Peugeot Life Magazine - August 2012

From now on, Auckland is Magnifique

Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour Now Open

FRENCH LUXURY, SOPHISTICATION AND FIVE-STAR QUALITY HAS ARRIVED.

BOLD AND STYLISH, THE HOTEL’S CHIC INTERIORS, WATER FILLED LOBBY AND TRANQUIL PRIVATE MARINA

PERFECTLY COMPLEMENT THIS UNIQUE WATERSIDE ADDRESS.

21 Viaduct Harbour Avenue - Auckland 1010 - New Zealand

Tel: +64 9 909 9000 - Email: [email protected] - www.Sofitel.com

elcome to the latest edition of Peugeot Life!Since 1810, Peugeot has associated its name and Lion badge

with saws, tools, coffee and pepper grinders, sewing machines, bicycles, motorcycles and scooters – as well as some of the most beautiful cars in the world. To each of these products Peugeot has brought modernity, innovation and style. With strong family values and ownership, Peugeot remains, as always, customer-focused and well-versed to see it through the current challenges in Europe.

So far, 2012 has been an exceptionally rewarding year for us and our customers. We expanded our range and hosted both the New Zealand and Australian dealer launch of our first-ever compact SUV, the stunning new 4008, at The Hills golf course in Queenstown, with Sir Michael Hill in attendance.

The new 4008 has already been met with applause in New Zealand – New Zealand Herald motoring writer Liz Dobson judged it the most attractive compact SUV on the market.

The second half of 2012 is shaping up to be really promising as we say goodbye to the classic 207 model range and launch its exciting replacement, the sleek new 208. With that in mind, we feature in this issue an entertaining article on the launch of the new 208 in Portugal.

Along with producing and launching an array of new models, Automobiles Peugeot has been busy as a Key Partner of the Roland Garros French Open in Paris. We sent two lucky ladies off to Paris following their humourous winning entry in our EuroLease competition (see story).

As we head towards 2013, Peugeot’s pioneering work with diesel-electric hybrid 4WD technology will become a reality in New Zealand with the arrival of the new 3008 Hybrid 4 and 508 RXH models. Rumour has it we will also import the new 2008, an exciting new mini-compact SUV to be showcased at the International Paris Motor Show later this year.

We really hope you enjoy reading this edition of Peugeot Life. We have tried to include something for everyone: you’ll find stories on everything from exclusive international travel, to interviews with the Peugeot-sponsored cycling team, PureGo, as well as a challenge to all our readers to walk on the wild side to help cure kids.

On behalf of the executive team for the New Zealand importer of Peugeot, we sincerely thank you for taking the time to learn a little more about our plans for the brand and we invite you to visit one of our dealerships where you can expect a personal, memorable and relaxed experience.

Yours sincerely,

Grant Smith Simon RoseGeneral Manager Divisional Manager

W

02_07_PL9_Contents.indd 8 18/7/12 11:37:57 AM

From now on, Auckland is Magnifique

Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour Now Open

FRENCH LUXURY, SOPHISTICATION AND FIVE-STAR QUALITY HAS ARRIVED.

BOLD AND STYLISH, THE HOTEL’S CHIC INTERIORS, WATER FILLED LOBBY AND TRANQUIL PRIVATE MARINA

PERFECTLY COMPLEMENT THIS UNIQUE WATERSIDE ADDRESS.

21 Viaduct Harbour Avenue - Auckland 1010 - New Zealand

Tel: +64 9 909 9000 - Email: [email protected] - www.Sofitel.com


A d i s t i n c t ly d i f f e r e n t w A y

t o c r u i s e d o w n - u n d e r

Join Marina on her first visit down-under. Soak up the

vibrant atmosphere of Sydney with an overnight stay on

board before departing on a glorious voyage to the turquoise

waters of French Polynesia. En-route cruise the stunning

Milford Sound and the coast of New Zealand, appreciating

your country from a different perspective.

s y d n e y t o P A P e e t e | 2 5 n i G H t V o y A G e

emb ark M a r in a M ar ch 14 , 2 0 13

“During Marina’s splendid inaugural

visit to the Pacific, we invite you to see

Y our W orld from a new perspective.”

25 night upper-premium cruiseBalcony stateroomfrom $7,995 per guest, share twin

INCREDIBLE VALUELOOK WHAT’S INCLUDED

• 25nightcruisefromSydneytoPapeeteinaBalconyStateroom

• all cuisineincludedonboardwithnochargeforspecialtyrestaurants

• shuttlesfromporttocitycentreinmanyports of call

• Unlimitedsoftdrinksandbottledwater,cappucino,espresso,teaandjuices

• 24-hourroomserviceincluded

• Gratuties & port taxes

PLUSUS$500 SHIPBOARD CREDIT

PER STATEROOM*

32 Cruises on saleasia, PaCiFiC, euroPe,

souTH aMeriCa, PanaMa Canal, CariBBean

New Brochure Out Now!

Points of Distinc tion

n Elegant mid-size ship catering to just 1,250 guests

n finest cuisine at sea, served in a variety of distinctive open-seating restaurants, all at no additional charge

n Port-intensive itineraries featuring more overnight visits and extended evening port stays

n country club-casual ambiance; tuxedos and gowns are never required

n Butler service offered in all suites

n Acclaimed canyon Ranch spaclub®

n Extraordinarily high staff-to-guest ratio ensures exemplary personalized service

Voted one of the World’s Best Cruise linesFOR A BROCHURE CALL 0800 CRUISE (278 473)

TO BOOK CONTACT yOUR TRAVEL AgENT | OCEANIACRUISES.COM

*Offerexpires30Sep2012.FaresareNZD,perguest,sharetwin,basedonleadinbalconystateroomasat4July2012.Subjecttochange&availability.Seebrochureforfurtherconditions.

contents

Peugeot Life magazine is published by Hope Publishing Ltd for

Sime Darby Automobiles NZ Ltd,PO Box 74-366, Greenlane,

Auckland 1543, New Zealand.

Advertising enquiries to: Don Hope +64 9-358 4080,

Editor – Tom HydeSubeditor – Patrick Smith

Creative Director – Mark LlewellynPrinting – GEON

Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Sime Darby Automobiles NZ Ltd or its agents. All material

in Peugeot Life is copyright and cannot be reproduced in any way without the written consent of the Publisher.

While every eff ort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content, the Publisher and

Sime Darby Automobiles NZ Ltd accept no liability for any errors. Please confi rm with your local Peugeot dealer.

To change your address details or subscribe please phone 09-526 7010

or email [email protected]

PEUGEOTPEUGEOTPEUGEOTlife08

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HOT PROPERTYThe 4008 compact SUV is destined to become the most popular new Peugeot in New Zealand.

A PORTUGUESE LOVE AFFAIRLiz Dobson falls for Peugeot’s sexy new 208 hatchback at its launch in Portugal.

CURE KIDS RCZ LIMITED EDITIONOwners of 10 extra-special RCZs will be contributing to a very good cause.

SMOOTH OPERATORMotoring writer Bill Green fi nds the 508 SW 2.0 HDi a miser on fuel.

THE PEUGEOT RANGEOur latest range offers drivers more variety and excitement than ever before.

TALES FROM THE INNOVATION FILESThe new 208 is already a show-stopper, but the fun doesn’t end there.

A MOVING EXPERIENCEA great train journey captures the imagination and offers a unique sense of adventure.

GOOD KAI GUIDEJoin us on a culinary road trip around New Zealand.

FAMILY OF 12An elite cluster of wineries produce some of this country’s fi nest wines.


A d i s t i n c t ly d i f f e r e n t w A y

t o c r u i s e d o w n - u n d e r

Join Marina on her first visit down-under. Soak up the

vibrant atmosphere of Sydney with an overnight stay on

board before departing on a glorious voyage to the turquoise

waters of French Polynesia. En-route cruise the stunning

Milford Sound and the coast of New Zealand, appreciating

your country from a different perspective.

s y d n e y t o P A P e e t e | 2 5 n i G H t V o y A G e

emb ark M a r in a M ar ch 14 , 2 0 13

“During Marina’s splendid inaugural

visit to the Pacific, we invite you to see

Y our W orld from a new perspective.”

25 night upper-premium cruiseBalcony stateroomfrom $7,995 per guest, share twin

INCREDIBLE VALUELOOK WHAT’S INCLUDED

• 25nightcruisefromSydneytoPapeeteinaBalconyStateroom

• all cuisineincludedonboardwithnochargeforspecialtyrestaurants

• shuttlesfromporttocitycentreinmanyports of call

• Unlimitedsoftdrinksandbottledwater,cappucino,espresso,teaandjuices

• 24-hourroomserviceincluded

• Gratuties & port taxes

PLUSUS$500 SHIPBOARD CREDIT

PER STATEROOM*

32 Cruises on saleasia, PaCiFiC, euroPe,

souTH aMeriCa, PanaMa Canal, CariBBean

New Brochure Out Now!

Points of Distinc tion

n Elegant mid-size ship catering to just 1,250 guests

n finest cuisine at sea, served in a variety of distinctive open-seating restaurants, all at no additional charge

n Port-intensive itineraries featuring more overnight visits and extended evening port stays

n country club-casual ambiance; tuxedos and gowns are never required

n Butler service offered in all suites

n Acclaimed canyon Ranch spaclub®

n Extraordinarily high staff-to-guest ratio ensures exemplary personalized service

32 Cruises on 32 Cruises on

Voted one of the World’s Best Cruise linesFOR A BROCHURE CALL 0800 CRUISE (278 473)

TO BOOK CONTACT yOUR TRAVEL AgENT | OCEANIACRUISES.COM

*Offerexpires30Sep2012.FaresareNZD,perguest,sharetwin,basedonleadinbalconystateroomasat4July2012.Subjecttochange&availability.Seebrochureforfurtherconditions.


WELLINGTON2 – 5 & 8 – 11 August

INVERCARGILL14 – 15 August

DUNEDIN18 – 19 August

NAPIER23 – 25 August

PALMERSTON NORTH28 – 29 August

TAKAPUNA1 – 2 September

AUCKLAND5 – 9 September

nzballet.org.nzfacebook.com/nzballet

SEASON SPONSOR NATIONAL SPONSOR SUPPORTED BY

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE! Subscribe for both The TOWER Season of Cinderella and The TelstraClear Season of Giselle and receive 20% off the cost of full priced tickets. Book now: nzballet.org.nz

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TEMPTATIONS – YOUR GIFT GUIDEObjects of desire, from beautiful watches to colourful golf clubs.

EUROLEASE – GAME, SET, MATCHCompetition winners get the

VIP treatment in Paris.

WALK ON THE WILD SIDEWe challenge our owners to walk

with us to cure kids.

DANCE, DANCE, DANCERoyal NZ Ballet star Antonia Hewitt

casts a spell in Cinderella.

NEW 4008 LAUNCHThe Hills golf club hosts the

NZ launch of the compact 4WD SUV.

THE DAILY GRINDPeugeot is also famous for

its fi ne kitchen mills.

RIDE HARD, HAVE FUN, DO GOODThe Peugeot-sponsored PureGo

cycling team rides for charity down south.

PEUGEOT KIDS DRIVING SCHOOLPeugeot pedal cars stay on

track as kids learn road rules.

SOFITEL IN AUCKLANDVIPs arrive in style for a luxury

Viaduct Harbour hotel opening.

contents

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WELLINGTON2 – 5 & 8 – 11 August

INVERCARGILL14 – 15 August

DUNEDIN18 – 19 August

NAPIER23 – 25 August

PALMERSTON NORTH28 – 29 August

TAKAPUNA1 – 2 September

AUCKLAND5 – 9 September

nzballet.org.nzfacebook.com/nzballet

SEASON SPONSOR NATIONAL SPONSOR SUPPORTED BY

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE! Subscribe for both The TOWER Season of Cinderella and The TelstraClear Season of Giselle and receive 20% off the cost of full priced tickets. Book now: nzballet.org.nz

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ar-makers have been getting into bed with one another ever since Henry Ford

perfected the assembly line, so the fact that the new 4008 results from a joint

venture between Peugeot and Mitsubishi shouldn’t come as a surprise. What is surprising to a grizzled old motoring hack like me is how Peugeot has managed to define the 4008 as an entirely diff erent vehicle to the Mitsubishi ASX that shares much of the same engineering bloodlines. You’d never know that these two compact SUVs are made in the same factory from the way they look and drive. One is recognisably European in its design, refi nement, and driving persona, while the other is one of the better Japanese soft-roaders on the market. Peugeot hasn’t just “badge-engineered” its replacement for the successful 4007, which was essentially a clone of the Mitsubishi Outlander. Instead it has seized the opportunity to give its new off ering in one of the hottest sectors of the Kiwi market more distinction, and I have to applaud the way that the French company’s designers and engineers have gone about it.

For it was hard to ignore the economic realities facing Europe while driving the new 4008 at the international launch of the compact SUV in Portugal. Th e shuttle-bus driver who delivered us to the launch venue was a highly qualified automotive engineer who had recently been made redundant, along with 80 per cent of the rest of

his former employer’s staff. It was a timely reminder that the European car industry is currently facing the greatest challenge to its survival since the need to rebuild its operations after the devastation caused by World War II. Achieving more targets with less resources will be crucial to helping Europe’s car-makers overcome today’s economic challenges, and the new 4008 presents a great example of how to do it.

Take the eye-catching exterior design. Th e drive programme for the launch took us to the picturesque hilltop town of Sintra, high above the Estoril coast, north of Lisbon – a resting place for some of the vast reserves of “new world money” won by former Portuguese colonialists. Now the drive of choice for Sintra’s residents is usually an expensive luxury vehicle wearing a German brand, yet the 4008 appeared to fi t seamlessly into the posh streetscape in the same way that an Audi Q3 or BMW X3 would. Given that the range-topping Feline 4WD model we were driving will wear a pricetag of $45,990 in New Zealand, you certainly get a prestigious-looking vehicle for the money.

Yet the exterior changes from the Mitsubishi ASX design base amount to no more than a new front end combined with a bit of re-cladding around the rearmost window pillars. Th e visual eff ect is defi nitely more intense than the modest sum of the new parts suggests, helped by Peugeot’s tasteful use of chrome highlights, the strips of LED

THE NEW 4008 COMPACT SUV IS DESTINED TO BECOME THE MOST POPULAR NEW PEUGEOT IN NEW ZEALAND IF SALES PREDICTIONS PROVE CORRECT. PAUL OWEN DRIVES IT AT ITS INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH IN PORTUGAL, AND FINDS THE SALES

SOOTH-SAYERS ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY.

HOTPROPERTY

C

08_11_PL9_4008.indd 60 18/7/12 10:15:31 AM

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Peugeot’s elegant new 4008 SUV has an eye-catching exterior and is all quality on the inside.

08_11_PL9_4008.indd 61 18/7/12 10:15:36 AM

driving lights at the front, the sporty-looking 18-inch alloy wheels of the Feline and Allure-spec models, and new rear tail lights styled to resemble the claws of a lion. A fellow journalist attending the event has since hailed the 4008 as “the most attractive compact SUV on the market” in print, and while automotive beauty contests are best judged by individual beholders, my eyes concur with her awarding of the winner’s sash to the 4008.

Inside, the Peugeot takes the quality of the trim to a new level, with more use of foam-backed plastics to increase the tactile appeal of the cabin. Allure models get the panoramic roof glass that lets in more light to create a nice balance with the piano-black-lacquered panels of the centre console and dashboard, and the 4WD Feline version gains heated leather seats as standard, along with brighter xenon headlights on the outside. All models, including the 16-inch alloy wheel-equipped $37,990 Active-spec base 2WD, come with seven airbags, a full inventory of electronic driving aids, remote steering wheel controls, Bluetooth/USB port connectivity, climate and cruise control, rear parking sonar, and an increasingly rare commodity these days – a full-size spare wheel.

A Mitsubishi-engineered powertrain drives the 4008,

but it too feels different, thanks to the extra refinement added by Peugeot. The 113kW 2.0-litre petrol engine drives one of Mitsubishi’s signature constantly-variable transmissions (CVT) before the torque is either passed on to the front wheels in the two 2WD models, or divvied out as required to all four wheels by the adaptive distribution of the sole 4WD model. While the Japanese company has been at the forefront of developing more fuel-efficient and increasingly refined CVT automatic gearboxes, the otherwise impressive technology often results in undesirable sound effects, especially when the engine is under load. For the 4008, Peugeot has subdued the potential for increased noise and harshness when the four-cylinder engine is working hard by adding an extra layer of sound-absorbing materials to the cabin. As a result, the ambient cabin noise levels are lower than those of most compact SUVs.

Another of the 4008’s points of difference made itself clear while descending from Sintra to the rugged Estoril coastline via a steep and narrow back road – the different suspension tune that Peugeot has conjured up for their version of the vehicle. Slightly firmer springs are matched to increased damping and stronger stabiliser bars to create

The 4008 may not be built for rallying, but the 4WD version in particular handled well in off-road conditions.

08_11_PL9_4008.indd 62 18/7/12 10:15:45 AM

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a sportier handling character. The Peugeot steers with more verve than I remember the ASX displaying when first sampling the Mitsubishi over similar roads around the hills above Adelaide, while the 4008’s increased control of body-weight transfer when cornering has increased its overall grip on the road. Yet ride quality appears to have suffered little as a result of Peugeot’s chassis revisions. The 4008 will still meet the expectations of those attracted to driving a compact SUV due to the cosseting ride that such vehicles usually deliver.

The compact SUV segment is often termed the “soft-roader” class, a term that implies such vehicles are primarily targeted at on-road use. The 4WD version of the 4008 is no different, as designer, Gilles Vidal, explains:

“Obviously, you’re not going to win the Paris-Dakar rally with it, but it does offer some off-road capability.”

When venturing away from formed roads, the adaptive 4WD system can be locked into a 50:50 front-to-rear torque distribution setting, ensuring that all four wheels are permanently driven. On the road, the system can either be locked into a front-drive mode to conserve tyre life and fuel use, or an “auto” setting that primarily drives the front wheels until encountering a slippery surface, when up to

55 per cent of the engine torque can be sent to the rear wheels. While the 4008 has impressive rear bumper clearance, thanks to a more abbreviated rear overhang than the 4007, the front bumper and underbelly clearance is similar to that of other soft-roaders, and will place the biggest limitations on how far it can venture into the wilderness. However, towing the boat up a moss-infested ramp or safely accessing the skifield are tasks that it should perform with relish, judging from our experience on a short off-road section during the launch event drive.

The 4008 is 300mm shorter than the 4007, but offers a cabin that is just as spacious as that of the vehicle it replaces. With the more compact dimensions come increased parking friendliness, reduced fuel consumption, and what are undoubtedly Gall ic good looks. New Zealand sales are forecast at 300-400 per year, a volume that, if realised, will crown the 4008 as the most popular new Peugeot model here. Given that the compact SUV sector is the hottest property in our market, and given that this is one of the best-furnished vehicles in the class, as well as one of the most attractive in both price and design, that sales prediction is perhaps just a tad conservative.

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LIZ DOBSON FALLS FOR PEUGEOT’S SEXY NEW 208 HATCHBACK AT ITS INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH IN PORTUGAL.

A PORTUGUESELOVE AFFAIR

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t’s fitting that the the international launch in Portugal of Peugeot’s 208

is held at an exclusive resort with a stunning modern hotel on the coast at

Cascais, 40 minutes out of Lisbon.The new hatchback – like The Oitavos hotel –

is a sleek, crisp affair with plenty of design features to impress.

It’s also fitting that my room number at the hotel is 208, but what isn’t fitting is when the 208’s interior designer, Adam Bazydlo, goes to sign a bar tab and puts his room number down as 208.

“Um, that’s my room,” I tell the affable Bazydlo, who is “shouting” some motoring writers to a post-press conference drink.

Shocked, he apologises, puts his correct room number down and explains, “After speaking about the 208 for more than a month that’s the only number I remember.”

We’re the last group of around 1,000 international journalists who are at Cascais. For six weeks, Bazydlo and the team from Peugeot HQ have talked about the hatchback they’re hoping will attract the same adoration as the beloved 205.

The company wants to revitalise the marque with what they are calling “the most ambitious specification overhaul ever undertaken to create a vehicle which marks a true generation leap”.

The company’s European plan is, among others, to introduce more women to the hatchback and next year have a 10 per cent share of the B-segment, in which the 208 sits.

Its main competitors in Europe are VW Polo, Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio, while in New Zealand the 208 will also be taking on the Toyota Yaris, Hyundai’s i20 and Kia’s Rio.

While the Europeans have been zipping around their roads since April in the hatchback, New Zealand gets its first look in October – but it will be worth the wait.

The models to be sold in New Zealand will all have a 1.6-litre petrol engine with auto transmission and come in three variants: the five-door Active, and three- and five-door Allure.

Standard across the range will be six airbags and ESP, bluetooth and cooled glovebox, while the Allure models gain such features as sports seats and LED lights.

Peugeot’s New Zealand distributor, Sime Darby,

I

The new 208: Sleek and crisp, with impressive design features and road-hugging handling.

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hopes to sell 300 models of the 208 over a 12-month period to help the Lion brand hit 1,000 sales here.

Key to that overall increase is the price of the 208, with the present 207 retailing from $23,990.

“The objective... is that the new 208 launches at the same price as the 207 range it replaces, which we are pleased to say we expect to achieve,” said Simon Rose, divisional manager of Sime Darby.

“The new 208 delivers a superb experience for the drive in terms of feel and handling, reminiscent of the GTi and 205 era.”

And the 208 achieves all of that. Forget about the middle-of-the road looks of the 206 and 207, this hatch is a one sexy beast – thanks in part to Bazydlo.

The interior is a simpler affair: the car gains a clean look with the heads-up instrument cluster’s contents sitting just over the top of the steering wheel. That means the speedo and rev counter can be seen at an easy glance. The dash has a pop-up screen, with the air-conditioning vents and controls angled below it.

But it’s the steering wheel that dominates the cabin’s style. It’s smaller than previous models and its flattened rather than rounded base produces a sporty look. Its smaller size also helps direct and precise driving control, as demonstrated around the windy mountain roads outside of Lisbon, where we head to for lunch.

The 208 is 7cm shorter than the 207, but the new car has more rear legroom because of thinner front seats.

The exterior continues the refined styling cues of the interior, with a floating front grille and a compact overhang that gives the bonnet shorter lines.

The body gains sculpted lines while the boot has a subdued curve and the dominant look is the C-shaped rear lights that really make the car stand out on the motorway when you’re following it.

And it’s at speed that the 208 shows its dominance. Testing the manual five-speed petrol and six-speed diesel through Lisbon’s motorway system, then into the mountains, I admire the hatch’s smooth handling and ease of maneuvrability – thanks in part to the small steering wheel.

The car bumped through the cobbled roads of villages – those 500-year-old roads were made for hooves not hoofing it! But heading back to Cascais via the Gothic mountain town of Sintra, the hatch hugs the busy roads, easily delivering extra pep when we have a chance to overtake parked tourist cars that dominate the area.

The car also looks the part in the very affluent region of Portugal; if we were paying guests at The Oitavos, the doorman certainly wouldn’t turn us away when we arrived in the head-turning 208.

Sporty lines, clean and simple interior and impressive driving control on

motorway and mountain roads.

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208 Interior Designer, Adam Bazydlo.

Touch screen with interactive Apps.

Improved visibility front…

Let your body drive.

Sleek design.

…and back.

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The weight savings made by the coming new Peugeot 208 hatchback deserve a special mention on The Biggest Loser reality TV series. For buyers will definitely be winners from the 110kg that Peugeot has carved from the replacement for the 207, especially as the new body is stiffer, more spacious, and more crash-energy absorbent than before. The benefits from the mass reduction are lower fuel consumption, livelier performance, and a more engaging driving experience. When it arrives in October, the NZ-spec 208 will have the same 88kW 1.6-litre petrol/four-speed automatic powertrain as the current $23,990 207 XT, so that its lighter body provides the foundations for the new car’s improved dynamics.

The new suspension set-up represents the car’s other great leap forward. Although the format and layout of the MacPherson strut front end and torsion-beam rear is the same as the 207’s, subtle revisions to spring rates, damping, and flexibility of the suspension bushes have

created more agile handling, along with the stiffer platform that the new body gives for both the steering and suspension to work from.

So how did Peugeot do it? Shortening the front and rear overhangs of the car not only improved both the 208’s handling and looks, it also resulted in a healthy weight saving while giving the opportunity to provide 50mm more rear passenger seat leg-room. The French engineers then hunted down the sources of cabin noise when the car is in motion and fixed them, reducing the reliance of the 208 on heavy, sound-absorbing materials.

Three models will go on sale in October – a base Active-spec five-door and two Allure-spec cars in either three-door or five-door formats. It’s the three-door that is the real standout of the range, thanks to its more elegant proportions and 17-inch alloy wheels. Best news of all is that the base five-door model isn’t expected to cost any more than the current 207 ~ Paul Owen.

Less equals more

Lighter by 110kg than the 207 model it replaces, the new 208 is a lively performer, while improved suspension offers better handling.

12_17_PL9_208.indd 64 18/7/12 10:31:15 AM

DON’T LET YOUR SERVICE PROVIDER

GAMBLE WITH YOUR PRIDE AND JOY.

www.peugeot.co.nz

Non-genuine replacement parts and lubricants come with a risk, so always demand that your service centre use genuine parts manufactured and supplied by Automobiles Peugeot. Our parts are backed by a 12 month/unlimited km warranty, which will ensure smooth running and peace of mind. A sure bet in anyone’s book.

12_17_PL9_208.indd 65 18/7/12 10:31:17 AM

10 Limited edition

RCZ Coupés support Cure Kids

Above: Cure Kids Ambassador, Simon, lives with kidney disease. Below: Cure kids Ambassadors and Executive team; the 10 personalised Limited Edition RCZ models come with more than $4,000-worth of extra features. New owners contribute one per cent of the retail price to the Cure Kids charity, which raises money for researchinto serious childhood diseases.

18_19_PL9_RCZ_CK.indd 60 18/7/12 11:24:17 AM

BUY A UNIQUE EURO-STYLE SET OF PLATE SURROUNDS FOR ONLY $29* WITH $15 GOING TO CURE KIDS!

WE’LL KEEP DRIVING TO CURE KIDS

*Includes GST, postage and handling.

39340 Peugeot Cure Kids flyeR Ï.indd 1 18/07/12 10:49 AM

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ure Kids was established 35 years ago to raise money for research into life-threatening childhood diseases. Since that time, more

than $29 million has been raised to help fi ght a range of conditions, including leukaemia, long QT syndrome, cystic fi brosis, cot death

and asthma. As one of 14 Cure Kids Key Partners since 2010, Peugeot New Zealand

recently released 10 personalised Limited Edition RCZ models with more than $4,000-worth of additional features at no cost. Peugeot will donate one per cent of the retail price to the charity in the name of the owner.

Priced at $64,990, each RCZ comes with Limited Edition black and silver 19-inch alloy wheels, an exclusive Euro Plate displaying Peugeot and Cure Kids logos plus boot and bonnet stripe in matt charcoal or silver. The cars are available in four diff erent colours and come with a colour-coded full body kit.

Says Peugeot divisional manager Simon Rose, “It’s been a privilage for us to be able to market the Limited Edition RCZ and to be able to give something back to Cure Kids. With its striking design and concave glass roof, the RCZ has become a clear favourite in the European sportscar segment. The vehicle encapsulates everything that Peugeot stands for as a brand.”

10 Limited edition

RCZ Coupés support Cure Kids

C

Purchase a set of Peugeot-designed Cure Kids number plate surrounds for only $29 with $15 going directly to the charity.

18_19_PL9_RCZ_CK.indd 61 18/7/12 11:24:22 AM

From Blenheim to Invercargill and back again - the 508 HDI wagon carried Bill and Vicki Green some 1,876km on around $150-worth of diesel. At 5.7km per 100km, Bill said, it was “an outstanding result”.

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ill Green, an avid fan of rallying and Formula 1 racing, has been covering the

New Zealand automotive scene for the Marlborough Express for 16 years. He is also

the motoring editor of the website ROAD-TESTS.com and from his home in Blenheim he enjoys slot-car racing and has been a speedway commentator for more than 25 years.

In short, Bill knows a thing or two about cars, which is why he was asked to test-drive a new Peugeot 508 SW 2.0 HDi. This wasn’t your usual test drive, though. The aim was to assess the fuel efficiency of this smart diesel wagon.

Th e tank of the 508 SW holds 72 litres. Th e question was: how far would that get him and his wife, Vicki, who accompanied him on what he describes on the website as a “touristy” road trip? Th e idea was to treat this road test as an ordinary holiday drive, on ordinary roads and in everyday driving conditions to determine how fuel-thrifty the 508 SW could be.

Th ey set out from Blenheim having decided to stick to State Highway 1 with only a few short diversions. Th e journey was planned over six days, with selected stops – among these, places with second-hand shops where they might fi nd a unique piece of Alfred Meakin china to add to their collection.

“Getting used to the 508 wagon didn’t take long,” he writes. He found the satellite navigation system “easy to use, compared to a number of others on the market” and the diesel engine “percolated along quietly with little fuss”.

Just north of Kaikoura, they made their fi rst stop for a look at the Ohau Point seal colony. By then he had found “the vehicle has a sweet spot marginally under the 100km/h mark, so that was the best for cruising”.

After a short delay caused by a stock truck that had left the road, they rolled on through North Canterbury with the aim of spending the fi rst night at Gore Bay Lodge, near Cheviot, “a real seafront motel”. At the end of the day the trip computer told them they had travelled 210km and still had 960km-worth of fuel left in the tank.

Th e next day, after a short stop in Amberley to use the free internet service of the local library, they rolled on into mid-Canterbury and a coff ee stop at Rakaia, before heading over to Tinwald to visit the Plains Railway that Bill describes as “a must see, even if you aren’t that into trains. Th e setup and the museum are excellent”.

After lunch at Loan and Merc, a waterfront café in Oamaru, they stopped in Moeraki to see the famous seaside boulders before driving on into Dunedin, where they spent the night at Th e Brothers Boutique Hotel, a few minutes’ walk from the Octagon. They had now travelled 683km, averaging 5.7 litres per 100km and still had enough diesel in the tank for another 600km.

Day Three began with a stop between Milton and Balclutha to inspect a restored sod cottage from the 1880s. Bill writes, “Th e 508 purred along, still delivering great economy.”

Arriving in Invercargill, they made the turn towards Bluff , fi nally reaching the end of SH1 at Stirling Point. Th ey returned to Invercargill for a night at the Victoria Railway Hotel. Th e 508 had covered a total of 968km and according to the trip computer still had 360km left in the tank.

Heading north again, they were nearing Moeraki when the red warning light blinked on, so they stopped and put fi ve litres into the tank, even though the trip computer was telling them they were good for another 130km. Th e 508 SW had achieved an incredible 1,250.8km on one tank of diesel, consuming just 5.7l/100km.

On day six, after stops in Waimate, Timaru and Christchurch, they arrived back in Blenheim. “Over the six days,” Bill concluded, “we had covered 1,876.6km at 5.7l/100km, all on State Highway 1 except for a few excursions. By my reckoning we used about 95 litres for the whole trip, or approximately $150 of diesel.”

Simon Rose, divisional manager of Peugeot, said later, “We are exceptionally impressed with the fi gures Bill was able to achieve in our new 508 SW HDi.” And, who wouldn’t be? As Bill himself declared, it was “an outstanding result!” To view Bill’s road trip video visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wucaMY16tgI

RENOWNED MOTORING WRITER BILL GREEN TOOK THE NEW 508 SW 2.0 HDI ON A LEISURELY DRIVE AROUND THE SOUTH ISLAND

ACHIEVING AN ASTONISHING 1,250KM FROM ONE TANK OF FUEL.

SMOOTH OPERATOR

B

20_21_PL9_508_eco.indd 61 19/7/12 11:08:20 AM

To learn more, visit www.peugeot.co.nz To learn more, visit www.peugeot.co.nz

ith the all-new 208, Peugeot brings high technology and

premium-vehicle quality into the small-car genre in a way that rewrites

the rulebook for the segment. The exterior, interior and engineering break free of the conventional constraints of super-mini motoring: on the outside, the 208 embodies Peugeot’s new aesthetic codes, while the inside features a completely reorganised driving environment. Th e

instrument panel is elevated and a large touch screen creates what the maker calls an “ensemble” of functions for the occupants.

Th e 208 perfectly embodies Peugeot’s guiding principle of outstanding effi ciency. Passenger and luggage space have been dramatically increased over the model it replaces, yet the car is on average 110kg lighter. Over a quarter of polymer materials used in its construction are of either natural or recycled origin.

WNew 208

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To learn more, visit www.peugeot.co.nz To learn more, visit www.peugeot.co.nz 23

FROM SMALL MIRACLES LIKE THE 208 TO THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY 3008; FROM THE SUPERCAR STYLING OF THE RCZ TO THE BRILLIANT FUNCTIONALITY OF THE

PARTNER VAN – PEUGEOT’S LATEST RANGE OF VEHICLES OFFERS DRIVERS MORE VARIETY AND EXCITEMENT THAN EVER BEFORE.

THE PEUGEOT RANGE FOR 2013

Premium quality, high-tech performance and outstanding economy in a small package.

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One of the best-loved and most familiar models in Peugeot’s New Zealand range, the 308 is also at the cutting edge of driving pleasure, practicality and environmental friendliness. In addition to a stylish makeover last year that brought Peugeot’s trademark “fl oating grille” and striking daytime running lights, the 308 now weighs 25kg less than the previous model and is powered by a Euro V-compliant diesel engine.

Th e 308 remains one of the most spacious and practical models in its class, thanks to a “semi-tall” profile that combines the sporty looks of a truly European car with the height and visibility required for no-comprise comfort and ease of use.

Th e 308 is available in hatchback and SW versions – the latter can even accommodate up to seven people.

To learn more, visit www.peugeot.co.nz

Among the most spacious and practical models in its class, the 308 offers cutting-edge driving pleasure.

308


The spacious cabin will feature 7 seats as standard.

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25

The RCZ brings a little supercar style and road presence to the sportscar market. The low-slung RCZ is characterised by its arched aluminium-capped roofline, dramatic curves and racing-style “double bubble” rear window.

But the RCZ is not just for show. Whether in automatic or more powerful manual-transmission specification, the RCZ has been acclaimed as a true driver’s machine.

A sportscar is often seen as a selfish choice, but not in this case: a run of 10 limited-edition RCZ models carrying $4,000-worth of extras is helping Peugeot New Zealand’s charity of choice, Cure Kids. The company is donating 1 per cent of the purchase price of each special RCZ sold to Cure Kids, with the new owner personally handing over the cheque to the charity.


RCZ

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Th e new 508 has cemented Peugeot as a designer and builder of premium sedan and estate cars. From the outset, the company set out to raise the bar in terms of styling, interior quality and driving dynamics.

Th e 508 was the fi rst model to benefi t from Peugeot’s ground-breaking new design ethos, with a “fl oating” grille design, beautifully contoured aluminium bonnet, sculpted-from-solid profile and a long wheelbase for maximum occupant comfort.

In addition to the extremely high quality of materials used in the cabin, the 508 features some very advanced equipment normally associated with top-line luxury cars, such as a colour head-up display, quad-zone climate air conditioning (allowing even the two rear-seat passengers to tailor their own individual temperatures) and adaptive headlights.

With the 508 Peugeot has raised the bar in terms of styling, interior quality and driving dynamics.

508

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Wouldn’t it be great if you could enjoy all of the driving pleasure and practicality of a 508-sized wagon, benefit from lifestyle all-road ability but limit fuel-use to an absolute minimum – zero in some situations. That’s not a “what if ” with the 508 RXH crossover, of course.

This new model is New Zealand-bound and marries the best aspects of the 508 SW with off-road style, four-wheel drive and a high-tech diesel/electric hybrid powertrain. Truly a groundbreaking car – and one that achieves fuel efficiency of 4.2 litres per 100km in official testing. The RXH can even be driven in a zero-emissions fully electric mode for short distances.

Being sustainable does not mean going without. The RXH is also loaded with luxury equipment, such as keyless entry/start, head-up display and a premium audio system. It’s due for New Zealand in 2013.

508 RXH

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The 3008 Crossover does what it says on the box: crosses a variety of vehicle types to create a truly unique automotive experience.

It has the rugged looks and high driving position of an off -road vehicle, but avoids the unnecessary weight and complexity of an all-wheel drive system. It has all the space and versatility of a multi-purpose vehicle, but manages to maintain the sleek style and individuality of a sporty wagon.

Characterful features include an innovative head-up display that’s projected on a Perspex slide in front of the driver, Peugeot signature full-length glass roof and a dual-layer boot for the ultimate in cargo-carrying versatility.

Th e 3008 is also a showcase for Peugeot’s world-leading diesel-engine technology: it’s available exclusively with a 2.0-litre HDi unit that provides strong performance with incredible fuel effi ciency.

In the near future, the 3008 will also be available in Hybrid diesel 4WD.

The genre-hopping 3008 is spacious and versatile with a sporty individuality.

3008

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With the arrival of the 4008, one thing has become crystal-clear: Peugeot is quite the specialist in small-medium crossover vehicles. Th e super-stylish new 4008 combines elegant looks with a raised ride height, extremely effi cient petrol engine and continuously variable transmission.

The efficiency of front-drive or the all-weather and rough-road ability of automatic four-wheel drive? Th e choice is yours, with a three-tier range that off ers both drivetrain combinations.

Th e wide appeal of the 4008 is evidence of Peugeot’s growing interest in export markets such as New Zealand. More than 70 per cent of 4008 sales are expected to occur outside Europe, hence the international fl avour of the marque’s latest hugely capable SUV.

Peugeot is not merely about passenger cars: it’s also an acknowledged leader in the world of commercial vehicles, exemplified by the Partner van available in New Zealand.

Trust Peugeot to come up with a van that has all the style and innovation of its best passenger models, though. Under the sculpted exterior lines are clever features such as the Multi Flex passenger seat, which can be used to

accommodate up to three people in the front, or fold away for very long loads.

Th e cargo area is up there with the best in its class: it can carry a Euro pallet sideways and boasts asymmetric rear doors that can open up to 180 degrees.

Needless to say, Partner’s punchy diesel engine and superb chassis make it a thrifty, fun-to-drive van as well!

4008

Partner

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Peugeot is legendary for its hot-hatch GTi models. The new GTi not only draws on the maker’s fi ne heritage in this area, it’s also one of two show cars that demonstrates how far the 208 can progress down the premium-vehicle route.

Th e GTi is particularly strong on visual appeal. Its place as performance icon of the range is evident in chequered-fl ag motifs, the mesh grille, aerodynamic bodywork and detail touches such as double chromed exhaust pipes.

On the inside, the passenger compartment is a true GTi environment, with a sports leather stitched steering wheel, the treatment of which is replicated on the sides of the gear lever, double stitching in the seats and enhanced with LED backlighting to the surrounds of the high-tech instruments.

The engine is shared with the top-line RCZ coupé: an exhilarating 150kW, 1.6-litre turbo combined with a six-speed manual gearbox. Th e chassis modifi cations are typically thorough: the GTi has a 36mm-wider track, a rear roof spoiler for extra downforce at speed and uprated performance brakes.

Contact us to express your interest.

THE NEW 208 IS ALREADY RECALIBRATING BUYERS’ EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT A

SMALL CAR CAN OFFER. BUT JUDGING BY A STAGGERING VARIETY OF 208-THEMED

INNOVATIONS FROM PEUGEOT, THERE IS MUCH MORE EXCITEMENT AND INVENTION TO

COME FROM THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE PEUGEOT FAMILY.

TALES FROM THE INNOVATION FILES

208 GTI

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31

While the GTi recreates a hot-hatch icon, the XY Concept reinvents the 208 as a luxurious urban express. One of the most striking features of this highly equipped show car is the special Pulsion paintwork, which seems to change colour depending on the distance and viewing angle. The finish was created by a unique process involving 16 individual layers of paint!

The passenger compartment is trimmed with crimson stitched leather on the dashboard, armrests, steering wheel rings, gear lever gaiter and sides, and with stripes on seat inserts and floor mats. The panoramic glass roof is edge-trimmed in black leather.

Pearly-grey leather pleated seats feature five metal rings, which pinch and tighten the material. This precision in the working of the material continues with an exclusive steering wheel in leather, with crimson micro-stripes with a chrome insert in the lower section. Bathed in the natural light provided by the panoramic glass roof, with white ambiance lighting, the finishing touches to the interior add a “gunmetal” aesthetic treatment to the door crossbars, steering wheel decorations and vent trims.

Power comes from a 1.6-litre e-HDi engine, providing the ultimate in urban fuel efficiency. It rides on dual-effect 18-inch wheels that complement its Pulsion exterior colour.

Look out for the XY Concept becoming a reality in 2013.

208 XY CONCEPT

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They may be small, but they have the heart of a lion. Peugeot’s superminis have always provided great platforms for motorsport machines, and the new 208 is no different. The 208 R2 is the first of three competition-inspired cars to be revealed by Peugeot Sport, and ran as “zero car” at the Tour de Corse in May.

The R2 is designed to be the ideal choice for those who are entering rallying for the first time, or more experienced drivers who simply want to enjoy their passion with a purpose-designed machine. It will star in a one-make series in Europe, but will also challenge for class winds in wider series.

Peugeot Sport intends the R2 to become the new benchmark in its competition class. It has paid particular attention to reliability, and has made this machine an easy one to convert from gravel to asphalt specification, with as many parts as possible shared between the two configurations.

The next two 208 motorsport machines to be unveiled will be a bespoke circuit car with a similar specification to the R2, and then a rallying version that meets the FIA’s R5 regulations and will take over from the current 207 Super 2000 motorsport model. Visit www.peugeot-sport.com

208 R2 RALLY

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33

You can have fun with the 208 when its simply parked in a garage. Here’s the evidence: a video created in a collaboration between Peugeot and internet dance superstar Marquese Scott – also known as “NonStop” – has turned the new 208 into a YouTube sensation.

The video is part of a campaign to launch the 208 in the United Kingdom under the “Let Your Body Drive” banner. NonStop choreographed the entire piece, which was shot in one take and features a new track from dance act Rudimental, called Feel The Love. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9YrfHVB4ic&feature=related

208 NONSTOP DANCE

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38_41_PL9_Trains.indd 60 18/7/12 11:27:18 AM

35

all us old-fashioned, but travel by air or road just doesn’t deliver the same romantic thrill as a

classic rail journey. Choose the right train today and you’ll travel in comfort and style through some

of the world’s most compelling landscapes. Whether from the observation car of the Hiram Bingham, the piano bar of the Orient-Express or a suite on the Royal Scotsman, we experience places in an altogether diff erent way.

The stewards in their fine uniforms are poised now, ready to escort us to our cabin. Th e whistle is sounding. Th e train is moving and picking up speed as it pulls away from the station. We are off ...

Th e Rocky Mountaineer British Columbia must be one of the most beautiful

landscapes on the planet. One of the best ways of seeing it is by any of the four Rocky Mountaineer trains.

The Whistler Mountaineer departs North Station, Vancouver at 8:30am every day and arrives in Whistler at 11:30. It departs again for Vancouver at 3pm, allowing more than enough time for a stroll through the ski village and lunch – you’ll be back in Vancouver in time for dinner.

Onboard meals are included, but food is not the attraction in this case as much as the extraordinary landscape the train passes through. Snow-capped mountain peaks, swift rivers and dramatic waterfalls, Fraser Canyon and the Caribous Plateau leave you yearning for more.

Th e Whistler Mountaineer’s Kicking Horse route runs from Vancouver to Calgary through Kamloops and Banff . Th e train passes through the Fraser River Canyon, with its hair-raising drops of 600 metres or more, and Hell’s Gate, a sliver of a mountain passage named for the powerful rush of water through the gap. Th e train stops

for the night at Kamloops, where the Fraser and Th ompson rivers merge.

Th e Yellowhead route between Vancouver and Jasper also stops at Kamloops but then swings north past soaring Mount Robson – the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Th e observation car is the perfect place to be as the train rolls by the Albreda Glacier, Pyramid Falls and into Jasper National Park. The Fraser Discovery route between Whistler and Jasper rolls farther north still, stopping overnight at the historic gold-rush town of Quesnel. www.rockymountianeer.com

Th e Royal ScotsmanTartan-covered sofas and chairs, polished brass,

mahogany panelling, white linen, silver service and an altogether Edwardian style make the Royal Scotsman, a sibling of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, like no other train in the world. The Royal Scotsman departs Edinburgh’s Waverley station. Routes vary from two nights to four; from the east coast of Scotland through Dundee and Aberdeen, to the west coast with stops at Loch Lomond, Fort William and Mallaig. Th e original four-night route through the Highlands remains as popular as ever.

Th e Scotsman also ventures into sassenach country with a seven-night trip called the Grand Tour of Great Britain. The route circles north to Inverness with stops at the lovely Highland village of Boat of Garten and the Rothiemurchus estate, where guests can try their hand at clay-pigeon shooting, then it circles back south again to England, where a stop at Lakes District National Park and a walking tour of historic Chester are among the off -track excursions. Th e journey continues to Wales for a visit to the Gwydir Castle and back to England for guided tours of Hereford and Bath. Th e route continues on from

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT A TRAIN JOURNEY THAT CAPTURES THE IMAGINATION AND OFFERS A UNIQUE SENSE OF ADVENTURE. BY TOM HYDE.

A MOVING EXPERIENCE

C

Far left: The Canadian Rocky Mountaineer trundles its way through British Columbia, where seat-to-ceiling windows give passengers the very best views of the spectacular alpine landscape. Left: Once limited to journeys through Scotland, the Royal Scotsman now winds its way through England, too.

38_41_PL9_Trains.indd 61 18/7/12 11:27:20 AM

there to Oxford, Cambridge, York and Scarborough before returning to Edinburgh.

The Royal Scotsman takes just 36 passengers in 16 twin and four single cabins, each with private toilet and bath facilities. Unlike most other trains, the Scotsman travels only during the day, stopping at night so all on board might have the best possible sleep. Highland venison, local salmon and scallops and, of course, haggis are among the most popular items on the menu at the two onboard restaurants. The train carries an extensive wine list, although single-malt whisky might be more appropriate at times. www.royalscotsman.com

Eastern & Oriental ExpressYou wouldn’t recognise it today but this luxury train

once ran in New Zealand – as the Silver Star. Gerard Gallet, the man who oversaw the splendid refurbishment on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, revamped these carriages for the main trunk line of the Eastern & Oriental Express, between Singapore and Bangkok and the inaugural journey took place in September 1993.

The three-night itinerary commonly includes a stop at Penang, where passengers disembark for a tour of colonial Georgetown. More sobering, the train also stops at Kanachanaburi, site of the River Kawai Bridge, from where guests are guided down the river on rafts to a museum telling the dark story of the 13,000 Allied prisoners of the Japanese and 80,000 Thai civilians who died building the bridge.

The Eastern & Oriental Singapore to Bangkok route may be the most popular one, but an increasing number of aficionados are taking a new route between Bangkok and the Laotian capital of Vientiane. But no matter: the quality of service remains the same. Thirty Superior Cabins, 28 State Cabins and a Presidential Cabin with a complimentary bar beautifully complement two dining cars and an open-air observation deck – the perfect place for coffee and scones at sunrise and a drink before dinner at sunset. All cabins are air-conditioned and come with a private shower and WC.

Breakfast is cabin service, lunch and dinner are taken in the dining cars. Like all Orient-Express trains, this one prides itself on its cuisine, made from the freshest ingredients and prepared onboard by highly accomplished chefs. The menu is a selection of Asian and European dishes. Gentlemen, a jacket and tie for dinner. Fancy a stay at Raffles in Singapore? See the website for special all-inclusive packages in either Singapore or Bangkok. www.orient-express.com

The TranzAlpineFor New Zealanders and Australians especially, this

train is one of the very best and least costly in travel time and money. The TranzAlpine is one of three trains operated by KiwiRail, the other two being the Northern Explorer, between Auckland and Wellington, and the TranzCoastal between Picton and Christchurch. Combining all three would be a fine way for anyone to

see New Zealand free of the anxiety that comes with airports and roads. As its name suggests, the coast-to-coast TranzAlpine traverses the Southern Alps between Christchurch and Greymouth.

The train leaves Christchurch daily at 8.15am. The Canterbury Plains and the Waimakariri River give way to the Waimakariri Gorge and before you know it you’re being served morning tea in the Southern Alps. Stops include Arthur’s Pass, Jacksons and Brunner before the train descends through a dense forest of mountain beech to the West Coast and Greymouth.

Jacksons has an historic pub, where some brave souls swap the train for a helicopter that takes them into the mountains for whitewater rafting and brings them back to the pub for lunch before meeting the TranzAlpine on its return journey to Christchurch.

It’s a 4½-hour, 225km trip from Christchurch to Greymouth, from where it’s a short, scenic drive to the gemstones of Hokitika or the geological wonder that is the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.

The TranzAlpine route takes in 16 tunnels and five viaducts, the highest (73m) known as The Staircase. www.tranzscenic.co.nz

The GhanNamed for Afghan camel drivers who aided the

exploration of the outback in the 19th century, the Ghan began running between Adelaide and Alice Springs in 1929. That original narrow-gauge track was replaced in 1980 by a wider track and in 2004 the track was extended to Darwin.

The Ghan has become one of the most noteworthy train journeys in the world because unless you’re very fond of camels it’s the best way to experience the reality of the Aussie outback. The Platinum Class cabins, introduced in 2009, are spacious, with a double bed, en suite bathroom and 24-hour cabin service. Meals, included in the fare, can be taken in the cabin, unlike the Gold Class, for example, where passengers dine in a dedicated restaurant car, or the Red Class, where meals are not included in the fare.

Peugeot Life readers should inquire about Great Southern Rail’s four private carriages, which can accommodate between six and 10 people overnight, depending on the carriage, and up to 30 for a private function, one way or return.

The Ghan rolls between Adelaide and Darwin twice a week, stopping at Alice Springs along the way. Passengers typically use the three-hour stop there for a tour of the town or shopping. Other off-track excursions include a quad-bike tour of the outback and an exploration of the Katherine River Gorge, either by boat or helicopter.

The Ghan is one of four trains operated by Great Southern Rail. The Indian Pacific runs between Sydney and Perth with a stopover in Adelaide; the Overland links Adelaide to Melbourne; and the Southern Spirit operates between Brisbane and Uluru (Ayers Rock). Private carriages are available on all routes. www.gsr.com.au

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37

Above left to right: The Staircase is the highest of five viaducts on the TranzAlpine route; the TranzAlpine at Springfield station. Below left: Australia’s most famous train, The Ghan, runs between Adelaide and Darwin twice a week with a stop at Alice Springs along the way. Below right: The best of Southeast Asia can be experienced from the comfort of the Eastern & Oriental Express.

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here was a time when fi ne food was hard to fi nd in New Zealand,

even in its largest city. Chef Tony Astle’s iconic Antoine’s restaurant

became a beacon of fi ne dining during the 1970s (and, almost 30 years on, is still among Auckland’s top eating establishments). But Antoine’s was a special-occasion sort of place; our own regular haunt, I seem to recall, was a little Italian joint on Karangahape Road that was always packed. Between the sublimely indulgent and the ridiculously aff ordable, however, pickings were slim.

How things have changed. Cheaper air travel led to more young Kiwis exploring the world, returning home with a taste for foreign flavours – French, Italian and Mediterranean, Indian and Southeast Asian and the multi-ethnic offerings that were blooming across the Tasman.

During the 1980s farm subsidies were abolished and many hard-strapped country folk found ways to survive by producing specialty cheeses, olives and grapes, avocadoes, venison, nuts, herbs, fi gs, preserves and other “niche” food products. Import tariff s were abolished or relaxed and foreign delicacies became more available and affordable. This in turn inspired local growers and producers to turn out their own versions, some of which – like artisan extra-virgin olive oil, Greenshelled Mussels and Cervena (venison) – are now internationally recognised.

Ethnic restaurants have mushroomed since immigration rules were relaxed in the late 80s. Today we fi nd everything from tom yum and teppanyaki to tapas and molecular gastronomy on the menu – along with fabulous Kiwi fare that capitalises on ingredients such as tender, grass-fed beef and lamb, delectable seafood like whitebait, crayfi sh and paua, and fresh seasonal produce.

Kiwi chefs have come to the party too, creating a unique Pacifi c Rim cuisine that incorporates the best of the region’s culinary influences. Some have made an impression on the international restaurant scene – think Peter Gordon, Justin North, Josh Emett and Philip Johnson. Others have settled back home to become local

culinary stars – among them names like Judith Tabron, Simon Gault, Simon Wright, Martin Bosley, Ray McVinnie, Peter Th ornley, Al Brown and Steve Logan.

You can fi nd good food just about anywhere in New Zealand today. Join us now on our north-to-south journey through New Zealand’s culinary landscape…

NorthlandKiller Prawn (26-28 Bank St, Whangarei) is a fun,

casual experience, and if you love prawns you’ll be in heaven. Th e secret of Killer Prawn’s success seems to be fresh ingredients, well cooked and presented and professionally served in a relaxed setting and at a reasonable price. Share a plate of tempura prawns and fresh oysters, then hoe into an AngusPure Scotch fi llet or roll up your sleeves, tuck in your bib and order the signature dish of prawns in a spicy tomato and rosemary broth served with chunky bread for dipping. It’s called – naturally – Killer Prawn. www.killerprawn.co.nz

à Deco (70 Kamo Rd, Whangarei) is an award-winning restaurant in an elegantly refurbished art deco house on the main road. The setting is smart but homely (à la 1930s), with dining on two levels: polished wooden fl oors and deco rugs, chrome-and-white deco details and porthole windows that offer a glimpse of the cooks at work in the kitchen. Chef-owner Brenton Low makes sure the food is pretty special, too, with an inventive menu featuring fresh seasonal treats like juicy Northland scallops. Dine à la carte or go for the fi ve-course tasting menu. Discreet and knowledgeable service. Ph. (09) 979 4957

AucklandThe French Café (210 Symonds St). This Auckland

fi ne-dining institution opened in an unfashionable part of town more than 25 years ago and has been a perennial favourite with foodies every since. Husband-and-wife team Simon Wright (executive chef ) and restaurant manager Creghan Molloy Wright took it more than a dozen years ago and it’s been winning more awards and

We take a culinary road trip through New Zealand, with a few suggestions on where to fi nd winning cuisine. By Patrick Smith.

GOOD KAI

GUIDE

T Above: Martin

Bosley’s Big-eye

tuna “Rossini”,

foie de mer,

mushroom beignet,

carrot puree,

spinach grisp,

brioche, red-wine reduction

and su-miso

sauce.

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39

Clockwise from left: Prawn lovers get their fill of succulent seafood at Whangarei’s Killer Prawn; Killer Prawn’s Spiced roasted autumn fruit mille-feuille, with tamarillo crumble ice cream and freshly crushed vanilla anglaise; Soul Bar & Bistro.

reviewers’ superlatives ever since. The secret? Sublime food, attentive, relaxed service and warm ambience. Wright says his modern French food “combines classical cuisine with a contemporary approach to ingredients and technique”. Choose from 10- or six-course (both omnivore and vegetarian) tasting menus or à la carte. Dishes change with the seasons, but try the Slow-cooked pheasant ravioli and the Vacherin of figs should either be on the menu. The wine list features premium wines from New Zealand, France and Australia. www.thefrenchcafe.co.nz

Soul Bar & Bistro (Viaduct Harbour). Soul co-owner Judith Tabron invested her long restaurant experience and kitchen flare in this waterfront eatery and bar around a decade ago to brilliant effect. In line with its harbourside location, it specialises in fresh seafood, with a long and inventive menu (carnivores and vegetarians not forgotten) and is a regular winner of various Best Restaurant titles. A west-facing all-weather terrace looks onto the harbour marina, while inside there’s a light, airy dining room and bar. Hugely popular, particularly at weekends, it’s a fun and sometime fizzing place to hang out (and perhaps be seen). But you don’t win good-food awards if the grub’s not up to scratch – which it most certainly is. Smart, professional service wraps up a top experience. www.soulbar.co.nz

* Auckland has many fine eateries and we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the likes of The Grove (St Patrick’s Square), Sidart (Ponsonby Rd), Clooney (Sale St), Cibo (St Georges Bay Rd, Parnell), Tribeca (George St, Parnell), Paramount (Kitchener St) and Fish (Hilton Hotel).

Hawke’s BayTerrôir (253 Waimarama Rd, Havelock North). Craggy

Range’s rustic-French-styled restaurant makes for atmospheric dining, especially on a winter’s night with chickens spit-roasting inside the vast stone fireplace and the winery lights reflecting in the lake out front. In summer the outdoor terrace is the place to be. Terrôir head chef Leyton Ashley sources fresh Hawke’s Bay or New Zealand seasonal produce for dishes such as Firstlight venison rack and wood-roasted whole fish of the day. Craggy Range wines are made in the European style – to complement food – and we were delighted with the suggested wine matches, although there’s plenty in the wine list to satisfy fussy wine buffs. Check the website for winter hours. www.craggyrange.com

WellingtonMartin Bosley’s (103 Oriental Parade). Celebrity chef

and food writer Martin Bosley has been associated with some of Wellington’s most revered eateries, but as he says in his website bio, this is the one he’d dreamt about for


Above, A French Café

signature dish,

Roasted French goat’s

cheese, caremelised

onion, fig and beetroot tart and red wine syrup.

more than 20 years. The result of that dream is a restaurant that’s been named among New Zealand’s best every year since it opened. Even without Bosley’s passion for great food, the setting alone is worth the trip – every table has views of the Wellington waterfront and harbour – but the seafood-centred menu seals the deal. Seasonal, local and fresh is his mantra when it comes to ingredients, but the way they’re combined and presented will delight even the most jaded palate. The mainly New Zealand wine list contains wines chosen for their ability to enhance what’s on the plate. www.martin-bosley.com

Logan Brown (Cnr Cuba & Vivian Sts). Good keen men Al Brown and Steve Logan might seem unlikely owners of this much-lauded restaurant that occupies the opulent, lofty interior of a former bank chamber. But despite their laid-back TV personas, the pair run a tight ship, one that earns regular “best restaurant” nominations and good reviews for fine food and classy but unpretentious service. “Divine ingredients” and “sexy food without too many jingles or bells” was how Brown once described their food philosophy to us. The Rangitikei lamb rack with rabbit Bolognese, pumpkin polenta and gremolata is terrific, but don’t miss the signature Paua ravioli – for which you’ll have to order the Saturday night degustation menu. Life’s tough… www.loganbrown.co.nz

* Wellington bills itself as the “Cuisine Capital of New Zealand”, and with around 300 restaurants and bars, including some of the country’s best, that may be right. Other fine restaurants of note include the evergreen Boulcott Street Bistro (Boulcott St), a revitalised Brasserie Flipp (Ghuznee St), Citron (Willis St), The Ambeli (Majoribanks St), Anise (Cuba St) and Bisque on Bolton (cnr Bolton & Mowbray Sts).

Christchurch & CanterburyPescatore (George Hotel, Christchurch). Fortunately

undamaged by last year’s earthquake, this recently revamped fine-diner overlooking Hagley Park has long been a star in the city’s culinary galaxy.

After its big makeover, however, Pescatore reinvented itself, both in terms of its décor and a modern conceptual approach to its food – “pushing the boundaries”, as chef de cuisine Reon Hobson told us before a memorable dinner there. Respect for ingredients still rules, but the exquisitely presented dishes, designed to “awaken the senses”, provide a unique dining experience. Choose from two tasting menus or go à la carte. Wine Spectator has called Pescatore’s wine line-up one the most outstanding restaurant wine lists in the world. www.thegeorge.com/pescatore

Pegasus Bay (Stockgrove Rd, RD 2, Amberley). This Waipara winery restaurant about 45 minutes’ drive north of Christchurch is well worth the 3km detour off State Highway 1. Not only does the Donaldson family make superb wines, but the setting is lovely, the food first class and the service prompt and friendly.

It’s been Cuisine’s top winery restaurant for four years running and it’s easy to see why. Outside the high, woody dining room with its cosy-corner fireplace are sweeping gardens – perfect for alfresco summer lunches – and an extensive vege patch that provides fresh produce for chef Oliver Jackson’s seasonal menus. Each dish is accompanied by a suggested wine match from a list that confines itself to Pegasus Bay labels – no hardship at this much-lauded winery. Dine à la carte or share a sumptuous tasting platter. Open for lunch Thursday to Monday from noon, but you can start with a wine tasting from 10am.

www.pegasusbay.com


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From Pescatore, Goat’s cheese cheesecake, brandy snap with apple and lime mousse and a mango sorbet.

Oamaru Riverstone Kitchen (1431 State Highway 1). “Buy local, think seasonal and eat well” is the catch-cry of chef Bevan Smith and his wife Monique, who opened their restaurant 12km north of Oamaru in 2006. North Otago has plenty of fine fresh ingredients to call on – and there’s also Smith’s bountiful kitchen garden. A cool, light-filled café by day, at night, with the open fire blazing and lights dimmed, it’s a warm and hospitable place to dine. The food is beautifully cooked and unpretentiously presented; the short but inventive menu changing every four to six weeks. Service, under Monique’s direction, is professional and relaxed. That this rural Otago eatery was last year named New Zealand’s best restaurant speaks volumes about the Smiths’ commitment to excellence.www.riverstonekitchen.co.nz

MoerakiFleurs Place (The Old Jetty). According to British

celebrity chef Rick Stein, this funky waterside eatery is the best seafood restaurant in the world. Given that it’s surrounded by water on three sides, that local fishing boats deliver their fresh catch literally to the door and that it’s owned by one Fleur Sullivan, Stein’s assertion may not be far off the mark. Sullivan attracts a loyal foodie following, even to this little Otago fishing village more famous for its iconic boulders. A blackboard menu lists catch of the day. Simply but perfectly cooked, dishes are accompanied by local organic veges and a decent selection of wines from Central Otago and elsewhere. Bookings essential. www.fleursplace.com

Queenstown/ArrowtownGantleys (Arthurs Point). An oldie but goodie, this has

been one of Queenstown’s favourite restaurants for more than 15 years. Current owners sommelier Brent Rands and head chef Jared Aldridge see no reason to change a winning formula, which has seen it win various good food awards, including the regional Montana Wine and Food Challenge. The menu is fairly traditional but dishes are lovingly prepared, beautifully presented and matched by wines from a list that has won an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator every year since 1996. The old stone building is a cosy place to dine in winter, while in summer there’s a 2-hectare landscaped garden to enjoy. Ten minutes out of Queenstown, complimentary transport is available on request. www.gantleys.co.nz

Saffron (18 Buckingham St, Arrowtown). Peter Gawron and Melanie Hill opened this popular eatery a dozen years ago and have been rewarded with critical bouquets and awards regularly ever since. The restaurant’s rustic décor and laid-back atmosphere belie some seriously good cuisine, which a few years ago won Saffron a place among the world’s “most exciting restaurants” in Gourmet Traveler’s 100 Top Tables. Gawron uses fresh South Island produce, such as Fiordland venison, Stewart Island scampi and Bendigo rabbit, to create an eclectic menu of smart, creative dishes complemented by a wine list that showcases the wines of Central Otago. Across the alley from Saffron is The Blue Door, a tiny, candle- and firelit bar that’s perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail or a late-night tipple. www.saffronrestaurant.co.nz


welve. Concise, manageable and recognisable. A most reasonable

number, as in 12 jurors, 12 disciples, a dozen bottles of wine. Or indeed, Th e

Twelve – New Zealand’s Wine Family.Who are they? Where are they? What do they produce

and are they any good?According to current chairperson Clive Weston, “It’s

not just about a family of 12 but about New Zealand wines. We like to think we are the defi nitive New Zealand snapshot; we cover all varieties and the main regions from Auckland to Otago.”

Now in its fifth year, The Family of Twelve is well established and represents a formidable group of wineries, from which come some of this country’s fi nest white and red wines.

“Not a splinter group and not a secret society, but there’s a strong sense of fraternity,” says Weston. “It’s not so much whether the wines are good but whether the people are good – could we break bread together?”

Th e Twelve grew out of a conversation between Craggy Range’s Steve Smith and Palliser Estate’s Richard Riddiford. They had the vision of pooling certain resources and creating an expert, focused cluster of wineries that shared common values and could reduce costs. As Weston explains, “If you’re one of 700 New Zealand wineries and want to go overseas and develop new markets on your own, the cost is prohibitive. When you get like-minded people and band together you become a convincing and compelling force and, of course, you can divide the cost 12 ways.”

Seems to be working extremely well so far. No one has broken ranks and although each of Th e Twelve continue to do their own thing in their own way, collectively they are a force to be reckoned with and continue to explore and develop a range of diff erent but complementary styles and working methods.

“It’s what binds us, not separates us that is strongest,” says Weston. “We’re all hands-on and see ourselves in a craft rather than a corporation.”

From north to south they are: Kumeu River, Villa Maria Winery, Millton Vineyard, Craggy Range, Ata Rangi, Palliser Estate, Neudorf Vineyards, Nautilus Estate, Fromm Winery, Lawson’s Dry Hills, Pegasus Bay and Felton Road.

Kumeu RiverThe formidable but super-friendly and hospitable

Brajkovich family are New Zealand wine royalty. Mother Melba supervises the boys with the sort of no-nonsense hustle and bustle and love that only a Dalmatian matriarch can. Her late husband, the energetic, extroverted Mate, spearheaded what has become very much a hands-on family operation. Michael, New Zealand’s first Master of Wine, is now the chief winemaker. One brother, Milan, looks after the vineyards and youngest brother Paul does the marketing.

West Auckland has a proud history as a pioneering wine district and Kumeu River has established itself as one of the country’s best Chardonnay producers. Th ey aim high; as Michael says: “Th e Chardonnay-based white wines of Burgundy are at the summit of white wine quality in the world. Th at’s what we’re aiming for.”

Th ere is a range of Chardonnays at varying price points but all are quality-driven and quite exceptional.

Th e Brajkoviches are not just one-trick ponies, however. Look for smart Pinot Gris and other white varietals, plus a moreish Pinot Noir. All Kumeu River wines bear the hallmark of family, tradition and respect.

Villa Maria EstateI am fond of saying that Villa Maria is incapable of

making a mediocre wine, whether it’s under $15 or over $70. Obsessive attention to detail, both in the vineyards and the winemaking process is reflected in wines of precision and style. Started in 1961 by George Fistonich (now Sir George), it remains the only one of New Zealand’s three major wine companies in private hands.

It is also way out front in terms of wine show awards, both local and international, with a trophy cabinet

An elite cluster of New Zealand wineries produce some of this country’s fi nest white and red wines.

THE FAMILY OF 12T

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43

THE FAMILY OF 12

Opposite page: Kumeu River vineyards in autumn. Above: Kumeu River wines are still made by the Brajkovich family, while Villa Maria remains in the hands of founder Sir George Fistonich. Both companies work to meticulous standards.

bursting at the seams. Under the Villa Maria umbrella are two other impressive wine companies, Esk Valley and Vidal Estate, both based in Hawke’s Bay.

Esk Valley is responsible for one of New Zealand’s best reds, Th e Terraces. Th is wine, usually a blend of Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, makes a nod towards St. Emilion and is only made in exceptional vintages.

Vidal Estate, meanwhile, specialises in smart Syrah, Bordeaux styles and some fi ne whites.

Villa Maria has extensive vineyards and access to grapes in Marlborough and Gisborne, and the Auckland head office complex near the airport, with its barrel room, restaurant and picturesque vineyards, is well worth a visit. You may even fi nd Sir George checking the vines.

Millton Vineyards and WineryAt the forefront of certifi ed organic and bio-dynamic

grape-growing, James and Annie Millton’s Gisborne vineyard has garnered an international reputation. James will tell you – with evangelical zeal – that the bio-dynamic philosophy really excites him when it comes to wine. “Wine is a piece of work that occupies the four seasons and the fi ve senses,” he says.

Millton Vineyard is reputed to be the fi rst in the world to see the sun of a new day. It also produces some of New Zealand’s best Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Syrahs and does astonishing things with Viognier and the elusive Chenin Blanc.

Aromatic whites and Chardonnay are Gisborne’s calling cards, so it’s ironic that the Millton Clos de Ste. Anne Pinot Noir is a classic. Shining like a beacon, it combines purity of fruit with a dash of Burgundian rusticity and manages to straddle the best elements of Old and New World wine.

Th e Millton brand has been created out of sheer hard work and unwavering consistency and all James Millton’s wines demonstrate a high level of excellence – not bad for someone who got 4 per cent in chemistry and was tossed out of school for making wine in the prefects’ common room.

Craggy RangeWith vineyards from Hawke’s Bay to Central Otago

and dotted hither and yon in between, Craggy Range could perhaps be excused for occasionally taking its eye off the ball.

Not on your nelly! In a relatively short space of time the energetic, hands-

on Steve Smith MW (Master of Wine) has built up an extraordinary team that knows how to consistently come up with wines crafted with the stamp of excellence. Envious observers might say that if they’d been given $80 million to get started they could’ve achieved the same results. Perhaps, but big bucks don’t necessarily translate into wines of beauty and promise, wines that have punters beating a path to your door.

As Smith observes, “It’s about the culture you create, it’s about the detail – the right clones, the right grapes in the right place – and being fastidious in the vineyard.” Focus, focus, focus; it’s Smith’s mantra. Look especially for blockbuster reds and scintillating, expressive whites. Expect quality – you’ll get it in spades.

Ata RangiMartinborough, in the Wairarapa, just north of

Wellington, is recognised as one of this country’s best regions for producing rich, opulent, age-worthy, luscious and majestic Pinot Noirs. And leading the charge amongst some fi ne competition is Ata Rangi, with wines of power, structure, fi ne-grained tannins and that ethereal Audrey Hepburn finesse and elegance. There are some smart whites, as well as a gorgeous dessert wine on occasions, but it’s the Pinot Noir that speaks with astonishing eloquence and is the jewel in the crown.

Clive Paton planted his fi rst vines in 1980 and he and partner Phyll Pattie, along with current head winemaker Helen Masters, have tended the entire project with the sort of magnificent obsession usually reserved for nurturing your fi rst-born.

Paton’s inspiration for excellence came from an epiphany in the early 80s when he stumbled across a

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Above, clockwise

from top left: the cellar at Palliser Estate;

vines at Fromm Winery; Craggy Range

barrel hall.Opposite:

Fromm Winery

entrance

bottle of that mystical, gentle French Burgundy from Chambolle-Musigny. Says Pattie: “There’s this notion that we’re a bunch of ordinary hard-working Kiwis, all mad about Pinot Noir, now making wines consistently rated as world class. It’s very exciting.”

Palliser EstateIf The Twelve were a cricket team, Palliser Estate would

be its all-rounder, someone who can bowl and bat well, is a gifted fielder and a study in total concentration and dedication.

Wairarapa’s largest winery has not tended to declare any one varietal its flagship, but its Sauvignon Blanc has set a benchmark for excellence, while its Pinot Noir is sassy, sophisticated – a gorgeous drop, as they say.

Palliser’s leading light is one of the country’s larger-than-life characters, Richard Riddiford, who for many years has been a warhorse and rugged ambassador for New Zealand wines. His dry, laconic wit is legendary.

“We like to share our successes with friends,” he says, addressing a wine writers’ luncheon. Then adds, “Sometimes, even with our enemies.”

Riddiford likes to compete and is proud of the fact that Palliser consistently produces very, very good wines across the board.

“Our aim is to be the best winery of our type in the world,” he says. “Some people struggle with that, but if you don’t aim for it then you won’t achieve it.”

Neudorf VineyardsFor over 30 years Judy and Tim Finn have tended their

vineyard in the glorious Upper Moutere Valley, out of Nelson, with tender love and care.

It is one of New Zealand’s most picturesque spots and the Amish-like barns and dwellings have a timeless character that is hard to achieve. Wandering – glass of their stunning Chardonnay in hand and accompanied by the vineyard dog – among the manicured vines, distant

mountains reflecting the unique South Island light, you’d be hard-pressed not to feel at peace with the world. The beauty of the place is reflected in the beauty of the wines. Neudorf ’s philosophy is simple: the vineyard is the thing and you need to understand your vineyard.

Says Finn: “It’s all about producing consistent fruit. You get that right and you can make good wine.”

Their Chardonnay is amongst New Zealand’s best and the Moutere Pinot Noir is a subtle, playful, complex, savoury and rich world-class beast that you ignore at your peril. There are smart Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blancs and a beautiful Riesling that Finn describes as “a winemaker-driven style, beautiful and pure”. The same can be said for all Neudorf wines.

Nautilus EstateThis Marlborough-based producer was launched in the

mid-80s and quickly established a reputation for classy premium wines, including an outstanding Sauvignon Blanc and one of the country’s finest champagne-like sparkling wines, the highly regarded Nautilus Cuvee Marlborough.

This Pinot Noir-dominant style is full of flavour, with intense, warm-bread aromas and on the palate delivers refined, crisp tastes of citrus and nuts, with a long, yeasty, bright and clean finish.

There is an Australian connection with the Hill Smith family of the Barossa Valley’s famed Yalumba, that country’s oldest family-owned winery. Nautilus was the family’s brainchild and they have shared a passion for, amongst other things, wine, horses and New Zealand.

Nautilus’ senior winemaker, Clive Jones, with degrees in chemistry and wine science, has that X-factor that distinguishes great winemakers from good ones and can take a great deal of credit as the master craftsman behind the label.

Twin Islands and Opawa wine brands are also part of Nautilus Estate and, while Nautilus is at the top end, the

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45

other two provide excellent fruit-driven, value-for-money wines.

Fromm WinerySince the early 1990s this revered Marlborough

vineyard has created an enviable reputation for producing spectacular and consistent wines over a wide range of styles. The fourth-generation Swiss winemakers, Georg and Ruth Fromm, have decamped back to Switzerland but left the vineyard in the capable hands of fellow Swiss winemaker Hatsch Kalberer. One of the most respected players in New Zealand’s wine industry, Kalberer feels he is part of an exciting venture.

“There are very few wineries that offer the fruit quality I have been privileged to work with,” he says, “but, most importantly, I have never had to compromise the integrity of our style in order to follow fashion trends or chase the trophy-hunting consumer.”

The premium wines are labelled Fromm and the second-tier, La Strada (The Road). All wines are made in an uncompromising way and Kalberer believes that great wine is only achieved when it is a true expression of the vineyard, the terroir and the people.

“It’s not so much that we make the wine, rather we ‘coach’ it,” he says.

Whatever he likes to call the process, it’s paying off. Expect French Chablis-style Chardonnay, opulent, elegant and concentrated Pinot Noir, big bold Syrah and a raft of other well-crafted varietals.

Lawson’s Dry HillsWhile Marlborough can still rightly boast to being the

epicentre of great New World – and certainly New Zealand – Sauvignon Blanc, it should be noted that one of the country’s finest Gewurztraminers comes from the Lawson’s Dry Hills stable. A stylish, fleshy, aromatic, gorgeously balanced wine with lashings of ginger, lychee, lavender, rosewater and spice, this is a real head-turner. Sauvignon and Chardonnay have similar pedigrees and a Pinot Noir is developing a significant following. Barbara Lawson (and her late husband Ross) started the venture in 1992 with a determination to produce wines of great character at a good price. It is a promise fulfilled. Not only are the wines excellent but, given the quality, prices are astonishingly reasonable.

Lawson’s Dry Hills is named after the adjacent Wither Hills and the site is blessed with moderately fertile clay-based soils that produce grapes with expressive flavours and the winemaking style is restrained enough to allow them to shine.

Pegasus BayCanterbury’s most prestigious winery is responsible for

some of New Zealand’s classiest wines: a sumptuous Pinot Noir, Sauvignon-Semillon, Chardonnays, dessert wines,

Claret-style reds and sublime Rieslings. It is very much a family affair and Professor Ivan Donaldson and his wife Chris must feel justifiably proud of what has been achieved since bursting into prominence in the mid-1990s.

Donaldson remembers the single moment that created his passion for wine. “I was in my final year at medical school and my girlfriend, now wife, gave me a book – Hugh Johnson’s Wine. I read it and realised wine was for me.” That was in 1966. It’s a long time to nourish a passion and the journey has certainly paid off.

The Waipara site seems perfect for wines of distinction. It sits in the lee of limestone hills that shelter it from the ocean breezes. Hot days, cool nights, low rainfall and a long, lingering autumn allow the grapes to ripen optimally but slowly. Donaldson is very specific on the style of wine he’s after. “What we want depends on more than just upfront fruit, it has to have weight in the mouth and plenty of length.”

Felton RoadA shooting star since its debut 1997 Pinot Noir rattled

the cages of critics who doubted Central Otago could ever really produce outstanding wines. Those critics have all disappeared and Felton Road ranks alongside another Family member, Ata Rangi, as New Zealand’s pre-eminent Pinot Noir producer. Winemaker Blair Walter arrived in 1996 feeling a tad nervous and wondering if he was doing the right thing after working vintages at some top wineries in California, Australia and Oregon.

He’d helped produce the elegant, perfumed Burgundy at Domaine de L’Arlot and the fledgling Bannockburn winery seemed a long way from anything. Both he and Nigel Greening, Felton Road’s owner, an extroverted, passionate Englishman, can relax. All the wines carry the hallmark of excellence. Chardonnay and Riesling have garnered loyal followings and the Block 5 and Block 3 Pinot Noir have genuine cult status.

Walter is keen for the wines to “express their individual site” and vineyard management is meticulous, with a focus on organic methods.

As for Greening, “I was buying so much of the wine as a customer it was cheaper to buy the vineyard.”

Meeting just three times a year to reflect, analyse and plan ahead, The Family of Twelve are not likely to rest on current successes.

The wine industry may still be seen as glamorous and exciting but it’s a tough old world out there and reputations can be quickly lost.

The Twelve abandoned the rough-and-ready “she’ll be right” attitude long ago. This obsessive group strives for perfection, cuts no corners and does not compromise. Its watchword: “If it’s not in the glass, it’s not at the family table.”

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Louis VuittonMontre Tambour

Automatic Chronograph. www.louisvuitton.com

RadoHyperChrome and

HperChrome Automatic Chronograph (far left).

www.rado.com

LonginesLa Grande Classique de Longines

180th Anniversary Limited Edition has a 29mm diameter and is set with

180 diamondswww.longines.com

LonginesAgassiz 180th Anniversary Limited Edition. Th e ultra-slim case in rose gold is set with 180 diamonds. www.longines.com

TEMPTATIONSYour Gift Guide


CallawayCallaway Golf is spashing the golfing world in colour from head to toe, with the release of the innovative Colour Your Game collection. The unique concept is available across a range of product categories, infusing Blue, Orange, Green and Yellow colour into a premium range of equipment and apparel.www.callawaygolf.com


49

Loewe Air Speaker music systemAir Speaker is a compact single box music system, featuring two subwoofers, two tweeters and two mid-range speakers driven by an 80-watt amplifier. Music is wirelessly streamed to the unit from an iPhone, iPod, iPad or iTunes-equipped computer.www.corporate.loewe.tv

Bang & OlufsenThe BeoPlay A3 (left) adds amazingly well-defined stereo sound to your iPad, while the BeoPlay A8 (above) offers wireless streaming of music from your iPhone/iPad or iPod through integrated Apple AirPlay technology. www.beoplay.com

Canon 650DFeaturing an 18 megapixel sensor, Canon’s new EOS650D is the latest in a long line of Canon DSLR cameras offering enthusiast photographers high performance at an affordable price. www.canon.com

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 compact cameraSony’s new flagship compact camera boasts a sensor that’s four times bigger than those found in conventional compacts, so even with 20 Megapixels, the images will be sharp as nails. www.sony.co.nz


NZ SpaLuxuriate in the experience that is NZ Spa – an exclusive collection of inspirational body-care products infused with the silken textures and exotic fragrances of New Zealand’s unique native botanicals: Alpine Fern, Flax Flower, Pohutukawa, and Wild Daisy.The range has eco-friendly packaging, is free of SLS and parabens and celebrates all that is New Zealand.Experience a NZ Spa massage or enjoy the beautiful retail range which includes ascented candle, diffuser, body scrub, body soufflé and fragrant soap. Available from Chuan Spa, Langham Hotel, Auckland, or for other stockistsvisit: www.nzspa.co.nz


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Live Breathe Drive Europe

S ix nights in Paris with a VIP pass to the Peugeot-sponsored Roland Garros French

Open tennis? Life wasn’t so tough after all for two New Zealand travel agents. Peugeot

EuroLease ran a competition among its travel agents asking for the two best reasons why they should be chosen to travel to Paris for six nights. Th e winners – each for completely diff erent reasons – were Nadia Gouws of Flight Centre and Debra Carnahan of House of Travel.

Both are experienced travel agents, but on this trip of a lifetime they learned more about EuroLease at a special presentation by the Peugeot car leasing programme. When “work” was done they attended the Roland Garros French Open as VIPs and, among other highlights, enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Seine.

Nadia’s focus was Paris itself. She studied French at university in New Zealand, but never had the chance to use it. Debra’s passion is tennis, so just being at Roland Garros for the French Open was for her a dream come true – so much so that Peugeot found her tickets for an extra two days’ viewing.

Nadia found the people she met warm and welcoming. She had strangers walk up to her on the street asking if she was lost and needed help. Although it took her until the third day to muster the confi dence to try out her French, once she gave it a go she wished she had dived in from the start, because people loved that she just tried to speak their language.

And as Nadia can now confi rm, even a travel agent can lose her wallet. An hour of back-tracking and a few fearful tears later she fi nally returned to a café, where the waiter, whose name was Rafael and who always said “hello” with a wink, sat her down with a glass of apricot juice and produced the wallet, saying they had kept it for her hoping she would return.

Th e ladies enjoyed guided walking tours and along the way discovered the uniqueness of the diff erent districts (or arrondissements) of Paris, all the while learning the most peculiar things. Did you know, for example, that Napoleon designed his tomb so that people had to bow down to view it?

For Nadia, a major highlight was the underground cemetery known as the Catacombs of Paris. “It left such an

impression on me,” she recalled. “I saw a documentary on it when I was a girl and went to see it the day after we arrived. I felt so small, and so in awe of the surroundings. It was the best experience of my visit.”

Th ey also visited Versailles and toured some of the city on two-wheeled Segways. Said Nadia: “Even though I almost drove off the steps of the Louvre and nearly broke my neck, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.”

No travel agent can visit Paris without giving a detailed description of their hotel. Debra was no exception. Th e Hotel Dacia-Luxembourg, located in the heart of the Latin Quarter, was “a small boutique hotel in a fantastic location on Boulevard St. Michel. It’s close to the Louvre, Luxembourg Gardens and Notre Dame. It was clean and comfortable, with a breakfast room that reminded me of a wine cellar, with a good breakfast selection. Th e staff could not have been friendlier.”

As for Debra’s three fantastic days watching the best tennis players in the world compete, she found catching the Metro to the stadium on the fi rst day a breeze and as the pavement was lined with tennis balls and racquets it was easy to fi nd the way from there. She was surprised at how small some of the grandstands were. “You could almost reach out and touch the players, you were so close to the action.”

On another day, VIP treatment was laid on. Th e group of agents from New Zealand, Australia, the US and Canada were driven to the French Open and straight through the gates – no standing in queues – to were escorted straight in to Court Philippe-Chatrier (centre court). Dinner that evening was in Le Village – an area of the stadium reserved exclusively for major sponsors. Th ey were treated to the fi nest French cuisine complemented by very nice French wine.

Th eir dinner cruise on the Seine, on a lovely, warm, Paris evening, was magical and accompanied, too, by great food and wine. Th eir week in Paris turned out to be too short, but it was a good start, as Nadia and Debra are certain to return – by contest or not.

Final note: anyone planning a self-drive holiday in Europe would be wise to visit www.peugeoteurolease.co.nz and fi nd out the terrifi c deals on off er. And, as any agent will tell you, be sure to include a few nights in Paris!

OOH-LA-LA! TRAVEL AGENTS NADIA AND DEBRA LAND A VIP TRIP TO PARIS WITH EUROLEASE.

GAME, SET, MATCH

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Above, left to right: Alexandre III Bridge, Paris; Nadia Gouws, Bruno Bernard (managing director, Peugeot Car Leasing programme), and Debra Carnahan with their Roland Garros tickets. Below: The Peugeot range on display at Roland Garros. Left: Nadia on her Segway.

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Peugeot Around New Zealand

Peugeot prides itself on innovation, one of the values shared by its New Zealand charity of choice, Cure Kids. Th e charity raises funds for research into a wide range of childhood illnesses and looks for new ways to fi nd and fund cures. Peugeot New Zealand is lending its support and its brand to the Peugeot Walk on the Wild Side to Cure Kids.

Held on 11 November on the west coast of Auckland, the “Peugeot Walk” is a challenging and rewarding 17km walk (or run) in a loop across coastal paths, private farmland and dunes between Bethels Beach and Muriwai.

Peugeot is supporting and encouraging all their employees to take up the challenge, and we’d also love our owners to participate. Th ey will join more than 350 others who are expected to take part and there will be fun all along the way.

“Peugeot proudly supports Cure Kids, but that goes well beyond putting their new branding on the four vehicles we provide them with,” says Sime Darby general manager Grant Smith. “Our staff gets immense personal reward for being involved with such an inspirational team. We take corporate social responsibility seriously and want to ensure that Peugeot, as a brand throughout New Zealand, supports a charity that works throughout New Zealand. We want to be the driving force behind Cure Kids.” So much so that in October Grant and his wife Sarah took part in another Cure Kids’ event – the Accor $10 Queenstown Challenge. Dressed as the Fork n Spoon, the pair trekked from Queenstown to Auckland over three days, completing both physical and mental challenges along the way.

“We are incredibly grateful to Peugeot New Zealand and the Sime Darby Group for all they do,” says Cure Kids CEO Vicki Lee. “Th ey are really dedicated and passionate and a valued member of the Cure Kids family.”

Cure Kids has also been named the charity of choice for the NZRU and All Blacks for the next four years. If you would like more information on the Peugeot Walk on the Wild Side to Cure Kids, and to enter, go to www.curekids.org.nz

WE CHALLENGE YOU TO WALK ON THE WILD SIDE WITH US.

THEPEUGEOT WALK

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Another wonderful season of ballet begins in August with the Royal New Zealand Ballet production of the ever-popular Cinderella. The Tower Season of Cinderella opens on August 2 at the St. James Th eatre in Wellington and then tours to six other centres.

Dancer Antonia Hewitt is expected to play the Fairy Godmother, a role in which she has previously excelled. Antonia was born in Wellington but moved to Canberra with her parents while she was still a toddler. Th ere, at the ripe old age of four, she began taking ballet lessons.

As she told Peugeot Life, “I wasn’t very interested in ballet when I was little. I actually started ballet only because I was pigeon-toed and my mum thought it would be a good way for me to gain strength and straighten my legs.”

In time, Antonia took dancing more seriously, to the point where she began training at the Kim Harvey School of Dance. In 2004 she returned to Wellington to continue her training – at the New Zealand School of Dance. “I had heard extremely good things about the school from past students and I had family here, so the move back felt right,” she says.

Antonia joined the Royal New Zealand Ballet in 2007 and has performed in every production since, including dancing the Fairy Godmother in an earlier production of Cinderella. Other roles she has danced

include the Young Nurse in � e Nutcracker and title roles in the Meridian Seasons of La Sylphide and � e Sleeping Beauty. Th e role of the Sylph in La Sylphide is one of her favourites. “I love the character’s spirit and vulnerability,” she says. “Th e story is so beautiful and the music is to die for.”

Antonia has received many rave reviews for her work. But what, for her, makes a satisfying performance? “One in which I am totally engrossed,” she answers, “and when a show has felt completely natural and unforced.”

The Royal New Zealand Ballet production of Cinderella never fails to enchant its audience with its beauty and magic. Choreographed by the talented Christopher Hampson, with sumptuous costumes and lavish sets by Tracy Grant Lord, the performance is heightened by Prokofiev’s moving score. It is altogether a dazzling interpretation of the timeless rags-to-riches tale.

Following on from the Tower Season of Cinderella, the Royal New Zealand Ballet will present the TelstraClear Season of Giselle, a new production co-choreographed by artistic director Ethan Stiefel, and Johan Kobborg, an internationally acclaimed principal dancer with Britain’s Royal Ballet. This quintessential ballet will tour the country from November 7 to December 12.

Visit www.nzballet.org.nz for dates and venues of all performances.

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND BALLET STAR ANTONIA HEWITT STARTED DANCING WHEN SHE WAS JUST FOURDANCE, DANCE, DANCE!

If you are a Peugeot owner, contact your dealer to fi nd out how you can benefi t from Peugeot and RNZB’s relationship.

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The Hills Golf Club, near Arrowtown, was the setting for the launch of Peugeot New Zealand’s latest release, the 4008 compact 4WD SUV. Attended by a who’s who of the New Zealand motoring media – with members of Automobiles Peugeot from Paris, as well as the New Zealand and Australian Peugeot importers and their dealer networks dropping in over the following two days – it was a festival of motoring and golf. Th e highlight was a dinner with Sir Michael Hill himself as guest speaker.

The Hills has hosted three NZ Open golf championships and, along with Millbrook across the road, Jack’s Point and the venerable Queenstown Golf Club, it has turned the region into an alpine golf destination like no other. Indeed, Sir Michael told Peugeot Life that, for him, the perpetual highlight of The Hills since it opened in 2007 was “seeing people mesmerized by the sheer grandeur and beauty of the property. People who play here love the diff erence Th e Hills off ers from normal golf courses and this thrills me more than anything else”.

“Th e one new addition that was not on the agenda when we started is the sculpture park, which combines modern sculpture with the golf course in a way that has never been done before on this scale,” he said. “It adds a unique element to Th e Hills.”

Almost every fairway or tee at Th e Hills includes a work of art, starting on the 1st fairway with Weta, one of the most notable works by Sir Michael’s son Mark, who is also the creator of the much-photographed Dragonfl ies that rest on a pond next to the 6th fairway.

Altogether, it was a beautiful setting for the launch of a beautiful car, while dealers gained from hearing Sir Michael talk about his successes and failures throughout his most remarkable life. As Peugeot’s divisional manager Simon Rose noted, “Sir Michael inspired our dealer networks on how to do a better job with setting and achieving goals. Interestingly enough, the month following his speech we had our best month for seven years for Peugeot in New Zealand.”

NEW 4008 LAUNCH

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Above: The new 4008 compact SUV on display outside The Hills clubhouse. Below: Sir Michael Hill with Sime Darby and Peugeot executive teams from around the world, and Josie Spillane, Cure Kids.

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THE DAILY GRIND

Peugeot salt and pepper mills are designed for appearance, ease of use and supreme functionality.

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Few readers will know that the Peugeot brand, founded in 1810, was originally associated with the manufacture of saws and grinding mills for coff ee, salt and pepper. They were the finest grinding mills in Europe and have remained the world’s top-of-the-line kitchen accessories. It wasn’t until 1890 that Armand Peugeot made his fi rst petrol-engined car.

Importer Darko Borich, of Domestic Agencies, told Peugeot Life: “Peugeot mills are regarded as the best and most reliable mills on the market. We have been the exclusive distributor in New Zealand for 22 years.”

Th e mills come in a variety of styles, colours and fi nishes (which you can check out at www.peugeot-saveurs.com). Th ey feature an adjustable grind, are

easy to fi ll and come with a lifetime warranty on the original Peugeot mechanism.

Meanwhile, Darko Borich happens to be the owner of a new Peugeot 4008. “We like the connection between the Peugeot car brand and the mills brand,” he told us. “Both are synonymous with innovation and quality. As for our new SUV, we find it great fun in the city and on country roads. The exterior is modern and youthful and the interior is elegant, with lots of comfort features. We love the seat warmers on cold mornings. All in all, it’s great value for the money.”

Well said. If Darko ever stops importing fine kitchen accessories, we think he’d probably fi nd work selling 4008s!

PEUGEOT IS ALSO FAMOUS FOR ITS FINE KITCHEN MILLS.THE DAILY GRIND

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UPCOMING CYCLING EVENTSSept 16 – Rotorua to Whakatane, 90kmOct 14 – Cycling Festival, Mills Reef Winery, Tauranga, 60kmOct 27 – K2 Coromandel, 100kmNov 04 – Bike the Lake, Rotorua, 84kmNov 11 – Clip On Challenge, Auckland Harbour Bridge, 110kmNov 24 – Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, 160kmJan 22 – Tour Down Under, Adelaide, South Australia, 300km

THE PEUGEOT-SPONSORED PUREGO CYCLING TEAM HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD AGAIN, THIS TIME FOR A FUNDRAISING TOUR OF THE SOUTH ISLAND. BY TOM HYDE.

RIDE HARD, HAVE FUN, DO GOOD

The PureGo cycling team manage to have fun while taking on ups and downs of the South Island and raising money for Cure Kids. Opposite page: Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt shares a joke with the Peugeot team

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Had it not been for the humour of Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt, our keen riders would have had a cold and unhappy wait for a sign before setting off. Not a sign from the starter, but one that read: “Pass With Care” – a message, required by law, warning motorists of a major bike tour ahead.

Mayor Shadbolt, the official starter, warmed up participants on a chilly 3C Bluff morning by telling his favourite jokes. Trevor Pilkington, one of the 10 stalwarts of the PureGo team sponsored by Peugeot and taking part to raise money for the Cure Kids health research fund, said, “Shadbolt kept us in laughter because the jokes were so good. He kept looking around asking if that sign was there yet. No? So he told another joke.”

Finally the sign arrived and they were off on a great cycling adventure from Bluff to Picton. About that same time, a North Island tour was setting off from Cape Reinga. The two tours were destined to meet up in Wellington for a spin around the Beehive. “The Peugeot 508 was our support vehicle,” Trevor said. “It carried our mechanic and first aid equipment and it followed us all the way to Picton. Our support team of wives and partners were in a campervan ahead of us to meet us at the end of each day’s ride.”

The PureGo team motto is: “Ride hard, have fun, do good.” And that pretty much sums up what they do. They pay their own airfares and courier charges for the bikes while Peugeot helps out with entry fees and by supplying the support vehicle.

The first leg was a 138km ride up to Mossburn. “We

started with 10 riders,” Trevor said. “But we had only arrived in Invercargill when our team leader discovered we only had nine. Turns out one of the guys had crashed into a caravan at the start. We re-grouped and went back and found him. He wasn’t hurt and in fact it became a bit of a laugh.”

The second day they rode from Queenstown to Wanaka over the Crown Range, one of the steepest and most difficult climbs for cyclists in the country. In contrast to Bluff, it was now hot. As they pressed on towards the top the temperature reached 29C. But this was not the Tour de France, so once they all reached the summit they stopped for a celebratory glass of champagne.

They rode on the next day and the day after that through Geraldine, Hanmer Springs, Kaikoura, Blenheim and finally into Picton, where all 300 riders in their tour crossed Cook Strait on the ferry. “It was a full-on tour,” Trevor said. “They had a prizegiving about 5 o’clock each night, along with safety briefings in preparation for the next day.

“We stood out because our team rode every leg of the tour. Other teams had guest riders come and go. So, bar one guy coming down with hypothermia crossing the Lindis Pass, our entire team rode the entire 750km.”

Altogether, they raised more than $10,000 for Cure Kids, mainly through their website (www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/PeugeotPureGoPeloton). Check it out. Next year there’s talk of the team entering the North Island tour, but until then there are plenty of other events taking place elsewhere.

UPCOMING CYCLING EVENTSSept 16 – Rotorua to Whakatane, 90kmOct 14 – Cycling Festival, Mills Reef Winery, Tauranga, 60kmOct 27 – K2 Coromandel, 100kmNov 04 – Bike the Lake, Rotorua, 84kmNov 11 – Clip On Challenge, Auckland Harbour Bridge, 110kmNov 24 – Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, 160kmJan 22 – Tour Down Under, Adelaide, South Australia, 300km

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“Peugeot Kids Driving School is back by popular demand with some dealers, and for others it will be a first,” explains Grant Smith, general manager of Sime Darby Automobiles. “Our trials and events around parts of the country last year demonstrated that you are never too young to learn about road safety, especially with children between the ages of three and six.”

Up to 18 children can participate at any one time at the one-hour driving school, where they learn about signs on the road, as well as different types of traffic. Each child receives a special “driver’s licence” and handbook on arrival.

Peugeot pedal cars are a popular feature of the training and the kids have the chance to bring the safety signs and messages to life while “driving” on the track, which has a pedestrian crossing, give-way sign, traffi c lights, a stop sign and even several animals the children must watch out for.

After they have driven around the track, the children receive a certificate for their efforts as a reminder that they have driven safely and participated in the Peugeot Kids Driving School.

If you are interested in enrolling your children or grandchildren aged between 3 to 6 years, or sharing this information with your friends and neighbours, please contact one of the dealerships below to register. It only costs $10 to attend, and all funds go directly to Cure Kids.

August 4: Southern Motor Court Dunedin (03) 455 5500. August 18: Houston Prestige Nelson (03) 548 8204.August 25: Armstrong Peugeot Wellington (04) 385 9508 September 1: Brent Boddy Peugeot Palmerston North (06) 354 1702.September 15: Hawkes Bay Peugeot (06) 876 3142. September 22: Tauranga Peugeot (07) 579 5080.October 6: Precision Automobiles Glenfi eld (09) 486 8000.

To fi nd out more, please visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=X68R7tja2eA

PEUGEOT KIDSDRIVING SCHOOL

On the right track:PJ Klein Ovink enjoys drive-time on the track

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Call it the French being French, but having eight luxury Peugeot 508s to chauff eur VIPS to the grand opening of the new Sofi tel Auckland Viaduct Harbour hotel was a perfect match. Sofitel and Peugeot are also Key Partners of the Cure Kids charity.

Over French food, champagne and a select ion of cheeses, the hotel introduced its new executive chef, Scott Brown, previously of Huka Lodge. Scott will oversee all dining at the hotel, including its new signature waterfront restaurant, Lava Dining. The evening also included a sneak preview of new room interiors. All 172 rooms and suites are undergoing a soft renovation over the next six months.

Rooms and suites all have private balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows with magnifi cent views of the marina and city skyline, oversized bathrooms with separate rain showers and, for getting a solid start each day and connecting to the world, each room features Sofitel’s popular MyBed, a personal espresso machine and Bose Wave radio. Sofitel’s branded spa, at the forefront of French cosmetology, is expected to open at the end of August.

If you are a Peugeot customer and are staying at the Sofitel, make sure you mention this article and show your Peugeot keys when you check in to receive complimentary valet parking.

SOFITELIN AUCKLANDVIPS ARRIVE IN STYLE AT LUXURY VIADUCT HOTEL LAUNCH.

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Documents

Peugeot Life Magazine - August 2012