Where the remnants of a daunting past meet the wonders of an exhilarating city; the Auckland War Memorial Museum, tells the story of New Zealand. A wonderful experience for a delightful family holiday, the museum not only houses some of New Zealand’s priceless collections of Maori and Pacific treasures but it also offers visitors a exotic insight to the life story of this nation in the Oceania. Cultural performances, intriguing exhibitions and the host of volunteer programs that are made available will never cease to amaze the young (and adult) travellers!

To complete your holiday, indulge in a comfortable stay at Copthorne Hotel Auckland City, a uniquely hospitable Auckland city hotel, prepared to cater to the requirements of leisure of family guests. Located close to the shopping district, Viaduct Basin and Vector Arena, travellers will not only enjoy a convenient location, but also a host of Auckland hotel specials available at reservation.

Engage in an inspiring cultural experience when you visit a Tamaki Maori Village in Rotorua. This unique opportunity helps visitors to discover firsthand the warmth of the Maori people while learning about their rich historical significance. The village visit involves everything from Powhiri, an ancient welcoming ceremony, to a traditional Hangi buffet feast with the locals. Guests can even take part in warrior training, carving and weaving demonstrations, facial tattoos and more. Visitors staying at a Rotorua hotel such as Millennium Hotel Rotorua can request that this or other sightseeing tours be organized by the hotel itself. Stay at this hotel in Rotorua to enjoy exemplary facilities and unparalleled service.

Maori culture predominantly contains rich components of art styles and colour. In the early years, these art styles were conveyed with deep carvings and incisions that were made on various materials and minerals available during the time, from wood and bone, greenstone and paua shell, to feathers. Many native artists that still follow traditional art forms make use of the same materials. Many people have been influenced by the styles of Maori art by using patterns from the culture for tattoos and prints in its traditional colours of red, black and white. Each shade symbolizes a characteristic and is used essentially for distinctive detail on important structures or monuments like buildings and canoes.

Experience the traditional beliefs and the excitement of the more contemporary Maori art culture. Travel and stay at an authentic Auckland city hotel, close to some of the key attractions and close to the native lands. Copthorne Hotel Auckland would be the ideal recommendation for a Central Auckland city where comfort meet modern convenience for a satisfying stay.

Named after a huge volcanic eruption that took place 5000 years ago and created Lake Taupo, Erupt Lake Taupo Arts Festival a biennial event launched in 1996, seeks to replicate the energy of that eruption many millennia ago with an energetic 10 day multi dimensional arts festival showcasing theatre, dance, jazz, comedy cabaret, family shows, visual arts, music, circus performances and a school programme that reaches 3000 children. The festival’s outreach programme will also engage with surrounding communities and recognize their contributions to the arts. To be held over the 10th to the 20th of May 2012 during New Zealand’s autumn, the festival will be set against a backdrop of rich autumnal shades, always a lovely time of year in the area.

Although the Lake Taupo region is abuzz with all manner of events throughout the year Erupt is the biggest festival and the most diverse on the cards having attracted over 20,000 people previously with 66 performing arts events, 7 exhibitions, 54 workshops and various free performances. The festival is targeted mostly at a New Zealand audience and therefore has a strong and innovative local content interspersed with international performances. A series of day and nighttime events are scheduled to take place at several indoor and outdoor venues centered round the Great Lake Centre and the Pacific Crystal Palace. All venues are within a short distance from each other and the festival location is within easy reach of visitors from Auckland, Wellington, Taranaki, Hawkes Bay, Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

Attend the opening weekend when the festival opens with a free outdoor extravaganza on the shores of Lake Taupo with dance and music offerings to suit almost any taste. The dynamic and creative programme planned for the 2012 event will most certainly be a hit with the audiences.

Attending festivals and other events around the country has been made easy by Millennium & Copthorne Hotels NZ with a slew of hotels in key spots right around the country offering guests the best options in accommodation and convenience of location. A range of excellent guest services for both leisure and business clients is available. Some of the most advantageous New Zealand hotel packages ranging from online deals to leisure and accommodation packages for any occasion are offered by these well known New Zealand hotels in any season. Take advantages of these very special offers and be part of the many exciting activities around the country. 

NZ House & Garden is a highly popular lifestyle magazine published in New Zealand. It offers a unique opportunity to step into the lives and homes of some of the most well known people in the country. The NZ House & Garden Tours is a special event conducted by the magazine benefiting charity. As part of the tour, visitors will get a chance to visit various houses around the nation. Ticket sales in the previous years have raised over $200,000 in aid of Look Good Feel Better and the Cancer Society of New Zealand. Both charities focus on reducing the occurrence and impact of cancer, while striving to better the lives of patients currently going through treatment.

The NZ House & Gardens Tours 2012 will feature homes from Canterbury, Kapiti Coast, Auckland and Queenstown Lakes. All tours this year will stick to a theme. Starting from the 2nd of March, the Canterbury tour will have a rural theme, and will start with modern houses in the Clearwater Resort before proceeding to houses in Hororata, Darfield and Ohoka. Tour takers will get to see a variety of differently styled houses, from restored villas to more modern structures. However, those planning on taking the Canterbury tour should prepare for long drives as the homes are quite far apart.

The Auckland tour starts on the 9th of March, and visitors will be treated to a stunning array of city homes from Parnell, Mt Eden and the eastern suburbs. Houses will range from fabulous terraced houses to sophisticated modern apartments. The Kapiti Coast tour will be on from the 16th of March and will take visitors on a magical journey along the coast from Raumati to Manakau. The last in the line up is the Queenstown Lakes tour which will start on the 24th of March.

The tour provides people with an opportunity to see many different parts of the country, but with all that travelling accommodation may become an issue. Tourists looking for comfortable New Zealand hotels should try the Millennium & Copthorne Hotels NZ. They have many branches across the country and they all provide excellent service. For more details on the New Zealand hotel packages check their website.