Hot travel deals: Cruises, winter escapes and luxury stays you should book
Tongariro Crossing Lodge's new Garden Suites discount comes with free breakfast.
Cruise Europe in a small ship
Set sail aboard Le Bougainville for a nine-night luxury cruise through Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Italy and Malta, with a free Solo Supplement on selected cabins. Departing from Dubrovnik, this journey includes an excursion at every port, from the Bay of Kotor and Korcula to Parga and Valletta. Enjoy the cruise with Ponant's all-inclusive small ship luxury, all with curated cultural experiences, fine dining, and stunning coastal views.
From $8950 pp twin share. Save a further $500 per cabin using the code NZH. Solo offer and savings are strictly limited. Visit ultimatecruising.co.nz for bookings and details.
Discover the Adriatic and Ionian seas with this cruise.
Hamilton Island escape
Stay three nights at qualia on Hamilton Island and explore the best of the Whitsundays with ease and comfort. This five-star resort sits on the island's northern tip, giving you access to ocean views, private beaches and nearby reef adventures. The package includes a three-night stay at the five-star resort, a la carte breakfast daily, VIP return transfers from the marina or airport, use of a golf buggy, non-motorised watercraft, a chauffeur service around the island, non-alcoholic drinks, Wi-Fi and 24-hour access to the concierge team.
Priced from $2910 pp twin share, valid for travel from June 13 to August 15, August 18 to September 18, September 22 to December 19, 2025, and January 11 to March 31, 2026. Book by October 30, 2025 at helloworld.co.nz/deal/30668/hamilton-island-alluring-escape-qualia-hamilton-island. Bookings must be made at least 60 days in advance.
Lounge in the pool all day at this luxury resort.
Scenic winter rail journey
Experience the magic of winter in Canada with a scenic rail journey through British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies. This 10-day itinerary starts in Vancouver before boarding VIA Rail's Canadian Train for a nostalgic ride to Jasper, surrounded by stunning snow-capped peaks. Discover Jasper's winter wonderland with an ice walk through Maligne Canyon and indulge in local flavours on the Downtown Foodie Tour. Continue to Lake Louise and Banff to enjoy picturesque drives, ice skating and immersive experiences like Nightrise at the Banff Gondola. End your adventure with a captivating tour of Calgary. Prepare for an unforgettable journey through Canada's breathtaking winter landscapes.
From $5165 pp, this deal is on sale until July 31. Valid for selected travel dates between November 2025 and April 2026. Airfares are additional. Book via travel-associates.co.nz/accommodation/canada/snow-train-to-the-rockies-21114608 or call 0800 951 655.
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5 days ago
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Cruising the Kimberley on board Ponant's luxury small ship Le Jacques Cartier
On board, it's a French affair – from elegant staterooms with private balconies to fine dining and champagne, a spa, and a plunge pool. What sets it apart is its team of expert naturalists who accompany guests on Zodiac excursions along the Kimberley's spectacular coastline, sharing stories about the ancient sandstone cliffs, Aboriginal rock art and abundance of wildlife. The ship's design blends modern elegance with expedition-ready functionality. The ship features 92 staterooms and suites spread across four passenger decks, offering airy, light-filled spaces with ocean views. A hydraulic marina at the stern is the focal point for expertly planned, daily Zodiac excursions. The spaces It might be classified as a small ship but it never feels crowded on board Le Jacques Cartier. With roughly 150 guests on board during my sailing, there's always a spot to relax, drink or dine. Public areas include the observation lounge on deck six, an 188-seat theatre (where daily briefings take place), indoor and outdoor dining across two levels, a wellness centre with spa, sauna and gym, and an infinity-edge pool. A popular gathering point is the main lounge, which opens early for coffee and pastries and transitions throughout the day from the excursion meeting point to a hub for activities like quizzes and French lessons, to afternoon tea and post-dinner dancing. There are plenty of places to seek entertainment on board. Photo / Supplied The Observatory is ideal for enjoying the cocktail of the day, watching the sunset or settling in with a book. Don't miss the unique Blue Eye Lounge on deck zero, a world-first underwater observatory where guests can watch marine life and listen to the ocean through hydrophones – or just enjoy a Curacao-infused Blue Eye cocktail and music. Boarding and check-in The starting point for Ponant's 'Australia's Iconic Kimberley Cruise' is Broome, on the traditional lands of the Yawuru people – a tropical coastal town in Western Australia known for its multicultural heritage, pearling industry and postcard-perfect sights like Cable Beach. Ponant offers an optional one-night pre-cruise package, and it's well worth adding Broome to your itinerary. Airport transfers to the Mangrove Hotel, the official cruise meeting point, are included. Cruising the Kimberley on board Ponant's luxury small ship Le Jacques Cartier. Photo / Supplied Check-in is seamless: guests drop their bags at the Ponant desk, enjoy light refreshments, then receive their cabin keys before boarding a shuttle to the port – all within an hour. By 4pm, we were welcomed aboard by Captain Christophe Dupuy and shown directly to our stateroom, where our luggage was waiting. All that remained was to unpack and head for a welcome cocktail before setting sail. Food and drink There are just two restaurants on board – the fine dining, multi-course Le Nautilus, and the more casual Grill Restaurant on the pool deck – but the offering is so varied (and included in your fare), it feels abundant. The Grill is a go-to at lunchtime when the sun is shining and an elaborate poolside cooking station turns out everything from big pans of paella brimming with chorizo, octopus, mussels, chicken and rice, to a seafood extravaganza complete with prawn towers and trays of shellfish. The fine dining, multi-course restaurant, Le Nautilus. Photo / Supplied In the air-conditioned Le Nautilus, with its crisp white tablecloths and sparkling glassware, expect a six-course French menu designed by executive chef Philippe Morvan, alongside an alternative menu of 'Australian-friendly' options – a rack of NZ lamb one night, chicken parmy the next – a selection of French wines, and attentive service. The tables are designed for socialising, with plenty for six or more, as friendships are inevitably formed during the cruise. For those who prefer a quiet table for two, there's always one to be found. Pastry chef Kevin Tiraboshi's desserts are an absolute standout (think pecan pie, lemon meringue tart, pistachio financier, mille-feuille and big bowls of chocolate mousse) that have most guests indulging at both lunch and dinner. The understated desserts are often the heroes, like the crème anglaise, served from a jug, which caused many a queue. No French cruise is complete without a cheese buffet, and Le Jacques Cartier's offered an astonishing array of French selections and accompaniments, from Coulommiers and ash brie to Morbier, Comté and Cantal. The room Compact yet cleverly designed, our Prestige Stateroom delivers boutique hotel comfort at sea. At 19sq m, it fits a king bed, seating area, wardrobe, mini bar and a private balcony – with thoughtful storage and luxe details throughout. Prestige Stateroom. Photo / Supplied The bathroom, stocked with Clarins products, even offers ocean views from the shower. Daily turndown includes a parade of petit fours, and 24/7 room service means you can enjoy a Ponant burger and a glass of champagne while you watch a movie in bed. Spas, saunas and gyms Don't expect to get your step count up on this cruise. The most walking I did was from the cabin to the breakfast buffet, with daily expeditions often restricted to a Zodiac cruise without touching land. So if you're keen to earn that second slice of lemon meringue pie, the compact gym, with its ocean outlook, is the place to be. The on-board spa. Photo / Supplied You might even spot dolphins while you work out (true story). In lieu of a walking loop on an upper level, I also made the most of the stairwell and long hallways. I loved the spa and salon, with its dreamy menu of facials, massages and hair treatments using Clarins products, perfect for an at-sea day. The crew With 127 crew members to a maximum of 184 guests, Le Jacques Cartier offers impressively attentive service. You quickly get to know the hard-working and personable team, from Agus, who keeps our stateroom impeccably clean, to Iwan, the waiter who remembers our spice preference and ensures Tabasco appears on the breakfast table (even sharing a sachet of sambal from his personal stash). Sommelier Claudelie always has an armful of French wine to match the day's menu, while restaurant manager Jennyfer glides through the dining room with effortless efficiency. Cruise director Johan keeps the schedule running smoothly with charm and precision, and the true stars – the naturalists – are walking encyclopaedias and great company on excursions. Hunter River and Porosus Creek Cruising. Photo / Supplied Expeditions Each day, the ship anchors at a new location in the Kimberley on its way from Broome to Darwin. Expert-led Zodiac excursions take guests into mangrove-lined rivers, to ancient Aboriginal rock art, and zoom right up close to Talbot Bay's Horizontal Falls. A highlight is Montgomery Reef, which appears to rise dramatically from the sea as the tide drops. You will see wildlife, including crocodiles (a real thrill as a New Zealander), green turtles, mudskippers, stingrays and nesting seabirds. Guests are assigned to small expedition groups at the start of the journey, which is a great way to forge bonds across the 10-day voyage. You won't swim (as well as crocodiles, there are sharks, jellyfish and dangerous tides), but you will cruise through dramatic gorges and toast champagne beneath King George Falls. This is not a cruise for independent explorers or active hikers – with only two opportunities to step ashore, walking is minimal (even accounting for those return trips to the buffet and bar). But for lovers of luxury and wild, remote beauty, at a very gentle pace, it's unforgettable. Price From $14,129 per person for a 10-night Australia's Iconic Kimberley. Includes daily expert-led excursions, onboard meals and drinks, including 24/7 room service and mini bar. The writer was a guest on board courtesy of Ponant. She flew courtesy of Qantas and Virgin Australia.
