After writing that wee rant last week about Countdown’s wonderful new inaccessible self-service checkout kiosks, it got me thinking about better alternatives. I struggled at first to think of any company, either in NZ or overseas, that takes universal access seriously enough to incorporate it into any of its product design. And then it hit me. Our much-lauded national carrier, Air New Zealand, have these amazing checkin kiosks in their domestic terminal, one of which is not only totally accessible to those in wheelchairs but clearly signposted too!

You can see the great signage in the picture above, and let me tell you, these are an absolute treat to use. I fly with Air NZ quite frequently, and even though my visits require a trip to the special assistance counter to speak with airport staff, I always check in using the kiosks first, because it’s just such a wonderful experience. Sure, the user interface is great, and the process is simple, but the fact they care enough to put in a dedicated kiosk for those with limited mobility?

Well that, as they say, is priceless.

If you’re not really one for challenging environments, taking on Rome in a wheelchair is not something I’d advise. Of all the cities undertaken on my Wheely Big OE, Rome was by far the trickiest. And, crucially, one of the most expensive. And it’s not like I can say I hadn’t been forewarned! Plenty has been written about Rome’s unsuitability for wheelchair users, especially those in power chairs. Unperturbed, we decided to go anyway.

I cannot stress this enough: when travelling to Rome in a wheelchair, planning is essential. In order to take the Leonardo Express from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport to the main station, Termini, you have to email the Sala Blu team at trenitalia.it in order for them to arrange the requisite lift service at Termini. Unless you’re comfortable being hauled down steps, don’t forget to do this! Also, don’t expect a readily-available wheelchair-accessible taxi service! We had a few muckups with our flights, and after ringing what seemed like every taxi company in Rome, ended up spending 140euro (which is around $280NZD) on a taxi to the airport. Absolutely criminal.

Video blog #3: Travel!! from Red Nicholson on Vimeo.

Thanks to Saphiya for this review! We went here earlier in the year and although prices were steep, an adult being $26.00 we did the family pass of 2 adults and children for $52.00 and were told that we could enter and exit the village when we wanted and until the village was closed (but no, we didn’t stay the whole day!) Firstly, there was a lot of space to park; it was so empty that we didn’t even need

Not that I like to admit it, but the Aussies have well and truly one-upped us on this one! Tourism NSW have set up sydneyforall.com, a site quite similar to this one really, featuring ‘accessible reviews’ on some of Sydney’s biggest tourist attractions. The site acts as an access portal, and contains information on the accessibility of places like the Opera House and Sydney’s Botanical Gardens. It also has a section on accessible transport, which contains downloadable ‘access maps’, information

Well it’s about time. Hawkes Bay resident Felicity Patterson has teamed up with United Travel to provide a travel advisory service exclusively to help disabled travellers! Felicity decided to take the initiative after travelling extensively throughout NZ and the world, and learning plenty about the potential pitfalls of travelling with a disability along the way! She says: So here I am now working as a travel consultant on a work trial with an Auckland travel agency, learning on the job.

Yeah yeah, this old chestnut. And to be honest, until the punishment for misusing a mobility parking spot is instant life imprisonment, this chestnut will likely remain a thorn in disabled people’s side forever. But it’s always nice to hear people providing a fresh and ‘real’ perspective on the issue. The North Shore Times have run a story this week about 20-year-old Auckland Uni student Narissa Siemonek, who is making a plea to local councils to tighten up the enforcement

Having had a very pleasant, and surprisingly successful journey on the Interislander ferry myself early last year, I was intrigued as to what the folks over at NZ On Wheels had to say about it all. Thankfully, our individual trips seem to have at least one thing in common – the overriding enjoyment factor! It really is a stunning voyage, and a must for anyone travelling New Zealand’s stunning coastline. The picture on the left is taken from NZ On

To be honest, I’ve never been to China, nor do I have any real desire to do so. However, for many of our nation’s Paralympians, they’ll be heading over there in September, in the valiant quest for sporting glory! The question is, how truly accessible is Beijing? Will our boys find themselves stranded at bus stops and taxi stands with no way to get to the competition venues? I’ve heard a thing or two about Chinese attitudes towards disabled people,

Following on from this post regarding the whereabouts of accessible walks, trails, and other such nature-related journeys throughout our beautiful country, one reader recommended I check out “Accessible Walks: A guide to scenic walks in the South Island of New Zealand“. Written by siblings Anna and Andrew Jameson, of whom Anna is disabled, it acts as a comprehensive guidebook to all the breathtaking scenic walks the South Island has to offer. Accessible Walks provides information about each walk’s gradient, track