The GypsyNesters

Must See Casinos when you Visit New Zealand

Top Rated Casino Hotels in New Zealand

Visiting New Zealand should be a thrilling experience for everyone. The country has a lot to offer, including amazing scenery, all the while also providing a host of interesting sights. Flora and fauna of New Zealand have incredible beauty and are well worth visiting. Sadly, you could barely complete the journey unless you engage in a Kiwis favourite pastime: Gambling. Even if you are not a very avid gambler it’s worth checking out a few casino sites when visiting. We give recommendations for the best casinos in the nation so we can guide you to the right place for you.

Tell me the most popular gaming destination in New Zealand?

New Zealand currently has six casinos across its entire territory which is quite impressive. New Zealand is very fond of pokies as their neighbours of Australia. Almost everybody in American society does not see NZ as a gaming destination. In this article I shall discuss a list of the most important casino destinations in a given region, describe the gaming landscape in New Zealand and the legislation that governs the game industry and casino operations.

Online alternatives

Online casinos are very popular with the Covid19 epidemic in New Zealand. A leading, reputable site is CasinoMaxi which offers new players a great range of games. Players will be rewarded in casinos with a choice to play online rather than in a traditional land-based casino – Do not forget your Free Spin bonus and Comp Points when you play in a new casino. It’s purely a game for you and gives the casino advantage over its competition. If the program is properly used the rewards will be long lasting.

SkyCity Casino Auckland

SkyCity Casinos is probably New Zealand’s best casino. With its five-star Grand Hotel it attracts both local and international visitors. More than 2,000 popular slot machines are available within the casino along with more than 100 table gaming machines and an individual poker room. In addition, there are several restaurants and cafes inside the venue, and other entertainment amenities for the visitors to play, where they can relax, chill out and enjoy some good meals. Then you can also check their online casinos which allow you to use New Zealand currency and play money online.

Dunedin Casino

In 1999, Dunedin casinos opened near Dunedin International Airport. In a beautiful Victorian-style building it offers an authentic and unforgettable experience which begins as soon as you walk inside the venue. Although SkyCity casinos are less large or versatile, they still contain some 200 slot machines and a dozen gaming tables. Dunedin offers no accommodation at the Casino, although visitors are welcome at a discount at the Scenic Hotel South cross.

Christchurch Casino

Christchurch Casino is a venue worth visiting. As with most of the rest of the Casino’s facilities the casino also includes a variety of additional facilities such as restaurants and live entertainment. There are many hotels near Casino. The hotel deals with several, so if you’re looking to stay awhile, it may get you quite a good offer.

SkyCity Hamilton

Sky City Casino is an entertainment destination in the central business district. This hotel is filled with over 200 gaming tables and 300 gaming machines. The venue has a bar, restaurants, bowling alley, and gaming options. As far as lodgings go, several hotels lie within walking distance of Casino.

Gambling laws in New Zealand

It’s long been illegal in New Zealand that gaming is legal, again illegal. As you learn more about the history of gambling, it will become commonplace for nations to shift direction under new leaders.

First Gambling Laws in New Zealand

It is the first time the New Zealand government has officially implemented gambling rules. Bookkeeping had become outlawed and horse betting was restricted to racing tracks. In addition, the laws around other forms of gambling were very strict and in the 1980s the legalisation of gambling machines. Lotteries were officially allowed by the New Zealand Parliament within an equal timeframe. The pokie machine, also referred to in the industry as the slot machine, has been legalized. Only until 1994 did the first casinos open in New Zealand.

Current Gambling Laws in New Zealand

New Zealand casinos are prohibited without permission by the Government as per the Gambling Act 1003. There are a variety of gaming genres which require a government licence. In general, the amount allowed in gambling is determined according to a variety of factors. To join an Australian casino, a player must be aged 18 or over. The sports wager requires an 18-year-old. It is legal for players from NZ who play at real money online casinos from another country and can be regulated however.

Government Regulators of Gambling in New Zealand

The Gambling Commission was established in 2003 and monitors the gambling industry in New Zealand. Those branches have been assigned to the Ministry of Interior. The Gaming Commission is responsible for the approvals of casinos, and they also dictate specifications. It also manages agreements between casinos and operators.

5 Must-See Places for Your Family’s Arizona Adventures

Arizona is a state with simply too many things for your family to see and do not to come and sample it at least once…
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Arizona is a state your family should see at least once. There are simply too many things to see and do here not to come and sample it at least once. However, there are also so many options that analysis paralysis can bog down your vacation planning fast. That’s why you need to know five must-see places to include in your Arizona adventure.

5 Arizona Places Your Family Needs to See

Do you need to be told to see the Grand Canyon? That should have been the first thing you arranged. Your question might be what to see other than the Grand Canyon, and here are five possibilities:

1. Sedona Scenic Rim Tour: If your kids play with Jeep toys but have never actually ridden in one, then you can treat them to a day of adventure. Let them ride in style over natural and remarkable terrain while seeing physical formations most other states are jealous of. Most of these tours can do pick-ups right from your hotel and carry passengers over the age of 3.

2. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum: If your travels take you through Tucson, then enjoy air conditioning and education at the same time here. Suitable for kids of all ages, this facility has a natural history museum and botanical garden. There are also a zoo and aquarium. For an interesting twist, it also has an art gallery.

3. Castles and Coasters: This theme park in Phoenix is vibrant and often whimsical. Kids of all ages love the variety of arcades, attractions, and rides. Sneak in a day here somewhere around the middle of your trip to let your children recharge on pure childhood joy before lugging them around the rest of the state.

4. Take a Quick Safari: Camp Verde has safari-style day trips where the family can learn about zebras, giraffes, and even tigers. This place isn’t just a wildlife reserve but also has live animal shows sure to entertain and educate at the same time.

5. Antelope Canyon: This canyon certainly has a different vibe than the Grand Canyon. To be sure, it’s smaller, but that can also make it a much more intimate and up-close experience. If you happen to get there when the light beams are at their best and brightest, then you can personally experience what images and photos can never really convey.

Catching the Light Beams

If you want the best time to visit Antelope Canyon to catch the light beams made famous in so much photography and cinematography, then you need to brave the summer heat. June, July, and August have the highest sun of the year. Days in these three months, especially from 11 in the morning until about 1:30 in the afternoon, are the peak times to catch the angular radiance you can only dream of.

Best Ways to Get to Arizona

If you live in an adjoining state, then driving might be your best way to get to Arizona. Enter from California via Interstates 8, 10, or 40. Residents of Nevada and Utah can use Interstate 15, and people coming in from New Mexico can use Interstates 10 and 40 on the eastern border of the state.

Flying might be better if you’re coming in from a longer distance, and your likely destination will be Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Visit Arizona says that this airport has nonstop flights from over 100 American cities.

There are also dozens of nonstop flights in and out of airports in Phoenix-Mesa Gateway and the airport in Tucson. A smaller number of flights come in and out of Yuma and Flagstaff.

The Best Time to Visit

Figuring out the best time to visit the state of Arizona can actually be a lively debate. Part of it depends on where you are coming from because people from northern states might not like the summer heat. People from areas with high humidity might actually enjoy dry heat, however. While fall, winter, and spring might mean milder temperatures and weather, your kids might also be in school. Come whenever you can, because you won’t regret it.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

How To Make Your Betta Fish Happy: 5 Simple Steps That Work

Betta fish might be small in size, but they’re big on personality. These little creatures are known to be one of the most intelligent fish in the pet trade. In fact, they have been named “The Siamese of the Aquarium World.” If you own a Bettas, you know that keeping them happy can be a challenge. They have a natural wariness of people and will often hide away from you. The good news is that you can make your betta fish happy. Here get more information and tips that you can implement to give your Betta fish a happier life.

Feed Your Betta A Proper Diet

Fish are similar to mammals in that they need a balanced diet to stay healthy and happy. You should feed your Betta three times a day with high-quality flake food and live, fresh food like blood worms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. You can also feed them tubifex worms or brine shrimp eggs.

Play With Your Betta Before You Feed Him

The betta fish has been named one of the most intelligent fish in the world. They are naturally wary of humans, and will often hide from you. The good news is that you can make your Betta happy by playing with him before feeding him. This will help to break down his natural wariness and allow him to come out more often. Place your hand near the front of his tank under the water’s surface. Let him swim around for about ten seconds before feeding him so he has time to get used to you being close to his bowl.

Keep Your Betta in Water That Is Warm and Deep

Betta fish are known for their ability to thrive in a wide range of water temperatures. However, Bettas prefer to swim in cooler water. If you have a Betta that is living in an aquarium that has warm water, they will be stressed out and unhappy. To make your Bettas happy, you need to give them a habitat that is deep enough for them to swim around without feeling cramped and at least one inch of cool water.

Don’t Hide Your Betta to Avoid Scares

One of the most common reasons that Bettas get scared is because they get startled. Bettas have a natural wariness of people and will often hide away from you. If you come up to your betta fish’s tank, it might dart under a plant or other object in the tank. This can leave your pet feeling scared and alone. To help avoid this, try not to swoop up to their tank when you come home from work or during the day. Instead, open the lid on their tank and walk in a few steps before approaching them. This will give them time to see you coming and realize that it’s safe for them.

Another way to make your Betta happy is by giving them space! Bettas need their own space just like everyone else does. So make sure that there are plenty of hiding places in their tank for when they want some peace and quiet.

Bubble wrap Your Betta Fish to Make Him Happy

You’ve heard of bubble wrap, but have you ever thought to put it on your Bettas? The bubbles are a natural source of light and will give your Betta fish something to explore. They can also be used as a hiding place for your Betta if he is feeling shy.

Are There Vikings in the Caribbean? There are Now!

Follow along with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram while we explore the Leeward Islands aboard Viking Cruise Line’s new Expedition Ship Octantis….
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Who knew that Vikings are sailing across the Caribbean these days?

Well we do now. So follow along with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram while we explore the Leeward Islands (and a Windward or two) aboard Viking Cruise Line’s new Expedition Ship Octantis.

As one of two new cutting-edge Viking expedition class small ships, Octantis is specially designed excursions to the world’s most remote destinations. We are joining her as she sails North after several months exploring Antarctica.

While ours should be a much warmer voyage, we are excited to learn more about this incredible vessel that includes an onboard marina, The Hanger, where small excursion craft are launched with passengers never having to face the outside elements. There is even a small submarine !

We can hardly wait to show you, so check our social media channels often for updates.

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

Thanks to Viking Cruises for inviting us along and providing this adventure! As always, all opinions are our own.

Road Trip Safety: The Ultimate Guide to Staying Safe While on the Road

If you’re planning a road trip, make sure you factor the following safety precautions and preparations into your plans…
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If there is one silver lining to the pandemic, it’s that it encouraged people to explore their backyards more. Short day trips and week-long road trips became more common than booking flights for country-hopping trips on the other side of the world.

While international travel is becoming possible again, many have learned to love a slower form of travel, such as road trips. However, road-tripping requires a level of self-sufficiency that isn’t needed in other types of travel. To be self-sufficient, you also have to be safe.

If you’re planning a road trip, make sure you factor the following safety precautions and preparations into your plans.

Safety precautions before the trip

Inspect your vehicle

The reliability of your vehicle is paramount on a road trip. You’ll need your vehicle to cover large distances each day, through different weather conditions and different times of the day. You may also need your vehicle for accommodation if you’re planning to camp.

To make sure your vehicle is in the best shape possible, make sure you check these components before heading out and make the necessary repairs:

- Check the battery, headlights, taillights, turn signals, coolant level, oil life, belts, hoses, wiper blades, and air conditioning.
- Ensure tires have enough tread and pressure. If they’re at the end of their life, focus on finding the best tires out there to replace your existing set.
- Check for recalls on your vehicle by searching the VIN.

Learn how to change a tire

If it’s been a while or you never learned in the first place, now is the time to make sure you know how to change a tire quickly and safely.

Depending on your destination, you may find yourself without cell service at certain points along the trip. This means you’ll have no one to ask for help if you get a flat tire. Watch some YouTube videos on changing a tire and practice before you head out onto the road.

Pack roadside assistance tools

In addition to having a spare tire and a jack to replace a flat, you’ll want to have a roadside assistance kit to help you stay safe when the unexpected happens. A roadside assistance kit should contain the following:

- Jumper cables
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Two days of non-perishable food
- Extra water
- Cell phone car charger and spare battery
- Blankets
- Candles and matches

Upgrade your cell phone plan

You never want to rely on your cell phone when you’re on a road trip, but chances are you’ll want to use it to make calls, stay in contact with family and friends, and use the GPS feature to help map your route and avoid construction and road accidents.

To make sure you have enough data, upgrade your cell phone plan for the month you plan to be away. If you’re seeing Europe by car and road-tripping across several countries, you’ll want to make sure you can use roaming or have purchased a new pay-as-you-go SIM card.

Pack paper maps

In the case that you run out of cell phone battery or enter an area without reception, you’ll want to make sure you have paper maps to fall back on.

Not only are paper maps an important safety precaution, but they’ll give you a sense of nostalgia for the good old days as well.

Know where you’re going

Spontaneity is a great quality to have, but it has its time and place. It’s never a good idea to go on a road trip without a destination planned. A list of the best American road trips is a great place to start planning.

Make sure you know where you’re going to sleep each night and make accommodations ahead of time. Sometimes plans change, but having a solid plan with a little room for spontaneous sightseeing along the way will keep you safe.

Safety precautions during the trip

Get adequate rest

Despite your best intentions, plans will inevitably change and require you to adapt. If you run into traffic or adverse weather that puts you behind schedule, you don’t have to keep pushing toward your planned destination for the day.

If you’re struggling to keep your eyes open, try to take turns driving with your partner. At the end of the day, if you’re both too tired to concentrate on the road, modify your plans and pull into the parking lot of the next hotel you see.

Keep an eye on the weather

When you cover great distances in a short period of time, the weather can change unexpectedly. To know what you’re driving into, check the weather at regular intervals on your phone. You can also tune in to local FM radio stations.

If you’re not comfortable driving through adverse weather, stop until it passes over or look for an alternate (albeit possibly less direct) route to take.

Wear your seatbelt

Wearing a seatbelt should be a given, but you may be surprised to learn that nearly 10 percent of Americans don’t buckle up.

To combat fatigue from sitting in the vehicle for hours at a time, make regular stops to walk around and grab a bite to eat. Taking your seatbelt off to get more comfortable isn’t an option.

Safety precautions after the trip

Check the vehicle for damage

After traveling so many miles, your car may be ready for servicing again. Check the tires to make sure the air pressure level is still safe and replace any cracked or broken glass.

Keep some supplies in the vehicle

That roadside assistance kit isn’t just useful for road trips; it can be life-saving during your day-to-day driving as well. You never know when you’ll need a first aid kit or booster cables.

Reminisce about your memories

While not necessarily a safety tip, make sure you take the time to talk about all the wonderful experiences you had on your road trip. The best thing about travel is the memories it makes and the closeness it creates between travel companions.

By following the safety tips in this guide, your memories of your road trip are sure to all be positive.

We are happy to present this collaborative post to offer valuable information to our readers.

An Adult’s Guide to Prepping For the New Year

Are you looking for a way to kick off the New Year right? Here are some smart ways to make the most of 2022 and improve your financial health.

You could end 2022 in a better financial position if you make the right money resolutions. You may want to consider these key financial strategies as your New Year’s resolutions this year, depending on where you are in your financial life.

Compare Credit Cards And Get a Better Deal

The New Year is a good time to assess your current credit card situation and discover if there are better deals on offer when you compare credit cards. There are a lot of factors that influence how much your credit card will cost you. In order to compare cheap credit cards, what should you look out for?

If you don’t pay off the card’s balance each month, interest charges on purchases and other transactions are one of the largest potential costs. You can generally expect to pay less interest on a card with a lower interest rate.

Annual fees can also play a role. Reduce the ongoing cost by choosing a card that has a low or no annual fee. In contrast, cards with higher fees may not have as many perks or features.

When it comes to cheap credit cards, you might want to consider the features that are available. You may be able to reduce your interest payments if you have a card with a large number of interest-free days.

Increase Your Emergency Fund

You should aim to build up an emergency fund with three to six months’ worth of living expenses if you don’t already have one.

It is important to have a significant emergency fund to ensure that unexpected calamities don’t lead to long-term debt or financial ruin.

Work out how much money you’ll have to put aside each month to reach your emergency fund goal by the end of the year. Create an automated monthly transfer of that amount to a high-yield savings account.

Develop A Strategy To Manage Your Debts

Credit cards that let you transfer debts onto a new card typically have an interest-free introductory period or very low-interest rates. If you use a balance transfer credit card carefully, you can repay your debt interest-free.

You can also take out a personal loan for debt consolidation purposes. With debt consolidation, you can pay off other higher-interest debts with a relatively low-interest personal loan, which saves you money and simplifies and simplifies managing your finances.

The most important thing is to make a budget and determine how much you can dedicate to repayments if you want to pay off your debts.

Establish A Personal Budget

Creating a budget may seem constrictive to some, but tracking your spending is a valuable tool for understanding where your money ends up each month. Setting a budget can help you determine what you can afford to spend as well as where you can cut costs.

As a first step, write down all your fixed expenses, such as rent and mortgage, mobile phone and internet expenses, utility bills, groceries and savings. After that, you’ll be able to determine how much money you have leftover for flexible expenses, such as dining out, clothes, and entertainment.

It is easy to keep track of all your purchases by looking at your credit card statement. When you’re setting up a budget for the new year, it can be helpful to review your total annual spending by category.

Life’s a Beach… but there’s also Heaps of History… in San Diego

San Diego is where the Golden State got its start. That’s why it is known as the Birthplace of California…
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Southern California is known for its beaches. As soon as we hear a Beach Boys song we are instantly taken to magical place where surfer girls stand by the ocean’s roar waiting for a little deuce coupe to take them on a surfin’ safari.

Well, daddy may have taken the T-bird away, but the beaches are still going strong. And despite Los Angles being best known with Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, and Redondo, we’d have to say that the San Diego area has the best beaches.

And of those many beaches, Pacific Beach just might be at the top of the charts. So, what better place to stay for a quick right on the sand getaway than Tower23? We can’t think of any.

How could we when we could walk directly out the door and on to the beach? We’re not talking about some little funky bungalow either, this is a full service luxury, lifestyle hotel right on the seashore.

But San Diego has much more to offer than beautiful beaches, so after a day of enjoying the vast array of included amenities at Tower23, we headed to the heart of the city at Old Town San Diego.

This is much more than just an old part of town; this really is where the Golden State got its start. That’s why it is known as the Birthplace of California. As such, in 1968 the neighborhood was designated as a state park, officially the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

It is fairly unique as state parks go, because it is right smack in the middle of a major metropolitan area. But it is certainly more than worthy of the designation, since it is the site of the very first European settlement on the West Coast of what is now United States.

The San Diego Presidio, a Spanish military outpost, was built by Gaspar de Portolà in 1769. That same year Father Junípero Serra, established the first of the nine missions he founded in California, the Mission San Diego de Alcalá.

For the next hundred years after the fire this was the center activity for the city of San Diego, until more and more of the population began to move to what is now downtown, closer to the harbor as shipping and trade increased in the late eighteen hundreds.

So, what we visited is actually a bit of a recreation with the intention of presenting the town as it was from 1821 to 1872. While several of the buildings are original, many of the structures were reconstructed to be a part of the park. Still, all of the work was done to ensure authenticity and the result is that the feel of the village is remarkably realistic.

Just wandering around the square was like a trip back in time. We were a bit disappointed that several of the museums and other buildings were closed on our Tuesday afternoon visit, but still very happy with the overall attention to detail and accuracy displayed throughout the park.

We got to hang out inside the original office of the San Diego Union newspaper, see the first ever courthouse in California, and take a peek inside the fabulous Cosmopolitan Hotel.

Nearby we found the blacksmith shop and stables, along with La Casa de Estudillo. Often called the Estudillo House, this historic adobe from 1827 was considered one of the finest houses in California in its day.

At the other end of the square, the plaza Fiesta de Reyes was irresistible, so we took a stroll through the courtyards and fountains that are surrounded by over twenty locally owned shops and restaurants. Of course, we had to stop long enough to sample a hand made fresh tortilla along the way.

That brings up another interesting quirk about this park, many of the attractions inside the park perimeter are private companies operating under agreements with the state of California. This allows for some fun, entertainment, and food without sacrificing the integrity of the surroundings.

It also means that we didn’t need to leave the park to grab a bite to eat or some souvenirs. But it really would not have mattered too much, because there is no admission fee and a ton of other options for restaurants and shops are just a few steps beyond the boundary of the park.

So with our heads full of history, we happily headed back to the beach to watch the sun go down.

…and maybe listen to some more Beach Boys.