Category Archives: Culture

Food, Wine & Art – Take the Road Worth Travelling.

Posted by Brent

Partake on a delicious journey through New Zealand’s finest wine and food country, experience the 380 kilometer (240 mile) trail as it serves up a delectable array of food and wine experiences. Encompassing Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and Marlborough the ‘Classic New Zealand Wine Trail’  links three of New Zealand’s leading wine regions that accounts for more than 80 percent of the country’s production.

Seemingly inseparable from good food and wine, artisans from all disciplines have set up camp along the way, complementing your experience perfectly.

Lets get on the road…

Food-Wine-Art

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Posted in Art, Culture, New Zealand, Wine and Food | Leave a comment

‘Pimp Your Ride’ with the ‘Masters of the Self-drive Holiday.’

Posted by Brent

It isn’t easy planning the perfect holiday, especially to a place you have never been. Sure there is an overwhelming number of resources available to help you gather information, but what is the difference between good and great? – anyone can write a review, the question is “did they have the same expectations as you?”

Here’s how you can have a vacation, that not only surpasses your expectations, but eliminates all the guessing and hard work. Better still, this service is absolutely free.

Ten Great Reasons to use First Light Travel to “Customize” Your Self-drive Holiday.

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Posted in ABOUT US, Art, Australia, Before Leaving Home, Caving, Culture, Diving, Fiji, Hiking, History, Humour, LOTR, Nature, New Zealand, South Pacific Islands, Surfing, The Hobbit, Wintersports | Leave a comment

Prehistoric Maori Rock Art – A Window into Early New Zealand Occupation

Posted by Brent

In the prehistoric age of early human occupation, nomadic Maori hunters created New Zealand’s earliest surviving artworks in caves and shelters as long ago as the fifteenth century or earlier.

Admired by archaeologists and historians alike, these windows on the past show a strength and elegance of design but the question of origin and significance are still a mystery.

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Epic “Waka” Journey, retraces Maori History across the Pacific

Posted by Brent

A group of intrepid New Zealanders are undertaking an amazing and some say, perilous journey across the Pacific Ocean to Easter Island in traditional waka hourua (double-hulled sailing canoes). Without GPS or modern navigational tools, in a bid to retrace and revitalise the steps of their ancestors; the crew are using only the stars and moon with ocean currents to guide them.

Traditional methods of navigation waned soon after European settlement in the Pacific. Canoes were replaced with ships, the decline was so dramatic that theorists about canoe voyaging began to deny that planned Pacific journeys were even possible.

With no cabins, nor mod-cons, this quest to find a small island in such an expansive ocean is nothing short of … well mad!

May the wind be with you!

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Posted in Cook Islands, Culture, History, New Zealand, South Pacific Islands | Leave a comment

WOW! ‘World of Wearable Art’ Awards, Wellington – A Must!

Posted by Brent

Once described as “Mardi Gras meets Haute Couture at a Peter Gabriel concert directed by Salvador Dali,” This show twists conventional perceptions of art and fashion.

Individual works of art are designed and animated by the body then choreographed into a two-hour theatrical show. Each year’s performance is original and contains elements of dance, music, drama and comedy.

Attracting both local and international artists it is now considered one of the most prestigious art and fashion competitions in the world.

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Posted in Art, Culture, History, New Zealand | Leave a comment

Ayers Rock, the Big Brother and a Devil of a Dingo

Posted by Brent

Locally known as ‘The Rock’, this single stone, larger than an island, lies in the Great Western Desert close to the geographic center of Australia. It has another name, a name of towering antiquity, a name from before the ice ages and a name associated with the giant devil dingo, which some believe dwells somewhere on the crest of what the aborigines call “Uluru”.

There are myths and magic embodied in Uluru, and mysteries written across its face by an ancient people, but that is not surprising as this rock is thought to be one of the oldest on the planet and is dated at over 500 million years old.

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Posted in Australia, Culture, History, Nature | Leave a comment

Kava – More than just a Tonic for the People

Posted by Brent

Cultivated and consumed by humans for well over 3000 years, Kava is still used today by a wide range of Pacific societies for medicinal, spiritual, and recreational purposes.

The feelings of camaraderie that Kava drinking evokes have made it a symbol for peace and friendship in many island nations of the Pacific.

Participating in a traditional Kava ceremony can be an insightful experience.

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Posted in Cook Islands, Culture, Fiji, History, New Zealand, South Pacific Islands | Leave a comment

The Fire-walkers of Beqa Island – Fiji

Posted by Brent

On a recent dive trip to Fiji, staying on Beqa Island, we were fortunate enough to witness their legendary fire-walkers in action.

From a distance it’s easy to theorize as to how it’s done, but after experimenting on one of the rocks, the blistering result left a burning question – what was their trick?

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Posted in Culture, Fiji, History, South Pacific Islands | Leave a comment

The Oldest and Most Beautiful Island in the South Pacific shares a Dark Secret

Posted by Brent

Deep in the South Seas, the most southerly of the Cook Islands has the distinction of being the oldest island in the Pacific. Analysis of its geology shows it dates from 18 million years ago

Steeped with legends and myths, its age, structure and ancient artifacts have for decades meant this unique tropical island has become a Mecca for archaeologists and anthropologists…

Mangaia’s remarkable natural beauty and serenity are only part of its fascination…

Ancient Burial Caves  on the Island of Makatea.

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Posted in Caving, Cook Islands, Culture, History, Nature, South Pacific Islands | Leave a comment

Aboriginal Mythology – Some Truths Revealed

Posted by Brent

The Aboriginal people believe they have lived in Australia since the beginning of all things. Archaeologists have dated their occupancy to many tens of thousands of years and much of the mythology harks back to these earliest of times.

Stories and legends were expressed in everyday life through art, song and dance – verbally handed down by word of mouth from these ancient times.

Here is a selection of fascinating mythology including some that have startling explanations.

The Bunyip

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Posted in Art, Australia, Culture, History | Leave a comment