Plan Your New Zealand Self Drive Vacation

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Posted by Lisa | Posted in General Travel | Posted on 17-09-2009

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South Island New Zealand Slideshow

A rental vehicle is a fantastic way to see New Zealand. Excellent roads and incredible views make driving here a pleasure, and your rental vehicle lets you stop and enjoy the sights any time you please.

New Zealand is a great destination for vacations. Whether you’re stopping in Auckland for a week or want an extended vacation from North Cape to the South Island, New Zealand has a vacation for everyone.

The country’s capital is Wellington, a great place to lose yourself in for a week or so. When you want to save money on transport a hire car is a great choice, as New Zealand rental cars are affordable as well as good quality. Rent one suited for driving around town so you can enjoy Wellington’s quality shopping, vibrant night-life and gourmet dining, plus the many beautiful scenic areas so close to the city. The famous Bee Hive parliament building is a must-see destination, and don’t miss a visit to beautiful Kapiti Island.

City life is not the only attraction New Zealand has to offer – there is a lot more to do and see. Many people come to experience the diverse landscapes and incredible natural beauty of these islands after seeing them in films like The River Queen. In the North Island drive along the shores of the country’s largest fresh water lake and visit bubbling mud pools, national parks and the island’s many beautiful beaches. Drive across the South Island’s high mountain passes and enjoy beautiful views of untouched native forest and towering glaciers.

Every part of New Zealand offers a beautiful backdrop for your vacation, whether you’re looking for relaxation or adventure.

If you want outdoor adventure and sporting activities, you’ll find them here. If you’re in the mood for snow, hire an affordable hire vehicle to take you to the ski-field of your choice. New Zealand’s quality slopes make this country the right destination for both skiers and snowboarders. New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes promise endless opportunities for walkers any time of year, so when you want to explore on foot you’ll enjoy great hikes and day walks wherever you’re staying. If you like fishing, New Zealand’s seas, rivers and lakes are famous for trophy trout and salmon and a 4WD rental vehicle will help you find the perfect fishing hole.

Self drive holidays in New Zealand are a great choice – you can plan a unique trip to suit your budget and length of stay. There’s so much to see and do here, and your hire vehicle lets you have your choice of New Zealand’s spectacular scenery, unique experiences and idyllic holiday spots.

Plan Your New Zealand Self Drive Vacation

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Posted by Lisa | Posted in General Travel | Posted on 07-09-2009

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South Island Scenery Slideshow

New Zealand is a very popular place for vacations. Whether you’re stopping in Christchurch for a quick visit or planning a month’s trip exploring from Bay of Islands to Bluff, New Zealand has a vacation for you.

A hire car is a fantastic way to travel New Zealand. Well maintained roads and beautiful views make driving here fun, and your hire car lets you detour and enjoy the sights in your own time.

Wellington, the country’s capital, is a great city to explore for a few days. Hire an affordable rental vehicle suited for city driving so you can sample the city’s quality shopping, vibrant night-life and gourmet dining, plus the many beautiful scenic areas so close to the city. Te Papa Museum is a must-see destination, and you shouldn’t miss an evening watching the incredible World Of Wearable Art show.

City life is not the only attraction New Zealand has to offer – there is a lot more to do and see. Many people come to experience the stunning landscapes and incredible natural beauty of these islands after seeing them in movies like The Piano. In the North Island drive along the shores of the country’s largest fresh water lake and visit boiling geysers, national parks and exotic black sand beaches. Drive through sculptural limestone rock formations in the South Island and enjoy beautiful views of snow capped mountains and picturesque river valleys.

Whether you want adventure or relaxation, every part of New Zealand offers a beautiful backdrop for your vacation.

If you want outdoor adventure and sporting activities, you’ll get them here. If you want snow sports, rent an affordable hire vehicle to get you to the ski-field of your choice. New Zealand’s quality slopes make this country a popular destination for both snowboarding and skiing. New Zealand’s stunning landscapes promise endless opportunities for walkers any time of year, so when you want to explore on foot you’ll enjoy great hikes and day walks wherever you’re staying. If you like fishing, New Zealand’s seas, rivers and lakes are famous for trophy trout and salmon so choose a 4WD hire vehicle to get you to those out-of-the-way fishing spots.

A New Zealand self drive vacation is a great choice – create a unique trip that fits your length of stay and your budget. There’s so much to see and do in New Zealand, and your hire car lets you have your choice of New Zealand’s spectacular scenery, unique experiences and idyllic holiday spots.

Art Deco Festival in NZ

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Posted by Lisa | Posted in General Travel | Posted on 21-06-2009

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The period recognised and defined as the Art Deco period was 1925 through to 1939 . Art Deco not only influenced the design of buildings and interiors but also was prevalent in fashion, paintings, mirrors and film throughout this time period.

Art Deco is primarily based on mathematical geometric shapes. Two of the most popular patterns created were the “chevron” and “sunburst motif”. These have been used to great effect in stunning Art Deco Mirrors.

But why is it called “Art Deco”? It was not called Art Deco in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The term actually came from the title of an exposition in Paris called “Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes”. The actual term Art Deco however did not become the prevalent term to describe this style until 1968 when art historian Bevis Hillier released the book Art Deco of the 20s and 30s”

The Art Deco style lost its popularity during the tough times of the 1940’s as it became to be linked with extragavent luxury. Art Deco has however had a resurrection since the 1980’s and has become increasingly popular due in part to the mathematical and intricate shapes that could be created using computers and their increasingly shophisticated graphic design capabilities.

Napier, which is found in the Hawke’s Bay of New Zealand, has a stunning collection of Art Deco buildings. Every year thousands of people go to Napier in February to celebrate its Art Deco heritage and history.

Napier is a port city with a population of about 58,000. It is often linked to Hastings City and thus called Napier-Hastings. Napier was named after Sir Charles Napier who was a Commander-in-Chief in India was thought of as a hero after the Battle of Meeanee in the Indian province of Sindh. There is even a suburb of Napier named Meeanee after this battle.

On 3 February 1931 Napier was hit by an earthquake that flattened the town. There were 258 people killed either by buildings collapsing by fires that broke out because of the earthquake. The town centre was then rebuilt using the Art Deco style which was popular during this period of time. Interestingly Napier became larger because of the earthquake. The earthquake raised 40km squared of land.

Although some of the buildings have now been replaced, most of the buildings remain and have become recognized as unique. From the 1990’s the buildings have been protected and restored to their former glory.

Napier is now regarded as one of the best preserved Art Deco towns, along with Miami Beach. The Art Deco in Napier is so unique and stunning that is was the first cultural site in New Zealand to be nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Status.

Other cities with stunning Art Deco buildings are Valencia, Havana and Rio De Janerio.