Located on Queen Street in the very heart of Auckland city, this affordable backpacker is modern and beautifully-designed with stunning views. Close to the Viaduct Harbour, famous for its shops, cafés, restaurants and nightlife, Base Backpackers is an ideal hostel to base yourself in Auckland.
Most amenities are walking distance from the hostel and there is a free bus to New World Supermarket. You can visit the Auckland Museum in the Auckland Domain, or Newmarket and Parnell Village via the LINK Bus. The nearest LINK Bus stop is a 5 minute walk from the hostel.
From dorm rooms to modern double and twin ensuite rooms this award-winning Base Backpackers offers everything you could possibly want. In the dorm rooms all beds have their own lockable luggage locker and safe’s are available for hire from reception.
There is an innovative and luxurious girls only floor with high quality facilities. The Base Backpackers bar offers great interactive entertainment and drink specials every night. Every need is catered for with an internet café, full travel desk, a great bar, laundry, public phones, and a spa and sauna.
The staff are young, helpful, friendly and knowledgeably on what to do in and around Auckland. For more information on rates and rooms please visit their website at:
Bold Communications: Learning to Speak Kiwi
Apparently there have been a few complaints that I do not pronounce my words correctly i.e. the kiwi way. So Bold Communications thought it was time they taught me how to speak kiwi language.
We arrived at Bold Communication to meet Kirstie O’Sullivan, BOLD’s lead Trainer and Managing Director and my voice coach for the day. A professional actor, presenter, voice-over artist and trainer in theatre, film, television, radio and corporate theatre for over fifteen years, Kirstie certainly knows her stuff.
She started off by asking me the differences that I have noticed between the Australian and New Zealand accent. Of course I responded with the most recognised difference- the way they pronounce words like “fush and chups” instead of “fish and chips”, “peg” instead of “pig”, and “pin” instead of “pen”.
Then we moved onto the different words. For example us Aussies call the box filled with ice that stores the beer an ‘eski’ where as Kiwis call it a ‘chilly bin’.
Then there is the flip flops that are very popular with all Aussies and Kiwis however for some reason we call them different names. In Aus we know them as ‘thongs’ and here you call them ‘jandles’!?
The whole experience with BOLD was choice as bro. Kirstie is a sweet as voice coach and I believe we achieved the end goal, which was for me to speak Kiwi. Mission achieved.
All jokes aside BOLD Communications offer a variety of services to enhance your vocal, presentation and communication skills. They work with a wide range of groups and individuals to deliver presentation training courses, bespoke workshops/group seminars and one to one consultancy and coaching.
For more information please visit their website at: www.boldcommunication.co.nz
Mr. Vintage Photo Shoot
A premium online t-shirt brand, Mr. Vintage stocks Australasia’s best range of authentic 80’s themed pop culture t-shirts. Their Kiwiana range is printed and designed in New Zealand by licensed manufacturers on premium quality t-shirts.
The brand started in 2004 on TradeMe and is currently redesigning their website and promotional material. So they asked me to model a few of their shirts. Hmmmmm should be interesting to see how the photos turn out…
Check out their website and have a look for yourself
www.mrvintage.co.nz
Sky Tower Walk and Jump
Why not experience and view Auckland from a completely different perspective, 192 metres in the air?
I prepared myself for the Big Jump by doing the Sky Walk first. However I was told after I did the walk that most people consider that to be more daunting then the jump itself. Well that’s just great, they could have told me that before I did the walk.
Suspended 192 metres above the ground, with no handrails and nothing but thin air either side me. I honestly felt as though I was walking on air- just extremely high up in the sky. It was a very moving experience and the views of Auckland are just spectacular. There is nowhere else in Auckland that offers views like this and if there is it is probably behind glass!
My guide Ben was absolutely hilarious. He used words like ‘choice’, ‘bro’, and ‘sweet as’ in every sentence so it was good practice after my BOLD Communication voice coaching. A born and bred kiwi he really made us feel safe and secure during the walk, making us laugh at basically everything he said.
Of course it would be too easy if we just stayed in the middle of the 1.2metre-wide walkway. Ben had us stand with our arms wide apart, toes hanging off the walkway and look down to the tiny specks of people walking along the street. If that wasn’t scary enough our next task involved facing the Sky Tower, planting our feet on the very edge of the pathway and then leaning out backwards. My heart was racing a million miles an hour by this point.
After we accomplished our tasks Ben let us enjoy the rest of the walk around Auckland’s famous Sky Tower and absorb the view.
Next on the agenda was the Sky Jump eeeeek. One of New Zealand’s most thrilling tourist attractions and one of Auckland city’s ‘don’t miss’ experiences, I leapt off Auckland’s famous Sky Tower- 192 metres straight down.
Often described as Base Jumping but with a wire rather than a parachute, this was such a unique experience. I felt just like spider man flying between buildings at approximately 85 km an hour. Before I knew it, it was over in about 11 seconds. My landing was not so graceful. Now that I think about it I do remember Kenny, my guide, telling me to keep my knees soft and bend my legs when I land. However that kind of went out of my head as soon as I let go of the pole and did the big leap.
Voted 'One of the best things to throw yourself off' -Lonely Planets Best In Travel 2009 guide! "... jumpers from all corners of the world come here to...jump from the tallest free-standing structure in the southern hemisphere."
For more information on prices and the SkyWalk or Jump please visit their website at: www.skywalk.co.nz or www.skyjump.co.nz
Kelly Tarltons
Kelly Tarlton opened in 1985 and has grown to become a world-class visitor attraction, offering a uniquely New Zealand Pacific and Southern oceans experience.
Matt Harvey the Front of House Manager took us on a personalised, behind the scenes tour of the Antarctic Encounter, home to New Zealand’s only sub-Antarctic penguins. Offering us a rare opportunity to see the magnificent colony of King and Gentoo penguins up close in their icy domain.
After our one on one with the flightless birds from Antarctica we boarded a unique snowcat ride. From here we were able to watch their playful antics on the snow and their elegant flight underwater. They really are just like children on red cordial.
Then it was time for the stingray feeding at Stingray Bay. We observed in awe as a stingray, 3 metres wide, climbed her body and sucked up the fish from her hand. I looked at the faces around me and everyone seemed just as amazed as I was. There is also a kiosk in stingray bay that overlooks the ocean. On high tide the water rises about half way up the window so diners can view the wild marine life.
Next we delved deep in the Underwater World where we saw a rich variety of species from New Zealand’s coastal waters. We encountered sharks, eels, stingrays and a vast array of magnificent fish. Walking through Underwater World has been made very easy for visitors as you don’t actually have to walk. Standing on a moving walkway we were transported slowly through the underwater transparent tunnel without actually moving our feet.
Then of course there is the thrilling Animal Adventures for the daring, including cage-free shark dives (as well as cage diving), snorkel and scuba safaris through the oceanarium or you can even take a dip to hand-feed the giant rays.
For more information please visit their website at: www.kellytarltons.co.nz
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