Wonderstruck by Wanaka - New Zealand

Melissa Reynolds has just returned from a short break in New Zealand and was blown away by the natural beauty and indulgent pleasures of the stunning South Island. Here she shares with us a little of her journey (and a special offer too!):

Last week I was lucky enough to head over the ditch to a place of incredible beauty only three hours' plane ride away. It was to a lakeside village of such incredible charm and good looks that I wondered if anyone ever left willingly. I'm talking about Wanaka, near Queenstown in the South Island of New Zealand.

The ski fields of Treble Cone and Cardrona are just 40 minutes away but as the season doesn't start until later in the year I had to find other attractions to fill my days. Of which there are many. There are vineyards, gorgeous walking trails, bike riding, boating and fishing on the lake, picnics to be had with fantastic local food and fabulous restaurants and cafes. Should weather turn inclement there are quirky cinemas (like the Paradiso which comes complete with mismatched sofas and a Morris Minor you can watch movies from!), Puzzling World, Warbirds and Wheels Museum, the Transport and Toy Museum and much more.

The Wyndham Vacation Resorts Wanaka makes a smart and comfortable home away from home, walking distance from the town centre. Our one bedroom apartment came complete with kitchen, lounge room, dining area and balcony. The hot tub outside was a crowd pleaser with couples wanting to ease any aching muscles from a day's biking, hiking or wine tasting - those vineyards can be exhausting you know.

At this time of year you're never too far from an open fireplace and a glass of local pinot and the Wyndham Wanaka's own Rafter's Restaurant has all that and more. Head Chef Stefan Link serves up local specialties with panache so if you're worn out from a day of exploring you need venture no further than upstairs. We also had a delicious dinner in town at Botswana Butchery (+64 3443 6745), you can guess that steak is their specialty and Trout (+64 3443 2600) where of course fish was the order of the day. For brekky, coffee and cake drop into Relish or Ritual, both cute timber walled coffee shops filled with rugged up patrons, works of art for sale and a general feeling of bonhomie. 

I could go on and on about what there is to do but all you really need to know is that this place is. It's beautiful. It's romantic. It's charming ... and frankly, I need to go back as soon as possible!

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Wanaka have a special rate available from now until October 31 2012 for a studio room plus one two course meal at Rafter's Restaurant from just NZ$129* per room, per night. *Guests must book and stay between these dates. Subject to availability.  To book your romantic escape at Wyndham Wanaka and for full terms and conditions call +64 3443 0025 or email Reception.Wanaka@wyn.com and mention this deal.  

Sungai Gold gives more luxury love in Bali

Couples wanting the ultimate in bespoke and intimate romance in Bali can check in to their very own premier 'owner's villa' at Villa Sungai, tucked away in a jungle setting in an authentic village twenty minutes from Legian. The newly expanded Sungai Gold villa is a slice of paradise in this private compound, where every dream and fancy is catered for in exclusive style.

Sungai Gold already features the same services as Villa Sungai with exclusive only hire, twenty-four hour butlers, personal chefs and chauffeurs and a private concierge.  Only now, after recent renovations, Sungai Gold has more space with two identical master suites.

Couples can choose to use the second master suite as a dedicated spa treatment room for in-house spa therapy or convert the master suite to two king singles when travelling with children. Two couples travelling together also have the option of a third sleeping space if needed in the Sungai Gold leisure pavilion with a king or king singles bed with private ensuite. Or just enjoy the peace and total privacy that comes with hiring out the entire Sungai Gold just for the two of you ... perfect for an exceptional honeymoon experience, we think.

Larger parties may wish to exclusively book both the three bedroom Villa Sungai and Sungai Gold for the ultimate house party, complete with two full size pools, six king bedrooms and seven bathrooms. Awesome!

We're always up for a little bit of exotic glamour, and nowhere does that quite like Bali and Villa Sungai ... this dreamy destination is rated high on our lust-list! 

Sydney cocktail culture gets some global kudos

Congratulations to The Speakeasy Group, which has been nominated in five categories in Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards, the biggest and most influential bar industry awards globally! 

We've been to and enjoyed a drink at the seriously hip bar Eau de Vie in Sydney (that's it pictured - we've featured it in 'The Scene' in our next issue of Holidays for Couples!), so it's great to hear it is up for the 'World's Best Cocktail Bar' award, alongside these others:

• World's Best Drink Selection - Eau de Vie Sydney
• World's Best Cocktail Menu - The Roosevelt
• International Bartender of the Year - Max Greco, Eau de Vie Sydney
• Best Bar Mentor - Sven Almenning (owner of Eau de Vie, Eau de Vie Melbourne and The Roosevelt)

Proving the awesome bar and cocktail culture of Australia sits alongside New York and London as being home to the world’s best bars! 

For a full listing of awards and other nominees, check out the Tales of the Cocktail website. The winners will be announced in June at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. Good luck guys!

Top five rooftop bars from Design Hotels

Five Hotel & Spa, Cannes 

The Great Getaway Medina, Marrakech

Hotel Omm, Barcelona

Tribe Hotel, Nairobi

Malmilla Hotel, Jerusalem

We love a great rooftop bar, so when the ever-stylish, always cool peeps at Design Hotels shared with us their top five rooftop bars at their exclusive hotels around the world, we just had to pass the love on with you, too ...

There’s something about getting to the roof of a building that brings a natural high with it. Slap on a pool, some delicious slurpy cocktails, music, unbelievable cityscapes and you’ve got all the ingredients for a perfect  sun-fueled chill-out session!

Enjoy awe-inspiring views over Jerusalem’s Old City from atop designer Pierro Lissoni’s Mamilla Hotel; take in the fantastic panorama of the Sagrada Familia and Casa Milá while lounging by Hotel Omm’s swimming pool; relax after a day of wandering around Marrakech’s souk on the roof of the The Great Getaway Medina; sample a house-blend of shisha flavors and signature martinis at the Tribe Hotel in Nairobi; or bask in the sun of the Côte d’Azur and the glamour of Cannes at the Five Hotel & Spa.

If you're planning a trip to any of these fabulous cities, be sure to high tail it to the top of these cool rooftop bars for a stylish sunset drink to remember!

unWINEd on Orpheus - Great Barrier Reef

From 7th June, over four evenings, the tranquil island of Orpheus, located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef, will play host to 'unWINEd', a bespoke wine event offering guests the ultimate in tropical escapism and vinous hedonism. Each evening, well-known Melbourne wine raconteur, Peter Marr, will lead guests on a unique sensory experience as he showcases a selection of premium drops from the world's great wine regions. Guests will join him on an intimate and comprehensive 2-hour masterclass each evening, savouring a range of wines from the Piedmont (Italy), Burgundy (France), Iberian (Spain and Portugal) and the New World regions (Americas, Australia & New Zealand). In addition, guests will acquire the techniques to complement wines to perfect food matches. Resident Head Chef Arie Prabowo (pictured), a protégée of the esteemed Cheong Liew (Botanical restaurant, Melbourne), will tailor an awe-inspiring menu over the course of the four days, with dinners themed to each masterclass region, honouring a bounty of locally-sourced and seasonally fresh ingredients. The unWINEd on Orpheus (from $5,300) package includes: - Four nights' beachfront accommodation for two guests  - A two-hour masterclass each evening - All gourmet meals (dinners themed to masterclass region)  - Complimentary inclusion of selected regional wines, beers and soft drinks  - One nature-based experience each day (snorkelling, fishing, sunset cruise, local island tour)  - Return transfers between Townsville and Orpheus Spaces are very limited so be quick to book your place! To take part in this ultimate vinous/foodie escape, simply call (07) 4777 7377.

Thredbo's 'Winter Wonderland Weekend' party to kick off the ski season!

Thredbo are throwing a big Winter Wonderland Weekend party, June 9-11, to kick off the season in true alpine style. The village is dressing up, the skies will sparkle with fireworks and there's an event schedule jam packed full of activities to warm you up ... so you can pack your party shoes along with your ski boots! With snowmaking fired up on May 21st and a run of cold temperatures predicted, there's a lot of enthusiasts hoping for some serious skiing and boarding across the long weekend.

The party kicks off Friday night with a Winter Warm Up night in the Schuss Bar of the Thredbo Alpine Hotel, where Venus Duo are playing live. And the traditional Welcome to Winter Ball is back - guests will be transported into a white winter wonderland as they sip bubbles, enjoy a three course dinner and be entertained by the engaging Jeff Duff and his band.

Sunday is all about a Long Lunch in the Village Square featuring a hearty winter warming meal get together. Then shuffle along to the Village Square, kick off your ski boots and slip into your party shoes as the much loved O'Donnell Brothers make a return to Thredbo with their amazing Best of Brothers Show, so don the jacket and beanie and warm up with a bit of boogie from 8pm. 

Combine a packed party plan, with skiing and boarding and hot deals from the Thredbo Resort Centre and you have a perfect long weekend away in the mountains. Here's some hot deals for your long weekend in the snow:

Thredbo Alpine Hotel

Conveniently located to all the hot spots

3 nights accommodation

breakfast daily

from $400 per room twin share *

House of Ullr

A handy village location with bar and restaurant in-house

Stay 3 pay 2 including cooked breakfast

from $310 per room twin share

from $740 per family (2 adults + 2 children)*

Thredbo Alpine Apartments

Located in the heart of Thredbo, only minutes to everywhere.

Stay 3 nights and only pay for 2

1 bedroom apartment

from $556 per apartment*

*Valid 8-11 June 2012, all prices are 3 night stays.

To book visit www.thredbo.com.au or call Thredbo Resort Centre 1300 020 58.

Experience local Himalayan life with Shakti Himalaya

India rates as one of our all time favourite destinations, a country like no other with the most amazing and truly unique, colourful, and spiritual experiences for intrepid travellers. And for one of the most memorable of all Indian adventures, look to the mighty Himalayas - one of the most picturesque places on Earth!

The little known Kumaon region lies in the northern hill state of Uttarakhand, with views of the perennially snow capped peaks of the Great Himalaya range in the north to the pretty hill stations at the foothills. It's here that you will find the stunning property, Shakti 360° Leti, an innovative combination of traditional building techniques and contemporary design (that's it pictured above!). 360° Leti is set in a stunning mountain wilderness at 8,000 feet ... we're day dreaming about a stay here amongst the peace and beautiful landscape!

Shakti Himalaya also offer an incredible range of programmes, like the Ladakh programme that really gets you in amongst an authentic Himalayan life, taking guests to the region with travel from May to the end of September. With a high altitude desert dominated by rugged snow capped mountains and deep turquoise lakes, the scenery of this region is nothing short of breathtaking.

           

Shakti has six houses in Ladakh, each with its own unique charm, and each guests itinerary is tailored specifically to his/her interests. From village walks accompanied by local porters and guides - and staying in traditional houses, which Shakti has "spruced up" to provide proper comfort without compromising authenticity - to visits to local schools, monasteries, and markets, you will get a full understanding of the culture of each region, its people, religion and customs.  And for the brave hearted, river rafting on the glacier-fed Indus and Zanskar rivers is an included activity in Shakti's Ladakh programmes and is a wonderful way to explore Ladakh. 

Prices start from: 7 night package from 3898 USD per person based on 2 people sharing, including private accommodation in village houses on a fully inclusive basis including all meals and beverages, all activities including two raft trips, an accompanying English speaking guide, private chef, support guide and porters, car at disposal and taxes with transfers between Leh Airport and the village experience. Flights not included.