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Queenstown is the big Kahuna when it comes to New Zealand tourism. Nearly everyone who comes to the big wide open South Island spends some time here in this adrenaline filled rockin’ little town. We got a chance to see some of the spectacular scenery here from the water, zipping […]

Last night we were picked up by a friendly English gent and taken to Arthur’s Point to one of the newer and nicer attractions of this adrenaline-fueled town by the lake. Instead of bungy jumping or skydiving, we opted for soaking at Onsen Hot Pools, which provide wooden tubs, total […]

We boarded the TSS Earnslaw, a vintage steamship built in the early 1900s, for a journey across sparkling Lake Wakatipu this morning, in the company of about 40 mostly German visitors. Despite the tendency for Germans to speak better English than Americans, the group still relied on their translator to […]

The last time I was in Queenstown was back, my God, before 9/11. It was January 2000, and I passed the new year on board the Air New Zealand plane heading here for what would be only my second press trip of my career. Then I was traveling with a […]

Yesterday I (Cindy) did something surprising ….I realized and admitted that New Zealand is surpassing Italy as my favorite place. It’s not just the beautiful, rugged scenery, the perfectly prepared and apportioned meals, nor is it the history or the art. Travel is about the people you meet. The shared […]

After an invigorating mountain bike ride down steep and grassy slopes, Dave Judson took me to his favorite Nelson pub, the House of Ales, for a refreshing beer with a citrus flavor. There he told me a story about when he came to Canada and did a number 8. Number […]

New Zealand’s main industries are fishing, forestry, horticulture and most important to us, tourism. That’s crucial for a visitor to keep in mind as we travel the South Island and see the clearcut sections of hillsides, denuded right down to bare earth, which are such a common site here. Many […]

Dion Edgar told us that it costs about $100,000 to complete training to become a helicopter pilot. He spent many years saving up money from shearing sheep at $3.00 each in the windy Falklands, Scotland and New Zealand. “You can do 300 or more sheep per day,” he said, “it […]

Some of Daniel Monopoli’s best food memories come from his Italian grandmother’s kitchen, at their family summer house on the beach. One particular memory is a succulent veal flank cooked on a George Forman grill drizzled with a Sorrento lemon and some chili. Simple food appeals to this young chef, […]