KEY POINTS:
Marlborough
Wotif.com has a great deal at the five-star Vintners Retreat Resort in Marlborough. A two-bedroom villa is down from $495 to $390 a night. The spacious open-plan villas have one king bed and two singles, plus a complimentary bottle of sauvignon blanc on arrival. The deal, pending availability, runs until January 29. www.wotif.com/hotelW45197
Food and wine
House of Travel is offering a package to get you to the 25th Marlborough Wine and Food Festival on February 9. The package includes one night's accommodation at the Marlborough Vintners Hotel in a one-bedroom suite and a ticket to the festival from $149 each. Call 0800 838 747 or visit houseoftravel.co.nz
Rarotonga
For the best snorkelling spot on Rarotonga, jump on a bus and ask for the Fruits of Rarotonga. It's a fruit-smoothie stand on the southeast of the island and is a well-known landmark near a popular coral spit. Flight Centre has five-night Rarotonga packages, including return airfares, breakfasts and transfers, from $799 each, twin-share. Sale ends January 16 for travel from February 7 to March 31. For more information contact 0800 354 448.
Wildfoods
The 19th Wildfoods Festival will be on March 8 in Hokitika. House of Travel has packages from $215 each, share-twin, which include one night's accommodation at Hotel So in Christchurch, return train travel from Christchurch to Hokitika and entry. Contact 0800 838 747 for more details.
Fiji
Head to the Shangri-La Fijian Resort over the summer holidays and enjoy a fabulous six nights from $1919. This great Holiday Shoppe includes airfares and children under 12 get their meals free. Valid for travel until March 31. For further information contact 0800 866 654.
In the diary
June 11 - King Kamehameha Day in Hawaii is a state holiday. The festivities honour Kamehameha the Great, who united the Hawaiian Islands by 1810. His legacy lives on and is celebrated with parades, hula shows, pa'u (equestrian) demonstrations and musical performances. Visitors can go to Kamehameha's birthplace at North Kohala for the colourful celebrations as well as take in the beauty of ocean cliffs and countryside.
- Detours, HoS
