/lifestyle/travel/rss 九一星空无限 Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:13:49 Z en /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-summer-holiday-hits-across-nz/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-summer-holiday-hits-across-nz/ The great New Zealand summer calendar is generously sprinkled with some sure-fire seasonal hits to add a bucketload of fun to your family holiday. I’ve rounded up a selection of signature events and exhibitions, strung across the nation, that you may well want to thread into your domestic summer holiday plans.  String Auckland and January into one sentence and it’s tennis that springs to mind. Yes, the ASB Classic at Stanley St. But there’s another prime-time sporting spectacle waiting in the wings later in summer – SailGP. After this year’s debut, SailGP Auckland will roar back into town, with high-octane racing action in front of some of the world's most passionate fans on the 14th and 15th of February, off Wynyard Point. Elevated allocated Grandstand seating in the shoreside Race Stadium ensures fans are close enough to smell the salt as the high-tech, high-speed flying F50s do battle just metres from downtown Auckland on the Waitematā Harbour. SailGP on the water in Auckland. Photo / Supplied Sticking with the water, head to the Auckland War Memorial Museum for this summer’s banner exhibition, Sharks, created by the Australian Museum. It opens in a fortnight, running until April. The exhibition blends science, storytelling, and immersive design. It’s a chance to see sharks in a way you never have before, with lots of cutting-edge technology including a 360-degree view of the underworld, through the eyes of a Hammerhead Shark.   For something completely different in Auckland – art lovers will be swooning over the American pop art at Auckland Art Gallery. Their big summer exhibition is Pop to Present: American Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The exhibition has just opened and runs to March, with over 50 compelling works including Jackson Pollock’s iconic drip painting and pieces from luminaries like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.  If you’re heading to the Capital, add this to your do-not-miss list. Wellington Museum is playing host to Fat Freddy’s Drop, Based On A True Story. The 20th Anniversary Exhibition opened last week and explores the creative process, community, and cultural impact of Fat Freddy’s landmark album, which went straight to number one and remains the longest-charting album in New Zealand history, clocking up over two years in the Top 40. Immerse yourself in the music, magic and memories of a true Wellington original.  It might well be our favourite Kiwi summer headliner for families, the TSB Festival of Lights. It transforms New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park into a lavishly illuminated night-time wonderland. It opens December 20, for five weeks of free art, nature, music and good vibes. 36 nights of lights. Free to the public, the TSB Festival of Lights is New Zealand’s favourite, and longest-running light festival, with a host of massive lighting installations. Check out the lights from a different perspective, floating aboard a ‘glow’ rowboat, available to book each night. Over 150,000 people flock to the annual festival – half from out of town.   The TSB Festival of Lights. Photo / Supplied I also have a major soft spot for New Zealand’s summer beach carnivals, including the big daddy, the Caroline Bay Carnival, which celebrates its 115th outing this year. Opunake, Waihi Beach, Whitianga and Kaiteriteri all stage beach carnivals in the first half of January. Picton has joined the pack with their annual Maritime Festival which unfurls across the Picton foreshore in mid-January, with a stack of summer fun from raft races and live music to fireworks and food stalls. Then there’s Katikati’s Avo Fest, right in the nation’s avocado capital on January 10. Think avocado ice cream, tasty food, delectable drinks, live bands and cooking demos with celebrity chefs.  But Timaru’s big bash is in a league of its own, running from Boxing Day for a fortnight, with a daily and nightly programme of family fun, live entertainment, fairground rides, talent quests and competitions. There’s a traditional, down-home vibe to the carnival that hits the sweet spot like an ice-cream sandwich.   For a complete change of scenery, if you happen to find yourself on the wild West Coast in late January, make a date with Driftwood & Sand. Staged annually at Hokitika beach, this incredibly creative festival, transforms the beachscape, as participants compete to construct the most artistic, whimsical and wondrous sculptural pieces, washed up from the Tasman Sea. The size and audacity of some of the sculptures is absurdly good. The next festival is held from January 21-25.   Hokitika beach driftwood. Photo / Supplied Speaking of the West Coast, there’s nothing quite like the annual horse races at Kumara. The legendary Kumara Gold Nuggets Raceday returns on January 10 with live bands, local kai, kids’ entertainment and a best dressed showdown. The atmosphere is buzzing, the racing action is thrilling, and the winner takes home real gold nuggets. My father’s horse, Treybon, actually won the feature race a year ago. It’s a family-friendly race day, festive and frothing with West Coast spirit.  Towards the latter part of summer, wine buffs should make a date with the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival, New Zealand's longest-running wine and food festival, now in its fourth decade. It’s next outing is set down for February 14. Blenheim accommodation will book out, so lock in your in plans, pronto.   Trip you way around the country with the low-fares leader. 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Christchurch to Auckland one-way fares start from $65.  Mike Yardley is 九一星空无限talk ZB’s resident traveller and can be heard every week on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame.  Sat, 29 Nov 2025 00:16:35 Z /lifestyle/travel/air-nz-faces-complaints-over-treatment-of-disabled-passengers-on-regional-flights/ /lifestyle/travel/air-nz-faces-complaints-over-treatment-of-disabled-passengers-on-regional-flights/ A Napier woman claims she was left “black and blue” after being forced to slide down aircraft stairs during a round trip to Dunedin. Disabled passenger Rachel Adams, 52, was flying with Air New Zealand last month when she was told she would have to “get on [her] bum” and slide down the steps to get off the plane. Air New Zealand said its crew made a “decision they believed would ensure everyone’s safety at the time” due to weather conditions, and had apologised to Adams for falling short of expectations. However, Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker said there had been a dozen complaints alleging unlawful discrimination against disabled passengers in the past two years and noted inaccessible planes and inadequate support were all too common experiences for such travellers. “It’s not just about complying with the law, it’s about treating people with dignity and respect.” Rachel Adams says she suffered large bruises down her arm, stomach, back and leg from the manoeuvre. Adams had travelled with her family from Napier to Dunedin on October 21, planning to fly via Wellington. With severe weather cancelling the first flight and requiring a transfer in Christchurch, their pre-booked seats were reassigned to a separate row for mobility assistance. Their ATR 72-600 arrived in the Garden City amid strong winds. As standard practice, Adams was told to wait until other passengers had disembarked before cabin crew informed her there would be no ramp or mobility hoist available due to the conditions. “What got me was that the ground crew, who were wonderful to me, wanted to go and get the hoist ... but the cabin crew said it was too windy,” she told the Herald. “They said, ‘You’ve got to get down somehow’.” According to Adams, one of the pilots insisted she would need to get down the stairs unaided. With no alternative offered, she was told to “get on [her] bum” and slide down the steps, narrowly avoiding hitting her head on galley equipment in the process. Adams said she suffered large bruises down her arm, stomach, back and leg from the manoeuvre. Air New Zealand apologised and offered Adams 200 Airpoints Dollars after her complaint. Photo / Mark Mitchell “I got black and blue ... I was mortified,” she said. “I don’t think anybody else would have had to slide down the ramp that day.” Adams said other aircraft were using hoists despite the winds and didn’t understand why her flight was treated differently. Issues persisted during their return to Napier on October 30. Cabin crew allegedly told Adams ramps weren’t available at gate 7 after they landed in Christchurch, and a hoist was sourced only after the rest of the passengers disembarked. Adams lodged a formal complaint with the airline on October 31 and received an apology and 200 Airpoints Dollars, but said “a refund would’ve been better”, noting that the attitude of staff and the way the situation was handled did not meet her expectations. As a resolution, she wants clearer answers from the airline about why mobility equipment was withheld and why seats booked in advance can be reassigned without explanation. Air New Zealand chief safety and risk officer Nathan McGraw told the Herald the weather in Christchurch “meant it was unsafe to use a ramp or mobility hoist to disembark customers” from the aircraft. Air New Zealand said strong winds at Christchurch Airport made it unsafe to use ramps or a mobility hoist. Photo / George Heard “During adverse weather events, conditions can change rapidly and our team made the decision they believed would ensure everyone’s safety at the time.” McGraw said it had “reviewed the events with the crew involved to ensure we continue to learn and improve how we support customers with accessibility needs”. “We have been in direct contact with Ms Adams and offered our apologies for her experience. We appreciate her taking the time to share her feedback with us.” Walker said air travel was already stressful, “but for disabled people it can be a nightmare”, with assistance needed for boarding and disembarking, seating and luggage. Airlines therefore had a responsibility under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Human Rights Act to make it as accessible as they could. “Disabled people travel for work, want to explore and want to connect with loved ones. We deserve to do so with the support we need,” she said. “The way that airports, airlines and staff provide for and respond to our needs can make all the difference.” Elderly disabled passenger Bruce Gordon shared separate concerns about treatment from the airline in a recent Facebook post. Gordon, who is profoundly deaf and walks with a cane, said Air NZ relocated him from a window seat he paid extra for at the rear of an ATR to a middle row so a staff member could sit in his seat. He was left feeling “embarrassed and hurt” after being made to wait until all other passengers had left before he was permitted to disembark due to his disability. After submitting a complaint, Gordon was told it could take weeks to find out whether he would receive a refund. “Time will tell if they even bother to contact me.” Air New Zealand told the Herald it had also moved to compensate Gordon following his complaint. Tom Rose is an Auckland-based journalist who covers breaking news, specialising in lifestyle, entertainment and travel. He joined the Herald in 2023. Tue, 25 Nov 2025 02:11:02 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-singapore-airlines-and-changi-airport/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-singapore-airlines-and-changi-airport/ Changi Airport Singapore consistently scoops global accolades as a world-beating aviation hub. Skytrax has crowned it the 2025 World’s Best Airport, yet again. Wherever I happen to be travelling to, it’s always an added pleasure to fly Singapore Airlines, knowing that I will be basking in the brilliance of some titillating transit time at Changi. It’s an unrivalled aviation oasis where a leisurely layover becomes effortlessly pleasurable.  Terminals 3 and 4 showcase a glittering array of world-class shopping and dining offerings. There is also the free movie theatre, and access in Terminal 1 to a transit hotel pool and shower. Aerotel doesn’t require you to actually book accommodation, just a $25 fee for rooftop pool and shower pampering. Singapore is famously a city in a garden and Changi flies the flag with its Cactus Garden, Sunflower Garden, Water Lily Garden, Discovery Garden and, best of all, the Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3. This whimsical escape from transit limbo, is aflutter with a thousand pretty insects and a glass nursery where you can watch them hatching live from their cocoons. Terminal 3 also boasts the world’s tallest slide, which your kids will love.   In Terminal 2, check out Dreamscape, a mash-up of vertical gardens and fishponds beneath an LED ceiling that morphs from blue sky to an underwater realm. It’s pleasantly and soothingly mesmerising. If you’re flight schedule entails an extended layover, there are also free sightseeing tours, but you need at least five hours until your connecting flight to qualify for a spt. There are currently four timed tours available, including of Singapore's south coast, city centre, Singapore River and Marina Bay Sands as well as a heritage and culture tour (book a few days ahead to guarantee a space).  Dreamscape at Changi Airport T2. Photo / Supplied But the crowning attraction at Changi, accessible from all terminals, is undoubtedly Changi Jewel, the show-stopping pleasure dome of retail and entertainment, with its stunning 40 metre long indoor waterfall, Rain Vortex – the tallest such water feature in the world. Water cascades down through a glass roof to a forest garden, switching between ethereal mists and thunderous downpours in a lush green theatre of terraced gardens. At night, the waterfall is at the centre of the sound and light show. If you’re travelling with kids with energy to burn, take them to Canopy Park inside Changi Jewel. It encompasses a hedge maze, a mirror maze, topiary walk, petal garden and “foggy bowls” area. Suspended eight metres above all this is a trampoline-style walkway. Bounce away!  Interior of Changi Jewel. Photo / Supplied Jewel is also home to the Changi Experience Studio with interactive displays about the airport’s history for aviation geeks. And it’s comprehensively equipped for transiting tourists with a baggage-storage service, advance check-in kiosks and a paid lounge. If you're looking for unique souvenirs, my recommended terminal shopping stops are TWG Tea and Bacha Coffee Boutique, Pokémon Center Singapore, Bengawan Solo, and Eu Yan Sang.  For many Kiwis flying long-haul, it’s hard to put a price on space, comfort and indulgence. I recently reacquainted myself with Singapore Airlines Business Class, on their A350-900 aircraft, which are typically deployed on the Auckland and Christchurch routes to Singapore, and the backbone of SIA’s long-haul fleet. These very popular workhorses are so blissfully quiet and better suited to cushioning turbulence.  Business Class seating on the A350-900 is all about thoughtful comfort. Handcrafted from Scottish leather and diamond-stitched, the seat transforms into a full flat bed, with a cushioned headboard, linen, duvet and pillows. Each seat is 25 inches wide and has a generous seat pitch of 50 inches. If you’re a travelling as a couple, the centre divider between the centre seats can be fully lowered to create a double bed. Designed to provide more personal space and privacy, the Business Class seats are arranged in a forward-facing, four abreast (1-2-1) configuration, providing every passenger direct aisle access (that’s quite the godsend when answering a call of nature to answer, deep in the night).  Business class seating on the A350. Photo / Mike Yardley  I generally find myself catching up on work when flying long-haul, and the A350 Business Class seat easily converts into an office with its well-positioned reading lights, in-seat laptop power supply, and USB ports. The KrisWorld entertainment system is loaded with over 1800 movie, TV, music and gaming selections, plus live news and sports channels (over 400 movies alone!). Equipped with noise cancelling headphones, the high-definition seatback monitors are supersized at 46cms, from which I settled on the new release Superman and The Naked Gun, before settling into the hit TV series, Outrageous. The complimentary in-flight WiFi worked a trick, too.   Attentive, graceful, personable service is a shining feature of Singapore Airlines, from the moment you to step aboard and are offered a bubbles or a Bellini. The in-flight dining service features a stirring menu, anchored by signature dishes crafted by the airline’s International Culinary Panel, which famously begins with their legendary Chicken Satay canape. All premium class guests can pre-select their main course up to 48 hours before flying from the ‘Book the Cook’ menu. But when flying from New Zealand to Singapore, definitely grab the opportunity to savour the airline’s Guest Chef Programme.   Marlborough Salmon for starters on Singapore Airlines. Photo / Mike Yardley  Since March, Singapore Airlines has partnered with distinguished New Zealand chef and restauranteur Sid Sahrawat, to design a distinctly Kiwi culinary experience for flights departing Auckland and Christchurch. Complementing the International Culinary Panel, the Guest Chef Programme collaborates with acclaimed local chefs to create limited-time menus that showcase regional ingredients and flavours. Sid’s menus sport the finest New Zealand ingredients, while also drawing inspiration from his Indian cultural roots. He executed this fusion with customary finesse. My appetiser was Marlborough Smoked Salmon and Prawns with Cucumber Gazpacho, with fresh red chilli and radishes adding some extra zing. The main course? Pan-roasted Snapper with Vindaloo Sauce and Tandoori Roasted Kumara. What a combo! The dish also included some crispy kale dusted with curry powder – signature Sid. I couldn’t say no to his divine dessert – Chocolate and Manuka Honey Bavarois with freeze-dried raspberries and finished with hokey pokey honeycomb candy. This is dining in excelsis at 35,000 feet.  I jetted my way to Singapore, Nepal and India with the award-winning flag-carrier. All of my flights ran to time, all checked bags were faithfully waiting for me on the carousel and the in-flight experience was impeccable. If you’re toying with upgrading to Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines, you’re absolutely in for a treat. I flew home from Singapore in this cabin, which is a great opportunity to graze from the Book the Cook menu. It features a stirring selection of exquisite dishes, including New Zealand Beef Fillet and Spring Lamb Loin.   Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines. Photo / Supplied The KrisWorld entertainment system brims with over 1800 movie, TV, music and gaming selections, plus live news and sport. Equipped with noise cancelling headphones, the high-definition touch screen monitors are supersized at 33cms, from which I devoured so much content. The in-flight WiFi worked a trick too – complimentary for KrisFlyer members. Premium Economy seating has a full leather finishing and a calf-rest and foot rest for every seat, so you can recline and stretch out. Be sure to request an amenity kit, which includes a pair of roomy slippers, lightproof eyeshades and a hydrating lip balm. It’s a class of its own.  Singapore Airlines proudly connects New Zealand to the world via its award-winning hub, Changi Airport via its daily services from Auckland and Christchurch. There are over 120 destinations across the combined SIA and Scoot global network, including 15 European destinations. singaporeair.com  Mike Yardley is 九一星空无限talk ZB’s resident traveller and can be heard every week on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame. Mon, 24 Nov 2025 21:51:44 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-bites-and-sights-in-paris/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-bites-and-sights-in-paris/ Beckoning as a homeland to incredible food, world-class wine, iconic cultural landmarks, and infused with a bohemian spirit, Paris is the epitome of a tourist mecca. Home to over 140 museums and 30,000 bakeries, you’ve got so many alluring visitor experiences to weigh up than you can poke a baguette at.   Taking top-billing on my latest visit to the irrepressible French capital was a jaunt to the freshly restored Notre-Dame Cathedral. A place of worship that has been open to all, free of charge for 860 years, the revered religious beacon is looking resplendent after the horrors of the devastating 2019 fire. A wallet-waving spectacle financially powered by French luxury goods billionaires who raced to outdo each other, stumped up NZ$1.5 billion within days of the blaze. Over a billion dollars has been spent renovating France’s most famous church in a five-year-long tour de force, with many milestones still being celebrated (the church has a very hefty surplus for its long-term maintenance kitty).  Interior splendour of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Photo / Mike Yardley  Just a fortnight ago, the first post-fire wedding was held in the cathedral, which suitably saw a carpenter who helped rebuild the landmark tie the knot. As my guide remarked, as I gazed at the buttery limestone grandeur of this hallowed landmark, “this is the closest thing to time travel.” Eight hundred years of grime and soot from burning candles has been removed from its interior, peeling back the layers to gloriously reveal its original creamy stone lustre. The sublime stained-glass windows, also covered in a sooty patina, haven’t looked so vivid for generations.   The herculean project saw 2,000 oak trees gathered from forests across France, hewn into beams with axes and pegged into great trusses by hand using medieval tools. Over a thousand cubic metres of limestone was hauled into place, chiselled into leaping arches and grinning gargoyles. 4,000 square metres of lead was rolled, crimped and moulded into ornamental roofing. The restoration project was a bonanza for revitalising traditional specialist craftsmanship. It truly is a sight to behold. Since reopening last December, over 15 million people have poured through its doors and the entrance queues can billow. Head there at the very start of your day and you’ll be straight in. I headed there for 8am mass, which is a 30 minute long express service. But savouring this building in the morning crowd-free calm is all the more rewarding.  Notre-Dame Cathedral. Photo / Supplied Strolling the Seine, I then ventured on foot past a parade of Parisian landmarks, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, as autumn’s fiery hues torched the riverside plane trees. A great way to bundle together a swag of epic attractions and activities at the one low price is to order up a Go City Pass. With over 100 attractions, excursions, tours and experiences on offer, there’s a variety of pass options to choose from, to suit your schedule. I plumped for the Go City Explorer Pass is ideal for flexible sightseeing. gocity.com  Adding to the appeal of my explorer pass, Go City encompasses a spree of hospitality experiences. Settle in for a lazy brunch or late lunch at traditional brasserie, Au Vieux Châtelet. It is everything you want in a traditional French brasserie: think cosy wood interiors, ornate trimmings and classic home cooking done right. I opted for a national classic, croque monsieur – a toasted sandwich with molten gruyère cheese, smoked ham and Dijon mustard, topped with a buttery béchamel sauce. This mainstay has been on the menu for decades. Gruyère is the essential element to a cranking croque monsieur because it melts smoothly and evenly, delivering that gooey and stretchy consistency. Alternatively, for a bit of extra indulgence, go for a croque madame (very similar, but with a fried egg to crown the dish). Pair that with a cassis-flavoured kir royale Champagne cocktail, and life is good!  Just off the Champs Elysées at the Arc de Triomphe end, armed with my Go City Explorer Pass, I popped into Bistro Marbeuf for another signature snack – French Crepes. This elegant wood-panelled bistro is the ideal spot to savour this traditional sweet snack in the heart of Paris. You can choose from various flavours, but after much testing, my preferences would be butter and sugar, or banana or chocolate. The crepes are accompanied with orange juice and coffee. The perfect mid-morning pick-me-up.   Classic crepes at Bistro Marbeuf. Photo / Mike Yardley  For added indulgence, just around the corner, pop into Ladurée’s flagship venue on the Champs-Élysées. Its pastel-toned décor mimics the hues of its celebrated macarons. The boutique, patisserie and dessert bar is a calorific carnival of colour and exquisite food art. Inspiring many discerning foodies on a trip to Paris is Ladurée’s pastry workshops, headlined by their emblematic creations. You need to book well in advance for their classes, which run for nearly three hours!   For a change of scenery, I headed up to the beloved hillside neighbourhood of Montmartre, crowned with the bulbous creamy dome of Sacré-Coeur Basilica. With its steep, winding, cobbled streets and unmistakable village vibe, Montmartre is a distinctively different pocket of Paris. Place du Tertre is the beating heart of Montmartre. Artists and painters have peddled their wares in this square for centuries. Busloads of tourists have changed the atmosphere, but if you come off-season—when the air is crisp and the streets are bare—you can almost feel what it was like when up-and-coming Picassos and Renoirs lived in the houses that today are consumed by souvenir shops and cafés.   Sacré-Coeur Basilica. Photo / Mike Yardley  This quintessentially Parisian square is also where you will find La Mere Catherine, one of the oldest Paris restaurants still in operation, founded in 1793, when the monarchy was overthrown and Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were guillotined. Embraced by the Go City pass, I reflected on that red-letter year as I tucked into a quintessential three-course meal, headlined by free-range chicken, fries and salad. Feeling intrepid, for my appetiser, I ordered up the Burgundy snails. Forking them out of their shells, these pint-sized gastropods resembled curled-up mushrooms – and tasted not unlike squishy fungi. No, I’m not sold on them, but I have finally lost my ooh-la-la French mollusc virginity. A sweet and happy ending awaited, as I devoured a knock-out dessert - fudge chocolate cake with custard cream.   Where to stay? Book-ended by the Palais Royal and the Louvre, Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal has one of the most prestigious addresses in Paris, right in the heart of the stylish first arrondissement. Enter through the majestic limestone façade and you’ll be in a sophisticated haven infused with designer style, from its black marble reception and busts of French writers to cozy boutiques and sexy dark lounges with walls wrapped in abstract artwork. The rooms are refined, the restaurant exquisite and the service polished.   Grand Hotel du Palais Royal. Photo / Supplied After enduring a 28 hour trek from New Zealand, and arriving into Paris as the city woke up, the delightful hotel receptionist generously offered me a cup of coffee and early access to the spa, so I could shower, change and freshen up to greet France. Just across the street from the imperial Jardin du Palais Royal, this is where Emily Cooper would frequently lunch in the Netflix hit series Emily in Paris. Throughout the hotel, vivid green accents and fresh plants bring a sense of those royal gardens indoors.   With 59 rooms and suites the hotel feels unmistakeably intimate, homely and bougie. My gorgeous suite overlooked Place de Valois, cast as the location of Emily Cooper’s office, in Emily in Paris. My suite featured oak parquet floors, silk curtains, rustic arched shutters, retro carpets, a cream brushed cotton sofa with Jacobean floral cushions, mesh leather chairs, a cloud-comfortable king-sized bed with two flat-screen TVs, a Nespresso machine, and fully stocked minibar.   Grand Hotel du Palais Royal accommodation. Photo / Supplied The Venetian marble bathroom was sumptuous, complete with soaking tub, walk-in rain marble shower, nickel mirror lamps, Diptyque products, and fluffy bathrobes & slippers. The hotel’s Le Café 52 is another divine and art-filled space, with mirrored walls, steel blue tables, rattan chairs, linen sofas and blown-glass vases. The buffet breakfast offering will have you bouncing out of bed, whether it’s the smoked salmon avocado toast, the fresh croissants and pain au chocolat, or homemade detox juices.  Grand Hotel du Palais Royal is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. There are 650 boutique hotels and resorts in the SLH collection, spanning over 90 countries. Enjoy exclusive rates by joining the SLH Club and savour independently spirited and unforgettable luxury hotel experiences. slh.com  I flew to Paris with Qatar Airways, recently crowned the 2025 World’s Best Airline by Skytrax, scooping the supreme honours for the ninth consecutive year. Qatar Airways flies non-stop between Doha and Auckland daily, with onward connections to 170 destinations. Experience an unrivalled standard of Business Class in your very own personal suite with privacy doors. QSuite is available on the daily Auckland service, delivering first-class luxury to the Business Class cabin, including double lie-flat beds. I flew in Economy and you’ll notice the difference with one of the widest seats in the industry, complete with adjustable headrests. Lap up generous dining, complimentary Wi-Fi and over 8000 on-demand entertainment offerings in the Oryx One system. For best fares and seats to suit, qatarairways.com  Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Fri, 21 Nov 2025 23:37:06 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-flying-qatar-airways-to-doha/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-flying-qatar-airways-to-doha/ As a long-time plane geek, I am totally in awe of ultra-long-haul routes. Auckland to Doha remains ranked as the third longest commercial route in the world, proudly serviced by Qatar Airways. Its daily services typically take 16 hours and 45 minutes from Auckland to Doha, while the homebound leg from Doha to Auckland averages 15 hours and 15 minutes. It’s a great way to get to Europe, because from Doha, high frequency connecting flights will have at your final destination just a few hours later.  Since June, the Qatar Airways Auckland services have been operated by Boeing 777 long-range aircraft, configured with 42 Business seats and 230 in Economy. If you’re not at the pointy end, rest assured that ultra-long-haul in Economy on Qatar Airways is more than manageable. Qatar Airways provides Economy guests with one of the widest seats in the industry, complete with adjustable headrests. With the generous seat recline, I had no trouble stretching my legs completely out in front of me, with unobstructed access under the seat in front of you.  Qatar Airways Economy Class. Photo / Supplied With a voluminous library of on-demand entertainment, the Oryx One system serves up over 8500 content options at your fingertips. Plus, the live sport function is a recent addition. Just over a year ago, Qatar Airways launched the world’s first Boeing 777 flight equipped with Starlink, ushering in a new era of in-flight connectivity. The entire 777 fleet is now installed with Starlink, delivering high-speed, low-latency internet. The service is free for all passengers and available gate-to-gate. I was suitably engaged for hours, before taking my trusty magnesium tablet and clocking up 8 hours of sleep, in-flight. Along with being well-fed and watered, the marathon flying experience didn’t leave me feeling rung out.   If you plump for the pointy end, you’ll basking in the pampered embrace of Qatar Airways’ legendary Business Class product, QSuite with those sliding doors. This truly is a world-leading product, where the best of First Class has been deployed to Business Class. Best of all, those flying double beds. Yes, if you’re a couple travelling together, your seats convert into a lie-flat double bed, with privacy sliding doors, sealing you off in your own cocoon of comfort. QSuite also pioneered the quad, a private space fully adaptable to your family or fellow travellers’ requirements. Every seat, whether you’re travelling solo or with company, has its own slider door. The trimmings keep coming, with soft feathered pillows, a velvet duvet and pyjama set.   Qatar Airways QSuite Business Class. Photo / Supplied Qatar Airways has every reason to feel like it’s on top of the world – and deservedly so. The Doha-based carrier, with one of the world’s youngest aircraft fleets, has scooped supreme honours at the 2025 Skytrax Airline Awards, crowned World’s Best Airline, for the ninth consecutive year. Flying daily non-stop between Doha and Auckland, Kiwis enjoy visa-free entry into Doha. Beyond Doha, Qatar Airways flies to over 170 destinations worldwide. qatarairways.com  One of the great things about flying long-haul through Doha is Hamad International Airport. Routinely ranked as one of the world’s greatest airports, not only is it breath-takingly efficient with its leading-edge deployment of the latest technology, but the terminals exude a welcome, relaxed atmosphere of stress-free calm. Your ears won’t be assaulted with the constant cacophony of public address announcements, as is the case at many major airports. Hamad Airport is my idea of aviation haven. But don’t for one moment mistake this for soulless boredom. The terminals are abuzz with enticements, headlined by its museum-worthy artworks.   The iconic Lamp Bear by Urs Fischer is just the beginning on the self-guided art tour featuring over 30 pieces scattered throughout the airport. Discover works by artists like Ahmed Al Bahrani and Jean-Michel Othoniel. One of the most recent public art installations is the delightful wildlife sculpture collection located at the Orchard, a glass-domed garden, with similarities to the Changi Airport’s Jewel.   Hamad International Airport's Lamp Bear. Photo / Mike Yardley  This lush, indoor tropical paradise spans over 6000 square metres, boasting more than 300 trees and 25,000 plants sourced from sustainable forests. With its glass ceiling, tree-top bridge, grassed areas, and timber teepees, it’s a refreshing escape from typical airport environments, whether you want to stretch your legs or grab a bite in the surrounding retail and dining precinct. Hamad International Airport has elevated airport dining to new heights with some luxury brand credentials entering the hospitality space too. There’s the Fendi Café, Ralph’s Coffee Shop by Ralph Lauren, the Harrod’s Tea Roo and for five-star luxury, the Louis Vuitton Lounge by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno. The latest arrival is the Lancôme Café De La Rose from Paris’s Champs-Elysées. Dive into this trippy, next-level airport experience.  Mike Yardley is 九一星空无限talk ZB’s resident traveller and can be heard every weekend on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame. Thu, 20 Nov 2025 22:13:23 Z /lifestyle/travel/metallica-at-eden-park-drives-auckland-hotel-prices-above-1000-a-night/ /lifestyle/travel/metallica-at-eden-park-drives-auckland-hotel-prices-above-1000-a-night/ Travellers to Auckland may find it difficult to secure last-minute accommodation as hotel room rates soar ahead of Metallica’s concert at Eden Park tonight. Few hotel rooms are available as thousands of metal fans swell the city. Yesterday, Auckland Council’s cultural agency said Tāmaki Makaurau is expected to be heaving, with 40,000 visitor nights booked and the city’s hotels at 100% capacity before the massive show. The World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education (WIPCE) is another major event running in Tāmaki Makaurau and drawing huge numbers. The conference is expected to attract nearly 3800 international delegates and add a further 16,000 visitor nights over the course of the five-day event, according to Auckland Council’s cultural arm, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited. Popular travel agency website booking.com only has seven hotels available for a single person staying for one night from today in Auckland at the time of writing. The cheapest rate was $1399 at Proximity Apartments close to Auckland Airport. The most expensive hotel available was Horizon by SkyCity, offering its superior king room for more than $10,000. Using the same filters, hotel price comparison website Trivago currently shows 12 hotels available. According to the listing, the cheapest rate tonight is at the Waitākere Resort & Spa, from $924, and the most expensive hotel is again at Horizon by Sky City. Cheaper options are available on Airbnb, with some room rates under $200. Last week, Annie Dundas, director of destination at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, said: “It’s not every week you get to say Metallica and WIPCE in the same sentence, but that’s exactly what makes Auckland such an exciting, world-class events city”. “From metal militia to educators, everyone contributes to the vibrancy of our region and the strength of our visitor economy. The energy they bring before, during and after these events, is felt in our streets, our hotels and our hospitality venues.” Similar Auckland Council events have injected millions into the local economy. Tātaki Auckland Unlimited said major events hosted in the city contributed to an $89 million boost in GDP. Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:43:49 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-dipping-into-the-dazzle-of-doha/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-dipping-into-the-dazzle-of-doha/ As a quick hit to recharge when travelling to or from Europe, Doha makes for an eye-opening stopover in the heart of the Middle East. The capital of Qatar pulses with all the flamboyant bling of Dubai, overlaid with deep pockets of old world Doha, where tradition, heritage and culture abound. Doha seems to have nailed the sense of urban intermingling – the fusion of cutting-edge modernity and traditional vibes.  My favourite quintessential experience is to savour golden hour aboard a traditional Dhow cruise on Doha Bay, as the slumping sun gilds the skyline. Pearl diving was the mainstay of the Qatari economy right up until the 1930s when Japan pioneered cultured pearls and revolutionised the lucrative pearl trade. Dhow boats were traditionally used by pearl divers, so a leisurely float aboard one of these wooden cuties provides a tangible link with the past.  Dhow and the West Bay skyline. Photo / Supplied When you’ve had your fill of gazing at West Bay’s futuristic skyline, studded with so many edgy designs and distinctive buildings, there’s plenty more starchitecture to explore on-foot. I’m a self-confessed building nerd and Doha’s rollcall of boundary-busting architects who have left their calling card here is formidable. I M Pei, Norman Foster, and Jean Nouvel lead the line-up.  Step out on the 7km-long horseshoe-shaped Corniche promenade, that connects old Doha with West Bay. It’s an impeccably landscaped waterfront playground, packed with cutting-edge public amenities like open-air gym equipment and phone-charging stations. Like so many public spaces in Doha, outdoor air-conditioning is becoming the norm, with highly effective cooling vents taming the desert heat in highly trafficked places.  In a city of stacked with museums, you really are spoilt for choice. But if you have time only for one, my suggestion would be the Museum of Islamic Art. It’s a chiselled jewel, designed by I M Pei, of Louvre glass pavilion fame. The museum has an illusory quality of floating on the water. Pei was determined to encapsulate the essence of Islamic architecture in his design. The building’s bright white cubes reflect in the sea by day and are illuminated by night. The curved openings in the top tower resemble the eye slit of a burqa while the museum’s ceiling is a traditional geometric pattern. Calligraphy, Islamic patterns, jewellery and textiles from three continents comprise its vast collection. Reaching back 1400 years, the museum charts the artistic flowering of Islam. The biggest unmissable is the necklace that once belonged to Shah Jahan, builder of India's Taj Mahal, studded with huge diamonds and emeralds. The British didn’t get their hands on that one.  Museum of Islamic Art and West Bay lights. Photo / Supplied Twenty minutes north of downtown Doha, I headed by metro to Lusail, home to the gleaming stadium that is nicknamed the Lantern. It was here that Lionel Messi raised the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Qatar continues to cultivate its credentials as a superhost for global sport occasions – and surely it’s only a matter of time before they bag the Olympic Games, unless Saudi Arabia beats them to the punch. Lusail is Qatar’s newest and second-largest city. There’s serious starchitecture here too, like the crescent-shaped Katara Towers with the country’s first six-star hotel; the Marina Twin Towers, which look like giant Lego blocks; and the French-inspired Place Vendôme Mall. Lusail is also a byword for vroom-vroom!   The F1 Qatar Grand Prix is just a fortnight away from being held. The purpose-built racetrack, known as the Lusail International Circuit, is highly regarded by F1 fans, particularly for its 1km long main straight, which throws up plenty of high-octane thrills. But when the big boys are not in town, you can score some track-time on the circuit, whether you want to run, cycle, skate, walk – or best of all, ride the souped-up go-karts.  Channel you inner Lando Norris and hit the tarmac.  Lusail International Circuit. Photo / Supplied Speaking of racing, for something more traditional from Qatari culture, why not pay a visit to Al Shahaniya racetrack for camel-racing? Held every Friday from October to February, it’s a wild experience and highly competitive. Originally, children would be used as jockeys for the camels, but robots have been used instead since 2004 for health and safety reasons. The robots are controlled remotely by the camel herders who often drive alongside the track. How’s that for the complete combo of old and new?  If you want more camel time or to try riding one of these graceful ships of the desert, camel riding is on offer in the heart of old Doha at the sublime Souq Waqif. As are Arabian horses. The atmospheric marketplace is also home to the falcon souq. Not only can you buy a falcon here, but it’s also go-to for falcon accessories such as landing pads and GPS guidance systems for the birds. They even have an on-site falcon hospital. I was quite taken aback to see two lovely old men carrying their sick falcon through the arrivals hall at Hamad International Airport.   Camel racing in Doha. Photo / Supplied Beyond the wildlife, Souq Waqif is a bustling blend of sights, sounds, and scents that captures the heart of Qatar's rich culture. It’s a sprawling, atmospheric stone complex of restored buildings, riddled with winding alleys, bursting with spice stalls, perfumeries, handcrafted goods, outstanding dining venues and superb local art. For a great keepsake, pop into the Souq Waqif Art Centre, to see one of the resident artists at work and peruse their traditional Arabic design pieces.  One of the most iconic breakfast spots in Doha, Shay Al Shomoos, is located at Souq Waqif’s airconditioned walkway. The restaurant is run by Shams Al Qassabi, who was the first woman to establish a business in Souq Waqif. One of the most popular items at this the breakfast spot is the traditional dish, regag.  But if there’s one signature dish you have to try during a visit to Qatar, it’s undoubtedly machboos. The dish, made of rice, meat, onions and tomatoes, mixed with spices, is the national dish of Qatar. Most importantly, it’s incredibly delicious.  Lamb shank Machboos. Photo / Time Out Destination dining? Snag a booking at Parisa. This gorgeous Persian restaurant in Souq Waqif has mosaics along the walls, ornate chandeliers, and a mirrored ceiling that took three-and-a-half years to finish. On the food front, signature dishes include watermelon salad, kashko bademjan and lamb kebab. Delicious.  Qatar Airways has every reason to feel on top of the world. The multiple award-winning airline has been crowned the 2025 World’s Best Airline by Skytrax, scooping the supreme honours for the ninth consecutive year. Qatar Airways flies non-stop between Doha and Auckland daily, one of the world’s heroic ultra-long-haul flights, currently ranked third longest in the world. Kiwis enjoy visa-free entry into Doha. Experience an unrivalled standard of Business Class in your very own personal suite with privacy doors. QSuite is available on the daily Auckland service, delivering first-class luxury to the Business Class cabin, including double lie-flat beds. I flew in Economy, and you’ll notice the difference with one of the widest seats in the industry, complete with adjustable headrests. With the generous seat recline, I had no trouble stretching my legs completely out in front of me, with unobstructed access under the seat in front of you. Beyond Doha, Qatar Airways flies to over 170 destinations worldwide. qatarairways.com  Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Fri, 14 Nov 2025 23:21:34 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-fresh-temptations-in-singapore/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-fresh-temptations-in-singapore/ Singapore never fails to serve up an electrifying experience, constantly refreshing and enhancing its enticements. After paying my respects to Singapore’s beloved water-spout mascot, the Merlion, overlooking Marina Bay, I ventured over to the jaw-dropping botanical blockbuster of Gardens by the Bay, armed with my Go City Explorer Pass. Like being handed the keys to the city, you can take your pick from a feast of experiences, from food tours to big-bang attractions like Singapore Zoo and Gardens by the Bay. You’ll save up to 50% on sights and attractions with a Go City in over 25 destinations. To check out all available Go City experiences, and a pass to suit, head to gocity.com. Boasting over a million plants from 19,000 species, Gardens by the Bay is an architectural frenzy of aerial walkways, supersized steel trees and mega-conservatories. The giant domed cloud forest and flower conservatories engage all senses, tripping you across the planet’s botanical wonders. Jurassic World: The Experience has ramped up the escapist wonder of mist-shrouded Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay. The cinematic verve of the Jurassic World film franchise has added thrill-factor, with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs nestled within the landmark cooled conservatory.   Cloud Forest featuring Jurassic World. Photo / Gardens by the Bay Highlights include an awe-inspiring 8.5-metre-tall Brachiosaurus, and a face-to-face moment of fearsome intimacy with a Tyrannosaurus rex. While you’re there, keep an eye out tiny Compsognathus, or “Compys,” hidden throughout lush garden pathways. More than 72,000 plants thrive in Cloud Forest, with more than 50 species with lineages that can be traced back to the Jurassic period, such as ferns, cycads and conifers. These plants once thrived alongside dinosaurs and even served as food for them. Gardens by the Bay is also swooned over at nightfall with the Supertrees Grove unleashing an electrifying choreographed light and sound show. It’s a great appetiser for Marina Bay’s free nightly light and water theatrics, Spectra.  Take a stroll through Kampong Glam. Once the seat of Singapore’s first sultan, the neighbourhood's colourful shophouses are home to a jumble of cafes and boutiques wedged among decades-old perfumeries and fabric merchants. In 1989, the government moved to protect the heritage-heavy neighbourhood, gazetting Kampong Glam as one of Singapore’s first conservation areas — forever preserving its five-foot timber-shaded ways, pastel façades and verandas that drift from Arab Street to Baghdad Street to Haji Lane.   Bussorah Street, Kampong Glam. Photo / Supplied Nowadays, amid the district's transformation, it’s not unusual for the mosque's daily loudspeaker calls to blend with belted karaoke bar ballads drifting through the alleyways – a duet that perhaps sums up the spirit of this pocket-sized precinct. Two of my favourite spots? Situated on Bussorah Street, the award-winning. Beirut Grill plates mezze, charcoal-inflected shish taouk and lamb shanks beneath a view of the mosque’s golden domes. On Beach Road, the Coconut Club turns humble nasi lemak into coconut-perfumed rice, and slow-cooks marinated for 12 hours over charcoal chicken in a restored shophouse. A short stroll away on Kandahar Street, Cichetti slings supple, leopard-spotted Neapolitan pies and trattoria plates in one of the quarter’s most handsome rooms.  Thread the narrow seam of Haji Lane into your stroll. Once lodging for Haj pilgrims and brokers, Haji Lane is now a hipsters’ hotpot, with a riot of indie boutiques and cheerful wall art. Only a few metres across in sections, it’s reputedly one of Singapore’s tightest streets. Look up for old timber louvres, and down for tiled five-foot ways that kept traders shaded long before the advent of air con. If you’re strolling down Orchard Road and feeling peckish head straight to the venerated Food Opera dining court at Ion Orchard shopping centre. It has a trove of the city’s best food stalls – including hawkers who have been in business for half a century, like Sergeant Hainanese Chicken Rice and Thye Hong Fried Prawn Noodles.   Colour of Haji Lane. Photo / Supplied Italy has gelato, Singapore has the ice-cream sandwich. And Orchard Road is home to a couple of old-school street carts that have operated for more than 30 years. Expect local flavours such as durian, red bean, yam and sweet corn, spooned between wafer biscuits or slices of pillowy pandan bread. Need decaffeinating? Check out the super-cute and super-chic Ralph Lauren café, Ralph’s Coffee, on the corner of Orchard Ave and Scotts Road.  Singapore Zoo has long been regarded as one of the world’s best. It needs little introduction. But if you’re heading out there, add River Wonders to your wildlife journey, which is embraced by a Go City Explorer Pass. The two venues form part of the Mandai Wildlife Reserve and River Wonders mixes the entertainment factor with a strong focus on raising awareness about endangered species and protecting river ecosystems.  Highlights include the Mississippi River exhibit which transports you to heartland USA, complete with snapping alligators and frolicking turtles. The Amazon Flooded Forest is a showstopper, headlined by manatees. Their slow, graceful movements through the water had an almost therapeutic effect. But my favourite attraction was the Giant Pandas Forest – home to Kai Kai and Jia Jia. They seemingly work the crowd, posing for admirers like professional models. What a life they lead, lounging around and happily chomping down on bamboo. So calm, so serene, and drop dead gorgeous.  Giant Pandas at River Wonders. Photo / Supplied A truly great hotel needs to feel like home, a place you’re not only reluctant to leave but one that you could happily move into. If you’re Singapore-bound, let The Fullerton sprinkle its stardust on you, where location, service, style and soul are all immediately apparent. Despite nearing its centenary, the Fullerton building, retains its classic allure in a highly connected world. Taking a stroll along the Singapore River at night, the building which originally served as the General Post Office before becoming an iconic hotel, glistens like a wedding-cake on the waterfront. With its stately Doric columns, coffered ceilings and cornices, this masterpiece of neo-classical architecture was the largest structure ever built in Singapore, 97 years ago. This showpiece hotel is anything but pickled – it hums with a playful buzz. After being chauffeured from the airport in the hotel limousine, I was whisked straight to my room, where the sign-in formalities were swiftly attended to.   Fullerton Hotel, Singapore. Photo / Supplied Stylish and soothing and with a ringside seat on the waterfront, my spacious Marina Bay suite with terrace was the meticulous blend of heritage, luxury and comfort, with a cream and caramel colour palette, heavenly bedding, sumptuous bathroom loaded with Diptyque toiletries, Nespresso coffee and fresh tropical fruit, delivered daily. But to step out onto that expansive terrace for the dazzling view across Marina Bay is worth waking up to – and staying up late to revel in the lights. Push the boat out and enjoy access to the Straits Club, for a plethora of indulgences including a classic afternoon with freshly baked scones, and a lavish nightly selection of sublime canapes and cocktails.   Mike and the lights of Marina Bay. Photo / Mike Yardley  After an early morning stretch of the legs on the riverside trail, I was ready to retox with a champagne breakfast, where a lip-smacking buffet of assorted goodies, strung across pedestals, complemented the eggs benedict, I ordered off the a la carte menu. Other headline dining experiences include Town Restaurant, which offers a sublime Spice Odyssey buffet dinner extravaganza. There’s a stack of seafood on ice like baby crawfish, scallops, prawns, clams and black mussels. Don’t miss the ghost pepper buffalo wings with blue cheese aioli, or the Masala fish curry.   Town’s Signature Laksa is absolutely sensational – a fusion of lobster balls, purple scallops, quail eggs, fishcakes and beansprouts. The array of options is head-swirling, but you must reserve some belly room for dessert. Their cakes are like gifts for the gods, running the gamut from ondeh-ondeh cake and raspberry lychee bandung to pistachio joconde and chocolate chiffon cake. I also treated myself to a superlative three-tier English afternoon tea at The Courtyard. Artfully executed finger food included burrata cheese and parma ham sando; smoked salmon tarte, caramel banana mousse; black forest choux and strawberry pistachio tarte.  Afternoon tea at the Fullerton. Photo / Mike Yardley The atmospheric Post Bar is another alluring spot – an effervescent haunt for mingling and mixology. If you’re partaking in some cheeky nightcaps, don’t forget to enjoy the signature Merlion Cocktail – a tequila-based drink with honey ginger syrup. After a long-haul flight, my body was gagging to be pressed for pleasure. In the dimmed light of The Fullerton Spa, I savoured a 90 minute signature Asian Heritage massage, which is intensively applied. My limbs felt so relaxed, I felt as if I might levitate after having so many kinks ironed out from my travel-weary body. Across the hotel, staff are unfailingly obliging and engaging, catering to your every whim, including sharing with you a plethora of heritage nuggets and anecdotes, that permeate the building.   Take time to immerse yourself in the Heritage Gallery, which offers so many charming insights on the importance role this building has played in the Singapore narrative.  But within this jewel-box of hospitality, my runaway favourite haven was the knock-out infinity pool lording over the Singapore River, backed by the statuesque grandeur of those Aberdeen granite pillars, and flanked by loungers. Every time I called by for a restorative dip, it took an age to tear myself away from this insatiable happy place. fullertonhotels.com  I jetted my way to Singapore with the award-winning flag-carrier, Singapore Airlines. All of my flights ran to time, all checked bags were faithfully waiting for me on the carousel and the in-flight experience was impeccable. The illustrious full-service carrier has not only fostered a world-beating reputation for its exceptional customer service and in-flight product, but also its innovation, across all classes. You’d struggle to find a better Economy class experience in the skies.  Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines. Photo / Singapore Airlines  If you’re toying with upgrading to Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines, you’re absolutely in for a treat. The KrisWorld entertainment system brims with over 1000 movie, TV, music and gaming selections, plus live news and sport. Equipped with noise cancelling headphones, the high-definition touch screen monitors are supersized at 33cms, from which I devoured so much content. The in-flight WiFi worked a trick too – complimentary for KrisFlyer members. It’s a class of its own. singaporeair.com  Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Fri, 07 Nov 2025 23:51:49 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-heading-for-the-hills-from-kathmandu/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-heading-for-the-hills-from-kathmandu/ A 3.30am alarm clock is a rude awakening no matter where you are in the world, but I duly snapped to attention with a frisson of excitement as I was blasted awake at the Radisson Hotel in Kathmandu. I had a hot date with the roof of the world, communing with the Himalayan Ranges, as the sun popped its head up to greet the new day. There are numerous ways to marvel over Nepal’s majestic mountains – and you don’t necessarily need to break out in a sweat. I had no intention of emulating Sir Edmund Hillary, so scaling Base Camp let alone Everest, was not on the agenda. Many tourists take to the air with a spot of flight-seeing to gaze down on the world’s tallest mountain, but Nepal’s safety record with these small sightseeing planes is not flash. Another option is to head west out of Kathmandu and climb aboard the Chandragiri Hills cable car. The ride is about 10 minutes, offering expansive views of Kathmandu Valley and Himalayas, from the summit. But after perusing the 'Attractions' tab on Booking.com, my sister and I opted for a sunrise hike in Nagarkot, expertly guided by Kathmandu local Srinath. Located 32 kilometres east of Kathmandu, it was a one-hour drive on narrow, gnarly hillside roads to reach the mountain town of Nagarkot, at an altitude of over 2000 metres on the Kathmandu Valley Rim. Historically, Nagarkot was a place for the royals of Nepal to escape the scorching heat of summer and a hectic city life. It still serves as a tractor-beam for locals and visitors alike, to surrender to nature, slow-down, detox, meditate, take yoga classes, and embrace its ravishing elemental appeal. Our first assignment was to head to the Nagarkot Lookout Tower, resting on a ridge at 2170 metres above sea level. As the first shafts of daylight emerged, the panoramic viewpoint served up the sight of row upon row of corrugated ranges. There are eight visible mountain ranges from this spot, including Langtang, Annapurna and the Himalayan Range. Piercing the western horizon is Dhaulagiri with Mount Everest rising the east, while the magnificent Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, is also visible. The weather gods were not playing ball, casting the skyline in a roving blanket of thick cloud, so glimpsing Everest in a golden hue at sunrise was thwarted. But every now and then, the cloud layer would part to offer a tantalising glimpse of the tallest peaks, separating Nepal from Tibet. If you want to maximise your chances of savouring a clear sky for sunrise, November to January are the clearest months. But aside from the mountain magic, the Nagarkot lookout is a sublime vantage point to survey the surrounding hill country. It’s an ethereal, forested space giving way to undulating fertile countryside, where villagers and farmers lead a traditional way of life as if time has stood still. Best of all, the region is richly laced in hiking trails, whether you’re after a short and sweet hike or multi-day affair. After enjoying a nutritious breakfast in Nagarkot town, a mountain retreat haven, Srinath led us on to one of Nagarkot’s nature trails. Striking out on this well-formed path, you soon realise what a spectacularly bucolic escape-hatch this region is, from the city bustle of Kathmandu. The 9km downhill hike served up a scenic medley of encounters and viewpoints, from greeting friendly villagers tending to their corn plantations and rice paddies, to communing with locals herding their sprightly goats. We stopped to greet a charming villager standing over a clay pot making rakshi – a distilled alcoholic spirit made with fermented grain. But it’s the mouth-watering views that constantly had me catching my breath and reaching for my camera, from flower-covered meadows to striking rock formations. Thickly vegetated hills, lush green valleys, authentic rustic villages, and endearing hospitality permeate proceedings. After passing through pine forest, beautiful villages and terraced hillsides, Srinath led us to Buddha Peace Park. The park has a huge statue of the golden Buddha in the ‘Bhumisparsha Mudra’ posture and is surrounded by manicured gardens. It is a resolute haven of calm. We then headed further down the hillside, passing a group of young army recruits out exercising, to reach a gob-smacking attraction. Rani Jhula, also called Nagarkot Hanging Bridge, is a thrilling suspension bridge that spans 250 metres over the lush greenery of the pine forest below, slashing by a rushing river. Rest assured, the steel cables are anchored firmly into the ground to enhance stability and safety. Just three years old, what makes Rani Jhula special is that it combines the spirit of adventure with the feeling of calmness. This is not just a bridge; it is a legend. The people of the area claim that at the break of the day, when the first light falls on the bridge, it sings a tune that resonates in the pines. Mystique and tradition is stitched deeply into this area, with all its winding paths and enchanting vistas. You cannot help but feel fully endowed with an overwhelming sense of calmness after encountering the beauty of Nagarkot. Rani Jhula Bridge. Photo / Mike Yardley Where to stay? After an absorbing day roaming the hill country in Nagarkot, it was such a therapeutic balm to return to the Radisson Hotel Kathmandu, which beckons as a red-hued oasis of calm and comfort, perfectly positioned by the tourist district in Kathmandu. The hotel embodies the graceful warmth and obliging hospitality that seems to be steeped in the DNA of Nepalese people. The hotel kindly arranged a complimentary transfer to and from the airport, eliminating the post and pre-flight faff, without any fuss. Boasting over 250 rooms and suites, it’s easy to see why this charismatic hotel is such a hit with business and leisure travellers, alike. Accommodations are well-appointed, spaciously sized and fully equipped with air-con, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, coffee and tea facilities, complimentary toiletries, minibar, and a dedicated workspace. Wellness whims are generously catered for, from the Tranquillity Spa to the top-notch fitness centre and sparkling outdoor pool on the fifth floor. This was a regular haunt for me, whether it was to take a cooling dip or drink in the sparkling city panorama, where Kathmandu titillates the eyeballs with its cheerfully-coloured apartment buildings, stretching across the city. Best of all, the in-house dining. We enjoyed lavish buffet breakfasts at The Fun Café, showcasing a tantalising array of Western comfort food and authentic Nepali cuisine. Great coffee, too! Alongside that dreamy pool, more panoramic views await at the hotel rooftop’s Terrace Garden, offering a selection of light meals, snacks, and refreshments. It’s a great perch for sundowners and to run your eyes over the twinkling city lights deep into the night. Hotel staff could not have been more charming or obliging. It’s a winning roost in the heart of the city. I locked in my Kathmandu getaway with Booking.com, tapping into their one-stop-shop travel offering, which enables you to sort flights, accommodation, attractions and car hire, all on the one site. Sign up to their Genius loyalty programme for discounts and travel rewards, on the mobile app or website. www.booking.com From New Zealand, it’s just a one-stop connection to Kathmandu with Singapore Airlines, on their daily services from Auckland and Christchurch, with well-timed connections from Changi Airport, the gateway to Asia, onwards to Kathmandu. Across all classes of travel, the award-winning carrier has not only fostered a world-beating reputation for its exceptional customer service and in-flight product, but also its innovation. Become a KrisFlyer member and enjoy complimentary in-flight WiFi. For best fares and seats to suit head to www.singaporeair.com Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings. Thu, 16 Oct 2025 22:56:05 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-on-the-streets-of-kathmandu/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-on-the-streets-of-kathmandu/ It was a dramatic time to pay a visit to Kathmandu. The Gen Z protests in mid-September sparked two days of rioting, violence, and destruction on the streets, culminating in the killing of over 70 people, particularly students and police officers. The student-led uprising was firmly focused on the corrupt government and its cronies, who had arguably over-reached by seeking to curb access to social media platforms. It was a lightning-fast revolution that ousted the rulers and saw an interim female Prime Minister installed, who deftly and swiftly calmed the farm. I arrived into Kathmandu just as the night-time curfews had been lifted by the military.   The newfound sense of peace and calm was palpable, as we taxied from the airport to the Radisson Hotel, in the heart of the tourist district. There was a reassuring sense of celebration on the streets, as people returned to their daily routines and got on with life. It was stunning to see the city metaphorically dust itself off and embrace the new dawn. The most confronting spectacle was the widespread damage and destruction to government buildings – the parliament was scorched, police stations had all their windows smashed, and the incinerated mangled remains of buses and cars had been pushed to the roadside. Freshly painted graffiti shouting out for “Democracy!” liberally plastered the frontages of many government properties. But these visible scars of civil strife were the only calling cards left over from the week’s mass-uprising. Kathmandu was open, welcoming and embracing.  Street scenes in the wake of the Gen Z protests. Photo / Mike Yardley  I locked in my Kathmandu city-break with Booking.com, tapping into their one-stop-shop travel offering, which enables you to sort flights, accommodation, attractions and car hire, all on the one site. An attraction I highly recommend you experience is a personally guided street-food walking tour. We met up with Deepak, a delightful local guide, outside the serene Annapurna Temple in Asan district. The three-storied pagoda style temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Grains, towering over the ever-lively bazaar. Deepak deftly initiated us with a crash-course in temple etiquette. We rang the bell to disperse evil spirits and negative energy; we circumnavigated the temple and then made a flowering offering (puja) to the deities. Deepak also placed a bindi on our foreheads before plunging us into the tangle of buzzing lanes in Thamel district.   Be sure to go hungry, because the profusion of street food that Deepak had us devour over the course of several hours soon represented a rolling banquet of lavish proportions. Here’s a round-up of our favourite local tastes. We tucked into panipuri from a street vendor. These hollow crisp puris are filled with spicy potatoes and tangy water, creating a zesty, crunchy snack. Another flavourful street snack was chatpat, made with puffed rice, vegetables and spices. A huge highlight are the vegetarian steamed momos. These tender dumplings are crammed with seasonal vegetables – light, savoury and comforting. We also tucked into vegetarian chatamari which is a thin rice crepe topped with spiced vegetables. Very satisfying.  Panipuri. Photo / Mike Yardley  Street drinks featured as well, headlined by Kathmandu’s fabulous sugarcane juice. A young man freshly pressed the juice from the canes. It’s naturally sweet. So simple, cooling and refreshing. I also became very partial to Nepali sweet lassi. The drink consists of smooth yoghurt blended with sugar, topped with condensed milk and dried fruits. It’s a stunningly cooling treat, creamy and indulgent. If you’re a tea drinker, definitely sample a cup or two of Nepali masala milk tea. (Chiya) It is strong, milky and spiced. I would prefer an English Breakfast.   Finally, my favourite dish was thukpa. This hearty mountain noodle soup is enriched with chicken, egg and vegetables. It was such a nourishing meal and is the quintessential comfort food in Nepal. Booking.com has just released the findings from its Taste of Home Asia-Pacific research which reveals that “Trolley tourism” is booming. More than four in five Kiwi travellers enjoy visits to local supermarkets, food markets, and foodie festivals on holiday. And almost three-quarters of us have chosen a destination solely to visit a particular restaurant or food spot. Lock in a guided street food tour in Kathmandu, via the attractions tab, on booking.com  A bowl of Thukpa. Photo / Mike Yardley  Bidding Deepak a fond farewell, we took our bulging-bellies on a stroll through Thamel district’s frenetic lanes, abuzz with scooters, shoppers and traders. As imposing as the prospect of crossing the road may look, there is an unspoken semblance of percussion, rhythm and synthesis to how traffic movements occur. Look the scooter rider in the eye before you step out, don’t make any sudden or surprise movements and they will harmoniously weave around you. It’s quite intoxicating.   In a city with a surfeit of temples and stupas, the runaway favourite sightseeing attraction is Kathmandu’s Durbar Square. This vast public plaza served as the epicentre of political, religious, and social life during the Malla period, from the 12th–18th century, prior to Nepal’s unification. The striking architecture reflects a rich blend of Hindu and Buddhist influences. The square is also known as "the Museum of Temples" because there are over 50 temples here, many multi-tiered wooden marvels soaring into the sky.  Colour of Durbar Square. Photo / Mike Yardley  The Taleju Temple is the tallest of all structures, built by King Mahendra Malla in 1549 AD. Built in the 16th century, the Jagannath Temple is another head-turner, acclaimed for the fascinating erotic figures carved on the wooden struts. The 17th century Kumari Temple, or the temple of Living Goddess is a stirring example of the intricacy of Nepali craftsmanship. This is the official residence of the Living Goddess Kumari of Kathmandu, revered by Buddhist and Hindus, alike. The latest goddess is a two-year-old, who was chosen at the start of October and will live in the house until puberty. She is considered as the living incarnation of the goddess Taleju. Visitors can get a peek of her and seek blessings during special hours.  From New Zealand, it’s just a one-stop connection to Kathmandu with Singapore Airlines, on their daily services from Auckland and Christchurch, with well-timed connections from Changi Airport on to Kathmandu. Across all classes of travel, the award-winning carrier has not only fostered a world-beating reputation for its exceptional customer service and in-flight product, but also its innovation. Become a KrisFlyer member and enjoy complimentary in-flight WiFi. For best fares and seats to suit head to singaporeair.com  Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Tue, 14 Oct 2025 22:45:10 Z /lifestyle/travel/new-caledonia-sees-first-signs-of-tourism-recovery-after-2024-unrest/ /lifestyle/travel/new-caledonia-sees-first-signs-of-tourism-recovery-after-2024-unrest/ New Caledonia’s tourism sector is showing early signs of recovery after a dramatic collapse in visitor numbers following violent riots in May last year. Figures from New Caledonia Tourism show arrivals from New Zealand plummeted to just nine people in June last year - a stark contrast to usual Kiwi visitor numbers. The data shows in April last year – the month before the riots started – there were 813 New Zealander travellers, and in 2023, between 750 to 1,700 Kiwis arrived on New Caledonian shores each month. Australian arrivals also bottomed out in June last year, to just 54. But momentum is starting to build – with New Zealand visitor numbers rising to 244 in July this year – up from 96 in May. Australian visitors reached 1,331, more than doubling the 660 visitors from May. Overall international visitor numbers hit nearly 6000 in July - more than doubling numbers from the start of this year. The riots in May 2024 were sparked by proposed voting reforms from the French Government, which aimed to change conditions that currently prevent up to a fifth of the population from voting in provincial elections. The protests led to at least 13 deaths, a declared state of emergency, deployment of the French army, and the blocking of social media platform TikTok. New Caledonia Tourism’s Australia-New Zealand Representative Caroline Brunel, said the impact on tourism was immediate and severe. “When the riots started, visitor numbers collapsed almost overnight.” “In April 2024, we had close to 800 arrivals from New Zealand and by June that fell to just nine which was extremely difficult.” Brunel said the riots hit the tourism sector at a fragile time, following years of disruption and uncertainty from the Covid-19 pandemic. “Many operators and businesses had no choice but to close, after being pushed to the brink,” she said. Brunel said the New Zealand Government’s travel advisory, warning people to avoid non-essential travel, was kept in place for a full year after the riots. “That meant travel insurance wouldn’t apply, so it was too risky for people to book a holiday,” she said. That advisory was downgraded to “exercise increased caution” on May 5 this year. Brunel said a lack of direct flights from Auckland to Nouméa also slowed recovery. Air New Zealand suspended its service last June, with flights resuming next month. New Caledonia’s National carrier, Aircalin, also cut weekly flights to just one last year and then increased that to two in April. Brunel said capacity remained low on these flights, as seats were largely filled by New Caledonian residents travelling to and from New Zealand. Despite the challenges, Brunel said the region is cautiously optimistic. “With the travel advisory lifted and flights resuming, we’re hopeful that New Zealanders will start returning to New Caledonia. It’s been a long road, but we’re beginning to see the first signs of recovery.” Kate Rickard is an Auckland-based Multimedia Journalist for 九一星空无限talk ZB covering tourism, immigration, and general news. She previously studied journalism at AUT before joining ZB full-time in April 2025. Sun, 12 Oct 2025 16:00:05 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-delving-into-india-with-wendy-wu-tours/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-delving-into-india-with-wendy-wu-tours/ For even the most intrepid of travellers, India can be a sensory assault – confronting and riveting in equal measure. If you’re a first-timer to the subcontinent, the Golden Triangle which threads together New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur offers the best crash-course in getting to grips with India. I first tripped around the Golden Triangle fourteen years ago and I’ve recently completed a return visit with Wendy Wu Tours. It was fascinating to discover the remarkable changes and dramatic swing in living standards, while many aspects to the allure of the Golden Triangle remained unchanged.  The World Bank estimates around 171 million Indian people have been lifted out of extreme poverty in the past decade. The booming middle-class has doubled in size in the past 20 years and continues to grow, as is exemplified by the forests of gleaming apartment towers sprawling across New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. Road travel is significantly faster, with major highway projects slashing travel time to Agra and Jaipur from New Delhi. The capital city struck me as decidedly cleaner than I recall from 14 years ago, with far less litter on the streets.  Colour and chaos in New Delhi. Photo / Mike Yardley  However, the mounds of rubbish polluting the roadside are still depressingly conspicuous on the highway and in smaller towns. Tragically, many wandering cows who famously enjoy sacred status in India, succumb to choking on plastic while foraging for food scraps among the heaving piles of litter. Hordes of street children begging at busy traffic intersections is still a common encounter, as is the sight of people blithely taking a dump on the footpath. But beyond those confronting everyday spectacles, India immeasurably rewards the eager visitor, whether it’s your first foray or if you’re returning for a fresh dollop.  Here's a round-up of my top pointers and suggestions on how to make a swing through India as seamless and stress-free as possible. I hugely rate Wendy Wu Tours and their local expert operators as the go-to touring company. Their week-long Classic India Private Tour showcases the Golden Triangle, encompassing three historically and culturally significant cities: Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. India's rich heritage takes centre-stage, including the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, the historic forts and palaces of Jaipur, and Delhi's blend of old and new, with stand-out landmarks like the Red Fort and Qutub Minar.   Monument touring in India. Photo / Mike Yardley  Over the course of seven days, you will feel fully immersed in the diverse splendour of Indian culture, history, and architecture. You’ll enjoy complete flexibility because you can travel on any day you wish, year-round. The itineraries are expertly crafted and can be tailored for parties as small as one. Because it’s a private trip, you are choosing who you’re travelling with, whether you’re tripping on your own, as a couple, with friends or as a family. What I particularly enjoy about this is that a private tour undeniably delivers a far more intimate and authentic travel experience. All of our private guides fast became friends – and we swapped social media addresses. And our delightful driver, Mr Singh, who spirited us around the entire Golden Triangle route, was the consummate, seasoned, and unflappable pro behind the wheel – no matter how many reckless motorists unleashed their heart-in-your-mouth overtaking and undertaking manoeuvres! Red Bull should sign up Mr Singh for the F1. With Wendy Wu Tours, you can also opt for a tailor-made private holiday to optimise your itinerary and accommodation preferences, as much as you wish. The itinerary can be as active or as laid back as you are, with full flexibility over included meals and excursions.  When should you go? For the Golden Triangle circuit, the optimum time is from mid-September, just after the monsoon season, until April when the mercury can boil fiercely. Days are generally warm, but nights can be chilly, with temperatures in New Delhi sometimes dipping as low as 7C at the end of the year. November and February are regarded as the peak travel months, dovetailing with the best weather and wedding season, so expect bigger crowds and higher prices, especially for hotels.  Shopping the bazaars in India. Photo / Mike Yardley  Tipping is customary and expected in restaurants, hotels and for services, but amounts can vary. Generally, 10% in restaurants and small change for porters and drivers. Although credit cards are widely accepted, I would definitely recommend converting some currency into Indian rupees, particularly for tips, and when visiting small shops and local bazaars.  What about food hygiene and keeping healthy? You will soon notice that eating with your hands is a deeply rooted custom in Ayurveda, believed to enhance mindfulness and digestion. The right hand is typically used, as the left is considered unclean in many traditions. Care is taken to scoop food with the fingers, using the thumb to push it into the mouth while keeping the palm clean. To enjoy street food safely, stick to popular stalls with high turnover, opt for freshly cooked items, avoid uncooked ingredients, and be super cautious of water sources by choosing boiled or bottled drinks.   Street foot in New Delhi. Photo / Mike Yardley  My guides with Wendy Wu Tours were a trusty font of wisdom and comfort as to where to buy street-food and where to give the wide berth! Chilled bottles of water were always available from Mr Singh. I had no brushes with the dreaded “Delhi belly”, but as a precaution add a packet of Imodium tablets to your toiletry bag in case you have a tummy turbulence. Delve into India with the award-winning tour specialists across Asia and beyond. You’ll be in the best of hands with Wendy Wu Tours. wendywutours.co.nz/india  Golden Triangle tours start and end in New Delhi with airport transfers all part of the Wendy Wu Tours experience. I would strongly recommend you stay by the airport when you return to New Delhi, prior to your flight the following day. AeroCity is a major new precinct just minutes from Indira Gandhi Airport and I stayed a night at the fabulous Pullman Aerocity. Far from being just another soulless, airport hotel, Pullman Aerocity is not just one of New Delhi’s best five-star hotels, but it pops with personality.   Forgettable functionality far too often defines the airport hotel experience, but luxury and comfort take precedence at the Pullman New Delhi Aerocity. From the eye-catching art installations to the state-of-the-art amenities, this property has fast cultivated a following among not just discerning business travellers but holidaymakers seeking a little pre-flight pampering, in addition to local guests craving an indulgent staycation (it’s very busy on the weekend).  The contemporary architecture and interiors set the stage for a splendid layover from the moment you step inside its expansive, art-filled lobby. Feast your eyes on the paintings and sculptures from famous Indian artists. Designed by renowned architect Meriem Hall, Pullman Aerocity’s architectural concept stems from a world brimming with poetic curves, full of elements that walk the fine line between definite and abstract. Geared at titillating the senses, the adorned spaces are a culmination of nature, business and leisure; where movement, energy and music create a harmonious rhythm of space and design.   Push the boat out and reserve an Executive Suite. The spacious rooms are equipped with plush bedding, spacious bathrooms, WiFi, TV and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the runway, which ticked all the boxes for this plane-spotter. The suites also provide access to the Executive Lounge for extra indulgence, complimentary drinks and snacks.  Accommodation at Pullman New Delhi Aerocity. Photo / Suppled Foodies will find themselves spoilt for choice with Pullman's eclectic dining options. Farmers’ Basket At Pluck, the all-day dining restaurant, offers farm-to-table experiences with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The lavish buffets and Sunday brunches are deliciously curated. The in-house bar, Pling, is the go-to spot for expertly crafted cocktails and a bubbly ambience perfect for unwinding after a long day. Pan-Asian food lovers can relish a meal at Honk, where the Peking Duck, handcrafted sushi and the extensive Dim Sum menu is mouth-watering.  Pullman New Delhi Aerocity also excels in the wellness stakes. The Fitness Centre is generously loaded up with the latest fitness technology to keep you active, while the serene Pullman Spa offers rejuvenating treatments to melt away stress. I particularly liked the outdoor swimming pool, flanked by stylish cabanas and lush greenery. It adds a resort-like feel to the property, making it easy to forget you're just by the airport. With its luxurious offerings, innovative amenities, and an unwavering commitment to sparkling hospitality, this property and its fabulously outgoing staff exemplifies what every great lifestyle hotel should strive to be like. all.accor.com   Pool time at Pullman New Delhi Aerocity. Photo / Supplied From New Zealand, it’s just a one-stop connection to a multitude of destinations in India, including New Delhi, with Singapore Airlines, on their various daily services from Auckland and Christchurch to Singapore. Enjoy well-timed connections for an easy transit in Singapore. Across all classes of travel, the award-winning carrier has not only fostered a world-beating reputation for its exceptional customer service and in-flight product, but also its innovation. Become a KrisFlyer member and enjoy complimentary in-flight WiFi. For best fares and seats to suit head to singaporeair.com  Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Fri, 10 Oct 2025 23:38:16 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-rock-star-escape-to-penang/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-rock-star-escape-to-penang/ Whether you’re looking for a beachfront break in Southeast Asia or a flavourful side-trip to enrich your adventures, Penang is a getaway that sure hits the sweet spot. Just a few hours drive from Kuala Lumpur, or a one hour flight from Singapore, the island of Penang is pinned to the Malay Peninsula by some seriously impressive bridges, spanning the Strait of Malacca. One of the bridges includes a 17km stretch over the water! Blending the best of Penang’s allure, I savoured the stirring cuisine and cultural heritage of Georgetown, while basing myself at one of Malaysia’s best beaches. Gracing the northern shores of the island, Batu Ferringhi is Penang's premier beach destination, edged by a vast 7km-long sweep of blonde sand, beloved for its luxury resorts, water sports like jet-skiing and parasailing, and bustling night market.   I highly recommend you make the Hard Rock Hotel Penang your holiday base. As much as I enjoy an ocean swim, the resort-style hotel is pitch-perfect for languid swimming in its sprawling complex of pools. The child-friendly water park area is a family favourite with water slides and a lazy river, but you won’t be struggling for space in their gorgeous pool – the biggest in northern Malaysia. I loved how the entry point into the free-form pool is like a shallow lagoon with a sandy base, seamlessly transitioning to a deep blue pool, all lusciously bracketed in vibrant tropical gardens and swaying palms.  Underwater music, a swim-up bar and private poolside cabanas accentuate its allure.  Hard Rock Hotel Penang. Photo / Supplied Hard Rock Hotel Penang is a perennial hit with families looking for a fun-in-the-sun vacation that blends modern styling, contemporary music, with a winning assortment of upmarket amenities. But whether you’re a loved-up couple seeking a luxury escape or travelling with the kids in tow, Hard Rock Hotel Penang is the complete, all-encompassing package. Boasting 250 rooms and suites, there’s a variety of configurations to choose from, including lagoon deluxe suites, serving up direct access into that dreamy pool from your own sunbed deck. Roxcity Kids Suites are equipped with a separate kid’s area, with books, toys, and Playstation 4.   If you want to push the boat out, lock-in a stay in a Rock Royalty Seaview Deluxe Suite. Perched on the highest floor, the sense of privacy is accentuated, with glorious birds-eye views across the resort and of the Andaman Sea. Creature comforts are laid on thick including free Wi-Fi, turn down service, Nespresso Pod Machine, VIP Rock Spa bathroom amenities, Bed Sleep Like a Rock bedding, free in-room HD blockbuster movies on demand, complimentary streaming music channels and Bose Sound System.  Accommodations at the Hard Rock Hotel Penang. Photo / Supplied My mood-lit suite tingled with X-factor, with so many artful touches. It was only after I’d taken a photograph of my accommodation that I realised the wall art formed a stunningly stylised rendering of Marilyn Monroe. The music-inspired theming permeates the hotel, including the Rock Royalty Lounge, which is the hotel’s club lounge.  A daily gourmet breakfast is served here, along with afternoon tea and best of all – evening canapes and cocktails. Order up a Blue Mirage! It’s the ultimate chill lounge. The memorabilia tours around the resort are hugely popular, with a vast array of cabinets showcasing some legendary stage costumes from a galaxy of music stars, spanning Taylor Swift and Madonna to Elvis and Elton John. It is eye-popping.   The on-site Hard Rock Café brims with more epic rock memorabilia while also hosting regular live music. I dined here for lunch which was like a temple to holiday comfort food indulgence, with a signature Hurricane cocktail in hand. Don’t miss the spicy shrimps and the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, made with buttermilk-marinated fried chicken. Delish! A full buffet breakfast is served in Starz Diner, which pleases all palates. Why not start your day their fabulous nasi goreng with kataifi prawns and pandan chicken?   Another great dining venue is LENA at Pizzeria, headlined by its smash-hit pizza, but also serving up zesty salads, nachos, spring rolls and popcorn chicken. Throughout the hotel, staff have nailed the art of upbeat, perky hospitality, always going out of their way to ensure you have the holiday of your dreams. Hard Rock Hotel Penang is a class-act. hotel.hardock.com/penang  LENA at Pizzeria. Photo / Supplied Sunsets on Batu Ferringhi Beach are particularly special because it is the only populated sandy beach that faces west (northwest to be exact) on Penang Island. Most of the year, the sun sets over the peninsula of Penang National Park. Your best chances of catching an over-the-water sunset are in June, but whatever the time of year, it’s a spectacle to raise a few glasses to.    Batu Ferringhi Beach. Photo / Mike Yardley Located just 7 km west of Batu Ferringhi is a nature lover’s paradise and the island’s greatest natural asset: Penang National Park. Teeming with birds and long-tailed macaques, you could easily spend an entire day hiking around the park and all its glorious jungle greens and only run into a handful of people. If you really want to fill your insta-feed with hordes of those long-tailed tearaways, Penang National Park’s Monkey Beach is the go-to – it’s exactly what it says on the tin.  Penang Island’s legendary food scene is widely regarded as one of the best in Southeast Asia. Historic and bustling George Town may be the heart of the culinary action in Penang, but Batu Ferringhi has plenty to offer even the most discerning foodies. The hotel showcased the full flavour range, from Penang’s mythic offerings fusing Malay, Indian, Chinese, and Peranakan flavours, visitors will also touting top-notch European, Middle Eastern, and North American fare as well.  If you’re craving street food and cheap eats, join the locals and head to the Batu Ferringhi Night Market for some of the best street food stalls in town. It’s just a short walk from the hotel.   From Batu Ferringhi, we whistled up a Grab ride (the equivalent of Uber in Southeast Asia) and for just NZ$10, our driver whisked us to the beating heart of George Town. With its UNESCO-protected streets flanked with heritage shophouses, temples, a sizzling dining scene, awesome street art and great shopping, this cultural and religious melting-pot, is one of those places that instantly seduces you. Back in the day, it was a global centre for trade on the Straits of Malacca, established by the British in the late 18th century, and luring traders from China, India, and the Middle East to this hub. The British East India Company took control of Penang, principally to challenge the Dutch who had a virtual stranglehold on the spice trade at the time.   Colours of George Town. Photo / Supplied The protected old town is pedestrian-friendly and decidedly more relaxed than the frenzied throng of traffic navigating the streets of the wider city. Make your way to Armenian Street (named after an influx of Armenian traders) and treat yourself to a self-guided walking tour of the old town, ticking off the cherished landmarks at leisure. If you want to cover ground more quickly, there’s no shortage of trishaws eagerly jostling for your attention. But I thoroughly exploring George Town on foot. Over the past 15 years, the buildings and streets of George Town have been used as a vast canvas for wall murals and stencil art structures, creating an open-air street art gallery.  The stencil art consists of over 50 steel-rod sculptures retelling Penang’s quirky history, with their own peculiar wit. I admired one piece that illustrated how early astrologers from South India would use green parakeets to foretell the future.   The numerous pieces of art dotted around can sometimes appear in the most unexpected of places, but they’re guaranteed to make you stop, smile and appreciate a new perspective to the city. “Kids on a Bicycle” is the runaway favourite wall mural. For an Insta-explosion of colour, head to Jalan Kek Chuan, which is regularly ranked as one of the prettiest streets in the world. The architectural eye candy blends Eastern and Western designs, bathed in cheerful colours, and housing ornately detailed shops.  Fabulous street art in George Town. Photo / Mike Yardley Focusing on the old town’s heritage, culture and history, some street artworks are slowly fading away while others offer a radiant splash of colour. Check out the Clan Jetties, to see how the traditional Chinese communities live and work in Penang. Built by Chinese immigrants in the 19th century, traditionally each jetty belonged to one family (clan). Chew Jetty is the most touristy. Neighbouring Tan Jetty offers a more rustic feel with stunning open views at the far end. The wooden buildings built on stilts jut out into the water, bookended with pint-sized temples at either end of each jetty. You can sample local food at the small, family-run restaurants.  There’s a myriad of landmarks to admire, but two of my favourites? Khoo Kongsi is one of the grandest Chinese clan community centres in Malaysia. The temple, which is the focal point, is a splendidly ornate structure to walk around. I also loved Kapitan Keling Mosque, the largest mosque in George Town, built in the 19th century by Indian Muslim traders.   Khoo Kongsi Temple, George Town. Photo / Supplied Penang’s red-hot reputation as a foodie destination is not in doubt. But your Kiwi dollar buys a lot of Malaysian ringgits, guaranteed to deliver plenty of cheap eats. You’ll get plenty of bang for your buck. Char Koay Teow is revered in Penang. Charred and aromatic, the rice noodles are fried in high heat with prawns, cockles, eggs and bean sprouts in a fiery display over a charcoal fire. I also loved Penang Assam Laksa, a sour and spicy noodle dish with a tangy fish broth. My bowl of thick rice noodles brimmed with finely sliced onions, cucumber, pineapple, red chillies, mint and torch ginger buds. For add flavour, order up a spoonful of thick prawn paste. Need a cool down? You can’t beat Cendol. This sweet icy delight consists of green jelly noodles served over shaved ice with kidney beans and slathered in copious amounts of coconut milk and palm sugar syrup. It’s a lifesaver when the heat and humidity hits fever pitch.   I do have a fetish for funiculars and Penang comes to the party on that score with the Penang Hill Railway. Just west of George Town, the hourly funicular train ride zips you up the 800-metre-high summit of Penang Hill, which is packed with enticements, beyond just the salivating panorama. The sprawling complex on the summit of Penang Hill has been a hilltop resort for over two centuries. British colonists established a retreat here in the late 18th century, seeking respite from the heat and malaria of the lowlands.  Penang Hill Railway. Photo / Supplied The earliest British visitors arrived by horse track up until the opening of the funicular 102 years ago. Most development on Penang Hill is strung along a ridge that stretches for several miles, ranging from eateries, a mosque, a colourful Hindu temple to a tropical spice garden and a butterfly farm. But it’s the elevated panorama and hiking trails that really is the cherry on top. For steamy, sensory holiday pleasure, Penang ticks all the boxes for a great getaway.   Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.  Sat, 04 Oct 2025 00:10:17 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-pleasures-of-prague/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-pleasures-of-prague/ Magical, golden, and steeped in mystique, “The City of a Hundred Spires’ is one of my favourite European capitals. Prague lays on a smorgasbord of stunning architecture, from Gothic, Renaissance and baroque to neoclassical and cubist. Unshackled from the claws of Communism, the capital of the Czech Republic’s rock-solid status as a powerhouse tourist destination continues to shine.   Prague’s cultural appeal and fairytale architecture undeniably remains the biggest crowd-puller. Free of traffic and surrounded with spectacular historic buildings, Old Town Square would have to rank as one of Europe’s finest public spaces. The medieval square has played host to some remarkable moments in history including Hitler’s arrival address and the announcement of the communist takeover. The delightful Old Town Hall was first built in 1338 and features a variety of architectural gems from over the centuries. The soaring tower will give you the best panoramic view across the city.   Old Town Square. Photo / Supplied At the base of the tower, be sure to admire the colourful, curious and highly complex Astronomical Clock. Constructed in the 15th century, it is one of the oldest functional astronomical clocks in the world. The clock has been modified, destroyed, and repaired many times since its creation in 1380.  In addition to telling the time, it also can also tell the date, as well as the relative positions of the Sun, Moon, Earth, and Zodiac Constellations. The clock depicts the sun revolving around Prague (When astronomers later discovered that our globe actually revolves around the sun, thanks to Coperincus, Prague’s rulers refused to have the clock changed. So it remains an Earth-centred view of the universe). Every hour on the hour, a procession of 12 wooden apostles emerges from the trap doors to march in another hour, culminating with a crowing golden rooster. The procession begins with the grim reaper ringing a bell and reversing an hourglass, symbolising the limited time of life. 75% of the clock’s parts are the originals from the 1300s. It is medieval theatre at its finest.  Astronomical Clock in Prague. Photo / Mike Yardley  Charles Bridge would have to be a leading contender for the world’s most photogenic bridge. Built for Prague’s much-loved King Charles IV in 1357, the bridge is festooned in sculptures. Most of the statues pay homage to the greatest saints, including John the Baptist, Joseph, Christopher and Francis of Assisi. But unless you time it right, trying to encapsulate the gracious glory of this bridge is mission impossible given the swarming crowds that pack it out across the day. Get here by 7am to enjoy the bridge in relatively unpeopled solitude. By 8am, she is busy and crowded.    Havelsky Market is one of Prague’s oldest surviving markets and is hugely popular with tourists. Traditionally a fruit and vegetable market, most of the fresh produce has been squeezed out by the demand for hand-made marionettes. Puppet theatre has a rich history in Bohemia, and Prague still has a vibrant puppet-making cottage industry. This market is definitely the place to buy one. Nearby, the National Marionette Theatre presents regular child-pleasing puppet shows and explains the history and development of these puppets over the centuries. Definitely take a stroll around Wenceslas Square, the city’s new beating heart. Flanked with a vibrant boulevard, it’s home to a swag of swanky hotels, restaurants and cafes, plus the State Opera, National Museum and the main train station.  Prague’s history began with the Castle, founded in the 9th century high above the Vltava River. Spanning seven rugby fields in size, it’s the largest ancient castle in the world. The sprawling complex of churches, chapels, halls and towers has remained the seat of power for Czech rulers over the centuries, from the powerful Habsburgs and Nazi invaders to today’s president. Needless to say, exploring the castle can be an endurance test. Grab a guided tour. Changing of the Guard also takes place at the main gate every hour. (The main parade is staged at noon.) The starring attractions within the castle district are St. Vitus Cathedral and the Old Royal Palace.  Changing of the guard at Prague Castle. Photo / Mike Yardley  The latter was the home of six centuries of kings, with a trove of artworks and royal furnishings on show. Beneath the magnificently vaulted ceilings of the palace, Vaclav Havel was sworn in as the democratically elected Czech leader, following communism’s collapse in 1990. This Christian bastion of Bohemia, is exemplified in the Christmas carol, Good King Wenceslas. He was later canonised, and St. Wenceslas is buried here. Occasionally, on state anniversaries, the saint’s skull is put on public display.   The insta-friendly Nerudova Street is Prague’s famously steep, narrow thoroughfare that leads up to the castle, and is named after Prague’s famous short-story writer, Jan Neruda. Until the introduction of house numbers in 1770, the city’s dwellings were distinguished by signs. Nerudova’s houses have a splendid selection of these, featuring symbols, emblems and heraldic beasts. They are fascinating to peruse, as each sign indicates the profession of the occupant in 1770. As you head out of the castle district, don’t miss the Golden Lane, a slinky cobblestoned alley lined with small colourful houses that were built in the 16th century and occupied until WWII. The street used to be called Goldsmiths Lane as it served as the dwelling of Goldsmiths. Today the houses have permanent exhibitions showcasing life on the lane since the 1500s.  A perennial insta-star from Prague is the John Lennon wall is arguably one of the most Instagram famous spots in Prague. During the Communist era, John Lennon’s “Make Love Not War” slogan was especially popular among the Communist opposition. After his death in 1980, a Czech artist decided to pay his respects by making graffiti dedicated to John Lennon. Many locals supported his initiative by adding quotes from his songs and sharing their hopes for peace. The John Lennon wall has been a pivotal part of the political protests against the Communist regime and the oppression of freedom of speech.  John Lennon Wall. Photo / Supplied It's fair to say that Prague’s plethora of quirky and eccentric museums scratch every itch, from steampunk and alchemy to magicians. Then there is the Sex Machines Museum. Near the Old Town Square, this museum is choc-full of sexual devices and contraptions all designed to make the pleasures of the flesh a little more mechanical. If that all sounds rather impersonal, rest assured, the museum has been kind enough to wrap a flexible dummy around each gadget to further demonstrate its use. It is the only museum in the world dedicated to sex machines.  Prague has a very sweet tooth, and their patisseries are a do-not-miss cultural experience. Here’s my favourite sweet treats. Try a Buchty – a soft, pillowy yeast bun, filled with jam, poppy seeds, or a sweet cheese. They are nostalgic comfort food for the locals. I adore Medovník – a traditional Czech honey cake, made with thin layers of honey-infused dough separated by a creamy caramel or condensed milk filling. Yum! Then there’s Větrník – a traditional Czech pastry similar to a cream puff but larger and more decadent. It’s essentially a choux pastry filled with a rich combination of vanilla and caramel whipped cream, then topped with a glossy caramel glaze. It’s a staple in Prague’s best patisseries. Sample a slice of Bublanina – a traditional Czech sponge cake infused with seasonal fruits like cherries or plums in its airy batter.   Treats galore in the Chimney Cone Shop. Photo / Mike Yardley  Finally, despite being Hungarian in origin, Prague has elevated the Trdelník onto the highest pedestal. This cinnamon-sugar-coated pastry is also known as Chimney Cake. The dough is wrapped around a cylinder-shaped spit and cooked until the exterior is crispy, while the inside is perfectly soft. While still warm, it’s then doused in sugar, cinnamon and nuts. The cylindrical pastry also serves as a cone, so why not go the whole hog and top your cone with a scoop or two of ice cream, coated in more nuts! Delicious!!  I recently visited Prague as part of Trafalgar’s 10 day Imperial Europe tour. Tour Differently. Travelling with Trafalgar means you won’t just see the world – but you’ll experience it with authenticity to the fore, from the must-sees to hidden secrets, and those priceless encounters with the locals. Plus, you’ll have plenty of flexitime for your own personal discoveries. Call 0800 484 333, visit trafalgar.com or see your local Travel Agent.  Mike Yardley is our resident traveller and can be heard on 九一星空无限talk ZB at 11.20am on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame.  Sat, 13 Sept 2025 00:56:24 Z /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-breezing-through-bratislava/ /lifestyle/travel/mike-yardley-breezing-through-bratislava/ Pint-sized Bratislava has the unique distinction of being the only capital city in the world wedged by three countries. Just inside the border of Slovakia, the city is also sandwiched by Austria and Hungary. You can lay your eyes on those three countries from various perches around town.  Bratislava’s old town is a little bon-bon, a perfectly formed tangle of twisting cobbled streets, studded with pastel-hued 18th century buildings. But far from simply being an urban relic from a bygone age, the Slovakian capital has an unmistakably cosmopolitan, contemporary feel and quirky personality, best exemplified by its infatuating public art installations.   Introducing Kumil the Watcher. It’s my favourite piece of street sculpture, a headliner in the old town’s well-studded art trail. Installed nearly thirty years ago, Kumil is a road worker peering out from a manhole, all rendered in bronze. After coming close to being beheaded by several cars who inadvertently drove over him, a “Man at Work” road sign was added for Kumil’s self-preservation. The sculpture speaks to the city’s cheerful demeanour, as it emerged from the long shadows of the Iron Curtain.    Kumil the Watcher. Photo / Supplied A similarly unexpected and unforgettable folly is the UFO Tower – perhaps the Communists’ greatest contribution to the city, in contrast to their swathe of brutalist tenement blocks. Bratislava straddles both sides of the Danube, and rising above the southern bank is the UFO, a futuristic statement tower, crowning the Novy Most (New Bridge), and proud to be the tiniest member of the World Federation of Great Towers. You can zip up the shuddering elevator to the roof-top observation deck, to see Austria and Hungary, before retreating inside the UFO disc for a drink. Locals advised me not to bother with the food in the restaurant. “The view is great, but the food is lousy.” Another brazen hand-me-down from the Cold War era is the Radio building. It’s the most bizarre Soviet architectural statement, an upside-down pyramid, descending into a massive concrete block. Built between the 1960s and ‘80s, the Slovak Radio building is a brutalist scene-stealer.  You’ll be looking directly across the river to the leading city landmark, Bratislava Castle. The original foundations were laid in the 9th century, although fortifications on the hill-top site reach back to the Roman age. The castle is home to various museums, but it’s the ornate gardens that are particularly eye-catching. Aside from the castle, scale the hill, which strategically lies between the Alps and Carpathians, or the knock-out view. On a clear day, you can actually see Slovakia all around you, Austria to the west and Hungary to the southeast. Bratislava has the unique distinction of being the only capital city to be flanked by three countries. The current building, a boxy four-towered rectangle, is a 1950s reconstruction of Emperor Sigismund’s fifteenth-century castle, which was destroyed by fire in 1811.   Bratislava Castle. Photo / Supplied But it’s the Old Town where you’ll want to linger most, a showcase of the mastery of Slovak town planners, who somehow jam-packed a whole city’s worth of churches, shops, palaces and museums into a handful of blocks. The district is smaller than Prague's Old Town, but uncannily similar, with winding cobblestone lanes hiding gothic churches and elegant residences. I loved the Primates' Palace, a stirring architectural monument, worth an exploratory for the glinting Hall of Mirrors and the adjacent English tapestries which date to the 17th century. The Hall of Mirrors is where Napoleon and Austrian Emperor Franz I signed their peace treaty in 1805. It was only when the palace was being restored in 1903 that the English tapestries were discovered, concealed behind the plaster. The palace also brims with large oil portraits of Hapsburg royalty, including one from 1742 of Maria Theresa at her coronation.   The showpiece entry point into the Old Town is St. Michael’s Gate, with its onion-domed copper tower. Look carefully and you’ll notice that gracing the top is a statue of archangel Michael slaying a dragon. Originally built in Gothic style in the 14th century, it was later adapted to Baroque style 300 years later, and is the only surviving medieval gateway, which is adjoined by stately Baroque buildings, including Mozart House, where the six-year-old Mozart performed for the city elites.   St Michael's Gate in Old Town. Photo / Mike Yardley It’s a great street to enjoy a restorative plop at a pavement café, where exotically flavoured fizzy drinks are all the rage like lavender lemonade. Try it - you might like it. Other essential sights include St. Martin’s Cathedral, with its distinctive blue spire. It’s where 19 Hungarian kings and emperors had their coronation, when Bratislava became the Hungarian capital, following the Ottoman conquest of Budapest. Present-day Slovakia was part of the Kingdom of Hungary for nearly a thousand years up until the end of WWI, when it became part of Czechoslovakia.  You’ll also enjoy admiring the neo-renaissance magnificence of the silver-roofed Slovak National Theatre, a beautiful building, bracketed by frothy fountains. An art nouveau landmark for the tick-list is the Blue Church, officially known as the Church of St Elizabeth of Hungary. Just over 100 years old, both the interior and exterior of the church are painted in shades of pale blue and decorated with blue majolica tiles; even the roof is tiled with the soothing blue-glazed ceramics.   Local hospitality? Here’s a few taste tempters that I happily grazed from across Bratislava. On the main road to Bratislava Castle, you’ll find Kava Bar, an eclectic hangout that looks part-hipster, part Viennese coffee house. Housed on the ground floor of a Soviet-era apartment block, it sports an expansive coffee menu, with a fun and quirky décor, complete with vintage cups and saucers. Slovakia’s national dish would have to be Halušky, gnocchi-like potato dumplings smothered in melted sheep’s cheese and a sprinkling of fried bacon. It’s not exactly Michelin-star material but undeniably satisfying. You’ll easily find the dish on the menus of most cheap and cheerful pubs.   I’m a walkover for anywhere that offers great cakes and pastries, but if there is one unmissable stop in Bratislava, it would have to be Konditorei Kormuth, which turns 200 years old next year. With a full-size mannequin of Hapsburg Queen Maria Theresia, this cake and coffee shop resembles a rococo jewel box, with vivid wall and ceiling Renaissance frescoes, antique furniture, exquisite carvings and retro china. The sumptuous interior is just the start of the sweet seduction. It’s the cakes that people come for, freshly baked every day and steeped in traditional recipes from the Austro-Hungarian empire. My eyes drooled over the vast cabinet of confections, intricate edible art works like the swan-shaped choux buns, which are composed of choux pastry and caramel cream. Officially known as Saint Honore Creams, these delicate treats look almost too good to eat – but I happily did. Two other recommendations - the Dobos torte with its six layers of chocolate and buttercream; and rum cake crowned with berries.   Cake heaven at Konditorei Kormuth. Photo / Mike Yardley Beyond the city, take a side trip on Slovakia's wine trail which stretches north of Bratislava through the small Carpathian mountains, which fringe the city. The wine route has morphed tremendously in recent years. If you’re short on time, but wish to sample the local vino, head to the city’s Museum of Viticulture. It actually beckons more like a potential binge-drinking spot than a museum, because the basement tasting room boasts the chance to taste 72 wines in 100 minutes, for 30 Euro. Host responsibility seems to have missed Slovakia. One of the best grape varietals worth a sample is Tokaj (pronounced toe-kai), very popular in Hungary, and also widely grown in Slovakia. It is a rich, sweet dessert wine. Salute!  I recently visited Bratislava as part of Trafalgar’s 10-day Imperial Europe tour. Tour Differently. Travelling with Trafalgar means you won’t just see the world – but you’ll experience it with authenticity to the fore, from the must-sees to hidden secrets, and those priceless encounters with the locals. Plus, you’ll have plenty of flexitime for your own personal discoveries. Call 0800 484 333, visit trafalgar.com or see your local Travel Agent.  Mike Yardley is our resident traveller and can be heard on 九一星空无限talk ZB at 11.20am on Saturday Mornings with Jack Tame.  Sat, 06 Sept 2025 00:56:57 Z