Wednesday - January 10 2007

THE FIRST AND ONLY ONE WORLD PROJECT TOURISM AWARDS

If you read the last news (why not - archives now) you will know why this is the only time that the One World Project will make these awards. But we will, in another guise, make these awards each year that we travel. It is our way of thanking those who have helped us and promoting them a little bit more. Next year the awards will cover the Polynesian Islands, France, Spain and the Philippines but this year it is just New Zealand.

In true English fashion however the award will stay with us regardless of who wins it. We have the four main categories just as we do on our community pages. The awards within each one are summarised below so without further ado and rather a lot of nothing, could you hand me the first envelope please Ev.

REST AND STAY

We have three awards in this category. There is an award for the accommodation that has the best situation, one for the best facilities and one for the people who showed the nicest attitude and were the friendliest to us.

SITUATION

1.Pohutukawa Retreat - on a hill looking across the vineyard to the sea, sun kissed by day and with superb walks all around

2.Taipa Bay Resort - a walk across the road to a beautiful beach, plenty of open space and so quiet

3.Wagener Park - peaceful, close to the water and a sea food dinner just 50 metres away

Special mention:
Tawa Lodge - high up with a view across the waters that surround Waiheke
Green Gables - picturesque house with a river running past the back garden
Pioneer Apartments - a lovely view over the Bay of Islands
Haruru Falls - tranquil river runs by your door

FACILITIES

1.Moana Lodge - everything you might need plus so much you didn't know you would

2.Pioneer Apartments - wash, dry, listen and watch all in a superb setting

3.Park Heritage Hotel - a large hotel but just breakfast would guarantee it a place here and it has its own theatre

Special mention:
Glenfern Villas - a lovely villa with bedrooms upstairs and down
Fountain City Motor Inn - in the middle of Hamilton, a swimming pool, sauna and outdoor spa
Taipa Bay Resortall you could want in a luxurious setting

FRIENDLINESS

1.The Farms - The Bennetts are very special people who always make us feel at home

2.Barrycourt Hotel - the family touch from a fairly large complex with great staff

3. Hulmes Court - friendly staff and a nice atmosphere

Special mention:
Fyffe Country Lodge - small can be beautiful and helpful too
Park Heritage Hotel - despite being a major hotel everyone took the time for your needs
Tawa Lodge - ill or well, Dyan gives this place a fun feel

EAT AWAY

We again have three awards. This time for Situation, Food and Service.

SITUATION

1.Mudbrick - relax with a view to give anyone an appetite

2.Puretaste - across the swimming pool and out to the Bay, what could be better

3.Orbit - high above Auckland with an ever changing view

Special mention:
Darryl's Dinner Cruises - the Waitangi River flows by as you eat
Oasis Cafe - the river, the trees and the ever-present Nelson sun
Harbourside - enjoy your meal a few feet above the water
Palm Beach Clubhouse - a stone's throw from Waiheke's beautiful Palm Beach
Gondola - look down on Rotorua as you eat
Gondola - or do the same on Queenstown

FOOD

1.Puretaste - a renowned chef at his very best

2.Bacchus - so much variety from a Dutchman who loves cooking for New Zealanders

3.Gantleys - great combinations, perfect portions from a long time resident in the area

Special mention:
Mudbrick - a good choice wonderfully presented
Table Seven - the best Dunedin has to offer without a doubt
Cin Cin - excellent cuisine in central Auckland

SERVICE

1.Table Seven - friendly, fun and obviously popular with everyone, pick a cocktail to suit your personality

2.Bacchus - each course explained and so helpful

3.Gantleys - a friendly approach and an interesting wine cellar

Special mention:
Bogarts - a fun place to be with the Friday evening dancing
Limon - without Murat where would we be today
Stonyridge - the place for the 12 hour lunch and so much more
Lazy Lounge - fun with Patrick, football with Nick and staff who can recognise any number of different characters
Eleven - the personal approach where nothing is too much trouble

TRY AND DO Once again three categories in this section too. They are for the best experience, the biggest thrill and, again, the friendliest operator.

EXPERIENCE

1.SailNZ - the chance to crew a real America's Cup yacht in Auckland harbour

2.On The Edge - crew, sail and eat on the fastest catamaran in the Bay of Islands

3.Agrodome - so much to offer in one place with the chance to Zorb

Special mention:
Briar's Horse Trek - a horse trek ride along the beach is so romantic, even for Richard
Te Hoenga Waka - imagine you are a Maori warrior paddling your war canoe

THRILL

1.Canyon Swing - better than a bungy jump with a variety of different positions

2.The Excitor - leap the waves in the knowledge that one man is in control

3.Riverjet - do the legendary 360 after skimming the river banks

Special mention:
Agrojet - so fast, so scary but too short. Try it anyway

FRIENDLINESS

1.
Dive Tutukaka - everyone looked after as you sail and dive off the Tutukaka coast

2.Quad Bikes - a great ride but so much more explained on the way

3.Te Hoenga Waka - he may wear a flax g-string but he is still very friendly

Special mention:
The Excitor - our ride with Dave ended up with a great friendship as he looked after us the next time we went to Paihia
Agrodome - superbly organised and everyone so helpful
Canyon Swing - check the photo, is that a friendly face

VISIT, VIEW

The final category and, guess what, there are three of them. The categories are the most amazing site we came across, the most interesting and the friendliest operator.

AMAZING

1.
Franz Josef Glacier - words fail me at the chance to walk on this magnificent creation of nature

2.Waitomo Caves - glow-worms and an abseil deep into the earth

3.Taieri Gorge Railway - one of the great train journeys in the world

INTERESTING

1.Whakarewarewa Thermal Village - among the steaming pools of Rotorua a real life village

2.Hells Gate - bathe in the mud or walk round the hot pools

3.Waiheke Island - a beautiful place with so much creativity

FRIENDLIEST

1.Franz Josef Glacier - from manager to guide, everyone has so much time for you

2.Whakarewarewa Thermal Village - it may be their home but they welcome you superbly

3Waitomo Caves - even a teddy bear gets the full treatment here

Special mention:
Finale - so much to offer and so much fun

SPECIAL AWARDS

We have two special awards to make.

THE MOST EFFICIENT COMPANY WE HAVE WORKED WITH

IGRIN - a pleasure to work with this small Northland company. Their help and advice is always available and no problem is too great for them to solve.

THE MOST PLEASANT COMPANY WE HAVE WORKED WITH

Eurocampers- without Damien I doubt that we would have got this far. Not only that but his vehicles are the best you could find anywhere and his service unbeatable. He even had us back in the van within 60 minutes after we locked ourselves out in Mount Manganui. Thanks Damien

THE FINAL AWARD

There is no name for this award because the person concerned went way beyond the call of duty. When it seemed likely that we would be unable to remain in New Zealand or even make our journey around this beautiful country, he stepped in with some much needed financial support, which went way beyond anything we should have expected from a small company. We are now honoured to call him a friend and have rewarded him by making him work harder as he is now a trustee of our Foundation here.

He believed in us and what we are trying to do to make a difference and, with his actions, he truly did make it happen. Thank you Alan, we owe you so much.