Just over a year ago a huge earthquake, cantered near Kaikoura, decimated parts of the coastal highway between Christchurch and Picton. The inland route, via the Lewis Pass, was a capable replacement, but the coastal road is now back up and running and it makes for a great drive. It takes around five hours to … Read more
You can see a surprisingly large chunk of the Marlborough Sounds without having to set foot on a boat or undertake any long hikes. We recently went on a road trip through the Marlborough Sounds, starting in Picton and ending up down some incredibly scenic (and very quiet) gravel roads. We saw deserted beaches, sweeping … Read more
There comes a time in every young person’s life when they are forced to reassess their path and consider “settling down”. Ok, calling myself young is a bit of a stretch — as Jimmy Carr once said, the only way I’ll be described as young now is if I die. At 32 I find myself … Read more
The best thing about a trip to New Zealand, assuming you’re travelling by car, is the abundance of scenic drives on offer. From curvy coastline roads to mountain framed passes, there’s a perfect road trip for every kind of traveller. Driving yourself, whether in a car or a campervan, allows you to stop at numerous … Read more
Would you pay $80 for a tour of an old film set? What if they threw in a free glass of beer and a guide whose main role was to politely hurry people past hobbit holes and rolling hills? Not being a massive Lord of the Rings fan (and a critic of the stretched out, … Read more
It has been a year since we moved to New Zealand. A year without travelling overseas once seemed like a punishment worse than death, but now I’ve come to see it as being a bit like home detention. I’ve been stuck in New Zealand, due to a fast approaching wedding which has been eating all … Read more
What makes for a romantic travel destination? Normally I’d say the place itself doesn’t matter, and that you could have a romantic weekend pretty much anywhere, but a nice setting definitely helps. We recently spent a romantic weekend in Akaroa, one of New Zealand’s most quaint old towns. We dined at expensive French restaurants (Akaroa … Read more
When visiting Queenstown you’ll eventually have to dust off your hiking boots and hit a trail or two. The scenery, which mostly consists of jagged snow-capped peaks, glassy lakes and calm coves, kind of demands it. But what to do if you’re unfit, lazy or short on time? Luckily there are numerous short and easy … Read more