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Auckland Travel Guide

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Air New Zealand Seeks Help From 'The Bachelor' For Its Matchmaking Flight

July 13, 2009 at 12:11 PM | by amandak | 2 Comments

What is going on with Air New Zealand these days? They are releasing one gimmicky promo after the next. First, there was the group of people who wore body advertisements for the Kiwi airline, then came airline employees covered in body paint, followed by the announcement of a matchmaking flight and then some more body paint.

This time, the matchmaking flight from Los Angeles to Auckland has decided to bring onboard a successful love match to inspire hope in the other singletons on the flight—Jason Mesnick and his girlfriend, Molly of the ABC show, "The Bachelor."

The October 13 trip is all about finding love (and filling up Air New Zealand planes), with a plane load of singles heading down to Auckland for a major party. And we're expecting at least a few Kiwi-American marriages to come out of this.

Since everyone else will be single, we're not sure that inviting Jason and Molly along is quite the right thing to do, but there's definitely one good side to it – to celebrate this announcement, Air New Zealand is offering tickets at $200 off. If you book by Wednesday with the LOVE200 code=, you'll get your return Los Angeles to Auckland flight plus all the attached partying for $580, which is a pretty low price to pay for the prospect of some Kiwi love.

Related Stories:
· The Matchmaking Flight [Official Site]
· From Body Paint to Matchmaking: Air New Zealand is Feeling Frisky [Jaunted]
· Air New Zealand Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: thetruthabout]

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From Body Paint to Matchmaking: Air New Zealand Is Feeling Frisky

May 15, 2009 at 9:31 AM | by amandak | 0 Comments

Just in case the sexy painted bodies of Air New Zealand staff aren't enough to get you hot and heavy with booking a ticket, there's yet another little marketing strategy coming out from the Kiwis this week: the world's first Matchmaking Flight.

Sadly the flight of fancy is still months away; you'll need to be free on October 13 to get involved in this Kiwi love-in. On that date, an Air New Zealand flight will leave Los Angeles full of singles making the trip to Auckland for the Great Matchmaking Ball.

Air New Zealand will even help you to get through the butterflies by opening up chats on their website by posting your profile and linking up with either Americans or Kiwis who plan to turn up at the ball too.

Round-trip tickets for this romantic route start at $780, which includes a party at LAX before you leave, special in-flight food and entertainment (games, even), and the singles-only ball in Auckland. This is all well and good, but they're leaving out the most important information: will any of those body-painted flight attendants be on board?

Related Stories:
· The Matchmaking Flight [Official Site]
· Air New Zealand Offers Singles Only Matchmaking Flight [The Australian]
· A New Paint Job for Air New Zealand … Body Paint [Jaunted]

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Australian Blog Says Auckland is 'Inhabited by Hobbits'

March 25, 2009 at 10:33 AM | by amandak | 0 Comments

A bit of neighborly rivalry is normal, but a couple of bloggers from Australia have taken their not-too-pretty description of next-door New Zealand a bit far, according to the tourism CEO of Auckland.

The Aussie bloggers who've just moved over to Auckland have been posting their opinions of New Zealand at their Fush'n'Chups blog and there's been quite an outrage over some of their ideas--for example, that Auckland is a "horrible soulless city" inhabited by "hobbits".

The bloggers are defending themselves by saying it's just a tongue-in-cheek blog and the Kiwis should get a better sense of humor. They even mention beautiful parts of New Zealand from time to time. The moral for the rest of us is to remember never to mistake a New Zealander for an Aussie, or there could be trouble.

Related Stories:
· Kiwis Upset By "Pathetically Rude" Aussie Bloggers [The Age]
· Fush'n'Chups [Official Site]
· New Zealand Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: mgrenner57]

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Restaurants On The Ground Are Out

January 6, 2009 at 11:45 AM | by BS | 1 Comment

Why eat in a plain-old ground-level restaurant when you can eat outdoors, high in the sky?

We've already told you about dining atop a giant concrete tree in Japan and in a crane 150 feet above the ground in Belgium. Now, the latest sky-high dining craze is the Yellow Treehouse restaurant, which opens this week in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Jump It Like Beckham

December 11, 2008 at 8:45 AM | by egw | 0 Comments

David Beckham should check out our World's Wildest Bungee Jumps next time he's on the road! The L.A. Galaxy player completed the 134-foot jump off Auckland's Harbour Bridge yesterday with some teammates, like the Mr. Badass he considers himself to be.

But not 100 percent badass: Sources on the bridge say Beckham paused before jumping to text his wife Victoria and the kids, just in case. Next stop, SkyJump?

Related Stories:
· Beckham's Harbour Bridge Bungee Plunge [Stuff.co.nz]
· It's Summer Somewhere: SkyJump and SkyWalk in Auckland [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: The Superficial]

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Amazing Race 13: I Wonder If They Like Blondes in New Zealand?

October 20, 2008 at 8:30 AM | by Todd | 1 Comment

Chasing Racers is back, with a brand new Amazing Race 13 mashup. This map will update the morning after every new episode. Send along tips, rumors, gossip, locations and spoilers to our map editors, become a member and comment on the stories below and add to the Jaunted-Flickr photo pool to get in on the fray.

Remember to zoom in, out and around on the map--with so much happening in each episode, it's easy to miss a map point.

Welcome back race fans! Season 13 soldiers on, and we're down to just eight teams. The action is intensifying and tempers are starting to flare. Will Ken and Tina keep up their streak of first place finishes? Will Aja and Ty work through their conflicts and focus on winning? Will we be treated to a smack down between the divorcees, Kelly and Christy and brother and sister duo, Nick and Starr?

LET'S FIND OUT!

more ›

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Near Miss: Auckland Will Get Boobs on Bikes Tomorrow

August 19, 2008 at 9:05 AM | by amandak | 0 Comments

Year after year the same protest goes on in New Zealand: someone tries to ban the Boobs on Bikes parade as an "offensive public event."

And year after year, the courts decide that Boobs on Bikes can go ahead. This year it's an Auckland court saying that since last year over 80,000 people gathered to watch the topless gals (and guys) ride motorbikes through the city streets, it obviously wasn't offensive to everybody.

That means that on Wednesday all visitors to Auckland will probably spot the Queens Street parade, a precursor to the Erotica Expo. Get there early, because those crowds mean it's hard to get a good viewing spot. And there's plenty to be viewed.

Related Stories:
· NZ Court Gives Green Light to Boobs on Bikes Parade [Reuters]
· Boobs on Bikes Ride Again [Jaunted]
· New Zealand Appreciates the Human Form [Jaunted]

[Photo: dgansen]

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"High School Musical" Star Goes Kiwi

January 28, 2008 at 2:35 PM | by egw | 0 Comments

It's off to Auckland for Ashley Tisdale, the villainous diva of the "High School Musical" movies, where she will be filming her new adventure/fantasy movie "They Came from Upstairs." In the film, a group of kids must defend their house from aliens; here, the house in question is a classic Auckland manor recently pressed into service as a backpackers' hostel.

Tisdale recently made an appearance at the SAG Awards with fellow young actresses Amanda Bynes and Brittany Snow. According to "HSM" fan sites, she will start working on "High School Musical 3" right after her New Zealand adventures.

Until then, maybe Ashley and her fans can fill us in on the plastic surgery travel scene in NZ!

Related Stories:
· Ashley Tisdale to Film at Auckland Manor [Just Jared]
· Hollywood Movie Filming at Auckland manor [NZ Herald]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Just Jared]

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It's Summer Somewhere: Skywalk and SkyJump in Auckland

Where: Federal Street, Auckland, New Zealand
January 24, 2008 at 9:20 AM | by amandak | 1 Comment

Heading down for the Big Day Out concert series isn't the only reason to check out Auckland this (southern) summer. There's also a new attraction that can give you a rapid heartbeat and some fantastic views over the city of Auckland.

The recently-opened Skywalk 360 is a special-suit-and-harness walk around the pergola of Auckland's Sky Tower, all at a height of about 630 feet. You can circumnavigate the tower, with pauses for tips on the sights of Auckland you're trying not to look down at.

Extra brave souls can add the SkyJump, departing from a platform on the Skywalk. You'll fall fast for 11 seconds before being slowed up at the end, but you won't endure the freaky bounce of a bungee jump. This is the gentle way to insanely throw yourself at the ground.

Related Stories:
· Skywalk at Auckland's Sky Tower [KiwiWriter]
· Skywalk 360 [Official Site]
· It's Summer Somewhere: Big Day Out, New Zealand [Jaunted]
· It's Summer Somewhere coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Skywalk Gallery]

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It's Summer Somewhere: New Zealand

January 14, 2008 at 12:00 PM | by sedona | 1 Comment

As winter rages on in most of the world, we're just happy to remind you that in sunny, stunning New Zealand summer's just kicking off.

What better way to greet it then by heading there next week for the Big Day Out, the awesome start-to-summer concert festival with acts including Arcade Fire, Rage Against the Machine and Kate Nash. It all goes down outside in the sunshine.

The show's in Auckland at the city's Mt. Smart Stadium and also features a bevy of other cool, on-site features like art installations and side show series. If you're a lucky duck and get to go, be sure to buy your tickets online or at a legitimate source in NZ. Apparently quite a few festival tickets were stolen this year and the organizers already know which tickets there are. So get legit tix, then have fun rockin' with the Kiwis!

Related Stories:
· New Zealand Tourism Site [Official Site]
· Big Day Out [Official Site]
· New Zealand Tourism 100% Conchord Driven [Jaunted]
· New Zealand Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of The Killers at BDO '07: Michael_Spencer]

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Topless Parades Continue in New Zealand

August 24, 2007 at 9:15 AM | by amandak | 0 Comments

New Zealand's really making a name for itself with the whole Boobs on Bikes parade series, and those female body parts just seem to keep sticking out. They're even extending it to Boobs on Tanks for those who don't have a bike!

This week in Auckland the topless gals hit the streets again--allegedly to promote the three-day Erotica Expo--but it's starting to seem like it's all just the next wave of publicity for New Zealand. Lord of the Rings taught us about NZ's great scenery: We know we can go bungee-jumping and whitewater rafting there, but now we know there are also great looking topless girls on parade. If those aren't enough reasons for a holiday, what else do you need?

Related Stories:
· Boobs on Bikes Ride Again [Jaunted]
· Mixed Reviews on Bike Boobs [Jaunted]
· Hotels in Auckland [HotelChatter]

[Photo: Che Fox]

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New Zealand Appreciates the Human Form

August 9, 2006 at 9:00 AM | by amandak | 0 Comments


Sick of waiting for London's Academy of Sex and Relationships to open? We've got something to keep you, well, satisfied until then.

It's a long way from London but they still speak some kind of English down in Auckland, New Zealand, and from the 25th to the 27th August they're holding the Erotica Lifestyles Expo. It features exhibitions on sexuality, health and well-being and a highlight could be the chance to get a photograph of you with a famous porn star, perfect for framing and hanging in the kitchen.

If you're not prepared to hand over the NZ$20 entry fee, hang out downtown for the Boobs on Bikes parade. About 30 naked porn stars will ride on motorbikes and in open cars around the city center to open and promote the expo. This motorcade is not without its critics, of course; but as one town councillor aptly put it, "I appreciate the human form." If you do to, head down to NZ soon.

Related stories:
Boobs on Bikes Gets Green Light [NZ Herald]
Cataloguing False Starts [Jaunted]