Air New Zealand’s new all black Boeing 777-300ER was treated to a hero’s welcome last week as it landed at Heathrow. The all black Boeing officially begins flying the London – Los Angeles - Auckland route this week and was ceremoniously greeted at the gate by the cabin crew to celebrate.

We've just spotted this blog article on the Just Eat website - some light entertainment for a Friday afternoon!

Congratulations to Air New Zealand, well deserved winners of airline of the year at the ATW awards

Enjoy a saving of £300 per couple when you book your escorted tour of New Zealand before 31st March 2012.

Wildman Wilderness Lodge will soon be celebrating its first anniversary but this fabulous wetlands safari lodge is already celebrating a Northern Territory Tourism Award!  

If you have been enjoying BBC 2’s current three part series on the Great Barrier Reef, with the final episode being screened on Sunday (Jan 15th), we thought you might like to discover various ways that you could experience this wonder of the world first hand.

Shipwreck Hut, a popular beachside bar on Rarotonga’s beautiful Betela Beach, has been named one of the top three beach bars in the world in a recent article by CNN.

Amusing piece from the Virgin Atlantic blog.

A new study has today revealed the literary works of Lord Alan Sugar, Paul Gascoigne and Katie Price were the most readily discarded reads at 35,000 feet.

Continue reading for the full list....

Although not set to be released for another year, Tolkien fans have this week been treated to a glimpse of the much anticipated film The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey with the release of an online trailer. As with the incredibly popular Lord of the Rings Trilogy the films (due to the length of the book it is to be split into two films) are being made in New Zealand and will once again showcase the stunning and diverse scenery found there.

If you, like us, watched the recent Frozen Planet series in amazement and now want to see it for yourself, may we suggest you take a look at our new Canadian Arctic programme.

Journey to the very edge of the Arctic ice floe, where wildlife congregates in abundance. It’s home to pods of exotic narwhal, their misty breath sparkling in the 24 hour sun, polar bears, seals, walrus as big as cars, an incredible variety of sea birds (including thick billed Murre, Kittiwake, Guillemot and Ivory Gull )and the rare Bowhead and Beluga whales. In early summer, with the sun shining throughout the day and most of the night (constantly in May and June), the temperatures are warmer than you might expect (averaging from -5°C to +10°C).

If you want to avoid the crowds and more importantly the cold over the Christmas and New Year period then at Bridge and Wickers we’ve got some great suggestions to help. While it is a bit late for this year it is never too soon to start planning for 2012-13 and small intimate resorts/private houses by their nature book up a long way in advance. Of course they can all be enjoyed throughout our winter and it’s not too late to book for this coming January and February if you feel the need to escape.

It’s not just Sydney who has the monopoly on spectacular New Years Eve celebrations, all the capital cities have their own colourful pyrotechnics, street parties and entertainment to help you usher in the new year in style. Below is a guide to what’s happening where, oh and scarves and woolly hats can definitely be left at home!

Matt shares a few tips from his recent trip to the South Island of New Zealand on how to make the most of your time in this amazing part of the world.

As we rolled on the big swell off the coast of Kaikoura and I tried to keep the contents of my breakfast in my stomach I was pretty sure the previous 30 minutes spent swimming with 40-50 dusky dolphins would be the highlight of my time in New Zealand. Five days later as I helicoptered up a remote valley from Lake Wanaka towards Minaret Station I realised how wrong I was. I can’t imagine a more spectacular way of getting to your accommodation and I defy anyone to not be wowed as you spot the small collection of tents in the distance.

We were winners at last night's Sunday Times Travel Magazine Reader Awards. "Bridge & Wickers 'can do attitude' pushes them to second place and makes them your favourite tour operator to Australia and New Zealand".

Thanks to everyone who voted for us.