896 days ago

Queenstown makes TIME list of 'world's greatest places' to visit in 2022

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Otago News

Queenstown is among the best places in the world to visit as people get used to living and travelling with Covid-19 and hit the roads – and skies – en masse.

At least that’s the view of TIME magazine, which included New Zealand’s adventure capital in the 2022 instalment of its “world’s greatest places” list.

The New York-based magazine and website compiled the 50-strong list using nominations from its international network of correspondents and contributors, paying particular attention to destinations offering new and exciting experiences.

Queenstown was described as “both a destination in its own right and a fantastic base to explore the region’s diverse landscapes”.

New luxury boutique hotel The Carlin – where guests can even get a massage on the toilet – was highlighted.

“High rollers can opt for the Skyhome suite – its seven bedrooms make up the largest penthouse in the southern hemisphere,” TIME said.

Each suite in the hotel, which bills itself as “more than five-star”, has its own outdoor fire and spa pool, and a kitchen where private chefs can whip up a meal.

Homes & Villas by Marriott, launched in June, won praise for its “stylish multibedroom apartments and houses”.

Kingpin Queenstown – a sprawling new entertainment hub featuring escape and karaoke rooms, pool, bowling, virtual reality and arcade games and a restaurant and bar – also scored a mention, as did the three Great Walks within a couple of hours driving distance to the town, namely the Milford Track.

Mention was also made of Invivo, the winery which famously collaborated with Sarah Jessica Parker and Graham Norton and announced plans to launch what has been dubbed “the world’s first winery airline” later this year. Fares for the Auckland to Queenstown flights are set to include a visit to local wineries.

Other destinations on the list include Australia’s Fremantle and Great Barrier Reef, “ecotourism hot spot” Kerala in India, the arty Setouchi Islands in Japan, the “year-round playground of Park City in the US state of Utah, and Portree in Scotland with its winning combo of whiskey and wilderness.

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More messages from your neighbours
4 hours ago

Best way to use leftovers?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

I'm sure you've got some excess ham at home or cold roast potatoes.

What are some of your favourite ways to use leftover food from Christmas day? Share below.

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16 days ago

⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️

The Team from SPCA New Zealand

It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:

👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️

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8 days ago

Poll: Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Just a bit of a fun poll to get you thinking.

If you had to live out your Christmas days, would you prefer it was a summer Christmas or a winter Christmas?

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Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?
  • 61.8% Summer
    61.8% Complete
  • 36.7% Winter
    36.7% Complete
  • 1.5% Other - I'll share below
    1.5% Complete
1517 votes