My quick but sweet trip to New Zealand!Kia Ora!
(Welcome, hello, thank you or good bye in Maori)

I started my New Zealand experience in Los Angeles with the Kiwi Specialist Convention. One and a half days of fast pace seminars with Tourism New Zealand, a bevy of New Zealand Tour Operators, accommodations and attractions. The convention was great! I got to meet lots of interesting people and learned a wealth of information. Picked up allot of brochures and CDs (I hope my box shows up as I had to ship it home – it was too heavy to carry all the way to NZ). The food was great and of course there were the New Zealand wines.

After the convention I flew out that night with Air New Zealand on my trip provided by Goway. I had a great flight; Air New Zealand has a great entertainment system in Pacific Economy. You have your own personal screen on the seat back in front of you, where you can choose from many movie titles (adventure, comedy, drama, kids titles too!), games, and TV shows. I lucked out and got 3 seats to myself, however the arm rests do not go all the way up so it is next to impossible to be completely horizontal. After 12.5 hours of flying time, I arrived in Auckland at 6:30am. Changed some money and hopped on the Airbus (15.00NZD one way 13.00NZD with an Explore NZ Card, available to Kiwi Specialists) and went to my hotel, Sky City. Luckily enough they let me check in right away (Sky City was an “add on” to the Goway Fam). Great service, really nice room! The rooms are quite modern and very large, the hotel has a casino, many restaurants, including The Observatory which is located atop the Sky Tower (Auckland’s version of the CN Tower). By the way if the urge takes you, you can jump 192 metres to the ground from the top for 195.00NZD, a really fast way to spend your money in Auckland. I did not partake! However I did partake in the Pizza at the Rebo café, it was delicious! Thin crust with roasted pumpkin, feta cheese, olives and artichokes on one side and on the other I had manuka smoked chicken with sundried tomatoes. I couldn’t eat it all, I wonder if it is still in the fridge in my Sky City room?

A little information on Manuka, it is a native shrub in New Zealand and is a variety of tea tree. New Zealand produces a Manuka honey which is renowned for it’s healing qualities, it has been used topically on burn patients with great success and it is great on toast or in tea! For more information on Manuka honey go to www.comvita.com.

For my first day in Auckland I booked a half day Bush and Beach tour, Wilderness Experience (again I got a 50% discount with my Explore New Zealand card). This tour is was great and I can’t say enough about Dawn our tour leader. I was picked up at my hotel by Dawn and from there we left the city of Auckland with a quick stop along the way at a bakery for some meat pies and fresh sandwiches. Then we drove to the Arataki Visitor Centre where we had great views of the Tasman Sea and got to enjoy some Maori carvings. Then we drove onto Karekare beach where the movie “The Piano” was filmed. This involved a very windy, steep descent down on narrow road, we were fortunate not to meet the same fate as the truck that went over the edge a few weeks prior (the yellow tape still marked the place). But that was all worth it because the scenery makes you forget all that. We were first taken into see a lovely waterfall where you can swim in the pool below or climb the falls itself. Then onto Karekare beach, meeting along the way a few good looking guys with surf boards. The beach was next to empty just us and a couple other people, and no piano; this is no ordinary beach because the sand is black. Black from volcanic ash and so, so soft on the feet. The sand itself contains iron (which can be picked up with a magnet) and also titanium. When the sun hits it, it shimmers. At this point my shoes were off and my jet lag was a vague memory and of course I clicked off a few pictures.

Then back on the bus and onto another beach via a scenic drive, this beach was called Piha Beach, a very famous surfing beach. We viewed this beach from above and it was stunning! Then we stopped at a little park area where we had a “cuppa” Dawn brought out the tea and coffee and biscuits and I actually got to taste Manuka honey for the first time. After our tea we then took a little hike into the rain forest and looked at the native flora of New Zealand, of which 70% is native to New Zealand. We learned about the Ponga, which is fern but growing as large as trees. The Ponga’s fern fronds are silver on the underside, the silver fern is a symbol found repeatedly in NZ, and it is also the symbol of the “All Blacks”, New Zealand’s national rugby team. Another symbol from the Ponga is the “Koru”, the curled new growth of a fern frond (know to some as fiddle heads here in Canada). This symbol is found everywhere in New Zealand from Maori art to the symbol on the tail of Air New Zealand’s aircraft. Dawn told us about the Cabbage tree and how Captain Cook’s crew boiled it up to ward off scurvy. And of course the Kauri tree, which is the largest tree in the world, largest in girth. The largest remaining one is known as Tane Mahuta, with a girth of 4.4 metres, and is said to be 1250 years old and still growing, the oldest is Te Matua Ngahere – 'Father of the Forest' – which is estimated to be 2000 years old. Our tour then continued along a scenic drive where we stopped to see a baby Kauri tree, only 800 years old! These majestic trees were once logged for their timber and their gum was used for varnish. They are now protected.

Our tour then ended at our respective hotels in Auckland. It was a day well spent with our guide Dawn; you could tell how much she loved her job. Who wouldn’t love working in such a beautiful environment?

The next morning I was picked up by Wes from Great Sights and we made our way to Waitomo, to see the glow worm caves. The caves are formed from limestone and there is an underground river that runs though it. The glow worms are worms that live on the ceiling of the cave and form a sticky string that hangs from ceiling. These strings glow and insects are attracted to them and get stuck in the stickiness. But to view them in a completely dark environment it seems as though you are looking up at a starlight sky.

After, we stopped for lunch and then headed to Rotorua where I stayed at the Rydges hotel. A very nice hotel with thermally heated pool (Most of Rotorua is heated this way due to the geothermal activity in the area). The rooms are very large and have a separate room with a spa bath in it. They also have table and chairs and a balcony with a table and chairs, mine looked over the horse racetrack and towards Lake Rotorua.
Despite the rain that night I walked to the down town area about (15 minutes) and went first to a souvenir shop where I bought a few things and use the internet. It was much cheaper to use the internet here than at the hotel. I paid 3.00NZD for 30minutes and at the hotel it was a whopping 26.00NZD for 120 minutes.

Then, onto the Fat Dog Café. An eclectic restaurant where you order at the counter and your food is brought to your table. I had the Chicken Satay Kebabs, it was quite tasty and lots of it, and washed all down with a Black Mac (a NZ micro brewery style dark beer). And of course I finished up with a flat white (somewhat like a cappuccino done south pacific style); I can’t quite get my coffees to turn out the same. Dinner cost about 20.00NZD total, quite reasonable I thought.

The next morning I was picked up by Bruce from Great Sights and it looked like the rain was going to hold off. We first went to Te Puia where the Pohutu Geyser and other smaller geysers and pools of bubbling mud can be viewed. Unfortunately, the skies decided to open up and the rain came down and I didn’t get to see Pohutu’s 30 metre eruption. The tour only allowed for 1 hour here and I feel it wasn’t long enough because there was allot to see, especially if you are a photographer. To see the Pohutu geyser erupt go to www.tepuia.co.nz via webcam (do it late at night because it will be day there then.) If time allowed I would have gone back when the weather cleared.

Next we went to the Agrodome, where you can milk a cow, see a sheep being sheared, feed a lamb (I did), buy some possum fur and merino socks (I did, and they are great!). But the fun doesn’t stop there; you can do a tour of the farm, jump bungee style and swing for awhile, do a simulated free fall jump, take a Hydrojet ride or roll down a hill inside a big plastic beach ball (Zorbing). This is a day plus attraction an hour stop cannot possibly do it. To check out all the possibilities go to www.agrodome.co.nz .

Our Next stop was Rainbow Springs, a beautiful native forest setting with fresh water springs with trout. This is a very informative tour on the flora and fauna of NZ. They have bird aviaries and there is the Kiwi Encounter, where NZ’s flightless bird the Kiwi can be seen. It is very dark as the Kiwi is a nocturnal bird; you can see it rooting around with its long beak for insects inside the enclosure. Rainbow Springs participates in a program call “Operation Nest Egg” where they actually find Kiwi eggs in the wild, bring them there, incubate them and raise them till they are mature enough to fight off any predators. The Kiwi population has diminished due to dogs, cats, possums and stoats and is a protected species. To learn more about Rainbow Springs and the Kiwi Encounter go to www.rainbowsprings.co.nz .

My tour was at its’ end, I got dropped off at the Lakeside Café and had lunch with Bruce the driver from Great Sights. Turns out he and his wife have a B&B on the lake in Rotorua.

After that I wandered over to the Maori church, St. Faith’s, nearby to view the incredible Maori carvings located inside the church. The church is open to the public (no pictures inside) no admission and no crowds so you can stand in the church and absorb the history, faith and culture of the Maori people. There is also a little gift shop next to the church where you can purchase Maori art and crafts.
I had the rest of the afternoon to myself so I went back to the hotel had a flat white while waited for my laundry to be done. The washers and dryers are free for guests and it cost 2.00NZD for washing powder.

That night I was picked up by Darren from Tamaki Maori Village along with a bus load of others, we drove outside Rotorua to the Tamaki Maori Village. On the way we were instructed (entertained) that we were in a Waka, a traditional Maori canoe and that we had to paddle in unison to make the bus go faster. We were also told that we were a tribe and had to choose a chief. There were three criteria to be met; he had to be brave, intelligent, and good looking. We elected Bruce from Australia; Darren said 2 out of 3 weren’t too bad. Upon arrival Bruce was instructed of what to do when challenged by the Maori chief. The Maori chief challenges the visiting chiefs to see if they are friend or foe, this is called the Te Wero. The Maori warriors perform this challenge with conviction and not many clothes. It really is something! After the peace offering is accepted, which is a frond of a silver fern, then, we can enter the village. In the village itself they demonstrate the traditional Maori way of life. Then you are asked to go to the Meeting House, the Wharenui, where the Haka is performed and many other traditional Maori songs and dances follow. If you sit in the front row you can touch them they are so close. You really are immersed in the whole cultural experience. Then they feed you! And what a feed, they serve New Zealand lambed cooked in the traditional Maori Hangi under the earth in an earth oven, green lipped mussels, Kumara (Maori sweet potato) and the usual salads, pasta and veggies. And don’t pass up the national New Zealand dessert, Pavlova, meringue, cream and kiwi fruit, yum! After more singing and entertainment we piled back onto our respective buses with our bellies full and satisfied! Darren, our bus driver, told us on the return that now we had to entertain him or he would have to make an unscheduled stop. So each nationality onboard had to sing something patriotic, I was in trouble since I was the only Canadian and couldn’t rely on another fellow Canadian to pull me through. Surprisingly enough Darren knows just about every patriotic song for all countries and I had a little help with Oh Canada (how embarrassing!). It was great fun and it is a must do while in Rotorua. By the way, if any of you want to married with a Maori theme that can be arranged by Darren. He is a marriage celebrant and has his own company that does this. Just contact me and I’ll arrange it for you.

My Goway portion of my trip is officially over now other than the return flight with Air New Zealand, however there is more. I was fortunate enough that my Kiwi friend Helena came and picked me up the next morning and we did some “tiki touring”. She drove me to a little seaside town called Maunganui, where Mount Maunganui is located. We took a short hike around the foot of the mount while taking in the beautiful coastline and beaches. After we went for a dip in the hot salt water pools located at the foot of the mount and followed up with some Hokey Pokey ice cream, a New Zealand favourite. Maunganui is a lovely spot if anyone is traveling by campervan (camp ground right next to the mount www.mountbeachside.co.nz ) or wants a little less touristy spot to light up.

Helena, then drove me back to her home and the next day I flew out from Auckland, not without doing some shopping in Hamilton for last minute purchases. I did purchase some wine to bring home for friends but soon realized unless I packed them in my suitcase I would not get through security with it (wine and suitcases don’t mix, trust me I worked at Canadian Airlines Baggage for awhile). And to add insult to injury, if you are transiting through the US, as I was, you cannot buy anything at duty free over 100ml because you go through security in the US again.
Overall, New Zealand in my mind is one of the most beautiful places on the earth to visit. Great scenery, hospitable people and service, fresh and delicious food, flat whites and it is very user friendly. The New Zealanders have turned tourism into a fine art; they love their county and love to share the culture, history and stunning scenery with others.
This was my third time there and it won’t be my last!

Kia Ora
Denise Gushue – Kiwi Specialist

dgushue@maritimetravel.ca 

Wet and Wild on the Shotover River, Queenstown NZ

While in Queenstown this time I had of choice of some activities, since I had been there are few times before I opted to do something I hadn't tried before and it was white water rafting. I chose to go with Queenstown Rafting. 

Because I had no experience with river rafting I was little worried and hesitant about trying it. Luckily two others in my group decided to do it too, so I decided to go ahead.

Queenstown Rafting comes to your hotel to pick you up and brings you first to their office in Queenstown so you can check in, then onto their actual facility which happens to be on the Shotover River right next door to the Shotover Jet. Upon arrival there you are told that you will be wearing a full wet-suit as the river can be quite cold especially since it was late fall. This in itself is a challenge as getting into a wet suit can be quite tiring, there is a lot of pulling and tugging going on! They provide you with everything the suit, socks, booties, jacket, rain coat, life jacket, helmet and even neoprene mitts. All you need to bring is a bathing suit and towel. Important tip: it is advisable to go to the toilet before you put any of this on!

Since the start of the rafting is not where their facility is you then have to pile into a van with all this gear on and drive 40 minutes into Skipper’s Canyon.

Skipper's Canyon

Did I mention the road into Skipper’s Canyon is listed as one of the most dangerous roads in the world and it is probably one of the most scenic as well! It is a narrow one lane dirt road that clings to the side of the canyon and twists it’s way to the Shotover  River. This road was put through during the gold rush in New Zealand. On the way in you pass through 2 holes in the rock. The first was called Hell’s Gate by the miners as you were about to drive some precarious roads into the river. The second is called Heaven’s Gate as that was the first you would pass through on the way out of the Canyon and hopefully with some gold in hand. The river is still panned for gold and on occasion someone finds a nugget or two. Even one of the rafting crew showed off a ring that was made from a nugget found in the river bed.

Soon we arrive and now we are given a lesson on what to do if we fall out of the raft or if the raft flips. We also told not to stand up in the river if we happen to fall out but to float on our back with our feet up and to listen to instruction from rafting guide. At this point they tell you that you can opt not to do it if you don’t feel comfortable. I don’t think anyone ever does because the prospect of driving another 40 minutes out of the canyon in all your gear is probably less appealing. Basically after getting all that gear on you are committed!

Ignorance is bless!

Once in the raft you are taught basic paddling and commands as you have to work as a team. Before each rapid or challenge in the river we are given the lessons we need to successfully make it through without any mishaps. Ie. Falling out or flipping the raft.

Our guide Gabby!

Our guide Gabby was fantastic, she was small and mighty, full of energy and confidence which made us all feel comfortable. There is no substitute for an experienced guide with excellent people skills!

We were on the river almost two hours and it was so much fun! The ride down the river was beautiful with the fall colours and blue water. We also got a history lesson on the gold rush along the way and we saw many relics left from days gone by where people came to make their fortune on the richest gold bearing river in the world.

While on the river we encounter about 6 rapids all ranging from class 3-5 rapids, some of the names describes what you are about to encounter quite well, ie. Pin Ball, Jaws, Toilet etc. I’m happy to report that we did not lose anyone on our raft, although the raft behind us did lose one, but he was quickly scooped up and placed safely back in the raft.

Cascade

One of the highlights of this trip was at the end where you raft through a man-made tunnel that was built by the miners to direct the flow of the river. Going through the tunnel was quite gentle but as you exit it you are suddenly dropped into the last rapid called Cascade, where the water completely washes over you!  It was a wild ride and I was glad that I decided to do it and didn't chicken out.

After the Cascade you are back where you started before the ride into Skipper’s Canyon. I have to say the most dangerous part of this trip for me was the walk on the sandy path, going downhill were my feet couldn't keep up with the rest of me, causing me to do an all-out belly slide on the path. At this point I was feeling pretty good about having all the wet suit gear on! I only suffered a sandy wet suit and hosing down when I got back to base.

To finish the trip you can warm up in the sauna they have on-site and finish up with a flat white coffee and treat or sandwich at their on-site café. Even though you can’t really take your camera with you on the raft, they do take photos that you can purchase as they have different cameras set up along the route. 

I would recommend this for anyone that is young at heart and doesn't mind getting wet. No experience is necessary you only need to know how to swim and have the courage to try!

Denise Gushue - Travel Advisor

Kiwi Specialist 

denise.gushue@gmail.com

2012 - As I look back

As I look back on 2012 I realize that I have a lot to be thankful for. I have grown as a person, a travel advisor and my business has grown!   I have to thank my clients for this as you have made me expand my abilities as a travel advisor by trusting me with your travel visions.  I have learned so much about new destinations, new ways to travel and what motivates people travel.  Here is a list of some things I’d like to share with you that has transpired over my year.

Most interesting flight itinerary I booked – Calgary to Norfolk Island, then to Chennai India and then return from Bangladesh. This all for a client that who went to Norfolk Island to visit his family home, then onto to India to visit his daughter who was teaching there and next to visit his sponsored child in Bangladesh.

Most luxurious booking:  A Private yacht chartered for a client’s 40^th birthday and 4 of his friends in the Whitsunday Islands, Australia.

Most generous gifts:  A camper van hire for Germany with return flights as a gift for a retiring employee who always wanted to go back to Germany for a visit. Another company gave their long time employee as a retirement gift a private tour of Paris for her and her granddaughter. It was complete with chauffeur and private guide. These gifts will create lifetime memories for these dedicated employees, so much more than a gold watch. I felt privileged to be instrumental in making it happen for them!  

Most popular destination:  I sold a lot of trips to South America this year as well. Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos are hot spots for tourism right now.  I had opportunity to customize some trips to South America for some new clients and some repeat clients. I also have put together a writer’s retreat group to Peru with writer/comedian Deborah Kimmett.  To learn more about this trip click here.  

Most educational - I went on a Seminar at Sea on Royal Caribbean’s’ Oasis of the Seas, one of the world’s largest cruise ships. The Oasis is a beautiful ship with tons of activities, wonderful indoor and outdoor spaces, and wonderful dining options. This is a great ship for families and multi – generational groups as there is really something for everyone!

Fantail Falls, Haast Pass, NZ

Most loved destination - I had the opportunity to go on a familiarization trip to New Zealand which was fabulous! This had been my fourth time visiting New Zealand and I am still in love with it! I never tire of the place and can never wait to go back to visit! I got to see Milford Sound for the first time and it was well worth the drive from Queenstown into Fiordland National Park. The drive itself is just as spectacular as the cruise on Milford Sound.  We drove along the west coast of the South Island and through the Haast Pass, which is so lush and green with vegetation. Along the way we got to see the ever stunning Fantail falls and stunning seascapes along the coast.  

Nothing pleases me more than getting the chance to visit New Zealand and because of that I love planning and arranging trips to this beautiful destination for my clients! 

Most “proud moment” - I also was very happy to just have my name mentioned in Virtuoso Life magazine, a luxury travel magazine. Virtuoso is a consortium of luxury travel agencies and travel suppliers, such as hotels and tour companies, so I’m very proud to be a member. You can find my mention on page 87 under the Ecuador section of the January/February edition, here is the link to the virtual edition.  Virtuoso Life

Overall it has been a great year and I have my clients to thank for that! Here’s to looking forward to 2013, may it serve up new challenges, motivations, destinations familiar and not so familiar and of course success!

What to do in Sydney on a short stay.

I recently had a short stay in Sydney and was not wanting for things to see and do! Sydney is an exciting Sydney full of neighbourhoods and attactions to visit. The 3 main areas that are most popular are Darling Harbour, Circular Quay and The Rocks. These areas all have a wide variety of accomodations and attactions that are sure to please.

Creative Writer's Retreat in Peru

Have you always wanted to have an adventure in Peru? Would you love to write a great story?

I'm excited to announce I have put together a specialized group tour to Peru with One Funny Lady comedian/writer Deborah Kimmett. Deborah has been in the comedy/writing business for a long time and she is wonderful teacher/mentor when it comes to exploring the craft of writing, I can personally vouch for that!

 Deborah is now using her experience to help other writers or inspiring writers develop their skill and find their inspiration. She has held numerous writing workshops locally and worldwide.

After putting our heads together I suggested that it would be good to do a workshop at destination. Deborah jumped at the chance and decided on Peru as the place to do it, since she has always wanted to go there. So we came up with a plan and created a Creative Writer's Retreat in Peru.  




Peru is steeped in history, is biologically diverse, culturally rich and a desired destination for those in search of themselves or a spiritual connection. So what better place to find your inspiration!

Whether you are an experienced writer or a novice Deborah's aim is to help you tap into that inspiration while on this journey and put pen to paper.

Here is a teaser of what you might be inspired by in Peru! As they say "Don't watch the movie live it for real!"

For those of you that may not know of Deborah here is what she says about herself:

 "After three decades,of performing  (The Second City, Winnipeg Comedy Festival) and writing my own one-woman shows, writing and directing on TV shows ( Steve Smith aka Red Green and CBC TV) And CBC Radio (15 Episodes-The Debaters) I have mentored thousands of people ( and businesses ) to change the story they tell themselves and get right with their ideas. My workshops centre around Change, Communicate and creativity. I travel across the world teaching writing workshops, called Let me Midwife your Creative Life."

To learn more about Deborah please visit her website at www.kimmett.ca and check out some of her videos and writings. And here is the link to Deborah's blog on Why she wants to go to Peru.


The trip is 8 days/7 nights and starts in Lima on June 29th, 2013. For full trip details please go to:  http://www.vision2000.ca/denisegushue/vacations/creativewritersretreatwithdeborahkimmett1

Or contact me directly at denise.gushue@gmail.com.

All pictures provided by Prom Peru.

New Business Cards

New Business Cards

I recently found a website that offered some very different business cards and thought I'd give them a try. The company is called Moo and their website is www.moo.com. They can make mini business cards and you can add your own photos or text to them. 

Since my two passions are travel and photography this was an excellent way for me to showcase what I'm good at, being a travel advisor and photographer.

The video below shows what the cards are like. Needless to say I am very happy with the outcome!

Denise Gushue - Travel Advisor

     

Shotover Jet - Excitement at it's Best

Edith Cavell Bridge

 The Shotover Jet is one of Queenstown's the most exciting attractions. It is located 10 minutes outside of Queenstown  on the Shotover River at Morning Star Beach where in 1862 gold was first discovered by Thomas Arthur and Harry Redfern. If you are staying in Queenstown at a hotel you can be picked up by the Shotover Bus. While on the bus ride the driver plays an information video of a safety briefing before you get to the boat launch.

Once you arrive on site the first thing that strikes you is that water is a beautiful aqua colour and the surrounding scenery of the canyon is stunning! The historic Edith Cavell bridge, which is a one lane bridge  frames the entrance into the canyon beyond.

Once you make your way down to the boat you are given a rain coat and life vest and are advised to wear a toque (especially in the fall and winter), ensure your glasses are well fitting and you must leave your camera and personal belongings in a secure locker.  As you board the boat the driver reminds you to hold on to the heated hand rail, keep your hands and arms in at all times and definitely no standing is allowed. Get ready the fun is about to begin!

The river is noticeably shallow, and can be as shallow as 10 cm in some spots, this makes you wonder why the boat does not bottom out especially with 14 people in one boat. The boat call "Big Red" is designed specifically for the Shotover River conditions. With no exterior parts the water is actually sucked in towards the inside propellers called impellers and then forced out the rear nozzles with great force allowing it to reach speeds of 85 KMPH. The jet boat can brake and reverse using deflectors and thrust buckets similar to a jet aircraft, this allows it turn on a dime for incredible 360 degree spins!        

As we start to pick up speed and move through the canyon it is hard to know what to feel? Should I be freaking out about how close he comes to the rocks at incredible speeds or just be in awe of the incredible view from inside the canyon? The canyon is very narrow in some parts and it doesn't even look like the boat can pass and it barely does. And, I have to wonder why sheep who has wandered down to the shore for a drink and seems totally oblivious to the fact that there is a big red thing coming down the river at 80 KMPH and there is a bunch of women screaming in it as it does a complete 360 degree spin a mere inch or two from the rocks. I guess even sheep can zone out seeing the same thing over and over again on a daily basis.

As there is no way to really describe the acceleration felt while riding in " Big Red" the video below might somewhat do the trick. In my opinion is this probably one of the most adrenaline pumping things you can do short of bungee jumping or riding down the side of a mountain on a bike. It requires no strenuous effort unless you count exercising your lungs strenuous. Great for all ages and it is family friendly. Kids must meet the height requirement of 1.2 metres or more. You will disembark a little damp maybe, your face a little wind blown but there will be a smile on your face.  I recommend The Shotover Jet a must do while in Queenstown!

Denise Gushue - Travel Advisor
Kiwi Specialist
e. denise.gushue@gmail.com

View from Shotover Beach.

Safari of the Scenes, a tour well worth doing!

Safari of the Scenes, a tour well worth doing!

Day 2 - Queenstown and surrounding area.

On our second day in Queenstown we did the Safari of the Scenes tour with Nomad Safaris. This is a 4 hour tours that starts with a pick up at your hotel at 8:30AM. Lord of the Rings fans will be happy to know they visit several locations where the film was filmed, thus the name Safari of the Scenes. However this tour was in existence before the film actually came out. It covers the Wakatipu Basin and part of Skipper’s Canyon.

The tour is done in a Land Rover Defender as the terrain warrants nothing less than a reliable 4WD. We start out with a steep climb up the Misty Mountain range from where we were blessed with incredible views of Deer Park Heights.

We also visited Arrowtown which is rich with history from the Gold Rush dating back to the 1800’s. The main street still looks like it could be a gold rush town from the 1800’s. The Arrow River today is still panned for gold and on occasion some get lucky. Our tour actually included a lesson in panning and we all had a go, no one got lucky, but the homemade fruitcake served with our coffee by our driver was worth writing home about.

This was definitely a very fun part of the trip as the Land Rovers ford the river several times as we travel down the river. Make sure you take your pictures with the window closed on this part!

Chard Farm Winery

We visited the Kawarau Gorge on a rather narrow road with a rather curious sign (see picture to the right), that is apparently built for two way traffic; thank goodness this is not part of my daily commute!   From here we could see the original site of the first commercial bungee which was started by A. J. Hackett. There is even a winery situated off this rather tiny road. Apparently the owner had great insight as it is a successful business now producing 6 variety of wines. But, when he first started most believed them                             foolish to even try.

The last part of the tour was to Skipper’s Canyon and in my opinion it offered the most incredible views of the day. The day was sunny and bright and because it was New Zealand’s fall the tussock (native wild grass) was stunning to see with the shades of gold, brown and orange.  Not to mention the while seated on the passenger side, which was also the outside edge of the road the view was literally heart stopping! Skipper’s road is considered one the top 25 most scenic drives in the world and probably one of the scariest, but so worth it! Our tour concluded at our hotel so we could get ready for our next adventure.

Nomad Safaris also offers other tours in the area including Glenorchy, private tours and they also have All Terrain Vehicle options. I’d be happy to give you the details on your next trip to Queenstown.

Denise Gushue - Certified Travel Advisor

Kiwi Specialsit

e. denise.gushue@gmail.com

Queenstown, NZ, location, location, location!

Queenstown, NZ, location, location, location!

I just recently spent three nights in Queenstown, New Zealand and loved the lakeside town. Even though it was my second visit to Queenstown I didn’t do any of the same things I did before as Queenstown and the surrounding area has so much to offer.

Day 1

The first day was an easy day as I had just arrived via Los Angeles and Auckland.  The flight to Queenstown allowed us to see the Southern Alps which viewed from above looks like a spine running down the middle of the South Island of New Zealand.

As we neared Queenstown I kept thinking is there actually enough flat land to land this plane? The sun was shining and there were mountains in every direction you looked!  And, even when we landed at the airport and got off the plane on the tarmac everyone was busy clicking off pictures. The view of the mountains and the low lying clouds were stunning!

We were lucky to be staying at the Rydges Lakeland Hotel which is directly across from the lake so the views were incredible with lake and the backdrop the Remarkable Mountains. Even though the Rydges is not right in the centre of town is very close to walk to everything in less than 15 minutes. Most of the rooms at the Rydges face the lake and either have terraces or balconies from which to enjoy the view. Even the bar and restaurant have stunning views.  Seeing the sun rise over The Remarkable Mountains while having breakfast at the hotel restaurant each morning was fantastic!

I opted to walk around the beautifully located town of about 10,000 permanent residents, soon after we arrived at the hotel.  Queenstown is located on the shore of Lake Wakatipu. It is a glacier formed lake but according to Maori legend the lake was formed by the burnt sleeping body of the giant Matau after he had abducted a chief’s daughter.  A “S” hole was left behind which soon filled with the melted snow and ice forming the lake as it is known today.

 Queenstown has many restaurants and shops and wonderful places for coffee. That day we also lucked out as there was a craft market taking place which featured local artisans.  I ended up buying some hand poured tea light candles and a merino wool hat for my daughter.

It was a great way to ease into the beginning of the trip and to orientate myself with the life of Queenstown.  

Stay tuned for more on Queenstown and area.

Denise Gushue - Certified Travel Advisor

Kiwi Specialist

e.denise.gushue@gmail.com 

Things to do in LA on a 24 hour stopover

LA Stopover!

As I sell a lot of South Pacific to my clients often they connect via Los Angeles. And, since it is such a long journey from eastern Canada I often suggest an overnight in LA before connecting the next evening. With good planning you can stop over for free in LA, as long as your stop over is less than 24 hours. This is where my expertise comes into play. Yes it means paying for a hotel for the night but most hotels near LAX are relatively inexpensive and offer free shuttles to and from the airport.

Manhattan Beach Pier

So what do you do that extra day you ask? Well I recently stayed in Los Angeles before flying out to New Zealand the next day and I found a very inexpensive option, the Ocean Express Trolley. Since most hotels have a check out time at noon, you will have to store your bags with the bellman for the day.  The trolley ticket can be purchased from your hotel concierge for 5.00USD for a return trip with hop on hop off privileges and stops at near many of the hotels on Century Boulevard.  You can go to a local beach, like Manhattan Beach and/or shop till your heart’s desire. Not only can you shop in the village of Manhattan Beach but there are also some shopping centres on the trolley’s route where you can opt to stop at if you are a diehard shopper.

Manhattan Beach

Great service at Cotton Cargo, Manhattan Beach! 

 I stopped at Manhattan Beach and checked out the gorgeous beach and pier. It will give you a real taste of the Californian lifestyle, and, it was just so great to walk on the beach and soak up some of the sun! There is a board-walk as well from which you can see some incredible homes!

 The shops in Manhattan Beach are laid back and the service is friendly.

The Ocean Express Trolley is not the only option though that you can do while in LA. There are also tours to see Hollywood, some of the Star’s homes, and day passes to Disney Land in Anaheim.

Having that stopover in LA could actually be an added bonus to you holiday plans with the help of a travel agent in the “know”!

Check out this video on the Ocean Express Trolley

Denise Gushue - Certified Travel Advisor

e. dgushue@maritimetravel.ca

The Importance of Travel Insurance

Just recently had a client who booked a very expensive trip which involved a luxurious train journey. As it is required by the Ontario Travel Industry Act I offered him insurance and he declined, saying the money was better in his pocket and not theirs.

Well it turned out the train journey he booked was cancelled due to some flooding while he was at destination making it impossible for the train to operate. The train company did offer a full refund but he was stuck with the transfers to and from the train station that were pre-paid and non refundable.   But that was not the worst of it, now he had to get from point A to point B, this resulted in booking a flight to the final destination and paying out of pocket for the flight for him and his companion.  Another unexpected expense was 2 extra nights in a hotel at the final destination as originally he would have been spending those 2 nights on the train. With it being during the Christmas season flight and hotel availability was very limited and it made it a challenge to find room at the inn, so to say. This could have been an easier process if he had insurance because most insurance companies offer a 24/7 assistance program which is there for such situations and really comes in handy if you are unable to reach your travel agent right away.

If he had decided to take the cancellation/interruption insurance, yes the train would have still been refunded because they were not able to operate but his flights, hotel and transfers would have been covered by the insurance because it would have been considered an interruption.

Sometimes putting money into the insurance company’s pocket gives you the peace of mind that you will be keeping the rest of your money in your pocket during your trip especially when things don’t go as planned.

Travel insurance, don’t leave home without it!

Denise Gushue - CTC

denise.gushue@vision2000.ca 

  

Don’t leave home without them! Travel essentials for your carry on.

The things we take on a trip with us can vary tremendously depending if it is a business trip, trip to a sun destination or an outdoor adventure. But when it comes to the things you take with you in your carry-on or what you wear while travelling there are some essentials I don’t leave home without, especially when travelling by air!

Here is my list:

1. Wear comfortable, versatile clothes while on the plane. It’s a good idea to wear layers that are not bulky. I like to wear a nice pair of yoga pants with a nice comfortable top and a light jacket or sweater. I especially like the yoga pants because of the forgiving stretch in the waist. There is nothing worse than being in a middle seat between two strangers and all you can think is I wish I could undo the top button and maybe unzip the zipper a little because your stomach has decided to bloat during the flight.

2. Wear comfortable shoes that have a little give in them, just in case your feet swell and comfort comes in handy if you have to run to catch your connecting flight. Warm socks are good too if you are on a long overnight flight and you want to get a little shut eye. I personally find it hard to sleep with shoes on, it just doesn’t seem natural?

3. A pashmina or a sarong is a handy thing to have in your bag just in case you get cold and there are no blankets left.  A sarong is also a good idea if you are going to a sun destination in conjunction with putting your bathing suit in your carry-on too. This is great if you arrive at the hotel early and you can’t check in yet. Why delay the vacation, get them to store your bags until your room is ready and go to the beach or pool!

4. On long flights overseas I carry a tooth brush, one of those travel ones and a tiny travel size of tooth paste, an extra pair of undies and clean top This especially great when eating in a confined sometimes turbulent space.  I always manage to get a spot or two on my top!  That way you can freshen up before you arrive. Other great things you can carry is a small travel size deodorant and some unscented moisturizing cream – that can be used for face and hands. Skin can become very dry and dehydrated during flight.

5. I know you can’t carry a water bottle through security but it is a good idea to buy one once through. It is important to say hydrated while onboard especially on long haul flights. Getting a drink of water on board is dependent on when they decide to come around for meal or snack service and those little cups they give you is never enough water.

6. If you are on any medication always take it with you in your carry on, never pack it in your checked baggage especially if you need to take it on a regular basis, just in case your suitcase doesn’t arrive with you at destination.  And make sure it is the original bottles with your prescription details and Doctors’ name is on it. You don’t want anyone at security interrogating you over those mysterious pink and blue pills in the zip lock bag in your purse!

7. Always take any valuables like jewelry, or your camera etc. on board the aircraft. And make sure all electronics are charged or have fresh batteries as they may ask you to turn them on while going through security.  

8. Take all your travel documents, travel insurance policy and any contact names, numbers or addresses you may need while on the trip. Don’t pack it in your checked baggage!  You don’t want to arrive with no bags or your hotel reservation and get into a cab and tell the driver take me to the Marriott and he asks “which one?” And then he informs you there are 3 Marriott hotels in the area and you don’t know the street address of the one you are booked at.

9. And probably the most obvious is your passport or appropriate identification. I always suggest that you also carry a photocopy of your passport and credit cards just in case you lose them in a separate bag , separate part of your bag or in your checked bags. It is also a good idea to leave a copy with family at home.

10. After ensuring you have your passport and travel documents, because all that other stuff you can get by without if you had to.  I think the most import things to take is your sense of humour , an open heart and a sense of adventure, because these are the things that you can’t buy and after all it’s only the journey that matters!

Denise Gushue - CTC

Travel Advisor

denise.gushue@gmail.com

The Favourite Season



Even though the sky is grey.. with every raindrop the colours of nature intensifies. And the sound of every raindrop soothes the soul. There is allot to be said for the phrase "just add water". D. Gushue

Fall is definitely my favourite season! This is true for many reasons; the most obvious is how beautiful everything looks. From the yellow leaves of the Ash trees, the multitude of colours of the different variety of Maple trees, fire red leaves of the Sumac and the golden colours of farmer’s fields when the sun hits them just the right way. I feel compelled to grab my camera and record this beauty especially after it rains as the water drops intensify the vibrant coloured leaves against the blackened tree trunks and branches. There is nothing like a walk in the woods, breathing the crisp fresh air and hearing the crunch of fallen leaves beneath your feet! And for this reason and this reason alone it would be the one season I would truly miss if I were to move to a tropical climate.


It’s the season when kids go back to school and mom’s are secretly saying a “woohoo” ! As the Staples commercial says “it’s the most wonderful time of year”! It is time to for families to meet during Thanksgiving and eat copious amounts of turkey and pumpkin pie while giving thanks for our many blessings!

It’s the time when most Canadians start to get serious about their work again after having summer holidays and/or a number of visits to the cottage. And with this we also know it is the season of transition from sweaters and rain jackets to snow boots and parkas! It’s a season of preparation for the long winter ahead.

This leads me to another reason I love fall as a travel consultant, everyone now is thinking about going south or further afield to escape the undeniably long and cold Canadian winter that lies ahead. Sure we love our snow shoeing, skating, skiing and hockey but there is nothing like sitting on a beach, cruising on a ship or zip lining across the rainforest canopy to warm up our bodies and lift our spirits! And fall is the best time to book for the winter months, as you have more availability, especially if you are planning to travel during peak times like Christmas or March Break. It is also the time when many travel suppliers have Early Booking Bonuses and promotions so they can fill their ships, hotels and planes early in the season. And as a consumer it is also a good time to commit to a vacation because by leaving it too late to book you will often feel the drain of the expenditures that comes with the holidays. This often leads to putting that holiday on hold till next year. And by the time February comes along you realize that maybe that toaster oven or tread mill that is collecting dust is no match for sitting on a beach, cruising on a ship or zip lining over the jungle canopy.

So before changing your front hall closet from summer/fall clothes to winter clothes take a moment to plan your winter escape. With that in mind I leave you with some wise words from Mark Twain.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Denise Gushue - CTC (Certified Travel Counsellor)

e. denise.gushue@gmail.com