BUCKET LIST GRAND PRIZE WINNER - Theresa McCabe - New Lynn, Auckland From everyone at Mondo Travel - Congratulations Theresa! - Alaska Cruise - After watching 'Into The Wild' and looking at the breathtaking scenery which is Alaska, we have been spellbound by it's beauty and how remote it is.
- Asia Rail - Would love to experience the historical significance of this famous Railway Express. We have all heard about 'Murder On The Oriental Express', but we're hoping for something less fatal and just feel the magic and take in the sights.
- Cook Islands - We would love to get away from work and committments by totally escaping to the Cooks. Just sun, beach, eating and doing nothing. Sublime!
- Europe Cruise - Where to begin? Europe is such a huge place that to see any part of it is going to get us jumping up and down with excitement and awe. For a humble Kiwi, this would be the Cruise of a lifetime. There will be a lot a camera shots.
- Greece - Romance, warmth and love all spring to mind when I think of Greece. Of course the history of the place just blows me away . New Zealand is such a young country in comparison. Of course I would have to sip on Ouzo as it's one of my favourite drinks / flavours.
Our weekly winners will each receive: A return economy class airfare from Auckland or Christchurch to Sydney!
Week 1 Winner: Emily Parker - Merivale, Christchurch - Africa – to see the Skeleton coast of Namibia, skydive over the sandunes in Swakopmund and watch the elephants get drunk on the fruit of the Marula trees in the Kalahari - one of the greatest feats of nature in all the world – and meet the Bushmen whose culture has been there for 25,000 years - Epic!
- Brazil - to see the Amazon jungle, the most bio diverse place on earth, where the river is so wide it is like an ocean, I want to Carnival! in Rio and explore some of the oldest colonial buildings in the New World in Salvador city.
- San Francisco - to see the museum of Social Anthropology and read about Ishi the last Yahi, the last of the Yahi indians who walked out of the wild into the city in the 1930s, I want to drive across the bay on the Golden Gate bridge with flowers in my hair and stroll around the Ansel Adams centre of photography before discovering the creepy secrets of Alcatraz and the beauty of the Napa Valley. Woo hoo!
- Alaska Cruise - to explore the last great Frontier and go Into the Wild in Alaska, the raw, dangerous beauty of the harsh landscape and all it has to offer, stand in awe of glaciers and mountains where Mother Earth really does reign supreme.
- Japan - to explore all the crazy mystery Japan holds, see the cherry trees blossom, sing Karaoke in downtown Tokyo amongst 30 million other people, join the monkeys in the hot springs amongst the snow of the Mountains, and eat! Lots of edamame beans, tempura, ton katsu and katsu don and miso miso!! Awesome!
Week 2 Winner: Melissa Tilbury - North Shore, Auckland - South Africa - I would love to go to the Kruger National Park, climb table mountain. I'd also really love to visit Robben Island and learn about Nelson Mandela and his rise to freedom.
- Greece - I would absolutely love to soak up the history and sights of the Acropolis in Athens, followed by a beautiful seafood platter with a glass of white wine while watching the sun go down. I would also like to sail between the Greek Islands.
- Tahiti - In Tahiti I would love to learn to surf followed by some snorkelling in the gorgeous reefs. I would also love to go renew my wedding vows on a secluded beach.
- Morocco - I would love to spend the day in a traditional Moroccan spa. I would also love to trek through the dessert on a camel. Being a "foody" I would love to experience a range of Moroccan food and shop in the markets.
- Los Angeles - I would love to spend a day at Disneyland and a day at Universal Studios. I would love to go to Hollywood and soak up the celebrity buzz. I'd love to have some retail therapy on Rodeo Drive.
Week 3 Winner: Susan Turner - Motueka - Alaska Cruise – To bob sleigh with huskies, ice fishing and drink in the beautiful scenery with my camera.
- France – To eat frogs legs, visit the Eiffel tower, see and sample the French people and cuisine.
- Italy – To learn how to make the world’s best pizza, mix and mingle with all of the Italian people and visit the amazing sights of Italy.
- Europe Cruise – To sample all of the boutique beers, shop till we drop, see the beauty of all of the foreign countries I only dream about, visit with relatives known and yet to meet, sample the sights, walk and cycle in places I've always wanted to see.
- Vancouver – To meet family I have never met, fish on the great lakes, take in the wonderful sights, sample the wonderful wines and walks, and see as much as I can in the time that I have.
Week 4 Winner: Ross McCallum - Auckland - Cambodia - Growing up during the Vietnam war era and its aftermath, Cambodia became synonymous with war, genocide and extreme privation. I would love to travel through this country and see how it has managed to rebuild itself and become a thriving Asian economy.
- UK - My wife and I were married in London many years ago and have never been back since. We would retrace our steps, visit places where we lived and also visit Scotland where we both have family .
- France - I have been learning French for some years and would love to take a barge trip through the south of France, enjoying its culture, food, wine etc and honing up my language skills.
- Peru - The highlight of a trip to Peru would have to be the Inca Trail, culminating in the magic of Machu Picchu . What an amazing experience, walking in the footsteps of that ancient civilisation.
- Arctic - Last year we did a trip to Antarctica, a truly amazing experience. Would love to take a cruise through the Arctic, visit historical places of interest, see how the Inuit live and experience the awesome Arctic landscape.
Week 5 Winner: Kimberly Rust - Auckland - UK - My mum is from England so I would love to go and travel around England, definitely do London and pop over to France on the train.
- Greece - Relax, soak up the culture, ride a donkey! It's just one of those places I think nearly everyone has or wants to visit!
- Vancouver - Canada baby! What else can I say? I'd catch up with friends and explore the "friendly country". I would love to see a wild bear or an Elk, imagine that!
- Las Vegas - Oh yes another one of those must visit places. I'd go see Peepshow, the Grand Canyon, renew our wedding vows at some crazy Elvis chapel...or maybe Marilyn Monroe, - decisions, decisions!
- Australia - Finish off on Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays where we got married. Just relax, swim with the turtles, avoid being stung by the jelly fish and reminisce!
Week 6 Winner: Jules Bly - Tauranga - Rwanda - Take an intrepid trip to see the silver back Gorillas
- Vancouver - Watch the Beluga Whales and get up close with Polar Bears
- Mexico - Try all the foods and shop for silver jewellery
- Japan - Experience the food and culture and visit Nagahama and Tango where the chirimen crepe fabric is made for traditional Kimono
- Thailand - Spend time shopping in Bangkok and relaxing at a resort in Koh Samui
Week 7 Winner: Tanya Heta - Northland - Egypt - Egypt is my ultimate dream, to see the pyramids would be amazing. I would walk through the ruins imagining what it would have been like to be one of the great pharrohs or his queen. I would sail the river Nile just to see it's amazing beauty. I want to taste their foods and drink in their culture.
- Ireland - An absolute must see, I have just discovered my real father and he is full Irish from a place called Kimmage in Dubli. I want to go there to see it's castles and beautiful landscapes and be surrounded in their fantastic accents. Most of all i want to see my heritage, i want to visit my nana's sisters and meet all my family. I will never get the chance nor the opportunity to ever do this so please, please please let me do my bucket list.
- South Africa - I want to do a safari, doesn't everyone. To be able to see the animals in there natural habitat, lions, girraffs, wildebeest, would be just incredible.
- Alaskan Cruise - Aah a cruise, we have been on the pacific sun just around the islands, but ultimatly would love to do an Alaskan cruise. We want to go where the deadliest catch is filmed, we want to be near the bearing sea, we want to see polar bears in their natural habitat! We want to actually just see snow, as we have never seen snow. Cruises are an amazing way to see the world, and enjoy other peoples company whilst having an incredible holiday.
- European Cruise - We looked into this, but it will cost us approx $20,000 with me, my husband and my son. Travelling around europe would be unbelievable. Doing all the sights, on our port stops would be fantastic. See all the beautiful people, in all the different countries and seeing how they all live , PRICELESS.
Week 8 Winner: Karyn Kerrisk - New Plymouth - Ayers Rock - I want to wake at dawn and take a sunrise balloon ride over the stark dry land, then climb the sacred Uluru and take in the culture of the local aboriginal people. To finish off a wonderous time a barbeque under the stars to remind me of how wonderous a place this is.
- China - I would love to visit some of the world’s most revered treasures such as the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors and of course Panda bears. Then to take in the beauty and majesty of the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace.
- Antarctica - I would love to move amongst a frozen landscape where penguins, seals and whales reign. To discover the primitiveness of the historic huts and watch glaciers slide into the pristine ocean.
- Alaska Cruise - Besides a wonderful cruise amongst some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, I would love to kayak and maybe spot a whale or two. Then hop aboard a dog sled and Mush! off we go. If the time is right a glimpse of the Northern Lights would be amazing.
- Nepal/Himalayas - I would visit the temples and markets of Kathmandu, then a trek to Everest Base Camp taking in the magnificent views along the way. Then time for a little white water with a raft down the Trishuli River. Then onto an elephant for a relaxing jungle safari in Chitwan National Park to spot Royal Bengal Tigers.
Week 9 Winner: Margie Silich - Okaihou - France- I would cycle the wine regions soaking up the French countryside while enjoying the best wine!
- Croatia - Spending time on Korcula where my husband’s grandfather came from at the age of 13 back in the early 1900's
- Alaska Cruise - Soak up the amazing beauty and wildlife that I have seen on TV and heard fantastic stories from friends.
- Samoa - Top of my bucket list is to invite as many friends as possible to spend time there helping the economy after the devastating tsunami .
- UK - Every kiwi should visit the place where their ancestors came from; so much history !
Week 10 Winner: Tara Werder - Te Aroha - Cambodia - I would take hubby and daughter on a bicycle tour and meet the elephants and tour the temples.
- Morocco - My husband and I would take a foodies tour and a Camel caravan.
- Egypt - I would take my mum and sister to Egypt and cruise the Nile as it is her favourite unseen destination.
- Italy - I would book a car and drive endlessly through the north and try to find my paternal family roots.
- China - I have always wanted to see the Terracotta Army and cook real Chinese food !
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