NAPIER

Napier city is located in the Hawke's Bay region of New Zealand, around 6 hours driving time south from Auckland. Perched on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, this elegant city is a memorial to a 1931 earthquake and fire that destroyed most buildings and killed many people. Napier is known as the Art Deco Capital of the world. It is enhanced by palms and the angular Norfolk Island pines and bounded by fertile fruit and grape growing plains, dramatic hills and the shores of the South Pacific. In Napier, you can enjoy the legacy of its brave rebuilding and savour the spirit of the optimistic Art Deco era. Nowhere else can you see such a variety of buildings in the styles of the 1930s. 

 

 

 

BRANDON

Brandon, the province's second-largest city, is a major agricultural centre located on the banks of the Assiniboine River and within easy access to many lakes and parks. The commercial and cultural hub of western Manitoba, with a population of just over 40,000. It is a flourishing centre with ample hotels, restaurants and parks. It hosts two major provincials fair - the Summer Fair and Pro Rodeo and the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair (western Canada's largest spring agricultural and classical horse show). Brandon is a city on the rise with many hidden gems and untold stories!

 

 

Plan your excursion to Brandon - a city on the rise: Brandon Tourism

OSHKOSH

The city that never stops eventing

With more than 1,000 events annually, there is always something happening in Oshkosh, Wisconsin's Event City. More than 500,000 spectators from 60 countries come to Oshkosh each year to take part in the world's largest aviation event, EAA AirVenture. Oshkosh is also home to the premier country music and camping festival in the nation, Country USA. Located on the western shore of Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh has an abundance of waterways and also offers world-class museums, art galleries, theater and musical productions and unique dining and shopping venues.

For more information, log on to visitoshkosh.com

TENBY

 Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - the only British national park focused almost exclusively on the coast lies in the far-flung south-west corner of Wales. The impressive cliffs alternate with secluded coves and big sandy beaches, good for swimming, though the waters are chilly. The park has a smattering of historic sites, including the impossibly picturesque St David’s Cathedral, built in a Viking-proof nook by the Irish Sea.

Tenby, with four sandy beaches, is the the most popular resort in the region, a combination of narrow, cobbled streets within the walls  of its old town and of pastel-shaded Regency and  Georgian houses overlooking the harbor. Medieval Tenby’s ancient town walls still stand, enclosing streets and passageways full of shops, inns, and places to eat. A Tudor scientist named Robert Recorde, who invented the "equals" (=) sign, was born here.

From the harbor you can take a short boat trip to Caldey Island, with its active Cistercian community.

TENBY HARBOUR

HAMILTON

The gateway to the Central North Island, Hamilton is New Zealand’s largest inland city, straddling the superb Waikato River. With a young, smart and innovative population, Hamilton's warm and welcoming spirit, rich history and contrasting splendours ensure visitors are spoilt for choice for places to relax, enjoy and do business. From magnificent parks and gardens to a thriving cultural precinct, the city offers a vibrant combination of fine dining and nightlife options as well as an eclectic mix of leisure, lifestyle and activity choices.

Fast facts

• NZ's largest inland city.
• NZ's longest river, the Waikato, flows for 16 kilometres through the city.
• Hamilton's population ranks fourth in the 67 districts in NZ.
• Has a youthful population - around half of residents are less than 30 years old.
• NZ European make up three quarters of the population and Maori 19 per cent.
• The city is home to more than 80 ethnic groups.
• Mild climate and moderate year round rainfall keep the city and surrounding area very green.
• 145 parks and gardens and 63 sports areas.
• The city has more than 1,000 hectares of open space.
• Three international sports venues – the multi-purpose FMG Stadium Waikato, the boutique international cricket ground Seddon Park, and indoor sport venue Claudelands.

Tourist Information: Visit Hamilton

HALIFAX

Halifax is Nova Scotia's capital city and the business, educational and cultural centre of maritime Canada. Located on a rounded peninsula bordered on the east by ten-mile-long Halifax harbour (second largest in the world), and a slender arm of the sea, the city of 120,000 offers a perfect blend of old and new - 19-th century buildings mix with concrete and glass office towers; town criers introduce jazz festivals; there's both a formal Victorian garden and an astro-turfed football field. The heart and soul of the city is its magnificent spoon-shaped harbour. Halifax today is the location of Canada's east coast navy, a busy shipping port, a cruise ship port of call and popular vacation destination for tourists, honeymooners and conventioneers.

DISCOVER HALIFAX
NOVA SCOTIA TOURISM

EAU CLAIRE

Located at the junction of the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers, the city of Eau Claire was one of the state's busiest lumber towns in the 1800s. Local museums explore the area's heritage, which includes ties to the Woodland Indian culture. Bike trails offer breathtaking views to both walkers and cyclist in summer and snowmobilers in winter. Eau Claire is an ideal base for day trips to surrounding communities (Augusta includes an Amish settlement of more than 150 families).

For more information, log on to visiteauclaire.com

PIETERMARITZBURG

Natal's capital city, Pietermaritzburg is a thriving modern city of charm and dignity, at her loveliest in spring when masses of azaleas burst into bloom. The slogan of 'Heritage City' for the capital of Natal is most appreciate. The heart of the city retains a distinct character and charm, due largely to its well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian red-brick buildings, dignified schools and civic buildings and 31 national monuments. It has a small but busy airport, and residential townships have swept over the surroundings hills. Today, the city enjoys modern lifestyle, boasting top quality shops, hotels and restaurants. 

City Hall. The ornate red brick building which has aptly been called a tribute to Victorian design, features a 47-m high clock tower, a 12-bell carillon, domed rooftops, stone carvings and beautiful stained glass windows. Declared a national monument in 1969. Recognised as the largest all-brick buildings in the southern hemisphere, the hall was built in 1900.

Old Supreme Court. A fine example of colonial architecture which formed the centre of the capital's defensive system during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. A major attraction today is the Tatham Art Gallery which houses a collection of late 19th- and early 20th-century paintings as well as exhibits of china, glassware and clocks. It housed the SA Supreme Court until 1983.

MANITOWOC

Known as Wisconsin's "Maritime Capital", Manitowoc celebrates its past and its present as a ship-building center with fascinating attractions. The largest maritime museum on the Great Lakes is here, with displays of everything from wooden sailing ships to a World War II-era submarine. The city is also the homeport of the largest carferry on the Great Lakes carrying cars and passengers from Manitowoc to Ludington, Michigan and back. The downtown includes a classic candy store with an antique soda fountain.

For more information, visit manitovoc.info

DERRY

Often called the "Cockpit of The Troubles" and Stroke City. A seminal event of the Troubles known as "Bloody Sunday" occurred in Derry on January 30, 1972, when British troops shot dead 13 Catholics during a civil rights march. Yet despite being a microcosm of Northern Ireland in its poverty and threatened violence, in its resilience, optimism, humor and joie de vivre, Derry is charming. In terms of conventional sightseeing, the city's top attraction is its 17th-century walls, some of the most complete in Europe. The city center within the walls contains old-fashioned shops and bars, as well as the spruce Derry Craft Village where you can buy crystal, linen T-towels and other local products.

The 17th-century Protestant St. Columb's Cathedral holds relics of the siege and Cecil Alexander, who wrote the famous hymn that begins, "There is a green hill far away/without a city wall" inspired by Derry's settings.

Visitor Info: Visit Derry