The first club fields were established in the mountains west of Christchurch in 1929. Today there are ten club skiing fields in New Zealand. The North Island has Manganui on Mount Taranaki and Tukino on Mount Ruapehu. Within a two-hour drive of Christchurch you’ll find Mount Cheeseman, Mount Olympus, Broken River, Craigieburn, Fox Peak, Temple Basin, and Hanmer Springs Ski Area. Drive towards Nelson in the north and you’ll discover the Rainbow Ski Area.

These smaller ski fields are owned and operated by club members, who pay an annual fee and volunteer on the slopes. But you don’t have to be a member to join in on the fun. While the day rates aren’t quite as low, non-members can still save by skiing at these non-commercial slopes.

Of course, without the commercial backing these slopes take skiing back to basics. There are small lodges with bunk beds and communal dining rather than resorts, and primitive rope tows rather than high tech chair lifts. This no frills experience has a way of bringing skiers together though, as they all pitch in to wash dishes and socialize on the slopes.

While the social aspect is appealing, these slopes are also a lot quieter than the commercial fields. You won’t need to worry about bumping into other skiers, and the runs are usually fresh.

Club memberships typically cost around $300 a year, including season passes and discounted accommodation, with all meals and ski and boarding lessons thrown in. If you’re only in New Zealand for a short time consider a day pass for around $60, about $30 less than you’ll pay at the commercial ski fields. Alternatively you could pick up a seven-day CHILL pass for $345. This offers access to 11 ski areas on the South Island including seven different club fields.

[Image Source: SnappedUp/Flickr]

Just sign up for a free Scoopon membership to start enjoying the saving. These savings are pretty outstanding; recently the site has offered a five-course banquet at Melbourne’s award-winning Cupido Restaurant for $20, a jetboat ride around Sydney Harbour for $29, and a five-hour deep sea fishing charter excursion on the Gold Coast for $49. The site generally offers discounts of more than 50% on a range of products and services, and more deals are added daily.

So how does it work? New offers are posted at noon, with the understanding that a minimum number will be snapped up. If you’re interested in what’s on offer, just click on the “Buy” button. Once the minimum number of respondents is reached, your credit card is billed and details of your purchase e-mailed to you. If the numbers aren’t reached, there are no charges at all.

The biggest appeal of these deals, besides of course the money you save, is that you’re given plenty of time to use them. You might start looking for offers before taking a getaway, or collect them in readiness for the next school vacation.

Currently Scoopon only offers deals in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast, but it’s early days. If this takes off hopefully we’ll see specials available in all of Australia’s major travel spots.

Just outside Kunming in China you’ll find the Shilin Stone Forest, a forest which really isn’t a forest at all, at least not in the way that most of us imagine. Rather than trees, the forest features thousands of differently shaped stones which appear to grow from the ground. Apparently the area was a shallow sea some 270 million years ago, but as the earth moved over time the water retreated and the limestone structures emerged. Visitors can discover attractions like the Major Stone Forest, Strange Wind Cave, and Subterranean Stone Forest over this 400 square kilometer space. If you can visit in June, it’s worth making a trip during the Torch Festival. The native Sani people demonstrate wrestling, lion-dancing, and bull-fighting, and legend says it’s the best time to meet Mr or Miss Right!

The Shilin Stone Forest

For interesting animals and plants, look to the Bonin Islands off the Japanese coast. These 30 different islands were formed long ago by an ancient volcano, and have since evolved in their own unique ways. The islands are home to more than 14 different animals and 100 unique plant species including the protected Ogasawara damselfly, the Japanese Woodpigeon, and the Bonin Flying Fox. Access is difficult though, so you’ll need to be keen. The Ogasawara Maru liner leaves from Tokyo Bay four or five times each month, and takes around 25 hours to reach its destination.

Tourists can feel like royalty traveling on the backs of elephants in northern Thailand. The elephants will take you through the forests and hilltribe villages of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Kanchanaburi. There are rides to suit your time and budget, from a half-hour walk to a five-day expedition. The elephants are all well trained and love people, so you needn’t worry about being on the back of a petulant pachyderm!

Asia offers plenty of natural beauty and experiences for tourists; you’ve just got to know where to look!

[Image Source: Kent Wang/Flickr]

But it’s actually a great family vacation spot. Here are a few tourist attractions that kids and their parents will enjoy.

Hong Kong’s most popular tourist attraction is Victoria Peak, a summit which offers more than picturesque views. Little ones will probably enjoy the ride on the hair-raising funicular railway more than the view at the top, but don’t let that worry you. Once they’re tired of the scenery you can let them burn off some energy in the playground or virtual sports zone. Once they’ve worked up an appetite visit one of dozens of onsite restaurants.

Make sure you don’t miss Ocean Park, which is regarded as one of the best amusement parks in the world. Once a humble aquarium, it’s now home to roller coasters and giant pandas! The marine animals still draw crowds though, especially the Sea Jelly Spectacular. Bright lights and classical music add a sense of theatre to the graceful movements of more than 1000 stingers.

Happy girl at Hong Kong Disneyland

You’ll find more animals at Hong Kong Wetland Park. The 60-hectare space has crocs, birds, and butterflies. The kids won’t even realize their learning as they engage with the interactive games dotted around the park.

Of course, a list of children’s tourist attractions wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Disneyland in Hong Kong. If you’ve been to any of the Disneyland’s around the world you’ll know what to expect, with all of the familiar lands populated by the iconic characters. While it’s formula is tried and true, it’s easy to get swept up in the magic of this theme park.

So don’t leave the children at home when you head to Hong Kong. This Asian metropolis has plenty of attractions to keep them entertained.

[Image Source: Tommy Wong/Flickr]

This originally named eco-resort is just two hours away from Sydney, Australia, but it feels like it’s a world away from the big smoke.

Somewhere Unique is the perfect place for a romantic getaway, as there are only two private retreats set on 20 acres of bushland. Each is fully self contained, so you need never leave your room, but if you do want to venture out the township of Wollombi is only a few minutes’ drive away.

The villas have been cleverly designed with four distinct areas. There’s the pleasure zone, with its plush king-sized bed, valley views, and reverse-cycle air conditioning and ceiling fan for comfort.

Few things calm you like a good night’s sleep, but the relaxation zone ensures you stay chilled when you’re out of bed. The large bath is perfect for soaking with that special someone. The private bushland views mean you’ll be in no rush to leave the tub, but when you do the thick cotton towels and plush bathrobes will be waiting.

The entertainment area is state of the art, with a stereo system, LCD TV, DVD player, and iPod dock. The comfy lounge and gas log fireplace are perfect for enjoying the selection of DVDs and CDs provided.

The villas are lovely, but don’t forget to step outside and enjoy the private deck and courtyard. Each retreat has its own gas barbeque for cooking up a feast, or you could hop on one of the bicycles provided and enjoy dinner at one of Wollombi’s famous cafes.

A stay at Somewhere Unique is reasonably priced for such private pampering, with rates starting at $220 per night. This rate includes a complimentary bottle of local wine, chocolates, a breakfast hamper, and use of bicycles, picnic gear, and entertainment provisions.

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The former gold mining town, located 115 kilometers north west of Melbourne, is becoming a popular destination for tourists looking to enjoy life at a slower pace.

The streets are lined with fine dining restaurants and cafes, and the stores full of original fashions and quirky homewares. You can indulge in a mineral bath or spa at the local retreats, or a few choice drops in the nearby Macedon Ranges and Sunbury wine regions.

That is, of course, if you want to venture out of Frog Hollow. This eco-friendly estate was once a stone and timber workshop, but today it enjoys spoiling its guests without harming the planet. The hot showers use collected rain water, and the appliances and eco-friendly lights green power.

All villas are equipped with a corner spa for luxuriating with your love, a cosy gas or wood fire for snuggling up at the end of the night, and air conditioning for the summer.

With all this romance in the air, it’s unsurprising that the folks at Frog Hollow Estate love a wedding. The staff will happily take care of the arrangements, including accommodation for your guests, leaving you free to attend to more important matters. You might even like to return to reminisce on your first anniversary!

Accommodation at Frog Hollow Estate in Daylesford starts from $250 a night and includes a gourmet hamper, featuring the best local produce, on arrival.

There are many beaches around the country that open their sand to the whole family, and that means Fido too.

Byron Beach has a reputation as one of Australia’s most laid back tourist centers, so it shouldn’t surprise you that its Tallow Beach is chilled enough to allow pooches on the beach. There are restrictions though that dog lovers should be aware of though. While the beach extends for seven kilometers, pups are only allowed to roam in the area which runs from near Jarman Street to the northern end of Arakwal National Park. But that still gives them plenty of room to enjoy the white sand and clear waters.

If you’ve got a city holiday in mind, head to Sirius Cove Reserve in the Sydney suburb of Mosman. This is definitely a dog friendly place, with waste bins complete with doggy bags, and picnic and barbeque facilities. Dogs can enjoy the beach at any time on weekdays and between 4 pm and 9 am on weekends and public holidays.

Queensland has some of Australia’s best known beaches, but you’ll want to veer off the tourist track if you want to bring Rover along. He’s welcome at the unfortunately named Yorkeys Knob Beach near Cairns, and Sunshine Beach in Noosa. Yorkeys Knob Beach has an off-leash area at its southern end, but he must be on the leash elsewhere on the sand. Owners and canines can swim there without stress, as nets keep the stingers out. At Sunshine Beach, dogs can roam freely between Noosa National Park and the car park in Seaview Terrace. That should give him plenty of space to enjoy the beach’s famous laidback atmosphere and beautiful sandy shore.

With a name like Peasholm Dog Beach, you know canines are welcomed at this spot in the Perth suburb of South Scarborough. There’s plenty of space for a raucous game of fetch on the beach or a run.

It often feels like there are more dogs than humans at O’Sullivan Beach in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. During daylight savings (from October to March) dogs must be leashed between 10 am to 8 pm, but the rest of the time they’re allowed to run freely and enjoy the dog exercise area, which extends from the marina to Christie Creek.

So why should Spot miss out on all the fun? With a little careful planning, your next beach vacation can be a real family holiday!

While Asia’s cities buzz, its national parks are a real draw card for tourists looking to get back to nature. The following parks, many of which are UNESCO World and Natural Heritage sites, are amongst Asia’s best.

The Three Parallel Rivers Protected Areas in China’s Yunnan Province is somewhat of a lost paradise. Here 16 indigenous groups live simple lives, free of the stresses of the modern world. Many offer accommodation for visitors who come to the area to see the gorges, glaciers, and enormous rivers.

While much of Hong Kong is a thriving metropolis, one fifth of the nation belongs to the trails of Tai Tam Country Park. This area is steeped in history; tourists can explore ancient forts and towers while admiring the ocean views and diverse flora. There are also several areas for barbecues and picnics, so why not make a day of it?

Many ecological experts consider Shiretoko National Park to be Japan’s last surviving wilderness. It’s a haven for marine and land animals, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for the brown bears, dolphins, and seals that live there.

Sightseeing boats regularly leave from the mainland to take tourists closer to the warm Kamui Wakka Falls. Or you could travel to the falls on foot and soak yourself in the hot springs.

You might not know it, but if you’re a James Bond fan you’re already acquainted with Thailand’s Ao Phang Nga National Park. This gorgeous natural oasis was featured in the spy flick The Man with the Golden Gun. You can hire small boats to explore the area and its natural rock formations and limestone pillars which emerge almost mythically from the ocean. It’s the kind of locale you’ll want to linger at, and with bungalows and camping sites available you can.

The buzzing cities of Asia are alluring, but if you’d like a change of pace the continent’s national parks can deliver it.

Some 6.5 million square kilometers of rugged rural land are just waiting for you to explore.

It’s tempting for tourists to join a guided tour and let someone else do all the work, but setting out solo can be much more rewarding. The major Outback roads are sealed, so it’s a bit of a myth that you’ll need a four-wheel drive to explore this area. However, if you want to step off the tourist path an all-terrain auto is the only way to cope with the dusty dirt roads and rocky countryside.

Make sure you set off with enough food and water to feed everyone in your party for a few days. You’ll need these supplies if your vehicle breaks down, as it may be some time before help arrives. It’s also important to notify others of your intended route and time of arrival. Many Outback areas do not receive cell phone reception, so this is extra insurance in case of emergencies.

Ease yourself into your Outback vacation by starting at Alice Springs. This is the most populated Outback town, with restaurants, tourist attractions, and friendly locals. Its ready accommodation makes it a great base for your Outback adventures.

Uluru at sunset

Uluru is a long day’s drive away from Alice Springs. Many tourists make an early start and see the rock before returning to Alice Springs, but it’s a lot of traveling to do in one day. If you’ve got the time to spare it’s better to make a more leisurely trip and bunker down at one of Uluru’s resorts or camping sites.

Following the Mereenie Loop Road from Alice Springs will take you to Finke Gorge National Park. It’s home to the Finke River, which is believed to be one of the oldest running waterways on the planet, and the ancient cabbage palms of Palm Valley.

And that’s just for starters. From Alice Springs you can also reach the Kimberleys, the Simpson Desert, and a host of friendly country towns. But many locals suggest that it doesn’t matter where you go, as a trip to the Outback is more about the journey than the destination.