Cars represent freedom in New Zealand. When you’re a teenager they open up a whole new world of parties and lunchtime drives to KFC. When you’re 32 they are vessels in which to explore the country — hubcap thieving gravel roads, overrun tourist sites, deserted beaches, iconic mountains and all. The most I’d spent previously on a car … Read more
I spent the first 10 years of my life in Timaru, a nondescript little city about halfway between Christchurch and Dunedin. Oamaru is about an hour away from Timaru, and we always regarded it as our ugly, boring little brother. That is the case no more; Oamaru has reinvented itself as one of New Zealand’s best … Read more
After gorging on paradise white sand beaches in Asia, I couldn’t help but think about the coastal areas in my own neck of the woods. A world away in both distance and looks, the rugged stretch of coast just south of Dunedin (my home town) known as the Catlins is somehow just as stunning. On … Read more
I remember seeing a TV show about a group of ghost hunters searching for evidence of the supernatural in the sleepy old gold mining town of St Bathans, New Zealand. They didn’t find anything (apart from a photo that looked like it was digitally enhanced), so I took it upon myself to find out if the … Read more
I set off for Mount Doom at 8.30 am from Clyde, a small town in Central Otago, New Zealand. My companions were Steve, son of Lloyd, and Princess Gia of Manila. Our quest was to get to the Tongariro Crossing and find Mount Doom (and capture it in a great photo) – the fate of … Read more
Imagine this scenario: You stumble out of a cheap hotel room with a head full of clouds and a sharp pain in your back. You realise your kidney has been stolen and you have no recollection of where you are and how you got there. You wander the streets in despair, everyone you overhear has … Read more
Welcome to the wild West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island, where glow worms roam and glaciers shimmer in the afternoon sun (if there ever is any). The West Coast sees the most rainfall in New Zealand, so if you venture to these parts you’re bound to get wet, but the rugged scenery and radiating … Read more
You’d think the best time to visit New Zealand (and Central Otago specifically) would be the middle of summer, but if you’re travelling in December and January you’ll most likely get some pretty awful weather. You’ll also have to deal with a lot of holidaying locals so if you’re thinking of making the journey then … Read more