New Zealand: Photo Gallery

Captions and photos by Jeffrey James

Above: I took this shot on Mt. Coronet during this year's Gay Ski Week NZ in Queenstown.  Mike Sanford and Craig Lawson host the biggest gay and lesbian alpine party in the southern hemisphere, and queer ski bunnies take over the town and mountains all week. When sun sets, the party moves to the newly renovated Novotel Queenstown Lakeside Hotel for happy hour "Fag Tag" cocktails and warm spirits. 

I took a week touring New Zealand before hitting the slopes.  My first big stop was in Wellington, New Zealand's capital city.  I took this shot down by the Wellington Waterfront on my way to the famous Te Papa Tongarewa Museum.  

My next stop was in Nelson, down on the south island.  I met up with artist Anna Leary on a wine and art tour and she and Noel Kennedy gave me the grand tour of her artwork, the countryside, and a taste of Patrick Stowe's unbelievable Pinot Noir at Rimu Grove Winery.

I woke up my second morning in Nelson at couple Richard Hewetson and James Taylor's Te Puna Wai bed and breakfast with the best view in town.  James and Richard are my favorite couple in New Zealand, so sweet and welcoming, their Te Puna Wai is the perfect place to stay. I didn't know much about Nelson prior to my arrival and was delighted to find it the perfect place to relax, visit artist's homes and enjoy great local wine. 

I couldn't have had a better host with Wilsons while exploring the Abel Tasman National Park.  Craig Wilson is a local celebrity and former chef of Pavarotti and Paul McCartney.  Craig and I took the Vista to the middle of the park and hiked for a few hours before enjoying an amazing homemade lunch on the cruise back .

I met up with Sofia Minson on a private tour with Melissa Crockett with Potiki Adventures in Auckland.  Sofia is an incredible painter celebrating people, culture, and nature.  She made me some banana bread and we hung out for an afternoon as she showed me some of her new work and shared stories of her Maori heritage.  

I have to admit, I'm a big Lord of the Rings nerd.  Every place you go in New Zealand will boast their connection to Peter Jackson's infamous trilogy.  I opted for the ultimate chance to experience the films first hand on the Flat Earth New Zealand Experiences Tour in Wellington.  This picture was taken in the Shire, just down from the summit of Mount Victoria where Jackson filmed scenes of Buckland Forest.  I didn't run into any hobbits, but got my Lord of the Rings fix and plenty of pictures to bring home. 

On my last night in Queenstown  I had an amazing dinner at Fishbone Bar & Grill with owners Mark Godden and Darren Lovell and was able to catch the sunset over Lake Wakatipu.  With the Remarkables on the left and the TSS Earnslaw ship on the right, the view from town is the best spot to watch night fall on New Zealand.  New Zealand is a magical country full of adventure, breathtaking views and friendly people. 

Air New Zealand's Naked Flight Attendants

Air New Zealand really wants you to pay attention to their air safety video. So they're shedding more than their shoes in their new onboard video. The flight crew drops trou’ to reveal their new “Bare Essentials” in-flight safety video. Wearing only a fresh coat of body paint, a very attractive crew demands your attention as part of Air New Zealand’s “Nothing to Hide” campaign. So sit back, relax, and direct your attention to the YouTube clip below.

For more information on New Zealand click on the latest dispatch from our write, Dennis Hensley: A Crash Course in Kiwi

Correspondents: Down Under with Thunder

Photos in order (1-2) by Stacy Azerou Mehrfar (3) by Larry Johnson, (4) by David Iliff
Story by Larry Johnson.

Our visit to Australia started in Perth, on the remote western coast of Australia. A great day trip is South to the Margaret River area to tour wineries and eventually Cape Leewun, a mere 3,377 miles from the South Pole and where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. The waves crash spectacularly against the rocky shore and you may see penguins, dolphin or whale.

 Until we connected with Bears Perth, we were convinced that Perth was like Iran – No gay people here. We were delightfully wrong in this perception, though, and the Bears were quick to organize a social event at The Court, one of the most popular gay pubs in the City. (Pic of group).

Our journey next took us east to Melbourne, a center Australian culture. From there, head east to Yarra Valley, famous for its wine production. The Rochet Winery frequently hosts open air events and scheduled a concert with Simply Red on the grounds during our visit.

In Sydney we missed Mardi Gras, but went to “Fair Day”, where the LGBT community hints at the revelry to come. Thunderstorms add to the excitement of outdoor festivals, and 2009' was a constant deluge—drag queens suffered. But they also remained dedicated to the wonderful sense of community, along with the many other attendees present. "Fair Day 2009" stickerwearing participants could be seen throughout Sydney the rest of the day. The cosmopolitan nature of the city is apparent by the number of straight families who chose to bring both children and grandparents to the event.

Two “must see” items in Sydney are the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. The one-hour tour of the Opera House gives a basic understanding of how it operates. If you want to see a performance, book ahead of time as it’s frequently sold out.

The Bridge Climb well exceeded our expectations. After taking a breathalyzer and a quick orientation, you’re bundled up in coveralls, securely belted and attached to a cable. You then emerge on a catwalk that leads to the top of the bridge (440 feet) where, after a climb and some photographs, you cross to the other side and return to earth. Even if you’re not a fan of heights, this is an incredible experience, offering views that you wouldn’t get elsewhere.

 

Larry Johnson is part of Out Traveler's international team of Correspondents, reporting from around the world on items of LGBT travel interest. If you would like to become a Correspondent, e-mail us here after checking out our guidelines.

Ed Salvato on Sirius Radio!

 

Photo: courtesy Derek and Romaine, Sirius OutQ

Our editor, Ed Salvato, was a guest of Derek and Romaine on their eponymous show on Sirius OutQ.

It was a lively 45 minutes with lots and lots of calls from listeners. They discussed a wide range of travel topics from a wide range of Sirius OutQ listeners: gay men, lesbians, singles, couples and even a straight couple traveling with their gay friends! Here are a few topics they touched upon:

• Romantic getaways
• Gay-friendly cities in Texas
• Whether it's possible to travel to Cuba as an American
• How safe it is to travel to Mexico
• New Zealand B&Bs
• St. Petersburg, Russia
• Las Vegas
• Costa Rica ... and much more!

Click here to listen to the show. (It's in four parts.)

• Download 01 Track 01
• Download 02 Track 02
• Download 03 Track 03
• Download 04 Track 04

Sydney Mardi Gras: Drag Down Under

 

Story by Bartosz Jaworski

Quite a sight to witness, Sydney’s Mardi Gras celebrations have made everyone’s favorite Roman fertility festival into a Pride day for Sydney’s LGBT community, and is one of  the largest such events in the world.

As part of the festivities, the blank_space Gallery will host Cut-Throat, an exhibition of a highly-stylized, glam-drag portraits that highlight LGBT diversity by uniting the oft-separated worlds of drag kings and queens.

With Pride in the air, the exhibit captures the bold and in-your-face personalities that many would like to have but few have the courage to realize. The show also features prominent Diva Award-winning drag queens, Tora Hyman, D’Vynal, Suitor, and newcomer Giselle with fashion from Jovani, Mr Stinky's, and Blue Velvet.

Pride or not, though, the artists collaborating on this project -- photographer Kirsten Cox and stylist Lenya Jones -- are not afraid to keep the darker undertones of gender ambiguity in the frame, too.

Cut-Throat runs from Feb. 26 through March 4 and is set in the Barberia barbershop, symbolizing the “barbershop drama” tone set by the collection. The blank_space Gallery is located at 374 Crown St, Surry Hills in Sydney, Australia. After March 4, the gallery will move to the Soleil Tanning Salon on Oxford Street in Darlinghurst.  

Sydney Mardi Gras

Photos courtesy of Small World Journeys
Story by Olga Bas

Sydney Mardi Gras returned for its 31st fabulous year on Feb. 14. The three weeks of entertainment -- Joan Rivers is lending her comedic talents, actor Alan Cumming is set to perform, and Angels in America: Part I will play at the Riverside Theatres -- culminate in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on March 7.

Because the month-long event is such a staple of Sydney's culture, gay and otherwise, there are several travel packages available.

Hautes Vacances (French for "high travel"), a new boutique gay travel company, is offering The Sydney Mardi Gras Experience. Whether you buy the three-day ($1,525 for a single in a double bedroom) or the lengthier 10-day package ($2,300 for a single in a double bedroom), there are exclusive benefits such as accommodation in a centrally located boutique hotel, you get to ride on the official Sex & The City Mardi Gras float, personal 24-hour concierge service, and Official Mardi Gras Party Member VIP tickets.

And if, at the end of the festivities, you're still not fully satisfied, Small World Journeys, a gay-friendly Australian tour operator, has put together an exclusive Post-Sydney Mardi Gras Eco-Tour for the gay and lesbian crowd. The eight-day trip ($2,235) begins March 9 and includes whitewater rafting, rainforest hikes, sailing to the Great Barrier Reef, snorkeling, and scuba diving. The tour, led by professional local guides, also features dinners at upscale restaurants and four-star (eco-friendly) accommodations.

This year also sees the return of The Pink Flight, which travels to Sydney via Auckland in gay style. The theme for the flight is "Party" and the experience will include onboard entertainment. But it's only available on March 6, so booking early is key.

A Winter Summer Camp in Queensland, NZ

Photo: Courtesy Summer Camp NZ

This summer -- New Zealand's summer, that is, or our winter -- gay camp is taking over Queensland! Rather than dig through this goldmine of puns, here are the tempting facts:

Summer Camp NZ, an LGBT-specific event this January 10th-18th, is taking advantage of the island's gorgeous natural scenery during the best season, when temperatures hover in the 60s and up into the 70s.

Following a week of outdoors outings that range from skydiving to riversurfing, and canyoning to mountain- and motor-biking, Summer Camp NZ is partnering with DNA, Australia's biggest LGBT magazine, to throw a splashy pool party! Before then, guests will also be treated to a  featuring signature shots whose name matches the racy posters that advertise the event -- and can be learned cowboy-themed dinner and socialhere.

Morea II

Photos courtesy of Legends Resort
Story by: Olga Bas

Opened in September of this year, the Legends Resort on the island of Moorea, Tahiti is a Polynesian paradise for gay and lesbian couples and families. The resort is nestled in the foot hills of a beautiful valley filled with lush foliage and it overlooks the nearby multicolored lagoon and ocean.

Legends Resort Private Villas are everything you'd seek in a luxurious haven. Taste the cuisine offered by a fine gourmet French restaurant, relax in a private Jacuzzi that comes with every villa, get pampered with a massage, take a free shuttle to a nearby white sandy beach on a private island, or get in the pool suspended above the lagoon for an awe-inspiring swim.

So take one of the convenient flights from Tahiti international airport or enjoy a 30 minute ferry ride to view the breathtaking sights that the island of Moorea has to offer. And read our previous blog entry for some great deals.

Out Traveling on XM Radio

Photo: Jason Frank Rothenberg

Appearing recently on XM Radio's The Agenda, our Editor in Chief, Ed Salvato, discussed our just released Winter Issue, which is partially online here!

Download or listen here as Ed clarifies the finer points of staying in an Ice Hotel -- do you sleep on ice? -- points out our special sweepstakes with Qantas for a free flight to Australia, what's really going on with Gus Van Sant's upcoming Harvey Milk film, South Africa's queer culture, and whether it's possible to spend 21 hours on an airplane with Kathy Griffith.

If you missed Kathy's appearance on Air New Zealand's Pink Flight to Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras this past year, don't worry -- rumor has it that it will become an annual extravaganza. Plus, following next year's Mardi Gras, Small World Journeys is organizing an LGBT Eco-Tour of Australia including white-water rafting, Great Barrier Reef sailing and scuba diving, and rainforest hikes.

The trend towards gay-friendly Eco-Tours will also be coming up again soon for Out Traveler as the focus of our upcoming Spring Issue. Don't miss it!

Posh Happenings Winter 2008

Photo Courtesy Thomas Koeller/Fotoma.com

In our current Winter 2008 issue, check out a handful of elegant gay happenings from all over the globe. If you're headed to anywhere from New Orleans to Austria or Spain to Provincetown, we've got you covered!