AW Travel Blog

Most of us enjoy a long soak in a hot pool on a cold winter’s day, but did you know that monkeys are also partial to a bit of a frolic in hot springs?The world famous Jigokudani wild monkey hot springs in Japan, some 300 killometres north west of Tokyo, are home to about 200 wild monkeys, who naturally migrate to the hot water for shelter during Japan’s harsh winter temperatures. The natural hot springs (or onsen) are in a National Park, adjoining the Shiga Kogen Resort, and are believed to be the only place in the world where you can observe wild monkeys frolicking in hot pools.

Humans are not permitted to soak in the springs alongside the monkeys, but there is a nearby (ryokan) Japanese hotel with hot springs for human travellers. Visiting the Jigokudani Wild Monkey Park involves a 30 minute uphill walk to the park, and it is easiest to reach in late spring, summer and autumn. But it’s also worth the effort in winter when snow provides more dramatic scenery with plenty of steam and more monkeys seeking out the warmth of the hot springs.

A day trip is available, which suits travellers on a longer ski holiday but also those on a tighter schedule, which includes a visit to the snow monkeys. The trip departs from Hakuba, and also includes the Masuich-Ichimura Sake Brewery, a wonderfully preserved 240 year old brewery. The tour also visits Nagano City, home to the 1400 year old Zenkoji Temple, a designated national treasure. It is one of Japan’s most revered temples and houses the first image of Buddha brought to Japan in the 7th century.

Skiers who are planning a trip to Whistler in Canada for the Northern Hemisphere ski season might like to try their hand at a completely different activity when they feel like a break from the pistes. How about hitching and harnessing a team of Alaskan Racing Huskies?

The Soo Valley Dog Sled Tour is through a former logging area alongside the frozen waters of the Soo River and is the perfect add on adventure to any Value tours package. Travellers can join in the fun by helping the professional dog sled “Musher” to hitch and harness the team, and if conditions are suitable, you can even take a turn at driving the team (accompanied by a guide, of course). Wrap up warmly for the three hour trip which includes transport from Whistler Village, a professional guide, the dogsled team, a safety briefing, and an essential hot drink and cookie.

For prices or more information visit our website.

Turkey is an astounding country, steeped in a rich and diverse history. At every turn, the archaeological sights, incredible landscapes, pristine Mediterranean coastlines, stunning architecture and warmth of the locals surpasses expectations.

With so much on offer, Turkey is becoming an increasingly popular travel destination amongst Aussie & Kiwi Travellers.This two-week coach tour presents a world of contrasts, amazing sights, unique experiences and fabulous food including the fascinating historical buildings of Istanbul, learning about our Anzac history at Gallipoli, the calcium cliffs at Pamukkale, spectacular Mediterranean scenery at Antalya, Ankara - Turkey’s capital city, the World Heritage site of Troy and the mind-blowing rock formations at Cappadoccia. Walking in the footsteps of the ancients, travellers on the “Glories of Turkey” tour will take a step back in time, visiting opulent palaces of the sultans, museums that are filled with priceless relics and underground churches that are carved out of volcanic stone.

Now travellers have even more reason to visit this exotic country with Adventure World’s top selling “Glories of Turkey” tour, which was priced at NZ$2014pp, now on special for just NZ$1820pp twin share* or AU $1481pp

Click here for more information.

If you have ever wanted to be up close and personal to a camel (and who of us isn’t fascinated by these wonderful ungainly creatures), you could have the opportunity to meet 60,000 of them at the Pushkar Camel Fair held in the Indian state of Rajasthan, from November 18-21 this year. The five day horse and camel fair is one of the last great traditional melas (fairs) to be held each year and it has become one of India’s most colourful and spectacular events. More than 200,000 people, camels, horses, caravans and carts from all corners of India cross sandy dunes to converge on Pushkar to take part in the Fair. Camels are primped, shaved, and bedecked with jewellery and ornate ribbons, and take part in races and even beauty contests, as their owners vie for buyers’ attention. Adventure World is offering a tour which takes in the Pushkar Camel Fair.

This 9 day/8 night private journey the ‘Rajasthan Experience’ takes in the sights of the Taj Mahal, the imperial city of Jodhpur and the camel fair.

Tours start from NZD $2231pp or AUD $1789pp - Click here for more information.

In celebration of the Sex and the City 2 (SATC2) movie release nationwide, Adventure World is offering fans the chance to follow in the fabulous foursome’s Manolo-clad footsteps and experience the unique and exciting cultures of Abu Dhabi and Morocco.  Escape to the alluringly apt movie setting of Abu Dhabi and take a journey on a desert wildlife safari, relax in the lush oasis or live it up in the vibrant city. Discover the exotic setting of Morocco where filming of the movie actually took place and explore the charming culture and rich heritage of the land.  

There is a number of SATC2 inspired packages to help fans of the flick take the stress out of planning, giving them freedom to create their own glamorous adventure.

Packages include:  
“Essential Abu Dhabi Package” 3 Days/2 Nights
from NZ$579pp or AU$426pp*

“Anantara Desert Island Resort & Spa” 3 Days/2 Nights
from NZ$1230pp or AU$1000pp* 

Click here for more information

Sitting down on the Air Pacific Flight to Fiji I was confident as we flew over the mainland and I stepped off the plane that I would like it.  On arrival we were met by our transport to Tanoa International Hotel and from the moment we arrived we were able to check in so went straight to our rooms to get freshend up for dinner. Our room was a Superior Room with a balcony looking out to the garden/pool area. That night we had a buffet dinner at the Hotel restaurant. It was a roast theme buffet, it was lovely!
The next day we boarded our South Sea Cruise transfer to

Bounty

Island. Our tickets included the captain’s lounge, which I thought was definitely a worth the extra few dollars! The lounge is air-conditioned & you get complimentary drinks, snacks, as well as your own host. Bounty island is the second stop on South Sea Cruises so was only a 45 minute trip. Once welcomed onto the island we received a welcome drinks along with a lovely cold towel. Our Beachfront Bures were amazing! Literally on the beach! With a hammock & 2 beach lounges rite on the beach. They have thought of everything – even our beds in our Bures had mozzy nets around which I thought was a great idea. Today I went for my first snorkel. The water is lovely. It’s lukewarm like bath water and it was crystal clear – just like a postcard!

On our last night we stayed at Sonasali Island Resort which is a 3min max boat transfer over to their island and your there. It doesn’t seem like you are only a 3 minute boat ride from the main land. Most of the photos I took didn’t seem real. Sonasali has amazing white sand & palm/coconut trees everywhere. I would thoroughly recommend it for anyone looking for a short break without the time to get to the

Islands.It’s hard to believe we have been here for only a week. In Fiji everyone is so friendly and you slowly find yourself becoming used to the like saying ‘we’re on

Island time’. I can’t wait to come back to

Fiji again!!!

The Maldives – what can I say but wow! With its abundant sea life and sandy beaches is a paradise in the sun, with palm trees, turquoise lagoons and coral reefs with turtles, the whitest beaches and colourful fish!  The Maldives is made up of a chain of 20 atolls which consist of nearly 1200 islands so there is lots of space, lots of privacy.  The Maldives is the ideal destination for honeymooners and the motto of most of the resorts is ‘no shoes and no news’.  You really are away from it all.  It’s important to note that no matter which resort you stay at the

Maldives is a very casual environment.  No need for evening dresses at dinner.  Shorts and sarongs are just fine!”
Recommended properties we stayed at was the small island resort of Makunudu with just 36 beachfront bungalows, and Kurumba Maldives which was the Maldives first private island resort - it has 7 restaurants & 2 bars located on site! The stunning Baros Maldives is located near- the first all over water property with villas the size of my house!  A hotel inspection of Sheraton Full Moon Resort & Spa on bicycles was a great experience, as was the Coco Palm Resort & Spa.
A much-loved late night activity has been to sit on the deck of my beachside ‘villa’ and simply listen to the waves coming in just a few feet away.  There never seems a good time to go inside.  I’m finding it hard to sum up what’s so exceptional about this place, but I guess, despite the fact that it’s none other then a tropical paradise; it somehow manages to feel untouched.

It is impossible to put into words how magical the region is. My favourite place was Neko Harbour. We cruised through the night and awoke in this amazing place. The sea was deep clear blue and there were amazing icebergs everywhere. Each one either stunning white or a gorgeous blue colour. Snow-capped mountains and ancient glaciers were spilling into the sea in all directions - so when you turned 360 degrees, you couldn’t spot where the entrance channel must be. It was as if we were totally walled in by mountains and glaciers.

Icebergs drifted slowly past, and as we looked down from our boat, we could sea Leopard seals and penguins lazing on the bergs! The amazing silence was disturbed only by the gunshot loud cracking noises as the glaciers continually shed ice - all of this and we still hadn’t got off the boat! Onshore we found a fantastic landing spot. The beach was littered with penguins and dodging the odd fur seal - we followed an ice ridge up past the penguin colonies, until we were walking in pristine snow that had never seen human feet!

Staring at a bright blue iceberg whilst a leopard seal stared straight back at us, one passenger summed up all our feelings with “God, how lucky are we?” It truly is a wonderful place that makes you feel so humble yet so privileged.

LOVE India!!! Never having wanted to visit India in the past, I was looking forward to this trip with great excitement and trepidation. I was totally blown away by the colours, smells, sights and sounds of this exotic and diverse country with a history spanning more than 5000 years. Great deserts, majestic palaces, amazing fortresses, romantic lakes, religious pilgrimage sites, spectacular mountains, beautiful beaches, tropical palms, tranquil waterways - so much to see and do in this wonderful country. But it’s greatest attraction are it’s people -so friendly, humble and willing to help with a smile.

The Taj Mahal is amazing - it is a great testament of the love of a husband for his wife. I can remember the air of excitement I felt as we approached the gateway to the Taj but on seeing it for the first time through the arches, a feeling of complete awe and calm came over me as I feasted my eyes upon the majesty of this manmade masterpiece.

India has so much more to offer, than just the Taj Mahal.  Udaipur is a city to be treasured and somewhere I intend to visit again as well as Southern India and more of Rajasthan.  I am looking forward to reacquainting my love affair for India in the near future on holiday.

I flew into Vancouver yesterday morning and did a morning trolley bus tour of the city (well worth doing to get an orientation of the city - what a gorgeous place and I wish I had allowed more time here) and then caught the afternoon bus up to Whistler. The journey along the Sea to Sky Highway was spectacular so the 2 and a half hours went really quickly.

Today I skied, skied and then skied some more for my last day of skiing in Canada. The snow was not as plentiful as the other resorts I went to (but then they were further into the Rockies) and there were a lot of snow machines here whereas I didn’t see those at the other resorts I went to.  But then I have to remember that for only a 2½ drive from Vancouver, it’s awesome skiing and far better than any I have experienced in NZ!

Ideally though, I would have skied at Whistler first (as it would have been really wow to ski here after NZ, and then make my way over to the others, which had even more snow). So, the other resorts ruined me for Whistler I have to say.

There are two large mountains to ski here - Whistler and Blackcomb and the lift pass covers both. There is a huge gondola which connects the two and it was recommended to me to ski one mountain (which gets the sun in the morning) and then swap over to the other mountain in the afternoon. This is exactly what I did and I had a brilliant day skiing in my bright pink crash helmet!

In the late afternoon I decided to have a nosey around the Whistler village, Blackcomb village and then took a taxi to Creekside Village also to have a look.

Whistler has a decent sized pedestrian village with rather expensive shops but lots of variety for those wanting a spot of retail therapy. There were a lot of people walking around in their ski gear and carrying their skis and poles. Then I walked through a carpark, and through a quaint covered walkway over a small stream to Blackcomb village.  There were a few restaurants and shops here and it was quieter than Whistler but with a load of ski-in/ski-out accommodation.  This felt more like the ski resorts I visited in the Rockies and I really liked the feel of it. Creekside was like a mini Whistler village with gorgeous accommodation, some ski-in/ski-out and there was also a lift up the mountain from here.  I was really impressed with all the three areas and would have been happy to stay at all of them.

What an amazing trip!  A trip of a lifetime….or at least until the next time I come over here.   What next….well, Whakapapa here  I come!!!!!!!