This is what I recommend to ensure an amazing time in Auckland:

What to do

While Auckland may not be the adventure capital, there are so many fantastic things to be done here. Wildlife, shopping, relaxation, food and wine – this city has it all!

Visit Waiheke Island:

Nicknamed the “Isle of Wine”, take a 40min ferry here for a day trip of exploring stunning wineries and beaches. This was the highlight of my time in New Zealand!

Whale and Dolphin ECO cruise:

With their slogan being “Discover today. Protect for tomorrow” this adventure tour helps to not only showcase whales and dolphins, but focuses heavily on conservation.

You’ll be on board with qualified marine researchers who conduct biological studies during your tour (I got to be the volunteer!) and will share all that they know with you. 

During this excursion I learnt about whales, dolphins and threats against the ocean as well as seeing some amazing animals! University of Auckland and the Department of Conservation’s are both linked tightly to the safari so you can feel good while being on the water.

**I recommend doing this at the beginning of your trip.  The boat offers a guarantee that if the animal sightings on your trip aren’t up to their high standards, a lifetime voucher is given until they’re satisfied you’ve had a great experience!

Viaduct Harbour:

This harbour in the heart of the city is home to some of Aucklands best restaurants and bars: this is the place to be! Watch super yachts go by while having an aperitif, or take a walk along the water and admire boats with some buskers along the way.

For a more in-depth look into Maritime history, New Zealand’s Voyager Maritime Museum can be found within the Viaduct Harbour.

Spot a Kiwi!

Last year, 20 Spotted Kiwis were released into Shakespear Park, Whangaparaoa (45mins North of the CBD). Here in the sanctuary, these endangered animals will offer some genetic mixing to hopefully increase the populations chances of survival.

There’s also a short walk to a stunning lookout point here!

Extreme:

For those who want a taste of the adventure New Zealand is famous for, try the Sky Tower Bungy or Jet Boat, both conveniently located in the CBD.

Getting around

Everything feels close in Auckland but to make getting around even more fun, take a ride on a “Lime E-Scooter”! These things are everywhere, and are a huge hit with locals and tourists… unlike in Aus!

Bike taxis are another good (and green) alternative.

Food and drink

Being surrounded by so much water, the seafood available in New Zealand is incredibly fresh and delicious!

Fresh oysters, white bait, tuatua (NZ’s breed of clams, similar to Pipi’s), green lipped mussels, snapper, salmon…… the list goes on!

Auckland Fish Market:

After more than 90 years of showcasing the city’s freshest seafood, the fish market has been given a multi million dollar facelift and reopened in December last year.

The revamped market houses over 10 different eateries including a bar, cafe and world class fish and chips! With a beautiful courtyard, this is the a great place to sit and enjoy fresh seafood straight from the source.

New Zealand classics:

My first meal here was the classic “mince on toast”. With low expectations, I was quickly impressed and couldn’t wait to enjoy it again!

Other great local tastes include:

• Manuka Honey
• Hāngi
• Organic Lamb

Wine:

Internationally known for its award winning wines, some people travel to NZ for this alone. A large and diverse region, Auckland is home to some of New Zealand’s largest wine companies, as well as a many high-quality, boutique wineries. No matter which direction you travel in, there will be a world class wine produced there:

Waiheke Island: Syrah, Chardonnay, and Cabernet blends.

West Auckland: Chardonnay and Merlot. 

North of Auckland: Cabernet blends, Pinot Gris and Syrah.

Other things to consider

If hiring a car during your time in Auckland, note that petrol prices are a lot higher than in Aus. As an alternative, let us find you a driver for your time there!

To organise a trip to Auckland, 

call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post Exploring Auckland, New Zealand appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

I’ve travelled a lot, and over the years, I think I’ve worked out the magic ingredients to the perfect travel destination.

• Small and authentic, with more locals than tourists
• A small, boutique hotel, with quirk, and views
• Local restaurants and no tourist traps
• A nice beach is a bonus

Who agrees with me?

Tiny little Vejer de la Frontera, in south-west Spain ticks all of these boxes!

Vejer de la Frontera, or simply Vejer (pronounced Be-hair), sits on top of a rocky hill just 10kms from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a typical Andalucian white village, with a labyrinth of tiny, winding streets, a distinct Moorish flavour, and a ruined castle dating back to the 10^th century.

Vejer’s size and location prohibits mass tourism. It is 50kms away from Cadiz, where the closest train station is, and only standard cars can get up the hill; no buses. Even if you do arrive by car, good luck trying to navigate the narrow one-way streets, and find a park!

There are only a handful of small hotels, all occupying authentic village houses, a fact which also limits the number of visitors the town can handle at once.

Casa Califa Hotel has to be seen to be believed. A union of ten houses, dating back to the tenth century, make up the hotel complex, each room with a unique design and blend of Moroccan and Andalucian style. It is a treasure trove.

Many of the rooms boast patios overlooking the straits of Morocco, or windows facing onto the lively square.

There is a large rooftop terrace bar, where they serve evening cocktails, and fresh mint tea.

One of the hotel’s best features is its restaurant. Set in a lush, palm-filled courtyard, the ‘Caliph’s Garden’ dishes up Middle Eastern and Moroccan cuisine, in an exotic setting.

As well as the Caliph’s Garden, Vejer offers plenty of other delightful restaurants, all serving traditional and modern takes on local cuisine. There is also a small central market, where you can buy local cheeses, meats, fruit and vegies.

Vejer is home to a lovely mix of locals and expats. The type of expats who embrace the local culture, not those who try to impose mushy peas and Yorkshire pudding on the villagers. One of these expats is Annie, founder of a boutique cooking school in the village, which she runs from her typical village home. Owner of a successful catering company in the UK, Annie visited Vejer 15 years ago and fell in love with the place so much, she bought a house there, on the spot! Her rooftop terrace has 270 degree views over Vejer and the Straits of Gibraltar, with views of Morocco on a clear day.

Annie’s bubbly personality and passion for Andalucian cuisine and sherry, means she is a much-loved member of Vejer’s community.

Not all Spanish beaches are created equally. Head to the beach over near Malaga, on the Costa del Sol, and you’ll be jostling for an overpriced sun lounger on the beach with half of Britain. On the other had, head to El Palmar beach, just 14kms from Vejer de la Frontera, and you’ll be wondering why the word hasn’t got out about this place yet.

Miles and miles of white sand, and barely anyone there! There are a handful of laidback beach shacks dotted along the beach, offering simple food, drink and shelter should you so desire, otherwise, this is an unspoilt beach, popular with surfers. Note that this beach can get quite windy, in which case we recommend the nearby beach of Los Canos de Meca, which a bit more sheltered.

Get yourselves to Spain and become one of the privileged few to experience delightful Vejer de la Frontera, before it is ‘discovered.’

Fast Facts:

• Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways and other reputable airlines fly in to Madrid, with good connections from Australia.
• Take the train from Madrid to Cadiz and hire a car from here
• Stay at La Casa Califa 2* Hotel – trust us when we say this hotel is worthy of at least 2 more stars!
• Do a cooking class with Annie at https://www.anniebspain.com
• While in Andalucia, check out other gorgeous destinations. You can get ideas here

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I recently returned from the Greek Islands – not Mykonos or Santorini, but a couple of islands in the Saronic archipelago which I had previously never heard of!

Click on the link below to listen to me chatting to Tim Webster on 2UE radio, about these authentic Greek islands.

https://omny.fm/shows/talking-travel/talking-travel-rosie-richardson-on-the-greek-islan

Spending 10 days on these relaxed Greek islands was just a dream. We spent our days swimming, reading, exploring on walking tracks, and eating fresh seafood and produce. Just heaven!

Agistri Beach

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Question: What happens when you take nine women to Croatia for a three week holiday?

Answer: Lots of walking, laughing, wine-drinking, boating, some singing and dancing… and a lot of fun!!!

Mosaic Travel doesn’t specifically operate women-only tours yet this one just turned out this way, and what a hoot we had! Starting in Dubrovnik and ending in Venice, the tour lasted three weeks. Here are our highlights from the trip.

1. Walking through the Plitvice National Park

We changed the itinerary this year to avoid the tourist crush at the famous Plitvice Lakes, and we’re glad we did. Getting started early, we had the paths almost to ourselves and were treated with spectacular views of the lakes and waterfalls.

2. Pag Island

What a strange place! When we drove across the bridge to Pag, everyone was wondering why I was taking them here – it looked barren, dry and inhospitable! However the winery hotel where we spent two nights is like an oasis. Set amongst vineyards, with a pool, and not too far from a small beach, we enjoyed a very pleasant few days here. The food and wine at the on-site restaurant are top notch too.

3. Boating

A lot of people ask why this tour isn’t done by boat, and the reason is because we think it’s fantastic to enjoy different accommodation along the way, and have the freedom to explore local towns and villages on your own, rather than being stuck on a boat. Having said that, we certainly don’t miss out on boating, and spend plenty of time on the water!

Our favourite boating experience on the trip would have to be our day on the Elaphiti Islands with a huge wooden gulet which would hold 50 people, all to ourselves! We spent the morning exploring the small islands, before anchoring at a small but exquisite seafood restaurant for lunch with the Adriatic as our view.

On our last night in Croatia, we did a sunset cruise from Rovinj. We watched the spectacular sunset while tucking into a picnic feast, fresh from the markets. Now I’m not sure what was in the wine, but the evening ended in lots of dancing on the deck! A very quiet drive to Venice the following day, that’s for sure!

4. Food

If you’ve been on a Mosaic Tour, you know that food is a big part of our tours! Croatia is mostly on the coast so the seafood is fresh and abundant. They’re also well known for their cheese, cured meats (Istra ham) and truffles. Meal highlights would definitely include our 4 course truffle lunch near the Motovun truffle forest, and our Peka, meaning ‘cooked under the iron bell’ at Mr Dubokovic’s family home in Hvar. All washed down with local, light summer wines.

5. Dubrovnik

We start our tour in Dubrovnik, and yes, it is touristy, but it is very popular for a reason! Dubrovnik’s old town really is spectacular, with dramatic high walls surrounding it, the fortress looming overhead, and the narrow, cobbled laneways down below. We loved walking the city walls and exploring the back streets.

The tour this year was loved by all the women – you can read some of their reviews here . I will be leading this fabulous tour again in June and Sue will be leading it in September. Click here to check out the itinerary, or visit our tour page!

Rosie

The post Living the dream in Croatia! appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Dubrovnik, otherwise known as the real-life King’s Landing (for Game of Thrones fans!), sits at the southern end of country. As one of the main coastal cities, it’s full of stunning sights, fabulous fare and a beautiful waterfront, making it a popular destination for visitors every year. However, it’s also the ideal spot to explore the surrounding countryside, crossing borders and getting out onto the water. Here are Mosaic Travel’s top 5 day trips from Dubrovnik.

Looking back on Ston from our oyster boat!

Peljesac Peninsula

A long, narrow piece of land an hour from Dubrovnik, the Peljesac Peninsula is home to a number of vineyards, wineries and small cellar doors, clustered into small villages. The Plavac Mali grape is the most common, a variety closely related to Californian Zinfandel.

One of those villages is Ston, which holds an interesting history. There have been salt pans here since Roman times, and to protect them, Ston has 5 kilometres of stone walls; the 2nd longest in the world after China. It’s also home to some of the freshest oysters going round –hop on a boat and pluck them straight from the source! They’re best washed down with a glass of the local wine.

Lovely little Perast, Montenegro.

Lokrum Island

A short ferry trip away from Dubrovnik Harbour, Lokrum Island was previously the quarantine location for people before they were allowed to enter Dubrovnik. These days, you’ll find picturesque beaches, forests and a multitude of olive trees. The botanical gardens on site feature a large cacti section, while there’s also a ruined Medieval Benedictine monastery worth exploring. Removed from the hustle and bustle of the larger city, it’s a lovely spot to while away a lazy afternoon.

Clear water on Lokrum Island, Dubrovnik

Elaphiti Islands

Fancy getting out on the water for a day? You can do just this with a trip to Elaphiti Islands, a collection of 13 mostly uninhabited pieces of land. You’ll need to hire a boat or hop on a group tour to visit – there’s no regular ferry service. However, once you get here, expect to be rewarded with land dotted with pines, olive groves, fig and citrus trees and grape vines, as well as a few 16^th century churches. If you’ve brought your walking shoes, hike up to the Church of St Ivana – you’ll be rewarded with a breathtaking view.

After lots of swimming and a long, lazy lunch, a boat like this can cruise you back to Dubrovnik.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, stop by Kolocep for lunch at Rosie’s favourite restaurant, Villa Ruza. Housed in a terrace built by a wealthy merchant as a symbol of love for his wife, it’s perched on the edge of the Adriatic and dishes up delectable seafood dishes.

Mostar, Bosnia

A world heritage-listed city, Mostar lies in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. You may recognise its most famous landmark, the arched Mostar bridge from which daring divers leap into the sea.

The gorgeous little town of Mostar, with it’s famous bridge.

The old bazaar and Turkish house are also worth seeing, while the craft shops selling artisan wares are likely to have something worth taking home. As one of the more recent sites of warfare, you can also learn about the after-effects of the Homeland War in the 1990s.

The best part about this collection of day trips is three out of the five are already part of the itinerary on Mosaic Travel’s Magnificent Croatia tour. With a flexible schedule and local tips and tricks, the other two also aren’t far off!

For more information about Mosaic Travel’s Croatia tours in June and September 2017, click here.

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The inaugural Black Sea tour was such an adventure! Northern Turkey, along the Black Sea coast, and Georgia and Armenia – what a fascinating and undiscovered part of the world.

The walk from the ‘road’ to our alpine chalet accommodation high in the Kackar Mountains.

Incredible singing and dancing troupe showing us traditional dances and music in the heart of Georgia’s wine region.

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