Best Time of Year to Visit New Zealand

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Hulbert House

Hulbert House is a beautifully restored Victorian villa dating back to 1888. Steeped in authentic history, we bring you a distinctive combination of historic elegance and contemporary service. Hulbert House offers a luxury, boutique accommodation experience suitable for all discerning international and domestic travellers.

Situated just a short walk from Queenstown’s vibrant central city, Hulbert House is imbued with a sense of serenity. Our six uniquely designed suites offer stunning views overlooking Lake Wakatipu or the Skyline Hill.

Award winning designer Neil McLachlan has worked his magic with the transformation of the building and grounds.

Your stay at Hulbert House includes a complimentary breakfast, refreshments during the day and pre-dinner drinks and canapes before you stroll into town to one of the many restaurants and bars. Also included is free wi-fi and carparking with direct street access on three sides.

Your sleep experience is enhanced by plush bedding and the lightest of duvets covered with beautiful white damask.

Our team are on hand to offer a complete and personal concierge service. We would be delighted to help you confirm your onward travel arrangements, book one of the many exhilarating activities on offer in the Queenstown area, or secure your own private oasis at an award-winning spa.

As part of our commitment to care for our cherished planet we have a worm farm, we compost our organic waste material and we have a kitchen garden that provides our chefs with fresh and flavoursome food all year round.

Hulbert House offers a unique style of boutique accommodation at a level unmatched in the region.
We look forward to welcoming you to this very special place.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: The George

The George, a luxury boutique hotel, is the essence of supreme comfort and is renowned for offering a personalised stay and attentive staff as well as two award winning restaurants. Located in the heart of Christchurch overlooking the picturesque Hagley Park and river Avon you will find peaceful Christchurch accommodation just steps from the cultural precinct and key attractions. Impeccable service in an intimate ambience is guaranteed at The George, the only Christchurch Hotel with a one-to-one staff to guest ratio.

Enter the luxurious world of fine dining in Christchurch's most exclusive hotel, The George. Here, Executive Chef Andrew Brown and his team, delight with their skillfully prepared innovative cuisine at two award-winning restaurants, 50 On Park Restaurant and Bar and Pescatore. With a range of function rooms The George is an ideal conference venue and also excels as a wedding venue. With beautiful gardens, fabulous location, attentive service and stunning food, The George is one of Christchurch's top wedding venues.

The George tops the list of Christchurch Hotels and is the only Christchurch Hotel that is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. The George was recognised as 'New Zealand's Leading Boutique Hotel' 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 in the World Travel Awards, one of Oceania's top 20 Hotels in the 2009 Conde Nast Readers' Choice Awards and voted #1 in New Zealand by Travel + Leisure 'World's Best Hotels Survey' 2010.

Situated overlooking Hagley Park and the Avon River, The George is in the heart of the arts precinct just steps away from Christchurch’s centre and 15 minutes from the Airport. Nearby attractions include Canterbury Museum, Botanic Gardens, Punting on the Avon, Hagley Park Golf Course, Restart Mall and the Christchurch Casino. It is also around 1 hour from the quaint French settlement of Akaroa and the boutique vineyards of Waipara.

The George offers 2 beautiful venues to choose from; the stunning romantic private garden of The Residence, a private house adjoining the Hotel, and Parkview which offers spectacular views of the Avon River and Hagley Park, or you can opt for exclusive use of both areas. For more intimate gatherings the residence dining room and cocktail area combined with the garden and is the perfect venue to indulge yourselves and your guests. Your choices don’t end there as our team work in consultation with you to design a wedding tailored to meet your specific requirements. From menus, to wine selections, and table dressings, a wedding at The George reflects your choices and personality.

Superb catering is a hallmark of our award winning restaurants, our Executive Chef, Glen Cooper, maintains these same standards to the menus designed for you and your guests. The George can seat up to 90 guests and can provide accommodation for both the wedding party and guests. Another bonus is abundant free car parking allowing easy access for your guests. Only at The George can you enjoy the flare and style of our award winning chefs. And, as you would expect, The George’s renowned service and attention to detail will complete the picture.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Hilton Hotel Auckland

Located 300 meters out to sea at the end of Princes Wharf, the Hilton Auckland hotel is a welcoming haven just a short walk from Auckland CBD. Enjoy stunning views from this Auckland hotel's White restaurant and Bellini Bar or take a dip in the outdoor heated lap-pool with its unique underwater viewing window.

Auckland attractions such as Sky City Tower and Viaduct Harbour are on the doorstep. Enjoy modern fine dining in the stylish decor of White restaurant and sip cocktails over a harbour sunset at the Hilton Auckland hotel's Bellini bar.

Only 5 minutes' walk from the business district, the Hilton Auckland hotel has a business centre, an Executive Boardroom and 7 meeting rooms for up to 400, all with wireless internet access.

From Hilton Guest Rooms to Suites, all the contemporary rooms at the Hilton Auckland hotel have decks or balconies. Step up to a Deluxe Room for a spectacular harbor view

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Blanket Bay

Relax within our elegant yet rustic lodge surrounded by majestic alpine scenery.

Nestled amidst rugged snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps on the shores of Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand's finest Lodge – Blanket Bay. Here we celebrate the art of pure relaxation.

In this spectacular corner of New Zealand discover endless ways to restore your physical and spiritual well-being. There is nowhere else on Earth where there are so many activities so close by – fly-fishing and heli-skiing, the country's best hiking on the Routeburn or Milford Tracks, jetboating and kayaking, 4WD tours, horse riding, art trails and vineyards, plus flight-seeing over the World Heritage Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound.

We invite you to stay and find out why Blanket Bay is consistently voted one of the world's best Lodges by many prestigious publications and organizations such as Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, Virtuoso, Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report, The Robb Report and Small Luxury Hotels of the World, to name a few.

TRAVEL SPECIAL: Travelodge Palmerston North

Situated in the town centre, Travelodge Palmerston North is just a few minutes walk from lively cafes, shops, theatres, art galleries, the museum and the convention centre.

The hotel incorporates a beautiful 3 storey heritage building, built in 1927, and features 85 rooms with modern facilities and conference rooms for up to 500 people.

Palmerston North's central location also places it within an easy two hour drive of the North Island's central plateau ski fields, the beaches and wineries of the Hawkes Bay, Mount Taranaki and historic Maori sites of the Taranaki region, and the rural splendour of the Wairarapa.