New Zealand has had a booming 2 years in tourism. Overseas visitors continue to arrive in droves, emptying their wallets along the way -- spending by tourists in 2003 grew to a record NZ$7.4 billion (US$5.2 billion), with those in the industry shrugging off threats of an overvalued Kiwi dollar, terrorism, and SARS. That said, my travels for this edition revealed a huge number of accommodations up for sale, so don't be surprised if you arrive at one of the recommended places to stay and find that "Bob and Sue" have changed into "Tom and Betty." Here's what else is new in New Zealand.
Auckland
The Sheraton Hotel has rebranded under new ownership and is now Langham Hotel Auckland, 83 Symonds St. (tel. 09/379-5132; www.langhamhotels.com). Across town, look out for the classy environs of the brand-new SKYCITY Grand Hotel, 90 Federal St. (tel. 09/363-7000; www.skycitygrand.co.nz), which is linked to the greater SKYCITY complex by an overbridge. The hotel features one of Auckland's poshest new restaurants, DINE, and the new East West Day Spa.
New attractions have sprung up in the Auckland area, including Snowplanet, 91 Small Rd., Silverdale (tel. 09/427-0044; www.snowplanet.co.nz), an all-year indoor snow resort; and Butterfly Creek, Tom Pearce Drive (tel. 09/275-8880; www.butterflycreek.co.nz), which features large butterfly houses, a train ride, and farm animals. Tamaki Hikoi (tel. 64 21 146 9593 in NZ; e-mail: bookings@tamakohikoi.co.nz) is a new 4-hour walking tour across Auckland City that includes Maori stories and legends. Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World, 23 Tamaki Dr. (tel. 09/528-0603; www.kellytarltons.co.nz), is undergoing a NZ$12-million (US$8.4-million) refurbishment over the next 4 years. Stage 2 includes the newly opened Stingray Bay, which lets you get up close and personal with these large, winged marine creatures.
Rotorua, Taupo and Rangoriro National Park
Classy new accommodations are popping up all around Rotorua, led by the sublime Okareka Lake House (tel. 07/349-8123; www.okareka.co.nz), billed as one of the top five luxury lodges in New Zealand. Lodge @ 199, 199 Spencer Rd., Lake Tarawera (tel. 07/362-8122; www.199.co.nz), is another luxury stay; and Duxton Hotel, 366 St. Hwy. 33, Okawa Bay (tel. 07/362-4599; www.duxton.com), has swept a classy broom across the former Okawa Bay Resort.
At Rainbow Springs, Fairy Springs Road (tel. 07/350-0440; www.rainbowsprings.co.nz), you'll find the new Kiwi Encounter attraction, celebrating the conservation of our rare iconic bird; Realm of Tane, 1220 Hinemaru St. (tel. 07/346-2823; www.experience.maori.nz), is a new Tamaki Heritage experience. One of New Zealand's top tourism icons took on a new name when the New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute (tel. 07/348-9047; www.nzmaori.co.nz) rebranded as Te Puia.
In Taupo, Taupo Hot Springs Spa, 102 Napier-Taupo Hwy. (tel. 07/377-6502; www.taupohotsprings.com), continues with its ongoing refurbishments; while on the hilltop above, Outrigger Terraces Resort (tel. 07/378-7080) has undergone a major overhaul and with the development of 80 new suites to be completed by late 2006, it will provide some of Taupo's top hotel accommodations. Acacia Point Lodge, 11 Sylvia Place, Acacia Bay, meanwhile, has closed down.
At Whakapapa in Tongariro National Park, millions have been spent at The Grand Chateau, Whakapapa Village (tel. 07/892-3809; www.chateau.co.nz), on a massive refurbishment of the existing hotel, including the development of a new 40-room wing and an atrium restaurant. With the final stages to be completed in the next 2 years, it's looking much better already.
Wellington
The Interislander (tel. 0800/802-802 in NZ; www.interislandline.co.nz), has commissioned its new ferry, Kaitaki, giving them a fleet of three interisland ferries running between Picton and Wellington. But The Lynx fast ferry has ceased operation altogether.
Wellington Zoo, 200 Daniell St., Newton (tel. 04/381-6755; www.wellingtonzoo.com), has introduced new Red Panda Encounters, plus other interactive zookeeping activities for visitors. Zest Food Tours (tel. 04/801-9198; www.zestfoodtours.co.nz) is a new walking gourmet food experience in central city, and Café Bastille, 16 Majoribanks St. (tel. 04/382-9559), is a new restaurant that has scooped national restaurant awards. Also look out for the very classy wine room, Arbitrageur, 125 Featherston St. (tel. 04/499-5530; www.arbitrageur.co.nz).
The brand-new Bolton Hotel, at the corner of Bolton and Mowbray streets (tel. 04/472-9966; www.boltonhotel.co.nz ), features classy apartment-style accommodations. I've found some good new B&Bs in the capital as well: Gardens Homestay, 11 St. Mary St., Thorndon (tel. 04/499-1212; www.gardenshomestay.co.nz ); Rawhiti, 40 Rawhiti Terrace, Kelburn (tel. 04/934-4859; www.bnb.co.nz/hosts/rawhiti.html); and Mount Victoria Homestay, 11 Lipman St., Mount Victoria (tel. 04/802-4886; www.mountvictoria.co.nz).
Marlborough and Nelson
In Nelson, the Monaco Hotel, 6 Point Rd. (tel. 03/547-8233; www.monacoresort.co.nz), has opened its cool, English country village¿style hotel, offering a wide range of room styles; Angela's Little Retreat, 22 Nile St. (tel. 03/545-1411; www.lodgings.co.nz/littleretreat.html), is the modern sister of the highly sought-after Little Manor a few doors away. Also look out for the classic style of the new Consulate Apartments, 353 Trafalgar Sq. (tel. 03/545-8200). A new attraction getting lots of attention is Exhilarator, Wakefield Quay, Nelson (tel. 03/548-8066; www.exhilarator.co.nz), now the fastest boat ride across the bay to Abel Tasman National Park.
Christchurch and Canterbury
Huntley House, 67 Yaldhurst Rd., Upper Riccarton (tel. 03/348-8435; www.huntleyhouse.co.nz), is the newest upmarket addition to Christchurch's accommodations scene. Talk of several proposed new hotels -- expected to open in the next 2 to 3 years -- includes a NZ$20-million (US$14-million) luxury hotel, Mercure Grand by Accor at 152 Oxford Terrace; a new Accor Ibis Hotel in Cathedral Square; and an Accor Novotel in central city. Russley Golf Course, near the airport, is also planning construction of the Russley International Colosseum.
There's an exciting new inner city development happening in an old lane and first to open is the swanky restaurant, Minx Dining Room and Rootes Bar, 96 Lichfield St. (tel. 03/374-9944). In another year, the lane will feature several other restaurants, bars, cafes, and boutique stores.
Queenstown
Additions to Queenstown accommodations include the brand-new luxurious Sofitel, 8 Duke St. (tel. 03/450-0045; www.sofitel.com), which opened in September 2005, and the very classy, small boutique hotel, The Spire, 3¿5 Church Lane (tel. 03/441-0004), which combines a Zen essence with high-tech convenience. And look out for the newly refurbished rooms of one of the town's old favorite small, midrange boutique properties, The Dairy, 10 Isle St. (tel. 03/442-5164; www.thedairy.co.nz).
Getting to Queenstown from Australia is now even easier, due to Qantas's announcement of an extension to its Queenstown services. It now offers year-round service for the first time, with a weekly flight from Sydney.
Talk with fellow Frommer's travelers on our New Zealand Message Boards today.
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