Posts Tagged ‘New Zealand’

Tales from the Dunny

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

Written by Paige Green for Quickbeds.com

All rights reserved by jocuteca

No matter where you go on holidays, how you get there or where you stay – there are probably two things that are certain: at some point during your trip you’ll be hankering for a nice cup of coffee and probably at a different point in time, you’ll be looking for a public toilet.

Dunnies worth the trip

Meanwhile, when it comes to the loo, some facilities are worth the trip in themselves. Here are some of the most unique toilets worth travelling for:

  • Loo with a view, Mooloolaba – for travellers to the Sunshine Coast, there’s nothing like the real five star treatment at the “loo with a view”. This picturesque viewing point will transform the way you enjoy some of the more “private” moments in life.
  • Charmin in Times Square, NY – as creative marketing campaigns goes, this one takes home a definite honourable mention. The toilet paper giant sponsors these exclusive facilities in the heart of Manhattan during the Christmas holiday season. Over 250,000 visitors stopped by to check out the facilities and the soft cushiness of Charmin brand toilet paper in its opening year and Christmas shoppers this year will find it offers at least some degree of “relief”.
  • Toilet art, Kawakawa New Zealand - Friedensreich Hundertwasser is the artist behind some of the most unique public toilets in the Southern Hemisphere. These facilities, designed in conjunction with students from Bay of Islands College, feature inset glass and tiles, sculptures, a living tree and a grass roof. It will certainly change your view of drab and dreary public loos.

Australians – where to go when you need to go

Planning a road trip? There are plenty of planners to help you pick your destination and find cheap hotels – and now, you can even plan your pit stops along the way. The Federal Government has put together the National Public Toilet Map so you’ll always know where to go. You can plan your breaks for a long trip. Staying in an unfamiliar city? Download the iPhone app so you can feel confident about finding the nearest public loo.

Did you know that there are 338 public toilets in the Brisbane City Council area while Melbourne South has 481 noted spots? Meanwhile, there are 82 dunnies in Sydney’s CBD area alone and if you find yourself wandering through the 220 hectares of Randwick’s Centennial Park, there are 10 places to make a pit stop. However, if your find your bladder filling up in Darlinghurst you’ll might have to hold on until you reach the lone public toilet of Ward Park in neighbouring Surry Hills.

So next time you’re driving from Sydney to Brisbane, plan your trip before you go. There are 71 rest stops along the 900 km trip before you reach your cheap Brisbane accommodation, and some curious ones to boot – why not drop into the facilities at Chinaman Beach or Oliver’s on the F3 that boasts delicious organic soups and 5-star toilets with all-natural lavender hand wash near Warnervale.

What are some of the most unique toilets you’ve visited?

Top Accommodations In New Zealand

Monday, September 27th, 2010
Auckland, New Zealand

Some rights reserved by Sandy Austin

Auckland

With a remarkable maritime tradition, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city and is dubbed the “City of Sails”. If your idea of adventure requires clear blue waters, like sailing, kayaking and boating, then this city has everything you need from fine dining cuisines to mouth-watering wineries. The Castaways Lodge and Cotter House Luxury Retreat are just two of the Auckland hotels you can use as a base to explore the waterfront area.

Kapiti Coast, New Zealand

All rights reserved by kiwisteve1

Wellington

Wellington is considered the cultural capital of New Zealand. It’s the home of the Royal New Zealand ballet, the Royal New Zealand ballet, the National Opera, the Maori Treasures Gallery, two of New Zealand’s top wine regions , Wairarapa & Marlborough, Hutt Valley’s outdoor adventure, Kapiti Coast, world class wild-life sanctuaries, fantastic golf courses, stunning beaches…the list goes on! To explore everything this place has to offer, you’re going to need some convenient Wellington accommodations nearby so you can maximize your exploration and minimize travel time.

Awaroa Lodge, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand

All rights reserved by udderlyjodi

Nelson

The Awaroa Lodge in Abel Tasman National Park is an eco-lodge that is committed to the ethos of ecological and bio-organic sustainability. Want to kayak around a seal colony, go salmon fishing at the Anotoki Salmon farm, sail from Kaiteriteri to Anchorage to Awaroa or enjoy a scenic walk between Torrent and Bark Bay? The Awaroa Lodge has got it all! (Thanks for the recommendation Andy!)

Christchurch

Hotel So Christchurch, New Zealand

All rights reserved by tomnalex

Calling all design fanatics and eco-friendly travelers! The Hotel So Christchurch has your name written all over it. Each room includes free wireless broadband, free gym and sauna, free electric car charging, flat screen entertainment system and controllable mood lighting! Their soaps and shampoo are 100% biodegradable, vegetable based and GE free and they use low energy fluorescent or LED lights. (Thanks for the recommendation Will from Vagabumming!)

Where would you recommend staying in New Zealand?

Disclosure: This post has been created with the support of www.wotif.co.nz for Auckland and Wellington accommodations.

Sunsets From Around The World

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Sunsets are one of Mother Nature’s greatest masterpieces. Unfortunately, I don’t get to see them anymore. By the time I’m out of work, the sun has already set in the Concrete Jungle. To satisfy my desire to be mesmerized by sunsets, I asked my fellow friends and travel bloggers to submit photos of their best sunsets. Talk about a visual overload.

Without further adieu, feast your eyes on this. I hope it satisfies your wanderlust…for now.

Koh Samet, Thailand

A beautiful calm sunset after a day of riding ATVs and exploring the jungles of Koh Samet, one of the less visited islands of Thailand.

Finisterra, Spain

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After walking about 2000km in Spain on the Camino de Santiago, my reward was one of the most beautiful sunsets over the Atlantic at the most western tip of Spain: Finisterra, the "End of the World". My journey was over in Spain.

Somewhere over the Atlantic

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While trying to take pictures of those creeping clouds over the Atlantic, an old lady next to me told me: "When the clouds are like this, it's going to rain tomorrow". I nodded politely without really believing.. It rained the whole next day after weeks of sunny days.

Dan Nahabedian

Dan is wandering soul and a traveler, eager to learn from the entire World, and excited to share all the Knowledge and the Beauty captured through his lens. That’s what he’s am all about! Check out his blog Canvas of Light for more jaw dropping photos and follow him on Twitter @Eloren.


Redondo Beach, California

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My first ever California sunset. This majesty of nature that is a west coast sunset was experienced at Redondo Beach, which has been a frequent host over the years to the Mavericks surf competition.

Ohio

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While heading to my car after a long day, exhaustion the foremost thing on my mind...I didn't notice a group of people standing & just staring at the sky. Actually, I almost ran into them. They were staring at this sunset. I joined them! Exhaustion forgotten.

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

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Candlelight. Handsome companion. Mexican tequila. Playa Del Carmen sunset. A beautiful evening.

Naples, Florida

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While out on a long walk during a trip to Florida, following a death, this sunset appeared. It felt like a message; that the world could still be a beautiful place and healing would come in time. When I look at this image, I'm reminded no matter how bad things get - they will always, eventually, get better.

Kirsten Alana

Kirsten Alana is a photographer and travel writer currently in the Midwest who is planning a late 2010 move to the East or West coast. She always has a quote ready and waiting to share. She’s an avid Jane Austen fan, adventure & experience junkie, Francophile, passionate fan of Mexico, Apple and Canon geek, New Englander by birth and the daughter of an artist. Kirsten also loves to support charities and her current favorite is “Charity:Water”. You can find her on Twitter @kirsten_al.

Eagle Beach, Aruba

Humuhumu at the Grand Wailea, Maui

Melanie Waldman

Melanie is one half of Travels With Two, a travel blog for couples. She’s a writer and artist. Travels With Two is a guide to those places we (and many other couples) have been and loved, in the hope that you’ll be inspired to do the same. You can follow her on Twitter @TravelsWithTwo.

Mt. Arbel Israel

This was taken after a hike to the top of Mt.Arbel, which overlooks the Sea of Galilee in the north of Israel. I was traveling there with a group, and this photo was taken towards the end of our trip. This will forever remain one of the top moments of my life, and the picture is a perfect representation of that.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

I've never seen anything more beautiful than and Australian sunset. The colors and the atmosphere set the mood for an unparalleled experience. Taken from a sailboat, watching this sunset over the Great Barrier Reef was nothing short of amazing.

New Jersey, USA

I grew up in New Jersey, just minutes away from here. On a recent trip back home I was driving through the area and, quite literally, saw it in a whole new light. They are HDR images, and I think they prove that sometimes, the most beautiful things are in your own backyard.

Brianne Hoyt-Stern

Brianne Hoyt-Stern was born and raised in New Jersey and currently lives and works in New York City. She specializes in 2D animation and design and has earned her BFA in Computer Art from the School of Visual Arts. She enjoys spending her free time taking photographs, especially HDR images. Although she loves art, her greatest passion is traveling. She tries to combine her two loves by taking much of her inspiration from the traveling she has done and her time spent overseas. Her artwork is a strong reflection of her experiences. Follow Brianne on Twitter @brieee.

Grand Canyon, USA

Aye, Jack & Emma

These are pictures of sunset over the grand canyon. We started a tradition of traveling as a family during every spring break since Emma is a spring break baby, both Jack and myself have birthdays in late March and early April as well our Anniversary is in early April. So our tradition is to celebrate all those special days by traveling together as a family. So in 2008 when Em was 5, we took her to Disneyland on a road trip. On our way back from California, we stopped in Vegas, The Grand Canyon, Albuquerque and Roswell. We always take tons of pictures as I’m sure many travelers do and these are two I feel capture that evening’s beauty. We waited to see the sunset from the beginning to the end armed with picnic items, warm clothing and even a blanket and we had an amazing time together.

Follow this fabulous family of three on their inspiring blog Got Passport: Will Travel. Will Serve and follow them on Twitter @gotpassport as they prepare to move to Chiang Mai, Thailand this summer.

Vounaki Marina, Greece

Just before picking up a yacht and embarking on one of the best weeks of my life.

South Africa

Taken from the back of a jeep at sunset in Phinda game reserve, South Africa, enroute to going leopard tracking with friends. Amazingly, we found one. Even more amazingly, he didn't come and join us in the jeep - although he seemed very keen for a while. Story here.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

Taken with a beer in hand on the deck of a junk in Halong Bay, Vietnam. Story here.

Queensland, Australia

Sunset from the back of a yacht in Butterfly Bay, Hook Island. This is one of the 74 islands in the Whitsundays group just off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

Dave Dean

Dave was born and raised in small town New Zealand providing  him with the perfect beginnings for a lifelong travel addiction. After graduating from university with a degree in History and Political Science he packed his meagre belongings into a backpack and headed for London. The subsequent years have seen him travelling through thirty-something countries and watching my ‘must see’ list grow larger almost as quickly as I’ve watched my bank balance grow smaller. Check out Dave’s blog, What’s Dave Doing, and follow him on Twitter @driftingkiwi.

Banks Penninsula, New Zealand

I waited on the ridge in high winds for over an hour to shoot this sunset over Robinson's Bay in the Banks Peninsula, New Zealand.

Mile Lagoon, New Zealand

It was a 2hr hike to get here to Three Mile Lagoon, New Zealand and I was totally alone save a couple of deer. The tide came up and I had to hike back through the forest in the dark using my camera's autofocus light to find the trail.

Opotiki, New Zealand

It was beautiful how the cliffs down the beach faded into the mist near Opotiki in New Zealand. The bird in the sky was a nice touch (though I considered removing it).

Dustin Main

Dustin Main is the author behind the Skinny Backpacker, a blog that offers the inside source on traveling around the world as a scrawny guy. His current itinerary starts in New Zealand, then Australia, North to SE Asia, west to Nepal, Eastern Europe, Northern Africa, Western Europe, then South America, Antarctica, and hopefully some time in Latin America before limping his way home. Have somewhere to suggest?  Someone I have to meet?  Let him know! You can find him on Twitter @dustinmain.

Dunedin, New Zealand

Darwin, Australia

Texas, USA

Adam Groffman

Adam is a graphic designer living and working in Boston who will soon embark on his own RTW trip.. He’s always loved traveling and plans to travel as much as possible. His blog, Travels of Adam, features content on his past and present travels. Follow him on Twitter @travelsofadam.

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