Reykjavik Jazz Festival 2004
Join us in Iceland this September for the Reykjavik Jazz Festival 2004. Held on the 29th September, this annual festival is guaranteed to be a spectacular live event with many Icelandic as well as international musicians. This year’s artists include Van Morrison and the Rodriguez brothers, be sure not to miss it as the festival ends on the 3rd October!

Why not book a Reykjavik city break where you can get the chance to enjoy this exciting cultural event as well as exploring this attractive capital. There’s fine dining, great shopping, history and culture to take advantage of and lots more besides.

A 3-night Reykjavik city break starts from £396 per person. Contact our Iceland team on 01737 214 214 or visit the website www.arctic-experience.co.uk. You can also visit the website www.reykjavikjazz.com to find out more on this event.

Wellington International Jazz Festival
From the 15th-30th October 2004, New Zealand will be presenting its eighth Montana Wellington Jazz festival where artists from New Zealand, Europe, the USA, Asia and Australia will perform music from the traditional to the avant-garde.

Why not visit Wellington, known as the ‘windy city’ and enjoy some jazzy talent as well as the capital’s best sights? Discover New Zealand offers a range of accommodation within this region as well as a variety of excursions.

Contact 01737 218 804 for more details on what we offer or visit our website www.discover-new-zealand.co.uk. For more information on the festival visit the website www.jazzfestival.co.nz

Wearable Art
One of New Zealand’s spectacular events this September is the Montana World of Wearable Art Awards, an annual theatrical extravaganza. The concept is to "take art off the wall and adorn the moving body” and the 2-hour show features a unique combination of dance, music, lighting, performance and sound as well as garments from textile artists from all over the world. The event takes place in Nelson between 10th and the 19th September 2004.

Nelson itself has an above average sunshine record and is nicknamed ‘sunshine city’. There are beautiful sandy beaches, national parks, thrill-seeking activities and fine foods, arts and crafts. If you fancy exploring one of the oldest settlements in the country, Discover New Zealand offers a selection of hotels and excursions for you to choose from. Contact 01737 218 804 for more details on what we offer or you can visit our website www.discover-new-zealand.co.uk

For more information on this event you can visit the website www.worldofwearableart.com

Iceland on canvas - Exhibition
Artist Rachel McDonnell has travelled extensively in Iceland in the past few years. The resulting paintings, inspired by its extraordinary landscape, will be shown in a solo exhibition from 11th-25th September at the Mill Gallery, Lyme Regis. If you are in the area and have a little time to spare, call in and say hello. The gallery is open Tues-Sun, 11am-4pm so make a note in your diary!

If you fancy seeing Iceland’s stunning and varied landscapes for yourselves, take a 3-night city break to Reykjavik and you’ll see why this unique country inspires so many. Price start from £396 per person. Contact the our Iceland team on 01737 214 214 or visit the website www.arctic-experience.co.uk.

The Otago Festival of Arts
This biennial event takes place between 29th September and 10th October 2004 in the beautiful picturesque City of Dunedin. A huge range of arts experiences will be on offer including music and theatre from around the world, the best dance as well as an exciting variety of special events and exhibitions.

If you fancy some stimulation and truly extra-ordinary entertainment, why not visit the city of Dunedin with Discover New Zealand. Explore the unique wildlife on the Otago Peninsula including the rare yellow-eyed penguin or take a classic tour of Dunedin to discover its heritage. For rail enthusiasts, the 77km Taieri Gorge railway ranks among the world’s great rail journeys, heading inland from Dunedin towards the gold fields of Central Otago. Discover New Zealand offers a range of accommodation as well as a variety of excursions. Contact 01737 218 804 for more details on what we offer or visit our website www.discover-new-zealand.co.uk. You can also visit www.otagofestival.co.nz for more information on the event itself.

Get ready for the Sweden Lobster season
Did you know that lobster fishing has been going on for many generations now and is as natural in Bohuslän as elk hunting is in many other parts of Sweden? Fishing techniques, tools and recipes have also been passed down for generations and you can find these on display at the Hunnebostrand fishing village, where the lobster academy is based. The Swedish Lobster Academy was founded in 1996 and is a non profit-making organisation, arranging lobster dinners and lobster safaris!

This year the lobster premiere starts on 27 September. The fishing boats get ready to fish for the ‘black gold’ and the local Grebbestad brewery releases the special lobster beer, delivered to the local restaurants along the west coast as well as in Gothenburg.

Many of the fishing villages arrange ‘Lobster weekends’ and one of the popular ones is Handelsman Flink, where our Lobster Safari tour is based. Our short break lets you explore Gothenburg city and then takes you to Bohuslan archipelago where you get to cruise the local bay in a specially chartered boat en route to the lobsterpots laid out earlier in the day. Enjoy a pre-prepared seafood picnic and then take your catch back to the hotel where you and the chef can prepare your fine dinner!

This indulgent 2-night break costs £678 per person based on two sharing and departures are 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd October 2004. To book this holiday or to find out more information, contact our Sweden team on 01737 214 255 or visit www.arctic-experience.co.uk.