Boys Day Out Mystery Creek in association with its sponsors will be building the Ultimate MANSPACE this weekend.

All profits from the sale of the Boys Day Out MANSPACE will be going to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.

No longer will MAN be forced into the dingy spare room, or having to fight with the kids to get to the TV. Do you need your own pad away from the craziness? Your own place to chill out with your mates and have a beer and watch some sport?

Whatever you want to do you can, in your own MANSPACE!!!

This is the Ultimate Man Shed we’ve crammed it full of thousands of dollars worth of Boys Toys, Features include a steel framed 10m2 MANSPACE made from Eco Ply & Aluminium Joinery, Panasonic Plasma televisions and stereo sound system, Playstation, a new TiVo home entertainment system and some fantastic bar furniture from Black Dog Furniture.

We’ve got more things being donated every day to the “MANSPACE”.

You can bid on this Ultimate MANSPACE on Trade Me right now on our $1 reserve auction.

All profits from the sale of the Ultimate “MANSPACE” will be donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

So get to bidding and help out this fantastic charity and take back your “MANSPACE”

With the colder months just around the corner, New Zealand residents are being encouraged to trade in their ski holidays for a beach break in Tropical North Queensland with the Great Tropical Holidays campaign.

A joint campaign with Sunlover Holidays, Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland, Cairns Airport and Tourism Tropical North Queensland the Great Tropical Holidays campaign, which runs from today the 9th of March until the 30th of June, is the first Tropical North Queensland focused campaign of its kind to run in the New Zealand Market.

Sunlover Holidays Managing Director Mark Campbell says that the aim of the campaign is to showcase the very best Tropical North Queensland has to offer in a bid to increase visits by New Zealanders to the area.

“Tropical North Queensland is often the jewel in the crown for tourists visiting Queensland and we are confident that the deals on offer as part of this campaign will appeal to New Zealanders looking to enjoy a quintessential Queensland experience,” Mr Campbell said.

During the Great Tropical Holidays campaign New Zealanders will be able to snap up bargains such as seven nights for the price of five in Trinity Beach, seven nights in Cairns from $1045* per person twin share and Daintree Rainforest day tours which include lunch from $209* per adult.

“We have been generous in putting together the offers for this campaign ensuring that all deals feature at least one value-add such as low rates, free nights, bonus meals, tours and even transfers. “Great offers aside, now is an ideal time to plan a Tropical North Queensland holiday with the wet season behind us the area is in its prime,” he said.

To coincide with the launch of the Great Tropical Holidays campaign, Sunlover Holidays has launched
www.sunloverholidays.co.nz which will display all deals, packages and tours in New Zealand dollars.

“We created a New Zealand specific website to ensure our customers can conveniently research, plan and book their Tropical North Queensland holiday,” said Mr Campbell. Deals in the Great Tropical Holidays campaign are valid for sale for the remainder of 2010 with selected deals valid until 31 March 2011.

To view the entire ‘Great Tropical Holidays’ range visit www.sunloverholidays.co.nz

A Sample of ‘Great Tropical Holidays’ deals

1. Port Douglas Stay seven nights for the price of six in a Poolview Suite at the 4.5 star Peninsula Boutique Hotel including full breakfast daily, return transfers from Cairns Airport and Sunset Cruise for $1409* per person twin share.

2. Cairns Stay seven nights in a 1 Bedroom apartment at the 4.5 star Lakes Cairns Resort & Spa including return transfers, full day Great Barrier Reef tour, full day Kuranda tour and MORE for $1045( per person twin share.

3. Great Barrier Reef Adventure Tour including lunch, use of snorkelling equipment, eco reef talk and MORE for $255* per adult.

*Conditions apply. Prices are in NZD and are subject to currency fluctuations. Media Contact: AOT Holidays PR Manager Donna Kramer 0422 589 902 | donna.kramer@aotholidays.com.au

Auckland tourism company TIME Unlimited Tours has just been pronounced overall winner in the public vote section of the global Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award 2010. The competition comprised applicants from 10 different countries around the world (Australia, Bolivia, Canada, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mexico, Micronesia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sweden).

TIME Unlimited Tours not only won this highly prestigious global award; in addition they won by a huge margin ahead of all other applicants, achieving 48.2% of all votes cast worldwide. The 2nd and 3rd-placed organisations achieved 21.1% and 9.8% respectively of votes cast.

The Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award 2010 is a collaborative effort between Planeta.com and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity/UNEP (CBD) with the generous support of the Heidehof Foundation. It is presented to an indigenous tourism operation which has a website that promotes sustainable practices and educates visitors on cultural protocols and biodiversity conservation.

Auckland based TIME Unlimited Tours – see their website www.newzealandtours.travel – was established in 2005 by bicultural couple Ceillhe and Néill Sperath. Ceillhe Tewhare Teneti Hema Sperath is tangata whenua, a direct descendant of the famous Ngapuhi chief Patuone. Néill is tauiwi, of Irish and German origin, and a proud New Zealander by choice. Both are passionate about New Zealand and are proud parents of their daughter Danica Matariki Sperath, who was born in Auckland around Matariki (the Maori New Year) in 2009. Both are equally passionate about how New Zealand’s unique culture and environment should be shared with their guests.

TIME Unlimited Tours offers the most extensive range of high-quality guided tours available in Auckland, New Zealand. These are:
• Auckland Personal Guided Tours;
• Auckland Maori Tours;
• Interactive Maori Culture Experiences;
• Guided Wilderness Walks;
• Kayak Fishing Tours;
• Kayaking Adventures;
• Kite Fishing Tours;
• Private Auckland and NZ Tours.

TIME Unlimited Tours, says Ceillhe Sperath, is founded on three essential pou, or pillars, of Maoritanga (Maori culture); manaakitanga (hospitality), whakawhanaungatanga (relationships) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship). On their tours, Ceillhe explains, Manaakitanga translates into welcoming, respectful, caring, reliable and punctual service. Whanaungatanga means sharing experiences, finding common ground, forging links, making friends and becoming like family. Kaitiakitanga means ensuring respect, care and protection for the environment – the streets, parks and institutions, the land, beaches, sea and bush that they pass through.

The TIME in TIME Unlimited Tours is an acronym for “To Integrate Maori Experiences”. Te taha Maori, or the Maori dimension, therefore, is fundamental to their extensive range of tours and experiences. Their Interactive Marae Experiences mean total immersion in the Maori world, with Te Reo (language) and Tikanga (protocol). Their Auckland Maori Tours trace the story of Maori, along with landmarks, flora and fauna across the greater Auckland landscape and from mai rano, or prehistory, to modern times. On their Kia Ora Cuisine evenings, gourmet Kiwi cuisine and kai Maori (Maori food) specialities are served and eaten according to tikanga Maori. TIME Unlimited Tours not only reflects Aotearoa New Zealand’s bi-cultural partnership. It also nurtures and promotes, in all of its experiences, that rich dual heritage which makes this country unique.

In April 2010, TIME Unlimited Tours will receive this global tourism award at an international tourism trade fair, the Reisepavillon in Berlin, Germany. Since 1991, the Reisepavillon has been a global focal point for responsible tourism. An average of 25,000 visitors each year have an opportunity to meet competent tourism operators and practitioners in a wide-ranging programme of events (90-120 presentations, workshops and chaired discussions). On this occasion, the organisers of the Reisepavillon and leading German tourism trade associations will collaborate to assist TIME Unlimited Tours to meet with leading operators and agents dedicated to sustainable tourism. Ceillhe, Néill and Danica Matariki Sperath will be travelling to Germany to accept this award on behalf of their company TIME Unlimited Tours, Auckland and New Zealand.

Ceillhe & Neill Sperath, “Directors of TIME”, say

“We are absolutely delighted to receive such an outstanding accolade for our company. It is very humbling for us that TIME Unlimited Tours was chosen by people from around the world with such an overwhelming majority for this prestigious global award and we really look forward to travelling to Germany in April to accept it. Many thanks to all those around New Zealand and around the world that supported our application”.

TIME Unlimited Tours will now also receive technical support and participate in a workshop on innovative Web-based tools for marketing and communications, facilitated by webmaster Ron Mader. A publication on the award, its nominees and winners and the lessons learned, will be distributed at the event.

Please also refer to the TIME Unlimited Tours website www.newzealandtours.travel .

The highly-anticipated 100km endurance trail running test-piece, staged in the heart of the spectacular Blue Mountains National Park is set to return on May 15th & 16th, and has already attracted no less than 577 ultra-marathoners, trail-runners and passionate recreational runners since entries opened early in December 2009.

Rated by Dean Karnazes, the Ultra-Marathon Man, as the toughest 100km he has ever done, The North Face 100 is the pinnacle of trail running events in Australia. Runners follow a spectacular but merciless course, with 4,500m elevation gain, and have to pass a series of cut-off times in order to proceed to the next stage and complete the event.

With a 2009 race record of 10 hours, 22 minutes and 51 seconds held by Blue Mountains local Andrew Lee, talk of a sub-10hr race record in 2010 is spreading. Is 2010 the year? A number of such candidates are confirmed starters, and are currently training body and mind. These include 2009 winner Andrew Lee, number two Tim Cochrane, as well as Ben Artup, current race record holder of the Six Foot Track Marathon.

In the women’s field, 2009 winner Julie Quinn is confirmed to defend her title of fastest women. With rumors heard of a number of other elite female runners looking to challenge her position, could The North Face 100 see two women in the top 10 this year?

For those not quite ready for the total 100km experience, the Marathon Pairs option offers teams of 2 the possibility to relay the distance at mid-course, each completing 50km. But with only 23 spots left, hurry up to enter if you haven’t already!

Now is the time to lace-up and prepare to tackle The North Face 100. Are you tough enough? Endurance comes in all distances. Find yours in The North Face 100.

Register for the race on www.thenorthface.com.au
Entry fee: $215 for a solo runner, $150/person for teams of 2 (relay option)

About The North Face 100®:
The North Face 100 has become one of the most talked about endurance events in the Southern hemisphere. The North Face 100 Asia series is continuing to promote the true spirit of exploration in 2010. You are invited to take on the challenge in our races staged in China, Australia, Philippines, Japan and Singapore.

LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand (March 8, 2010) – A weekend of extreme performance with KTM motorcycles, fine food and wine and luxury accommodation overlooking Lake Wanaka in the heart of New Zealand’s Southern Alps is the new ultimate boys’ getaway from

Release: Private Retreat.

The three-night package, Experience KTM @ Release, includes a one-day guided test ride with the latest off-road bikes from KTM. Put the 450EXC and the 250EXC through their paces in the diverse backcountry of Lake Wanaka. Under expert guidance, clients can improve their riding skills and explore some of the most spectacular enduro terrain in the Southern Hemisphere, from the shores of Lake Wanaka to steep hill climbs on the surrounding mountains to enjoy the majestic lake and alpine views of Mt Aspiring National Park.

After working up an appetite in the wild backcountry, guests can enjoy an in-house private chef for the night with a menu featuring fresh local produce and award-winning wines from the world-famous Central Otago region.

“Experience KTM @ Release is all about a high quality experience that you simply can’t get anywhere else,” said Nick Frame, co-founder of Release: Private Retreat. “By combining the best of everything – cutting-edge technology from KTM, world-class cuisine and luxury accommodation, it’s the perfect discerning boys’ weekend away.”

With Release: Private Retreat sleeping six there’s plenty of room for the girls too with the full concierge service on hand to arrange any other detail that completes the ultimate experience, whether it’s in-house massage, wine-tasting or a total pampering session.

Nestled in native bush with commanding views across Lake Wanaka to the mountains of Mt Aspiring National Park, Release is an architecturally designed luxury retreat. The elegant accommodation is finished to the highest level and is testament to the values of sustainable architecture with its eco-friendly design. Prices for Experience KTM @ Release start at $975 per person per night (based on two pax, prices for up to six pax available on request).

For further information, visit www.releasenz.com.

________________________________________

For further media information, contact:
Victoria Murray-Orr – EveNZ Consultancy
Tel: +64 3 443 2700 E: vmo@evenz.co.nz

Comedian Mike King took the biggest plunge of his life today at the Motueka Aerodrome and learnt how to skydive with Skydive Abel Tasman. Mike was given all his ground training by staff at Skydive Abel Tasman and then at 2pm he was taken to 12,000ft and with all his own gear and two instructors leapt from the aircraft. “It was the most scary yet exciting thing I have ever done. I am not afraid to tell others that I was incredibly nervous. But hell it is the most amazing sensation, freefalling, wow.” Said Mike King. “It was an overwhelming experience, fantastic, thanks guys.”

Mike exited the aircraft from 12,000ft with two instructors, Kevin Bedford and Stuart Bean. Mike carried out all his checks whilst plumeting to the ground at speeds of upto 150km per hour, he then deployed his parachute and flew it safely back to the landing area. Kevin Bedford said: “He was a great student, really amped about the jump but retained everything I taught him. Mike was like a sponge absorbing all the information. He had us laughing though throughout the training. He’ll make a great skydiver.”

Stuart Bean, owner operator of Skydive Abel Tasman said: “It was a real pleasure to take Mike for his first jump. He’s a great comedian and is now set to be a great skydiver too. He wouldn’t do a tandem he had his mind set on jumping on his own. So that’s what he did. It was great fun and we look forward to seeing him back in the air again soon.”

For further information or photos please contact:

Lisa Chambers
Sales & Marketing
Hangar One, 16 College Street, Motueka Airport, Motueka
t: 03 528 4091
m: 0274 509949
www.skydive.co.nz

After tallying up the votes, Jasons were amazed to find the Kiwi public had been almost split down the middle in voting for the first and second place. And the winner by a woolly nose…

Hung Chou Chen’s quintessential Kiwi image of a ewe and her lamb at the base of a snow capped Mt Ruapehu drew the voters in and just pipped at the post Erin Thiem’s photo of two year old Josh Thiem looking up through his goggles at Kaiteriteri Beach. Hung’s prize is the adventurous Canon Powershot D10 camera. Being waterproof, freezeproof and shockproof it’s tough enough to capture the most rugged New Zealand landscape.

Also proving a crowd-pleaser at third place was Cherie Palmer’s version of an idyllic Kiwi shoreline at Golden Bay. Second and third place-getters will each receive a New Zealand Gift Basket.

The nationwide photo competition held by Jasons Travel Media over the summer resulted in hundreds of submissions from Kiwis all around the country. Aimed at Kiwis of all ages and photographic talent, ‘Only in New Zealand’ encouraged photo submissions that best encapsulated the phrase ‘Only in New Zealand’.

Jasons appealed to the New Zealand public to pick from the 21 finalist photos and vote for the overall winner. “We’re thrilled, not only with the calibre of the images, but also with the way Kiwis everywhere have shown their support for ‘Only in New Zealand’”, says CEO of Jasons Travel Media, Matthew Mayne.

“The quality and originality of entries this year was just brilliant and Jasons is really looking forward to repeating the competition again next summer.”

To view the top 21 images submitted to ‘Only in New Zealand’ simply go to http://www.jasons.com/photocomp/

Ever had dreams of riding across the Mongolian steppe in the footprints of Genghis Khan? Exploring this little known and even less visited region, once the domain of adventurers that would have put old Indy Jones to shame, is now within the grasp of us ordinary folks.

Zavkhan Trekking (www.zavkhan.co.uk), a Kiwi-Mongolian partnership, takes adventurous types on true exploratory trips in the Zavkhan region of central Mongolia through landscapes of forested mountains, open steppe, desert sands, lakes and rivers which are as varied as the modes of transport used to cross them.

After experiencing Mongolia’s largest horse racing festival, Nadaam, in the country’s capital Ulaanbaatar and the ancient ruins of Kharkhorin, the great Mongolian road trip by 4WD leads to traditional horse trails. These can be trod by traditional Mongolian horses as well as mountain bikes and hiker’s boots. Across the desert sands, reminiscent of Lawrence of Arabia, camels carry explorers to lakes where humps are exchanged for paddles and kayaks.

By offering a variety of options (horse, mountain bike, camel, kayak and hiking) travellers can make their own choices as to which they prefer on any given day. Not all the options must be done as there is always an alternative making this trip ideal for those who don’t feel their backsides could stand up to days in the saddle, while their partners might be happy with exactly that.

Nights are spent under the stars, or at least under the canvas of traditional Mongolian round tents, gers, and days pass with the excitement of wondering what is coming next as one canters across the steppe, thunders down a mountainside on a bike or glides across a silent lake. The routes taken are truly exploratory and never the same on any two trips with variations being made to take into account weather conditions, new trails discovered, advice from local guides and wranglers or just someone saying ‘hey, I wonder what’s up that way?’.

Exploration and adventure in Mongolia is extremely rewarding for those really wanting to get off the beaten track and for the traveller keen for some honest old fashion action where the boots get dusty and the hands get dirty!

The 2010 Zavkhan Multi Activity is a small group expedition and spaces are limited:

Runs from 13th July to 2nd August 2010.
£1950 ex-Ulaan Baatar.
www.zavkhan.co.uk

The cat’s definitely out of the bag about the beautiful Paradise Off-Road Triathlon & Duathlon. Over ninety athletes competed in yesterday’s event, more than tripling the field from the previous years.

“The best part of these events for us is seeing more people taking part who have never completed a triathlon or duathlon before, as well as the children that give it a go. It makes what we do worth it, plus what better place than in Paradise” Tracey Neil, Race Director says.

Richie Lambert of Queenstown was the overall winner with a time of 1:12:24, followed closely by Aaron Giller of Dunedin with a time of 1:12:37. In third place was Sean Barnes with a time of 1:14:30.

Aaron is completing the full series and this was his first time at Paradise “It was great fun and really relaxed. The course was interesting and it was enough of a challenge for the more advanced athletes. It was also really good to see a range of abilities out there competing.

I didn’t realise I was coming second, when I came out of the water I couldn’t see Richie anywhere, but I caught up to him on the bike. ”

The women’s triathlon was won by Sarah Cole with a time of 1:16:24, closely followed by Emma Smith from Wanaka in second place with a time of 1:17:48 and Ivonne McDonnell-Grant came third with a time of 1:22:42. Sue Mavor followed shortly afterwards to win the veteran female category in only 1:29:12. Sue is very keen to have more veteran women come out and compete.

The Duathon Open Male was won by James Greenslade-Yeats with a time of 56:19 and Open Female by Georgina Murray with a time of 1:09:56.

This is the only triathlon event on the Glenorchy sporting calendar and was the third race in the Salomon Southern Tri Series, with the series finale at Lake Hayes on Good Friday 2 April 2010.

The event is well supported by local Glenorchy and Queenstown businesses with well over $1,000 dollars worth of spot prizes being given away to lucky competitors. Sponsors included Salomon, Kinloch Lodge, Dart Stables, Kawarau Jet, Export 33 Beer, Glenorchy Hotel, Glenorchy Lodge, Glenorchy Café, Lakes Leisure, Hamill’s Restaurant, Waitiri Creek Winery, Outside Sports, More FM, Queenstown Health, Blueseventy Wet Suits, Onsen Hot Pools, Nature Valley Foods, Queenstown Podiatry, Julbo Sunglasses, Remarkables Sweet Shop and Lick Dessert Bar.

Brown’s shoulder popped out in training just 30 minutes before her first run. Coach Tom Willmott credits the 20 year old with impressive mental and physical strength. “To come back from an injury that would have put most people out of competition was tough. She dealt with the pressure – it rolled off her like water off a duck’s back,” he said.

Brown popped her shoulder back in herself mid-run. It was later strapped by New Zealand physio Sheryl Dickenson.

Brown was delighted with her performance. “I’m stoked. It was fun to ride on the pipe today and it was in amazing condition – they’d kept it really good for us. I landed a good clean first run but just missed a big trick on my second. My shoulder was sore and aching but painkillers kept it pretty much under control.”

Coach Willmott said Brown had followed a plan. “She’d gone for a clean run with plenty of amplitude on her first run. She then went for broke on her second knowing she needed to increase her score. She sketched on her second to last landing and didn’t quite pull off the 720 she’d hoped for.”

Finishing in fifteeth is nonetheless a very impressive result the young athlete.

At her second Olympic Games, Brown was still in awe as she prepared for her first run “Vancouver is just that much bigger and more impressive,” she said, comparing her Olympic experience today to the Torino Olympic Games four years ago where she finished 24th.

Brown is looking towards a strong future in snowboarding. “I’m going to focus on getting my shoulder fixed and then will be looking to conquer Russia (Olympic Games 2014).”

Meanwhile, Willmott praised the high calibre of women’s competition today at Cypress. “Clearly, I’m stoked with Kendall,” he said. “But I’m very proud of Bex (Sinclair) who performed under pressure and to land a crippler seven is outstanding. At just 19, she’ll be a threat in 2014.

Ju (Bray) did the biggest backside ever in her first run. She was smooth with the cab seven and it was a real shame she crashed. It was a run that could’ve made the finals.”

The snowboarding competition for New Zealand at Vancouver 2010 is now complete.