If you’re looking for an off the beaten path area in New Zealand with stunning mountain views, lonely gravel roads stretching into the distance and way fewer tourists than you’d find in the more popular regions, consider a road trip through the Hakatere Conservation Park. Located only a couple of hours from Christchurch (or four … Read more
The Coromandel Peninsula features some of New Zealand’s most unique coastal features, including Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. It’s also home to some of the country’s top beaches, and New Chums Beach is getting a reputation as a place not to miss. The viewpoint above the beach is definitely the highlight — it requires … Read more
The only way to truly appreciate Wanaka and its immediate surrounds is to see it from above. There are several world-class hikes close to Wanaka, including Roys Peak, Isthmus Peak and Diamond Lake / Rocky Mountain (with Rob Roy Glacier being a little further afield). Do you want to go hiking in Wanaka but aren’t … Read more
Nothing seems to get news-commenting New Zealanders more riled up than a negative story about freedom camping. The source of all that is evil and wrong in our otherwise perfect society can be traced back to freedom campers. Apparently they use and abuse our beautiful country while spending next to nothing (which is in no … Read more
I recently returned to Wellington, a city I called home for four years, for a day of sightseeing, catching up with old friends and way too much eating and drinking. It’s New Zealand’s second coolest city (after Dunedin of course) and is full of historic buildings, cool cafes and the country’s premier museum. A day … Read more
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
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