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Tag - new zealand

Jul13

Hollywood director stars in Tourism NZ ad

Chris Ashton

Hollywood director James Cameron has taken time out from working on his three Avatar sequels to star in Tourism New Zealand’s latest global campaign. A world renowned explorer and environmentalist, Cameron is passionate about discovery. “When you...

May08

Muriwai Beach: An unexpected gem

Chris Ashton

When most people go looking for rugged beauty in New Zealand, the South Island is the default destination… but the North Island has it’s fair share of rocky coastline and wide open plains too. Best of all, some of it is less than an hour from...

Nov24

Wellington: NZ’s capital of cool

Chris Ashton

A new video series focussing on the Windy City has been released by Tourism New Zealand, and it’s given me a serious urge to hop on a plane. Sure there may be some creative/selective editing afoot, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and...

Aug27

Tourism NZ embrace their inner child

Chris Ashton

Tourism New Zealand has jumped on the adult colouring-in bandwagon by releasing a series of sketches i collaboration with New Zealand artist Gabby Malpas. Until very recently, I had no idea adult colouring-in was even a thing. Turns out it's a...

It’s always a pleasure showcasing our home to visiting friends and family. Even better when they’re certified divers! Naturally we jumped at the chance to show off Julian Rocks-Nguthungulli Nature Reserve off Byron Bay — one of our absolute favourite dive sites thanks to its mix of warm and cold water species. Leopard and grey nurse sharks were a highlight. #byronbay #byron #nsw #nswparks #julianrocks #scuba #scubadiving #sundivebyronbay #leopardshark #greenturtle #repeattraveller
Throwback to our stay at @bonibeach_lombok just before new year. We were at ease the moment we arrived. A great vibe, beautiful decor, friendly team, delicious food (try the rendang roti tacos) and, an unexpected delight, free roaming cows with timber bells clank, clank, clanking with every step. A detailed look at the hotel and our stay is now live on Executive Traveller. #lombok #bonibeach #bonibeachlombok #indonesia #wonderfulindonesia #visitlombok #islandvibes #beachlife #surfhotel #astw_inc #repeattraveller
Banksy’s in Sydney. Or at least, some of the elusive British street artist’s most famous artworks are. ‘The Art of Banksy: Without Limits’ exhibition has made its technicolour debut at Sydney Town Hall - and I was lucky enough to attend a preview. As a big street art fan it was great to see his works in one place, even if many are prints and reproductions (for obvious reasons). Definitely worth a look if you’re in town. #banksy #theartofbanksy #withoutlimits #streetart #streetartsydney #stencilart #art #exhibition #sydney #sydneytownhall #repeattraveller
Special delivery. I thought balancing more than two people on a scooter required skill, but this is next level. I count seven bottles, but there may have been more. #nusalembongan #lembongan #scooter #scooters #scootersofinstagram #indonesia #visitindonesia #bali #loveindonesia #scootergram #instatravel #travelstoke #travelmore #traveldeeper #repeattraveller
Sometimes you come across a restaurant or bar on your travels that you return to again and again. That was @currytraders_lembongan for us, which we visited off the back of a personal recommendation before travelling. So good we dined there three times in a week. #nusalembongan #lembonganisland #lembongan #bali #indonesia #indianfood #foodporn #foodiegram #repeattraveller
A snippet from this week’s enchanting Mepaica celebration in Lembongan village. See my earlier post for more about this annual tradition. #lembongan #nusalembongan #bali #balineseculture #culture #indonesia_photography #indonesia #visitindonesia #wonderfulindonesia #exploremore #instatravels #travelphotography #repeattraveller
Sometimes you just find yourself in the right place at the right time. Like today, when I got swept up in the annual Mepaica festival of Lembongan village. From what I can gather, holy water is sourced from nearby Nusa Penida. It’s kept at Pura Puseh (a temple on the hill above the village) for six days, after which this festival takes place and it’s shared with the community. Much of the celebration is centered around a spectacular 200-year-old banyan tree. As you can see, it’s a pretty big deal, with roads blocked off, locals donning their finest, a procession through the streets, dancing, and multi-tier offerings of fresh food, which are then shared and eaten. Thank you Komang and Wayan from @komangs_tours for kindly lending me a sarong and udeng to wear at the temple. #lembongan #lembonganisland #bali #balineseculture #mepaica #culture #barong #barongbali #instatravel #travelgram #travelstoke #repeattraveller #indonesia #wonderfulindonesia #visitindonesia #loveindonesia #culturalfestival #travelwriter #astw_inc
It always pays to get a local perspective when you travel. The amazing Komang from @komangs_tours has provided that for us — she’s been our guide to the heart and soul of Lembongan, showcasing the island’s most famous sites while also revealing the local way of life. #lembongan #nusalembongan #lembonganisland #bali #indonesia #visitindonesia #exploreindonesia #wonderfulindonesia #scooters #travelstoke #travelgram #traveldeeper #travellikealocal #instatraveling #repeattraveller
Some of the most intriguing buildings are built by a single person — passion projects crafted by hand, sometimes over decades or more. Nusa Lembongan has one such abode: Gala-Gala ‘underground house’. Over a period of 15 years from 1961-1976, Lembongan man Made Byasa — a shadow puppeteer by trade — created a vast subterranean home spanning 500 sqm. Its inspiration? One of the epic Hindi tales he often performed. Within the ‘house’ are numerous living spaces, including a kitchen, bedrooms and more storage than you’ll ever need. Nobody lives in the house today, but Made’s son continues to keep the story alive, inviting people in to explore. Thanks for showing us around @komangs_tours #lembongan #nusalembongan #lembonganisland #indonesia #wonderfulindonesia #bali #architecture #undergroundhouse #travelstoke #instatravel #instatraveller #travelgram #repeattraveller #astw_inc
Second cooking class of the trip complete. This time we joined the bubbly sisters Krida and Sipri from @mariasboemboebaliwarung to make Nasi Goreng, Sate Ayam, and spring rolls. So much fun - and so delicious! #lembongan #lembonganisland #nusalembongan #indonesia #wonderfulindonesia #visitindonesia #foodiegram #cookingclass #indonesianfood #foodphotography #repeattraveller
Welcome to Lembongan. It’s one of those destinations where I can happily just sit and watch daily life unfold around me. The traffic is minimal; the fast pace of Bali completely reversed. Time to relax. #nusalembongan #indonesia_photography #wonderfulindonesia #lembongan #lembonganisland #repeattraveller
Monkey magic! Today we ticked off one of the most famous sites on the Bali tourist trail: Ubud Monkey Forest. It’s a serene oasis filled with moss-covered statues, hidden temple structures and free roaming monkeys chilling in the shade, on railings, in ponds and just about every direction you look. Loved exploring with our driver and guide @yogi_breezy #bali #ubud #monkeyforest #indonesia #wonderfulindonesia #ubudmonkeyforest #monkey #monkeys #wildlife #travelgram #travelstoke #travelmore #exploreindonesia #astw_inc #travelblogger #instatraveling #repeattraveller

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