Travel deals of the week

Vivid: Take to the water for a cruise during Sydney's light festival. Photo / Brook Mitchell, Getty Images

Mark Vivid

Vivid Sydney is the largest outdoor lighting, music and ideas festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Switching on from May 24 to June 15, the annual event's centrepiece is Sydney harbour. Book your fare on a Vivid Lights Cruise, which travels through a spectrum of light as it makes its way around the harbour. Early online bookings can secure savings of up to 35 per cent. The cruises depart nightly at 6.45pm and 8pm. Prices now start at
$25.84pp. There is a wide variety of cruise packages, including drinks and dinner
cruises and even a five-course degustation dinner and drinks cruise, currently priced from A$199pp (usually A$245pp).

Contact: Captain Cook Cruises, 0061 2 9206 1111 or captaincook.com.au/sydney-harbour-cruises/whats-on-in-sydney/vivid-festival/

Boots and all

Head for the Hollywood hills on one of Runyon Canyon's popular hiking trails. Five nights' accommodation and return airfares to Los Angeles from Wellington or Christchurch. Your accommodation is in Anaheim, not far away from Disneyland. Book by April 8. Travel dates available between May 19 and June 9 or between September 1 and 18 from Auckland. Travel dates from Wellington and Christchurch vary.

Contact: Flight Centre, 0800 427 555 or flightscentre.co.nz

Stake your claim

A five-day tour of Buenos Aires, with four nights' accommodation at the four-star Pulitzer Hotel, is priced from $1560pp, twin-share. Daily breakfasts are included, as are return airport transfers, a welcome dinner at a top Argentinian Asado restaurant, a half-day city tour, an evening's dining followed by a tango show, an "Argentine Ultimate Cuisine Experience" and a ranch experience. All transfers to these excursions are included. Book by August30. Travel available year-round. Flights from New Zealand to Argentina are additional.

Contact: House of Travel, 0800 713 715 or houseoftravel.co.nz

Revive in Raro

As New Zealand's barometer slides into the smaller and cooler numbers, head for the warmer climes of Rarotonga.
Seven nights in ocean-front accommodation, from May16-23, are priced from $2835 and include return Air New Zealand airfares from Auckland. The accommodation hosts will show you parts of the island not usually seen by tourists.
Optional activities are arranged for you each day, ensuring at least half of each day is left free for complete relaxation.
Daily tropical breakfasts are included, as are lunches or dinners on most days.

Contact: Pukekohe Travel 0800 785 386 or pukekohetravel.co.nz

Tasty fare

Join Kiwi chef Simon Gault on a premium escorted journeyfrom Rome to Venice and enjoy authentic food and wine
experiences with local chefs. The 15-day trip features handpicked accommodation and transport inaluxury coach withextra leg-room. Return flights from Auckland and transfers inItaly are also included. This one-off experiential tour is pricedfrom $11,490 and departs from New Zealand on September 7.

Contact: your own travel agent or Insight Vacations, 0800 568 769 or insightvacations.com