This Golf Championship was again held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Sanctuary Cove, Queensland the first weekend of September.  The Private Travel Company entered two teams. Air New Zealand provided some fantastic prizes as did other sponsors, including QBE, Avis/Budget Group, Lifestyle Holidays and Peppers Clearwater Christchurch.

Although neither of our teams won the major prize, we did have a winner in the woman's team. Gae Spencer took away four prizes, individual ladies prize and longest drive in the first game and closest to the pin for the second game.  She was also included in the prize for the only all woman team.  A photo above shows Gae receiving one of her prizes from First Travel Group's General Manager, Malcolm MacLeod. Kerry Graham is shown teeing off with a Kangaroo audience, of which you can see closeup in another image. The putting green shown is in front of the Hope Island Golf Course. 

Thank you to Malcolm MacLeod and Keryn Ngare from First for another successful and enjoyable event and perfectly planned 3 days away.

If you are interested in joining us for next years Golf Championship just let us know and we can keep you informed of times and places when they come to hand.
Email : info@privatetravel.co.nz

Cruise week opened the door to some amazing cruises of which a few have been extended. If you are interested in cruising in 2016 or 2017 make sure you contact your travel advisor and register your interest. 

Please be aware many cruises, especially those like Seabourn, Silversea and Regent, already have limited availability for next 2016 Northern Hemisphere summer. The earlier the booking the more choice of cabin categories and cruise departures you will have.

Also of note would be any Canal boating or Yacht rentals for Europe 2016, these are best booked in advance to make sure you aren't disappointed. In some cases you may find some availability closer to your departure date, but in most cases these are on the less desirable older boats and yachts. 

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"Hurtigruten’s ships sail along the Norwegian coast, away from the effects of urban light pollution and directly beneath the Aurora Oval (the epicenter of Northern Lights activity)."
"Hurtigruten are so confident they offer the best way to experience the Aurora Borealis, that all new bookings for their 12 day ‘Classic Round Voyage’ departing between October 2015 and March 2016 inclusive will be eligible; regardless of how far in advance they are booked, to the following:-

If the lights don’t appear during their voyage, guests will be given the choice of a FREE* 7 day Classic Voyage North (Bergen to Kirkenes), or 6 day Classic Voyage South (Kirkenes to Bergen) in an inside twin cabin (voyage-only, B&B basis), departing between October 2016 and March 2017 inclusive."

"An exciting announcement from Silversea - in November 2017, Silver Cloud will join their luxury expedition fleet as an ice-class ship destined mostly for polar waters, as well as select non-polar destinations.
She will have the highest space ratio and highest staff-to-guest ratio among luxury ice-class expedition ships, not to mention that on average there will be one Expedition team member guiding no more than 12 guests each."

Having another luxury small ship heading into the expedition arena is fantastic news for well-travelled cruisers who are looking for something more adventurous, but enjoy the comforts these ships provide.

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Curious Traveler is an Emmy-award-nominated program, which is spotlighting Oceania Cruises in a series of exciting webisodes.  Host Christine van Blokland, a premier travel journalist and arts and culture enthusiast, takes you behind the scenes for a closer look at life on-board Oceania Cruises ships. Click here for the link to the webisodes and make sure you check for updates as Christine will be posting until 2^nd October.

Contact us for more cruise information and rates.