From Christchurch to Queenstown.

In Christchurch, the Air Force Museum, which has 28 resorted classic aircraft and other aviation memorabilia, is a worthwhile stop. When you're here, stay at the seven-room Otahuna Lodge. This former grand country estate is situated on 30 acres. On your journey to Queenstown stop in Aoraki to take a helicopter ride over the 12,283-foot tall Mt. Cook. The Wanaka region, halfway between the two cites, offers outdoor adventures such as canoeing down the Wilkin Valley, tandem skydiving over Lake Wanaka or trekking up the 5,000-foot Roy's Peak. In Queenstown, check into Azur, a property with nine freestanding villas built on a cliff. Each has 800 square feet and offers views of the aptly named Remarkable and Eyre Mountains. The hotel helps arrange local activities such as bungee jumping off Kawaray Bridge. Guys can also climb to the top of Deer Park to take in the mountain ranges and lakes where the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed.

New Zealand, 11 nights, $1,589

The Real Deal: Eleven nights' accommodations, bus transportation, a glacier hike up the Franz Josef, a visit to the International Antarctic Centre, and a scenic gondola ride in Queenstown from $1,589 per person — plus taxes. The fine print: The package price of $1,589 is divided between $1,375 paid in advance and about $214 (NZ$300) paid on arrival. This is a typical policy of Intrepid Travel, and the idea is to get funds flowing locally through the host country. Airfare, meals, and taxes are not included. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

Aussie visitor numbers climb

The latest Statistics New Zealand figures on visitor numbers show annual tourist arrivals up 4 per cent in the year to August. New Zealand is attracting ever more Australians, with a 12 per cent increase in the month of August following a 15 per cent increase the previous month, compared with the same months in 2006. Australia is New Zealand's largest visitor market, contributing a quarter of all tourism dollars, with Britain the second largest tourism earner. But the next three key markets – the United States, Japan and Korea – which collectively accounted for 24 per cent of annual tourism earnings in 2006, declined between 6 and 19 per cent in the latest figures.
The US and Japan were both locked in a downward trend, with Japan's figures declining month on month for more than two years and American numbers down in six of the past eight months.

New Zealand has great golf courses that can't be overlooked

New Zealanders are often reminded of their larger, northwest neighbor of Australia. When it comes to golf, however, New Zealand has no need to feel insecure, as it's a sporting nation that loves the game and has numerous world-class golf courses to choose from, as well as great lodging and resorts. All it takes is just one visit, and most travelers will quickly see all that this remarkable island nation has to offer that makes it not only stand out from its neighbor Australia, but other countries as well. Because make no mistake, New Zealand can stand on its own as a world-class golf destination.

New Zealand looks to boost tourism numbers

Tourism officials in New Zealand are to launch a new marketing campaign in an attempt to increase the number of tourists travelling to the country. Under the move, Tourism New Zealand will make use of an animated film produced by Weta Digital - the visual effects company behind King Kong and the Lord of the Rings films - as it focuses on the fact it is the last country humans settled on. Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton told Travel Weekly: "New Zealand was the last country on earth to be settled, so visitors can experience life as it should be.

Trans-Tasman flurry

A record number of cruise ships will cross the Tasman Sea this summer, and last-minute buyers may find bargains over the next few weeks. Between November and March, at least seven liners will between them sail about 40 times between Sydney and Auckland via Melbourne, Tasmania and five or six ports in New Zealand on cruises of 12 to 15 nights.
The ships have a total capacity of more than 11,000 berths, led by Sapphire Princess (Princess Cruises) with 2670 and first-time visitor Rhapsody of the Seas (Royal Caribbean Cruises) with 2435. Others are Sun Princess (Princess Cruises), Statendam (Holland America), Mercury (Celebrity Cruises), Silver Whisper (Silversea) and Nautica (Oceania Cruises).

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Air NZ second best for long haul

Air New Zealand is thanking a new route, and a 747 fleet refurbishment, for its second place in a list of most-favoured long-haul airlines. Only 0.2 per cent separated the airline from first-placed Virgin Atlantic in a readers' survey in the travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller, Air NZ general manager international Ed Sims said yesterday.
The airline placed sixth in the category in the previous Conde Nast list.

NZ tourism strikes long

Ministry of Tourism data released last month predicts international visitor arrivals to New Zealand will rise by on average 4 per cent a year to reach 3.2 million people in seven years time, while expenditure would grow even faster by 7.4 per cent, hitting $10.5 billion a year. A revamped 100 per cent Pure New Zealand advertising campaign unveiled last week will run on televisions, cinemas, cell-phones and computers around the world promoting the country as the young, clean and green choice.

Langham Hotel Auckland wins New Zealand's Top Visitor Accommodation

This win follows the property's Best New Zealand City Hotel win earlier in the month at the 2007 HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence held in Sydney. The Langham brand entered New Zealand in January 2005 and has since invested more than NZ$14 million in their Symonds Street property. The Langham has gone against the current minimalist décor trend and instead created an elegant, opulent and somewhat theatrical environment offering guests an authentic five-star experience unique in New Zealand.