Welcoming the royal newly-weds

NEW ZEALAND is preparing to welcome the royal newly-weds, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, on their first official visit to the southern realms.

The four-day royal visit (28 October - 1 November) will be the last stop on a 16-day royal tour that also includes visits to Australia, Fiji and Tonga. 

In #NewZealand, their royal highness's will visit the main cities of Wellington and Auckland, travel across Cook Strait to Abel Tasman National Park on the northern tip of the South Island, and Rotorua - the cultural and geothermal heart of the central North Island.

Royal Tour Outline

• Tuesday 16th October - Monday 22nd October: Australia 
• Tuesday 23rd October - Wednesday 24th October: Fiji 
• Thursday 25th October - Friday 26th October: Tonga 
• Saturday 27th October: Sydney, Australia 
• Sunday 28th October: Wellington, New Zealand
• Monday 29th October: Wellington and Abel Tasman, New Zealand
• Tuesday 30th October: Auckland, New Zealand
• Wednesday 31st October: Rotorua, New Zealand

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Wellington is a winner

DEUTSCH Bank’s most recent Liveable City Index has named New Zealand’s cool little capital #Wellington number one for the second year in a row! The Deutsche Bank Liveable City Index, ranks world cities in categories such as safety in the city, health care, cost of living, pollution and climate. Wellington has topped the table against bigger and arguably better-known cities including Zurich (2nd), Copenhagen (3rd), Edinburgh (4th) and Vienna (5th).

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The lure of Wellington and Marlborough

WELLINGTON'S creative and cultural attractions plus a scenic Marlborough trip are being promoted to lure Australians here for an autumn break.

Tourism New Zealand is partnering with the Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency (WREDA) and Destination Marlborough to raise awareness of both places among Australians and to encourage them to visit.

A four week campaign will run from next week with the aim of increasing the number of arrivals by 7.5 percent in March to May this year. That would see more than 7000 Australians heading to Wellington and Marlborough for a short holiday.

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Picture Credit: pintrest Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand by Rach Stewart

Glamour, equestrian style

WELLINGTON, #Florida is world-famous for drawing equestrian enthusiasts and celebrities from all over the world during its #horse season, which runs from January to April. Every winter, Wellington turns into a hub for the glamorous #equestrian lifestyle. From the Global Dressage Festival, to International Polo, to the Winter Equestrian Festival, there is simply no comparison to this horse-lover’s paradise. With Wellington Insider Tours, visitors are given a behind-the-scenes peek at what the judges, competitors, and show managers get to see… a true insider’s tour.

Wellington Insider Tours immerses its guests in dressage, show jumping, and polo during three-day VIP tours. Guests will be able to meet international riders and judges, and even learn directly from licensed judges what competitors must do to earn their dressage scores, giving them a true appreciation for the shows they attend during the tour.

wellingtoninsidertours.com

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New Zealand in the picture again

The release of the epic sci-fi movie Ghost in the Shell has again put the spotlight on #NewZealand as a special place to visit. The film opened in New Zealand last week.

Starring Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, and Juliette Binoche #GhostintheShell was filmed primarily at Stone Street Studios in Wellington, with a key scene filmed in downtown Wellington.

Many of the cast and crew spent months living like locals in the capital and some were able to travel around New Zealand during their breaks.

René de Monchy, Tourism New Zealand’s Director of PR, Trade and Major Events says Ghost in the Shell is just the latest in a series of big productions being filmed in New Zealand. “It gives us another chance to promote New Zealand and everything we have to offer. It reinforces the fact that we can provide a warm and welcoming place to visit, and highlights our message that everything is easily accessible.”

Actor Scarlett Johansson, who plays the role of “Major” in the film adaptation of the famous Japanese manga, said Wellington was one of the best cities she’d worked in. “It has an outdoorsy vibe and it is so nice on your days off to be able to walk by the harbour, drive to the mountains or go hiking in the bush.

Ghost in the Shell Producer Ari Arad says Wellington has been a perfect location for filming.

Films have a powerful influence over people choosing where they want to travel. The Hobbit Trilogy is still responsible for attracting one in five visitors to New Zealand.

”This is another great opportunity for us to promote New Zealand as a tourism destination with diverse, unique landscapes alongside welcoming people,” said Mr de Monchy.

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World’s best little capital

NEW ZEALAND’S capital city Wellington has been named the ‘world’s coolest little capital’ and given a place in the Rough Guides Top 10 Cities to Visit in 2015.

‘There’s a real buzz about the city’s café scene, and smart new craft-beer bars are bubbling up across the city,’ say the Rough Guides editors, who rank the city (population 395,600) alongside such diverse destinations as Malaga, Hamburg, and New Orleans.

Wellington will host three matches in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, including a tantalizing England-New Zealand meeting.

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Picture Credit: 'Aotea Quay and stadium, Wellington, NZ' by Phillip Capper via Wikimedia Commons ; 'Wellington, NZ, at night@ by John Ted Daganato via Wikimedia Commons