ISSUE 48 JUNE/JULY 2017
ISSUE 48 JUNE/JULY 2017
Let’s Travel THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS
Cruising with PONANT CRUISES THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS
MARLBOROUGH’S Lochmara Lodge Great Walks of AUSTRALIA
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HAWAI’I The Big Island
contents 5 CRUISING
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27 NEW ZEALAND 41 PACIFIC ISLANDS 57 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 89 ASIA 99 AUSTRALIA 111 BEYOND
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2 www.letstravelmag.com Contents
117 BUSINESS SECTION
106
Cruising Ponant 6 Aqua Expeditions 12 UnCruise Adventures 16 Cunard 22 Scenic Cruises 24
Le Soleal navigates the Breves Narrow in North-East Brazil
6 www.letstravelmag.com Cruising, Ponant
New Zealand Marlborough 28 West Coast 32 Gisborne 34 Hotel Grand Windsor 38
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 27
Destination Marlborough
Magic within the Marlborough Sounds Words & images by Jac Taylor
28 www.letstravelmag.com New Zealand, Malborough
Pacific Islands Fiji 42 Hawai'i 48 Norfolk Island 54
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 41
Pacific Islands, Fiji
www.letstravelmag.com 43
United States of America Napa Valley 58 Anaheim 62
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 57
U.S.A., Anaheim www.letstravelmag.com 65
Asia Malaysia 90 Thailand 94
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 89
Destination Thailand
Winter Escape to Amazing Thailand Chiang Mai & Bangkok Fun-loving and friendly, exotic and tropical, yet cultured and historic - Thailand is all of these things.
94 www.letstravelmag.com Asia, Thailand
Australia Newcastle 100 South Australia 106
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 99
Australia, South Australia www.letstravelmag.com 107
Beyond Africa 112 Greece 116
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 111 New Caledonia
Destination Africa
Tribal Africa Words and images by Natalie Tambolash
In our fast paced, modern lives, where everything is easily available and where people can find you at the blink of an eye, how do you just ‘switch off’? How do you disappear if only for a while and disconnect from the everyday? Are there actually people that still live off the grid away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and in line with nature?
112 www.letstravelmag.com Beyond, Africa
Business Section Conferences – Fiji style 118 Kiwirail 122 Choice Hotels 123 New Products 126 Where in the World 128
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 117 New Caledonia
Conference Facilities Bula Style
1. Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa Minutes from Nadi International Airport, but a world away from your cares, Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa is the ultimate, integrated destination. All 296 rooms at this beachside resort face out towards the ocean. The Resort also boasts some of the largest, most flexible conference space in Fiji. Sofitel’s meeting options are endless. Ranging from boardrooms, to ballrooms and private gardens. With Nadi Bay as a stunning backdrop, it is all but guaranteed that an audience will be left wowed with memories that last. Theme dinner options include a Beach Party, International Foodstalls and traditional Fijian Feast Lovo experience. The resort provides one of Fiji’s most versatile conference facilities with eight meeting rooms and a ballroom that seats 700 delegates (or 550 for a sit-down dinner), plus unlimited open air and beachside
118 www.letstravelmag.com Business, Fiji
locations to make the most of the amazing climate and Sofitel’s ocean views. Renowned for its creative events and themed dinners, the hotel specialises in water, culture and unique adventure options.
Onsite Staging Connections provide state-of-the-art events technology, so you’ll have everything you need to make it a memorable event. www.sofitel-fiji.com
Where in the World is… Santa Claus Surely the answer to every kid’s favourite Christmas question! And it seems our American friends have more than their fair share of ‘obscure’ (some would say weird) place names.
I
n 1854, a group of pioneers settled in southwest Indiana and established a small town they called Santa Fe. But when they applied to get a Post Office two years later, they were turned down. There was already another Santa Fe, Indiana, with a post office. The new Santa Fe would need a new, distinct name to get their own post office. Fact and legend blur when it comes to how the town settled on calling itself Santa Claus. The standard version of the story goes like this…the townspeople held several meetings over the next few months to select a new name, but could not agree on one. The last town meeting of the year was held late on Christmas Eve after church services. During the debate, a gust of wind blew open the church doors and everyone heard the ringing of sleigh bells close by. Several children got excited and shouted “Santa Claus!”
A light bulb went off in someone’s head and by Christmas morning, the town had a new name. The town has the world’s only post office to bear the name of Santa Claus. Because of this popular name it receives thousands of letters to Santa from all over the world each year. A group of volunteers known as Santa’s Elves ensures each child receives a ‘personal’ reply from Santa Claus. This tradition has been in existence since 1914. Every year, the post office also creates a special Christmas hand-cancellation pictorial postmark for use during December, which also attracts mail from all over the world. The pictorial postmark is chosen each year from submissions by art students at the nearby Heritage Hills and South Spencer High Schools. Santa Claus is also the home to numerous themed attractions including: Santa’s Candy Castle, Santa Claus Museum, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Frosty’s Fun Center, Christmas Lake Golf Course and Santa’s Stables. It is also home to Santa’s Lodge and Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort. www.santaclausindiana.org
128 www.letstravelmag.com Where in the World is…Santa Claus
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