Dear Travellers,
Was your dad your travel inspiration? Those of us who learned to love travel from our fathers should count ourselves lucky! Whether we did no-frills camping trips or European journeys, road trips or luxury cruises, those experiences taught us so many important things: the joy of exploration and discovery, the excitement of meeting new people, and the satisfaction of learning new things.
From all of us at Senior Discover Tours, we'd like to wish all the dads, granddads and father-figures out there, the happiest of Father’s Days – with plenty of memories!
This month, we’ve got a few memorable adventures to share – our upcoming tours to New Zealand, Cyprus and Italy and are sure to spark some serious travel joy! Be sure to check out latest brochure featuring our 2024 Fall Tours & Holiday Season for more incredible itineraries!
Happy Father’s Day – and happy travels!
Danny Shay, President
Senior Discovery Tours
Wonder Down Under
Check off your bucket list items with these unique experiences in New Zealand.
Sacred sites and spectacular landscapes. Historic buildings and white sand beaches. Wildlife we promise you'll never see anywhere else. If you're looking for a holiday that's a little different, a visit to New Zealand guarantees an experience that’s truly one-of-a-kind. Here are just a few examples of the incredible things you can do and see:
Waitomo Glowworm Grotto. Drift quietly down underground streams, passing through prehistoric caves illuminated by thousands of twinkling blue-green lights. Those magical lights are tiny glow worms known as arachnocampa luminosa, creatures that make their home in this amazing underground labyrinth, glowing in one of nature's most spellbinding light displays.
Journey to Middle Earth. If you're a fan of The Lord of the Rings films, you probably know the trilogy was filmed in New Zealand, with many scenes shot in the area just outside Christchurch. Take a guided tour of some of the spectacular filming locations including Hobbiton, Lothlórien Forest and Mount Doom – and enjoy your very own “precious” adventure.
Visit New Zealand's wildlife capital. The Otago Peninsula in Dunedin is home to an incredible variety of wildlife, some of which you can only see in this one spot. Say hello to a colony of New Zealand sea lions – one of the rarest species of seals in the world. Discover blue penguins, Stewart Island shags, endangered yellow-eyed penguins, sea elephants, and the world’s only mainland breeding colony of royal albatross.
Watch an eruption…or 20. Pōhutu Geyser is the largest geyser in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the most active in the area, so it can be counted on to put on a show. It erupts up to 20 times a day, hitting heights of up to 30 m! The name for Pōhutu comes from Maori and means “big splash.”
Get a Maori tattoo. If you're feeling especially adventurous, you could go home with the ultimate souvenir: a traditional ta moko tattoo. This traditional art has a long history in Maori culture – each tattoo reflects a person's genealogy, knowledge and social status within their tribe. Originally tattoos were done with pigment and a sharp bone, although these days, modern methods are more popular.
Walk up the world's deepest road. Looking for a bit of a workout? With a 38° gradient, Baldwin Street in Dunedin holds the record for steepness. A breathtaking adventure for sure!
You can have all these unique experiences and more on our 19-day Cruising New Zealand & Sydney tour coming up January 14, 2025.
Exploring Orvieto in Umbria, Italy
Spend an unforgettable day in this hilltop town in the heart of Umbria. The lovely town of Orvieto has a long history – it goes all the way back to Etruscan (pre-Roman) times, with some fascinating sites to explore.
Pozzo di San Patrizio (St. Patrick's Well) This architectural marvel was built hundreds of years ago as a fortress and hiding place in case of siege. The well is 62 m deep,13.5 m wide, with two staircases forming a double helix and 70 windows to let in light. Entering the well is a surreal experience. As you descend into its depths, the air gets cooler and more humid, with mosses and other vegetation giving everything a lush green cast. Legend has it that the well is named for an Irish cave where St. Patrick once prayed: one so deep it was believed to access purgatory.
Orvieto's charming streetsNear the well, you'll find the oldest part of this delightful town, with small, winding streets populated by pretty shops and lovely internal courtyards. This is the place to pick up stunning ceramic souvenirs: Orvieto’s ceramic tradition goes back over a thousand years.
The DuomoOrvieto's 14th-century Gothic cathedral dominates the town and is absolutely breathtaking. Its facade is covered in colourful mosaics and elaborate carvings, with a beautiful striped pattern inside and out, a large rose window, golden mosaics and two frescoed chapels decorated by some of the best Italian painters of the period.
Underground OrvietoWhen a landslide opened up a large hole in Orvieto’s town centre in 1970, an ancient underground city came to light for the first time in centuries. This remarkable subterranean complex has over 1,000 grottos, passages and chambers, many of which date back over 3,000 years. Spend a magical day in Orvieto on our 15-day Umbria: Off the Beaten Path in Central Italy tour.
Join us October 17, 2024 for spectacular scenery, fascinating history and incredible food and wine.
Get a Taste of Cyprus
Fabulous foods to try on an idyllic island that’s way off the typical tourist track.
Souvlaki. The most famous food in Cyprus is delicious, affordable and always comes in generous portions. Cubes of meat (chicken and pork are the most popular) are marinated and grilled on a skewer for a result that's tender and spiced to perfection. The most popular way to eat it is in a pita with salad and lots of lemon.
Halloumi. This squeaky cheese is made from goat, sheep and sometimes cow milk. Manufactured locally in Cypriot villages, it's usually served grilled as part of a delicious meze (small plates appetizer or meal).
Moussaka. This yummy and filling casserole is made of minced, cinnamon-spiced pork, layered with eggplant and topped with a creamy, halloumi-laced béchamel sauce.
Tirokafteri. This tasty dip is made with feta, yogurt, garlic, chili pepper and olive oil – try it on an oven-fresh pita for a wonderfully garlicky, satisfying snack.
Loukoumades. If you've got a sweet tooth, you'll love these little donuts. Served with honey, syrup, cinnamon and nuts, there’s nothing quite like crunching through the crisp exterior to enjoy the soft, doughy inside. It’s a must-have treat that's particularly good with a strong cup of Cyprian coffee.
You can try these delicious dishes on our 16-day Cyprus Stay-Put Holiday, departing November 4, 2024.
Why travel with us? Reason #3:
Most meals are included
Enjoy delicious, authentic meals in the company of your like-minded travel companions. On most of our European tours, wine is included with dinner as well! Need a great reason to book your next SDT tour? How about 10? Every month, we’ll highlight one of the many benefits of travelling with us. To see the whole list, check the first few pages of one of our brochures. Plus, get inspired today by browsing our 2024 Summer/Fall Tours & Cruises brochure – and maybe even a travel gift for the dad in your life!
Easy Pavlova
On Father’s Day, treat dad to this traditional New Zealand/Aussie dessert. Surprisingly easy to make, the result is fresh, elegant, and totally delicious.
Ingredients:
4 large egg whites
1¼ cups sugar
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon juice
1 pint heavy cream
sliced kiwi, strawberry, pineapple and/or mango
Preparation:
- Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper and draw a 9” (23 cm) circle on paper.
- Beat egg whites until stiff. Gradually add sugar, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until meringue is thick, white and glossy.
- Gently fold in cornstarch, vanilla and lemon juice.
- Spoon mixture into the circle, building up the edge slightly to leave a depression in the middle.
- Bake until meringue is dry and sounds hollow when tapped, about 1 hour. Cool on wire rack.
- Beat cream until stiff peaks form, fill meringue crust, top with fruit and enjoy!
