary exhibitions and some special programs have an admission charge. Museum Acting Director Suzy Nethercott-Watson said: Its education programs help students to better understand and appreciate Australia’s history, cultures and environment. Students are encouraged to get hands-on with history through activities which link directly to their school curriculum and are both educational and enjoyable,
Wharekauhau Lodge: The breathtaking place that puts you in the lap of luxury and nature
Wharekauhau Lodge located at Western Lake Rd, Palliser Bay is a luxury lodge with 12 cottages on a 2000-hectare working sheep and beef farm with swimming pool, tennis, croquet on the manicured back law , outdoor spa pool and beauty spa. Modelled on an Edwardian country mansion it is designed by Queenstown architect Fred van Brandenburg. Getting there: It’s a two hour scenic drive or a ten minute helicopter ride from Wellington. Accomodation: There are twelve elegant cottage suites each with a super king bed, spacious private bathroom, open fireplace, fully stocked bar and deep comfortable sofas and chairs. All suites command stunning views overlooking Palliser Bay. Local Attractions: One can enjoy four wheel drive farm and coastal tours, extensive bushwalks, sporting-clay field, spa treatments, horse riding, fishing and hunting are some of the on site activities. Visits to the seal colony and the local vineyards can also be enjoyed. Facilities: 24 Hour Reception, bar & lounge, restaurant, room service, tour desk, dry cleaning / guest laundry, child minding service, disbaled facilities, swimming pool, sauna, spa, currency exchange, business centre, caretakers. For booking and local expert advice: E-mail New Zealand Reservations at book@NewZealandReservations.co.nz Reservation: To confirm a reservation, 25% of the total stay or a current credit card number (with expiry date) to guarantee the booking, should be deposited. Info Charges: From $973 for two, including accommodation, pre-dinner drinks and canapes, four- course dinner and breakfast Well, the Wharekauhau Lodge is the just right place for those who are longing to enrich themselves with a totally novel experience in the lap of opulence and the Mother Nature. Once you visit the place, it would be hard for you to so leave the fabulous place and get back to the worldly life. Source: Stuff
Asian tourists swindled by rogue tourist operators
Rouge tourist operators are damaging nation’s tourism image; they bring busloads of Asian tourists to Australia for holidays and empty their wallets. The Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) said that a uniform law was needed to stop this practice followed by rouge operators. Matthew Hingerty, ATEC managing director said: There are some very dodgy people involved in this, particularly in Sydney. They are not doing it for the broad betterment of the Australian tourism industry or for their customers; they treat people as a commodity. He further added that the practice emerged years ago in Queensland but a crackdown in that state caused the rogue operators based overseas to shift their focus to NSW. So, the national approach based on the Queensland model will help in solving this problem. The House of Representatives Economics, Finance and Public Administration Committee will release the report on rogue tourism operators by June. Source: smh
An ancient volcano in Mangere is up for sale
An ancient volcano in Mangere dubbed Pukaki Lagoon Explosion Crater is up for sale. John Prangley is the owner of the land (62-hecaters property on Pukaki Rd.) and would like to sell it as one lot. However, if the property is not sold as one lot, he will consider offers on individual lots. The sale includes 26 hectares of freehold land circling and sloping down to 36.3 hectares of the leasehold land-containing carter, which has been farmed in conjunction with the surrounding freehold land. A drilling program undertaken by Victoria University’s School of Earth Sciences has determined the crater is between 80,000 and 100,000-years-old. The crater is well preserved and relatively unspoilt by urban development. Marty Roestenburg from Bayleys Manukau is handling the sale and the tenders for the property will close on 4 April 2007. If the mere thought of possessing a personal volcanic crater makes you go hmmm, I suppose you have a chance here. Source: stuff
Princess Dawn to brighten Melbourne from next year
Princess Cruises made an announcement on 22 March, 2007 that the 77,000-ton super liner Dawn Princess would operate out of Melbourne for the 2008-09 summer cruising season. Princess Cruises’ spokesperson Katie Lahey said: Basing the Dawn Princess in Melbourne would generate more than $10 million through ship supplies, port fees and visitor spending. The announcement was made on board the Dawn Princess’ sister ship Sapphire Princess at Station Pier which is a 116,000 ton vessel with a capacity of 2,670 passengers and the biggest cruise ship ever to sail into Melbourne. The Dawn Princess has eight restaurants, four pools, five spas, two theatres, a casino, a nightclub and 975 cabins. It can hold up to 1,950 passengers. Princess Dawn’s cruises will brighten the city. The first cruise will be a 28-day trip round Australia from November 28. Source: The Age
Litchfield National Park’s scenic beauty
If the beauty of nature itself inspires you to capture all that it has to offer, I would suggest you to plan a jaunt to Litchfield National Park, Australia. It’s a wonderful place and I assure you that you will not be disappointed. Litchfield National Park is the amazing place with scenic waterfalls, intriguing magnetic termite mounds, historical sites, a wildlife cruise along the majestic Reynolds River and the weathered sandstone pillars of the Lost City. Getting There: You can drive from Darwin into the western corner of the park in two hours, if you chose partly unsealed Cox Peninsula Road or you can take sealed roads through Batchelor via the Stuart Highway and enter Litchifield from the east. When to Visit: You can plan your trip at any time of the year but avoid during wet season. During the wet season most 4 WD tracks are closed. After heavy rainfall some swimming areas become unsafe and are closed for swimming but kiosk and picnic facilities remain open. What to see and do: Throughout the park there are many camping as well as picnic areas some waterfalls are safe to swim in. During the dry season the park is a magnet for people looking for a refreshing swim. Be sure to take plenty of water, sunscreen and insect repellant and yes don’t forget to take your camera along. I’m sure your visit to Litchfield National Park will be awe-inspiring.
TV soaps: Travel industry’s new tool to lure tourists
Are TV shows and movies enormously powerful tools for destination promotion? It seems, yes. In the recent past, the Australian tourism industry started Australian soap named Neighbours which was highly successful in flocking large number of British tourists to Australia. The success and popularity of this soap made Australian Tourism Minister, Fran Bailey to come up with new idea for a Japanese soap. The show starring Japanese actor Yoshino Kimura will feature major tourist icons such as Uluru, the Great Ocean Road and the Sydney Opera House. It is anticipated that the new soap will help luring large number of Japanese tourists and strengthening of the Australian dollar against the yen. The economic value graph of international tourism to Australia is continuously rising and tourism industry expects further increase with this TV soap. Time only will show how far this effort helps encourage Japanese travelers to choose Australia as a relaxing break destination. Source: Stuff
TV soaps: Travel industry’s new tool to lure tourists
Are TV shows and movies enormously powerful tools for destination promotion? It seems, yes. In the recent past, the Australian tourism industry started Australian soap named Neighbours which was highly successful in flocking large number of British tourists to Australia. The success and popularity of this soap made Australian Tourism Minister, Fran Bailey to come up with new idea for a Japanese soap. The show starring Japanese actor Yoshino Kimura will feature major tourist icons such as Uluru, the Great Ocean Road and the Sydney Opera House. It is anticipated that the new soap will help luring large number of Japanese tourists and strengthening of the Australian dollar against the yen. The economic value graph of international tourism to Australia is continuously rising and tourism industry expects further increase with this TV soap. Time only will show how far this effort helps encourage Japanese travelers to choose Australia as a relaxing break destination. Source: Stuff
Hawke’s Bay Wine Country: An Ideal holiday destination
Image credit Hawke’s Bay Wine Country, where the sun shines forever, can certainly prove to be your next ultimate holiday destination. So, if you are the one who avoid chilling winter trips, you don’t have to fret. Also known as the food and wine destination of New Zealand, Hawke’s Bay is the place where a variety of events run throughout the year, including the Harvest Hawke’s Bay fest to celebrate the region’s wine and food, Blues, Brews and BBQ’s festival, and the WETA Wine and Food Festival. All in all, it’s a place for foodies who wish to get entertained in all sorts of ways. Image Credit The region has a diverse range of things to see and do and hosts a number of icon events throughout the year. One of the most spectacular events held in hawke’s bay is the Brebner Print Art Deco Weekend where you will find the glamour, glitz and style of the 1930s come alive. Vintage cars, jazz concerts, dancing, wining and dining, the costumes, and the enthralling surroundings will enrich you with such a fabulous experience, which you will find no where else in New Zealand. Image credit Hawke’s Bay has lots in store for the families also. There are golden sand beaches, the Splash Planet water theme park, public swimming pools and crystal clear rivers. You can swim with dolphins and visit the National Aquarium of New Zealand. Thrill seekers can enjoy hot air ballooning, surfing, caving and paragliding to sailing and windsurfing. Day walks, hunting or fishing and golf are popular past times too. Hawke’s Bay has everything to lure you. The snow-clad mountains, golden sand beaches, water theme parks, serene rivers, and a range of camping options are sure to make your vacation worthwhile. No matter what time of year you visit, there is plenty to see and do in Hawke’s Bay. Source: Stuff