Down Under Endeavours
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Down Under Endeavours - Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti - Travel Experts
Locals Say: Gourmet Food and Kiwi Lifestyle
Name: Sue McLeary
What is your Service? Zest Food Tours
Where is it? New Zealand:
Wellington, Dunedin, the Wairapapa region (Greytown and Martinborough)
What should a traveler do to feel like a local where you are based?
Walk and drink great coffee – especially in Wellington and Dunedin which are both excellent walking cities. Wellington is known as the coffee capital with lots of boutique coffee roasteries and cafes everywhere. The Wairarapa region needs a car or a bike as it’s rural and the distances are further, although the pretty town of Greytown is ideal for strolling with cafes and speciality stores to explore. Martinborough is a boutique wine district so you need to try pnot noir, sauvignon blanc and pinot gris at the many cellar door experiences.
Top three reasons someone should experience Zest Tours:
How would you describe your relationship with Corinne and Down Under Endeavours?
Positive, enjoyable, constructive and highly professional
Why do you do what you do?
It’s fun, we meet some wonderful people and help them explore and understand our patch in a personal style that our guests really seem to appreciate. And the food, coffee and wine are excellent!
What website links do you want to share?
www.zestfoodtours.co.nz
Where is it? New Zealand:
Wellington, Dunedin, the Wairapapa region (Greytown and Martinborough)
What should a traveler do to feel like a local where you are based?
Walk and drink great coffee – especially in Wellington and Dunedin which are both excellent walking cities. Wellington is known as the coffee capital with lots of boutique coffee roasteries and cafes everywhere. The Wairarapa region needs a car or a bike as it’s rural and the distances are further, although the pretty town of Greytown is ideal for strolling with cafes and speciality stores to explore. Martinborough is a boutique wine district so you need to try pnot noir, sauvignon blanc and pinot gris at the many cellar door experiences.
Top three reasons someone should experience Zest Tours:
1. Our guides are bursting with local knowledge and quirky stories, and keen to share their pleasure in their hometown with visitors – so a Zest tour is very personal and friendly.
2. We choose top food outlets to visit: not only places that most visitors wouldn’t find but also where we can see do or taste things most visitors can’t – and most importantly, we meet and talk with the owner- operators and people behind the food or wine
3. It’s sightseeing with great food, as we focus on non-CBD quarters and pop into back streets. You don't have to be a food professional to enjoy finding typical local tastes and experiences, while seeing the city or town at a leisurely pace
How would you describe your relationship with Corinne and Down Under Endeavours?
Positive, enjoyable, constructive and highly professional
Why do you do what you do?
It’s fun, we meet some wonderful people and help them explore and understand our patch in a personal style that our guests really seem to appreciate. And the food, coffee and wine are excellent!
What website links do you want to share?
www.zestfoodtours.co.nz
A Slice of Kiwi Life: Shopping at a Dairy
What’s one thing you can find in every New Zealand town, no matter how small it is? A Dairy. Not the barn for milking cows kind of dairy; in New Zealand that’s what they call a small convenience store that sells sundries to the locals. Want to sound like a Kiwi? Call these stores Dairies! Dairies are so called such because they used to be affiliated with specific farms. The farms would sell their products at a local store and place their name on a placard outside the store. Gradually, these stores diversified to include many more products, and today are similar to a small 7-11 or gas station rest stop here in the U.S.
Dairies typically sell basic groceries, beverages, ice cream, local newspapers, lottery tickets, cigarettes, and if you’re lucky enough to be in a fishing town, live bait in the form of nightcrawlers or crickets. Plus, Dairies always, always, always carry several varieties of meat pies, which are essentially a hand-held pocket of pastry stuffed with a meat filling such as beef, lamb or other savory flavors. A carry-over from their British colonial days, these meat pies are a staple of any proper New Zealander’s diet. They’re usually displayed on a rack with shelves in individual packaging, just like Ho-Ho’s or Ding Dongs in the US. Where we might snack on something sweet and/or chocolaty washed down with a Coke; a proper snack in New Zealand might be a pork meat pie and a cup of tea with milk.
Dairies can be found in cities (what few exist) and at the intersections of major roads, but they have the most influence in smaller towns and rural areas where the majority of New Zealanders live and there may not be a large supermarket within an hour’s drive. You might even be able to find a few Dairies that try to differentiate themselves by offering a liquor license or in rare cases -- fried food. The strangest thing I ever saw in a Dairy in New Zealand was a deep fried Mars candy bars. That doesn’t whet your appetite? They were also selling deep fried pickles, in case you wanted a savory appetizer instead.
Dairies are a unique New Zealand institution that are worth visiting -- even with the live crickets. Working with Down Under Endeavours, you’ll learn to shop like a local even when you are far, far away from home.
Clieck here to learn more about New Zealand's hidden gems?
Read some of our traveler's stories about New Zealand
A postcard from a client who lived in New Zealand for a month
Dairies typically sell basic groceries, beverages, ice cream, local newspapers, lottery tickets, cigarettes, and if you’re lucky enough to be in a fishing town, live bait in the form of nightcrawlers or crickets. Plus, Dairies always, always, always carry several varieties of meat pies, which are essentially a hand-held pocket of pastry stuffed with a meat filling such as beef, lamb or other savory flavors. A carry-over from their British colonial days, these meat pies are a staple of any proper New Zealander’s diet. They’re usually displayed on a rack with shelves in individual packaging, just like Ho-Ho’s or Ding Dongs in the US. Where we might snack on something sweet and/or chocolaty washed down with a Coke; a proper snack in New Zealand might be a pork meat pie and a cup of tea with milk.
Dairies can be found in cities (what few exist) and at the intersections of major roads, but they have the most influence in smaller towns and rural areas where the majority of New Zealanders live and there may not be a large supermarket within an hour’s drive. You might even be able to find a few Dairies that try to differentiate themselves by offering a liquor license or in rare cases -- fried food. The strangest thing I ever saw in a Dairy in New Zealand was a deep fried Mars candy bars. That doesn’t whet your appetite? They were also selling deep fried pickles, in case you wanted a savory appetizer instead.
Dairies are a unique New Zealand institution that are worth visiting -- even with the live crickets. Working with Down Under Endeavours, you’ll learn to shop like a local even when you are far, far away from home.
Clieck here to learn more about New Zealand's hidden gems?
Read some of our traveler's stories about New Zealand
A postcard from a client who lived in New Zealand for a month
Don’t Know the Australian Bush from the Outback; the Red Center from The Top End? Keep Reading & Learn What’s for You
My parents used to throw us in the back of the old Jackeroo (small 4x4) and just drive. Sometimes we'd end up in the bush, sometimes the outback (yes, they are two different things, see below). These trips would always begin with Dad looking at Mum, smirking and saying "pack up the 'roo, we're goin' walkabout, kids!" In those days, there was nothing glamourous and luxurious about it, but to this day simply seeing a colour that is evocative of that time and place seriously can transport myself back there. Funny, but Heinz ketchup reminds me of the colour of our sunsets for many months after the Mount Pinatubo Volcano eruption in the Philippines in 1991.
And the stars. WOW! You have seen nothing until you've seen the Southern Sky at night.
So, here’s your cheat sheet on what’s what and what’s where in Australia.
Bush is something you can do within an hour or two from the city these days at an eco lodge on the far side of the Blue Mountains, just outside of Sydney at Wolgan Valley Resort
Outback is old, hot, dry and fraught with tales of bushrangers and danger. It’s a little further out than the bush; perhaps a two- to five-hour flight inland depending on your specific destination, and it is the stuff of legends, literally. Indigenous Australian's have inhabited the land for well over 60,000 years and have a culture and heritage so incredibly rich. Whatever your fitness level, walking tours with your own local guide is a great way of intimately covering land which you may have been the first person to ever set foot on. Yep - Australia is THAT big. Camp under a canopy of stars in your elevated luxury "camp out." For an authentic look at a working farm/cattle ranch you cannot go past Arkaba Station
The Red Center If you're set on the red center which is often considered the heart of Australia, plan a side trip to Alice Springs, venture to Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta. You will be exposed to an expansive living cultural landscape which very few are able to experience. Whether you spend your time learning of the ancient cultures of traditional owners, or exploring the stunning flora and fauna with expert guides, when you are face-to-face with this irresistible land, your senses come alive. Longitude 131
The Top End is something all together different - you have the polar opposites of Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory - and the Kimberly Ranges, in Northern Western Australia. This is for the second or third time visitor to Australia, located just to the west of Kakadu National Park is Bamurru Plains. A profusion of bird and wildlife are on the doorstep of a unique bush camp that exudes ‘Wild Bush Luxury’ and brings a touch of style to a remote and beautiful wilderness. Safaris and helicopter mustering of water buffalo and cattle are among some of the exciting things you can do here!
For wildlife watching, bush-walking, photography, Aboriginal rock art or just soaking up the sights and sounds, Australia is in a class of its own. Come, get lost in time..
Ask an Australian Travel Expert to find your outback experience
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Yes, You Can Survive in Coach on a Long Flight
Flying in this day and age can be a real hassle. I often dream of what it must have been like in the glory days of flying where passengers were pampered rather than herded and when flying was a luxury, not just an inconvenience. Unfortunately, those days are gone. But that is not to say we can’t take our flying comfort into our own hands!
I know that flying economy when traveling internationally can really be a drag, especially if you have ever been lucky enough to experience first or business class, but there are definitely ways to make it MUCH more comfortable than you can imagine.
Firstly, the service offered by airlines that fly to the South Pacific, such as Qantas and Air New Zealand is really incomparable. The attendants really do go above and beyond to make sure the passengers, no matter what class they are in, have everything they need. This alone can make a long flight an enjoyable one.
Secondly, I think the key to a comfortable flight is to make this seat your home for the next 10 plus hours. I never board a flight without the following:
-Eye mask: Splurge on something plush and you won’t be disappointed.
-Neck pillow: Ditto on this one.
-Water: As much as I can carry. It is important to stay fully hydrated. This can also make
the jet lag a little less extreme.
-Noise cancelling headphones: I prefer the Bose models. These can be a little expensive, but they are great! Not only do they allow you to watch your in-flight entertainment system without distraction, but they are ideal for sleeping (see below).
-An iPod with soothing music: Along with your headphones, this will help you get and stay asleep.
-A large wrap: This item can double as a blanket or pillow and will be so much more comfortable than the airline version.
-A change of clothes to sleep in, a toothbrush, face wash and other essential toiletries: I know this may seem extreme, but you will want to arrive at your destination
feeling as fresh as possible. After all, you never know when that hotel room is going to be ready!
Although flying in coach will never be as comfortable as your own bed, allowing yourself a few small luxuries can make it a lot more enjoyable! And think of all the money you can spend DURING your vacation, instead of getting TO your vacation.
Start planning your South Pacific Vacation
I know that flying economy when traveling internationally can really be a drag, especially if you have ever been lucky enough to experience first or business class, but there are definitely ways to make it MUCH more comfortable than you can imagine.
Firstly, the service offered by airlines that fly to the South Pacific, such as Qantas and Air New Zealand is really incomparable. The attendants really do go above and beyond to make sure the passengers, no matter what class they are in, have everything they need. This alone can make a long flight an enjoyable one.
Secondly, I think the key to a comfortable flight is to make this seat your home for the next 10 plus hours. I never board a flight without the following:
-Eye mask: Splurge on something plush and you won’t be disappointed.
-Neck pillow: Ditto on this one.
-Water: As much as I can carry. It is important to stay fully hydrated. This can also make
the jet lag a little less extreme.
-Noise cancelling headphones: I prefer the Bose models. These can be a little expensive, but they are great! Not only do they allow you to watch your in-flight entertainment system without distraction, but they are ideal for sleeping (see below).
-An iPod with soothing music: Along with your headphones, this will help you get and stay asleep.
-A large wrap: This item can double as a blanket or pillow and will be so much more comfortable than the airline version.
-A change of clothes to sleep in, a toothbrush, face wash and other essential toiletries: I know this may seem extreme, but you will want to arrive at your destination
feeling as fresh as possible. After all, you never know when that hotel room is going to be ready!
Although flying in coach will never be as comfortable as your own bed, allowing yourself a few small luxuries can make it a lot more enjoyable! And think of all the money you can spend DURING your vacation, instead of getting TO your vacation.
Start planning your South Pacific Vacation
Celebrating My Birthday in Style on Sydney Harbour
and New Year’s, celebrating with my friends and family. Birthdays, however, are another story. For those occasions, an escape from reality is always very welcome. And for those of you who enjoy getting older, traveling to a far-off spot is a great way to celebrate!
I was lucky enough to celebrate a BIG birthday (not going to mention which one) when I was down in Sydney last August. Just around sundown, my husband and I boarded a 52 foot luxury cruiser along with Shawn and Pip (and their baby Hugh), the owners of Sea Sydney Cruises. Thus began one of the best days of my life aboard “my” private yacht.
As we coasted along the beautiful harbour, Shawn pointed out many of its highlights, including Russell Crowe’s home! He knows so much about the area, including its history and architecture, so one feels he/she is really gaining an insider’s perspective on this iconic waterway.
Following our informative tour, Pip came upstairs with her homemade canapés. Yum! There is no better way to wash these tasty treats down then with some delicious Aussie wines (and they are never in short supply on the yacht).
One of the best parts of the cruise was just being able to chat to Pip and Shawn, who are two of the warmest and friendliest people one will ever meet. The whole experience made me feel as if I was just a local out for a cruise with some close friends to celebrate my special day. I can’t wait to go back and see them again!
You too can enjoy a once in a lifetime private cruise on Sydney Harbour to celebrate
your special day. Just call Down Under Endeavours 888.229.0082!
Read Shawn and Pip's personal note
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No Ball Drop? No Problem: New Zealanders Do New Year’s Eve (Nearly) First and Best
New Year’s Eve festivities began when the couple who owned my hotel went to the local dock to buy the day’s catch from local fisherman. These fisherman pull their catch directly up onto the dock and whatever they don’t plan to eat themselves, they sell to anyone stopping by. New Year’s Eve also happened to coincide with the local fishermen’s competition, so each fish was weighed and the winners were auctioned off to the highest bidder. The hotel owners bought the third place finisher in the hapuku competition (grouper fish), as well as a half dozen crayfish, which altogether was enough to feed several dozen -- twice the number of people staying at the hotel. The food was served directly off the “barbie” (barbecue) along with the kinds of pasta and potato salads you’d find at a summer picnic in the U.S. Until this point, I’d never eaten fish so fresh and so I hadn’t been a seafood lover; this one meal changed my opinion forever. It was succulent, delicious, and far from the pork and potatoes my family usually serves at this time of year.
We all sat around the hotel courtyard, licking our chops and drinking Tui, the local beer, in our shorts and tank tops. By midnight, we were all best friends and sang as we watched a nearby town’s tiny fireworks from the beach. By sunrise, only a handful of us remained on the sand, among the first in the world to see the sun rise above a crescent of blue. It was my first New Year’s without a scarf, hat and gloves, and my first New Year’s eating from a barbecue near the beach. Far from watching the ball drop in Times Square or any sort of media broadcast, instead nature provided the awe-inspiring fireworks of the new day. It is wonderful to experience the way others around the world celebrate the holidays that we all know and love, starting new traditions that I’ll carry with me forever.
Down Under Endeavours can help you make your New Year’s or any holiday a memorable one in New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti, Fiji or South Africa.
Contact us to start planning your customized New Zealand Vacation
"I'm Dreaming of a Beachy, Aussie Christmas"
As a kid, I couldn’t really identify with the winter visuals and snow-related activities we would see on TV or in a movie. Even being in Chicago six years now and being able to have a White Christmas, I still associate Christmas with 100+ degree days, licking my salty lips, digging in the sand with my heels for Pippis (like clams) fresh crab my Dad caught and my parents giggling. Christmas Day night would be a bonfire on the beach and fresh fish or blue swimmer crab, maybe some sausages and some pasta salad, or potato salad or if we were really really lucky -- some hot chips from the local take away covered in barbeque sauce.
Growing up in Australia, my six-week summer vacation was punctuated by the holy trinity -- Christmas Day, Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year’s Eve. These days were especially great, because we would get to play with our new toys or activity sets, stay up late and not shower before bed. The smell of smoke, the tightness of salty skin and the fullness of belly were all reminders of another awesome day at the beach.
I am taking my family down next year to experience this. It will be a little different to the celebrations of old, but I hope that I will be creating similar memories for my children. The ideal Christmas Day for me these days would be Vegemite toast and OJ or a cold glass of milk and Milo for breakfast and opening presents. Then apply sunscreen and be off to the beach for building sandcastles for a while and playing around in the water, and then some lunch.
Lunch is an effortless thrown together picnic of cold rotisserie chicken, sausages, potato salad, and grilled veges leftover from the BBQ the night before; some Sauvignon Blanc, or some good Aussie Beer (no Australian really drinks Fosters, just an FYI.) would welcome in the afternoon. Cricket on the beach, some snorkeling, maybe even some body or board surfing to really tire out the kids, and then as sunset gently makes its presence known and the blanket of stars come out, cuddling up with the hubby and a glass of wine in hand, an arm wrapped around the kids nestled together beside a small beach fire and retelling the foibles of the day, laughing and toasting marshmallows on tree sticks.
For Boxing Day, repeat the above.
New Years Eve was always staying up late and enjoying the oohs and aahs and clapping in admiration at the wonderful lightshow and colours in the sky; or watching Dad with the Catherine Wheels and rockets, again staying up way past regular bedtime. I remember the first time I saw the fireworks on Sydney Harbour; I was on a boat. I was an adult – and I still had the butterflies and anticipation like I used to as a kid. What a show, what a way to welcome in the New Year!
Vacationing and spending the holidays in Australia and the South Pacific is a completely different experience from simply traveling down for a break. Sharing holiday customs and intimate family moments with the locals at these times of year, and allowing them to invite you into theirs is an honour.
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The Ultimate Aussie Souvenir- Why you won't be able to live without Tim Tams after a trip Down Under!
I discovered Tim Tams in my early days at Down Under Endeavours. Since we are all forbidden to return to work after a trip to Australia unless we have a fresh supply of these yummy chocolate biscuits, our office is rarely without.
No trip to the South Pacific is complete without sampling these amazing cookies. They come in a many delicious chocolate varieties: orange, dark, chili, raspberry, and double (my person favorite) just to name a few. For those of you who don’t mind getting a bit messy, the best way to consume these little treats is the famous “Tim Tam Slam,” which basically consists of biting off either end of the Tim Tam, dipping one end in the tea and sucking the warm liquid through the biscuit. The goal is to get the Tim Tam fully in your mouth before it dissolves into a sticky pool of chocolate. YUM!
Part of the joy of traveling is discovering a local treasure, especially when they are virtually impossible to find anywhere else! Tim Tams are definitely one of these. Ask any Australian and they will proudly tell you how much they love this biscuit (and don’t even get them started on Cherry Ripes). So, when you travel to the South Pacific, make sure you pick up some of these lovely cookies to take home with you and share with your family and friends. (but keep a secret stash for yourself)!
What's Your Favourite Aussie Souvenir?
No trip to the South Pacific is complete without sampling these amazing cookies. They come in a many delicious chocolate varieties: orange, dark, chili, raspberry, and double (my person favorite) just to name a few. For those of you who don’t mind getting a bit messy, the best way to consume these little treats is the famous “Tim Tam Slam,” which basically consists of biting off either end of the Tim Tam, dipping one end in the tea and sucking the warm liquid through the biscuit. The goal is to get the Tim Tam fully in your mouth before it dissolves into a sticky pool of chocolate. YUM!
Part of the joy of traveling is discovering a local treasure, especially when they are virtually impossible to find anywhere else! Tim Tams are definitely one of these. Ask any Australian and they will proudly tell you how much they love this biscuit (and don’t even get them started on Cherry Ripes). So, when you travel to the South Pacific, make sure you pick up some of these lovely cookies to take home with you and share with your family and friends. (but keep a secret stash for yourself)!
What's Your Favourite Aussie Souvenir?
First Time Scuba Diver... on the Great Barrier Reef!
My first stop on my three-week journey toAustralia was to Cairns. Only 24 hours into my stay in Australia I wasalready on my way to see one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World,the Great Barrier Reef! We made our way to the wharf and boarded our tour boat with a company called Reef Experience. (They offer both day trips and overnight trips to the reef). Once aboard, the instructors asked us if we would be trying the included introductory dive. Of course, we said yes, as neither of us have ever scuba’d before and, well, it is the Great Barrier Reef!
We went through a 30-minute “classroom session” where the instructors demonstrated underwater hand signals, what to do in an emergency, and pointed out important features on our scuba gear. Before we knew it we were in the water. We each had to pass three basic scuba techniques before we could join the excursion. The three people before me, did them without even blinking an eye. Then it was my turn. I went under the water and fear instantly hit me. I saw the bottom of the boat, then just blue abyss. I must have come up out of the water three or four times. My first excuse... “There’s water in my eye mask.” They quickly told me to stop breathing through my nose, because that was causing water leakage. My second excuse... “It’s hard for me to breath through my mouthpiece!” They fiddled with something on my scuba tank, which they probably just pretended to “fix” to make me feel better. My third excuse... “Okay, I’m just scared. I admit it, I don’t think I can do it.” Words cannot express how laid back and supportive the instructors were. I heard one say, “She’ll be fine once she gets away from the boat, I guarantee it!” The other told me he would not let me out of the water until I tried this or else I would regret it my whole life.
Now, if the instructor would have told me, ‘Hey, turn around... there’s the reef!” I would have passed my technique test the first time! As soon as I saw it, I felt this overwhelming sense of calm and awe wash over me. The coral, sea life, and general feeling of scuba diving was the most amazing experience of my life and I enjoyed it so much that I participated in the second dive that generally comes at an extra cost.
We also snorkeled while the other groups were on their scuba journeys. It was also amazing, but couldn’t compare to getting up close and personal to the reef while scuba diving.
Words and even pictures cannot express the wonder and beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, and it truly can only be fully experienced firsthand. It is the only way to give it true justice. Give us a call, and we’ll help you enjoy this once-in-a-life-time endeavor. Corinne is the resident South Pacific dive expert and is happy to discuss diving in Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia.
See Sample of dive packages
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See Mary's amazing blog post from her diving experience
Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa named World’s Best Ecolodge
It’s Official... The secret is out. The world finally knows about the Daintree Eco Lodge and we think it’s about time! Nestled in the heart of a 135 million year old rainforest, this once hidden gem, provides a combination of ecotourism, amazing spa treatments, and unique Aboriginal cultural experiences that have been charming our clients for years. Recently, The World Travel Awards, dubbed by the the Wall Street Journal as “the 'Oscars' of the global travel and tourism industry” named the lodge as Australasia’s Leading Green Hotel World’s Leading Eco-Lodge. In addition to these prestigious awards, the resort has also been honored with 10 other major awards for excellence in spa, health and wellness, eco, nature, and travel experiences.
These awards have special meaning here at Down Under Endeavours. Not only has the lodge been providing unique experiences and exceptional service to our clients for years, but the owners, Terry and Cathy Maloney are close friends of DUE’s president Corinne Goodman. All are from the small town, Young, located in Australia’s New South Wales.
In celebration for such a stellar year, we are offering Stay 3/Pay 2 special so you too can see why the Lodge was named the worlds best. This special is offered for a limited time and is January 18th - March 31st, 2010.
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