NELSON

Almond Backpackers

Almond House is situated in a central location, features great facilities and a friendly atmosphere at a very reasonable price. The warm and friendly atmosphere made Almond House feel like my house away from home. Paul, Fiona and their three children have been running Almond House for the past 3 years and have created a very nice home for backpackers.



We stayed in one of their private rooms. The room was quite spacious with a beside table, reading lamp, and a wardrobe and the bed was very comfortable. Scattered around the backyard are several hammocks, that were great to laze on and there was also a swimming pool.



The kitchen was nice and clean with modern appliances and the lounge room was very comfortable. Most of the people staying there were working for their accommodation so it was interesting to hear the different travel stories.

Prices start from $27 for a 3 bedroom dorm or $58 for a private room. Visit their website for more information: www.almondbackpackers.co.nz

World of WearableArt (WOW) and Classic Cars Museum

Talk about offering something for everyone. It is not very often that you come across a museum that excites both the ladies and the men. A man's fantasy, the Classic Cars Gallery offers a world class display of some of the most sought after models in classic motoring. For the ladies, you will have the opportunity to view some of the incredible garments that feature in the WearableArt Gallery.



Our host for the day, Julie, guided us through the museum watching our eyes shine with inspiration as we gazed at the magnificent garments. These extraordinary garments are created by artists from New Zealand and around the globe. Truly breathtaking, one of my favourite pieces, Queen Adelaide took the artist 300 hours just to fold the copper to form the circles and then there was the extra time to assemble the piece. It is very impressive.



Next on the agenda was the Classic Cars Gallery. This is a car enthusiast's dream world and a car gallery like no other. Beautifully displayed under theatrical lighting we marveled in awe at the most sought after models from three centuries of motoring.





To end the day Julie took us for a cruise in the Excalibur, which was seriously cool. For once our car was turning heads for all the right reasons- not like our Wicked Van.






The Museum shop features a creative selection jewellery, ceramics, books, gifts and much more. I was very impressed with the jewellery, some of the pieces were very beautiful. At the end of the tour the name of the museum seemed very fitting. I think I said WOW approximately 20 times throughout the tour.

Adult admission- $20
Child admission- $8

Grand Mercure, Monaco Apartments

We escaped from the hustle of the city and made our way to the peaceful sanctuary of the Grand Mercure Monaco. Surrounded by pituresque cottage gardens, this hotel has been handcrafted to capture the quaint character and allure of village life.



As we drove into the entrance, we were both awe struck by the old-world charm of this resort style village. It really do capture the village life of a fairytale. With a spa, hairdresser, pool, gym, jewellery gallery, bike hire and restaurant all on-site the Grand Mercure Monaco provides all the comforts and conveniences you could wish for.





The self-contained two bedroom cottage, with its courtyard and rose-filled gardens only contributed to our enchanting experience. The open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge downstairs were great areas to relax and enjoy the warmth of the fire. Upstairs there are two queen bedrooms both featuring ensuites.






Nicole the Front Office Manager took us for a tour of the complex after which we enjoyed a drink in The Orangerie restaurant. This French inspired, award winning restaurant will awe you at every turn. We were given the opportunity to view some of their other accommodation options including the Summerhouse Cottages (one bedroom), the Hotel Rooms and the One Bedroom Studio Units all offering something unique.





Amanda and I treated ourselves and made a visit to the About Beauty Spa. Their internationally qualified and experienced staff focused on identifying my individual needs, delivering a personalized and revitalizing leg and foot massage. I slept like a baby.

Prices start from $139 for the Hotel Rooms and $239 for the Two Bedroom Cottages. For more information visit their website at: www.monacoresort.co.nz