Entries by Helen Hayes

Air New Zealand touches down in Houston

Air New Zealand’s inaugural flight between Auckland and Houston, Texas has touched down this morning. NZ28 departed Auckland International Airport at 6:30pm last night and arrived at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport at 7.45am New Zealand time. Passengers onboard, including Minister of Economic Development Steven Joyce and US Ambassador to New Zealand Mark Gilbert, were […]

The Finer Things visits Paris to pay respects

Hearts go out to Paris Sue Wallace visited Paris last weekend and experienced first hand the strength and resilience of her people. Here is her story . Red paper hearts float around one end of La Place de la Republique that’s become a memorial to those who were killed in the recent Paris terrorist bombings. […]

Hotel news: say ni hao to Banyan Tree Huangshan

Banyan Tree Huangshan now open Banyan Tree has opened its 10th resort in China, with the Banyan Tree Huangshan opening its doors in July 2015. The property is located in the misty awe-inspiring landscape of Anhui Province, with Mount Huangshan towering over the area. Apart from the mountain, with its oddly-shaped granite peaks, visitors will […]

Luggage – Antler X Maticevski

Antler X Maticevski at Myer Exclusive to Myer is this curated edit of the Juno Classic from Antler to complement the Maticevski Spring Summer 15 collection. In grey, each set comes with a key chain feature designed to celebrate the collaboration. Yours to accessorize with your keys or Juno carry on. Meet Juno Super strong, […]

Dining news – Dine ‘Unforgettable’ at Spicers

Spicers Retreats clocked up seven chefs hats in the recent 2016 Good Food Guide Awards alongside several Gourmet Traveller Wine Glass awards and numerous accolades from Dimmi to Trip Advisor.  But they are not resting on their laurels. To celebrate the next chapter in their culinary journey Spicers Retreats is launching a new food and […]

Dinnigan by the Sea at Bannisters

Collette Dinnigan has turned her creativity from high end fashion to interior design and hotels, at Bannisters By The Sea at Mollymook on the NSW South Coast. Bannisters is a beautiful coastal boutique hotel very close to Dinnigan’s country retreat, and was given the task of completely reimagining Bannister’s penthouse suites 29 and 30. Collette’s […]

Book review: The Man in Seat 61

Title: The Man in Seat Sixty One Author: Mark Smith Publisher: Random House What’s it all about? Mark Smith is the Man in Seat Sixty-One. No Mark Smith isn’t a fictional spy, he is in fact the man behind the massively popular www.seat61.com website, which offers invaluable advice on worldwide train travel. Following on from […]

Book review – For The Love of A Place

Title: For the Love of A Place Author: Hall Cannon and Miles Refo with Simon Farrell-Green. Publisher: Random House RRP:$79.99 A stay at New Zealand’s luxury lodge, Otahuna is one of those experiences that remain with you forever. Even after many years I can still recall the heady perfume of the spring flowers and the […]

Sneak peak of the new Mandapa – a Ritz Carlton Reserve, in Ubud

Mandapa – a Ritz Carlton Reserve, opens September 5, 2015 in Ubud About Mandapa Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve; a secluded paradise where lush, rolling hills, the Ayung River and verdant rice paddies create a unique sense of place. Here, the strike of a traditional Balinese gong marks your arrival, followed by a refreshing local drink […]

Cruising – Lindblad Expeditions

Do Europe the Lindblad way Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is giving adventure seeking Australian travellers the chance to rediscover Europe aboard the much-loved National Geographic Orion, choosing from 11 one-week itineraries and 22 sailings as part of its inaugural 2016 European program. After many successful seasons sailing across the seas of Indonesia, the South Pacific and […]

Hotel Review – The Rees Hotel, Queenstown

Where The Rees is located on glassy Lake Wakatipu five minutes away from the centre of Queenstown on the road from the airport, so is easy to get to and not far from anything. The views from the accommodation are something special. Back story The property is named after William Rees, who was the founder […]