Travel & tourism April 6, 2016 | Hibiscusmatters | 13

66 Wilson Road, Dairy FlatPixies Doggy Daycare & Cattery: 09 443 7811Charmaine: 0210 274 4258 | Heike: 021 241 9020

Tersia 021 185 0188 | Dirk: 0210 298 2009Email: info@pixiedoggiehotel.co.nz

Home-based stay for small dogs & medium sized dogs & cats | Doggie daycare: 7 days, 7am–7pm | Huge play area, toys & agility course | Swimming & free running in paddock (for dogs) | A safe & sheltered stay for the cats, in our cattery. We also accommodate ‘critters’: mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds & even the occasional bowl of � sh.

66 Wilson Road, Dairy Flat

(for dogs) | A safe & sheltered stay for the cats, in our cattery. We also accommodate ‘critters’: mice, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, birds & even the occasional bowl of � sh.

GULF HARBOUR FERRY TIMETABLEDeparts:Gulf Harbourto Auckland

Departs:Auckland (Pier 4) to Gulf Harbour

Monday - Friday Monday - Friday

6.45am 7.45am

7.30am 9.45am

8.45am 2.45pm

10.45am 4.45pm

3.45pm 5.30pm

5.45pm 6.45pm

Wednesday - Sunday Wednesday - Sunday

3.50pm** 9.00am**

† †

Terms and Conditions:This service does not operate on public holidays. SuperGold Card holders or Auckland Transport approved senior citizen ID card may travel for free on presentation of their card on the services departing after 9.00am.** Please phone to confirm 9:00am and 3:50pm sailings as they are subject to change due to weather and seasonality. AT HOP and Supergold cards not available on these services.

†

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The commencement of Air NZ’s direct flights to Buenos Aires and Santiago last December is making South America more affordable and accessible, according to local travel agents. Sue Scoggins and Carol Kirkup of You Travel gained personal insights into what this part of the world has to offer during recent travel there.

Sue Scoggins’ first visit to Argentina included time in Tierra del Fuego.

Many ways to explore wonders of South America

Carol Kirkup cruised Patogonia aboard the MV Stella Australis. The cruise goes through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego along the Punta Arenas – Ushuaia route.“This is a truly memorable way to see a pristine wilderness. Filled with early explorer history, and that of the native peoples, it was all brought to life by our guides – all local to the area and passionate about their part of the world. We were eager to get into the zodiacs and get amongst nature – whether it was to hike, cruise along observing wildlife or get up close to the glaciers. We cruised past the Darwin Range – a long stretch of glaciers that reach

down to the passage. Zodiacs landed us near the Pia Glacier which was truly magnificent with carved towers and crevasses easily visible from our viewpoint alongside. The major highlight was alighting on Cape Horn – the world’s southern-most point. Part of the excitement was actually getting back on board as the notorious Patagonian weather turned up; cruising out the first time the scenery was green but on our return the entire landscape had transformed into a white winter wonderland.  The beautifully prepared food with South American wines and an open bar were even more incentive to get back on board.”

Sue Scoggins: “I had never been to Argentina before, so the destination was hugely exciting for me. Buenos Aires lived up to its reputation for faded glory – in the 1920s it was the fifth wealthiest nation in the world, and now it comes in around 58th.Architecturally stunning buildings line the boulevards and once magnificent palaces (previously private residences) are now hotels.On the other end of the social spectrum is the colourful architecture of La Boca where Italian immigrants first settled.The National Museum and Decorative Arts Museum house some wonderful treasures, and the Recoleta Cemetery

showed the lengths that wealthy people went to in housing their dead.The highlight was a trip to Iguazu Falls, a 90min flight from Buenos Aires. The falls are 2.7km wide and you need a minimum of two days to explore the trails and visit the Brazilian side to view the falls. We got saturated in a boat trip up to the face of the falls, followed by a trip downriver then a 4WD through the forest back to the Iguazu Park. We had a superb guide and saw many birds, including the Toucan.Cruising on the Silver Spirit I saw a totally different side to Argentina and Chile – the Patagonian regions of both countries are rich in scenery, with many wildlife sanctuaries. At Puerto Madryn we visited a huge

penguin rookery and sea lion habitat and although it involved a long coach drive, the opportunity to be up close to the wildlife made it well worthwhile. Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of Argentina is the starting point for visits to the Antarctic and the Falkland Islands and was where we departed on a cruise through the Chilean Fjords. The first day took us along Glacier Alley in the Beagle Channel, viewing glacier after glacier coming down into the sea. We also had a day at Laguna San Rafael; with the ship at anchor we transferred to a catamaran to travel up to the wall of one of the largest glaciers. The blue ice and the noise as it cracked and fell was unforgettable.”

Street art in La BocaCarol Kirkup at Cape Horn

Travel & tourism| Hibiscusmatters | April 6, 201614

PreviouslyUnited Travel

After 40 years on the Hibiscus Coast we’re re-opening our doors as YOU Travel

United Travel Manly and Orewa have a new name You Travel. Of course we are united in one thing our goal to deliver the best travel experience to you. Both stores are known as local cruise experts having won numerous awards so come in and see one of our staff for an unrivalled travel experience personalised just for you. Its not goodbye, we’re excited to introduce a bold new travel brand to NZ the faces will still be the same and we will be celebrating the opening month in style with incredible travel prizes to be won.

YOU Travel ManlyShop 4/49, Rawhiti Road

Manly Village, WhangaparaoaPhone: 09 424 2345

YOU Travel Orewa26 Hillary SquareOrewa, Auckland

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Travel & tourism April 6, 2016 | Hibiscusmatters | 15

Zika concernsI started hearing about the Zika virus at travel conferences years ago, and felt glad that it was a far away disease that I would never have to worry about. Now we are all worrying about it.Distressing pictures of affected babies have triggered worldwide concern. And the disease is spreading rapidly. First described in Uganda in 1947, it really only became a significant issue with an outbreak on the Pacific Island of Yap in 2007, followed by epidemics in other Pacific Islands, and then the Americas in 2015.Fortunately the mosquito that transmits it doesn’t live in New Zealand, but even so there have been about 80 confirmed cases in the country since the beginning of the year. All of those occurred in people travelling from the Pacific Islands.A recent medical article reported that the virus was most likely to cause foetal abnormalities in the first three months of pregnancy, leading to an increased risk of microcephaly, a truly devastating condition. So how can we advise travellers, and particularly pregnant or possibly pregnant women in this situation? There is no lack of information coming out. In New Zealand you can access the Ministry of Health website or an excellent site called SafeTravel, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (safetravel.govt.nz/news/zika-virus). The American CDC site is always reliable.GPs receive regular updates from various sources and can advise on individual risk. There is no vaccine but in general some traditional advice still applies. Remember that in these countries the people are friendly but the mosquitoes are not! Always use an effective insect repellent, usually containing Deet. Be aware that unlike malaria, where the carrier mosquitoes mostly bite between dusk and dawn, the Zika vector will have a go at you during the day – so it is best to cover the arms and legs as much as possible; although how you are meant to do that and enjoy a holiday I’m not sure. Staying in air-conditioned accommodation or using screens or mosquito nets is recommended.The Zika crisis has highlighted the need for good travel health advice well before your trip. I still get emails written at the last minute saying “I’m going to country ‘x’ on Saturday. Can you tell me what shots I need?” Honestly, the answer is “no”. There are so many variables and so many risks, that you are doing yourself a favour to consult with your GP well in advance.

with Dr Peter Hallpeter@familydoctors.net.nz

Health

Family DoctorsAssociates

Needing Travel Vaccination Advice?

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familydoctors.net.nznurse@familydoctors.net.nz

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ph 09 424 2717 | fx 09 424 2977

Stanmore Bay Pharmacy

New name for YOUUnited Travel Manly and Orewa are well established on the Hibiscus Coast – the Orewa branch has been in business for more than 40 years and the Manly branch for almost 18 years. Both are re-branding, and will now be known as You Travel, Orewa & Manly. United Travel Orewa director Kiri Martin says the faces will be the same at both locations, but there will be changes “that will take what we do to the next level”. “You Travel Orewa & Manly re excited about their refreshed brand and look forward to bringing you a new world of travel.”

Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross visited the Coast recently, on March 21, where he spent half a day as the guest of local MP Mark Mitchell. The pair was taken to Tiritiri Matangi Island by Hibiscus Coastguard crew and they also spent time with Red Beach’s Scott and Marilyn Pearson to discuss their social enterprise start up, School Aid, based in Silverdale. This venture has proved very successful and is a way for schools to fundraise other than via confectionery product sales. Pictured are, from left, Coastguard skipper Matt van der Linder, Rodney MP Mark Mitchell, Coastguard’s Keith Roberts, Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross, Coastguard president Dan McGowan and Coastguard’s Donna Cheriton.

Travel & tourism| Hibiscusmatters | April 6, 201616

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09 424 4100 6 Main Street, Whangaparaoa 0932

Travel to the

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Have app, will travelTravelling is not only exciting but can also be stressful especially if you are on are on a tight budget. I organise all my travel from apps on my phone – like the saying goes: “Let your fingers do the walking”. Here are some of my favourites:Skyscanner Looking for the best price on Flights. Skyscanner can show you price comparisons for all flights. The reason I love this app is you can load up your destination and dates and then sit back and wait. Each day you will get notifications when prices have dropped. All prices are in New Zealand dollars. There are also options for accommodation and car rentals • Air B n B I love Air B n B – whether you want to stay at an apartment, or even a castle, or maybe go glamping, you can find everything your heart desires at Air B n B. At first I was a bit sceptical, as I am totally a hotel girl. A friend swears by this app so we booked an apartment in San Diego last year and at the price we paid I was blown away –downtown San Diego, five star with a spa and a pool overlooking the sea. I can tell you, I’m converted. With Air B n B you have different options from booking apartments to just booking bedrooms. There is nothing better than having an apartment to yourself where you can cook your own meals at half the price of a hotel room. Weekend holidays within New Zealand are definitely an option too • Uber In the big city and need a ride? Download the Uber App. Uber is as easy as setting your location on the app then a driver is dispatched. No cash is exchanged – payment is taken automatically from the passenger’s debit card – and no tip is required. The app is intuitive and shows your driver driving to you on the Uber map. You can see how many Uber drivers are in the area and I found this service very affordable • Google Now is an intelligent personal assistant. It collates all the information that you need during the day. I found this very helpful with my flights. It is intuitive enough that it sends you an update on traffic and suggests what time you should leave for the airport. Everything from your hotel bookings, the weather at your destination, nearby attractions, restaurant reservations, traffic updates. Google Now syncs with your search topics as well as bringing in important information from your Gmail account. This app makes travelling a breeze • Facebook messenger This app helps you keep in touch with family while you’re away. There are many messaging apps you can use for this, but I have found Facebook messenger to be the best because everyone has Facebook and most check it every day. I love that you can message and call within the app. This is a godsend when you have children travelling because you can also see when they are online! One of my favourite uses for the app is recording audio to send messages. Time to start planning my next trip.

with Pauline Stockhausen pauline@thesocialcollective.co.nz

Digital world

Here are the top 10 stories from Hibiscus Matters online in March: Restaurant practices leave sour taste • Bins wheeled out to replace recycling crates • Council’s spray and walk away error leaves Little Manly resident bedridden • Community steps up for parks • Proposed Special Housing Area for central Orewa • Hammerhead draws hundreds of submissions • Red Beach seawall repairs due to commence • Commuters face ferry fare rises • Newest village takes shape • Seawall proposal explained in depthKeep coming back to see the latest news, have your say, read extended stories and watch video interviews. You can also get updates on facebook.com/HibiscusMatters and follow our news feed on twitter at localmattersnz

lpha Shuttles0800 4 NUMBER 1 4 6 8 6 2 3 70274 858 040info@alphashuttles.co.nzalphashuttles.co.nz

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WMC

Whangaparaoa Medical Centre“Provision of traditional GP services with emphasis on family practice” Travelling overseas? We want you to have a safe and enjoyable journey abroad. Please check out CDC website first and enter your destination wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel Then book in to see our GP to discuss. We have most of the information you need about where, when and how to get vaccinated. We normally encourage travellers to make an appointment 8 weeks before travel. This is because some vaccinations take some time to take effect, and some vaccines require a course of injections. Our nurses will order and administer your vaccinations safely and give you travel information too. If you know you are travelling but don’t know when or where, you can still get basic vaccinations - it is never too late or too early to plan for a healthy journey.

“

” Justine/Catherine, Practice Nurses

16 Wade River Rd, Whangaparaoa | Ph 424 8618 | Fax 424 8410 | www.whangaparaoamedicalcentre.co.nz

Travel & tourism April 6, 2016 | Hibiscusmatters | 17

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Some people love to travel, and some people travel to do the things they love – so whether it’s beekeeping or bridge, golf or gardens, there’s an organised tour to suit you.

Special interest tours in demand with travellers

Likeminded companions are one of the bonuses.House of Travel Orewa owner/operator Dennis Payne says what he loves most about travel is that everyone has a different perspective as to what is important, what they want to see and more often, now, what they want to do.“Special interest groups are so much more commonplace now, with the range available quite amazing – from golf tours around Hawaii or up the Rhine, to following the Americas Cup,” he says.The sky really is the limit, when it comes to travel designed around people’s hobbies and interests. Options include a 16-night knitting cruise to Asia or Europe’s Christmas markets, body wellness trips to Budapest or a marathons expedition running cruise

through Alaska.“We have a bunch of local guys taking Harley Davidson motorbikes along Route 66, plus there are whole ships catering to bridge players, naturists, faith based organisations, wine connoisseurs and even a cruise especially for cat lovers!”Gardening is another special interest area that is well catered for with trips to international shows such as the Chelsea Flower Show or Floralies. Perhaps you’d like to see the cherry blossoms in Japan, or the wildflowers of Mongolia or Western Australia?There are also tours that combine more than one area of interest, such as walking and cycling tours that include places of historical interest, or gourmet experiences, along the way.For more information, visit your local travel agent.

Many travellers follow their interests overseas.

Come instore | houseoftravel.co.nz

House of Travel Orewa | 427 9700 | orewa@hot.co.nzHouse of Travel Browns Bay | 479 1003 | brownsbay@hot.co.nz

House of Travel Manly | 424 1021 | manly@hot.co.nz

CELEBRATING!WE ARE

BEST AGENCY NZ 2015, AT THE CLIA AUSTRALASIAN CRUISE AWARDS

BEST HOUSE OF TRAVEL OUTLET FOR PRINCESS CRUISES AND P&O AUSTRALIA CRUISES

As one of the industry’s most prestigious cruise awards, we couldn’t be prouder.

We’d like to extend our thanks to all of our clients who have booked with us over the last year and to those who have enjoyed a holiday with us. As we continue to build our cruise knowledge, we look forward to helping you

plan many more, and to maintain our title as the BEST IN THE INDUSTRY!

Two huge achievements and we’d like to thank all of our clients and fellow cruise lovers!

House of Travel Orewa recently won the gold Award for

Last week House of Travel Orewa also won the Award for