Accommodation in Queenstown

To experience the accommodation-holiday in Queenstown you have to know a little about New Zealand itself. consists of a North and South island about the size of America’s Colorado. The south island is where you find the famous town of Queenstown. Around 4 million is the population of New Zealand and English is the main language.

Expect a warm welcome and a great time when you organize your accommodation-holiday in Queenstown. From the West Coast of the United States, a direct flight to New Zealand is a bearable 12 hours. Close to the Australian continent, New Zealand shares the Australian love for sport and having a good time.

This area has the most chilling Glaciers in the world. However there is nowhere in the world where glaciers are so accessible. On the West Coast of the South Island amongst the vast snowfields of the Southern Alps is home to these magnificent wonders of nature. So if you’re looking for an accommodation-holiday in Queenstown this is as close as you will get.

You have a choice of getting a guided excursion exploring panoramic almost live ice rivers of prehistoric proportions or take a scenic flight over New Zealand’s highest peaks overlooking the glaciers.

Then there is Milford Sound AKA the “eighth wonder of the world.” Milford Sound lies at the heart of Fiordland National Park. This is where you’ll encounter magnificent wildlife, such as seals, dolphins, penguins and wild deer in their natural habitat and also if you’re lucky capture the sound of silence.

For visitors, New Zealand has all types of accommodation-holiday in Queenstown. Web sites offer a range from backpacker to budget to luxury international hotels. The North Island attracts more visitors but the South Island has more to offer the backpacker and budget seeker of adventure. It pays to check what’s out there as you plan your trip.

The south island is a top choice if you’re interested in adventure activities. Above the ground you can go bungee jumping, parachuting and skydiving. On the ground you can go hiking, mountain bike riding, skiing, horse riding, rock climbing, and more.

If you are a water lover you can go jet-boarding, white-water sledging, rafting, boogey boarding, canoeing, kayaking, surfing and scuba diving. Whatever you want to do, you can do it in New Zealand.

For those who are less agile don’t despair. If you’re looking for less exhilarating activities, such as retail therapy, many bars, restaurants and shops welcome patrons well into the night with stores open seven days a week.

Whether you are stopping for a week, or planning to spend a month exploring everything in The Land of The Long White Cloud, New Zealand will make you feel right at home.

Your Dream Winter Holiday Destinations in New Zealand

Are you considering a break over the winter months? Just because the temperature drops, doesn’t mean your holiday plans have to be low on relaxation or thrills – depending on your definition of holiday fun. There are many winter holiday destinations in , in both North and South Islands. Here are our top ten picks for a holiday escape in the chillier months:

1. Queenstown

The winter months are some of the best in which to experience Queenstown, the South Island’s trendiest resort town. Surrounded by the Remarkables mountain range (which visually more than lives up to its name), Queenstown is a Mecca for skiers and snowboarders, but can be equally appealing for those seeking a winter wonderland in which to relax or enjoy the company of friends. Enjoy the alpine vista or hit the slopes at Coronet Peak – it’s the only ski field in New Zealand to give you the choice of skiing at night. If you can, time your visit to coincide with the Queenstown Winter Festival.

2. Hanmer Springs

Further north, but still in the South Island, Hanmer Springs is a top winter holiday destination for many people. If you’re looking for a quick weekend escape or a longer winter break, Hanmer will suit. Just 90 minutes from Christchurch, this tourist town is buzzing in winter, but there’s also plenty of opportunity to get away for some peace and quiet amidst stunning alpine scenery. Visit the famous hot pools, take a mountain bike ride in the hills, walk to the top of one of the area’s peaks, or get a thrill with bungy jumping or jet boating.

3. Ruapehu

Mount Ruapehu, in the central North Island, has the largest skiable area of anywhere in New Zealand. With a single lift pass, you can access two areas: Whakapapa, on the north-west side of this volcanic peak, is ideal for all skiers (from beginner to advanced), while Turoa, on the south-west side, offers wide trails and glacial skiing. This area of the country is favoured by the snow gods too, receiving more snow than any other ski field in New Zealand. While you’re in the Tongariro National Park, take time to visit the other volcanoes – Tongariro and Ngaurahoe – and experience the area by mountain bike or on horseback if this appeals!

4. Mackenzie Country

Think open vistas, sheep stations and impressive glacial lakes – and you’ll be in tune with the Mackenzie Basin area, in the shadow of the mighty Southern Alps and Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain. During the winter months, you’ll be able to see these mountains in all their snow-covered glory and soak up the crisp air and blue skies of a clear winter’s day. Visit Lake Tekapo, at the centre of the region, and experience some of the best fishing and four wheel driving along the Waitaki River system. There is also plenty of native forest here, where you can get your fill of walks, native plants, bird watching (and listening), horse trekking and mountain biking.

5. Lake Wanaka

Lying to the northeast of Queenstown, Wanaka is ready to charm you after the hustle and bustle of its (bigger and bossier) sister city. The Mount Aspiring National Park is diverse in its natural beauty – from rocky mountainous areas to glaciers, forests and ski areas. If you’re looking for a ski or snowboard holiday, Wanaka is the perfect base from which to reach the Treble Cone and Cardrona ski fields. For a quiet winter holiday escape, rent a cottage on the shores of Lake Wanaka and explore the region on foot. For a winter adventure escape, try rock climbing, jet boating or rafting.

6. Methven

Drive an hour out of Christchurch and you’ll find yourself in Methven – the base of choice for those heading for the slopes of Mount Hutt. There are more than 365 hectares of ski field to explore, so take time to fully experience Mount Hutt’s excellent ski terrain and facilities. And there’s more to this winter holiday destination than snow; in the heartland of the South Island, you can also walk, ride on horseback or play golf against a stunning scenic backdrop. To relax indoors, venture into the town’s bars and restaurants for warming food and entertainment.

7. Auckland City

The City of Sails can be enjoyed at any time of the year – as a winter holiday destination, Auckland City has many indoor attractions and activities. Visit the Auckland Museum; let your inner child out with indoor climbing or karting; be mesmerised by underwater creatures at Kelly Tarlton’s world famous Underwater World; or view the city from the Sky Tower, the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. And if there’s a moment to spare, enjoy sightseeing and shopping in New Zealand’s largest city, then take cover from the cold in one of the city’s harbourside cafes for coffee, lunch, dinner or drinks.

8. Christchurch

As well as being a favourite gateway to South Island winter holiday destinations, Christchurch also offers an appealing range of activities in the cold season. In July and August each year, the city hosts the Christchurch Arts Festival – the South Island’s biggest art event, showcasing local and international talent in visual arts, theatre, dance, music and comedy. In Lyttelton, by the sea, winter also means the arrival of the Lyttelton Harbour Festival of Lights. Happening in mid-winter, this celebration of Lyttelton features a street party, winter light show, masquerade party and cultural events including an art show, films, a winter solstice dance party, performances and jazz music.

9. Wellington

Wellington may not boast the best winter weather, but you can be sure of some creative inspiration in New Zealand’s cultural capital. Each visit promises something new – visit Te Papa to see the latest art and culture exhibits, see contemporary art at one of the city’s many galleries or get a taste of live performance at one of the city’s theatres. In July and August, the International Film Festival (touring a number of New Zealand centres) provides plenty of top quality cinematic experiences from around the world.

10. Marlborough

The Awatere Valley in Marlborough is the place to experience the splendour of high country in the winter time. From Blenheim, take a tour to Molesworth Station and other historical homestead accommodation on high country farms. There, you’ll be treated to a traditional New Zealand meal, complete with local wine, and enjoy views of snowy mountains and clear, open skies. The ideal winter retreat from city life, a tour of Marlborough’s high country will allow you to discover something of life in the New Zealand rural outback.

Air NZ cuts fuel burn and emission

AIR New Zealand has once again raised the environmental bar for the airline industry by using optimised procedures and flight routings to cut fuel burn and emission.The airline discovered the significant changes after completing what was dubbed “one prefect flight” from Auckland to San Francisco in aircraft NZ8, reports The Australian.”It exceeded all our expectations,” was the way Air NZ general manager operations and safety David Morgan summed up the flight.NZ8, renamed ASPIRE 1 (Asia and South Pacific Initiative to Reduce Emissions), used 4600 litres, or 4 per cent, less fuel than normal using a host of strategies to minimise fuel use.That saving translated into 12 tonnes less CO2.ASPIRE is a joint initiative between the Federal Aviation Administration, Airways NZ and Airservices .

The partners have a long history of working together, including introducing Future Air Navigation Services (FANS) with airlines such as Air NZ and Qantas, Boeing and other industry partners in the 1990s.Passengers on NZ8 were addressed by Captain Morgan before departure from Auckland and briefed on the significance of the flight from an environmental perspective.FANS, using datalink through satellites, enabled air traffic controllers to give airlines more route options to save fuel.For the ASPIRE flight, Air NZ used “just in time refuelling” to finalise the fuel load once the actual passenger and cargo load was known.

Captain Morgan said that until recently, most airlines had estimated – on the high side – the fuel required, resulting in aircraft arriving with fuel well in excess of regulatory requirements, which raised fuel burn because of extra weight.Datalink was used where possible for ATC communications, and pushback approval and taxi clearance were received through datalink. Only take-off clearance was received by voice.A near-full power climb was used to reach the initial cruise altitude of 33,000ft to save fuel and the aircraft was later cleared up to 39,000ft in three 2000ft steps.

Airlines use reduced power take-offs and climb to reduce time between overhaul on engines. But with the cost of fuel so high, the imperative is to climb to cruise altitude as quickly as possible, says Captain Morgan.After takeoff at 0746 GMT off Runway 23L, Captain Mark Shepherd, Air NZ’s air traffic management specialist, made a sharp right turn and was essentially free for any routing he required to San Francisco.At 1024GMT, Captain Shepherd received a new flight plan using Dynamic Airborne Re-routing (DARP), which updates the weather and wind models on a global basis every six hours.

The new flight plan took the 777-200ER 100 nautical miles east of its initial track to pick up more favourable winds.As the aircraft approached San Francisco, Captain Shepherd received approval from Oakland Centre for a tailored arrival into San Francisco’s runway 28L.A tailored arrival is a continuous descent at idle thrust to land and the Air New Zealand 777-200ER only applied slight power as it turned left to the ILS glideslope for runway 28L.To complete the “perfect flight”, Captain Shepherd used auto-land and touched down five minutes ahead of schedule at 12.35pm local time.

Tips for getting Cheap Flights To New Zealand

As I have always said, flying to the South Pacific is the most complicated flight you can ever plan. Airlines flying there seem to be crazy when planning their price maps and unexpected offers can appear at any time. Let’s take a look at the best New Zealand flight deals and which airlines you should check before buying any ticket.New Zealand. Waterfalls, green forests, white sand beaches, volcanoes, deep fjords… Sounds like it is enough as to choose it as a travel destination? Sure it does. But this is just the lovely part! When it comes to look for the plane tickets things become a bit more tricky and sometimes can even frustrate a trip you want to do. Don’t let this feeling turn you off! Let’s take a look at how you can get New Zealand Flight Deals.

There are several ways we can find New Zealand flight deals today, but most of them are absolutely not useful. First of all, let me kill all the search engines that run with an affiliate network. This involves all the famous ones, as they have become famous because affiliates promote them. After you’ve killed all this search engines, let’s eliminate some airlines: Cathay Pacific will never have the best deal, as well as the Thai Airlines. Sorry guys, but they simply are repeatedly more expensive. Any other? Yes, New Zealand airlines is most of the time more expensive too, as well as British Airways.

When it comes to airlines, let me tell you that the only ones standing are Singapore Airlines and Korean Air. They have always the best New Zealand flight deals., At the time of writing Korean Air brings you from London to Auckland in New Zealand for just 870 Euros, which is by far the best price in the market, but you need to book it through Flighcentre. Singapore Airlines is today at 950 Euros, but things can change very quickly. You’ll find this special price at their Local Promotion Fares page.

Where should I depart from?
If you are in the US, get to Los Angeles or San Francisco, as the best fares are found there. In case you are in Europe, fly first to London and look at the offers only from London. Never include your home town when searching as this will make trip a lot more expensive often. Look first for the low cost carriers to your departure city and then look for the from there.

A look to the future
There is an emerging airline, Oasis Hong Kong, which soon will be covering the London-Australia flight route. They are the first low cost carrier from Europe to the South Pacific. In any case, you must take care, because flights from Australia to New Zealand can be very expensive. Remember that low cost in this region costs 10 times more than Ryanair’s European fares.

Still, this is expensive… Any solution?
Of course! If you are looking to travel between April and September, which is low season there, you are able to get free travel certificates for international destinations with a 90% discount. There are very few places that offer these certificates for free, but they exist!

Milford Track : New Zealand

Future visitors to who love to hike should look to the Internet for various online data on guided tours along the Milford Track.Spanning more than 33 miles through the northern section of Fiordland National Park on New Zealand’s South Island, the Milford Track is a rugged trail that winds through breathtaking fiords, rivers, mountains, coastlines and rain forests. The route is popular with tourists, who can walk the trail individually or in groups with a guide. The World Wide Web offers resources on both hiking options, as well as information on the necessary gear and the wide variety of sites that vacationing adventurers will encounter while taking in all the beauty of the New Zealand frontier.”Freedom Walkers,” or those on unguided trips over the Milford Track, must make reservations months ahead of their treks in order to stay in the country’s Department of Conservation huts. They must also pack and carry all their own gear. Many tourists choose to take the Milford Track Guided Walk, in which skilled guides lead hikers through the awe-inspiring wilderness. The group stops to take afternoon tea breaks at huts scattered along the trail. At night, showering facilities, meals and beds are provided at various lodges located throughout the park.Throughout the journey, hikers will no doubt marvel at such spectacles of nature as the Mist Forest, Mount Hart and Mount Balloon. They will also have the thrill of passing over the Clinton River on a suspension bridge and negotiating the fury of the Morraine Creek crossing to see Sutherland Falls, the fifth highest waterfall in the world.

Wonderful Places Of The World

The South Island:
The South Island of New Zealand is characterized by grand open landscapes. The island is well known for spectacular fiords, large beach forests, golden sand beaches and broad plains. Everybody can enjoy the travel to south island.The south island has ten national parks. These parks incorporate world heritage sites, lakes, glaciers, fiords, native forest, coastline, and world class hiking tracks. The fabulous scenery across the south land attracts many people to plan vacation.

Grand Canyon:
Grand Canyon is the steep-sided gorge carved by the Colorado River in Arizona State of United States. The powerful sources that cause an impact on the Grand Canyon is erosion, first is by water and second is by wind.Nearly 5 million people visit the 1 mile deep Grand Canyon every year. Planning a vacation to the Grand Canyon national park provides a great relief for you and your family.The best time to visit Grand Canyon is during the summer, fall and mild spring, but most locals agree that winter is the great time to visit. There are various camp grounds both on the top and floor of the Grand Canyon. Camping at the floor of the Grand Canyon needs a permit from the country office.

Great Barrier Reef:
This is the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem. It is one of the top travel destinations in Australia. You can see it from the outer space and it is the world’s largest single structure, which is made of living organisms.
The reef supports 10,000 species which consists of 1500 types of fishes and 200 kinds of birds. This beauty inspires many of the travelers to visit the place.

Florida:
This state built its entire identity with tourism. This is the south eastern state in the US. It is a most popular winter destination. Florida is also called as the Sunshine State. Central Florida is conquered by Orlando and it is well known coterie of theme parks, sea world, universal studios, Disney world, and many more attractions to tourists.

Cape Town:
Cape Town is situated at the tip of the African Continent. The only way to understand and enjoy Cape Town is by experiencing the unique range of multicultural lifestyles and scenic national surroundings for yourself.
During the summer season, Cape Town is filled with holiday makers enjoying the hot weather, sunny beaches and beautiful scenery. So, if you want to spend your time during holiday season, it is best to make reservations as soon as possible. Before reaching the place, have a rough idea about the places around Cape Town, which you want to visit.

Golden Temple:
This temple has a glorious setting and it exists in the middle of the large blue sacred pool. Don’t miss the peaceful and interesting ritual that goes inside the two-story golden temple. When you take a tour to India, you should visit the golden temple.

Las Vegas:
Las Vegas is the largest city in the state of Nevada. This is commonly referred to as entertainment capital of the world. The city has great casino hotels and creates a fantasy like atmosphere. Las Vegas is a great travel destination for honeymooners and travel addicts.A trip to Vegas is usually a trip to “the strip”, about 20 long blocks of neon lights, public drinking and casinos.

Sydney:
Sydney is the economic powerhouse of . The place is full of sun-drenched natural attractions, delicious and daring restaurants, dizzy skyscrapers, friendly folk and wonderful shopping, so most of the travel addicts want to visit the place. You can take a trip to Sydney at any time of the year.

New York:
New York is the USA’s largest metro area. The city is a great center for fashion, culture, finance, research, media, food, art, and trade. The city consists of 5 boroughs and each is differentiated by its own culture.
New York is cinematic. Every year this is a backdrop for about 200 movies.

Taj Mahal:
According to most of the travelers, Taj Mahal, most beautiful building, in India is one of the great wonders of the world. This is a hybrid of many artistic styles. Once you visit Taj Mahal, you can enjoy various places near it.The river side behind Taj Mahal provides a wonderful environment. You can enjoy greatly along with your family.

Canadian Rockies:
Canadian Rockies is one of the most spectacular places of the earth. This place has potential outdoor opportunities and world class resorts. Visit the two national parks of Canadian Rockies and find why most of the travelers choose Canadian Rockies as their home away home .This place offers you the best of the best. It offers you the hikes that you don’t want to miss, scenic drives and many more natural highlights. You can go for the vacation even along with your children.Winter is a great time to enjoy the place. During this time, you can try sports like skiing, snowshoeing and then relaxing around a roaring fire on every evening.

Uluru:
Uluru or Ayers Rock in Australia is one of the world’s great natural wonders. Planning to visit this place is a great way to explore and experience the cultural and physical significance of this Australian icon.The rock is at its visual best at sunrise and sunset. Most of the travelers like to climb the rock by using an ancient aboriginal trail.

Chichen Itza:
Chichen Itza is a Mayan word. Chichen Itza is one of the largest archeological cities of Mexico and one of the Seven wonders. It is the most visited tourist destination. Travelers like to visit Chichen Itza as a day trip. If you want to enjoy all the activities near by Chichen Itza, it takes 2-3 days stay.Before entering into the Chichen Itza, you will come across an informative museum, clean rest rooms, a dining room, few vender stands and gift shops. You can visit the site at any time of the year.

Machu Picchu:
It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This is mystical place and a great spot to divinity. It is the Peru’s most popular place, so most of you like to see the place. People of Machu Picchu feel that they are the creators of god. This place offers you strange forces of nature that permit the individual to attain a contrary cosmic state.The place is located at 2300 meters above the sea level. So, you can enjoy the vicinity of the place. One day is enough to visit the spots around Machu Picchu.While planning to visit Machu Picchu, you need to understand a little about the geography of this area, because the location is remote and inaccessible.

Niagara Falls:
Niagara Falls can be accessed from both the American and Canadian side, but the best view facing the falls is completely from the Canadian side. When you take a trip to Niagara Falls, don’t forget to take a ride on the famous maid-of-the-mist boats. You won’t get the entire experience of Niagara Falls until you ride one of these boats.It is the foundation for many interesting places to see and things to do. If you love beautiful landscapes, romantic getaways, family adventures and vibrant nightlife then Niagara Falls is the best place to visit.

Petra:
Petra, one of the seven wonders, is fabled rose red city and is a well known earliest Nabataean city in the south Jordan. If you have decided to travel to Jordan, then Petra is at the top of your priority list. The solid red stand stone buildings in Petra are unlike anything that you have ever seen before.One full day is enough to see everything around Petra. This town offers you a wide variety of hotels to fit your budget.

The Pyramids:
Pyramids and wonderful temples are the great things to enjoy in Egypt. Travel to Egypt offers you the nature and desert treks, fishing, golfing, scuba diving and birding groups. You can choose the places like Sinai coasts or red sea to relax.Winter is the best season to go for a vacation to Egypt. March-May and September-November is the best time to enjoy the warm days of Egypt.

Venice:
Venice is one of the Italy’s greatest tourist places. You will be surprised by hearing how the city is built up. The city is built on 317 small islands and has 150 canals which are connected through 409 bridges. During the spring time, Venice is completely filled with tourists. At that time it is very difficult to find the accommodations.

Maldives:
Maldives is a great place for tranquil tropical islands, palm trees, white beaches and brilliant turquoise lagoons. Maldives is a group of 1190 coral islands. This place is a great destination for scuba divers.
Visiting Maldives between December and April can makes you to spend some extra hours of sunshine. Also this is the main season for tourism.

Great Wall of China:
The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is the travel icon of China and is one of the most popular travel vacation destinations in the world. It took hundreds of years for its construction. When you have decided to travel to China, don’t forget to see the wall.

Victoria Falls:
Victoria Falls was also one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is the most beautiful waterfalls in Africa. This is a cheap travel destination and is full of fun. Those who want to try for adventures will find plenty of activities like elephant safaris, bridge swinging, water rafting and so on .There are two sides of the falls, one is Zambia and the other is Zimbabwe side. Both sides are awesome and are a year round destination.

Hong Kong:
Hong Kong, an oriental pearl, is simply amazing. It will be very hard for you to find a more exciting city other than Hong Kong. The best thing about being in Hong Kong is getting confused and fired by the confluences and contradictions of a Chinese city with multi Asian and western elements.The best period to take a vacation to Hong Kong is in the months of October, November and most of December.

Yosemite National Park:
Yosemite is located on the western slopes of Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is one of the nation’s most famous national parks in US. Yosemite Valley is the most famous destination in Yosemite. Every year more than 4 million people come to visit Yosemite Valley. It is packed with restaurants, shops and campsites.This has hundreds of miles of hiking trails. You will find a great variety of wildlife along with mule deer, black bears and various bird species. When you plan your vacation to Yosemite, you can enjoy various activities like hiking, skiing, camping, snowshoeing, horse riding and bicycling.

Hawaii:
Going for Hawaii vacation will make you feel very happy by the beauty and hospitality. They want to do the things that they would not do at home. The beautiful Hawaii islands offer you to see world famous beaches closely; offer you peace and calmness somewhere off the beaten path.During winter season, Hawaii is fully packed with tourists. When you visit Hawaii, don’t forget to enjoy the activities like: Seeing Molten lava flow at Kilauea volcano, hiking through Waipio Valley, visiting the largest Hawaiian religious temple Puukohola Heiau and playing in the snow atop Mauna Kea.

Paris:
It is the most beautiful place and also the capital of France. Springtime is the best time to visit Paris. Paris is the city of life, love and light. You will find romance and magic when you visit Eiffel tower to Mona Lisa and from the bustling Champs Elysees to the winding streets of Montmartre.

Life on the Edge!

Walk the 1.2 metre-wide walkway around Auckland’s famous Sky tower – 192 metres above the ground, no handrails and nothing but air either side of you!

SkyWalk is one of New Zealand’s most exhilarating and unique tourist attractions and the most thrilling adventure to be had in Auckland City.

You’ll traverse 360 degrees around the spectacular Sky Tower – the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere  – stopping at several points to:

• have your photo taken!
• admire the spectacular views of Auckland city and the sparkling harbour
• learn a little about Auckland history and landmarks,
• see how tiny cars and people are from 192 metres above the ground!
• hear the amazing story of the Sky Tower’s construction, and
• have a go at hanging over the edge!

So go on, Live on the Edge and experience SkyWalk!

US considers upscale hotel for infamous Alcatraz

The National Park Service is considering adding a hotel to Alcatraz Island, site of one of the world’s most notorious prisons.Unlike the cells afforded to inmates such as Al “Scarface” Capone, the facility would offer upscale accommodations like those now available at the Ahwahnee Hotel in California’s Yosemite National Park. “People are constantly saying they want to see more of the island,” National Park Service Spokesman Rich Weideman said.”A hotel would be the ultimate experience in visitor access.”Alcatraz Island is run by the US National Park Service and is already San Francisco’s second most-popular tourist attraction, after its famed cable cars.

About 1.5 million people take ferries to visit the prison cellblock every year, and summer tickets sell out weeks in advance.But many visitors say they also want to see parts of the 12-acre island that are closed to the public, including wildlife areas, the room where prison guards bowled and the prison theatre where gangsters watched From Here to Eternity.

A hotel, likely built in a structure that once housed prison guards, would for the first time offer the general public 24-hour access to “the Rock” and capitalise on the park’s popular night-time tours.That’s when evening fog shrouds San Francisco from view. But island visitors, like the prisoners before them, can still hear activity emanating from the city.”It’s a very eerie experience,” Weideman said.Many development ideas, including adding a casino or a new prison, have been floated since the federal penitentiary closed on Alcatraz in 1963, according to newspaper USA Today.

But the island’s status as a national historic landmark set within a national park has made development difficult.The hotel is one of several proposals the park service is now weighing as part of its new general management plan, which will guide park development and renovation for the next 20 years.Others include serving food to visitors in the prison cafeteria and adding boat tours to the island’s perimeter.The park service is taking comment on the proposals and will use public remarks to create a new draft of the general plan next year, Weideman said.

No Departure Fee , Aukland Airport

Travellers leaving New Zealand from Auckland Airport on or after the 1st of July 2008 will no longer require paying an international departure fee of NZ$25. This is on account of the long awaited change to a fresh departure fee collection process. All this is set to start off in the course of a month.The old departure fee is being traded by a new Passenger Services Charge (PSC), which will be charged by Auckland Airport from the airlines, rather than customers, based on the number of international departures and arrivals.Don Huse, chief executive of Auckland Airport, said, “Airport and airline customers have been telling us for some time that the old departure fee process was a genuine hassle. We are now looking forward to taking the old collection process link out of the chain from July and simplifying travel for everyone”.

Huse further said, “This change brings Auckland Airport into line with other major gateways around the world. It will improve facilitation through to departure. It will be one thing less to worry about. It will reduce traveller processing time through Customs. Airline passengers will have a much easier and more streamlined departure experience”.Tourism New Zealand chief executive, George Hickton, said, “Removing the old departure fee process will help to bring Auckland Airport into line with other major airports worldwide.It will help ease the departure process for international visitors who come to New Zealand every year. I am sure that will make their visit here even more enjoyable”.

World’s Top Two Destinations

New Zealand’s Milford Sound, voted most popular world destination by TripAdvisor readers

Milford Sound and Queenstown have been named the top two destinations in the world by members of the world’s largest online travel community.The two New Zealand destinations were named in the Travellers’ Choice Awards top ten ahead of Cayo Largo in Cuba, Rhodes in Greece, and California’s Lake Tahoe.Milford Sound topped the list of 100 global destinations, with Queenstown close behind in second place.The awards were determined based on the opinions of TripAdvisor’s six million members worldwide.