Australia has the Big Banana, the Big Merino, etc, etc……..
An NZPA report says that the Kiwifruit slice at Te Puke has made it onto the Bluelist – Lonely Planet’s list of hip things to do and see on holiday, with the four-storey high kiwifruit slice at Te Puke has included in a collection of what it calls the best and latest trends, destinations, journeys and experiences in travel worldwide.
The Big Kiwifruit, White Island, Mussel Inn in Golden Bay and the Napier Prison Backpackers are among the New Zealand attractions that figure in Bluelist 2008, which is being released in New Zealand this month.
The Kiwi360 Company built the big kiwifruit from Maori canoe paddles at its kiwifruit complex. Bluelist names it and Australia’s big banana, Canada’s big beaver and an 8m tall sculpture of an American bison in North Dakota among its “Big!” top 10.
White Island takes a commanding spot in the top 10 volcanoes, with a photo showing it “hissing and spitting” at visitors.
Bluelist calls it “white by name, black by nature”, saying the Bay of Plenty volcano is arguably more impressive than one of the country’s premier tourist attractions, Mt Ruapehu.
The Napier Prison Backpackers is recommended as one of 10 “sleeps behind bars”, the authors advising that guests can visit the hanging yard, “where locals used to pay a shilling to watch executions take place, sleep in converted cells and get a mug shot taken as memento of their time in the clink”.
Mussel Inn, a boutique microbrewery in Golden Bay, two hours northwest of Nelson, is named as one of the top 10 “beer headquarters” in the world, while Queen Charlotte Sound gets the tip in the top 10 explorer trails, with the comment it was the place Captain James Cook felt most at home.
Jetboating the Shotover River near Queenstown rates among the best river trips in the world, with Bluelist recommending it for “high-octane thrills in a high-octane city”.
Bluelist has 30 categories and has a 30-page feature on travelling through Islamic countries and a month-by-month guide to seeing endangered wildlife around the globe.
A Big Report by The Mole from the NZPA
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
All eyes on Qatar as Qatar Airways leads a season of global events