Waiheke Island, in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, is home to some of New Zealand’s most scenic vineyards. That obviously means wine is a big reason for visiting, but is it the only one? I’m not a wine drinker (maybe my taste buds haven’t matured yet…?) but still found heaps of fun things to do on Waiheke … Read more
There’s nothing better to do on a sunny day in Auckland than to visit one of the nearby beaches. Which one should you visit though? I’ve been to a few, and Anchor Bay, around an hour north of Auckland, is the best I’ve seen. The day trip to Anchor Bay from Auckland is easy (if … Read more
It proves how relatively flat a country is when you can drive to the top of its tallest mountain. You can do just that at Doi Inthanon in the north of Thailand. At over 2500 metres above sea level, it’s the tallest mountain in the country and is a great place for a day trip. … Read more
On my recent trip to Northern Thailand I spent a few days in and around Chiang Rai, a city in the far north of the country. It’s a quieter alternative to nearby Chiang Mai and there is heaps to do both in town and as you venture further into Chiang Rai Province. A trip to … Read more
Phu Chi Fa became a bit of a “White Whale” for me over my last couple of trips to Thailand. I tried to visit in 2015 before being denied at the Chiang Rai Bus Station due to overly hazy conditions. On my most recent trip I tried again, with doubts swirling due to nobody online … Read more
This was originally published two years ago, but unlike Lonely Planet I can’t be bothered doing one of these lists every year. Plus, if you do lists like this every year they become less about the “best places to visit” than “places to visit that we haven’t added to one of these lists in a … Read more
When I heard there was an island dubbed the “Maldives of Thailand” I knew I had to see it for myself. Koh Lipe, a small island in the far south of Thailand, is definitely similar to the Maldives in some ways — the beaches are stunning and the water has an exotic blue hue, but … Read more
How much you enjoy Koh Phi Phi depends entirely on why you want to visit. Looking for an unspoilt Thai island where you can relax on stunning beaches all day? Don’t go to Koh Phi Phi! The beaches are OK (I guess), but Koh Phi Phi attracts people looking for a far different experience (mostly, … Read more