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NEW ZEALAND
Natural High
one of New Zealand’s most famous and historic backcountry farms, Mt Nicholas High Country Station (Mt Nic) near Queenstown, is open to visitors with the launch of a new series of exclusive tours.
Mt Nic station sits on the shores of
Lake Wakatipu, on the opposite side to Queenstown and is only accessible by water. The tour’s excursions available aboard Queenstown’s newest on-water tourism attraction, the Spirit of Queenstown Catamaran will provide an unrivalled opportunity to access an isolated and beautiful natural landscape.
The catamaran and high country tours are offered by long-time Kiwi tourism icon Southern Discoveries, an award-winning tourism company that has been operating for more than 50 years. The new Spirit of Queenstown catamaran, which launched scenic trips on Lake Wakatipu earlier this summer season, is now taking passengers
to the high country station for the first time. Mt Nicholas High Country Station
is located in a peaceful and normally inaccessible area on the western shore of Lake Wakatipu. ‘Mt Nic’ is New Zealand’s oldest family run high country station. Southern Discoveries General Manager John robson said it was an amazing opportunity to work with the owners of Mt Nic Station to provide a unique insight into New Zealand’s rural heritage.
“Mt Nic showcases the high country at its best,” he said. “It’s truly breath taking out there and also a place to escape and relax while enjoying the peaceful surroundings.”
Covering 100,000 acres, the working station which runs 30,000 merino sheep would provide different experiences daily, robson says. “Along with the stunning views, you may encounter cows with their calves, shepherds and their dogs moving merino sheep, fallow deer or rabbits.”
for high flyers...
OUTER SPACE
The Sky’s (Not) the Limit
Space travel may finally be a possibility
for a hefty price. Travel tycoon Sir richard Branson’s virgin Galactic (virgingalactic. com; from $285,000) has already made test runs in the Mojave Desert. His Space-ShipTwo is expected to send six passengers at once hurtling into zero g’s starting this year. Next up is entrepreneur Michiel Mol’s SXC (spacexc.com; from $110,000). once it’s up and running, SXC’s Mojave campus will offer daily service
to the edge of earth’s atmosphere in a specially designed spacecraft that will give passenger astronauts a stunning view of the planet from more than 95km’s up. The queue behind these two risk takers is long, but other companies launching commercial travel to space include Jeff Bezos’s Blue origin, starting in 2016. - Adam. H. Graham
Another perfect day ends on Maui.
HAWAII
Maui makes a splash
Hawaii’s second largest island is home to
a handful of stylish new hotels. The Andaz Maui at Wailea (maui.andaz.hyatt.com; doubles from $740 per night) launched last September, with 297 units set on a powder white beach. on the north shore, Lumeria Maui (lumeriamaui.com; doubles from $375 per night) opened with tropical gardens plus wellness and adventure retreats. Meanwhile, the residences at Kapalua Bay is about
to relaunch as the Montage Kapalua Bay (montagehotels.com; doubles from $1360 per night). Its 50 suites and 30,000-square- foot spa will overlook the Pacific, where sunsets gild the sky. - C.A.
*Prices have been converted to Australian dollars. Estimated meal prices do not include drinks, tax or tip.
What’s Booming on the Bund
A few new arrivals are stealing the spotlight along Shanghai’s famous waterfront boulevard. Jean-Georges vongerichten, who opened his first restaurant in Shanghai
at Three on the Bund nearly a decade ago, is now serving family-style Italian dishes at Mercato (threeonthebund.com; dinner for two, $199*). The rustic-modern space was designed by local darlings Neri & Hu. Argentine born Mauro Colagreco of the two- Michelin-starred Mirazur, in Menton, France, has been raiding his own garden for the seasonally inspired tapas at Unico (threeonthebund.com; dinner for two, $120), in the same building. Nearby, the former royal Asiatic Society has been reimagined by British architect David Chipperfield as the rockbund Art Museum (rockbundartmuseum.org), which champions contemporary Asian artists. All this has brought more visitors as well as several new luxury hotels to Shanghai. Among the new properties is the 130 room Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund (banyantree.com; doubles from $398 per night), whose lobby frames views of Shanghai’s skyline. - Christine Ajudua
CHINA
4 AUTUMN 2014