Thursday, 11 March, 2010  Advertised in TNT Travellers' Magazine - Spring & Summer Editions
|
|
Destination Down Under - Our Travel Tips If you click the area links to the right you will see some of our recommendations for attractions we think are worth visiting on your travels. These sections are a guide only and highlight just some of what each region has to offer. Photos are incorporated with most of the text and we have included some sights and activities that should be off the beaten travellers' trail. Please confirm opening times, costs etc direct with operators. If you would like to share your “must see or do” travel tips with other travellers please contact us and we will add your tips and names to the appropriate section. New Zealand Books - Non-Fiction Travel Stories Set In NZ “New Boots in NZ” by Gillian Orrell Barry Crump (1935 – 1996): This author wrote many books about going bush in New Zealand. Whether the books are truth or fiction or a mixture of both is anyone's guess.
“Kiwiosities – An A-Z of NZ Traditions & Folklore” by Gordon Ell “NZ For Free” by Linda Duncan “1001 Best Things To See & Do In NZ” by Peter Janssen “Organic Explorer NZ” & “Organic Food, Eco Accommodation & Cultural & Eco Tourism” by Leonie Johnson & Tony Ward “Pubs with Personality” by Peter Janssen & Steve Reid “The Mad Keen Mountain Biker’s Road Trip” by Ruth Connor “The Mad Keen Golfer's Road Trip” by Tom Hyde “Walking Auckland” by Helen Vause “Worth A Detour – New Zealand’s Unusual Attractions & Hidden Places” – Peter Janssen For Your iPod Auckland Tiki Tane began his solo career in 2007, although raised in Christchurch he is now based in the Auckland area. His smash hit single Always On My Mind is the most successful single of all time in NZ. Check it out on You Tube and visit his site at www.tikidub.com. Kids of 88 are a new wave duo based in Auckland. They released My House in 2008 and they describe their music as "a cross between a late 80's police drama intro theme and a sophisticated super hussy". Listen to and buy My House on www.amplifier.co.nz. Hello Sailor released its self titled first album in 1977. The single Gutter Black reached number 15 on the NZ charts that year. The song has had a resurgence in popularity after being used as the theme song for the Auckland Westie drama series "Outrageous Fortune". Hello Sailor are still performing their brand of "South Pacific Rock'n'Roll come Ponsonby Reggae" - check out the gigs page on www.hellosailor.co.nz. Gin Wigmore's first album Holy Smoke went triple platinum in NZ the week beginning 22 February 2010. She has toured with Sheryl Crow and John Mellencamp and is off to perform in the USA in March 2010. Visit her website www.ginwigmore.com to hear this talented young woman sing. Hamilton/Waikato The Datsuns formed in Cambridge in the late 1990s and they opened for Metallica on their 2004 Australian tour. The Datsuns drove to fame with hits like .... Stuck Here For Days, Harmonic Generator, In Love, So Long and Eye Of The Needle. Tim and Neil Finn from the well known bands Split Enz and Crowded House were raised in Te Awamutu. Finn fans can visit the "True Colours" exhibition at Te Awamutu Museum - www.teawamutu.co.nz (Te Awamutu is 30km south of Hamilton). Hawkes Bay/Gisborne In June 1987 the reggae band Herbs released Sensitive To A Smile on the Mangahanea Marae in Ruatoria. Other popular Herbs songs include Parihaka (with Tim Finn), Long Ago and French Letter. Herbs have been described as the pioneers of Pacific reggae, check out the album "Lights of the Pacific - The Very Best of Herbs". Manawatu/Wanganui Feilding isn't just famous for its Saleyards, this rural town was once home to the Hume brothers who are Evermore. Their success started when they won the Rock Quest competition in Feilding and these days continues with international hits like Running, Light Surrounding You and Dreams Call Out To Me. New Plymouth/Taranaki Poi-E is the iconic song that made the Patea Maori Club famous in the 1980s, listen to it on www.amplifier.co.nz. If punk/metal is your thing have a listen to local New Plymouth lads Sticky Filth. Midge Marsden is a legendary rhythm and blues artist who was raised in New Plymouth. He has performed crowd favourites like Burning Rain and his interpretation of Slipping Away for decades. Visit his website for upcoming gigs - www.strawberryfields.co.nz. Rotorua/Taupo John Rowles was raised in Kawerau (58km east of Rotorua). He is known to some Kiwis as New Zealand's answer to Elvis Presley. Some of his hit songs from the 70s and 80s include Cheryl Moana Marie, Tania and Island in the Sun. Elizabeth Marvelly - listen to the lovely voice of this young soprano from Rotorua as she sings Love Can Build A Bridge on her website www.elizabethmarvelly.com. Wellington/Wairarapa The Wellington band Fat Freddy's Drop released "Based on a True Story" on 2 May 2005, one day later it was the number one album on New Zealand's album chart. If you listen to Wandering Eye for a minute or two on www.amplifier.co.nz you'll probably understand what got Kiwis buying this album. Check out amplifier for more funky Fat Freddy's tunes. Shihad formed in 1988 in Wellington and they are still rocking strong in 2010. They spectacularly supported ACDC on their NZ tour in 1996 and gave a repeat performance when ACDC toured early 2010. They play regular gigs around the country and have had many top 40 hits in NZ including Beautiful Machine, Alive, I Only Said and My Mind's Sedate. Visit www.shihad.com for tour dates and more. Another "once was a Wellingtonian" is soulful singer Brooke Fraser, currently based in the USA writing her third album. Three of her hit songs are Arithmetic, Albertine and Better. Ladyhawke was born and raised in Masterton and her musical family would have been proud when she cleaned up at the 2009 NZ Music Awards. She won album of the year, single of the year, breakthrough artist of the year, international achievement award and more. Hit singles from her self titled album include Paris is Burning, Back of The Van and My Delirium. Blenheim/Picton/Nelson Sharon O'Neill was born in Nelson but now lives in Australia, she is a self taught musician who made her mark on the NZ music scene. For a taste of her late 1970s and early 1980s music listen to Words, Maxine and Don't Say No To Tomorrow. Originally from Nelson, the Electronic band Minuit have recently taken their sound on tour to Russia, Vietnam & Prague. In 2009 they are back in New Zealand touring and playing songs like .... Menace, Except You and 25 Bucks. Hear them on www.amplifier.co.nz. Christchurch/Timaru Formed in Christchurch in 1993 The Feelers are a popular rock band. Some of their well known hits include The Fear, Stand Up, Weapons of War and One World. Sample their sound on www.thefeelers.co.nz. America's loss was New Zealand's gain when Anika Moa returned home. Tracks include Youthful, Falling In Love Again, and Dreams In My Head. Check out her website to see when she is performing - http://www.anikamoa.com. Hayley Westenra is a Christchurch born international success story, her album Pure reached number one on the UK classical charts in 2003. Her official site is www.hayleywestenra.com. Kaikoura/Hanmer Springs The dub/reggae band Salmonella Dub formed in Kaikoura in 1992. You can listen to their recent release Love Sunshine and Happiness on their website www.salmonelladub.com and Push On Thru and For The Love Of It on YouTube. Southland It's a tenuous link to Southland but Jason Kerrison of Opshop fame was born in Invercargill. Years later in Christchurch he formed a band with fellow Cantabrians Tim Skeddon, Bobby Kennedy and Matt Treacy, known as GST (Goldfish Shopping Trolley) - for real! The band is now known as Opshop and plays a mix of rock/pop/acoustic. Some of their smashing songs include Maybe, One Day and No Ordinary Thing. Check out their music at www.opshopmusic.com. |
North Island
Auckland south island
Blenheim/Picton/Nelson |