Queenstown’s Over The Top Helicopters has been voted by US visitors as one of the top 10 experiences in New Zealand.
Each year prestigious US wholesaler, New Zealand Travel Inc, tabulates surveys that are completed by their customers and presents the top awards as voted by those travellers.
Queenstown was well represented in the 2009 Top Traveller Awards with Over The Top joining Judy MacKenzie from EP Tours and Real Journeys in the Top Ten Experiences. Blanket Bay was recognised as one of the top New Zealand luxury lodges, Pencarrow Lodge as winner for boutique accommodation and The Spire hotel getting an honorable mention.
Over The Top CEO Louisa (Choppy) Patterson was delighted to receive the award.
"We are thrilled with the accolade. It reinforces the importance of understanding visitors’ requirements whilst in New Zealand and ensuring we exceed their expectations."
This latest award reflects Over The Top’s distinctive high standards and reinforces the company’s commitment to excellence.
Over the Top Helicopters offers an extensive range of spectacular scenic flights in the Queenstown & Fiordland National Park region. Flights are anything from a short 20 minute town scenic flight to glacier landings and visits to remote west coast beaches.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
New Zealand travel tips
When planning your holiday to New Zealand consider the following:
How much time is needed to see New Zealand?
For a short city break 2 - 3 day's is sufficient. For a reasonably quick look around the country 10-14 day's will be just enough to whiz around the highlights. Ideally around 3 - 4 weeks would enable you to see much of the country and spend some time in each area.
The most common client feedback we see is 'I wish I had more time'. It is an unfortunate situation but 99% of visitors totally underestimate how much time is needed to tour New Zealand.
What are the roads like?
Our roads are well maintained but the mountainous terrain that is prevalent throughout New Zealand means that the roads are narrow, winding and hilly. For the most part roads are single lane with occasional passing lanes so it is common to be stuck in a line of slow moving traffic. Many of the country roads are unsealed.
How long does it take to travel around?
The open road speed limit is 100kmh/60mph but on most day's your average travel speed is likely to be closer to 80kmh/50mph. So a journey of say 250km's, 155 miles will take just over 3 hours non-stop. On top of this you need bathroom and meal breaks, photo stops and sightseeing visits. As a result a day's journey of just 250km's normally ends up taking about 8 hours to complete.
Don't try and do it all in one go.
You need to consider carefully what your top priorities are and don't think you have to do absolutely everything in one trip. All you will end up doing is rushing around, spending most of your day's on the road, returning home to say 'I wish I had more time'.
Don't sweat it if you have to miss things.
My one piece of advice often given is that at the end of the day no itinerary you come up with is wrong, New Zealand is such a lovely country you can't really make any mistakes. So don't sweat it when trying to cram everything in. Anything you do and anywhere you go in New Zealand will be a rewarding experience.
Remember this is a holiday.
Don't try to do so much that you need a holiday to recover from your holiday.
Enjoy the planning.
Half the enjoyment of a vacation is planning so talk to fellow travellers, read loads of books, find a good travel agent and enjoy the time spent putting your travel plans together.
How much time is needed to see New Zealand?
For a short city break 2 - 3 day's is sufficient. For a reasonably quick look around the country 10-14 day's will be just enough to whiz around the highlights. Ideally around 3 - 4 weeks would enable you to see much of the country and spend some time in each area.
The most common client feedback we see is 'I wish I had more time'. It is an unfortunate situation but 99% of visitors totally underestimate how much time is needed to tour New Zealand.
What are the roads like?
Our roads are well maintained but the mountainous terrain that is prevalent throughout New Zealand means that the roads are narrow, winding and hilly. For the most part roads are single lane with occasional passing lanes so it is common to be stuck in a line of slow moving traffic. Many of the country roads are unsealed.
How long does it take to travel around?
The open road speed limit is 100kmh/60mph but on most day's your average travel speed is likely to be closer to 80kmh/50mph. So a journey of say 250km's, 155 miles will take just over 3 hours non-stop. On top of this you need bathroom and meal breaks, photo stops and sightseeing visits. As a result a day's journey of just 250km's normally ends up taking about 8 hours to complete.
Don't try and do it all in one go.
You need to consider carefully what your top priorities are and don't think you have to do absolutely everything in one trip. All you will end up doing is rushing around, spending most of your day's on the road, returning home to say 'I wish I had more time'.
Don't sweat it if you have to miss things.
My one piece of advice often given is that at the end of the day no itinerary you come up with is wrong, New Zealand is such a lovely country you can't really make any mistakes. So don't sweat it when trying to cram everything in. Anything you do and anywhere you go in New Zealand will be a rewarding experience.
Remember this is a holiday.
Don't try to do so much that you need a holiday to recover from your holiday.
Enjoy the planning.
Half the enjoyment of a vacation is planning so talk to fellow travellers, read loads of books, find a good travel agent and enjoy the time spent putting your travel plans together.
Air New Zealand wins best airline award
UK consumer magazine Which? subscribers have voted Air New Zealand the worlds best airline.
Air New Zealand received a maximum five star rating for the quality of its online check-in, seat allocation, boarding arrangements, cleanliness, inflight entertainment and cabin staff. It got a value-for-money rating of 89% (industry average 66%) and 98% of passengers said they would recommend the airline to a friend.
Emirates and Singapore airlines were both shortlisted.
So when deciding who to fly on your trip downunder Air New Zealand is a clear winner!
Air New Zealand received a maximum five star rating for the quality of its online check-in, seat allocation, boarding arrangements, cleanliness, inflight entertainment and cabin staff. It got a value-for-money rating of 89% (industry average 66%) and 98% of passengers said they would recommend the airline to a friend.
Emirates and Singapore airlines were both shortlisted.
So when deciding who to fly on your trip downunder Air New Zealand is a clear winner!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Airlines are loosing our bags!
According to recent research reviewed by Flight Centre airlines loose 25 million bags a year. That's 1 in 100 passengers missing luggage.
The lesson from this is:
1. Ensure you have adequate travel insurance to cover lost luggage
2. Clearly label your bags, with bright straps or easily identifiable luggage labels.
3. Include your name/contact details both inside and outside your bag
4. Keep essential items with you as carry on e.g. meds, spare underwear etc.
At least with these measures if you end up being one of the unlucky 1 in 100 you have a greater chance of your luggage being returned quickly.
The lesson from this is:
1. Ensure you have adequate travel insurance to cover lost luggage
2. Clearly label your bags, with bright straps or easily identifiable luggage labels.
3. Include your name/contact details both inside and outside your bag
4. Keep essential items with you as carry on e.g. meds, spare underwear etc.
At least with these measures if you end up being one of the unlucky 1 in 100 you have a greater chance of your luggage being returned quickly.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Rotorua - some of our favourite things to do
When in Rotorua you might want to consider some of the following:
ROTORUA MUSEUM - A fantastic way to get your Rotorua visit off to the right start. Great displays and information on the history of Rotorua and its people.
PURE CRUISE - Enjoy a sailing experience on Lake Rotoiti, one of several beautiful lakes in the Rotorua region.
WHITE WATER RAFTING - Try rafting the Kaituna River, including the worlds highest commercially rafted waterfall. A real blast!
BURIED VILLAGE - For a more sedate activity visit the village of Te Wairoa - the Buried Village. This small settlement was buried when Mt Tarawera erupted in 1886. A somewhat sombre but informative experience.
For more information and ideas for visiting Rotorua send us a request - info@kiwibreaks.co.nz
ROTORUA MUSEUM - A fantastic way to get your Rotorua visit off to the right start. Great displays and information on the history of Rotorua and its people.
PURE CRUISE - Enjoy a sailing experience on Lake Rotoiti, one of several beautiful lakes in the Rotorua region.
WHITE WATER RAFTING - Try rafting the Kaituna River, including the worlds highest commercially rafted waterfall. A real blast!
BURIED VILLAGE - For a more sedate activity visit the village of Te Wairoa - the Buried Village. This small settlement was buried when Mt Tarawera erupted in 1886. A somewhat sombre but informative experience.
For more information and ideas for visiting Rotorua send us a request - info@kiwibreaks.co.nz
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Cool Queenstown
Cool things to do in Queenstown:
SKI - from now until September, several world class skifields.
COOKIE BAR - The worlds first 'cookie bar' opens in Queenstown soon - sup hot chocolates and enjoy cookies fresh from the ovens.
BIG PICTURE - A wine adventure with a difference.
CANYONING QUEENSTOWN - not for the faint hearted, cool canyon adventures around Queenstown.
Get in touch if you want to find out more about these and other cool activities in Queenstown - info@kiwibreaks.com
SKI - from now until September, several world class skifields.
COOKIE BAR - The worlds first 'cookie bar' opens in Queenstown soon - sup hot chocolates and enjoy cookies fresh from the ovens.
BIG PICTURE - A wine adventure with a difference.
CANYONING QUEENSTOWN - not for the faint hearted, cool canyon adventures around Queenstown.
Get in touch if you want to find out more about these and other cool activities in Queenstown - info@kiwibreaks.com
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