Friday 18 March 2016
The Weekend Sun
24
Special trips and tours for the mature traveller Opening its doors in 1994, Supreme Tours and Travel continues to offer their clients great value, competitively priced travel around the world.
“We specialise in escorted group tours for mature travellers,” says Terri Small, who owns the business. “We offer door-to-door, worry-free, safe and secure service.” With more than 30 years’ experience in the travel industry, Terri knows what it takes to make a holiday worry-free. Sales manager Vikki Bell adds another 25 years’ experience and escorts on several of the tours. Tours range from Wearable Arts in Wellington, Taupo Stayput, Adelaide and Murray River and Norfolk Island. Tours featuring gardens include Floriade in Canberra,
Wairarapa Garden Festival and the wellknown Rhododendron Festival. Home pick-up in Tauranga is offered on most New Zealand tours. All tours are fully inclusive of airfares, coach
travel, sightseeing and meals – and you’re travelling with like-minded people and a fun and informative tour manager. They can also beat most deals on the latest cruise specials, says Terri and Vikki. Phone now for a full brochure and go on their mailing list. They are happy to come and talk to your local club or retirement village. The agency is a member of the Travel Agents Association of New Zealand and the International Association of Travel Agents, two marks of distinction that indicate it adheres to the highest level of professionalism. Phone Terri or Vikki toll free on 0800 809 300 to book your next trip or Vikki Bell and Maggie Hunt at Wea rable Arts 2015 during one of email them at Supreme Tours and Travel’s tours. statltd@xtra.co.nz
Wishing for the freezing cold again Most people probably haven’t ever heard of a small place called Rovaniemi, and when you say that Santa lives there, people assume it’s in the North Pole. But Rovaniemi isn’t in the North Pole, but it’s close – it’s in Finland. My friend Olivia Shivas and I spent four months living in Finland and travelling to neighbouring countries including Estonia, Sweden, and Russia, but the highlight for me was the freezing temperatures in Rovaniemi.
Southern Scenic Splendour Featuring the Catlins & Stewart Island 9 Days $3999pp share twin - 18 November
Fly to Dunedin (3 nights) Enjoy sights including Botanical Gardens, Royal Albatross Colony, Spectacular Taieri Gorge Railway Journey to Middlemarch and return. Join our Coach and travel via the Incrediblely scenic Catlins stopping At Nugget Point. Then its on to Invercargill For overnight. Join the short flight to Stewart Island (2 nights) including sights and cruise on the beautiful Paterson Inlet Return to Invercargill and travel by coach To Queenstown (2 nights). Sightseeing Including Arrowtown and then farewell Dinner cruise on the TSS Earnslaw with Gourmet BBQ at Walter Peak Station. Includes all breakfast and Dinners, Flights And sightseeing as well as FREE home pick and return from Auckland/Wellington/Christchurch.
ay la-F ers y a C nd a Sau Olivi and ivas in i. Sh niem a Rov
As we slowly start to cool down from the high temperatures here in Tauranga, I wish for the freezing cold again. Olivia and I went to study in Helsinki, Finland, for a semester at the end of last year. As our time in Finland wound to a close, we decided to take a trip of more than 800km by train to Rovaniemi. Located in the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi is the official hometown of Santa Claus. The Finns are so pleased with Santa that they have an entire village – and separate theme park – dedicated to him and his work. With real live Santa available to visit, reindeers to look at, ride with, and surprisingly eat, gifts to buy, and gloggi – mulled wine – to drink, Rovaniemi offers almost anything you could want from a white Christmas village; it is a true winter wonderland. And snow is everywhere – dangling off the skinny tree branches, piled high on the ground, stuck in your hair, your nose, and your shoes. Our coldest day was 18 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the hairs in your nose freeze, the hair on your head freezes, and any moisture on your eyelashes freezes into a literal ice ball. Yes, Rovaniemi is cold. But Rovaniemi is very much worth the cold. Cayla-Fay Saunders