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5 Luxury Eco Lodges in New Zealand

Published by Linda McCormick

Lead image: Jean Spector

Known to the Maori as Aotearoa, or Land of the Long White Cloud, New Zealand certainly packs a punch for all the size of the country.

Made up of two main islands – the North and South Islands – and a collection of smaller islands, NZ offers an amazing diversity of natural landscapes across a land area of just 103,738 square miles; about the same size as the state of Colorado.

In the North Island, you’ll find wonderful sandy beaches and undulating green hills, geysers and hot springs, Maori villages rich in heritage and culture. By stark contrast, the South Island is home to snow-capped mountain ranges and fjordlands, massive glaciers and lush rainforests, and more wineries than you can shake a stick at.

Finding somewhere to stay is never a problem, but if you’re vying for somewhere that appeals to your green side, then you will be spoilt for choice. Here we present just five of the many wonderful lodges available across the country.

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indian tiger

Indian Government Okays Shoot-on-Sight Orders to Prevent Tiger Poaching

Published by Mishka

tiger india

The Tiger holds the distinction of being India’s national animal. And yet, strangely, this pride of the sub-continent is being made to feel vulnerable within its own natural environment. Where earlier the threat came in the form of forest degradation and habitat encroachment, the most recent and far ‘deadlier’ one is poaching.

According to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), at least 14 tiger deaths can be attributed to poaching alone this year, if not more. Wildlife sanctuaries that have been hardest hit are the Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand and the Tadoba Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra.

Refusing to take it lying down, the Maharashtra Government has decided to wage a war on poachers. Read More

Ethiopia Poised to Become Next Hot African Ecotravel Destination

Published by Gabi Logan

waterfall ethiopia

When you think of tourism in Africa, Egypt and South Africa are usually the first destinations that come to mind. If you check what ecotourism opportunities are available, it’s not hard to find vacations in the ecolodge- and wildlife refuge-laden countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia, or even Botswana and Uganda.

So why did the U.S. government pledge $14 million to develop Ethiopia into an ecotourism destination? Read More

Let the Friday Link Fest Begin!

Published by Linda McCormick

crazy bus

Not so long ago, before the rise of Facebook Fan pages and Twitter, people used to link to each other in their blogs or websites. Some still do, frequently, and I like that.

It spreads the word to as many people as possible, without them having to sign up to social media sites if they don’t want to. And let’s face it; while around 65% of all internet users are au fait with social networking sites, there are still a large number of people who shun them, so they won’t always find the links being passed between users.

OK, but what’s the bus about, I hear you ask? Do read on.

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Coffee and Chooks at CERES Community Environment Park, Melbourne

Published by Linda McCormick

urban farm melbourne

You know you’ve landed on a great find when your shoulders unhinge themselves from your ear lobes. Tucked behind the bustling lanes of Nicholson Street in Brunswick, by the banks of the Merri Creek, this little oasis of calm is one of Melbourne’s hidden gems.

Whether you’re a mum looking for a place to entertain your mini devils (and soothe your shattered nerves), a gardening enthusiast searching for a plot to call your own, or just someone wanting a lovely latte in a chilled space then CERES is the spot for you.

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The Environmental Impact of Hotels: The Future is Green [INFOGRAPHIC]

Published by Linda McCormick

Did you know that by leaving the “Do Not Disturb” sign on your hotel door you will help save over 6,000 gallons of water? That’s the amount of water used by the average 150-room hotel in a month.

Staying in a hotel is usually a treat, and often expensive, so when people book a room they want to make sure they get their money’s worth. This means long, hot showers; clean, crisp linen changed daily and temperature controlled at the touch of a button. All wonderful little nuances that make a stay so luxurious, for some.

But what about the waste? Read More

unesco alhambra

Journey Through the Alhambra: A Must-See UNESCO Site

Published by Julie Brown Steenblik

Glimmering before me, water seems to dance along the path like fireflies fluttering in the evening twilight. Light forces its way through arches creating reflections of their casted shadows. I am caught in a trance, transfixed by this unique architecture surrounding me; Moorish influenced with splashes of Spanish styles throughout.

Perched on a hilltop in southern Spain, on the banks of the River Darro, sits the Alhambra; an iconic relic of Spain’s Moorish past.

Often referred to as an “alcabaza”, or fortress, the wonderful Alhambra is so much more than that; it encompasses palaces, gardens, and intriguing examples of Moorish architecture throughout. It is also one of the most visited UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. Read More

Discover the Luxury of Simplicity at Sweden’s Award-Winning Eco Retreat

Published by Linda McCormick

urnatur eco lodge

Tucked away among the trees of Holaved forest in southern Sweden is a totally off-the-grid eco retreat designed to encourage residents to reconnect with nature.

Known simply as Urnatur, this small family-run complex has been offering visitors an experience that “stimulates all the senses” for the past twenty years.

If ever there was proof that the concept of ecotourism is not new, this is it. Read More

magpie

Of Koalas, Nightmares, and Nocturnal Australia

Published by Tom Quigley

Crickets act as a backdrop to the setting sun, an orchestral build behind the real music. If you’re near water, you can hear the frogs begin snoring, rich and pleasant. As the night rolls in, you might hear the bats as they patrol for insects, blipping away like the sound of a fork on a plate, but the volume turned low, low.

Together, they sound like summer night.

It is then that the cutest and most charismatic of Australian wildlife turns this soothing night music into an M. Night Shamylan score: the koala.

koala sounds

Koalas alternate between two noises: an inhale and an exhale. Biologists refer to it as a “bellow,” but “nightmare chord from Satan’s deepest hellpit” may be more accurate. Read More