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.  

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.

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. 

Above is the Sarjeant Gallery in Wanganui. 

Northland has the Whangarei Art Musuem

Housed in an Arts ansd Crafts Building in Cafler Park is the Whanagrei Art Musuem. It has an extensive collection of major NZ contemporary artists and heritage Northland related material. Artists include C. F. Goldie, Ralph Hotere, Pat Hanly, a very substantial Adele Younghusband bequest collection plus eight paintings by T. L. Drummond.  The Musuem has regular touring exhibitions.

• Cafler Park Rose Gardens, Walter Street, Whangarei
• ph: 09 430 4240
• Open Tues-Fri 10-4, weekends 12-4
• Admission: Free
• Permanent collection: Selwyn Wilson, Selwyn Muru, Ralph Hotere, Para Matchitt, Buck Nin, C. F. Goldie, Pat Hanly

Waikato Musuem 

The museum is organised into four sections, one of which is Visual Arts. The collection has around 2500 artworks, dating from early colonial New Zealand with a focus on images and artists of the region. Arts Post has three exhibition spaces showing local and new artists.

Rotorua Museum of Art & History

In Rotorua’s historic Bath House building,  set in a large garden that links to the Lake, is Rotorua’s art collection. Among its permanent collection are taonga of the Arawa people, the original inhabitants of the region, a collection of 70,000 photographs of Rotorua’s history and historic souvenir pieces.

Taranaki New Plymouth

Govett Brewster Gallery

Taranaki is the home of many artists. The streets are full of interesting galleries. Govett Brewster is one of the country’s more interesting galleries,  it has a wonderful contemporary collection of NZ art, housing the archives and studio collection of the Len Lye Foundation, which looks after the works of the film-maker, kinetic sculptor, poet and painter. The Gallery holds regular exhibitions of local, national and international contemporary art.

Manawatu/ Wanganui

Sarjeant Gallery

This building set on a hill was built in 1919 from Oamaru Stone; majestic and built in the shape of a cross – worth looking at even if you don’t see the art inside! But while you are there you may as well – the interior is pretty stunning with a central dome that lets lots of natural light in. 

Inside you will find an excellent permanent collection of 19th and early 20th century British and European art. After 1940 the gallery began to focus on New Zealand art, with a strong photographic emphasis. A major feature of the gallery’s collecting policy is to acquire the work of selected important individual artists, including  Philip Trusttum, Gretchen Albrecht, Anne Noble, Laurence Aberhart, Ans Westra and Peter Peryer. 

Wellington  The art gallery is closed for refurbishing. But there are other artistic treats like the Portrait Gallery. The New Zealand Portrait Gallery, is a national organisation promoting the display of New Zealanders through the perceptive eyes of painters, sculptors, caricaturists and photographers.

Don’t miss out on  seeing the Norrie Collection, the art displayed in Government House in Wellington is the home of a remarkable collection of portraits. While Government House is being restored the art has been enjoyed by many.

RY COODER & NICK LOWE are to play at Auckland’s iconic Civic Theatre for one evening only, Monday 16 November.

Listen to these U-tube clips and see what you could enjoy live in Auckland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2FrFBceLuY ”Jesus on the mainline”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4KmbUCwkyE  “Vigilante Man”

Touring New Zealand for the first time in nearly 30 years the master slide guitarist will share the stage with his long-time friend and musical brother-in-arms, as well as his son, Joachim Cooder on drums, and vocalist Juliette Commagere.

Don’t miss out book your accommodation at the affordable Aspen House Hotel, from $89 an ensuite room, first in best price. Aspen is well located in Auckland City, five minutes from Queen St, the ideal location for shows. If you are a visitor ask us about getting you tickets.

Auckland is the best place to see shows- the venues are more intimate and you can usually get a ticket. Most exchange rates make it cheap too!

Cooder has enjoyed a wide ranging solo career, as well as playing and recording with such luminaries as  The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Taj Mahal & Randy Newman. Last year saw the release of I, Flathead, the final part of his acclaimed Californian trilogy, inclusive of Chavez Ravine & My Name Is Buddy.

Rolling Stone lists Cooder as one of the ten best guitarists of all time, rightly placing him amongst an elite group whose guitar style is instantly identifiable by a single note, in Cooder’s case, a haunting, heart-rendering slide tone.

Keep reading the blog-  we will also profile some of the other galleries in the regions that have impressive permanant art collections too.

Often the actual building the art is housed in, is something to appreciate. Some are beautiful old buildings with interesting modern additions, like Auckland or  the very contemporary designs  of the new Christchurch gallery. The Sarjeant Gallery in Wanganui is a majestic historic house, while Rotorua’s Museum of Art & History, in the old Bath House building.

Many parks  near the Galleries also contain interesting sculpture and art. The Domain near Aspen House has a beautiful sculpture walk. Albert Park has attractive gardens and sculpture.

Entry to most public art galleries is free, you might need to buy a ticket to special exhibitions.

 The Auckland Gallery is under going a major refurb and re-build -see how impressive it will look above. The art is over the road in the New Gallery. Right now and until November 1  there is a wonderful Rita Angus exhibition.

 ‘Picturing History: Goldie to Cotton’ goes until February 2010.  The Gallery is on the corner of Wellesley and Lorne Streets – just up form Queen St and opposite the main library. You walk through Albert Park from Aspen to get to the gallery.

It is open every day 10-5 except Christmas Day. Admission is free. Permanent collection: 14,000+ works, Durer, Rembrandt, Degas, Hogarth, Ralph Hotere, Colin McCahon, Rita Angus, John Pule, Peter Peryer.