WORLD 66 Autumn-Winter 2025

TRAVEL

Waikiki ESCAPE TO

CLICKTOWA

TASTE YALUMBA: 175TH ANNIVERSARY

TRAVEL WELCOME TO DUBAI: THE LANA RESORT

CRUISE PARADISE FOUND: GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS

PUBLISHER

Don Hope

don@hopepublishing.co.nz

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Desmond Frith

d.DESIGN

www.ddesigns.co.nz

EDITORIAL

Patrick Smith

Desmond Frith

Tom Hyde

Erica Cassidy

Joanne Frith

Jeni Bone

Tricia Welsh

Brendan Telfer

Tom Long

Steve Williams

Clive Weston

Reece Witters

Royce Rumsey

Bani McSpedden

Brett Atkinson

Malcolm Campbell

Heather Kidd

PHOTOGRAPHY

Getty Images (Unless otherwise stated)

PRINTING SCG

©Hope Publishing 2025 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

The opinions expressed by contributors to Hope Publishing publications are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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A Masterpiece of Craftmanship and Design

A Masterpiece of Craftmanship and Design

www.bayleys.co.nz

An extraordinary opportunity to own one of New Zealand’s most prestigious properties, where grand views and timeless luxury define this ‘one of a kind’ masterpiece. Set amongst a natural backdrop with serene ponds, lush gardens and an infinity pool, this remarkable estate showcases an idyllic lifestyle of luxury and privacy which perfectly bridges the rustic and the refined.

Impeccably presented, the main residence is an impressive solid masonry home, over 900sqm meticulously crafted from the finest materials including South Island schist exterior and an impressive selection of natural stone and hardwood timbers on the interior. Renowned US-based interior designer Barbara Westbrook recreated a refined and highly livable home as the stately and serene environment reflects and embraces the natural beauty that is New Zealand’s greatest asset.

To complement the main residence there is a separate threebedroom cottage for extended family living, long-term guests, or staff plus implements shed, and a helicopter landing area available on the property.

Embrace this unique opportunity to live within a comfortable commute of either Auckland’s International Airport or the CBD. Within close proximity to the Formosa International Golf resort, the quaint Whitford Village and the Pine Harbour Marina with a commuter ferry service to Auckland city.

Please contact us for further information or a private viewing of this spectacular estate.

Angela Rudling M 027 477 0176 B 09 215 3002 angela.rudling@bayleys.co.nz

Michael Chi 池景山 M 021 886 363 michael.chi@bayleys.co.nz bayleys.co.nz/1852807

BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, HOWICK LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

Reflex of Italy, available exclusively at Sarsfield Brooke. Laguna table, designed by Riccardo Lucatello. Layers of handcrafted Molten glass of irregular surface and texture fused together for strength and beauty.

www.sarsfieldbrooke.co.nz

On the Rocks Sofa by Francesco Binfaré. Scrigno container by Fernando and Humberto Campana. Cicladi Coffee Tables by Jacopo Foggini.

photo Giovanni Gastel

Matisse | Auckland - 130 St Georges Bay Road, Parnell | Christchurch - 27 Papanui Road, Merivale | Queenstown - Unit A, 179 Glenda Drive, Frankton www.matisse.co.nz | design@matisse.co.nz

PREMIUM ®

UNRIVALLED LIFESTYLE - MATAKANA 620

Choose from 28 or 13 acres of prime Matakana real estate.

This stunning 28-acre (approx) country estate in the heart of Matakana is a rare legacy property. The luxury residence boasts soaring ceilings, multiple lounges, and high-end finishes across four elegant bedrooms. Designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living, it features an alfresco dining area and two pools for both relaxation and recreation. Adjacent is separate guest accommodation with two bedrooms and a gym. Thoughtfully designed equine facilities include a six-box stable complex with a tack room, wash bay, feed room, and self-contained two-bedroom accommodation.

Impeccably landscaped, the estate includes a vineyard, olive grove, orchard, and paddocks, all linked by scenic trails. If desired, a 13-acre (approx) option includes the main residence, guest wing, orchard, and paddocks.

Less than an hours drive from Auckland CBD, close to beaches, golf, and Matakana Village. Visit www.matakana620.co.nz or contact Linda or Rob for details.

A WINDOW INTO THE PAST, A SNAPSHOT OF THE PRESENT AND A PEEP INTO THE FUTURE OF A MULTI-GENERATIONAL FAMILY WINERY. WORDS: CLIVE WESTON.

While cricket and, for that matter, horses, are close to the core of Yalumba’s founding family, fine wine is in the blood and at the heart of everything they do.

This was emphasised strongly on 15 November last year, when Robert Hill-Smith, fifthgeneration winery head, supported by his wife Annabel and other family members, addressed employees past and present. The occasion, held on the picture-perfect winery lawns under a gloriously sunny Barossa sky, marked the Company’s 175th anniversary.

Yalumba, founded in 1849, is the oldest family owned winery in Australasia. Hands went up when Robert asked how many were working for the business in 1999, the Company’s 150th. He then asked who was on the payroll 10 years prior to that, the 140th. Hands went up again. I have often heard Robert remark, “We want our wine business to be one that’s difficult to join but even harder to leave.” Loyalty works both ways and, mark my word, the Yalumba team is a steadfast, loyal bunch.

Founder Samuel Smith was doubtless smiling down, contemplating when and how it all began. Samuel was a brewer from Wareham, Dorset. In 1847, and in his mid-thirties, he embarked on a voyage to the young colony of Australia with his wife Mary and their four children.

The journey inland, by bullock dray, from Adelaide to the small settlement of Angaston, was painstakingly slow. There, Samuel and his son Sidney leased a 30-acre horticultural block from pioneer George Fife Angas, who allowed Samuel to plant and nurture a handful of the earliest vines in the state.

When gold was discovered in Victoria, the Angaston menfolk, including Samuel, headed eastwards. Samuel struck it lucky, returning four months later with £300 and buying 100 acres of his own.

His was a strong voice, encouraging farmers to plant vines for their future prosperity. Later, Samuel would purchase grapes from those same farmers. An industry was born.

Clocktower.

Sidney Smith, circa 1890s.

Samuel Smith, circa 1880s.

CLICKTOWA

Samuel named his winery Yalumba, aboriginal for ‘All the land around’. From the 1860s, Yalumba entered wines in exhibitions and competitions, garnering a string of medals, accolades and endorsements. Show results in London, Paris, Bordeaux, Philadelphia and in major domestic events, helped build national and international awareness of the quality of Yalumba wines. Exports were a natural spin-off.

In 1888, six months before he died, Samuel assigned control of the company to his son Sidney Smith. Sidney and Janie Smith’s first son, Frederick Caley Smith, travelled through the ‘Old World’, constantly looking for new and innovative ideas and solutions concerning horticulture, including vine growing and fruit farming. His contribution to South Australia’s fruit and grape-growing industries cannot be overstated. His travels took him to California and Britain, and to the Indian town of Mussoorie, close to the Himalayas, where he stayed with the Hill family, who became lifelong friends of the Smiths.

Yalumba’s flagship red, The Caley, honours Fred Caley Smith’s endeavours and contribution.

Fred’s brothers, Percy, Walter and Sidney Osborne, all carved out successful careers at Yalumba. Walter married Ida Hill and their children assumed the two surnames, Hill and Smith. Walter died in 1938 and Sid was killed tragically in the Kyeema aeroplane crash with other luminaries of the Australian wine trade.

In a matter of months, fourth-generation Wyndham (Windy) Hill-Smith twice returned from Western Australia to attend the funerals of his father and then his uncle. In addition to pursuing his passion for cricket – representing WA and batting No.6 for an Australia XI against England – Wyndham also ran the Company’s local distribution business.

He was deemed the best-equipped family member to helm Yalumba from its Angaston base. Among his skills was

Wyndham Hill-Smith (sitting on pavers front right) was a member of the White Horse Cup LVA winning cricket team in the 1930s.

‘‘

WYNDHAM (WINDY) HILL-SMITH WAS DEEMED THE BEST-EQUIPPED FAMILY MEMBER TO HELM YALUMBA FROM ITS ANGASTON BASE. AMONG HIS SKILLS WAS CONVINCING THE BANKS TO GIVE HIM TIME TO TURN THE COMPANY’S FORTUNES AROUND; THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND WORLD WAR II HAD TAKEN THEIR TOLL.”

convincing the banks to give him time to turn the company’s fortunes around; the Great Depression and World War II had taken their toll.

‘Mr Wyndham’ oversaw the purchase of new vineyards to secure the company’s grape supply and supplement the fruit bought from long-time grower friends.

Wyndham retired in 1972 and handed the reins across to Mark Hill-Smith.

In 1980, Mark’s son, Michael Hill-Smith (Australia’s first Master of Wine), was appointed Yalumba’s public relations manager and Wyndham’s son, Robert Hill-Smith, became export and national agencies manager. By 1982, Robert was marketing manager, shareholder and director. The business needed cashflow, so Robert initiated premium wine in a two-litre cask, followed by the affordable but well-made sparkling wine Angas Brut. The value Oxford Landing brand followed, with

Barrels are still hand-made at Yalumba's The Cooperage.

Yalumba’s flagship red, The Caley.

fruit sourced from the family’s sizeable Oxford Landing Estate, on the shores of the Murray River.

A new era beckoned for the business, both in the home market and internationally. The wine, experience and innovation boxes were already ticked off, but restructuring the business and shareholder base was to prove a most significant challenge.

In 1985 Robert was appointed managing director, a role he excelled in for over 30 years. In 1988 he and brother Sam financed the buyout of other family members. Robert skilfully surrounded himself with a

other flourishing businesses-within-a-business. Take, for example, the highly reputed Yalumba nursery, which grafts and propagates vines for supply to many of Australia’s pre-eminent wineries. At a higher elevation in the Eden Valley appellation, the Pewsey Vale and Heggies vineyards are world-renowned for, respectively, fine Riesling and Chardonnay.

THESE CHAMPION WINES ARE EQUALLY AT HOME ON THE WINE LISTS OF TOP DINING ROOMS AS THEY ARE IN THE PRIVATE CELLARS OF THE FINEWINE CONNOISSEUR AND COLLECTOR.”

pool of talent, placing the right viticulture, winemaking, marketing and sales heads in their natural leadership roles.

Historically, fortified wines – Sherry and Port styles –accounted for much of South Australia and Yalumba’s volume. With a keen eye to the future, the sale of Yalumba’s fortified wine stocks was a masterstroke, providing working capital for table wine investment and removing a set of complexities from the business.

Robert expanded the company’s brand and vineyard base, which today encompasses prized sites in other sub-regions of Australia, including Tasmania, at Dalrymple and Jansz wineries. From 1985 he spearheaded New Zealand operations, both in wine distribution and at the family’s multi-award-winning Nautilus Estate of Marlborough.

Home, though, is at Yalumba, Eden Valley Road, Angaston, within striking distance of the company’s

Yalumba’s icon white is The Virgilius, a limited-edition Viognier. Viognier’s spiritual home was (and some might say still is) the northern Rhône Valley. Yalumba brought the variety, which was close to extinction in its native France, to South Australia, propagated and planted it. Today, Yalumba cultivates a significant acreage of Viognier, perhaps the largest in the world. The Hill-Smith family’s visionary and multi-generational pioneering spirit persists!

There are similarities between the Rhône and Barossa climates, ‘ hot’ and ‘dry’ being two frequent descriptors. It’s no surprise, when we turn to Yalumba’s celebrated reds, that we find Shiraz (Syrah in the Rhône), playing a pivotal role.

Yalumba The Caley, The Octavius and The Signature contain varying percentages of Shiraz. The Menzies is Yalumba’s prized, single-vineyard Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. Between them, these four classics, only released in high-standing years, have won too many gold medals and trophies to list here. These champion wines are equally at home on the wine lists of top dining rooms as they are in the private cellars of the finewine connoisseur and collector. While not inexpensive bottles, in the context of the great wines of the world, they deliver terrific value.

Two of Robert and Annabel Hill-Smith’s daughters, Jessica and Lucy, the sixth generation, now work in the business and the nappy-clad seventh generation may also be glimpsed on that beautifully manicured winery lawn with its famed Yalumba clocktower backdrop. I have no doubt that, always vested in the future, the HillSmith family and their mates will gather on that precise spot in 2049 to celebrate Yalumba’ s bicentennial.

A double century, what an innings! Old Windy would be proud. ▪

For a deeper dive into Yalumba’s rich history, visit www.yalumba.com. Better still, drive from Adelaide to Angaston and enjoy a Yalumba visitor experience. Pre-book a tour of the Yalumba working cooperage (the only one in the Southern hemisphere) or step up to the AU$700 per head Signature Tour.

Yalumba managing director Robert Hill-Smith, whose daughters Jessica (left) and Lucy both work in the business.

Champion Wines

Yalumba The Virgilius 2022, Viognier ($60)

Yalumba’s flagship white is made from handpicked grapes, which undergo natural, wild yeast fermentation in French oak barriques. Look for aromas of apricots and ginger spice on a palate that is rich, textural, plush and fine, with a long, elegant finish. Enjoy with an Asian-inspired seafood stir fry or prosciutto with ripe ogen or rock melon.

Yalumba The Caley 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz ($435)

After rigorous barrel tasting, the winemaker’s prized selection of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are blended for this limited-edition wine. UK wine critic Matthew Jukes comments: “The indelible truth about 2019 The Caley is that it is extraordinarily sleek and polished with a refined spine of freshness and control that captures the senses,” adding that it is “the most outstanding of all Cabernet/Shiraz blends”.

Yalumba The Octavius 2018 ($145)

100% old vine Shiraz from plantings – Eden Valley (69%) and Barossa Valley (31%) – dating back to 1854, marrying the cool, fresh aromatics of Eden Valley with the generosity, richness and depth of Barossa Valley fruit. Aged for 21 months in French oak barriques and hogsheads and in smaller French oak ‘octaves’ hand-crafted by Yalumba’s coopers.

Yalumba The Menzies 2019, Cabernet Sauvignon ($70)

A refined 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Yalumba’s single-estate Coonawarra vineyard. Cabernet lovers will note intensity and concentration, with firm grape and oak tannins. Aged for 18 months in Hungarian and French oak, it’s a wine to be decanted, whether to reflect youthful fruit-forward exuberance or mature wine complexity.

Yalumba The Signature 2021, Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz

($70)

Since 1962, each release of The Signature honours individuals whom the family recognises for their contribution to the business over many years. Matured for 19 months in Hungarian and French oak, this latest release is full, deep and complex. Halliday’s Wine Companion declares it “Pure, vital and beautifully composed, it’s sure to be a classic… 97 points”.

Exclusively located on the ‘Clifton Peninsula’ in Whitford, this much-admired country estate is instantly captivating. The robust classical façade conveys grandeur and the interior savours a light and bright ambience, with multiple living zones and elegant aesthetic which overlooks a sizable swimming pool surrounded by immaculately maintained lawns and a fruit orchard, ideal for hours of outdoor pleasure for all. Linked to the main residence via a covered walkway is a spacious two-bedroom cottage with cathedral ceilings and beautifully appointed interior, offering guests or extended family a peaceful haven.

Excelling with a multitude of features including accessory buildings for extra vehicles and equipment this exceptional lifestyle retreat on a gently contoured 1.93ha site offers an amazing reprieve from city living.

Close to bridle paths for equestrian lovers and within a few minutes’ drive of the ferry for commuters to the CBD. Ideal for weekend escapes to the nearby Clevedon Farmers market or for water lovers, easy access to explore the Auckland Harbour from the nearby Pine Harbour Marina.

An unsurpassed Kiwi lifestyle opportunity presenting a unique consideration for families searching for something truly extraordinary. Please contact us for further information or a private viewing appointment.

Angela Rudling

M 027 477 0176

B 09 215 3002 angela.rudling@bayleys.co.nz

Michael Chi 池景山 M 021 886 363 michael.chi@bayleys.co.nz www.bayleys.co.nz/1852480

BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, HOWICK LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008

www.bayleys.co.nz

SEMINYAK SURPRISE

CLIVE WESTON MEETS AN ITALIAN CHEF WHOSE AWARD-WINNING RESTAURANT MAURI HAS RAISED THE BAR FOR FINE DINING IN BALI.

AGRUMI CITRUS

White chocolate cremeux, citrus compote, mandarin coulis.

Step through the doors of Mauri restaurant in Seminyak, on Bali’s west coast, and you’re met by an immaculately dressed hostess. Sit under the lofty ceiling at an elegant dining table on the ground floor or climb the sweeping staircase to the mezzanine bar and further dining. Foodies might choose the comfy ‘Chef’s Table’ stools at the end of the kitchen and watch ever-present Chef Maurizio Bombini and his brigade at work. The culinary theatrics are both entertaining and absorbing, as dish after sumptuous dish is plated up, passed to the front-ofhouse team and run to the tables.

Customers can choose between dining from à la carte or multi-course signature menus with optional wine pairings. The wine list caters for all tastes, with a swag of internationally acclaimed wines; the widely respected Wine Spectator magazine presented Mauri with an Award of Excellence for four consecutive years, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Through the pandemic, many of Bali’s tourismdependent outlets closed. Mauri opened in 2018 but survived by ‘pivoting’ its business proposition, enabling it to retain its core of highly trained staff. While some eateries shut up shop and walked away, Chef Bombini was undeterred.

Hospitality is certainly in Maurizio’s blood; after all, he was born in the family’s Belgian restaurant. He was a toddler when the family moved to Bisceglie, on the Adriatic coast of southern Italy’s Puglia region, where his parents opened a casual Italian restaurant.

While his grandma looked after his younger brother, the restaurant became Maurizio’s playground. From age five, he would help by “doing this or cleaning that” and setting tables, although as he grew up his parents never pushed him into a hospitality career.

CHEF MAURIZIO BOMBINI

Italians love road cycling and Maurizio discovered the bug when he was 13. It became an all-consuming passion and took him away from the family restaurant as he trained to become a competitive cyclist. But at 21, after a serious crash that wrote off his expensive racing bike, he gave up the sport and returned to the family restaurant, doing whatever was required, including washing the dishes.

Maurizio’s parents opened a fine-dining restaurant and recruited highly skilled cooks from the local culinary school. The chefs, in their toque blanche hats, neckerchiefs and smart white jackets, impressed young Maurizio. He decided to become a professional chef. The first step on that journey was to attend culinary school

‘‘

FOODIES MIGHT CHOOSE THE COMFY ‘CHEF’S TABLE’ STOOLS AT THE END OF THE KITCHEN AND WATCH EVER-PRESENT CHEF MAURIZIO BOMBINI AND HIS BRIGADE AT WORK. THE CULINARY THEATRICS ARE BOTH ENTERTAINING AND ABSORBING.”

at Molfetta, 10 kilometres down the road. His father didn’t oppose this ambition but told Maurizio that if he didn’t do well in the first six months, he would be disenrolled. Instead, Maurizio attended culinary school for five years, graduating with a diploma and the skills and techniques that would serve him throughout his career.

Maurizio was now immersed in the art of cooking, which saw him working in Courmayeur, Val d’Aosta, in the far north of Italy, followed by a stint in Switzerland and seven years in Monte Carlo.

But Asia beckoned and Maurizio was appointed chef de cuisine at the Ritz Carlton on Hainan Island in southern China.

In 2013, while holidaying in Bali, he was offered a plum chef’s job at the five-star Bulgari Resort. He signed the contract and stayed there for four years.

He then spent nine months pre-opening the fabulous Ritz Carlton Ubud and stayed on to bed-in systems and the hotel’s programme of culinary excellence.

In 2017, Bali’s Mount Agung erupted, resulting in 120,000 people being evacuated and devastating Bali’s tourism sector. Maurizio headed to Japan.

For some time, he had been chatting to a friend about opening their own restaurant on Bali. While Maurizio was in Japan his friend signed the agreement on a property in Seminyak. After a quick fit-out, Mauri restaurant opened in November 2018.

I asked Maurizio what his vision for Mauri had been. His response: “The best Italian in Bali.” It was always going to be about an Italian fine-dining experience. He describes the cuisine as “Italian contemporary modern”, meaning guests can expect traditional Italian ingredients and flavours but prepared using the latest techniques and with refined presentation.

Maurizio salutes the wonderful varied flavours of traditional Indonesian dishes, but he points out that many tourists also crave fine international cuisine. Appealing to tourists from New Zealand, Australia, Japan and further afield and delivering a world-class experience are the biggest challenges.

“I want to bring them to a different place,” he says. “The second they step off the busy street outside and

through our big green door, they can expect a different, unforgettable experience. I’m bringing modern Puglia to Bali using the best local produce. High-quality food with perfect service.”

Maurizio’s core of loyal staff have worked with him for 14 years. “The great thing about the Balinese,” he states, “is their willingness to learn. It makes me so proud when I hear that a young commis chef I trained here is now working in an international resort or hotel on the other side of the world.”

Maurizio told me that since arriving in Bali he has witnessed a lift in food and restaurant standards. He is a fervent advocate for the “very high hygienic standards” that are now commonplace, adding that, “Today, Bali offers some of the best-value, quality dining anywhere.”

In addition to Mauri, Maurizio Bombini has opened Bonito Fish Bar in Kerobokan. I asked if he had plans to open any more outlets. “Oh yes,” he replies, “we have lots of ideas and will be opening a casual Italian restaurant in Seminyak in 2025.”

Meanwhile, if you’re heading to Seminyak, we recommend pre-booking a table at Mauri, which opens, with fixed service times, seven days for dinner, lunch Friday and Saturday and for Sunday brunch. To paraphrase the Mauri website, this is smart, elegant, adult fine dining, so dress accordingly and leave the kids with the babysitter! With more than 1,000 Tripadvisor reviews, Mauri is –unsurprisingly and deservedly – rated five out of five. ▪

www.mauri-restaurant.com

1) Agnolotti – Mascarpone & ricotta agnolotti, Amaebi prawns, zucchini flowers, lemon, seafood consommé.

2) Giandujotto – Valhrona gianduja chocolate, fior di latte ice cream.

3) Tortelli al Ragu – Wagyu beef ragout tortelli, light jus, parmesan sauce, rosemary oil.

4) Crudo Capesante – Hokkaido scallop crudo, cucumber, avocado mousse, white balsamic dressing, lemon zest.

5) Ricciola – Japanese hamachi carpaccio, almond, radish, pomegranate, oscietra caviar.

6) Zupetta di Frutti Rossi – Mixed berries, white chocolate mousse, lime sorbet.

The dining room at The Grill by Tom Booton, The Dorchester, London.

GREAT CHEFS OF DORCHESTER COLLECTION

THE LUXURY HOTELS GROUP BOASTS SOME OF THE WORLD’S FINEST RESTAURANTS, RUN BY AWARDWINNING MASTERS OF THE KITCHEN. HERE ARE THEIR STORIES – AND SIGNATURE DISHES.

SIGNATURE DISH

THE BRIOCHE MARIEANTOINETTE CAVIAR

This light, airy brioche is named after MarieAntoinette, famously reputed to have said “Let them eat cake!” when people protested a lack of bread.

JEAN IMBERT

JEAN IMBERT AU PLAZA

ATHÉNÉE, PARIS

Jean Imbert started cooking for his family at the age of nine. At 17, after gaining his scientific certificate, he joined the Paul Bocuse Institute in Lyon, becoming the youngest student in its history.

In 2004, at just 22, Imbert opened his first restaurant, L’Acajou. He became widely known when he participated in the third edition of the TV show Top Chef – which he won. In 2019, Jean renamed L’Acajou ‘Restaurant Mamie’ after his grandmother, with whom he shares a love of cooking.

In July 2021, Chef Imbert succeeded Alain Ducasse as the director of all the kitchens at the Plaza Athénée, and nine weeks after opening, Jean Imbert au Plaza Athénée received its first Michelin star.

Since his arrival at the Plaza Athénée, Imbert has signed unique projects such as Monsieur Dior in Paris; the menu of the Venice Simplon Orient-Express; and taken over the kitchens of emblematic hotels such as The Brando in French Polynesia and the Martinez in Cannes.

Inspired by the great traditions of French gastronomy, Jean Imbert au Plaza Athénée returns diners to the soulful origins of French dining.

AMAURY BOUHOURS

RESTAURANT LE MEURICE ALAIN DUCASSE, PARIS

After his studies, Amaury Bouhours secured an internship at Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo in Monaco. For the 18-year-old, the experience confirmed his life's path.

It was also the beginning of his discovery of Ducassian cuisine; of precision and exceptional produce. Alain Ducasse quickly recognised Bouhours’ potential. So here was Amaury Bouhours setting off in 2009 as commis in Restaurant Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athénée in Paris.

He stayed there for six years, successively under the direction of three chefs and he quickly rose to the position of junior souschef. He then joined Adrien Trouilloud as sous-chef at Lasserre restaurant, also in Paris.

In 2016, Bouhours returned to Restaurant le Meurice Alain Ducasse as Jocelyn Herland’s assistant chef de cuisine. When Herland left in 2020, it was quite natural that Alain Ducasse should entrust the reins of the establishment to Amaury Bouhours.

The restaurant shakes up traditional codes of palace gastronomy to meet a modern dining experience. This energy is supported by the Philippe Starck design, which adds contemporary touches to the splendour of the dining room.

SIGNATURE DISH

GREEN ASPARAGUS AND CITRUS FRUITS

Sauce, citrus fruits condiment, green asparagus confit in oil, green asparagus pickles, dill oil, cebette snack, dill condiment.

JOE GARCIA THE RESTAURANT AT HOTEL BEL-AIR, LOS ANGELES

Culinary director Joe Garcia oversees the entire culinary operation for the awardwinning Hotel Bel-Air, including The Restaurant, The Bar & Lounge and the recently launched The Living Room.

Chef Garcia boasts over two decades in the culinary industry. As executive chef at Manzke Restaurant he was awarded a Michelin star in 2022 and 2023. He also worked at Bicyclette Bistro, before which he was sous chef at the three-Michelin-starred The French Laundry in Northern California.

ORGANIC B.C. KING SALMON

Garcia’s global culinary experience spans celebrated restaurants such as Bouchon in Beverly Hills, Boca Restaurant, The Cincinnatian Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio, Le Bec Fin in Dole, France, Maison Lameloise in Burgundy, and El Encanto in Santa Barbara, California.

Diners at The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air enjoy fine locally sourced ingredients crafted into a creative Californian menu: beautifully cooked and presented food served in a range of intimate and unique spaces. The relaxed LA ambience offers an opportunity to lounge in comfortable booths, at the outdoor bar or in private alcoves overlooking Swan Lake. It’s the perfect sunny lunch spot to choose “when everything needs to be just right”.

Fava bean, confit green garlic, English pea purée, lemon emulsion.

SIGNATURE DISH

ASHLEY JAMES POLO LOUNGE, BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL, LOS

Known as 'Hollywood’s commissary' and the epicentre of power dining in LA, the Polo Lounge has been the favourite spot for generations of stars and Hollywood dealmakers. Guests can enjoy chef Ashley James’ fresh Californian cuisine in the famous dining room or on the outdoor terrace.

ANGELES

Chef James has spent more than 30 years cooking in prestigious kitchens throughout the world, including positions in England, France, Spain, Singapore, Mexico, Germany, Argentina and the United States. He spent 18 years with Four Seasons hotels in positions such as executive chef at Four Seasons Hotel, Los Angeles, regional executive chef of Four Seasons Buenos Aires and Four Seasons Resort Carmelo, Uruguay. Most recently, he was managing director of culinary at Di Bruno Bros, Philadelphia. Classically trained in France and England, James has cooked in several Michelin-starred restaurants including the famed Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower. He studied at Staffordshire College of Food and Domestic Arts in the UK and attended CIVBG Wine School in Bordeaux. He has been published in multiple cookbooks and media outlets, as well as having hosted an award-winning PBS television series, Cuisine Culture

SIGNATURE DISH

CALIFORNIA PANZANELLA & BURRATA

Heirloom melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, arugula, ricotta salata, pickled red onions, rustic croutons, white balsamic vinaigrette.

SIGNATURE DISH

LOBSTER WITH SMOKED MASHED POTATOES AND CRUNCHY VEGETABLES

A reinterpretation of the iconic Catalan lobster, accompanied by creamed mashed potatoes, crispy vegetables, red onion and butter sauce.

MATTEO GABRIELLI

ACANTO RESTAURANT, HOTEL PRINCIPE DI SAVOIA, ITALY

Born in Varese, Lombardy, 33-year-old Matteo Gabrielli has worked at hotels such as London’s Four Seasons Park Lane and Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, as well as at renowned restaurants in Italy. He also worked in London under Heston Blumenthal, pioneer of multi-sensory cuisine and holder of three Michelin stars – which significantly shaped Gabrielli’s outlook.

After five years abroad, Gabrielli returned to Italy to work alongside star chefs such as Antonio Guida at the celebrated Pellicano restaurant in Tuscany and Vito Mollica, before joining Hotel Principe di Savoia in 2019 as a sous chef.

Under Chef Gabrielli’s creative direction, Acanto has introduced a revamped menu featuring a six-course tasting experience and a dedicated section celebrating classical Italian cuisine inspired by his Lombardy roots. This culinary homage is elevated with a touch of originality and innovation, utilising the highest quality raw materials.

Combining a lightness of touch with innovative cooking techniques, Acanto Restaurant offers dishes of exceptional quality. The restaurant veranda overlooks a tranquil Italian garden with a delightful 18th-century fountain. The atmosphere is magically transformed in the evening when the garden is illuminated.

SIGNATURE DISH

SMITHY’S CHICKEN PIE

Devon White chicken, mushrooms, quail egg and tarragon with puff pastry.

ADAM SMITH

WOVEN, COWORTH PARK, ASCOT, UK

Sitting in the heart of the Berkshire countryside, Woven by Adam Smith is a tribute to exceptional British produce and the stories behind each ingredient. Weaving together natural inspirations and Adam’s own personal history, it’s a warmly welcoming space that sets the scene for memorable, Michelin-starred dining.

Adam Smith hails from a Birmingham housing estate and at 13 he was washing pots at his local pub. Today he is considered one of the UK’s most talented executive chefs.

Smith’s career started in 2004 when he joined The Ritz under chef John Williams, working his way up the ranks to be the executive sous chef by 2012. In 2016 Smith joined Dorchester Collection’s only country house hotel, Coworth Park, as executive chef, overseeing all culinary operations throughout the hotel. In 2018, Restaurant Coworth Park was awarded a Michelin star for the first time, an accolade it retained until it closed in the summer of 2022 to make way for the launch of a new restaurant at Coworth Park: Woven by Adam Smith. The restaurant received its first Michelin star in 2023.

ELLIOTT GROVER

CUT AT 45 PARK LANE, LONDON

Chef Grover began his career working under Mark Hix and Tim Hughes. He started at Le Caprice when he was 16, then moved on to Scott’s in Mayfair, where he rose to sous chef before becoming head chef at Hix Soho.

In 2018, Grover was appointed head chef of The Ned, overseeing the culinary concept across many restaurants, including Millie’s Lounge and Lutyens Grill. Before joining Dorchester Collection, he held the role of executive chef at Duck & Waffle, overseeing the day-today running of the restaurant.

Chef Grover joined Dorchester Collection’s 45 Park Lane in 2022 and with a strong knowledge of seasonal produce, he has spearheaded the development of

CUT’s menu to celebrate locally sourced ingredients.

Most recently, Wolfgang Puck invited him to cook and showcase a selection of signature British dishes, which are served at the Academy Award’s annual Governors Ball in Los Angeles, demonstrating the trust and support Puck has for the British chef’s culinary skills.

CUT at 45 Park Lane is a modern American steak restaurant with a “succulent” menu, sleek design and interesting artworks.

SIGNATURE DISH

A TASTE OF CUT

UK sirloin, Japanese Wagyu 3oz, Australian Wagyu 3oz.

TOM BOOTON

THE GRILL BY TOM BOOTON, THE DORCHESTER, LONDON

The Grill by Tom Booton is a modern British restaurant “for great food and fun times, boldly driving destination dining forward into a fresh era of creativity”.

Chef Booton’s culinary career began at the age of 15, working at Le Talbooth, Dedham. He has since worked under a number of leading chefs, including Alyn Williams, Andy McFadden and Ollie Dabbous. Booton’s experience culminated in a position as head chef at Alyn Williams at The Westbury, where he designed innovative menus and subsequently earned himself a coveted Acorn Award.

Booton joined The Dorchester as head chef of The Grill in 2019, where, alongside numerous awards for restaurant, he has won a number of awards voted for by industry professionals.

In 2023, The Grill was renamed The Grill by Tom Booton. To mark the relaunch, Booton crafted a dynamic new menu featuring only the best ingredients, sourced locally and cooked with flair by him and the team.

He regularly takes part in chef residencies around the country, including taking The Grill by Tom Booton to Royal Ascot for the past three years. ▪

Boutique Luxury in Queenstown

Perched above Queenstown with sweeping views of Lake Whakatipu and the surrounding mountains, Hulbert House is more than just a place to stay—it’s an experience steeped in elegance and history. A beautifully restored 1888 Victorian villa, this boutique hotel offers an intimate and tranquil escape, where each of the six individually styled suites and one Queen studio, invites guests into a world of timeless charm.

The warmth of the team, combined with thoughtful touches such as nightly turn-down service, indulgent breakfasts, Bath Butler experience, and curated local recommendations, creates a stay that feels personal and utterly luxurious. Whether you’re nestled by the fireplace in the inviting Palm Lounge or relaxing on the veranda taking in the memorable landscape, Hulbert House offers an oasis of calm just moments from the vibrant heart of Queenstown.

Perfect for romantic getaways or those seeking a retreat from the everyday, Hulbert House seamlessly blends sophistication with heartfelt hospitality, making it one of the most dreamy places to stay in New Zealand. Here, every detail is designed to make you feel at home, while the setting ensures you never want to leave.

hulberthouse.co.nz

1OO WAYS TO CRUISE

FAR FROM BEING ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL, CRUISING OFFERS MORE VARIETY THAN ANY OTHER TYPE OF TRAVEL, ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY EXPERT JOE O’SULLIVAN OF CRUISE WORLD, AND THE HORIZON IS ALWAYS EXPANDING.

LUXURY IS CHOICE

“You might think you know cruising. It’s an assumption people often make,” says O’Sullivan. “Maybe you haven’t done any cruising at all, or maybe you have done a cruise but you’ve made up your mind about what cruising is. That’s like saying you know all that New Zealand has to offer because you’ve been to Auckland. There is huge diversity in cruising, that’s why it’s essential for all travellers to take another look at cruising.”

THERE IS A MISCONCEPTION THAT CRUISING IS AN EXPENSIVE WAY TO TRAVEL. HOWEVER, IT IS UNQUESTIONABLY THE BEST VALUE FOR MONEY OF ANY TRAVEL STYLE.”

After three decades in the business, he says there is now more choice than ever before. There is no shortage of completely new experiences, cruising is constantly evolving and innovating. “There’s always a new ship, another destination, another itinerary to experience, another cultural adventure or intrepid expedition that’s off the beaten path.”

Savvy travellers agree. 2024 was the cruise industry’s biggest year in history and this year will surpass that again. “Cruise lines continue to spend billions of dollars building new ships – 55 on order at present – because more and more people want to cruise. It’s a hugely popular way of travelling because it provides outstanding experiences and is the best value for money in the travel industry.”

There are infinite ways to travel by sea. With so many destinations and itineraries, a constantly

growing network of new ports, and over 90 different cruise lines with ships that hold anywhere from 12 passengers up to 6,000, it can feel overwhelming trying to make the right choice. That’s why O’Sullivan recommends talking to an expert rather than relying on a website to choose the right cruise for you.

“Travel means something different to each person. That’s why finding the right voyage is so important. Cruising isn’t one-size-fits-all, there is so much to choose from, ship size, style, region, itinerary, expedition, ultra-luxury, affordability the list goes on” says O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan has just returned from Costa Rica and Panama. “My 18-year-old son and I shared this incredible journey on a luxury Windjammer sailing ship, exploring the Costa Rican coast and the Panama Canal”. Travelling with just 80 other guests, O’Sullivan says that being under sail was a highlight of the voyage. “In no way was our comfort compromised, with Sea Cloud Spirit providing stunning accommodation, incredible food and some of the best service from a friendly and engaging crew, and a wonderful mix of fellow guests.

There is a misconception that cruising is an expensive way to travel. However, it is unquestionably the best value for money of any travel style. Of course, the fare range is wide. Whilst, you can cruise for as little as $100 per day, there are the top shelf options that are more expensive, and for good reason. The ultra-luxury lines such as Seabourn, Silversea and Regent have smaller guest numbers, more one to one service and more space per guest, and are predominately all inclusive. The key is, there is so much choice as far as what style suits you.

“Something quite new is expedition-style ships exploring mainstream destinations such as Northern Europe and the Mediterranean,” says O’Sullivan. This makes new ports available, especially those that are out of reach of the larger

Sea Cloud Spirit.

ships. By utilising onboard zodiacs, it is possible to access less touristy ports and turn these experiences into something authentic and special.

With Atlas Ocean Voyages for example, you can zip into a tiny Greek village to have a meal prepared by locals on their family’s centuries-old olive grove in the evening sun. The choice is yours. It is simply a matter of finding the voyage that goes where you wish to explore.

An increasing number of travellers want to voyage through the Arctic and Antarctica, which has seen huge growth in the number of purpose-built expedition ships. “While at one end of the market you have the largest ship in the world Icon of the Seas being launched, at the other you have myriad purposebuilt polar exploration vessels such as Atlas Ocean Voyages’ Navigator, Traveller and Voyager.” These stateof-the-art super yachts allow seamless travel in Arctic regions. Ponant’s Le Commandant-Charcot can switch to soundless electric battery as it pushes up against the ice, minimising disruption to wildlife such as polar

bears and humpback whales. “At only a few hundred kilometres from the north pole we were able to silently observe polar bear in their natural habitat only metres away, including a mother feeding her cub, all from the comfort of our luxurious ship.” Says O’Sullivan of his experiences in the Arctic.

O’Sullivan agrees that cruising isn’t the only way to travel. For him it’s an essential part of the mix. Many people include a cruise as part of a longer vacation, maybe a Mediterranean voyage with a villa stay in Tuscany, a bike tour or catching up with offspring on their OE.

“Cruising can be whatever you want it to be. Intimate sunset sailing into the tiniest port to share a meal with locals, lively midday cocktails while your grandchildren zoom down the onboard water slides, or meeting the gaze of a humpback whale as it slices through the water between your zodiac and the majestic icebergs of Antarctica. If you love to travel and experience our world, then there’s a cruise for you.” ▪

Joe O’Sullivan - Cruise World

BY UTILISING ONBOARD ZODIACS, IT IS POSSIBLE TO ACCESS LESS TOURISTY PORTS AND TURN THESE EXPERIENCES INTO SOMETHING AUTHENTIC AND SPECIAL.”

EXPERIENCE

3 Decades in the making

For over 30 years Cruise World have been curating amazing contemporary, luxury, expedition and boutique small ship experiences to exotic destinations around the globe. Let us chart a course to your next travel adventure. With our experienced team, you’re in safe hands.

PERSONAL

It’s Personal, because how You travel matters

We enjoy promoting our wonderful products but more importantly we love finding you the experience that suits you best. Our personal touch ensures we deliver on our motto ‘right guest, right voyage’.

PASSIONATE

Best Ideas, Best Deals

Cruise World travels the world in search of the best products available and our team are here to help navigate a world of experiences. Let our passion fuel your excitement.

BY DESIGN

Enjoy

You deserve to enjoy your entire travel experience, right from the booking and planning through to your departure date. Travel is one of life’s great adventures and we believe the lead up to and anticipation of your holiday should almost be as much fun as the holiday itself.

MADE IN NZ

Support Local

We sell travel all over the world but we are proudly a New Zealand owned and operated family business. We support and work closely with our New Zealand based travel agent partners.

Inclusive Luxury

"NOBODY

DOES IT BETTER – UNRIVALLED AT SEA THE MOST INCLUSIVE LUXURY EXPERIENCE".

WORLD CHECKS OUT REGENT SEVEN SEAS’ PUBLICITY CLAIMS ON A 12-NIGHT CRUISE FROM ATHENS TO LISBON.

CLICKTOWA

From the moment Regent’s chauffeur-driven Mercedes E300 limousine deposits us dockside at Piraeus (Athens) where Seven Seas Splendor awaits, we are transported to a new level of luxury experience. BUT will Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ PR claims deliver on all fronts?

The embarkation process is a dream: the reception desk is a mere 10 paces from our arrival point. Porters take our bags, which will appear, as if by magic, in our suite. The entire process is seamless. Check-in is completed dockside and takes less than five minutes. Airlines would do well to take note.

We love the new-look ship safety presentation, which could be studied at home in video form pre-embarkation and viewed at follow-up screenings on board.

We also love the more relaxed dress codes: no more jackets for men at dinner; a collared shirt becomes the norm, although there’s no denim after 6 pm. Dress code for the entire voyage is elegant casual, and for us, even more good news: formal nights are now confined to cruises of 16 nights or more. One huge plus with a cruise holiday is that you unpack once and don’t touch a bag until your cruise has ended.

We are now in holiday mode. Suddenly, New Zealand seems a distant memory.

Our Concierge Suite 1215 is ideally located mid-ship on the top deck – guaranteeing super-smooth sailing – and is beside the entrance to the sports deck, which we consider a lovely extension to our suite for morning walks, a spot of golf or tennis.

Furnished in natural colours, our suite contains a super-comfy king-size bed with plush cashmere blankets, and horizon view. Privacy curtains cordon off a generous lounge area, which in turn leads onto a furnished outside balcony (where we can enjoy in-suite breakfast, if we like).

The spacious bathroom boasts a bath, shower, twin hand basins and luxurious l’Occitane toiletries. Superb fluffy towels are refreshed daily, and valet laundry – wash, press and fold – is included. Full-size bottles of our chosen drinks – Grey Goose vodka and Wild Turkey bourbon – are generously provided and an ice bucket is delivered each afternoon at 5pm for pre-dinner drinks with optional canapés. One evening a fun ‘hall party’ is organised to meet our immediate neighbours.

One of the first things we like to do on Day One of any cruise is to walk the ship – every deck of it: in Seven Seas Splendor’s case, all 12 of them. It’s important to discover what’s available to you.

We are soon relaxing poolside and get to experience very special service from the waitstaff: name your favourite tipple and sit back for instant service – which even includes cleaning your reading or sunglasses. How cool is that? It also gives us a chance to study the destinations that lie ahead in Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. We note two sea days, which we’ve come to value from previous cruises, as life on board has so much on offer you need a little time out to recharge your batteries.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Sun loungers on the Pool Deck; Concierge Suite; Seven Seas Splendor at sea; poolside, the perfect place to blob out.

EXCURSIONS

The Mediterranean is the ultimate cruise destination, especially for first-time cruisers, with a plethora of exciting ports to discover. Regent cruises are unique in making some 40-odd excursions inclusive on all their ships, so there's no nasty exorbitant bill to pay at the end. We choose not to revisit places we already know and to avoid tourist hot-spots such as Rome, opting for more leisurely options.

In Sicily, we fall in love with picturesque Taormina, perched on a high cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea. We

wander its narrow streets edged with antique shops, appealing restaurants, intimate bars and myriad churches, and can appreciate why it’s been chosen as a recent location for Netflix’s highly successful White Lotus series. With impressive views through to Mount Etna, one of Europe’s most active volcanoes, the city’s crowning glory is the third-century BC Greek theatre, which still hosts operas and live theatre.

On mainland Italy, we join a half-day leisurely tour of Sorrento, where we are seduced by the quality boutiques

OPPOSITE AND BELOW: Taormina, Sicily, is famous for its ancient Greek theatre (PHOTO: Gettyimages); street scenes along the journey.

‘‘

REGENT CRUISES ARE UNIQUE IN MAKING SOME 40-ODD EXCURSIONS INCLUSIVE ON ALL THEIR SHIPS, SO THERE'S NO NASTY BILL TO PAY AT THE END.”

(and limoncello to die for). In Barcelona, Regent’s superb selection of mostly complimentary shore excursions includes visits to Antonio Gaudi’s controversial basilica, the Sagrada Familia, a paella cooking experience and a gastronomy tour with tapas lunch. All pretty tempting, but we opt instead to take the ship’s shuttle to the port entrance for a gentle stroll to the city centre. There, we meander along the famous pedestrian-only boulevard, La Rambla, and get lost in La Boqueria, the bustling fresh produce market.

Barcelona's 14th-century cathedral in Pla de la Seu is among the many fascinating heritage sites to explore on a voyage from Athens to Lisbon.

DRINKS FOOD

On Splendor there are four main restaurants, plus a café, the Coffee Connection, and Pool Grill for lunch options. We try all restaurant locations and enjoy each experience. Top of our list is the Sunday Brunch on the first sea day in Compass Rose restaurant. Executive chef John Pugh and his team put on a visual feast of the finest food. You need a couple of hours to do justice to this outstanding extravaganza. Our next two favourite eateries are Prime 7 and Chartreuse – with Pacific Rim and Compass Rose very close behind.

Prime 7 has the jumbo shrimp cocktail – poached and chilled shrimps with citrus cocktail sauce – and the 32oz porterhouse steak for two. Both dishes are exceptional.

Showstopper at Chartreuse is the seared Barbary duck breast with glazed turnips, candied morello cherries and sour cherry mustard, with crispy apple tart and vanilla ice cream to follow: what a combination! You can check out all the ship’s menus on their website beforehand. Trust me, read them and you will be booking your cruise. For some reason, I’m sure food tastes better at sea.

The bar staff at all six locations really know their craft. Cocktails are the choice of many fellow cruisers, especially poolside, and The Pool Bar soon becomes our favourite.

I must confess to trying two new cocktails: a classic apple martini created at Lola’s bar in West Hollywood; and a tiramisu martini – like the classic Italian dessert, but in a glass. It’s pure joy, comprising vanilla vodka, white chocolate liqueur, Tia Maria, Amaretto, whipped cream and chocolate garnish topped with a sprinkle of cocoa powder. Dare you to stop at one.

A

the Sports Deck.

There is always something to do on Seven Seas Splendor I love the mini-golf set up aft on the sports deck, with its ocean backdrop. Feeling energetic? Head for the fitness centre. And if it’s a little relaxation you’re after, then the Serene spa and wellness centre is the place to go.

But where we like to spend most time at is the Pool Deck on level 11, with the Pool Grill at one end, heated pool and Jacuzzis in the middle and Pool Bar on one side.

And at night, we like to take in a show. Our favourites were the 'Best of Abba Dance Party' – who said cruisers can’t dance? And 'Just John and Paul' (everyone loves the Beatles magic).

‘‘

WE LOVE CRUISE DIRECTOR CALLIE SMIT’S ADVICE ON LIFE: INVEST IN MEMORIES.”

relaxing soak or a spot of mini-golf, paddle tennis or shuffleboard? Make for

FROM

THE STAFF

The crew on board are exceptional and cannot do enough for us. We are chuffed to learn the live-wire social hostess onboard is a New Zealander from Wellington. Olivia McCarthy joined Regent as a dancer when just 17 and seems on a fast track to becoming cruise director. English-born executive chef John Pugh lived in New Zealand for two years and says he loves the place. Our favourite waitress is Ashwini, whom we nickname “the cheeky one” who so enjoys her role, and we love cruise director Callie Smit’s advice on life: “Invest in memories.”

Our 12 days on Seven Seas Splendor seem to rush by so quickly we wish we had booked a back-to-back cruise heading for Cape Town. What an adventure that would have been!

So, is Regent Seven Seas really "THE MOST INCLUSIVE LUXURY EXPERIENCE"?

We say, “Yes indeed!” ▪

www.rssc.com

CLOCKWISE

BELOW LEFT: Shows take place in the ship's elegant theatre; Kiwi social hostess Olivia McCarthy; our favourite waitress, Ashwini.

LISBON

(CÁDIZ)

CRUISING

SOLAR ECLIPSE AT SEA

In July 2026, passengers aboard Oceania’s newly refurbished Marina on the 14-day ‘Eclipse in Iceland’ voyage from Copenhagen to Reykjavik will sail into the path of totality near Grundafjordur. From this unique position at sea – cocktail in hand at an onboard viewing party or from the privacy of an elegant stateroom balcony – day will momentarily become twilight, as an ethereal glow is cast across the ship’s decks.

In the lead-up to, during and after this celestial masterpiece, guests can enjoy the world-renowned ‘Finest Cuisine at Sea’ for which Oceania is famous. Aboard Marina, the dining options range from wellness-inspired menus at Aquamar or the alfresco Pizzeria and poolside ice cream parlour, to the finest silver service at specialty restaurants such as The Grand Dining Room or Polo Grill. In addition, Oceania Cruises’ signature pairing dinners featured in La Reserve will now be showcased in an exclusive private dining venue, Privée.

For passengers with a passion for cooking, Oceania’s

Culinary Discovery Tours teach destination-inspired dishes after a morning of shopping for ingredients in local markets, and there’s a range of new onboard Culinary Classes for 2025. Down Under Abundance celebrates the sea, mountains, and vineyards of New Zealand and Australia. South Seas Salt Life serves up Tama’a Maitai – traditional Polynesian cuisine. Culinary Northwest Passage is a celebration of the farmer and the fisherman, inspired by innovative chefs from Seattle to Anchorage. Designed by foodies, for foodies, Oceania has a higher percentage of chefs per passenger than any other cruise line. ▪

SHIP WITHIN A SHIP

ITALIAN CRUISE LINE MSC CRUISES OFFERS MYRIAD TRAVEL EXPERIENCES, AND THEIR YACHT CLUB SHIP-WITHIN-A-SHIP CONCEPT IS MAKING WAVES WITH DISCERNING TRAVELLERS.

MSC Yacht Club promises elegant, spacious suites, exclusive keycard-only access to an array of private facilities and a 24hour butler. Every detail is flawlessly arranged, with dedicated check-in and welcome Champagne, unpacking and packing services, priority embarkation and disembarkation at every port, along with customised offshore experiences with private guides and transportation.

Guests have exclusive access to the Top Sail Lounge, with breathtaking views, complimentary bar and

exceptional food. MSC Yacht Club Restaurant serves dishes inspired by the local region and a sommelier to pair wines with each dish. Passengers travelling with children have access to a family friendly area, and their butler can accompany children to and from wherever their parents are, for a seamless experience that caters to the whole family.

For a truly luxurious voyage, the Royal Duplex Suite accommodates up to six guests with two separate bedrooms, an expansive living area and elegant spiral staircase to access the upper-level master bedroom.

Sunset cocktails in a private Jamaican cabana, antipasti overlooking the Bay of Poets in the Cinque Terra, whale-spotting in the Norwegian fjords… And in keeping with the exclusive nature of MSC Yacht Club, guests also have access to special shore excursions, such as fragrance creation at one of the oldest parfumeries in the South of France, an authentic Greek meal aboard a private catamaran in Santorini or a day snorkelling the Colombia Reef in Mexico.

MSC Cruises is also the title sponsor of three Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix races in 2025 and offer a range of special itineraries for F1 fans as part of this ongoing global partnership. ▪

Step into a World of Exclusive Luxury with MSC Yacht Club

Discover unparalleled luxury with MSC Yacht Club - your private sanctuary at sea. Enjoy 24/7 butler service, a dedicated concierge, gourmet dining, and an exclusive sundeck with a private pool and whirlpools. Relax in elegant suites, sip cocktails with ocean views in the Top Sail Lounge, and enjoy priority embarkation and disembarkation at every port. Sail through the Mediterranean and Caribbean in ultimate comfort, where privacy meets personalised service for an unforgettable journey.

(Portofino)

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN

MSC WORLD EUROPA

05 June 2026

8 Days / 7 Nights

Embarking from Barcelona

Sailing weekly throughout 2026

Flexible embarkation options available

EARLY BOOKING

(Taormina)

MSC YACHT CLUB

DELUXE SUITE Barcelona, Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona

CARIBBEAN & ANTILLES MSC WORLD AMERICA

22 August 2026

8 Days / 7 Nights

Embarking from Miami

Sailing fortnightly throughout 2026 in the Eastern Caribbean

EARLY BOOKING

MSC YACHT CLUB

DELUXE SUITE Miami, Puerto Plata, San Juan, Ocean Cay, Miami

LUXURY AFLOAT

EVERY

ALL-INCLUSIVE VOYAGE ABOARD AN EXPLORA SHIP IS CAREFULLY CURATED TO EASE PASSENGERS INTO THE LINE’S SIGNATURE ‘OCEAN STATE OF MIND’.

Sweeping sea views and secluded terraces turn every oceanfront suite, penthouse and residence into a spacious home away from home that feels like being on your own private superyacht.

European luxury is evident in every detail of the ship’s shared spaces, encompassing vibrant restaurants, onboard art galleries, culinary schools and sun-drenched poolside cabanas. With a seafaring history that stretches back over 300 years, ocean sustainability is essential to Explora Journeys and each Explora ship is fitted with cutting-edge environmental marine technology to reduce emissions and underwater noise.

The first two luxury ships, EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II, are

GUESTS CAN ENJOY IMMERSIVE ONBOARD DINING EXPERIENCES BETWEEN PORTS, INCLUDING A SAKE SOMMELIER AND PAN-ASIAN CUISINE AT SAKURA, FRENCH FLAIR AT FIL ROUGE, AND SOPHISTICATED MEDITERRANEAN TASTES AT MED YACHT CLUB”

now sailing, and EXPLORA III will join the fleet in August 2026. Guests can enjoy immersive onboard dining experiences between ports, including a sake sommelier and Pan-Asian cuisine at Sakura, French flair at Fil Rouge, and sophisticated Mediterranean tastes at Med Yacht

Club, whilst the food at cooking stations at Emporium Marketplace evolve throughout the day.

EXPLORA III will take guests on scenic journeys from the cinematic glamour of Los Angeles and vibrant colours of Puerto Rico through to the magical landscapes of Iceland and Greenland. Overnight stays while in port and thoughtfully designed shore visits allow guests time to fully immerse themselves in the local culture for experiences that go far beyond the everyday.

EXPLORA II will be the only luxury ship docked in the heart of Monaco’s famous Port Hercule for the Formula One Grand Prix, offering passengers a prime position during the star-studded race weekend. ▪

SAIL UNIQUE

Immerse yourself in Explora Journeys, the newest and most stylish European luxury lifestyle brand that is redefining ocean travel for the ultimate ocean experience.

Designed to feel like your own private yacht, Explora Journeys offers guests unparalleled comfort and space, on a collection of journeys that offer the perfect blend of celebrated destinations and less-travelled spots in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, both seen from new and original points of view that will inspire and excite in equal measure.

With nine unforgettable inclusive culinary experiences, and ocean-inspired wellness, guests will travel to enriching lesser-travelled destinations in effortless European style as they discover the Ocean State of Mind.

Experience EXPLORA I or EXPLORA II now sailing, or EXPLORA III, launching in 2026, on a collection of journeys throughout Northern Europe, Iceland & Greenland, the Mediterranean, North America East and Pacific Coast, Caribbean, Central & South America, Red Sea & Arabian Peninsula.

FEATURED JOURNEYS

An Extended Journey of Adriatic Sunsets and Eternal Isles

5 SEPTEMBER - 19 SEPTEMBER 2025

14 NIGHTS | EXPLORA I

VENICE (FUSINA) • ROVINJ • RAVENNA • DUBROVNIK • BRINDISI • NYDRI (LEFKADA) • ATHENS (PIRAEUS) • MONEMVASIA • MYKONOS -OVERNIGHT • PATMOS • VOLOS • THESSALONIKI • ISTANBUL

All journeys include access to sophisticated, varied experiences across 18 food and beverage venues, including six restaurants, five lounges and in-suite dining; unlimited beverages, fine wines, premium spirits; a welcome bottle of champagne; access to the spa thermal area; complimentary hi-speed Wi-Fi; on board gratuities and more.* Terms & Conditions

LEFKADA, GREECE

STORYBOOK ADVENTURES

ENDLESS SUNBAKED HORIZONS,

VIBRANT

CULTURES,

ANCIENT WONDERS AND RARE WILDLIFE AWAIT PASSENGERS AS THEY CRUISE THE WORLD’S ICONIC RIVERS WITH AMAWATERWAYS.

Cruising Africa’s mighty rivers might include everything from the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls, known by locals as Mosi-oa-Tunya (‘The Smoke that Thunders’), to the grassy plains of the Serengeti and Cape Town’s dramatic coastal vistas; no other destination offers up a more varied itinerary.

Elephants and giraffes roam free among the Ngorongoro Conservation Area; mighty hippos frolic in the Chobe River; and guests have the option to add a Rwanda extension, taking in the spellbinding Volcanoes National Park, with its flourishing population of rare mountain gorillas.

Egypt, meanwhile, is home to the some of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Great Sphinx and the three Pyramids of Giza. AmaWaterways offers an unforgettable 11-night Nile River cruise and land experience – including a private lunch at the Abdeen Presidential Palace – that brings guests face-to-face with the country’s remarkable hidden jewels.

AmaWaterways is the first major cruise line to explore the magnificent Magdalena River in Colombia, a destination bursting with colour and vibrant South American culture, known as the ‘Land of a Thousand Rhythms’ because of the diversity of its music.

AmaWaterways has two new river ships launching in 2026. AmaKaia will take passengers off the beaten track to explore the ancient cultures of Vietnam and Cambodia. AmaSofia will follow the route of emperors, kings and queens, taking in palaces and castles, sundrenched vineyards and picturesque villages as it cruises the Danube and Rhine rivers. Passengers can sip mulled wine and wander the stalls of Europe’s most enchanting Christmas markets, illuminated by thousands of glittering lights as they drift from Budapest to Vilshofen in December on the ultimate storybook cruise. ▪

The Unparalleled River Cruise Experience

With the guest at the heart of our operations for over 20 years, AmaWaterways offers unparalleled river cruise experiences on some of the world’s most stunning rivers in Europe, Asia, Egypt, Africa and now in South America.

Family owned and operated by pioneering river cruise professionals, AmaWaterways is renowned for its warm and welcoming crew; innovative and sustainable ship design; modern and spacious ships and amenities; wellness activities (including a wide choice of included small group shore excursions featuring biking and hiking options); and award-winning, locally sourced cuisine paired with complimentary fine wine.

C’EST LA VIE – AT SEA

REFINED FRENCH LUXURY, A DEDICATION TO UNFORGETTABLE TRAVEL AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT UNDERLINES EVERY CRUISE UNDER THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE PONANT FLAG.

The small capacity of its sleek cruise ships allows Ponant to dock in private ports and stop in locations that other ships cannot reach. The iconic three-masted Le Ponant has just 16 staterooms for a cruising experience that feels more like chartering on your own superyacht.

Ponant’s innovative ships combine modern comforts with understated luxury at the absolute cutting edge of marine technology. Le Commandant Charcot is the first electric-hybrid polar expedition vessel and the world's only luxury icebreaker powered by liquefied natural gas. This not only makes it possible to reach previously inaccessible sights such as the unexplored sea ice of Northeast Greenland but, by switching to virtually soundless electric battery as needed, minimises disruption to rare wildlife such as polar bears and humpback whales.

Ponant offer a range of luxury expeditions, from

the majestic polar landscapes of Antarctica and the Arctic’s Northern Lights, to the ancient sun-baked monuments of Turkey and the Greek Isles, island-hopping between azure secret Mediterranean bays or discovering the tropical wonders of Indonesia and beyond.

In August 2026, passengers aboard Le Dumont D’Urville will experience a total solar eclipse over the water in Palma de Mallorca before continuing along the coast to Nice, France.

A unique alliance between Ponant and Smithsonian Journeys, the travel programme of the Smithsonian Institution, offers curated itineraries that immerse guests deep into the cultures of chosen destinations. These special voyages include onboard talks with world-class experts and a shore excursion in each port of call to cultivate a holistic and sensorial connection with the local environment. ▪

Spectacular waterfalls, ancient rock art, breathtaking whale watching, and expert-led mangrove Zodiac safaris await as you explore Australia’s Kimberley region, one of the last true wildness frontiers.

PONANT’s signature mix of luxury and adventure delivers a truly life-changing voyage, both aboard and ashore.

KIMBERLEY

Australia’s West Coast Odyssey

Fremantle to Broome | From $13,860pp

10 nights aboard Le Soléal

21 August 2025 & 29 July 2026 in Balcony Stateroom

Ask us about FREE Solo Supplement

Australia’s Iconic Kimberley

Broome to Darwin | From $12,870pp

10 nights aboard Le Soléal

16 departures in 2025 & 2026 in Balcony Stateroom

Ask us about FREE Solo Supplement

The Kimberley Coast; Raja Ampat & Spice Islands

Broome to Darwin | From $27,441pp

21 nights aboard Le Soléal Departs 31 August 2025

Vansittart

CONNOISSEUR EXPEDITIONS

ATLAS OCEAN VOYAGES SPECIALISES IN STYLISH SMALL-SHIP EXPEDITION CRUISING, FROM REMOTE POLAR REGIONS TO EUROPE AND SOUTH AMERICA.

Imagine waking up snug inside your tent after camping overnight amongst the soaring glacial cliffs of Antarctica. Sip your morning coffee in the company of rare wildlife. Paddle past electric-blue icebergs in a sea kayak and explore further in one of the ship’s purpose-built Zodiacs. Back onboard, spot passing whales from the comfort of a heated outdoor seat or immerse yourself in the icy waters with a polar plunge.

At the northern pole, intrepid travellers aboard an Atlas Polar Expedition, cruise the Arctic’s glacial frontiers in search of polar bears and beluga whales and sip cocktails under the Northern Lights.

Across the globe, Atlas Cultural Expeditions takes guests for Samba lessons in Rio de Janeiro or to a sunset party with local delicacies grilled over an open flame in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Cidade Velha.

In Europe, Epicurean Expedition cruisers master the art of making Basque tapas after a day wandering the old town of Bilbao, or hunt for truffles in the Tuscan countryside before pairing them with wines for a farmto-table meal.

Every intimate yacht-style expedition carries no more than 200 passengers at a time, traversing remote destinations and navigating narrow waterways such as the Corinth Canal in Greece and Guadalquivir River in Spain. Cutting-edge hydro-jet propulsion technology

‘‘

EVERY INTIMATE YACHT-STYLE EXPEDITION CARRIES NO MORE THAN 200 PASSENGERS AT A TIME, TRAVERSING REMOTE DESTINATIONS AND NAVIGATING NARROW WATERWAYS.”

allows the ships to operate almost silently and minimise impact on the fragile ocean eco-system.

Now available on Polar Expeditions to Antarctica and the High Arctic is an exclusive Omakase-style dining experience called ‘The Explorer’s Table’. Prepared for just 10 guests, the multi-course tasting menu serves up a fusion of flavours in a culinary journey of its own amid the glaciers and icebergs. ▪

Wandering The Med & Northern Europe

Epicurean and Cultural Expeditions

Epicurean Expeditions illuminate the Mediterranean’s diverse cultures through the lens of food and wine with exclusive wine and food immersions shoreside, and interactive culinary events onboard. Cultural Expeditions are designed for fans of art, architecture, history, museums, and deep immersion into vibrant cultures of the destination. Explore hidden coves of the Greek Isles, call on yachtfilled harbours of the French and Italian Rivieras, and sail into the heart of historic cities. Excursions ashore immerse you in history, art and natural beauty while offering unique opportunities to explore the local culinary and wine scenes.

The intimate and immersive yachting expeditions of Atlas Ocean Voyages are the ultimate way to experience the world in relaxed luxury, with fewer than 200 fellow guests. The elegant 3-ship fleet are custom-designed, stylish, spacious, all-inclusive onboard, with beautifully designed public areas, well-appointed modern suites and staterooms, and personal service by crew well attuned to providing the highest levels of service.

ALWAYS INCLUDED

• FREE cultural immersion

• FREE gourmet dining with ever-changing menus

• FREE unlimited beverages, including fine wines, spirits and craft beers

• FREE open bars and lounges, including 24-hour bar service with specialty canapés

• FREE stocked in-room minibar

• FREE specialty coffees, teas and fresh-pressed juices

• FREE afternoon and high tea

• FREE champagne and gourmet canapés during meet and greet

• FREE 24-hour room service, including spirits, wine and beer

• FREE L’OCCITANE bath amenities

• FREE pre-paid gratuities

• FREE use of walking sticks and binoculars

• FREE reusable water bottle

• FREE butler service and expanded room service menu in suites

Trip delay and medical evacuation coverage included at no additional cost

Cultural Expedition Folklore & Waterfalls

Reykjavik to Dublin 7 nights, 29 Aug 2025 World Voyager™

Fares from US$4444 pp share twin (AO category, Adventure Oceanview Stateroom)

Included: Cultural Expedition Highlights: Cultural immersion Excursion * enrichment programs and workshops on select expeditions * authentic local experiences and onboard events * Josper Grill Dining Experience onboard * Backpack

Epicurean & Cultural Expedition European Medley

Amsterdam to Lisbon 20 nights, 01 Oct 2025 World Voyager™

Fares from US$8650 pp share twin (AO category, Adventure Oceanview Stateroom)

Included Epicurean & Cultural Expedition Highlights: Immersion Excursions * enrichment programs * authentic local experiences and onboard events * Josper Grill Dining Experience onboard * Culinary presentations and wine tastings * Cooking demonstrations * Hosted events by Tastes & Traditions expert * Backpack

Epicurean Expedition Med Marvels - Sicily, Tunisia, Malta and Greece

Monte Carlo to Istanbul 11 nights, 16 Aug 2026 World Traveller™

Fares from US$6129 pp share twin (AO category, Adventure Oceanview Stateroom)

Included: Epicurean Expedition Highlights: Cultural immersion culinary experience ashore * Josper Grill Dining Experience onboard * Culinary presentations and wine tastings * Cooking demonstrations and cuisine tastings * Hosted events by Tastes & Traditions Expert * Backpack

SUMPTUOUS SEABOURN

IMAGINE

EXPLORING THE EXOTIC, LESS-TRAVELLED WONDERS OF THE WORLD ABOARD A PURPOSE-BUILT, ULTRA-LUXURY EXPEDITION SHIP.

Your every comfort is taken care of as you venture deep into the azure waters and charming villages of the Mediterranean, the vibrant settlements of the Amazon or the pristine majesty of Antarctica. Seabourn operates a fleet of six modern ships that define luxury ocean and expedition travel, taking passengers on magical journeys into the heart of each destination.

Seabourn sails intrepid explorers into the isolated depths of Antarctica, led by a veteran expedition team of scientists, naturalists and academics. Passengers can venture even closer to experience the blue icebergs on a scenic Zodiac or kayaking excursion, hike across seldomseen landscapes in search of wildlife or sink below the inky depths in a submarine.

“I cruised to Antarctica onboard Seabourn Pursuit and this exceptional travel experience is like being in your own documentary,” says Cherryl Browne, general

manager of Cruise World. “An expedition cruise means the remote parts of the world like Antarctica become very accessible.”

Across the ocean, travellers can penetrate deep into the Amazon on a safari at sea, with intimate access to parts of the river that are rarely seen by the outside world.

From the slow, winding waters of the seasonally flooded igapó forest, past picturesque floating houses in Leticia to fascinating jungle-bound Iquitos, the largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road.

Seabourn also offer their signature intimate, yachtlike atmosphere for enchanting voyages that turn the sundrenched coastlines of the Mediterranean and Iberian Peninsula into a private playground. In 2026, Seabourn Venture will stop at the picturesque ports of St. Malo and Dunkirk in France before sailing upriver to Spain’s historic city of Seville. ▪

A Seabourn cruise or expedition is unlike any other form of travel. Enjoy the incomparable value of all-inclusive ultra-luxury cruising. Cruise aboard intimate ships with a private, yacht-like atmosphere, pampered by intuitive, personalised service. Explore all seven continents, savour world class gourmet dining, and complimentary premium wines and spirits. Enjoy refined cruising, curated itine raries to places beyond the reach of larger ships. Share unforgettable moments with interesting and like-minded people who enjoy travelling well.

THE SEABOURN DIFFERENCE

• Seabourn’s All-Inclusive Difference:

• Intimate ships with a private yacht-like atmosphere

• All luxury ocean-front suites, most with a private veranda

• Intuitive, personalized service

• Complimentary premium spirits and fine wines

• Complimentary caviar, an extra indulgence

• World-class dining and culinary experiences

• All dining venues are complimentary - dine where, when and with whom you wish

• Welcome Champagne and complimentary in-suite bar

• Tipping is neither required, nor expected

• Seabourn Conversations - connecting with visionary experts

• Ventures by Seabourn® optional shore excursions ^**

• Complimentary entertainment experiences

• Complimentary SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi packages

• Complimentary Signature Events

** In select destination and additional charge. ^Available on Seabourn Sojourn, Seabourn Quest, Seabourn Encore, Seabourn Ovation

Nor wegian Fjords & Icelandic Intrigue

Dover to Dover

Seabourn Ovation

28 days, 16 May 2026

From A$37,699* pp share twin V3 Veranda suite

Follow the sun northward to lands of the Vikings, fairytale castles, majestic fjords, picturesque coastal villages, iconic museums and untouched islands teeming with seabirds.

Italy, Dalmatia & Eastern Med Delights

Monte Carlo to Istanbul

Seabourn Quest

24 days, 04 June 2026

From A$25,099* pp share twin V3 Veranda suite

Wake up to breathtaking views of azure waters and historic coastlines. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Mediterranean culture with curated shore excursions to ancient landmarks and charming villages.

From the Caribbean to Antarctica

Bridgetown to Ushuaia

Seabourn Ovation

37 days, 13 October 2026

From A$68,739* pp share twin V4 Veranda suite

Sail the crystal blue Caribbean waters from Barbados, and traverse South America’s eastern coast to fascinating ports, enroute to the magic of Antarctica. Three destinations to touch your curiosity and heart.

Tauck's handpicked journeys, across all seven continents, appeal to those seeking time, freedom, and flexibility to immerse themselves into the places they visit.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

A SINGLE MEANINGFUL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE, ENRICHING YOUR FUTURE WITH A SENSE OF JOYFUL CURIOSITY ABOUT THE WORLD’S FAR-FLUNG CORNERS.

It is this dedication to profound guided travel experiences that sees Tauck celebrating 100 years in the business with an ever-growing focus on exceptional small-group voyages. With more than 170 handpicked journeys across all seven continents, ranging in size from 44 guests down to just 15, Tauck thrills travellers seeking time, freedom, and flexibility to immerse themselves deep into the places they visit.

On its river cruises, by intentionally accommodating fewer guests than other lines, Tauck can also offer roomier cabins, less crowded shared spaces and an intimate onboard ambiance.

Two new riverboats join Tauck’s award-winning fleet in early 2026, with sailing itineraries along the Rhone and the River Seine. At 180 square feet (17 sq m), the Category 1 cabins on both new builds will be significantly larger than those on Tauck's other riverboats and, in keeping with Tauck's tradition of welcoming solo travellers, will have the single supplement waived on every sailing.

Tauck is world-renowned for its European river cruises, but a spectacular offering in 2025 is the 12-day ‘Wildlife Odyssey’ journey to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. This once-in-a-lifetime trip includes a private visit with an elephant family at a sanctuary near thundering Victoria Falls, morning and afternoon game drives in Kruger National Park to spot the ‘Big Five’, a private motorboat safari on the Zambezi river, and a helicopter excursion to experience the art, culture and cuisine of Cape Town. The world will never feel the same! ▪

A SPECTACULAR OFFERING IN 2025 IS THE 12-DAY ‘WILDLIFE ODYSSEY’ JOURNEY TO SOUTH AFRICA, BOTSWANA AND ZIMBABWE.”

TRAVEL BEYOND ORDINARY

Tauck is a family-owned travel company enjoying their 100th year anniversary this year in 2025. Tauck’s values and vision remain true: Always do the right thing. Deliver more than what’s expected. With journeys across 7 continents, in over 100 destinations and to 70+ countries, Tauck keeps moving forward to find new ways to enhance travel experiences that will be memorable for a lifetime. For 26 consecutive years, Tauck has earned the trust and the satisfaction of their guests, to be named in Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” list.

THE TAUCK DIFFERENCE

UNIQUE, EXCLUSIVE ACCESS

It’s not just about the places you visit – it’s how you experience them. * Tauck Exclusive events and excursions * Special access at times of day when the crowds have gone * Behind the scenes * See the world differently than you could on your own.

CLOSER CONNECTIONS

Meet locals with destination and cultural insights * Secrets of nature * Stories of the past defining the present * Unique and special skills * Enriching and everlasting * Personal encounters and unexpected moments.

GUIDED BY THE BEST

Personal, caring service is the hallmark of Tauck Directors and handpicked local guides * Expertise in local culture, customs, and traditions * Experience the world in ways you couldn’t experience on your own.

TRAVEL CONFIDENTLY

Travel with peace of mind * Tauck takes care of the details * Relationships with destination and travel partners worldwide – 100 years in the making! * Built-in support systems worldwide & Tauck Global Response Teams * Managing the unexpected – big and small.

NAMIBIA, AFRICA – SMALL GROUP TOUR

An Epic Safari

12 days l Apr – Oct 2026

Windhoek to Windhoek

Incredible accommodation experiences - Kwessi Dunes in the heart of the private NamibRand Nature Reserve - 12 air-conditioned thatched chalets on raised platforms; Hoanib Valley Exploration Camp - six elegantly designed tents in the rugged mountain landscape, overlooking the Hoanib River with unparalleled viewing of resident elephants, giraffes, oryx, and springbok right from your tent; Ongava Lodge Etosha - nestled on a hillside in the private Ongava Game Reserve and overlooking a well-frequented waterhole.

HIGHLIGHTS: : Bushman desert walk * Behind the scenes at a wildlife sanctuary * Meet the Himba tribe * See and learn about the thriving wildlife * Star gaze in NamibRand Nature Reserve * Flightsee over dunes of Sossusvlei * Kayaking or catamaran cruise * Learn about conservation efforts. Authentic small private lodges and luxury camps in the heart of the reserves.

MOROCCO, AFRICA – SMALL GROUP LAND TOUR

Magic of Morocco

10 days l Jan – Apr, Oct – Dec 2025 / 2026

Rabat to Marrakech

Experience mystical, mysterious, fascinating Morocco - ancient cities, medinas, kasbahs, and souks, windswept coastline and desert treasures, and journey through a timeless land with its mix of Arabic and European cultures.

HIGHLIGHTS: Labyrinthine medinas with spice bazaars, souks, and street food vendors * Boulevards lined with palm trees and French colonial architecture * Stunning palaces, mosques, and gardens * Lunch in Moulay Idriss near the ruins at Volubilis * Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca * Colourful leather tanneries of Fes * Choice of a cooking class, photography tour, or hammam spa treatment * Lecture on contemporary Morocco from the woman’s perspective.

EGYPT, AFRICA – SMALL GROUP CRUISE & LAND TOUR

Jewels of the Nile

10 days l Mar – May, Aug – Dec 2025 / 2026

Cairo to Cairo

Inspiring Egypt with ancient sites and treasures. Home to a storied legacy of history from the Neolithic Age in 6000 BC. A cradle of civilization, chronicled in temples, tombs and pyramids thousands of years old, in humble feluccas and river boats on the Nile.

HIGHLIGHTS : 4 night luxury Nile cruise with shore excursions in Aswan, Luxor, and Old Cairo TAUCK EXCLUSIVE: After hours vist to Valley of the Kings and Tutankhamun’s tomb * Great Pyramid of Giza, Luxor, Great Sphinx, Saint Simeon Monastery * Philae Temples on Agillika Island, Kom Ombo, and Edfu.

SHIPBOARD ROMANCE

NO WONDER THE WORLD CRUISE AWARDS NAMED SEADREAM I ‘BEST SMALL CRUISE SHIP FOR ROMANCE’. WHERE ELSE CAN YOU SLEEP UNDER THE STARS IN A BALINESE-STYLE BED?

WORDS: TRICIA WELSH.

We had boarded the luxury mega-yacht SeaDream I in Nice for a weeklong cruise along the Italian Riviera, destination Rome. We’ve booked early for our night under the stars as there is only one king-size bed set up forward on Deck 6, with four smaller beds lined up along each side towards the stern. The front bed is the prize location.

It is, of course, weather dependent, but it’s the perfect evening: a gentle breeze, no rain predicted and a forecast overnight temperature of 18C. As an added bonus, we wear PJs or lightweight tracksuits given to us earlier for comfort, which have our individual names embroidered on them.

Like bugs in a rug, we snuggle under the blankets – there’s even a faux fur bedcover for extra warmth. We don’t need rocking to sleep as the yacht sails further south around the Italian Riviera to the little harbour of Portoferraio on the island of Elba, where Napoleon was exiled twice in the early 1800s. We sleep beneath an inky, star-studded sky before watching dawn come up and we finally dock beneath the solid fortifications of the fortress built by Cosimo de Medici in 1548.

To say the people at the SeaDream Yacht Club think outside the square is an understatement. One warm day, as we sit around the pool, barman Andre does the rounds of sunbaking guests offering to clean their sunglasses. Richard follows him with a tray of ice-cream sandwiches.

“It’s the Rolls-Royce of cruising,” one happy cruiser confides. Another suggests it is the freedom you feel onboard: guests are never pressured to do anything or be anywhere at a certain time. Whatever it is, I’d happily stay aboard forever.

Although the ship can accommodate 112 passengers, we number just 84, with a crew of 96. Almost immediately, the crew know our names, our preferred beverages and make us feel like family.

Our Yacht Club Stateroom is spacious, with a large picture window, a privacy pull curtain between bedroom and comfortable lounge area with TV, a stocked mini-bar, and generous hanging space, with ample drawers for storage. The bathroom has multi-jet massage shower and luxurious Norwegian ELM bath amenities. Rooms and towels are refreshed twice daily by our obliging room butler, Marie, who also brings us a cup of English Breakfast tea each morning with the broadest smile.

The ship has a formal dining salon on Deck 2 that can accommodate all guests in one sitting, a most comfortable library with an excellent selection of novels and coffee-table books, a lounge bar with live music where guests gather for pre-dinner drinks, and an open-sided restaurant on Decks 4 and 5. Wooden floors, canvas ceilings and cane chairs give the space a real ‘yacht’ feel. Night owls like to gather at the convivial Top of the Yacht Bar on Deck 6.

STAR-GAZING: Demand is high for one of the Balinese-style beds on Deck 6, where passengers can spend the night under the stars as Seadream I cruises along the Italian Riviera.

Elsewhere on the ship, the SeaDream Spa is Thai certified – the only one of its kind at sea. There is also a sauna and steam room, beauty salon, fitness centre and golf simulator. Yoga and T’ai Chi are offered each morning on deck or ashore. For those with energy to burn, there are also kayaks, SUPs and other water sports facilities, a spectacular water slide straight into the sea and mountain bikes for onshore exploration.

Weather permitting, pre-dinner cocktails are served by the pool, which is where Captain Kristian Kivimaki officially greets guests with a welcome cocktails-andcaviar party as we watch lights come on along the Italian Riviera on our first balmy evening.

Our first port of call is Portofino, one of the most picturesque and photographed Italian Riviera villages. Comfortable tenders transport guests into the pretty harbour every few minutes. A handful of guests join club director Jamie Sommers in climbing to historic Castello Brown, with its bird’s-eye view over the village of gelato-coloured buildings. Others, like me, simply stroll the colourful waterfront with its bistros, bars and boutiques and indulge in a little retail therapy.

While Yachting Land Adventures are offered at each port – the Cinque Terra with lunch at a winery; an artfilled day in Florence; exploring the ramparts of the Renaissance city of Lucca by bike; a cooking class in a

BELOW: Shopping for painted memories. BOTTOM: Mountain bikes are provided for onshore exploring.

Tuscan farmhouse; discovering Napoleon’s house on Elba – many guests prefer to stay onboard, read a book, relax around the pool and enjoy the yacht’s facilities.

Captain Kivimaki confirms my thoughts: “To many, the ship is the destination. ‘Why leave,’ they ask? ‘we’ve got everything we want here.’ ”

SeaDream Yacht Club’s executive chef Tomasz Kowlowski’s cuisine and carefully thought-out menus are a true highlight of any adventure with this boutique cruise company, whether it be the most delicious lunchtime lasagne, seafood platters, Japanese sushi, classic snails or a perfect Chateaubriand. He has

been with the company since its inception in 2001, overseeing the daily changing menus on the twin megayachts SeaDream I and Seadream II. On some itineraries guests can even go shopping with the chef.

All meals on board SeaDream are served, when possible, alfresco on the open-sided dining decks, giving a real feeling of a relaxed yachting lifestyle. For lunch, perhaps fresh prawns, mussels, Thai green chicken curry, a great selection of salads, cheese and healthy desserts. Each night, Chef Tomasz creates four different menus: Savour the Evening, Purely Plant-based, Harmony on the Plate and Culinary Masterpieces

The pretty harbour at Portofino. BELOW: Seadream I at sea, "the Rolls-Royce of cruising".

Norwegian-born owner Atle Brynestad is vegan and has his own organic farm back in Norway. He originally established Seabourn Cruise Line in 1987 before selling it to Carnival, buying back two mega-yachts and starting the SeaDream Yacht Club. Today, he delights in offering SeaDream guests excellent vegan and vegetarian options; the first and largest plant-based menu at sea.

SeaDream I boasts an enviable record of repeat guests. I meet one middle-aged American woman for whom this cruise is her seventh in six years. “I’ve never been on any other cruise line,” she adds.

The clearly happy and intuitive staff are a big part of what makes the SeaDream experience so unique. And they seem to be as loyal to the ship as the returning guests

Captain Kivimaki, who has been with SeaDream since

2018, tells the story that after the pandemic when the crew had dispersed, he was waiting at the airport to see who might return on the crew’s charter flight. “They all came back,” he adds with moist eyes. “They have a very special bond.”

While the crew, the cuisine, the ship itself and the onboard experiences are exceptional, the whole cruise is – well – a sea dream. And remember: as the company motto goes, ‘It’s yachting, not cruising’. You’ll notice the difference. ▪

www.seadream.com

OPPOSITE: Art, poured and plated. BELOW: Top of the Yacht Bar; alfresco dining.

PARADISE FOUND

TRAVELLERS WITH THE GALÁPAGOS ON THEIR BUCKET LIST WILL SOON BE ABLE TO EXPLORE THIS VAST ISLAND ARCHIPELAGO AND NATIONAL PARK IN FIVE-STAR COMFORT ABOARD A MEGA-CATAMARAN PURPOSE-BUILT FOR THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE. WORDS: JENI BONE.

The 50-metre Hermes mega-catamaran is a oneof-a-kind luxury vessel under construction in Guayaquil, the port city and capital of Ecuador. Its owners, Via Natura, have 31 years of experience delivering tailor-made tours of Ecuador and Peru and operate a fleet of vessels in the Galápagos. But Hermes is unique.

“Hermes mega-catamaran is the first ultra-luxury cruise vessel to sail in the Galápagos Islands,” said Xavier Echeverria, Via Natura sales manager.

“With a guest capacity capped at 20 guests, Hermes provides an unrivalled experience through exclusivity, high-end amenities and a crew-toguest ratio of almost one to one.”

All suites overlook the ocean from their own private balcony with Jacuzzi, and floor-to-ceiling windows for savouring the views day and night. Guests can enjoy a complimentary premium beverage menu, the pampering of butler services and access to luxury amenities such as an onboard hamman with views over breathtaking land and seascapes.

Their equatorial location in the Pacific Ocean around 1,000 kilometres west of the South American continent, at the confluence of three ocean currents, has endowed the Galápagos with a fascinating mix of tropical and temperate

environments that have created a melting pot of unique species.

The Galápagos’ 127 islands, islets and bomboras have been called a “living laboratory of evolution”, a title validated by UNESCO’s declaration of the isles as a World Natural Heritage Site.

They were declared a National Park in 1959, and in 1998 this protected zone was extended to its current 133,000 square kilometres, making it one of the largest marine reserves in the world.

“The Galápagos are known for their unique wildlife and diverse ecosystems,” said Echeverria.

“The archipelago has many endemic species such

‘‘

THE ISLANDS WERE FAMOUSLY VISITED BY CHARLES DARWIN DURING HIS VOYAGE ON HMS BEAGLE IN 1835, AND HIS OBSERVATIONS OF THE GALÁPAGOS’ SPECIES SUBSEQUENTLY INSPIRED HIS THEORY OF EVOLUTION.”

as marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, giant tortoises, cacti and other flora, and the many different subspecies of mockingbirds and finches, as well as characteristic volcanic landscapes.

The islands were famously visited by Charles Darwin during his voyage on HMS Beagle in 1835, and his observations of the Galápagos’ species subsequently inspired his theory of evolution.”

Via Natura chose the multihull platform for its spaciousness and stability in all sea states.

“The catamaran proportions, 50 metres long, with a beam of 14 metres, and dual hull, ensure passenger comfort on board, especially in a

destination like Galápagos, where diverse sea currents interact throughout the year,” Echeverria explained.

The all-suite accommodation consists of 12 state-of-theart cabins – 10 double and two single – each with private en suite, walk-in robe and mini-bar. Hermes’ amenities include a full-service spa, hammam, library and two lounge spaces, plus deck areas for dining and socialising.

Double suites are 35m2 on average, and all are convertible. Four double suites on the main deck can be interconnected to suit larger groups. The two single suites are 20m2 and both are on the main deck.

“Hermes mega-catamaran is the first Galápagos small vessel offering guests a library where they can deepen their understanding of the ‘Enchanted Islands’,” Echeverria said.

The dining hall is the epicentre of the Hermes cuisine

experience, where the onboard chef and culinary team will delight guests’ palates while the visual feast continues outside, thanks to large-panel glazing.

The expansive sundeck caters to alfresco dining and features an outdoor Jacuzzi. Forward on the bow, the observation area comprises seating and tables for guests to mingle while they nature-watch in total comfort.

Crew have been hand-selected for their skills and local knowledge, and guests will benefit from two certified naturalist guides, who will travel with every charter and lead small group expeditions, whether that’s water sports or more sedate bird-watching.

The Hermes mega-cat will offer five itineraries, between four and 15 days, aiming for the perfect balance of land and water activities, wildlife, history and geography, while treating guests to the most significant sites on the

THE HERMES EXPERIENCE: The mega-cat promises adventurous itineraries with every luxury thrown in, including on-deck dining and Jacuzzi, all-suite accommodation, and library.

Galápagos Islands. Activities include hiking, snorkelling, kayaking, paddling, and, of course, immersion in nature to witness the panoply of flora and fauna that exist only in this pristine environment.

Up-close observation, or in-water encounters with species such as giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, curious sea lion pups, marine iguanas, hammerhead sharks, and even the majestic whale shark at certain times of year, will undoubtedly prove enriching, if not life-changing.

The Hermes experience is being marketed by operators and travel agencies around the world, and it has been warmly received, with interest so far exceeding all expectations, according to Echeverria.

Hermes mega-catamaran cruises commence in May. ▪

www.hermes-Galápagos-luxury-cruise.net www.vianatura.com

WELCOME TO SCOTTSDALE.

START YOUR JOURNEY TO LOWER SCORES.

SOFT, RESPONSIVE INSERT

The new Scottsdale putter family for preferred feel and distance control.

Available in a variety of alignment designs and stroke types to fit your game.

FIND YOUR PUTTER.

Tou r-proven grip is standard on all regular-length models. The mid-length C raz-E CB (3 7.75″) fe atu res a 17″ grip (pictured).

ESCAPE TO Waikiki

WAIKIKI, ON THE HAWAIIAN ISLAND OF OAHU, OFFERS THE PERFECT BALANCE OF RELAXATION AND ADVENTURE, WHETHER YOU'RE SOAKING UP THE SUN ON THE BEACH, EXPLORING THE ISLAND’S RICH HISTORY OR INDULGING IN WORLD-CLASS DINING AND SHOPPING. WORDS AND PHOTOS: DES FRITH.

Avibrant district that stretches along the south shore of Honolulu, Hawaii’s state capital, Waikiki is an eight and a halfhour flight from Auckland. But once there, Waikiki quickly draws you in, blending relaxation, adventure and history into an unforgettable holiday experience. From pristine beaches and luxury shopping to poignant historical landmarks and thrilling outdoor activities, Waikiki has something for every type of traveller. Your seven-night escape to this Hawaiian hotspot might look something like this:

DAY 1: SETTLING IN

The tropical warmth of Waikiki envelops you the moment you arrive. The island’s natural beauty is undeniable, with its sparkling turquoise waters and lush greenery surrounding the famous Diamond Head crater. After settling into your accommodation, take some time to relax on the golden sands of Waikiki Beach. The gentle sound of the waves is a perfect introduction to your island escape.

Take a stroll along the famous Kalakaua Avenue, the main thoroughfare in Waikiki. Lined with high-end shops, vibrant restaurants and art galleries, it’s a great place to immerse yourself in the local culture and treat yourself to some of the world’s finest shopping.

DAY 2: HISTORY AND HERITAGE AT PEARL HARBOUR

No visit to Hawaii is complete without a trip to Pearl Harbour, one of the most significant and emotional historical sites in the United States. The Arizona Memorial, which commemorates the lives lost during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, is an experience that will resonate long after you leave. Stand on the floating memorial above the sunken battleship; embrace the eerie silence from those around you while reflecting on the names of the fallen etched into the stone walls.

After experiencing the Arizona Memorial, take a bus to explore the USS Missouri battleship, famously known as the site of Japan’s formal surrender, ending World War II. Walk the decks of this huge warship, marvel in the size of the massive barrels, while learning what firepower the ship had to offer. Inside the ship is the museum, its displays painting a picture of how the crew lived. Gain an insight into the history that shaped the 20th century. Sitting beside the Missouri, the Aviation Museum offers a fascinating look at military aircraft, and a glimpse into the technological evolution of air warfare. Finally, head below decks of the WWII USS Bluefin submarine. A tight squeeze for some, this was everyday reality for American submariners during WWII.

PHOTO: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson.

The historic air control tower overlooks the Pearl Harbour Aviation Museum.

USS Missouri battleship museum.

The Arizona Memorial.

Looking along Waikiki Beach with the volcanic crater Diamond Head in the distance.

PHOTO: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Vincent Lim.

DAY 3: ADVENTURE AT KUALOA RANCH AND DIAMOND HEAD

An early morning start to catch a tour bus, we embark on a trip to Kualoa Ranch, a historic private nature reserve that has been the backdrop for numerous Hollywood films, including Jurassic Park, Kong: Skull Island and the large-scale battle scene in Wind Talkers A guided tour will reveal the ranch’s lush landscapes, dramatic cliffs and serene valleys. You’ll also hear fascinating stories about the ranch’s history and its pivotal role in Hawaiian culture. For thrill-seekers, there are options for ATV rides, horseback riding, and even zip-lining across the stunning terrain.

An afternoon bus ride back to Waikiki and we lace up our walking shoes and hike up Diamond Head, an extinct volcanic crater that overlooks the beachside district. The 2.6km trail, with stairs and tunnels, takes you through lush vegetation and offers sweeping views from the summit of Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean. It’s a decent hike to the top but the scenery is worth every step.

ABOVE: You can explore Kualoa Ranch in an ATV or take the tour aboard one of the ranch trucks or buses. Stops on the tour include the boneyard, props from the Jurassic Park and Kong film sets. BELOW: Views from the top of Diamond Head.

PHOTO: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Ben Ono.

DAY 4: BEACHSIDE RELAXATION AND GOURMET DINING

Waikiki is renowned for its world-class dining scene, and today is all about indulgence. After a leisurely breakfast at your resort, head back to the beach for a day of relaxation. The gentle rhythm of the ocean and the warm sun create the ideal setting for unwinding. When hunger strikes, head to the Cheesecake Factory, a Waikiki staple known for its generous portions and delectable desserts. Enjoy a cocktail or two on the restaurant’s outdoor patio.

In the evening, treat yourself to a sunset dinner cruise along Waikiki Bay. As the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange, the gentle sway of the boat and the warm ocean breeze make for a serene and romantic experience. Many of these cruises include a Friday night fireworks display, adding an extra layer of magic to your evening.

DAY 5: SURFING, SNORKELLING, AND MORE ADVENTURE

Surfing rules in Hawaii, so why not sign up for a lesson with a local instructor and catch your first wave in the waters of Waikiki? The instructors are skilled at making beginners feel comfortable, ensuring you’re soon standing up on the board and riding the waves with confidence.

In the afternoon, switch gears and look below the waves with a snorkel. Waikiki’s waters are teeming with vibrant marine life, from colourful fish to sea turtles. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced snorkeller, this is an experience you won’t want to miss.

DAY 6: GOLF AT TURTLE BAY AND A VISIT TO MAGIC ISLAND LAGOON

For a more laid-back yet equally spectacular experience, head to Turtle Bay for a round of golf at the renowned Arnold Palmer Golf Course. With lush fairways, ocean views and a challenging layout, this is an unforgettable golfing experience, set amidst the island’s natural beauty.

Afterwards, visit Magic Island Lagoon, a secluded spot where you can take a peaceful swim or enjoy a picnic by the water. The lagoon has calm, crystal-clear water; a perfect retreat after an action-packed few days.

Friday night fireworks display. PHOTO: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson.

Exploring Magic Island.

Turtle Bay Arnold Palmer Golf Course.

Take the plunge with a surfing lesson.

PHOTO: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson.

DAY 7: THRILLS AT WAIKIKI GUN CLUB

For something truly unique, get to the Waikiki Gun Club. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or a first-timer, this shooting range experience offers an adrenaline rush like no other. Under the supervision of experienced instructors, you’ll have the opportunity to test your skills with a variety of firearms in a controlled environment.

Cap off the day and discover the hidden gems of Hawaii by air with a scenic helicopter flight over Oahu. There are many flight providers. Rainbow Helicopters has a number of options for groups

of up to five passengers – with or without the doors on. Or take to the air with the ‘Magnum PI’ experience in a replica helicopter from the 1980s TV show.

Getting around Waikiki is easy, thanks to the abundance of taxis, buses and ride-sharing services. However, if you prefer more freedom, renting a car is a good way to go, particularly for day trips to places like Kualoa Ranch or Turtle Bay.

Accommodation in Waikiki is plentiful, ranging from luxury beachfront resorts to boutique hotels. ▪

Safety first at the Waikiki Gun Club.

A great way to see the island is with a heli tour from Rainbow Helicopters.

Circular coral reefs feature at Kaneohe Sandbar.

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JEWEL OF THE STANS

TRAVELLING BY LUXURY TRAIN THROUGH UZBEKISTAN, TRICIA WELSH DISCOVERS MAGNIFICENT MOSQUES, MADRASSAHS AND MAUSOLEUMS, SEES A REVIVAL OF ANCIENT SKILLS AND CRAFTS – AND LEARNS A LITTLE RUSSIAN ALONG THE WAY.

Spasiba – spa-sea-bar,” suggests our tour manager, Anna. Anna who is teaching a few of us some useful words in Russian as we travel through Uzbekistan aboard the Golden Eagle Luxury Train. “When you think of a vacation,” she declares, “you need a ‘spa’, you need the ‘sea’ and you need a ‘bar’. Spasiba!”

Indeed, it is the only way I can recall how to say “Thank you” in Russian, as we also try to negotiate the Cyrillic alphabet. We learn numbers, how to greet people, how to ask simple questions and heartily sing the universally loved classic folk-style song, Kalinka

I am one of just 26 guests aboard the Golden Eagle Luxury Train discovering the ‘Treasures of Uzbekistan’ and, I admit, it does help to have a few words in Russian as we travel through Central Asia, where Russian is the second language. As part of the Soviet Union until independence in 1991, most Uzbeks learnt Russian at school, but are now becoming fluent in English as the country opens up to tourism from the West.

Hit by an 8.5 earthquake in 1966, which destroyed half the city, Tashkent is the largest city in Central Asia and today boasts huge, modern, marble public buildings interspersed with Soviet-era concrete tower blocks. Fortunately there is also an ‘Old City’.

As in other major Uzbek cities, we note wide treeand garden-lined boulevards with six to eight lanes of traffic – mainly locally made white Chevrolet cars – a real sense of order and the most obliging and polite people. As I enter a crowded carriage for a short ride on the city’s underground metro, an entire carriage bench is vacated as everyone stands to offer me their seat! Inspired by the more elaborate metro in Moscow, the stations are indeed decorative, Kosmonavtlar commemorating cosmonauts like Yuri Gagarin and the first female cosmonaut, Valentina Tereshkova.

TASHKENT IS THE LARGEST CITY IN CENTRAL ASIA AND TODAY BOASTS HUGE, MODERN, MARBLE PUBLIC BUILDINGS INTERSPERSED WITH

SOVIET-ERA CONCRETE TOWER BLOCKS. ‘‘

We’ve heard about the ‘Stans’ – but where and what are they? There are five independent Stans forming part of Central Asia. Uzbekistan, double landlocked, is the most central of them, surrounded by four other landlocked countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

We have flown into the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, from all corners of the globe: from Canada, the US, the UK, Australia and a group of Spanish speakers from South America who have their own guide. After a welcome dinner at the Tashkent Hyatt Regency and a city tour next day, we start to get a feel for this secular country of 35 million whose dominant religion is Islam.

In Tashkent’s Old City – dating back 2,000 years – we ponder the first of myriad turquoise domed complexes at Khazrati-Imam, which hold us in awe. It’s shoes off and headscarves on as we enter the 5,000-man Hazrati Imam Mosque before a visit to the Muy Mubarek Madrassah and a quiet shuffle in to view the ancient Uthman Koran at the madrassah library. The Khast Imam, as this group of 16th-century monuments is also known, is the country’s official religious centre and has been renovated in recent years, thanks to billionaire Uzbek-Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov, at the time a shareholder in English football team Arsenal.

At the contemporary Plov Lounge and Bar, we have our first taste of the national dish, plov, a hearty serving of rice with vegetables topped with shredded lamb or beef, and perhaps with a few slices of horse sausage for good measure. And we’re exposed to beautiful traditional handicrafts – ikat, suzani, pottery, jewellery, metal carvings, elaborate embroideries, in Tashkent’s Museum of Applied Arts – once the private home of an Imperial Russian diplomat.

We’re given a red-carpet Champagne welcome with a traditional Karnay-Surnay long-horn musical fanfare at Tashkent railway station, where our handsome mid-blue train stretches literally half a kilometre down the platform. Stewards for each carriage await our arrival; luggage is already in our respective compartments.

I’ve been upgraded from Silver to Gold Class, which sleeps two in either a double lower bed or single upper, has individual air-conditioning, television and private bathroom with separate shower cubicle, and underfloor heating. Two couples have reserved the luxurious Imperial Suites that come with private guide and chauffeured car service, a bottle of Dom Perignon on arrival, a comprehensive mini bar and the option of dining in-cabin.

Life onboard is sweet. With 80 per cent of the country’s 447,000 square kilometres desert, travel is mostly by night. Service is attentive, the all-Russian staff young and keen to please.

Breakfasts are a treat, with fresh juices and fruit,

smoothies, charcuterie, house-made pastries, smoked salmon and red caviar, eggs cooked as you like, and with a daily special – perhaps pancakes stuffed with sweet tvorog cheese.

All meals comprise three courses. Our welcome dinner menu starts with either lobster with guacamole, baked paprika sauce and spicy kimchi sauce or broccoli tartlet. Next comes duck breast with rosemary sauce, poached pear and carrot mousse or white bean risotto with porcini mushrooms, truffles and Grana Padano cheese. Dessert is tiramisu with coffee and brandy.

One night we are treated to a Champagne and caviar dinner. The Möet flows, as generous bowls of caviar – black sturgeon from the Caspian Sea and red Pacific salmon –

are served with blinis and traditional garnishes. Duck leg confit or ricotta and spinach ravioli follows.

The convivial lounge bar is the place to be before and after dinner. While guests might sip champagne cocktails and vodka martinis, classically trained pianist Artur Bobikyan provides a beautiful musical backdrop of popular, classical and original tunes.

Some days, we enjoy lunch or dinner off-train as we are on full-day excursions, perhaps to learn about fine ceramics in Rishtan, silk or ikat weaving in Margilan or paper-making in Konigil village – all important crafts traded along this vital ancient caravan route – and enjoy occasional live entertainment by local traditional dance troupes.

Who knew about the extraordinary collection of nearly

100,000 avant-garde paintings at the Savitsky Museum of Fine Arts in the far northwest city of Nukus? Known as the ‘Louvre in the Sands’, it was founded in 1966 by celebrated artist and ethnographer Igor Savitsky, who rescued many works by Russian and Uzbek dissident artists banned by Stalin.

But it’s the three gems of Khiva, Bukhara and legendary Samarkand we’re keen to discover. These cities date back more than two millennia and have witnessed the ebb and flow of empires and the passage of legendary figures. Alexander the Great traversed these lands in the 4th century, leaving an indelible mark; Genghis Khan, the Mongol conqueror, swept through in the 13th century, reshaping the cultural landscape; and Tamerlane, the Turko-Mongol conqueror, made Samarkand his capital in

The Golden Eagle Luxury Train: a privileged setting from which to discover the ‘Treasures of Uzbekistan’.

the 14th century, adorning it with architectural wonders such as exquisite Registan Square.

These cities served as pivotal hubs, connecting East and West, flourishing as centres of commerce, culture and scholarship. Today, their UNESCO-listed monuments stand as testament to the enduring legacy of civilizations that thrived amidst adversity.

Khiva is essentially a living museum, with wellpreserved Islamic architecture within high city walls. Entering through beautiful carved doors to the old city, Ichan Kala, we are enchanted by its labyrinthine streets and historic structures, such as the 28-metre-high unfinished minaret and Juma Mosque. Stallholders sell fur hats, ceramics, wood carvings, silk carpets, ikat clothing and we find ourselves following a wedding group heading to the mosque to receive the Imam’s

DOMINATING THE VERY HEART OF SAMARKAND IS BREATHTAKING REGISTAN SQUARE, WITH ITS THREE MAJESTIC MADRASSAHS, AMONG THE WORLD’S

blessing. We lunch alfresco at a local restaurant on Khorezmian cuisine: delicious, colourful salads, soft egg-filled dumplings, tu hum arak, with yoghurt, beef koftas wrapped in thin omelettes, kiima Zarafshan, and oven-warm flatbreads.

Bukhara, founded in the 5th century by the Persian Prince Siyavush, also offers a mesmerising tapestry of history and culture. We explore what’s left of the impressive Ark, or fortress, occupied until 1920, when it was bombed by the Red Army. Once the residence of the emirs of Bukhara, with some 3,000 residents living within its walls, today it is uninhabited with most of the place in ruins. Genghis Khan spared the towering

47m-high Kalon Minaret, with its magnificent tile work, when he ransacked the city in the 13th century. Nearby covered bazaars beckon with vibrant local arts and crafts. We lunch on traditional cuisine in a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Old City.

Dominating the very heart of Samarkand is breathtaking Registan Square, with its three majestic madrassahs, among the world’s oldest, showing Islamic architecture.

Most of today’s attractions date from Tamerlane’s 14th-century reign, the tyrant conqueror Timur “The Lame”, who plundered nearby territories to enrich his capital at Samarkand. There are statues, monuments and reminders of him everywhere – including the Bibi-Khanum mosque, built for his wife, and beautiful Shah-i-Zinda necropolis – its avenue of mausoleums displaying some of the richest tile work in the Muslim world.

We wander lively Dehqon Siyob, or farmers’ market, where dried fruit and nuts sellers are doing a thriving trade in pistachios, dried apricots stuffed with walnuts, almonds, dates, and myriad spices – all products traded along the ancient Silk Road.

Samarkand is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world and considered one of the most magnificent. Some 2,400 years ago, Alexander the Great was moved to remark about this almost mythical city: “Everything that I heard about Samarkand is all true, absolutely everything! Except one thing: it turned out to be more beautiful than I could imagine.”

Everything is included on these exceptional journeys: all transfers, porterage, 24-hour cabin service, an on-board English-speaking doctor, fully guided offtrain excursions with local guides, all drinks (except premium) in the Bar Lounge Car and with meals, gratuities and occasional authentic dining experiences in local restaurants en route.

And you have to unpack just once while the country comes to you! ▪ www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com

WELCOME TO DUBAI

THE DORCHESTER COLLECTION INVITED WORLD TO INSPECT THE LATEST ADDITION TO ITS GLOBAL PORTFOLIO OF LUXURY HOTELS.

here may be no finer group of hotels than those of the Dorchester Collection, a group of 10 properties ranging from London’s The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane to the Plaza Athénée in Paris, the Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles and Hotel Eden in Rome. And now The Lana in Dubai, the collection’s first property in the Middle East.

We flew Emirates, and after passing through Immigration we were met by Ogi, The Lana’s driver, who took us to the hotel in a Rolls-Royce Phantom. The greeting and the airconditioned comfort of the car was our first indication of the quality of The Lana guest services, which would continue to prove nothing less than first rate over the next three days.

Ogi was a car enthusiast and, like a tour guide, he explained the significance of number plates in Dubai. Single-digit plates indicated great wealth – and by way of example he told us the number 8 had recently sold for US$15 million!

Welcome to Dubai.

We arrived at The Lana and quickly understood the source of Ogi’s interest in cars. The hotel parking lot was a showcase of the flashiest autos on earth, among them a McLaren Artura, a Ferrari 296GT and a shiny Chevrolet Corvette, all waiting for guests to hire. We declined the offer of a McLaren – for €1,000 a day.

The Lana opened in February 2024. Designed by the renowned British architecture firm of Foster + Partners, it rises strikingly beside the azure water of the Business Bay Marina, removed from the bustle of downtown. Business Bay has been described as ‘sleepy’ and, accordingly, The Lana is like a quiet destination within a destination that’s, well, loud.

Because it’s removed from the city, The Lana has terrific views of the Dubai skyline and its menagerie of high-rise commercial and residential glass towers – architecture like nowhere else in the world; the hallmark of which is the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building on Earth.

Lit up at night, the Dubai skyline could be mistaken for a futuristic movie set: Ridley Scott could have shot Blade Runner here.

The 30th-floor bar and infinity pool or the rooftop High Society restaurant, are perfect spots from which to enjoy that view, night or day. Lifeguards and other attendants are on hand at the pool to make up daybeds with towels and deliver food and drink. Again, service is first class.

TOP: The Lana Rolls-Royce limousine service.

LEFT: You can rent the McLaren Artura supercar – just €1,000 per day. OPPOSITE PAGE: The Lana is an unparalleled luxury landmark of Dubai.

AS IT IS WITH EVERY HOTEL IN THE DORCHESTER COLLECTION, IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT ADD UP. LIKE THE BOWL OF GRAPES WAITING ON A TABLE IN OUR ROOM. NOT JUST ANY GRAPES, BUT A BUNCH OF RARE SHINE MUSCAT GRAPES FROM JAPAN.”

The Lana has 225 rooms and suites. The Parisian design duo of Gilles & Boissier, known for their residential work, have created what felt to us like a home away from home with its relaxed, neutral palate, floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony that, taken altogether, evoked a refined European sensibility more than the flamboyant Arabic style common to Dubai, and it’s this too that sets The Lana apart from other hotels in the city.

As it is with every hotel in The Dorchester Collection, it’s the little things that add up. Like the bowl of grapes waiting on a table in our room. Not just any grapes, but a bunch of rare Shine Muscat grapes from Japan.

Executive chef Oliver Jackson oversees eight food and beverage outlets with more than 100 dedicated staff.

Oysters – Jara by Martín Berasategui.

Roasted whole Bresse chicken and confit potatoes – Riviera by Jean Imbert.

White Frette linen dressed our king-size bed. We were told the mattress was a Vispring, the preferred supplier to Buckingham Palace. We slept well. The centrepiece of the bathroom was a deep, free-standing tub, with city views that made bathing after dark memorable.

Dubai is a true destination for foodies, thanks to the wave of internationally renowned chefs – many boasting Michelin stars – that have turned up here in recent years. At The Lana, kitchen talent falls under the direction of Executive Chef Oliver Jackson, who’s originally from Christchurch.

Chef Jackson relocated to Dubai last year after leading the culinary team at The Langham Gold Coast in Australia. Before then he worked in Abu Dhabi and before that he held positions at Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Pegasus Bay Winery.

Today, he oversees all kitchen and restaurant operations at The Lana. His staff numbers more than 100, serving

eight food and beverage outlets. They range from Bitter Honey, a 20-seat lobby bar (where botanical bitters and local honey feature in cocktails) to Txakolina, a speakeasy and cigar lounge, and The Gallery, home of The Lana’s signature afternoon tea that reflects the hotel’s quintessential British style with traditional sandwiches and scones.

Riviera by Jean Imbert, is Chef Imbert’s Côte d’Azurinspired restaurant, evoking a breezy Mediterranean freshness, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner à la carte. Michelin-starred Chef Imbert spends his time bouncing between The Lana in Dubai and the Plaza Athénée in Paris. The Riviera Bar, meanwhile, is the place to sample creative Mediterranean cocktails and bites.

Jara by Martín Berasategui is a new dining concept developed by the much-acclaimed chef Martín Berasategui, collector of 12 Michelin stars. Here he employs the alchemy of fire to drive authentic Basque cooking. A lively bar with a dramatic, fire-inspired lighting

Australian Westholme Wagyu T-bone steak – Jara by Martín Berasategui.

Carabineros spaghetti with mild chilli – Riviera by Jean Imbert.

and decorative terracotta tiles allows guests to enjoy a pre-dinner drink while watching their orders being created in an open kitchen: stunning dishes like grilled octopus with paprika and Galician-style potatoes with paprika.

World pastry champion and ‘Best Pastry Craftsman of France’ Angelo Musa, from the pastry kitchen at the Plaza Athénée, was at The Lana producing wonderful Parisian delicacies at the Bonbon Café Angelo Musa. We found the range of chocolate bonbons, croissants, sandwiches, salads, bespoke cakes and ice cream altogether enchanting.

The Bonbon Café evoked a lovely Parisian-style urbanity. Each morning, with freshly brewed coffee, we enjoyed the likes of chocolate and raspberry filled cookies and strawberry shortcake as we watched a cross-section of the world’s diverse population stroll by.

The Lana has the first and only Dior spa in the region. It opened in April last year and includes a Japanese sauna and its amenities, with a menu that embraces esoteric treatments like Icoone (anti-aging) Therapy, Hydra-facials, Dior Micro-Abrasions and the Dior Skin Light LED therapy mask.

The hotel laid on a driver when we felt like getting out to see more of Dubai. For touristy stops there’s The Frame and The Ferris Wheel (again the tallest in the world), Palm Jumeirah and the Dubai Mall with its compelling aquarium and shops. But our interest was in the other major mall here - the Mall of the Emirates – if only because we were curious to see its indoor ski slope, replete with snow. And while there we found time to browse some of its 600 shops. Finally, tired on our feet, we finished the day on the roof of The Lana, enjoying a cocktail at High Society and watching the sun set over Dubai’s astonishing skyline. ▪

The Dior Spa at The Lana.

Creative design/décor features throughout The Lana.

WEST SIDE STORY

TOM HYDE RETURNS TO NEW YORK TO EXPLORE MANHATTAN’S WEST SIDE, WALKING THE HIGH LINE AND TAKING IN A HOT-TICKET BROADWAY SHOW.

The Empire State Building, the Museum of Modern Art, Greenwich Village, Katz’s Deli: been there, done that. This time our aim was Manhattan, but somewhere different; renewed if not new. And a show. Spending time in New York and not seeing a Broadway production is like spending time in Napa Valley and not tasting wine.

We walked from our West 28th Street hotel to the High Line. The High Line was once an elevated railway. Today it is the most celebrated walkway in the city, stretching from West 34th Street down to Gansevoort St, below West 14th.

Or, as we planned our stops along the way, from Russ & Daughters Appetizing Shop at Hudson Yards, to Chelsea Market, and on to the Whitney Museum of American Art, walking the elevated garden path the entire way.

The High Line is a great example of how an abandoned industrial zone can be re-invented in a spectacular, and popular, way. It defies the idea that the only option for a structure past its use-by date is demolition. In fact, the High Line was nearly dismantled when one of mayor Rudi Giuliani’s last acts before leaving office in 2001 – while he was still riding high post-9/11 as ‘America’s Mayor’ – was to order the elevated tracks removed.

Fortunately, another vision prevailed. It was one that arose naturally, you might say, when residents looking down from their high-rise apartments to the abandoned rail line noticed wildflowers and other plants growing over the tracks. ‘Friends of the High Line’ was born.

The campaign to transform the forsaken rail line into an exquisite garden walkway was supported by Guiliani’s successor, Michael Bloomberg. Landscape architects, a design studio and the accomplished Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf were brought on board. Piet Oudolf has been described as the world’s most famous garden designer. As one source put it: “His designs combine unusual plants and grasses in thoughtful clumps to form gorgeous, abundant meadows that look as if they might have evolved naturally.”

The High Line is considered a Piet Oudolf masterpiece. Today it’s maintained by Friends of the High Line in partnership with the city parks department. After many years of continuous enrichment, it is now a 2.3km greenway featuring more than 500 species of plants and trees, with eye-catching public art that includes sculpture, billboards, video, live performances, new architecture, bakeries and cafés and benches for walkers to rest their feet.

Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf. The High Line is considered an Oudolf masterpiece.

We joined the High Line at West 34th after having a takeaway breakfast from Russ & Daughters, a legendary Jewish appetizing shop that New York Magazine once described as “part diner and part cultural shrine”. Another source described it as “a torchbearer of Jewish food in America”.

We had read that Russ & Daughters is “an appetizing shop” (not a delicatessen) – learning that “appetizing” is a Jewish food tradition local to New York and that its menu included a range of smoked and cured fish and an assortment of cream cheeses and spreads providing the fixings for bagels made fresh on site.

Russ & Daughters was founded in 1904 by Joel Russ, a Polish immigrant who pushed a cart about lower

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Russ & Daughters

Appetizing Shop; green spaces designed for people; classic Russ & Daughters bagel; more than 500 species of plants and trees to enjoy.

Manhattan selling herring. He eventually opened a shop for takeaways and later brought his three daughters into the business. In time, the deli became a four-generation concern with sit-down dining.

In 2023, Russ & Daughters opened a new location, its third in the city, beside the High Line at Hudson Yards. You enter the shop and take a number and wait in the inevitable queue to be served. The menu includes an impressive range of cured salmon, tuna, sturgeon, cream cheesebased spreads, sandwiches, soups, caviar and, still today, herring. And, of course, a range of fresh bagels.

We collected our order and walked out to a bench in the public park that is a central feature of Hudson Yards. In the warmth of a mid-morning sun, we scoffed matzo ball

soup, which many believe is the best in town, and a fresh, soft bagel layered with smoked tuna, horseradish and dill cream cheese. Finally, a babka – a warm cinnamon and brown sugar swirl braided in sweet bread that is the deli’s signature sweet. The coffee was fine, too.

Hudson Yards is an 11-hectare West Side development along the Hudson River that connects the neighbourhoods of Hell’s Kitchen on the northside and the Meatpacking District on the south side. Like the High Line, it too was once a rundown, abandoned section of the city.

Today, it is a public park with new glass towers of private residences, a five-star hotel, offices, an arts centre and a shopping mall selling the world’s leading brands. Zara, Piaget, Dior, Cartier, Fendi, Kate Spade and one of our

BELOW: The Whitney Museum of American Art. Its stunning collection spreads over seven floors in a

favourites, Muji, are among the more than 100 shops there. Add a handful of cafés, restaurants and bars, including a fine-dining restaurant on the 101st floor.

The High Line Plinth juts out over 10th Avenue at West 30th. The Plinth was built over the street in such a way as to make its art installations visible from a distance and from opposite directions. Our visit coincided with the showing of Old Tree, a pink neon sculpture by the Swiss artist Pamela Rosenkranz. As one source put it, Old Tree “resembles the branching systems of human organs, blood vessels and tissue, inviting viewers to consider the indivisible connection between human and plant life”.

Hudson Yards is where visitors book the lift to Edge. Not ‘the’ Edge, although that is true. Edge is the observation

magnificent new building designed by Renzo Piano.

deck built out from the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards. Its shape and glass floor stick out like an architectural mistake, but it allows visitors to look straight down, feel weak in the knees and take in an unrivalled 360-degree view of Manhattan. When tourists are not taking selfies, Edge is a hot-spot for afterdark performances, fashion shows and product launches.

We moved on, but stopped at West 28th for a photo of Dame Zaha Hadid’s High Line condominium. The late Iraqi-British architect was the first woman to receive the prestigious Pritzker Prize. Twice she was honoured with the Sterling Prize, Britain’s most exalted architecture award. Her work includes the MAXXI Museum in Rome and the Guangzhou Opera House in China.

West 28th is Zaha Hadid’s only building in New York. Its futuristic look derives from its laser-cut stainless-steel trim and curvilinear motifs that frame 11 floors. Four lifts carry wealthy residents to apartments and penthouses ranging in price from five to 50 million dollars.

We stopped at West 24th to take a photograph of secondary forest, an elaborate sculpture made from aluminium by the Italian artist Giulia Cenci. According to The High Line website, “Giulia Cenci creates elaborate sculptures and installations by fusing industrial elements and organic forms, arranging them into jarring compositions that invite viewers to question human’s relationship with nature. [Her] work features animals, plants, and human appendages cast from melted-down scrap metal, reusing found objects, agricultural tools, old machinery, and car parts.”

At 20th Street we stopped to photograph Birth of Islands, a sculpture by the Spanish artist Teresa Solar-Abboud, whose work, we read, “alludes to material entities in states of transformation and the tension between the organic and synthetic, interior and exterior, gestation and birth, and embryonic and advanced”.

We reached the Meatpacking District and exited the High Line at West 14th street to explore Chelsea Market. As we made our way there, we passed more renewal, this time a restored building housing a shop devoted to the work of fashion icon Diane von Furstenberg, and another to Lululemon.

Chelsea Market is like the heartbeat of the Meatpacking District, at least for those of us who do not live in the city. This West Side district of Manhattan, with its cobblestone streets, was once a collection of slaughterhouses and meatpacking businesses. Over many years it has been revitalised into residences, shops and restaurants. A Google office sits across the street from the market. Sex and the City tours pass this way.

Chelsea Market has been described as “a glorified food hall” and that pretty much sums it up. But after walking the High Line, it was an obvious place to stop for lunch. The market attracts more than six million visitors a year, and although the place was relatively quiet when we arrived late morning, by the time we left it felt like those six million had all arrived at once.

We enjoyed a lobster roll at Lobster Place and a grilled chicken (pollo asado) taco at Los Tacos No. 1 – a place some locals will say serves the best Mexican takeaway in the city. After a browse through more shops – Anthropologie, Imports from Marrakesh, Posman Books – we made our way back into the world, back up to the High Line and the short walk to the Whitney Museum of American Art.

‘‘

THE HIGH LINE PLINTH JUTS OUT OVER 10TH AVENUE AT WEST 30TH. THE PLINTH WAS BUILT OVER THE STREET IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MAKE ITS ART INSTALLATIONS VISIBLE FROM A DISTANCE AND FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS.”

Since 1932, the Whitney Biennial has been the oldest and most prominent event for contemporary American art. It has proven quintessential in the lives of artists like Georgia O’Keefe, Jackson Pollack and Edward Hopper, whose work is among that of other of America’s most accomplished artists on show here.

The Whitney was once an Upper East Side institution living in the shadows of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim. Today its stunning collection spreads over seven floors on the lower West Side, housed in a magnificent new building designed by Renzo Piano, the Italian architect known for the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and The Shard in London.

The Whitney is open six days a week (closed on Tuesday) and is every bit worth the attention the big three – the Metropolitan, MOMA and Guggenheim – typically attract. Visitors can enter

straight off the High Line. They are then directed to the top eighth floor, from there they work their way back down.

The eighth floor of the Whitney is an observation deck with views of lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island and more. The collection begins on the floor below with the likes of Edward Hopper’s Early Sunday Morning and Lee Krasner’s The Seasons

Lee Krasner, the longtime partner of Jackson Pollack, produced this work a year after Pollack died in a car crash in 1956. Edward Hopper was discovered by the museum’s founder, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, in the 1920s, which explains why the Whitney is the largest repository of Hopper’s work in the world.

For most, a visit to the Whitney concludes with a stop at a bakery, café or bar on the first floor before moving on, perhaps taking time to read about the various museum tours, public lectures and other programmes that are regularly held here. But after Russ & Daughters and Chelsea Market, more food was not the top of our list, so we returned by cab to our hotel.

DANCE:

We caught up on sleep and the next day attended a matinee of the Tony Award-winning Broadway show Hell’s Kitchen, another West Side story. Hell’s Kitchen, the neighbourhood from West 34th up to West 59th, was once an Irish ghetto as rough and tough as it was poor. Stories as to why the district became known as Hell’s Kitchen differ depending on the source, but today it is long removed from its squalid past.

Hell’s Kitchen is now a progressive hive of theatre people – writers, directors, song-and-dance actors, musicians, set designers; all those who work in the business a short walk from Broadway. It’s where the brilliant singer and songwriter Alicia Keys, a 16-time Grammy Award winner, grew up.

The show, created by Keys, tells the story of her life as a rebellious teenager being raised by a frustrated solo mother who meets a wise and inspirational piano teacher; someone who changed Alicia’s life forever. Keys is a classically trained pianist, but since turning to songs about life and love on the streets of New York she has sold 90 million records worldwide.

We attended her superb Auckland concert a few years ago, so when scanning the options on Broadway, it was easy to decide on Hell’s Kitchen. The show, which she spent 12 years developing, is, in her own words, “an ode to New York”. It had

SONG &

Tony Award-winning show Hell's Kitchen tells another West Side story.

debuted elsewhere in the city a few years earlier and after a few tweaks opened on Broadway in April last year at the Schubert Theatre on West 44th.

It was the perfect way to cap off our own West Side story. The song and dance, the sound, the lighting, the stage set, the entire production was nothing short of sensational. It closed with Keys' massive hit, Empire State of Mind, sung by Tony-nominated singer Shoshana Bean, playing Alicia’s mother.

Now you're in New York (Oh, yeah)

These streets will make you feel brand-new (Oh, come on)

Big lights will inspire you (Big shine)

Hear it for New York, New York,

New York!

The cast bowed to a standing ovation, the curtain came down, the lights went up and we made our way back to our hotel for Happy Hour. ▪

CATCH A SHOW: Alicia Keys spent 12 years developing Hell's Kitchen, which opened last year at the Schubert Theatre on West 44th Street.

A SAVAGE BEAUTY

BRETT ATKINSON GOES ON SAFARI FROM AN EXCLUSIVE GAME LODGE IN BOTSWANA’S WILD AND BOUNTIFUL OKAVANGO DELTA.

PHOTOS: andBeyond World Journeys and Carol Atkinson.

Our andBeyond wildlife guide is a legend around the Okavango Delta. Apparently he’s flown a Cessna for actor Harrison Ford, driven a Toyota Land Cruiser for Oprah Winfrey, and even been on safari with Prince Harry. When he promises, “Hold on, I’m going to find some action,” minutes after I finish Botswana’s best eggs Benedict, I know we’re in good hands.

It’s definitely no false boast either, and following a rollicking 15-minute drive through the fragrant wild sage bushes infusing one of southern Africa’s wildlife diversity hotspots, our group of safari travellers is suddenly being eyeballed by a pack of wild hyenas. Less than 30 minutes earlier I was enjoying a second breakfast espresso in the spectacular restaurant at andBeyond’s Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge. Now we’re centre stage in a viscerally thrilling scene playing out right in front of our open-sided 4WD.

Soundtracked by keening barks and squeals, six scavenging hyenas are devouring a fresh kudu carcass, the dead antelope killed overnight by a lioness crouching behind a nearby shrub with her two cubs. It’s a numbers game, though – six against three – and when the lioness roars and boldly leaps out of the undergrowth to confront the hyenas, reinforcements soon arrive. Now it’s nine versus three, and the lions can do nothing as the spidery spine of the kudu is dragged away in a hyena tug of war. If a single male lion were to show up, the balance of power would immediately shift, but right now the hyenas are emboldened. With the lions subdued, a few of the hyenas begin to curiously sniff our Land Cruiser, forcing our guide to rap firmly on the side of the vehicle.

“You can never trust a hyena” he says.

Intense contrast in experiences is what makes Sandibe such a compelling place, as we surrender to the compelling rhythm of an Okavango Delta safari experience. South African craft gins, wood-fired pizza and superb buffet breakfasts combine with 12 superspacious standalone villas with private plunge pools, while morning and afternoon game drives, helicopter excursions and waterborne excursions in traditional mokoro dugout canoes continually reinforce the fact that the lodge – however luxurious and comfortable – is definitely at the heart of one of southern Africa’s most important wilderness areas. This is confirmed when a curious bull elephant wanders through Sandibe’s riverside barbecue area and a grazing hippopotamus hijacks the lodge’s makeshift soccer pitch.

With exclusive rights to a private wildlife concession covering almost 23,000 hectares, Sandibe is also next to the expansive Moremi Game Reserve covering an additional 5,000sq km on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta. Animals have unfettered access across this huge expanse, transformed during the annual flood season from palmstudded bushland into an aquatic labyrinth of lagoons, islands and channels. Come back from around June and the delta’s waters will be at their peak, but during the more affordable ‘Green Season’ of mid-April there is still wildlife aplenty and lots of juvenile animals to discover on off-road 4WD excursions.

OPPOSITE PAGE: Animals have unfettered access to thousand of hectares of palm-studded bushland, transformed during flood season into a labyrinth of lagoons, islands and channels.

‘‘

Impromptu concerts by the lodge’s close-knit team of guides and wildlife trackers are a highlight of Sandibe’s regular Friday night barbecue, but they’re equally adept at seeking out the delta’s wildlife and pouring a damn fine gin and tonic or glass of South African Chardonnay during nightly sundowner sessions.

“Tracking for us is like reading a newspaper,” reckons our guide over sundowner snacks of spicy samosas and biltong.

A tower of giraffes sprints away from behind a stand of spiky acacia trees, the sudden movement amending the appropriate collective noun to a ‘journey’ of giraffes, while the star of a waterborne hippopotamus family is a baby hippo looking like a bright pink Michelin Man. Cute,

maybe, but it will grow up to be a member of the most dangerous species in Africa, so we maintain a respectful distance between both the hippos and a nearby crocodile that’s easily five metres long.

Surprisingly more approachable on our last day, and only discovered by our tracker’s keen discernment of a tawny smudge on the near horizon, is another big-cat experience to rank with the Hyenas vs Lions match. Midmorning is prime snacking time, and three lionesses and eight cubs are all tucking into a freshly-killed red lechwe, a semi-aquatic antelope abundant in the delta. This time there are no hyena interlopers to interfere with the meal, and from just five metres away the action is equally fierce and real. There’s intense animal eye contact as one of the

lionesses stares right down the barrel of my camera, while the lechwe’s mauled head is pulled to and fro by lion cubs that now look anything but cute. Beyond the occasional tell-tale click and whirr of cameras – and even that is subdued, as most of us are content to simply watch the absorbing scene unfold – the only noise is the staccato crack of bone in jaws.

From the comforting haven of one of Botswana’s most luxurious safari lodges, we’re definitely experiencing the most compelling wildlife action amid the savage beauty of the Okavango Delta. ▪

World Journeys offer tailor-made safaris and small group escorted tours in Africa. For more information, phone 0800 11731; www.worldjourneys.co.nz

Guests get up close and personal with wandering wildlife from the opulent comfort of Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge.

SANCTUARY

&

STYLE

THE BEDROOM: A PRIVATE RETREAT AND THE ULTIMATE REFLECTION OF PERSONAL STYLE, WHERE FORM MEETS FUNCTION.

Finding the perfect fit to suit your lifestyle and aesthetic can be a challenge. Enter Sarsfield Brooke, where the search for exceptional bedroom furniture comes to an elegant conclusion. Whether you dream of living like royalty amidst plush, ornate, hand-carved creations from Italy or crave the sleek sophistication of cuttingedge Italian modernity, Sarsfield Brooke has the expertise to bring your vision to life.

As with every piece curated by Sarsfield Brooke, the service and attention to detail are unparalleled. Collaborating closely with clients and designers, they craft personalised solutions to meet your needs. From selecting the ideal bed frame and headboard to ordering custom mattresses tailored to perfection, every element is meticulously handled. The possibilities are limitless, with finishes spanning fabric, timber, glass, marble, and beyond, ensuring every detail reflects your unique style.

HONING THE DETAILS

Achieving the perfect bedside setup can be an intricate task, but Sarsfield Brooke’s curated ranges and locally crafted designs ensure there’s something to suit every price point and style. High-quality bespoke pieces seamlessly complement the opulence of your bedroom suite.

LEFT: Wimberley bedsides made in New Zealand by Sarsfield Brooke.

OPPOSITE PAGE: 1 Noah bed, Arnold bedside & moon ottoman by Marelli of Italy. 2 San Marco dresser and stool by Reflex of Italy. 3 Wu Bed and Aldo ottoman by Marac of Italy 4 Sissi bed, bedside and chest of drawers collection by Angelo Cappellini of Italy. 5 Segno bed and bedside drawers collection by Reflex of Italy. 6 Segno chest of drawers by Reflex of Italy.

ELEGANCE & CRAFTSMANSHIP

Classics from Angelo Cappellini have graced bedroom suites since the 19th century, embodying timeless elegance with exquisite craftsmanship. Meanwhile, Venetian masters Arte Veneziana elevate glass artistry to unprecedented heights, blending traditional techniques with innovative craftsmanship to create bedroom masterpieces. For those who favour clean lines and simplicity, Giulio Marelli and Marac deliver modern designs of exceptional quality, marrying minimalism with luxury. On the other hand, Reflex, in collaboration with design house Pininfarina, pushes the boundaries of contemporary design, fusing automotive and architectural styling to create bedrooms that are as unique as they are stylish.

ENDLESS CUSTOMISATION

As with every piece Sarsfield Brooke offers, fabrics and finishes are fully customisable, empowering you to create the bedroom of your dreams. From luxurious textures to sleek modern surfaces, the options are as limitless as your imagination.

With Sarsfield Brooke, your bedroom becomes more than just a place to rest; it transforms into a sanctuary of luxury and personal expression. Let their expertise guide you to create a space that is nothing short of perfection. ▪ www.sarsfieldbrooke.co.nz

Art Veneziana of Italy, available exclusively at Sarsfield Brooke.

Stromboli collection, designed by Giovanni Luca Ferreri Venetian glass acid-etched, hand painted and silvered.

www.sarsfieldbrooke.co.nz

Wardrobe Senzafine fitted with leaf doors in transparent reflecting glass, mat lacquered carbone frame and handles. Interior in cenere oak melamine and mat ardesia central frame sides. Shelves in fumé glass with met ardesia frame and integrated LED light. Hanging bars mat ardesia. Mad Chair armchairs covered in non-removeable leather Cashmere grigio with glossy brown nickel swivel base. Soori coffee table in metal with antique bronze finish. New York pouf in removable fabric Zante 10 nero and glossy brown nickel feet. Carpet. Frame carbone.

AN EVOLUTION IN THE WORLD OF SYSTEMS

RENOWNED FOR ICONIC ITALIAN DESIGN, POLIFORM SYSTEMS RE-IMAGINE THE BEDROOM AREA, CREATING SPACES DEDICATED TO ORDER AND INSPIRING EMOTION.

Poliform reinterprets the wardrobe with a contemporary approach – as a universal container to be customised with unfettered freedom.

Unique features include interior shelves that can be reconfigured rather than fixed, thanks to an innovative integrated LED lighting system, meaning design can adapt as needed.

Similarly, an optional air purification system keeps wardrobe interiors free of allergens, dust and odours, reducing the need for storage bags or boxes for delicate and precious items. There are also wireless charging stations for mobile devices for a visually sleek and seamless experience.

New materials for wardrobes provide greater stylistic possibilities, enhancing the user experience.

Inevitably, the luxury interior space is changing and the focus of products must meet lifestyle changes and demands. This calls for a greater potential for customisation, as well as a more seamless experience, and Poliform is excelling with these changes.

“Poliform strives to anticipate the needs and lifestyle of customers, and to provide solutions that improve their quality of life,” said Studio Italia director Joanna Hoeft.

“The introduction of more glass display cases speaks to a growing desire in the luxury market to create a more personalised, elevated and elegant experience. It allows precious items to be displayed and enjoyed, while re-creating the special experience of shopping in a luxury retail store.” ▪

Senzafine Match wardrobes, hinged doors in dark linen fabric, matte slate Match profiles and handles, and bronze lacquered metal sides. Surface panelling in black print elm with matte slate profiles and bronze lacquered metal lid, equipped with Code shelves and containers. Code shelves and floor containers in metallic lacquered bronze, top in polished Sahara noir marble with polyester finish, dimmable LED lights. Porte Pivot Plus bronze lacquered metal doorway, matte slate frame, smoke-effect reflective glass door with Plus handle and matte slate profiles. Le Club armchairs, non-removable silk mustard leather. Orbit coffee table, top and structure in bronzed glass, structure in blown glass. Shindo grey rug.

www.studioitalia.co.nz

D STEP INTO A WORLD OF EXCEPTIONAL DESIGN

MATISSE’S FLAGSHIP SHOWROOM IN PARNELL IS MORE THAN A COLLECTION OF WORLD-CLASS INTERIORS. IT’S AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OF CRAFTSMANSHIP, INNOVATION AND LUXURY.

PHOTOS: JAMIE CORBEL AND MARK SCOWEN.

esigned to inspire, the Matisse showroom in Parnell, Auckland, brings the finest European brands to New Zealand, providing unique design solutions.

SHOWCASE OF LUXURY INTERIORS

The showroom presents a thoughtfully curated selection of kitchens, bathrooms, wardrobes, furniture and lighting, each showcasing cuttingedge craftsmanship and timeless design.

As you enter, the space feels elegant and inviting, with soaring ceilings, natural light and a striking mix of materials – warm timber, raw concrete and polished steel – creating a sense of refined sophistication. At the heart of it all,

a 25-year-old olive tree serves as a potent symbol of Matisse’s commitment to heritage, quality and enduring beauty.

KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

A well-designed kitchen is the centrepiece of any home, and Matisse’s Arclinea kitchens exemplify the perfect balance of innovation and elegance. With flawless integration, opulent materials and exceptional functionality, these kitchens set a new standard for contemporary living.

AS YOU ENTER, THE SPACE FEELS ELEGANT AND INVITING, WITH SOARING CEILINGS, NATURAL LIGHT AND A STRIKING MIX OF MATERIALS.”

The bathroom collections continue this philosophy, featuring sculptural freestanding baths, seamless vanities and high-end finishes that transform everyday routines into spa-like experiences.

NEW RIMADESIO COLLECTION

A standout feature of the showroom is the latest Rimadesio Collection. Known for its sleek Italian design and technical precision, Rimadesio is a global leader in custom wardrobes and architectural partition systems and brings a new level of sophistication to storage and spatial design.

What makes Rimadesio truly remarkable is its versatility and customisable options. Using premium materials like glass, wood and metal, its modular designs offer nearly limitless opportunity for personalisation, ensuring every wardrobe, shelving

unit or partition system is uniquely tailored to its environment. More than functional, they redefine the concept of luxury living.

TRANSFORMING SPACES

Beyond storage, Matisse’s showroom comprises an expertly handpicked collection of furniture from B&B Italia, Maxalto, Cassina, and more. From architecturally inspired tables to plush sofas, every piece is a masterwork of craftsmanship, effortlessly blending form and function.

LIGHTING DEFINES ATMOSPHERE

Lighting is an essential part of interior design, shaping the mood and enhancing architectural features. The Matisse showroom highlights an exceptional range of designer lighting from Penta and Delta Light, demonstrating how statement pieces and subtle accents can bring depth and warmth to any space.

IMMERSIVE DESIGN EXPERIENCE

More than just a display of luxury interiors, Matisse’s flagship showroom offers an interactive and personalised experience. The space provides an inspiring consultation environment where clients can collaborate with Matisse’s expert team to create customised interior solutions.

The Matisse showroom, at 130 St Georges Bay Road in Parnell, is the ultimate destination for anyone who values exceptional design and impeccable craftsmanship. Whether you’re designing a new home, upgrading your space or seeking inspiration, Matisse’s expert team is ready to bring your vision to life. ▪

www.matisse.co.nz

PALACE OF DESIGN & CULTURE

PALAZZO MOLTENI, MOLTENI&C’S MILANESE FLAGSHIP STORE,

IS A HAVEN OF CRAFTSMANSHIP, CREATIVITY

AND CONNECTION.

Nestled in the bustling heart of Milan’s Via Manzoni, Palazzo Molteni emerges as a vibrant testament to Molteni&C’s legacy. Founded in 1934, the Italian design house has spent over nine decades championing quality living, partnering with world-class designers to craft furnishings that elevate every space. Palazzo Molteni is more than a flagship store – it’s a dynamic hub where design, culture, and collaboration converge.

This urban pavilion, originally a late-19th-century residence for a prominent Milanese family, carries a rich history. In 1922, Italian designers Giuseppe Mentasti and Stefano Lissoni reimagined the building, weaving Italian ‘Liberty’ (Art Nouveau) flourishes into its neoclassical bones. The result is a captivating blend of styles that exudes charm and character. For its latest evolution, Vincent Van Duysen took the helm, transforming the 3,000-square-metre interior into a collector’s dream – a space that feels like an artfilled home. Spanning seven floors, the palazzo invites visitors on a journey through Molteni&C’s storied past and bold future.

Elisa Ossino, tasked with the artistic curation, amplifies the experience with evocative installations. Her selections, including archival pieces from Dimore Studio, breathe life into the rooms, engaging the senses and sparking imagination. Each corner reflects Molteni&C’s commitment to beauty and innovation, seamlessly blending heritage with modernity.

The top two floors of Palazzo Molteni house the Molteni Galleria, the brand’s Milan headquarters. Here, lounges, meeting spaces, hanging gardens, and terraces create an inspiring backdrop for both

private gatherings and public events. The Galleria dazzles with an exclusive collection of works by artist Peter Schuyff, courtesy of MASSIMODECARLO gallery. Spanning from the 1980s to today, Schuyff’s pieces explore repetition and geometry, merging contemporary art with Molteni&C’s design ethos to striking effect.

Palazzo Molteni is a versatile space that honours the brand’s roots while pushing boundaries. It’s a destination where Milan’s design lovers and global visitors alike can immerse themselves in the evolving story of Molteni&C. ▪

‘‘

IT IS A PALACE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME A DOMESTIC UNIVERSE, AN INTIMATE PLACE THAT WE WANTED TO RECREATE INSIDE A MONUMENTAL BUILDING OF GREAT ALLURE THAT WILL BE OUR HOME.”

–VINCENTVANDUYSEN

The Pantalica Collection

A stunning addition to the Molteni&C Outdoor range features a daybed, coffee table, stools and rug. Each piece is thoughtfully crafted to blend seamlessly with the broader collection, merging timeless heritage with modern innovation. The Pantalica Collection reimagines outdoor living, prioritising connection, relaxation and sustainability. From lounging on the elegant daybed to gathering around the sleek coffee table, the collection signals a new way to enjoy nature without sacrificing style. With this release, Molteni&C reaffirms its dedication to elevating the art of living well, bridging indoor comfort with outdoor serenity. ▪ www.dawsonandco.nz

ELIO MODULAR SOFA SYSTEM, DUNES COFFEE TABLE

25 YEARS. 62

CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

WE INVITE YOU TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS REMARKABLE DIAMOND CUT.

Imagine creating a diamond of incomparable beauty, a diamond so rare only a fortunate few will ever possess it. When William Goldberg first laid eyes on the legendary Ashoka diamond, he was mesmerised. But, more importantly, he was inspired by its story.

Cut by an unknown artist of great skill, the original 41.37-carat D-flawless diamond was named after Ashoka the Great, a third-century Indian emperor.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the ASHOKA® diamond – a diamond with a fabled history.

CARVED CONFESSIONS

Emperor Ashoka was a warrior and ruler of the Mauryan dynasty in India from 268 to 232 BCE. The first years of his rule were marked by his cruel and bloody conquest of Kalinga in one of the fiercest battles in the region’s history.

But Emperor Ashoka changed his ways. After the battle, he was exposed to the teachings of Buddhism – teachings based on non-violence and compassion. Emperor Ashoka became deeply remorseful of his actions in Kalinga and turned his back on armed conquest forever.

After converting to Buddhism, Ashoka treated everyone as equals and promoted peace and harmony. Hoping to inspire the people in his kingdom, he wrote of his crimes against others, carving his teachings and lessons into stone.

Today, Emperor Ashoka’s carved pillars stand throughout India, serving as a reminder of ancient political and religious teachings. According to legend, the original Ashoka diamond was named after the emperor for its power to remove sorrow and bring joy to those who wore it.

LOST & FOUND

Legend has it that famed American jeweller Harry Winston first acquired the Ashoka diamond in 1947 from an unnamed Indian dealer. At the time, India was gaining independence from British rule and some of the nobility were selling off their prized jewels.

After owning the diamond for over a decade, Winston sold it in the late 1950s to none other than the fiery and flamboyant Mexican actress María Félix, known as the ‘Elizabeth Taylor of Mexico’ for her extensive jewellery collection. She was photographed wearing the stunning diamond on numerous occasions. Eventually, Félix sold the diamond to the controversial Spanish art dealer and financier Roberto Polo in the early 1980s. Polo then gifted it to his wife, Rosa, who wore it to important events around the world. In 1988, the Ashoka diamond was the highlight of the prestigious Sotheby’s auction of precious gems in St Moritz. Many eager collectors attended the auction, including Bill Goldberg’s son Saul and daughter-in-law Dale, who hoped to acquire the stone for Goldberg’s collection. It ultimately sold to an anonymous bidder for US$3.85 million, a record price for any diamond at that time.

OBSESSED WITH BEAUTY

After the auction, the magnificent diamond disappeared from view, its whereabouts a mystery. But for Bill Goldberg, his fascination with the Ashoka diamond did not fade. Over the next decade, he tirelessly pursued his vision to cut a diamond that could match the beauty of the storied Ashoka.

Goldberg spent years researching the optimal cut to maximise the fire and brilliance of the diamond. The cut required precise symmetry and angles to achieve its stunning effect and he experimented with many different facet patterns and proportions before finally perfecting the patented ASHOKA® cut in 1999.

INTRODUCING THE PATENTED ASHOKA® DIAMOND

That same year the Goldberg family unveiled the long-awaited ASHOKA® diamond cut, the realisation of Bill’s obsession. The ASHOKA® was an affirmation of his vision to create an extraordinary diamond of unmatched beauty and vitality.

Because of the precision and skill required to cut to William Goldberg’s exacting standards, it can take six months for an ASHOKA® diamond to emerge from the rough; the pinnacle of

THE PRECISION AND SKILL REQUIRED TO CUT TO WILLIAM GOLDBERG’S EXACTING STANDARDS, MEANS IT CAN TAKE SIX MONTHS FOR AN ASHOKA® DIAMOND TO EMERGE FROM THE ROUGH.”

the diamond cutter’s art. Its distinctive cut and 62 facets make the ASHOKA® diamond appear 30 per cent larger than an emerald-cut diamond of the same weight. The rough stone needs to be larger and longer than most, and less than 1 per cent of diamonds meet the company’s exacting criteria.

One of Bill’s many memorable quotes is, “You shouldn’t cheat a diamond of its right to be beautiful.”

STAR OF THE STARS

Countless celebrities have worn ASHOKA® diamonds, including Naomi Campbell, Kim Kardashian and Priyanka Chopra.

Since its release, the ASHOKA® continues to make headlines. In 2015, a 48-carat ASHOKA® diamond, the largest ever cut by Goldberg, became the centerpiece in a one-of-a-kind necklace set with more than 90 carats of diamonds.

The ASHOKA® diamond inspires romance and joy, intriguing buyers with its unique story. A diamond unlike any other. ▪

COUNTLESS CELEBRITIES HAVE WORN ASHOKA® DIAMONDS, INCLUDING NAOMI CAMPBELL, KIM KARDASHIAN AND PRIYANKA CHOPRA.”

ASHOKA® REESE RING

A timeless solitaire ring features an impeccable ASHOKA®-cut diamond on a micropavé platinum band.

THE NATURE OF GOLF

BIOM

WITH SALES UNDER PRESSURE WORLDWIDE, WATCHMAKERS ARE REIMAGINING THE CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY A WATCH’S FACE. THE RESULTS ARE IMPRESSIVE. AND SURPRISING. WORDS: BANI MCSPEDDEN.

DIAL UP THE DAZZLE!

The dial of a watch is something that’s long been taken for granted, the circular face mostly rendered in black, blue or, more recently, green, sometimes silvered and occasionally decorated. But if that has been the norm, things are changing; brands are discovering new ways to bring depth and desire to a timepiece simply by regarding the dial as a blank canvas for fresh treatments and ideas. You want the dial to pop, so why not bring Popeye to the party?

Such treatments may not arrest an overall decline in watch sales after the post-pandemic boom – yes, aside from a few under-brands like Rolex, the market is shrinking, led by a 23 per cent drop in demand in China – but the new dalliance with the dial is bringing more colour and choice to the wrist than ever before. ▪

HOLEY MOLEY!

The Reservoir x Popeye Golf watch brings a touch of comicbook nostalgia to the wrist, the dial fronting a retrograde display in which a club-like minute hand sweeps across a lush green background, the tableau capturing the character in full-swing. Swiss made with selfwinding mechanical movement, limited to 300 pieces on nubuck strap with green edging. The price, around $9,000, tells you this is serious fun.

COCO REFLECTS

The Chanel Boyfriend ‘Coco Art’ watch features Mademoiselle looking at her reflection in her mirrored powder compact case. Rendered in 12 layers of enamel and bordered by 38 baguette-cut pink sapphires, the artwork fronts a manually wound movement. Cased in black-coated steel on a staineffect calf strap, the watch – water resistant to 30m – is limited to 20 examples.

MOTOR MATCH

The Laureato Chronograph Aston Martin Edition is the latest timepiece from Girard-Perregaux’s Aston Martin partnership. And with a nice point of similarity: the dial doesn’t just take on the green hue of the marque’s speedy steeds, but boasts the same automotive-grade paint. Thanks to a timeintensive process involving 15 layers, this means just 188 pieces are on offer. Cased in grade-five titanium with a self-winding movement, it’s yours for $42,100.

TIMELY THOROUGHBRED

The Slim d’Hermès Cheval brossé watch captures a dramatic rendering of a horse’s head, the enamelling applied in successive layers of vivid colour against a sky of blue enamel. This is topped with coloured glass powder mixed with natural oils and fired in a kiln. Spanning 39.5mm in white gold and limited to 24 pieces, inside beats an ultra-thin mechanical movement.

STAR QUALITY

The IWC Pilot’s Performance Chronograph 41 is one of the watches scheduled to star in the forthcoming film F1 The Movie, due for release mid-year and starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. The watch is a stunner, cased in gold with a black-lacquered dial – the deepest black we’ve seen on an IWC – topped with hand-polished gold indices and numerals ringed by a black ceramic tachymeter bezel. Inside, a fine column-wheel chronograph movement with 46 hours reserve completes the picture.

Cat-A-List

JAGUAR D-TYPE XKD531

JAGUARS HAVE LONG BEEN FAVOURED BY HOLLYWOOD A-LISTERS, A PASSION DRIVEN BY THE CAT’S STYLE AND EARLY DOMINANCE OF LE MANS.

PHOTOS: ROYCE RUMSEY.

Screenwriter Jack Douglas, like Hollywood stars such as Peter Sellers, Harrison Ford, Brad Pitt and Steve McQueen, was crazy about racing – and Jaguar racing cars like the beautiful D-Type XKD531 on these pages, which he bought and campaigned during the mid-1950s.

Jaguar’s marque appeal was largely the work of Sir William Lyons. Lyons emphasised superior design and performance to define the brand, starting in 1948 with the introduction of a new concept car with a 3.5l DOHC inline hemi six ‘XK’ engine.

The sensational new post-War production Jaguars sported the svelte and feline XK 120 body. Lyons aimed the C- and D-Type evolutions of his famous XK 120 and 140s squarely at winning the world’s most prestigious motor race: Le Mans.

The 1951-53 Jaguar XK 120 C was the XK 120 with a tubular frame shrouded in a beautiful aerodynamic alloy body. The C-Type 3.4l DOHC hemi engine was tuned to 220hp and pioneered

disk brakes. The first 148mph C-Types won both 1951 and 1953 Le Mans events.

The C-Type’s successor, the D-Type, was introduced in 1955. The long-nosed D-Types employed a 270hp dry sump engine powering an even more advanced aero body, resulting in a top speed of 172mph – again making Jaguar the fastest production car in the world and winning the 1955 Le Mans five laps ahead of the runner-up. They completely dominated the 1956 Le Mans race with a 1-2-3-4-6 finish. The following year the D-Type was supplanted by the Lister Jag, with the more powerful 3.8l engine and DeDion rear end. After 1958, D-Types were still campaigned in California (but with Corvette engines).

Jack Douglas started racing after buying a C-Type XKC023, and his first race was the 1954 Torrey Pines. He went on to place the number 54 XKC023 eight times in 1955, amassing 30 trophies, landing 10th in national standings and making the cover of the West Coast Sports Car Journal in 1956.

After driving his C-Type for the last time in 1956, Douglas bought the Hornburg D-Type XKD531. At the end of 1956, Jack returned to New

York to write for Jack Paar, then host of TV’s The Tonight Show and the car largely stayed off the racetrack throughout 1957.

Veteran racer and longtime track mate of Jack’s, Ray Seher, bought Jack’s XKD531 in 1958 and drove it extensively — including to and from races.

In 1958, the then new, more powerful and betterhandling Lister Jags presaged the end of the D-Types, but Seher continued racing the XKD531 in 1959, with some modest success.

In 1958 an up-and coming young racer in C-Types, Tom Groskritz, bought the car and took it on outings

through 1964 throughout the western United States. Years later, in 1979, Tom entered his partially restored XKD531 in vintage sports car races. He returned the car to his Costa Mesa garage to continue his restoration efforts until his death in 2021.

Grozkritz had willed the XKD531 to classic car collector and enthusiast Bill Rooklidge, who then undertook a comprehensive and faithful restoration of the D-Type.

Rooklidge completed his meticulous restoration in 2024 and the Jaguar XKD531 amassed a slew of awards. It’s easy to see why: Bill’s magnificently presented Cat is among the most beautiful of all restored classic competition cars in the world. ▪

HOT CAT: Jack Douglas raced his 54 Jaguar D-Type XKD531 with some success in the mid-1950s. Most recently the car was meticulously restored by collector Bill Rooklidge.

SCREENWRITER JACK DOUGLAS, LIKE HOLLYWOOD STARS SUCH AS PETER SELLERS, HARRISON FORD, BRAD PITT AND STEVE MCQUEEN, WAS CRAZY ABOUT RACING.”

100Years of Perfection

THIS YEAR ROLLS-ROYCE MARKS THE CENTENARY OF THE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST PHANTOM LIMOUSINE.

Throughout its long history, the Phantom nameplate has been reserved for Rolls-Royce’s pinnacle model – the apex of excellence.

Each iteration, up to and including the eighth generation now being handcrafted at the home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, has seen advances in design, engineering, materials and technology.

Today, Phantom is the ultimate blank canvas for Bespoke commissions, where clients can bring their most elaborate, imaginative and personal visions to life. Phantom’s scale, elegance, presence and adaptability enable it to be whatever its owner wishes it to be. Recent inspirations include haute couture (Phantom Syntopia), famous films (Phantom Goldfinger), Chinese culture (Phantom Extended

‘Year of the Dragon’) and the marque’s own Spirit of Ecstasy Mascot (Phantom Scintilla).

Phantom has always had the same fundamental aim: to provide the most magnificent, desirable and, above all, effortless motor car in the world, maintaining that reputation through a century of constant, often profound, change.

Says Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO Chris Brownridge: “In many respects, the history of Phantom is the history of Rolls-Royce: always moving with the times and its clients’ needs and requirements, transcending fleeting trends and providing the setting for the most remarkable executions of craft and artistry, all while resolutely refusing to compromise its core engineering and design principles. We’re proud to continue this tradition of excellence, elegance and serenity into the next 100 years.” ▪

PHANTOM HAS ALWAYS HAD THE SAME FUNDAMENTAL AIM: TO PROVIDE THE MOST MAGNIFICENT, DESIRABLE AND, ABOVE ALL, EFFORTLESS MOTOR CAR IN THE WORLD, MAINTAINING THAT REPUTATION THROUGH A CENTURY OF CONSTANT, OFTEN PROFOUND, CHANGE.”

Welcome to the world of golf travel with PaR nz Gol ng Holidays, New Zealand’s best golf tour company as voted in 2024.

Welcome to the world of golf travel with PaR nz Gol ng Holidays, New Zealand’s best golf tour company as voted in 2024.

PaR nz Gol ng Holidays

PaR nz Gol ng Holidays

• Directors Denise Langdon & Kim Buckley – golfers and Windross Farm members

• 25 years in business

• Directors Denise Langdon & Kim Buckley – golfers and Windross Farm members

• 25 years in business

• In a unique sponsor partnership, for the 2025 NZ Open we o ered a $50k hole in one prize for Amateurs – sadly not struck in 2025

• Past / present supporters of Golf New Zealand, NZPGA and Women’s Golf in New Zealand

• In a unique sponsor partnership, for the 2025 NZ Open we o ered a $50k hole in one prize for Amateurs – sadly not struck in 2025

• New Zealand’s only o cial Authorised Provider to The Open

• Past / present supporters of Golf New Zealand, NZPGA and Women’s Golf in New Zealand

• New Zealand’s only o cial Authorised Provider to The Open

• Awarded Best Tour Operator for New Zealand nine times by International Golf Awards

• Recipient of an unique IAGTO Tourism Service Award

• Awarded Best Tour Operator for New Zealand nine times by International Golf Awards

• Recipient of an unique IAGTO Tourism Service Award

• Board member of the New Zealand Industry Golf Council and course rater for the bi-annual New Zealand Course rankings

• Members of New Zealand Tourism Association and IAGTO – the International Association of Golf Tour Operators

• Board member of the New Zealand Industry Golf Council and course rater for the bi-annual New Zealand Course rankings

• Members of New Zealand Tourism Association and IAGTO – the International Association of Golf Tour Operators

• Invited Member of The University of Auckland Chancellor’s Circle for contributions to The Centre for Brain Research – for MND Research & Cure

• Invited Member of The University of Auckland Chancellor’s Circle for contributions to The Centre for Brain Research – for MND Research & Cure

This year, 2025 marks our 25th anniversary in business. We are certainly showing no signs of slowing down with many destinations booked ahead for 2025 and 2026 – we welcome you to join us in Fiji or Tasmania. Why not Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, South Africa, Canada, England, Wales, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal or Morrocco?

This year, 2025 marks our 25th anniversary in business. We are certainly showing no signs of slowing down with many destinations booked ahead for 2025 and 2026 – we welcome you to join us in Fiji or Tasmania. Why not Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan, South Africa, Canada, England, Wales, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal or Morrocco?

We have no less than 18 countries on o er to travel to over the next 18 months. Each of these are fabulous destinations jam packed with unique travel experiences staying in 5-star luxury hotels, playing some of the world’s best, including gaining access to private members clubs, and sampling great local cuisines and wines.

We have no less than 18 countries on o er to travel to over the next 18 months. Each of these are fabulous destinations jam packed with unique travel experiences staying in 5-star luxury hotels, playing some of the world’s best, including gaining access to private members clubs, and sampling great local cuisines and wines.

Are you ready to make your plans for 2025 and 2026 – our tours sell out quickly so don’t delay booking with us.

Are you ready to make your plans for 2025 and 2026 – our tours sell out quickly so don’t delay booking with us.

The World Awaits

The World Awaits

Denise & Kim

Denise Langdon & Kim Buckley

Denise & Kim

denise@parnz.co.nz | kim@parnz.co.nz

Denise Langdon & Kim Buckley denise@parnz.co.nz | kim@parnz.co.nz

New Zealand Golf with PaR nz Golfing Holidays

Three unique golf tournaments, from the Bay of Islands, to Hawke’s Bay, and Queenstown.

2025 Copthorne Bay of Islands 4-Course Golf Classic

Featuring four great courses – Kauri Cliffs, Bay of Islands Kerikeri, Waitangi, and Whangaroa. Staying at the Copthorne Bay of Islands Hotel with wonderful food and beverage experiences at Charlotte’s Kitchen, The Duke of Marlborough and Kauri Cliffs.

Sunday 18 May – Friday 23 May 2025

2025 Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay 4-Course Golf Classic

Featuring another four great courses – Cape Kidnappers, Hastings, Maraenui and Napier. All host venues featuring food and wine matching functions. Sponsored by Trinity Hill Wines. Tournament hotels Quest Napier and Scenic Hotels.

Sunday 2 November – Friday 7 November 2025

2025 MORA Millbrook Masters

Stay four nights in luxury at the 5-star Millbrook Resort, our tournament partner. Play three rounds of championship golf Millbrook Coronet, Millbrook Remarkables and Jack’s Point. Partner sponsor Mora Wines.

Sunday 16 November – Wednesday 19 November 2025

nz Golfing Holidays

BULA FIJI (Two fun in the sun Tournaments)

Denarau Women’s Golf Classic 14 – 20 September 2025

Sheraton Fiji Villa Teams Challenge 21 September – 27 September 2025

TASMANIA

23 November – 3 December 2025

16 – 20 July 2026

21 March – 30 March 2026

CAMBODIA (Special add-on to

11 March – 19 March, 2026

15 August – 31 August 2026

NORDIC GOLF TOUR (Sweden, Norway, Finland)

ITALY & GREECE

4 September – 24 September 2026

VIETNAM DANANG SIXES

Danang Sixes)

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

RYAN FOX HAS PLAYED THE BIGGEST EVENTS IN THE WORLD AND GONE TOE-TO-TOE WITH THE BEST, ALL WHILE JUGGLING FAMILY LIFE AND THE BRUTAL REALITY OF PROFESSIONAL GOLF’S NOMADIC EXISTENCE. RIGHT NOW, HE’S CHASING THE MAJOR AMBITIONS THAT CONTINUE TO FUEL HIS DRIVE. WORDS: REECE WITTERS.

Ryan Fox is a grinder. He’s got the game, the pedigree and the passport stamps to prove it. Although we won’t be seeing him in this year’s Masters, Augusta National has already left its mark on him. He’s walked those famous emerald-green fairways, felt the roar echo through the pines and stood on the 12th tee with the swirling wind playing mind games.

It’s unfinished business, sure, but for now, Foxy is focused on what’s in front of him: getting

THE MASTERS REMAINS A POSSIBILITY, BUT WITH YOUR SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW, WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST FOCUS THIS SEASON?

Just putting four rounds together in the majors. I know I can compete with the best when I’m on, but major championship golf is about sustaining it for all four days. That’s the challenge. The game is there, it’s just about doing it when it counts.

IT’S WAY STEEPER THAN IT LOOKS ON TV. THE OTHER THING IS HOW PRECISE YOU HAVE TO BE. THE SLOPES ON THE GREENS, THE RUNOFFS – IT’S BRUTAL. YOU HAVE TO BE PERFECT.” – RYANFOXONAUGUSTANATIONAL

better, staying sharp and proving (to himself more than anyone else) that he belongs in the conversations that start and end with golf’s elite.

We caught up with him as he mapped out his season, reflecting on the highs, the hurdles, and the hunger that still drives him.

You’ve played Augusta twice now. What’s the biggest thing people watching at home might not fully appreciate about it?

The hills. Everyone hears about it, but until you get there, you just don’t realise how hilly that place is. Standing on the first tee and looking down nine and 18; it’s way steeper than it looks on TV. The other thing is how precise you have to be. The slopes on the greens, the runoffs – it’s brutal. You have to be perfect.

WHAT’S BEEN THE HARDEST PART OF ADJUSTING TO LIFE ON THE PGA TOUR FULL-TIME?

The travel and the grind of it all. The European Tour felt like family – you’re traveling with the same guys week in, week out. Over here [in the US], it’s different. It took me a while to feel like I belonged. But I’ve got some good mates now, I know the courses better and I know what it takes. Last year was a learning curve. This year, I feel a lot more settled.

YOU’RE BALANCING ALL THIS WITH BEING A DAD. HAS THAT CHANGED YOUR APPROACH TO THE GAME?

One-hundred per cent. Golf is important, but at the end of the day, my kids don’t care if I shoot 62 or 82. I could win a tournament

Ryan Fox walks to the second green with his family during the Par Three Contest prior to the 2024 Masters.

HOLE IN ONE: Ryan Fox holes his tee shot on the par-3 17th hole during the first round of The Players Championship, TPC Sawgrass, 2024.

and still be the guy changing nappies an hour later. It’s a good perspective check. Also, time management has become massive. I don’t waste hours just ‘practicing’ anymore, I go in with a plan, get my work done and then switch off.

STEVE WILLIAMS HAS SAID YOU HAVE THE GAME TO WIN A MAJOR. WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO COME TOGETHER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN?

I think I just need to get myself in position on a Sunday afternoon. I’ve won from the front, I’ve won from behind, and I know I can handle the pressure. It’s just about getting myself into that mix at a major and then executing when it matters.

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE MAJOR TO WIN, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE?

The Masters or The Open. Augusta is Augusta, no explanation needed. And links golf is what I love, what I grew up playing. But honestly, I wouldn’t complain about any of them.

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED IN GOLF?

“Control what you can control.” It’s easy to get caught up in everything – conditions, course setup, what other players are doing – but at the end of the day, all I can do is focus on my own game and execution.

WHAT’S ONE TOURNAMENT OUTSIDE OF THE MAJORS THAT YOU’D LOVE TO WIN?

The New Zealand Open. It would be pretty special to win in front of a home crowd. That’s the one I’d love to have on my resume.

WHAT’S THE MOST MEMORABLE SHOT YOU’VE EVER HIT IN COMPETITION?

Probably the drive on 18 at Wentworth, when

I won. I needed a good one, and I absolutely flushed it. That moment, knowing I’d put myself in a great spot to win, was unreal.

WHAT’S ONE PART OF YOUR GAME YOU’RE WORKING ON THE MOST RIGHT NOW?

My putting. I’ve been solid tee to green, but if I can get a bit more consistency rolling it well,

‘‘

CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL. IT’S EASY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN EVERYTHING –CONDITIONS, COURSE SETUP, WHAT OTHER PLAYERS ARE DOING –BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL I CAN DO IS FOCUS ON MY OWN GAME AND EXECUTION.”

that could be the difference in competing week in, week out. I also think my short game is a little underrated. It’s something I’ve put a lot of work into over the years, and while I’m known for being a big hitter, I take pride in being able to get up and down when I need to. Scrambling well can make or break a tournament, and I’ve worked hard to make that part of my game as reliable as my long game.

WHO’S IN YOUR DREAM FOURBALL, AND WHERE ARE YOU PLAYING?

Tiger, Jack and my old man. Augusta or St Andrews. But honestly, I’d take that group anywhere – even if it was just a little nine-hole pitch and putt.

IF YOU WEREN’T A PROFESSIONAL GOLFER, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’D BE DOING?

Probably something in rugby. I grew up loving the game and if golf hadn’t taken over, I’d like to think I’d be involved in some capacity.

LOOKING AHEAD

Ryan Fox isn’t one to overthink the future. Right now, it’s about playing good golf, keeping his PGA Tour card and giving himself chances. He’s embraced the challenge of life in the States but still has a soft spot for the European Tour’s camaraderie. Long-term? He wants to be a global player, picking and choosing the events that matter most to him.

Golf is unpredictable, and Fox knows that better than most. One hot streak, one win, and everything changes. The next few months will be telling. ▪

THE NATURE

OF GOLF

ERIK VAN ROOYEN

OPTIMIZED FOR SPEED

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BUILT FOR SPEED. Drivers come in all shapes and sizes with claims of more of everything, but unless it’s optimized to your game, your expectations and drives will come up short (and in the rough). In the new G440 drivers, multiple technologies, including a lighter overall system weight and longer shaft, help bring you more ball speed for more distance, more forgiveness and more fun.

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Composite crown contributes to lighter overall system, delivering faster speeds for more distance and a pleasing sound.

Shallow, thin face increases flexing to ensure high-launching results for consistent ball speed on off-center hits.

PEAKE PERFORMANCE

THE 2025 NEW ZEALAND OPEN AT MILLBROOK RESORT NEAR QUEENSTOWN PRODUCED ONE OF THE MOST DRAMATIC FINAL ROUNDS IN MANY YEARS, WITH FOUR PLAYERS POISED FOR A PLAYOFF – UNTIL AUSSIE EX-BIKER RYAN PEAKE SEALED THE DEAL. WORDS: TOM HYDE.

If Michael Glading, the director of the $2 million 104th New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport ever wanted to raise global awareness of the event, he could not have hoped for a better winner than 31-year-old Australian Ryan Peake.

Peake, the first lefty to win the event since Sir Bob Charles 52 years ago, came to the 72nd hole at 23-under, just one vulnerable shot in front of fellow Aussie Jack Thompson, Japan’s Kazuki Higa, and South African Ian Snyman who were all at -22.

Synman looked to be the man to force a playoff when his approach shot on the terrific par- 3 island green, a wonderful closing hole with a stadium-like atmosphere, came to rest a mere club-length from the cup. But his birdie putt rimmed out and he remained at -22.

That left it to Peake, playing alongside the 54-hole leader, South Korean Guntaek Koh, to close it out with a par.

CLICKTOWA

Australian golfer, Ryan Peake celebrates after winning the 2025 New Zealand Open at Millbrook Resort.

For 63 holes, Koh looked like money. But he overcooked his second shot at the par-4 11th then missed his recovery putt for par and was never a factor again.

At the 72nd hole, Peake was leading by one shot, so all he had to do was find the middle of the green a routine 153 metres away and execute a conventional two-putt for par and the victory. What could go wrong?

Under what must have been mind-numbing pressure however, he pulled his tee shot right and was lucky not to find sand, or worse, lose it

altogether to water. The ball pulled up on the fringe of the undulating green about 15m from the cup. It was anything but a routine up and down.

He left his pitch shot three metres short, yet he stepped up and, with a chock-full gallery looking on in deathly silence, he sank the putt for the win with all the confidence of the seasoned pro that he is not.

Now Michael Glading and others who have worked to make this tournament such a success had a public relations hit like never before.

Why?

Because Ryan Peake has a great personal story to tell. One of taking up golf at an early age and then having it interrupted by his time in a motorcycle gang and five years in prison before taking golf seriously a second time around – this time with the accomplished Australian golf coach, Ritchie Smith.

It’s a story New Zealand golf fans and many others have no doubt heard already, because Peake’s victory and his story have been reported around the globe from multiple outlets in New Zealand to Australia (Fox Sports, Sky Sports) to the UK (BBC, Daily Mail, The Guardian) to the US (ESPN, NBC

‘‘

UNLIKE PREVIOUS NEW ZEALAND OPENS, THE WINNER THIS YEAR AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFIED FOR THE 153RD

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AT

ROYAL PORTRUSH IN JULY”

Sports, Sports Illustrated) and naturally via a host of online services.

Unlike previous New Zealand Opens, the winner this year automatically qualified for the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in July. That is big news, and you can bet that when Ryan Peake turns up in Northern Ireland his remarkable story will be retold again – and in association with this tournament, its stunning locale and top-quality golf that is the Millbrook Resort. You think that’s not going to leave more of the world’s best players wanting to check it out? ▪

LEFT: Former Open Championship winner Ian Baker-Finch congratulates Ryan Peake winning the New Zealand Open qualifying him for the next Open Championship.

JACK’S KIWI THRILLER

AMONG THE 400 NICKLAUS-DESIGNED GOLF COURSES

AROUND THE WORLD, THE KINLOCH CLUB NEAR TAUPO HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN THE GOLDEN BEAR’S HEART. IT’ S EASY TO SEE WHY.

WORDS: PAUL PRENDERGAST. PHOTOS: DES FRITH AND TOURISM TAUPO.

Sixty years on from the first of Jack Nicklaus’ forays into golf course architecture with Pete Dye and Desmond Muirhead, the list of both Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses – and their global reach – is beyond immense. More than 400 courses in dozens of countries represent a colossal body of work, with many hosting annual Tour events, Ryder and Presidents Cup competitions and major championships.

Perhaps the best known of all these courses is Muirfield Village, and it’s no doubt the most personal to Jack himself, having built the golf course with Muirhead in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Named for the site of his first Open Championship victory at Muirfield in Scotland, Nicklaus has continued to toy with the golf course almost year on year, striving to improve and refresh the challenge presented annually at the Memorial Tournament he has hosted since 1974.

‘‘

the Golden Bear had long expressed a soft spot, having previously enjoyed its natural beauty and serenity on multiple fishing trips.

New Zealand’s sole Jack Nicklaus Signature layout remains The Kinloch Club, laid out on former pastoral land leading down towards the north shore of Lake Taupo. Nicklaus was no doubt thrilled to get the call from the owners when the idea of a golf course was floated, leaving no one under any illusion about his feelings for the country.

“It occurred to me that in an increasingly tumultuous world, this peaceful haven offers a timeless way of life and values,” Nicklaus said in Kinloch’s formative years.

“If I had to move outside the United States, New Zealand is the first place I’d come.”

Nicklaus was present to open the first nine holes in 2007, not long after completing work at Sebonack alongside Tom Doak. The terrain at each location features open, unwooded

IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT IN AN INCREASINGLY TUMULTUOUS WORLD, THIS PEACEFUL HAVEN OFFERS A TIMELESS WAY OF LIFE AND VALUES.” – JACKNICKLAUS

However, the list of ‘notables’ includes Harbour Town, Valhalla, Shoal Creek, Glen Abbey, The Bear’s Club and the marvelous Sebonack on New York’s Long Island, all equally well known as either collaborations with other designers or as exclusive Jack Nicklaus ‘Signature’ layouts.

And of those courses and regions where his design footprint has extended beyond the United States, the Taupo area is one for which

expanses, wild grasses and landforms that would ultimately inspire crumpled fairways, jagged bunkering, exciting angles of play and daring green complexes and settings.

Indeed, anyone picturing a ‘Nicklaus course’ in their mind’s eye, based on the manicured state of many of those listed above – or at Lakelands, Heritage and The Australian Golf Club across the Ditch – will be shocked to the core on their arrival at Kinloch.

Jack Nicklaus

The course has, for most of its life, been described as a links. But the backdrop of steep hillsides, elevation changes, the prevalence of water on several holes, and a location 200 kilometres from the ocean, make it impossible to rank as a pure links.

The great Peter Thomson might have described Kinloch as “links-like” in appearance, but the fact that Nicklaus built a golf course requiring, almost without exception, forced carries into each green also distinguishes the layout from the ‘ground game’ strategy that players have the option to employ on a pure links.

The Kinloch Club’s long-time professional, Tom Long, is one of the few to have tamed the layout, holding the course record of seven-under 65 off the black tees – and, perhaps even more incredibly, once shooting a two-over 74 with just a 6-iron. Long has been at Kinloch from day one and continues to be thrilled with what’s ahead of him each time he steps on the tee.

“I’ve never played a golf course like it. You get a completely different game of golf every time you play it. The wind is going to be different; your lie will be different. It keeps you interested, and you continually learn,” Long said.

“It’s more of a hybrid between links and parkland, with most of the trouble coming short of the green. I always tell people that, if in doubt, miss long at Kinloch, as you’ll generally have an easier up and down and hurt your score less than if you come up short.”

The test of golf is exhilarating, to say the least. The par-3s on the back nine alone certainly make you sit up and pay attention, not simply for the beauty of the backdrops but for the variations in the parcels of land you need to carry to reach each putting surface.

Long’s “don’t be short” advice should be ringing in your ears at the 15th and 17th holes, where a tee shot missed short could result in a lost ball – or at the very least, a hurried search down a steep slope of tall fescues.

Although not a links, the homage paid to the traditional style of the game won’t be lost on golfers as they tour the inland layout. Few trees come into play, and it’s rare to find a perfectly flat lie on the fairways. Then there’s the rugged bunkering style and thicker, rough grasses beyond the playing corridors that would align more closely with an Open Championship setup.

And to suggest Kinloch’s fairways are ‘undulating’ would be an understatement. There are stretches of fairway that more closely resemble a mogul ski run, and on occasions I was concerned about the prospect of flipping a golf cart by getting an angle wrong or driving too quickly.

Kinloch’s golf manager, Mike West, echoed Long’s sentiments about the course and made mention of the different sets of tees that are available for players, stretching back to the Black tees at 6,600 metres. Nicklaus himself said the course was meant to be “sporty”, and playing from more forward tees would ensure people had fun, while West said the recent introduction of a ‘Combo’

‘‘

THE KINLOCH CLUB’S LONG-TIME PROFESSIONAL, TOM LONG, IS ONE OF THE FEW TO HAVE TAMED THE LAYOUT, HOLDING THE COURSE RECORD OF SEVEN-UNDER 65 OFF THE BLACK TEES – AND, PERHAPS EVEN MORE INCREDIBLY, ONCE SHOOTING A TWO-OVER 74 WITH JUST A 6-IRON.”

course – with a selection of holes from the Blue and White tees – had proven very popular.

Long continued, “Many of the greens are wider than they are deep, so picking the right tees here, so you can go into the green with some elevation, is key.

“The undulations on and around the greens also demand that you have an array of short-game shots. You can’t just pull out a lob wedge before you even get to your golf ball; you also need to have the 7-iron bump-and-run, or maybe even chipping with a hybrid, to create a shot.”

Whether you visit Kinloch just to play golf or choose to spend a night or two in one of the magnificently appointed

on-course villas around the Lodge, an afternoon tee time will allow you the opportunity of some post-round refreshments ahead of a twilight setting to be savoured.

With the sunset dipping over the broad expanse of Lake Taupo and nearby mountains, there are few more tranquil places to take in the view than from your villa balcony or the Lodge verandas, high on the bluff that splits the two nines. The fescue roughs are enveloped in a warm sea of gold that contrasts magically with the rich green of the fairways and the shimmer on the lake, dragging golfers and guests forward in a desperate attempt to capture the scene for posterity.

It’s easy to see what drew Jack Nicklaus to this area many times over, joining all those who have enjoyed the beauty and serenity of Kinloch. ▪

www.kinlochgolf.co.nz

Staying over at Kinloch Manor & Villas (above) allows guests to enjoy some of the many other activities in the Taupo region, such as geothermal hot pools, sailing, fishing, mountain biking, hiking, skydiving, white-water rafting and more.

ON COURSE STYLE PERFORMANCE &

SUNDERLAND OF SCOTLAND AND GLENMUIR ARE PIONEERS IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE GOLF OUTERWEAR. WORN BY THE GREAT SEVE BALLESTEROS, THE TECHNICAL APPAREL IS EXPERTLY DESIGNED FOR THE DEMANDS OF GOLF, DELIVERING UNPARALLELED COMFORT, FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AND ROBUST PROTECTION AGAINST THE ELEMENTS.

LEFT: Ladies’ AROSA MIDLAYER. 90% polyester, 10% elastane four-way stretch jersey with a brushed fleece backing. PFC-free Teflon EcoElite water-repellent finish.

RIGHT: Men’s SAHARA FLEECE. 100% polyester four-way stretch micro fleece with 86% polyester, 14% elastane woven chest panel. PFC-free Teflon EcoElite water-repellent finish.

1) MORAR SWEATER 100% lambswool crew neck. Machine washable.

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100% polyester four-way stretch softtouch. Ergonomically sealed seams for freedom of movement. Inner storm flap with chin guard. Anti-snag Velcro bonded cuff adjusters. Concealable and adjustable hood.

WHISPERDRY AURORA JACKET

ALASKA PADDED GILET

100% polyester padded gilet with 84% polyester, 16% elastane four-way stretch brushed side panels. Low profile branded YKK zips with chin guard and zipped side pockets. PFC-free Teflon EcoElite water-repellent finish.

A PRESIDENTIAL COLLECTION

US PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP OWNS OR HAS GIVEN HIS NAME TO SOME OF THE BEST GOLF COURSES IN THE WORLD. WORDS: TOM HYDE.

Trump International Turnberry, Scotland.

Trump International Golf Club Lido in Indonesia, designed by Ernie Els, opened for play in 2024. It’s the latest golf property to fly the Trump flag, although it’s owned by an Indonesian property development company. The golf course is the centrepiece of a new resort and residence a short drive from Jakarta.

Australian Michael Pascoe, formerly of the Noosa Golf Club, is the course superintendent. Greg Letsche, a design associate of Els, told Golf Course Architecture magazine: “It’s such a beautiful piece of land with incredible views. For bunkers, sometimes the topography whispers gently to you, and as a designer, you listen.”

This is the first Trump-branded golf course in Asia, but it may not be the last. The Trump Organization is in the process of reviving a project in Bali that involves the rebranding of the Nirwana Golf Club, originally a Greg Norman design and, following a pattern, renamed Trump International Bali.

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, another resort course bearing the Trump logo is planned for Oman. After reading of these developments, we felt it was time to survey all the golf properties that carry the Trump name. Apart from those already noted, 15 others are spread across the US, Ireland, Scotland, and Dubai. ▸

US President Donald Trump tees off at Turnberry.

TRUMP NATIONAL LOS ANGELES

Located 30 miles south of downtown LA at Rancho Palos Verdes, this clifftop course, with ocean views from elevated tees, was originally designed by Pete Dye. Unfortunately, it became the victim of a costly landslide that took out much of the 18th fairway. Recovery ran into the millions of dollars and forced the original owners into raising a red flag. The Trump Organization bought it in 2002 and under the direction of architect Jim Fazio made the necessary repairs for the course to re-open in 2006.

Today, the golf course is commonly ranked among the top 10 in California. It’s a 6,620m par 71 from the back tees. Six tee options make it one of the most accessible and finest public courses in the state. The Spanish Colonial clubhouse has a comprehensive pro shop. The first-class service throughout attracts weddings and special occasions.

TRUMP NATIONAL BEDMINSTER

The two courses here – the Old and the New – are about an hour south of New York City. The Old Course gets most of the attention because it hosted the 2017 US Women’s Open. Jordon Spieth won the 2009 US Amateur Championship here. The Old Course was booked to host the 2022 PGA Championship until the PGA of America withdrew the invitation after supporters of the defeated President stormed the Capitol building in Washington on January 6, 2021.

Tom Fazio designed the Old Course; his nephew Tom Fazio II the New. The 1930s Georgian-revival clubhouse was once home to John DeLoren, the automobile engineer and founder of the DeLoren Motor company. The clubhouse, says the website, “is accompanied by an Olympic-size swimming pool, delectable dining options, exceptional tennis and paddle facilities, overnight accommodations, five-star service, and a robust social event calendar”. No more so than when the President is in residence.

Trump International Golf Club Lido, Indonesia.

TRUMP NATIONAL WESTCHESTER

Located in the village of Briarcliff Manor in the heart of posh Westchester County, about 30 minutes north of New York City, the golf club has a long and storied history dating back more than 100 years. Previously called Briarcliff Country Club, it ran into financial difficulties in the 1990s and was taken over by a bank.

Six years later the Trump Organization bought the place in the foreclosure and, as the President had done before after buying a course gone broke, he brought in a new designer, in this case Jim Fazio, to give it a facelift. And what a successful facelift it was. Today, Trump Westchester (not to be confused with the historic Westchester CC in Rye, New York) is a firstclass layout supported by an elegant clubhouse and state-ofthe-art facilities.

TRUMP NATIONAL CHARLOTTE

As in Charlotte, North Carolina, home of Pinehurst No. 2 – a US Open venue where Michael Campbell shocked the golf world with his win. As a comparative measure, it’s worth noting that Trump National Charlotte ranks equal to that historic venue. It’s even been declared Best in the State according to the state hospitality industry – which may or may not know something about golf.

As for golf, the course plays along the banks of Lake Norman and is a beautiful setting from any angle on any hole any time of day. Here, the lake brings water hazards into play as more than half of the 18 holes have flowing inlets, if not the lake itself, to avoid, with little margin for error.

The course was designed by Greg Norman (no relation to the lake) and since then and in keeping up with the family friendly nature of the club, a new ‘Fazio Five’ has been added. It’s a casual five-hole layout built by Tommy Fazio II for family-friendly competitions.

TRUMP NATIONAL HUDSON VALLEY

A two-hour drive north of New York City, this sibling of Trump National Westchester is, according to one source, “more versatile from a shot-making perspective – far better than the ultra-demanding Trump National Westchester, which is overly penal. Trump National Westchester gets a significant chunk of attention, but Trump Hudson Valley also packs some eye-catching golf”.

The course was originally a buffalo (as in American bison) farm before it was made into a golf course. Only the original owner might have done better leaving it to buffalo: the course ran into financial problems that led the Trump Organization to move in, as they have done elsewhere, rebrand it, and add it to the collection.

The 300-acre property features views of the Stormville Mountains, while its expansive Adirondack-style clubhouse boasts first-rate amenities, a pool and fine dining. The course layout reflects the hilly footsteps of the Adirondack region and offers scenic views throughout, though not of the Hudson River itself.

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL DUBAI

We happened to be hanging out in Dubai not long after this course opened, so we naturally went out to have a hit. We learned that while the club carried the Trump brand, it’s owned by a development company and part of a master plan of residences and other amenities of which the golf course is a major attraction.

And a great attraction it is. Having played every course in Dubai, we reckon this is may be the best of them. And the most fun; a tribute to the designer Gil Hanse, who had amateur hacks like us in mind when he built the thing: wide fairways, no water hazards to speak of, negotiable bunkers, and greens that are truly like dance floors and not difficult to read.

Its polished facilities include a double-ended driving range (Rory McIlroy works out here), an indoor airconditioned Performance Academy with analytic swing bays, a floodlit 9-hole par-3 course, a classy pro shop, fitness centre, infinity pool and – to celebrate a respectable scorecard – a fine bar and restaurant. We loved it!

Trump National Hudson Valley, USA.

Trump National Hudson Valley, USA.

Trump International Dubai.

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL DOONBEG

Originally designed by Greg Norman in 2002, notable English architect Dr Martin Hawtree made considerable revisions after Trump bought the course in 2014 for a reported 15 million Euros. This classic links with enormous sand dunes in County Clare on the coast of Ireland, is spread over 4,000 acres. Typical of Trump golf courses, there are tees to suit all handicaps; in this case five of them, ranging from 6,400m to 4,600m from the green.

Sometimes referred to as “Trump Ireland”, the course is perpetually ranked among the top golf resorts in Europe and among the very best in the world. According to UK Golf Guy: “The course has a very natural look and feel to it with some great bunkering and creative greens. Some of the routing feels a bit awkward (you cross the 1st fairway to move from the 17th green to the 18th tee, for example) but it doesn’t really cause too much hassle.”

The Lodge has 218 suites, a spa and several restaurants managed by the Trump Hotel Collection. Critics agree that the service throughout is very good.

TRUMP NATIONAL PALM BEACH

This 27-hole course is where President Trump plays when he’s at Mar-a-Largo, the ‘Florida White House’. It opened in 1999 and is the original course in the Trump portfolio. Designed by Jim Fazio, the older brother of Tom, it’s a blend of rolling fairways, immaculate bunkers and small lakes. From the championship tees, the course plays 6,700 metres long, yet each hole has six tees to play from. Naturalism, as a golf architectural style, is not the way of Trump in this instance. Fazio and his team moved enough dirt to build an offshore island to create the original 18 holes. According to the course website: “Lakes were dug to a depth of more than 50 feet, 5,000 mature trees were strategically transplanted, coupled with new streams and waterfalls that would make Walt Disney proud.”

TRUMP NATIONAL COLTS NECK

The town of Colts Neck is northeast of Philadelphia, not far from Asbury Park and Bruce Springsteen country. It’s best known as a horse-breeding locale, thus the name. But the Trump golf course here is a worthy addition to the best courses in the state, along with Bedminster and Trump National Philadelphia.

Designed by one-time US Open winner Jerry Pate and tweaked by Tom Fazio II, the golf course is a successful ‘inland links’ – that is, it’s not on the coast yet it has features that reflect links play, like pot bunkers, fescue, irregular fairways and water hazards. The terrain is relatively flat, but hardly boring. A notable extra feature here is the 19th hole’s island green directly in front of the clubhouse that, if required, makes for settling bets on the course. The club’s 1,700-square-metre practice putting green is one of the original oversized putting greens that have seemingly become de rigueur for new resorts like Northland’s Te Arai Links.

Trump International Doonbeg, Ireland.

TRUMP NATIONAL JUPITER

This Jack Nicklaus Signature course (meaning Nicklaus was hands-on throughout construction) could be considered a masterpiece. It’s a refreshingly different layout from the typical flat, uniform and all too often predictable look and feel of a Florida resort course. Located a short drive north of Palm Beach, the 11th hole, for example, is a wonderful island green to rival the 17th at TPC Sawgrass. It plays from 80m to 150m depending on the tee.

Here, every hole is compelling for its irregular fairways framed by ponds and tropical bush and trees, marked by pot bunkers and slick, rolling greens that altogether call for precise course management – that is, the kind of shot-making Nicklaus himself was known for. The course, when it opened in 2002, was part of a residential and resort community known as the Ritz Carlton Golf Club. It was bought by the Trump Organization in 2012.

TRUMP NATIONAL PHILADELPHIA

The course was designed by Tom Fazio, clearly a Trump favourite. That and the fact that it is located southeast of Philadelphia and in New Jersey, not Pennsylvania, and that it was the Pine Hill Golf Club before the President added it to his stable, means it can easily be confused with the Pine Valley GC that is perpetually ranked among the Best Golf Courses in America. Yet Trump National Philadelphia does share the same wooded landscape, and it is ranked among the best golf courses in the region.

The amenities, from the clubhouse to dining and service are, by all accounts, first class. As the blurb says: “Complementing our scenic 18-hole golf course is our elegant 43,000-square-foot clubhouse, accompanied by a resort-style heated swimming pool, cabanas, and expansive bar area, in addition to various indoor and outdoor dining options, five-star service, and a robust social event calendar.”

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL SCOTLAND

Located near Aberdeen, the club opened amid strong opposition from locals over potential environmental damage and unkept masterplan promises. But, that aside, there’s no denying this is truly one of the great links of the world. The course incorporates the rugged terrain that characterises the coast north of Aberdeen. It features massive bunkers (one that’s said to be the largest natural bunker in the world), rolling fairways, and greens set among a unique landscape impeccably maintained.

‘‘

IT IS SIMPLY THE MOST DRAMATIC, STIMULATING, INVIGORATING STRETCH OF GOLF ANYWHERE I HAVE SEEN IN MY CAREER.” – MARTIN HAWTREE

It is as much a ‘must play’ today as St Andrews. Martin Hawtree, the third generation of notable Scottish golf course architects, has successfully used the rugged dune-and-valley landscape to give players sweeping sea views from every hole. The course follows the classic links pattern of nine holes out and nine holes back, with all 18 weaving their way through a dramatic landscape. Hawtree has said, “It is simply the most dramatic, stimulating, invigorating stretch of golf anywhere I have seen in my career.”

Trump International Scotland.

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL TURNBERRY

Close to the Firth of Clyde and home to four Open Championships, the legendary Ailsa course at Trump Turnberry is unquestionably among the best in the world. Named after the third Marquess of Ailsa, who a million years ago owned the land, this great golf course was the site of the 1977 Open when Tom Watson beat Jack Nicklaus in what became known as the “Duel in the Sun.”

President Trump bought the golf course in 2014 and hired architect Martin Ebert to re-work it into the gem it is today. The Ailsa course, a 6,800m par-71 known for its demanding front nine, highlighted by its iconic Turnberry lighthouse at the turn, was chosen from a short list of 28 golf courses as Scotland’s Best at the 2024 World Golf Awards. The hotel has been voted Europe’s Best Golf Hotel.

Bottom line: For mad-keen golf travellers, Trump Turnberry is a ‘to-die-for’ destination. The downside: From 1 June this year, green fees for non-hotel residents aiming to tee off before 1pm will rise to £1,000 (around NZ$2,250).

Hotel guests who tee off after 1pm pay half that.

Trump International Turnberry, Scotland.

TRUMP NATIONAL WASHINGTON D.C.

Located on the Potomac River northwest of the capital, the golf course has two 18-hole layouts: the River Course and the Championship Course. It was originally the Lowes Island Golf Club until it too fell on hard times, was taken over by a bank, and then sold to you know who for a reported $13 million. With the makeover, hundreds of trees were removed to provide unobstructed views of the river and, again, a Fazio family member (Tom, in this case) was hired to re-work the golf course.

The result is a course with more water hazards than the average player might like, but then that’s what makes it fun. As one review states: “Most memorable holes include the 502m 8th, which doglegs to the left around water, the 200m 10th, requiring a tee shot over a wandering creek, and the 512m 17th, a water-laden par-5 that leads to a crescentshaped green.”

Too tough? Not for the ageless Bernhard Langer, who in May 2017 became the first player to win all five senior majors with his victory here at the Senior PGA Championship.

TRUMP NATIONAL DORAL

The President’s Doral Golf Club in Miami, Florida, has four courses, the Blue Monster, Red Tiger, Silver Fox and Golden Palm. The Blue Monster (6,950m) is best known because it was a PGA Tour stop for more than 50 years until the club fell into bankruptcy in 2012. That’s when Donald Trump bought the whole package for a reported $150 million. He hired hot golf course architect Gil Hanse to remodel the Blue Monster, a course famous for its par-4 18th hole that plays along water on the left and a series of bunkers and rough on the right, often into a headwind. Adding to its degree of difficulty, the long, narrow green at the 18th slopes towards the water. No longer a PGA Tour stop, the club has hosted two LIV Golf League events. President Trump is a strong supporter of the League. ▪

BARNBOUGLE

MATURED WITH AGE

BARNBOUGLE GOLF LINKS, ON THE NORTHEAST COAST OF TASMANIA, CELEBRATED ITS 20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH A VERY SPECIAL TIPPLE.

Marking the occasion in style, the stunning golf resort partnered with Hellyers Road Distillery to merge two of life’s great pleasures: superb golf and fine whisky. Hellyers Road Distillery is revered for its traditional style of whisky making.

A year after it opened for play in December 2004, Barnbougle’s first course, The Dunes, entered the World Top 100 rankings, where it’s remained since. In 2010, Lost Farm was added, cementing Tasmania as a bucket-list destination for golfers from around the world.

Barrelled in 2004, the 20-year-old single malt anniversary batch matured in American oak for 18 years before being transferred into one French oak cask previously used to age fortified Tasmanian Ruby Pinot.

Limited to 405 bottles, the Barnbougle-Hellyers Road Anniversary Single Malt retails for AU$1,500 a bottle. ▪

TASTING NOTES

NOSE: Cranberries, candied orange, shortbread and spice. Opens with the scent of rich Christmas pudding drizzled with brandy sauce. Candied orange adds a bright citrus note, while warming spices of nutmeg and clove add depth and complexity. Honeyed hazelnuts and walnut skin bring a touch of earthy sweetness, complemented by the comforting scent of buttery shortbread.

PALATE: Figs, raisins, baking spices, creaminess.

On the palate, the single malt delivers a rich tapestry of dark fruits – juicy, ripe figs, plump raisins and sweet apricots, enveloped in a velvety custard. The sweetness is balanced by a warm medley of baking spices, adding complexity and depth. The mouthfeel is full and luxurious, coating the palate with its opulence, with a lingering wine like texture.

FINISH: Long, spicy and comforting.

700ml | ABV: 52.5% Complimentary Shipping AU$1,500.00 www.barnbougle.com.au

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