February and March are busy months on the concert scene in Auckland. Nearly every week big name artists perform at either Vector the Civic or another venue within walking distance of b and bg auckland, Aspen House Hotel.

Diana Krall plays on February 20 and then Tom Jones pkays the next night at the Villa Maria Estate Winery.

Cliff Richards and the Shadows play at the Vector arena, 5 minutes away from bed and breakfast, Aspen House Hotel, on February 25.

Box Scaggs and a band of blues payers including Mick Fleetwood play the Vector arena on March 5.

Then  March 11, Harry Connick, Jr, pictured above,  one of the today’s most versatile and accomplished entertainers – pianist, singer, composer and bandleader – brings his many musical talents to The Civic with his exceptional touring band. Tickets from $99.

A week late, March 13 and 14 Lady Gaga who recently performed a duet at the Grammies with Sir Elton John, plays at the arena.

Tickets are from $89 so again affordable and so cheap against other currencies.

Lyle Lovett plays at the Civic Theatre, a historic venue with great seats – wathcing shows here makes you feel so close to the performers. March 20 is Lyle’s night.

This is his first-ever Australasian tour. The four-time Grammy winner is one of America’s finest singer-songwriters, leading a remarkable 20-year career spanning 13 albums and over four million records sold

Then April 10 Carole King and James Taylor entertain at the Vector arena.

The next night Kelly Clarkson plays with tickets from $89.

Did you know Auckland can be one of the cheapest and easiest places to see your favourite rock groups? Being a city of only 1.5 million people seeing a rock concert from Lady Gaga to AC DC is easy.

Most venues are within a $20 taxi ride. If shows are on at Vector arena then you can walk to it (5 minutes) from the most affordable b and b auckland, Aspen House Hotel.

Last month the legendary Al Green played to a packed out audience at the iconic Civic Theatre – tickets were only around $180 that’s 60 Euro.

So who is coming Diana Krall, Harry Connick, Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Carole King and James Taylor. Details in next post.

No 3 The Waterfront   You can visit the next destinations on the ‘expolorer tourist bus’, other public transport or a taxi. Auckland has a magnificent waterfront, your first stop should be Bastion Point Lookout – an iconic lookout point over the Waitemata Harbour with magnificent views. It is also  a significant area for its Maori protests in the 1970’s against forced land alienation by non-Maori New Zealanders. Further along is Kelly Tarltons with its penguin Antarctic Adventure and Underwater World, a short walk to sandy beaches, coffee shops and lots of eating choices. No 4 – A ferry trip  No one should leave Auckland without getting on a ferry and going to either Devonport (10 minutes) for lunch and shopping, Rangitoto (20 minutes) for an adventure walk up an extinct volcano or to Waiheke ( 40 minutes) to lunch at a vineyard and walk along a surf beach and admire the coastal views.  No 5 – Adventure   For those keen to take stories home try either the America’s Cup experience, Bridgeclimb (a walk over the Auckland Harbour Bridge), a bungee off the Sky Tower, a walk around the Sky Tower or for those not into adrenalin rushes just have lunch or dinner at the top of the Sky Tower and admire the 360 views of Auckland.  

The recent comment on travelbug is here:

Really enjoyed our stay in a newly refurbished room with ensuite. Staff were friendly and helpful. Continental breakfast was great. Good conversations round the breakfast table with others. Everything was clean and would highly recommend for anyone wanting innercity Auckland accommodation. Walking distance from Vectra Arena. Have no hesitation in recommending to others and would stay there again. Just a short walk from Airport Airbus stop.

His daughter was an air hostess and so he was planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand. I suggested he allow a week at least in the North Island and then try to get to the South Island to Christchurch or Queenstown at best.

How did I suggest he put his week together, well here are some ideas:

Nearly everyone arrives in Auckland so stay a night in the city; go to Bastion Point to see the beautiful harbour, jump on a ferry if you have more time; go to Cornwall Park or up Mt Eden to get a sense of the city and its extinct ( don’t worry) volcanos.

Then pick up a rental car, you can’t beat JUCY Rentals, for value for money, service and smiles. JUCY are very handy to Aspen Hotel a central city hotel offering good comfort on a budget.

Wr recommend:

1. a trip north

2. a trip to the central plateau

3. a trip over to Waiheke Island or drive up one of the 48 extinct volcanos in Auckland City to get a sense of the city; or drive to the West Coast for a contrast between the two coasts Auckland City sits on.

4. A trip to Nelson, drive to Kaikoura for some whale watching

5. Go to Queenstown for the magnificent scenery and if your time allows a visit to Milford Sound.

So in more detail:

Head north ( as far as your time allows) even an hour and a quarter north to Leigh gives you wonderful views of the sea and islands. You can have a swim with the fish at Goat Island.

3 hours north and you will be up in Whangarei where you can see even more beautiful scenery, Tutukaka where there are some great boat trips, or 45 minutes further on to Russell or Opua. Again there are lots of day trips on the water to see the incredibler scenery, dolphins and sea life.

Drive back to Auckland and this time head south to the Central Plateau. Here you can choose Rotorua or Taupo. Rotorua is famous for its bubbling mud pools and geysers. Maori culture abounds in Rotorua too. Taupo has the beautiful views of Ruapehu where you can ski and it famous for its trout fishing. If you are into golf a round at Wairakei is world rated.

Read other blogs in this site for Kaikoura. A blog coming up will tell you more about Queenstown and Milford Sound.

If you head North there are some stunning beaches and views. It’s Down Under’s equivalent of the Amalfi Coast, except the roads are wider. But the views will have your mouth gaping. There is a coastal road if you have got time to meander. If not head straight to the Bay of Islands, see Paihia, Kerikeri and Doubtless Bay. These three places have lots of history, activities and places to stay.

Our 5 top tips for the Upper North Island are:

1. A trip to Paihia – jump on the boat that goes backwards and forwards to Russell and see an old settlement.

2 Do the Fullers Cream trip and see the beauty of the islands.

3. In Kerikeri enjoy the steam ship up the inlet. See the old Stone House, enjoy the lushness of this area before heading half an hour north to

4. Doubtless Bay. On the way drive through Mangonui – famous for its fish and chip shop! This is a quaint historical village doted with coffee shops. Around the bend is the long and beautiful Doubtless Bay and Cooper’s Beach. Further north the Carrington Golf Course is in a splendid setting where you can enjoy a glass of wine from their winery.

5. The finale of your trip up north is to get on a bus and go to the tip of the North Island, along 90 Mile Beach and up to Cape Reinga, where the Maori believe the spirits of the dead leave. See the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea meet sometimes producing waves 10 metres high.

If you head North there are some stunning beaches and views. It’s Down Under’s equivalent of the Amalfi Coast, except the roads are wider. But the views will have your mouth gaping. There is a coastal road if you have got time to meander. If not head straight to the Bay of Islands, see Paihia, Kerikeri and Doubtless Bay. These three places have lots of history, activities and places to stay.

If you have a question about your trip feel free to ask us and we’ll do our best to get back to you within a day or so.

New Zealand is renowned for having some of the best scenery in the world. Nothing like cycling around a country to appreciate it more than zooming past in a car. If you are planning on a cycling holiday find places to stay that are bike friendly. Backpackers often bike around the country – it’s so easy and people are so friendly. There are lots of B&B’s in the city and the country to stay in.

An inner city  B & B (bred and brekafast hotel), recommended by Lonely Planet is Aspen House Hotel. With a spacious basement garage your bike can be safely stored in their on-site secure carpark. The friendly team at Aspen Hotel can also get rid of backpackers large and unwieldy cardboard boxes if you travel with your own bike.  However if you don’t bring your own bike there are many options for people wanting to bike around the country. You can hire one easily enough. The roads around New Zealand are generally well-maintained, uncrowded and can take you anywhere you want to go from the sub-tropical north to the scenic Lord of the Rings country down south.

There’s a huge range of accommodation options for backpackers through to luxury. You can cycle by yourself or get some advice from those who know the best routes.

Have a look at cyclehire.co.nz for more advice on self guided or independent trips. Whether it is an overnighter or trips of 3 weeks they can give you friendly and helpful information. Guided tours are a fun way to cycle with other people and meet new friends. The benefit too, is all your gear can be carried by a support vehicle. You won’t have to worry about accommodation, everything is done for you.   If this sounds like you there are companies like Beach it- Flying Kiwi Adventure Tours who can arrange a four day trip from Auckland to the Bay of Islands where you are have some great cycling trips. Warm water, beaches, rides and hikes are a great way to enjoy the ‘winterless north.’ This trip can take as long or as little as you like – create your own timetable the bus will pick you up every 9 days!  Some would say that takes the adventure out of cycling! Down South there are more operators. In Renwick, in the gorgeous Blenheim district you can hire bikes and cycle the wine trails for the famous Marlborough wineries, check out Watson’s Way Backpackers Lodge for bikes. Marlborough is flat so its easy countryside to cycle.

There are 25 wineries within a 5 km radius.In Christchurch there is cyclehire.co.nz, they can fit you out with a bike, a map, tours –self guided or group from Christchurch down to the stunning countryside around Queenstown. 

Cliff Richards & The Shadows, in their Final Reunion are performing, at the Vector arena, Thursday 25 February.

This is the first time they have all performed together since 1961! Sold out in Christchurch they have now put on a second show.  Don’t miss out in Auckland. Ticket prices range from  $110 to $139.Book to hear SIR Cliff today!

Need accommodation, want a bed and breakfast in Auckland City, look no further than the convenient, friendly and value for money, bed and breakfast Aspen House Hotel. At Aspen, the friendly reception staff will make you feel at home. Enjoy a spacious lounge where you can help yourself to coffee or tea and watch the big screen tv. Secure and safe on sight parking and only short walk to arena. Lonely Planet describes Aspen’s room as great value for money, smartly designed. Our guests rate the bathrooms and showers!

 Get your ticket for Cliff today and don’t miss those popular tunes, 19 No 1 hits, Living Doll, It’s all in the Game, Travellin’ Light, Bachelor Boy, Wonderful Land and Apache.50 years on Cliff Richard, Hank, Marvin, Bruce Welch and Brian Bennett take to the Vector arena for the very last time on this tour. Don’t miss out. Book today.

In our blogs we have written a lot about what is on in Auckland and what you can do when you visit New Zealand.

Rated by Lonely Planet as one of the city’s best, Aspen House,is located beside a city park, handy to the Vector arena and all transport routes. Lonely Planet says:

“Despite its centrality and bargain prices, the place is relatively quiet. It’s far from a party place – more a wise choice for those with an eye for a good deal and equally good design.”

 So why stay at Aspen House Bed and Breakfast?

• Only bed and breakfast in the CBD
• Best located bed and breakfast
• Short walk to Queen St, Britomart transport centre,
• Fresh continental breakfast every day in spacious lounge
• 5 star service for budget price
• Close to University, transport hubs, Vector arena
• Discounted rates for long stay guests
• Smart, high ceiling and newly renovated
• Secure on sight car parking. WIFI.

 Aspen House has all the comforts of home with a large and welcoming lounge for guests to relax in and make a hot drink.  There are two styles of rooms, ensuite rooms in bold Scandinavian colours and charming French country style rooms with shared bathrooms. There are large rooms suitable for families and rooms for disabled. With spacious and modern bathrooms with lots of hot water, the great shower is frequently mentioned in the visitor’s book! Spacious communal areas, secure on sight parking make this a top stay. Wake up to hot coffee, and a fresh continental breakfast. Catch up on world news on the big screen tv in the very spacious lounge and get the knowledgeable staff to book a trip around Auckland or the rest of New Zealand. Book now at this warm and well priced Auckland bed and breakfast hotel.        

Tarlacks from Wisconsin, U.S.A….great room, perfect location,  and helpful friendly staff.

Godart/Defaud from Reunion Island, France….Friendly Reception & team, accommodation very nice. Kelly & Kieran from Sydney, Australia…..fantastic location, handy parking, great brekky served. Jess & Mark from Northern Ireland… .nice clean room, nice breakfast, great shower.

 Nicole from Matamata, NZ…..loved every minute of staying here, the people are amazing, till next time.