New Auckland hotel offers luxury in the 'burbs

Heading for a rugby match at Eden Park? Or wanting to stay in Auckland but away from the city centre?

Capstone Hotel Management has just opened Auckland's latest lifestyle hotel: SOHO Hotel Auckland in partnership with owner-developers IPG Corporation Ltd.

The Art Deco-inspired hotel has 126 rooms and suites - including spa suites boasting outdoor hot tubs. 

SOHO’s Tiger Bar & Restaurant serves Asian-fusion style cuisine in the evenings as well as breakfasts, while Café Luxe is a glass-walled café with Auckland skyline views and is open daily from 7am-3pm.

Later this year, the hotel will open The Spa x SOHO: a double-level day spa with an onsen pool and dry sauna, along with seven treatment rooms including two couples' spa rooms. 

General manager Duncan Mackenzie says the property will bring "a new level of accessible glamour" to the city’s accommodation and events offering. 

“We are delighted to introduce a new lifestyle hotel experience to Auckland’s Mount Roskill suburb offering a stylish and convenient accommodation option for guests whether they are visiting for business, pleasure or special celebrations.

“SOHO is situated in a sweet spot with downtown Auckland and the airport just a 10-15 minute drive,  so we are an ideal alternative to an airport or city centre hotel. 

"SOHO is the closest hotel to Eden Park, and we have plenty of onsite car parking to alleviate parking stress.” 

SOHO Hotel Auckland is located at 180 Stoddart Rd, Mount Roskill. See soholuxuryhotels.com/

France puts out the welcome mat for rugby fans

It might just be one of the longest major sports events ever held.

The Tour de France and the Olympic Games games stretch over three weeks; the World Cup soccer tournament extends well over a month.

But this year's Rugby World Cup in France will run for seven weeks from September 8 to October 28.

There will be 48 matches featuring 20 national teams in France.

This will be the10th in a tournament series played every four years since 1987. I've been lucky enough to attend four of them: the opening event in New Zealand/Australia, in South Africa, in the British Isles and France, and in Australia.

While Paris will be the main stage - hosting the opener between France and the New Zealand All Blacks and the final - nine other cities will also host games.

 

During the almost six years I lived in France I visited seven of the host cities. Sorry Toulouse and St Etienne.

Here are my brief thoughts on the cities rugby fans will be descending upon.

Paris will be in the spotlight and is always a city of surprises and joy. The opening will be played at the Stade de France (top image), the largest stadium in the country.

The 80,000-seat arena will also host the two semi-finals and the third-place playoff.

Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Lille-Villeneuve d’Asq and St Etienne are also in the host line-up.

Marseille’s Orange Vélodrome is usually the home of football team Olympique Marseille. 

Be careful where you go at night in Marseille. The port city is my least favourite destination in France and in my experiience the locals the least welcoming.

In contrast, a French city that screams art and culture, is Bordeaux, with over 350 UNESCO-listed buildings in its historic centre. Wine lovers will want to explore the vineyards and visit the Cité du Vin wine museum on the banks of the Garonne. Dine at quirky La Tupina if you get the chance.

Toulouse, called  the ‘Ville Rose’ (Pink City) is known for its aerospace industry and is rugby heartland. Try the local sausages.  

Lyon is the gourmet capital of France, a delightful city with narrow streets and secret passageways, hidden staircases and stylish courtyards. Head to one of its ‘bouchons’ (traditional restaurants) for a casual gastronomic experience.

Lille's Pierre-Mauroy stadium in the suburb of Villeneuve d’Asq is an unlikely venue - football is king in the his region of France. Visit LaM (the Museum of Modern Art, Contemporary Art and Art Brut) set in large park full of sculptures.

Nice, surprisingly chosen ahead of rugby-crazy Toulon, is home to many of the highlights of the Côte d’Azur. Visit the local markets and walk the Promenade des Anglais.

In Nantes, the Beaujoire stadium is best known for its football team than rugby. Visit the ‘Machines de l’Ile’ site: former shipyards where you can climb aboard a giant carousel of extraordinary sea creatures. And have a seafood meal at La Cigale - one of my personal favourite restaurants.

St Etienne is another city much better know for football than rugby. It is the gateway to the Auvergne, with its gentle sloping mountains, dormant volcanoes and beautiful countryside.

See https://www.france.fr/fr and https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/matches