Destination Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

Auckland is regarded as New Zealand’s most cosmopolitan and vibrant city, so I expected something special. What greeted me was a place full of concrete and glass buildings and a melange of clashing architectural styles that were not going to win any prizes for their beauty. 

My first impressions were that it was old fashioned with splashes of chicness. However, after digging a little deeper Auckland won me over.

This is a city that seems to live its life in the present with few hints of its past. While the fabled Sky Tower, which has dominated Auckland's skyline for about 20 years, may not have been the most spectacular wonder I have ever cast my eyes over, just seeing it was emotional. 

Sky Tower seen from the waterfront

Here I was standing in front of a tower which, for many years, I have watched on the television bringing in the New Year with a marvellous firework display. For me it signified the past is not the direction to be going in, the future is.

From the waterfront the Sky Tower appeared majestic. The real draw of the city, I discovered, is that it is only a step away from the sea and beautiful beaches are within easy reach. 

A street in Auckland (seen in the rain)

Cross the Waitemata Harbour by way of the Auckland Harbour Bridge and you will be rewarded with stunning vistas of the city.

The waterfront, made up of Queens Wharf, Wynyard Quarter and Viaduct Harbour is a hive of activity. Watch cruise ships sail into port and ferries going back and forth to scenic places such as the Bay of Islands and Waiheke Island. Renowned in the 1970s as a place where arty, Bohemian types gathered, Waiheke Island now attracts visitors for its beaches and wineries.

The Waterfront

There are also restaurants and bars galore here. It is a lovely place in which to spend a few hours. It is hard to have a bad meal in Auckland. People here are really friendly so you will often find somebody wanting to strike up a conversation with you.

While Queen Street, the main shopping area, has a certain grittiness about it, Smith & Caughey’s, the city’s only remaining department store, is worth popping into. Housed in a lovely old building, it feels as if it is clinging on to a bygone era, but do not let that put you off as its merchandise is luxurious and the service good. It also has a super little café. 

Culture buffs will find some interesting museums here including the Auckland Museum renowned for its collection of Maori and Polynesian artefacts and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki. Opened in 1888, the collection includes historic and contemporary New Zealand art as well as featuring works by Māori and Pacific Island artists.

If you like walking you will like Auckland. It is an easy place to get around. While I did go to places in New Zealand that had more of a wow factor, Auckland’s energy and vitality were inspiring. And that had me hooked. 

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

Which city you fly into in New Zealand will depend on where your tour starts from and therefore, which airline you choose. Highly recommended are Cathay Pacific cathaypacific.com and qantas.com The service and inflight experience is spot on. Ensure that the flight you book is operated by the company and not just code-sharing

The tour was part of the Grand Pacific Ultimate Small Group Tours which I booked through Trailfinders (trailfinders.com) as I did the flights

The advantage of travelling aboard the Ultimate Coach is that instead of carrying the normal 48 passengers, it only carries 20. You sit in comfort in leather fully-reclining seats so no neck ache at the end of a long day. (Distances are vast in New Zealand.) There is plenty of personal storage. It is much easier being in a small group, no hanging around waiting for people, no long queues for the loos, overall much cosier

Destination Hong Kong

I wondered what the queue was for as I approached a line of people on a busy Saturday afternoon in Hong Kong. It was the line to join if you wanted to cross the road. 

It was a pleasure to see that this former British colony and now special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, still maintained the best of British politeness. 

The place had changed dramatically since I was last there, before the Hong Kong Handover on July 1 1997. It had morphed into a city of construction. Its crowded skyline was punctuated by even more glitzy skyscrapers than I remembered. It seemed as if as soon as you turned your back another great piece of architecture rapidly emerged out of the dust. Although you heard languages spoken from all over the world, today’s Hong Kong had a distinctly Chinese flavour which just added to its charm.

Hong Kong
Courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board

As I stood by the fabled Victoria Harbour, I still felt a frisson of excitement. Gritty and edgy interwoven with romance and beauty melded with a smattering of the old combined with the new, Hong Kong felt more exhilarating than ever. While some of the place names such as Connaught Road, Stanley Market and Victoria Peak remain the same, this was a brand-new city.

I started my day with the familiar, a trip on the Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui to Hong Kong Island. A crossing is one of the highlights of a trip here. For first time visitors, another prerequisite is to visit the Peak from where you will get jaw-dropping views of the Harbour and the concrete jungle below as well as a glimpse of the green hills of the New Territories. 

What a changed place Hong Kong Island proved to be. Where once you bartered for bargains in small shops filled with electronics or fashion knock-offs and glanced at stalls displaying fake handbags and watches or went to a tailor’s workshop where you could get something made in an instant, stood shopping malls full of ubiquitous international brands.

Hong Kong at night
Courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board

After sauntering round the bustling ifc mall, a great place for a combination of shopping and stunning water views, I boarded a rather familiar-looking double-decker bus and headed to the south of Hong Kong Island to the touristy Stanley Market. The stalls may be awash with tacky souvenirs but there is always a chance of finding a bargain, especially if you like Chinese arts and crafts.

However, it is getting there that makes a trip unmissable. You pass through such gorgeous scenery including the beautiful Repulse Bay that it is really worth the bus ride. Stanley itself is a delightful village. There are plenty of eateries along the seafront where you can relax after a bartering session at the market.

The Ladies’ Market in Mong Kok Kowloon (it gets its name comes from the fact that it sells so much women’s wear) was recommended to me by the concierge of The Peninsular. (Regarded as the grande dame of hotels, this is the place to go for a traditional afternoon tea.) The lady wrote down the address in Chinese as well as English. Despite the fact that this was once a British colony, many people only speak Chinese.  

Climbing up the Peak
Courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board

On route, I walked down Nathan Road, the main thoroughfare in Kowloon, which has become a quirky mix of museums, religious buildings and a diverse range of mid-market shops. 

Tourists and locals flock to Ladies’ Market in search of a good deal. Fakes are no longer displayed as the government has cracked down on counterfeit. But, that does not stop people trying to tell you that they have “copy bags” for sale.

While temples, abundant lush greenery, and a nightly show that lights up Hong Kong’s skyline, are draw cards of this 24-hour city, a gastronomic adventure has to be up there too. 

Browsing for bargains
Courtesy of the Hong Kong Tourism Board

You can have a full English breakfast, however Hong Kong’s own cuisine is Cantonese, so, why not start your day with dim sum for a change? Whatever your taste in food, you should find something to please at Hong Kong’s incredible selection of 5-star restaurants through to intimate diners and food stalls. When you see a place buzzing with locals, you will know that you have hit upon a gem.

If you fancy a bit more retail therapy as an entrée then head to Harbour City. It is the largest shopping mall in Hong Kong. While there are plenty of designer boutiques to mooch round you will also find around 50 restaurants to tempt you. 

Hong Kong is addictive. However long you are there it never seems to be enough time to soak up all the city has to offer. Which is why you have to keep going back.

By Daralyn Danns

Getting there

Cathay Pacific has five flights from Heathrow using 777-300s. There are daily flights from Gatwick using its new A350. Ensure when you are booking that it is Cathay Pacific operating the flight, so that you can experience its excellent inflight service. For best fares and rates visit cathaypacific.com or visit trailfinders.com

Stay at Harbour Grand Kowloon. A lovely hotel overlooking the harbour. Room was large. Service good. It is not near the centre but there is a regular shuttle bus to take you there

I booked through Trailfinders.  For more information visit trailfinders.com

First published in All About Hair (All About Hair UK), the travel and lifestyle blog with a luxury twist