Oceania

A natural world of indescribable beauty melds with authentic South Pacific culture. Four Seasons comes to Bora Bora. Discover what local residents think about living in paradise.

Roa Yachting takes you aboard their 77ft private motor yacht to discover the Polynesian islands in a luxurious and authentic atmosphere.

Grand Mercure Nelson Monaco has won the Supreme Overall Award for Excellence at the national HANZ awards for excellence. The resort was also judged to be the Best Hotel in New Zealand and in the top three finalists in the Best Restaurant in New Zealand and the award for Excellence in Customer Service. And it gets better… the resort has also this week been voted as one the top three hotels in the country by the People Choice Awards.    Located just a few minutes out of Nelson on the Monaco peninsula, the resort has recently completed its final expansion phase which has included an additional 38 cottages, the Village Hall conference facility that accommodates up to 150 guests and even an onsite jeweller and hair salon.

Are you planning a special Italian dinner or perhaps just looking to brush up your skills? South Australian chef Rosa Matto has been hosting cooking classes  with an Italian twist since 1989, giving lessons from her custom-built open studio kitchen in Goodwood, Adelaide. Rosa’s classes are very hands-on and range from sauce, bread and pasta making to full dinner party menus. Students use fresh, local produce and get to taste each other’s creations. Rosa also conducts Central Market tours, the culinary heart of Adelaide where visitors shop for ingredients before heading back to the kitchen to prepare a multicultural feast.

One of the world’s best beaches is now home to a luxury resort; opening on 1st June 20009, the  InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa on Natadola Beach will be  the pride of Fiji’s Coral Coast.   Spread across 35 acres of tropical gardens, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa is the sole destination resort on Natadola Beach – the only stretch of natural, white sand beach on the main island of Fiji, Viti Levu. Protected by a reef to create an aqua-blue ocean facing lagoon, Natadola Beach was voted by Forbes Magazine in 2008 as one of the 25 best beaches in the world.

The resort’s 216 rooms and suites all have a private terrace or balcony featuring a Cleopatra-style tub and day beds for two, and a BOSE surround sound system, with contemporary interiors creating the understated elegance of an InterContinental resort. There are  four swimming pools (including an adult-only infinity-edged pool, and a 105-metre family activity pool), an on-site dive centre, a recreation and beach activities centre, volleyball, Pétanque lawn, yoga deck,  Meke entertainment lawn for indigenous and cultural shows, a full gym and fitness centre, and on-site shopping and tour facilities. And there are  will be no  less than five restaurants and bars, offering  locally-inspired and international cuisines and ever-changing menus to take best advantage of the freshest local produce on any given day.

Nestled among water features and aromatic gardens,  the purpose-built spa  provides a haven of relaxation. And for those who’d sooner be active than be pampered, the Natadola Bay par 72, 7,000 yard Golf Course is opening alongside the resort and will be the country’s first international competition standard course.

Looking for some travel inspiration?  Sit back and take 5 minutes to enjoy this beautiful slideshow presentation of French Polynesia.

The results of the World Airport Awards from Skytrax are out. Congratulations go to Incheon International Airport in Seoul which beat last year’s winner (Hong Kong International Airport) into second place.   The top 10 were as follows:

1. Incheon International Airport
2. Hong Kong International Airport
3. Singapore Changi
4. Zürich
5. München
6. Kansai
7. Kuala Lumpur
8. Amsterdam
9. Centrair Nagoya
10. Auckland

What is your favourite airport in the world and why?

Stuck for a creative Christmas gift ideas? Why not purchase a club a la carte membership for your loved   one, family member, friend or workmate! Then they too can enjoy being a part of  Millennium Hotels‘  exclusive hotel, dining & lifestyle membership. All for just $250 per year (inc GST). They’ll love it!

Maggie Beer is one of Australia’s favourite cooks, cookery writers and a pioneering champion of Barossa regional cuisine. Her farm shop offers daily verjuice cooking demonstrations at 2pm. Visitors to the farm shop will also find Maggie’s gourmet products and award-winning books. Her cooking, using mainly local produce, has been pivotal in the development of South Australia’s regional cuisine and her pheasant pate, verjuice and quince paste are exported around the world.  If you’re visiting, make sure you book a verjuice workshop in advance.