What's New

I've just completed another whirlwind adventure, exploring my own New Zealand and I have to say that, despite the doom and financial gloom merchants, regardless of the threat of terrorism, visitors are still arriving in droves and loving every bit of the unexpected diversity we can deliver. At almost every level, the tourism industry is improving. There are exciting new small tours; existing attractions are spending millions on extensive upgrades and expansions; hotels are investing big in improvements, and new hotels are springing up throughout the country like mushrooms on a damp day. Here's what else is new in New Zealand.

Auckland

The Langham Hotel Auckland, 83 Symonds St. (tel. 09/379-5132), has completed its massive upgrade and is now one of the most exciting hotels in Auckland. Nuffield Street in Newmarket is a classy new street filled with top designer boutiques and excellent cafes. On Waiheke Island, The Boatshed, Tawa and Huia streets (tel. 09/372-3242), was due to open a brand new day spa offering delicious sand, salt, and seaweed treatments, in December 2007. The City Farmers' Market now operates every Saturday morning from 8am to noon, in the rear courtyard of the Britomart Transport Centre. Auckland Museum, Auckland Domain (tel. 09/309-0443), has completed a huge extension and upgrade that features a striking architectural must-see in its new entrance and lobby, plus a range of new museum tours and an outdoor sculpture park.

Rotorua, Taupo & Tongariro National Park

Te Puia, Hemo Rd., Rotorua (tel. 07/348-9047), has undergone a remarkable transformation after a multi-million dollar upgrade and now presents one of the best traditional-meets-contemporary Maori experiences in the country. The Polynesian Spa, Government Gardens, Rotorua (tel. 07/348-1328), has opened its 13 new private rock pools, which replace the 17 old pools in use for 30 years. I've found two terrific new, upmarket B&B stays that you'll love -- A-Kahu, 155 Kawaha Point Rd., Rotorua (tel. 07/347-4148); and Mud Hut, 2 Kuirau St., Rotorua (tel. 07/348-8903). And look out for future developments at the idyllically located Solitaire Lodge, Lake Tarawera, Rotorua (tel. 07/362-8208), which is now under new ownership.

Wellington

Sadly, the lovely Ruby House has closed down, but I'm keeping a keen eye out for a good replacement in this B&B-starved city. Good small tours, on the other hand, are thriving, and Wild About Wellington (www.wildaboutwellington.co.nz) offers a terrific Boutique Beer Tasting Tour and an excellent City of Style Tour that gets you behind the doors of leading design studios. The very popular Zest Food Tours (tel. 04/801-9198) have expanded their dynamic food tours to include the very best of the Wairarapa food and wine region. And if you're seriously into food, try a unique new restaurant, Kai in the City, 21 Marjoribanks St., Wellington (tel. 04/801-5006), which introduces you to a dining experience based on traditional Maori values, hospitality, and food.

Marlborough & Nelson

Another of my all-time favorites, The Little Manor, has also closed down but I'm glad to report that one of the country's top B&B experiences, 39 Russell, 39 Russell St., Port Nelson (tel. 03/548-4655), is back in business, offering you a top-value stay you'll remember always.

Christchurch & Canterbury

Award-winning tourism operators, the Tamaki brothers, have finally opened their Christchurch operation, Tamaki Heritage Village, Ferrymead Park Drive, Christchurch (tel. 03/366-7333), which gives you an insight into both a colonial settlement and a Maori village, with Maori performances and traditional craftsmen on hand. The very beautiful, historic homestead, Otahuna Lodge, Rhodes Road, Tai Tapu, Christchurch (tel. 03/329-6333), is once again offering a high level of luxury, comfort, and historical interest in the capable hands of new owners, Cannon Hall and Miles Refo. And look out for the development of the new Waipara Wine Village & Day Spa, in the Waipara wine region, 40 minutes north of Christchurch. This will include a new Accor Grand Mercure hotel, wine tasting center, restaurant, and information center. Exciting developments continue in Inner City Christchurch, with ongoing additions to the old back street lanes of the Lichfield-High Street areas. This includes more boutique stores, cafes, bars, and clubs in SOL (South of Lichfield) and more of the same in nearby Poplar Lane, where old brick warehouses have been given a new lease on life.

West Coast & The Glaciers

Big news in this area is the opening of the Hukawai Glacier Centre, Cowan and Cron streets, Franz Josef (tel. 03/752-0600), a multi-million dollar interpretive glacier experience for those who can't actually make it to the glaciers. It includes the only 10m-high (33-ft.) ice-climbing wall in the Southern Hemisphere. I'm sorry to report the closure of the gorgeous Villa Polenza, and I have yet to find something of equal value and class on the West Coast.

Queenstown & Environs

In Wanaka, Oakridge Grand Mercure, corner of Cardona Valley Road and Studholme Road (tel. 03/443-7707), is going from strength to strength with the opening of a whole new wing of stylish apartments, plus two large heated swimming pools to complement their existing pool and five Jacuzzis, giving them the best leisure facilities in the region. I also welcome the arrival of the Ardmore Street Food Company, 155 Ardmore St. (tel. 03/443-2230), which offers terrific in-house meals and takeaway delicatessen food.

In Queenstown, the Sofitel Queenstown, 8 Duke St. (tel. 03/450-0045), has opened its luxurious new day spa; and look out for a cluster of excellent independent restaurants now operating within the Sofitel complex. Nearby, Crowne Plaza Queenstown, Beach Street (tel. 03/441-0095), has become a stylish, contemporary stay with a fabulous in-house restaurant, threesixty, thanks to a multi-million dollar revamp. It now takes on the best of the Queenstown hotels and comes out near the top.

Shotover Lodge has unfortunately closed its doors; but Remarkables Lodge, 595 Kingston Rd., Queenstown (tel. 03/442-2720), has excellent new owners, who have tastefully extended the lodge and turned it into a classier, more understated stay, underneath dramatic mountain peaks. One of my old favorites, Matakauri Lodge, Glenorchy Road, Queenstown (tel. 03/441-1008), has added new suites to the complex and is now in the very professional hands of managers Grant and Deb Alley, who bring tons of experience and charm to the job. Another exciting discovery is Pencarrow, 678 Frankton Rd., Queenstown (tel. 03/442-8938), where Bill and Kari Moers offer an unbeatable level of service and value in a gorgeous B&B that overlooks Lake Wakatipu.

It's all happening in Queenstown with the development of two new towns well underway on the outskirts of the existing community, plus the rumored arrival in the next 2 to 3 years of the Hilton, Westin, Quadrant, and Intercontinental hotel chains.