There are five of us – brought together on this women’s kayaking trip by Australian based Bushwise Women - Zohar Tur-shalom as our guide, her mother Simcha is my paddle pal, Jill Pask and Ruth Brown are up from Christchurch, Theodora Barychewsky has joined us from the States. I met my fellow paddlers last night in a briefing, now we are being driven to our starting point at Rawhiti. It’s an hours drive on winding roads with glimpses of the water tantalising us – less paddling I guess! Read more
Dianne Sharma-Winter reflects on a NZ icon. Before gourmet food stores, restaurants and magazines (and we have some great ones), there was the honesty box by the side of the road – and its still there! Read more
Bushwise Women have a sea kayaking trip in the Bay of Islands, Northland New Zealand February 2011 with a few spaces – I am keen to go, but we need a few more – what about joining us? Information here
Nga mihi nui kia koutou
Mõhio (moor-he-aw) v. is Maori for to know, comprehend, realise. It is the name taken by a the new entity which has emerged from award winning Auckland Maori tourism company Potiki Tours
After beginning the New Zealand company Potiki Adventures Ltd in 2003, much has changed and evolved for what is now a multi award-winning, internationally renowned business. Way back then it started as an Outdoor Adventure business with Maori perspectives – aimed at working with young international travellers. Originally the name Potiki was chosen to acknowledge that the company was the youngest and most inexperienced in the tourism ‘family’, like a last born child – the potiki.
However, over the intervening years the tourism side of the company has undergone massive changes, adapting and changing its direction in relation to target market, style and content of the tours – in particular moving away from adventure tourism. Additionally, in December 2009, Potiki founders Melissa Crockett and Bianca Ranson formally split the company in order to each focus on building businesses based on their individual areas of interest – Melissa taking the Tourism side and Bianca taking the Outdoor Adventure side of the original company. So in January 2010, two new companies were formed – Potiki Tours Ltd (Melissa’s new tourism company) and Potiki Adventures Ltd (Bianca’s new outdoor adventure company).
Under the sole direction of Melissa Crockett, Potiki Tours has continued to provide the existing tourism products sold extensively to an international tourism market throughout North America, the UK, Europe and Australia. We have also developed innovative new products such as the freshly launched Insider’s Guide Tour, a walking tour of trendy inner city suburbs. (Described by the Senior Editor of US Forbes Life Magazine as: “A highlight of my time in Auckland”.)
From its original beginnings providing Maori themed adventure tours for backpackers, this forward thinking boutique tourism company has really grown up. These days the focus is on providing unique interpretative tours of Auckland city and surrounds. These range from small group Maori themed sightseeing and ‘Insider Guide’ tours, through to private contemporary art tours for high net worth international travellers.
So, in order to reflect this change and the related growth of the company, we are excited to announce that we are changing the company name. Taking immediate effect, the new name is:
Mõhio Tours – mohio (moor-he-aw)
meaning to know, comprehend, realise
This name reflects what we believe clients gain from joining one of their interpretative tours. Whether it be an insight into the beauty of Auckland’s landscapes, knowledge of the unique indigenous Maori culture, uncovering some of the best kept secrets about the inner city from Aucklanders ‘in-the-know’, or discovering the links between traditional Maori iconography and contemporary New Zealand art.
It also explains a little of our journey, from the potiki of the tourism industry, to a strong innovative company, who strives to know what will work best for their customers and realises how to deliver those experiences.
We know we have a lot to offer our clients, but we also acknowledge that we will always have plenty to learn. Cultural exchange is about sharing knowledge between both parties – learning about the similarities and differences is often one of the most fascinating things about travel, and this will continue to form a key component of the Mōhio Tours experience.
In addition to the new company name, we have moved offices to a great new location in the CBD. We are in the historic Fire Station building in Beresford Square, just off Pitt Street. However this will be our administrative base, so as per usual we will continue to pick up our clients from city accommodation, or meet them at pre-arranged pick up locations.
Finally – we are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded Enviro-Silver status in our recent Qualmark accreditation!
We would like to thank you for all of your past support and look forward to continuing on our journey with you through this next exciting phase of development.
Mohio Tours website
Mohio Tours on Women Travel
Lisa Pollen writes in the The Travel Editor
Lime Tree Lodge, Wanaka, New Zealand
Lime Tree Lodge is as sweet as its name suggests. Located just outside the adventure paradise of Wanaka, in the South Island, it’s so incredibly pretty I feel as though I should be wearing my most summery, flowery sundress and have petals in my hair as I skip through the front door.
I’m already on top of the world after the most spectacular drive yet during my trip to New Zealand – and there’s stiff competition. The journey down the West Coast from the glaciers, then inland through the Haast Pass, Mount Aspiring National Park and down towards the Southern Alps encompassed four hours of thrilling alpine scenery and magnificent lakes, all sprinkled with a generous dose of sunshine. Lime Tree Lodge is the icing on the cake after our adventures, which took us through steep gorges and lush rainforest, past racing rivers and waterfalls. It could easily have taken twice as long had we have stopped at even a fraction of the photo-worthy opportunities.
But enough about the drive. Now we have reached our home for the next couple of nights, set in 10 acres of land just minutes outside the relaxed, lakeside resort of Wanaka. It was built as a lodge in 2002 and taken over by Sally Carwardine and Rebecca Butts in 2004, who are gracious, welcoming hosts. Our room is named the Linden Suite after the Linden, or lime tree. It is spacious and elegantly decorated with crisp linens, fresh flowers and billowing white curtains that beckon you through French doors onto a small private terrace. There’s a good bathroom stocked with delectable Linden Leaves toiletries and we find homebaked chocolate cookies and local cheese thoughtfully placed in our fridge. In the modern, large communal lounge there’s an open fire and shelves stacked with Home & Garden magazines, books, CDs and DVDs which you can take to your room.
The lodge wouldn’t be out of place in Provence, and that’s where I’m reminded of as I sip a glass of chardonnay on the terrace and admire neat rose and lavender scented gardens, where white butterflies flutter and bees rummage for pollen. Smartly trimmed hedges form a wall around a swimming pool and shaded hot tub. But the snow capped Alps in the distance assure me I’m in New Zealand’s South Island and haven’t been transported to the South of France. Sally and Rebecca makes guests feel at home and are only too happy to advise on local attractions and restaurants, but they are also discreet and leave us to our own devices, which we are grateful for. We take a dip in the pool and play at being Tiger Woods (minus the transgressions) on the lodge’s five-hole pitch-and-putt golf course. He’d be sure to appreciate the on-site helipad, too.
In the evening we meet the handful of other guests – there are only six rooms in all – over a complimentary aperitif before heading into town. Dinner at Missy’s Kitchen is excellent, and we happily tuck into seafood followed by sirloin steak and venison while ooh-ing and aah-ing at the breathtaking lake and mountain views. I can also recommend the Trout Bar for a tasty, informal lunch, and Botswana Butchery, where we dined on our second night. My whitebait to start, simply fried with garlic, chilli and lemon was superb, and eye fillet steak practically melted in the mouth. Exceptional ambience, flawless service; I was extremely impressed.
In the morning, our hosts back at the lodge serve us poached eggs – from their own hens, of course – and bacon outside on the sunny terrace, accompanied by Rebecca’s delicious homemade tomato chutney, and they direct us on a walk to Diamond Lake. It’s a 15-minute drive out of town and then a steep, challenging walk up to a lookout point, but it’s well worth the effort as we’re rewarded with such jaw-dropping scenery. The stuff dreams are made of, as is the entire experience of staying at Lime Tree Lodge.
Picture yourself swilling wine in a hot tub at the end of an invigorating day’s bush hike, or relaxing in a country pub having biked the classic Otago Rail Trail, or taking a dip in the turquoise waters of the glorious Abel Tasman after sea kayaking to a golden beach…
do these things sound like something you would like to experience? Well, read on, because your prayers have finally been answered!
As busy women we often have a myriad of (often feeble) excuses why we don’t do things for ourselves. But let’s face it: there is never an excuse good enough for not doing something positive for yourself – like taking a well-deserved short break somewhere!
Venus Adventures – Trips for Women – is now offering a range of short breaks within New Zealand (and Europe) for women who, well, just need a break! The breaks include anything from culture to adventures, and are always a lot of fun, and the website is a one-stop shop for short breaks for women.
The idea behind women-only trips is to help women escape their everyday roles and routines as busy mums, wives or workers, and to get away with the girls and have some fun!
“More and more women are realizing the importance of getting away from it all and letting someone else do all the organizing for a change”; says Julie Paterson, founder and owner of Venus Adventures Trips for Women. “Women naturally bond and network easily. Doing a trip which gets you out of your comfort zone a little is easier in a supportive women’s group. It’s a great environment in which to try new things. But, depending on the trip, we also indulge in fun things like spas and a little retail-therapy! Age also doesn’t matter as long as the spirit is there!”
All you have to do is get yourself to the trip starting point and all the rest is taken care of. So what are you waiting for? Your next adventure is just a mouse click away…for more information visit www.shortbreaksforwomen.com.
By Julie Paterson
Venus Adventures – Trips for Women
www.venusadventures.travel
www.shortbreaksforwomen.com
Could not resist entering this – have always wanted to do the great New Zealand Road Trip.
Enter yourself…. We can dream!!
What is Bitchboards? Good question, I got onto Google – Bitchboards are snow boards made by women for women. Well, there you go. They are based in San Diego, California.
In honor of the outrageous fanfare during the first few months of snowboarding season in the land down under, August 10-28 will be the first annual BitchBoards® Sand To Snow Getaway!
We will travel from the world-famous Great Barrier Reef to the beautiful mountains of Australia and New Zealand in one trip! Exploring the sites, enjoying the tropical beaches, snowboarding on great mountains are all on the agenda but the trip will be focused around a fundraising effort Go Red For Women by hosting an event at Australia’s impressive Thredbo Snow Resort August 22.
We will even be making an appearance at the New Zealand Winter Games
Out and Loud Choral Festival is for Australian and New Zealand gay and lesbian choristers but we welcome any gay and lesbian chorister from anywhere in the world.
Held every 3-4 years in different NZ or Australian cities, the Auckland festival in Easter 2010 offers workshops from the Auckland choral glitterati and finishes with a gala concert in the Auckland Town Hall. Individual choirs sing two pieces each and join together as a 200 voice massed choir singing a world premiere by David Hamilton for massed choir and organ conducted by Dr Karen Grylls.
2-4 April 2010 Auckland New Zealand www.outandloud.org
Doubtless Bay is touted as the ‘ultimate absolute beachfront’ destination in Northland. It was autumn, and past swimming for me – but it is still a beautiful time to walk and explore, and the weather was crisp and clear.
Carrington Resort is one of NZ’s luxury destinations – now with the Heritage Hotel chain it is set on the magical Karikari Peninsula. Its lovely low level traditional buildings are clustered on a knoll overlooking the golf course. We were welcomed warmly by Marara in reception and soon found we could borrow a golf cart and drive out to the beach – which of course we did. Read more
