Let's Travel - Feb March 2019 - PREVIEW

ISSUE 58 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 ISSUE 58 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS

MADAGASCAR The Island Time Forgot

Get Away To HAWKE’S BAY

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771176

461001

$9.95 inc GST

THE PHILIPPINES Things You Didn’t Know Celebrating 100 Years GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

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contents 7 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 23 AUSTRALIA

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PACIFIC ISLANDS

41 BEYOND 57 CRUISING 69 NEW ZEALAND 75 ASIA 95

BUSINESS SECTION

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Salt Lake City - 8 New Hampshire - 14 Grand Canyon - 18 Colorado - 20

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Destination U.S.A., Salt Lake City

Losing My Religion

by Gary Dickson

That's me in the corner, That's me in the spotlight, Losing my religion, Trying to keep up with you, And I don't know if I can do it, Oh no, I've said too much, I haven't said enough.

(Extract from: Losing My Religion - R.E.M. 1991)

Image: S Greenwood

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AUSTRALIA Outback Queensland - 24 Gold Coast - 28 Dreamworld - 30

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Destination Australia, Outback Queensland

Waltzing Matilda (Part 2)…

Self-Driving Queensland’s Outback Words & Images by Shane Boocock

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n the Burketown Pub an indigenous woman came up to me as I was trying to get the whir and warble of the local internet service to work and said one word, “America.” I hadn’t noticed at first, but the woman was holding her hand out; it took me a few seconds to realise what she’d said was her name, Erica, not America. We shook hands and said hello.

Erica then said, “I need a writer. I want someone to write my stories.

I have lots of stories; my stories are passed down from my mum and dad, and my grandparents. My mum is still alive and is now 81.

I want someone to write Auntie

Erica and the Crocodiles – I think it should be a children’s book,” Erica remarked, walking away. I wished her good luck and finished my beer still unable to get a connection to the outside world.

Having left Karumba, I had two options – take a 535 km journey on paved roads or cross the 230km Savannah Highway which was off-limits in my hire car contract. So I ignored my contract, and turned right on to a graded track where the bull-dust lifted off the road in plumes behind me, especially when I was reaching 60 plus kilometres an hour.

It didn’t help that road-train trucks coming in the opposite direction

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created a Sahara-like sandstorm rising high into the stratosphere when they passed me.

After checking into the comfy Savannah Lodge in Burketown, I quickly went about cleaning the car with the lodge’s water hose, which mixed with the red sand, made it look like the SUV was bleeding from every pore. The hire car company I figured would find it difficult to prove I had broken their rules – thus ensuring I wouldn’t lose my security bond.

Back in the Burketown Tavern, Giovanna was working behind the bar. “I’m from Brazil,” Giovanna said,

PACIFIC ISLANDS Fiji - 34

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Destination Pacific Islands, Fiji

FIJI… Six of the Best

Many of us have been back at work for a few weeks now, so why not start planning your next getaway…to Fiji. This issue we focus on six of Fiji’s best…of varying types, in various locations, but all with a very good reason to book that mid-winter excursion. www.fiji.travel

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BEYOND Ports of Call - 42 Madagascar - 48

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A Handful of Handsome Harbours

By Mark William Sheehan

Dropping anchors around the world’s ports-of-call is something most cruise ships do to good effect. But, for your enjoyment, we’ve selected and short-listed the best of the brood to get the champagne flowing. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy sailing into a few of our favourite harbours.

Madagascan Transport Auckland Harbour

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CRUISING Tauck - 58 Crystal Cruises - 62 Silversea - 64 Regent Seven Seas - 66 Captain Cook Cruises - 68

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Tauck ‘Savouring France’ River Cruise

By Cherryl Browne

Choosing a Tauck River Cruise for my personal holiday was an easy one, but would it suit my 25 year old son?

Enjoying some mother and son time was the priority for this holiday, but given he works in the outdoors of Queenstown, a leisurely meander down the Rhone River to the south of France was not likely to be his first choice.

However we both enjoy good food and wine, France has some amazing history and culture to experience, and the regional focus of the itinerary appealed, so it did tick a few boxes.

What we didn’t appreciate was how the special inclusions and features Tauck builds into their itineraries would impact on how we

experienced France - particularly the opportunity to connect with local people.

Tauck’s 10 day, ‘Savouring France: Paris, Lyon & Provence’ River Cruise was an autumn departure and started in Paris at the end of October. The appeal for this time of year was fewer crowds, and it showcased amazing autumnal colour and seasonal changes… clothing layers managed the cooler temperatures.

While we embarked onboard Tauck’s ms Emerald in Lyon for a 7-night river cruise down to Provence in the south and returning to Lyon, the cruise was prefaced by two nights in Paris which really set the scene for ‘savouring’ France. To savour something means to taste or experience it - to do so slowly, and enjoy it to the full – this cruise was aptly named.

In Paris, we stayed at the Intercontinental Paris le Grande

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and the location is excellent – just around the corner from the Opera House, only a couple of blocks from the Place de la Concorde, great shopping and food district, and easy access to the main highlights of Paris. The hotel is a 5 star historical landmark hotel, and well known for its sumptuous breakfasts at Café de la Paix…a Parisian institution.

You need months to see all that Paris has to offer and get below the general sightseeing offerings, but Tauck achieved this with a unique blend of exclusive events, excursions and free time.

Paris offered up a moveable feast starting with a welcome dinner at Fouquet ’s Brasserie on the Champs- Elysées, established in 1 899, with sumptuous Parisian décor and a tradition of the great classics of French cuisine; a private olive, chocolate and wine tasting event in the old agricultural St Germain des Pres region; and a private cooking

NEW ZEALAND Hanmer Springs - 70 Hawke’s Bay - 72

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Destination New Zealand, Hawke's Bay

Hawke’s Bay Getaway!

Mangapapa Hotel: Mangapapa Hotel is set amongst acres of beautiful orchards and gardens, offering stunning boutique, luxury accommodation in Hawke’s Bay. The hotel rooms are located in various positions around the property, offering privacy and seclusion.

All accommodation guests enjoy use of complimentary WiFi and the hotel facilities including spa, sauna, gym, lawn tennis, bike hire and the seasonal outdoor pool. The hotel spa also offers a range of additional beauty and massage treatments.

created every evening, inspired by the fresh, seasonal produce from the hotel kitchen garden.

The High Tea is an elegant way to spend an afternoon, indulging in delicious sandwiches, dainty cups of tea and all things sweet. Their impressive range of wine and craft beers are not to be missed along with a look at the private wine cellar also! www.mangapapa.co.nz

The hotel boasts twelve stunning rooms, all unique in their own individual ways. Various sizes, location and decor, guarantee there is a room for everyone to fall in love with.

The Executive Chef has designed all the hotel’s menus around a ‘paddock to plate’ philosophy and with the help of a creative and passionate team, a unique and wonderful dining experience is provided. A fine dining, five-course experience, uniquely

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ASIA Bangkok - 76 Philippines - 82 Singapore - 86 Bali - 88 Malaysia - 90

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Destination Asia, Thailand

Bangkok’s Top Hotels

By Roderick Eime

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BUSINESS SECTION 96 - Travel Tips 98 - Etihad Airways 99 - Philippine Airlines 100 - Bangkok Airways 101 - Pavilion Hotel, Kuala Lumpur 102 - Trisara Hotel 103 - Pullman Sydney Airport 104 - New Products

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Tips for Safe Travel By the time you read this I will be enjoying one of my favourite destinations on the planet…Egypt!

Whilst planning the trip I have, for the first time ever, registered myself at the NZ Government’s Safe Travel website.

When I received my new passport, there was a helpful little booklet included. Here are the 13 Top Tips for Safe Travel from that booklet.

1 - Check the latest travel advice at www.safetravel.govt.nz. It will tell you about safety concerns or other specific risks.

2 - Register your travel and contact details at www.safetravel.govt.nz.

This information is kept confidential and only used if there is an emergency. For example, it means they can give you warning of an approaching tropical cyclone, give you advice on what to do if there’s major civil unrest, or to contact you if you need consular assistance.

3 - Take out travel insurance. Your policy needs to be comprehensive and should cover any activities you plan to undertake (from scuba diving to scooter riding), personal liability, medical treatment, emergency evacuation and any pre-existing medical conditions. Even minor medical treatments can be very expensive overseas. For more information on travel insurance see www.icnz.org.nz 4 - If you suffer an injury overseas and return to New Zealand, ACC may be able to help with treatment costs in New Zealand, but only if you intended to be overseas for less than 6 months. ACC is unable to cover expenses incurred overseas. www.acc.co.nz/travel.

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5 - Keep in contact with family and friends. Give them a copy of your itinerar y, including details of accommodation , tickets, emergency numbers and your travel insurance policy. If you change your itinerary - let them know. If you’re near or get caught up in an overseas disaster or emergency situation, let your family know you’re safe.

Š 2018 Hailey Bartholomew Photos REDRET064

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CALL US: 09 373 3435 /airvanuatu

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