Canyoning in New Zealand
One of the more unusual and exciting outdoor activities is to make your way down a canyon by jumping, swimming, zip lining, sliding and abseiling. It’s a memorable experience, if…
Category: New Zealand
Palmerston North
Much maligned, and unfairly so based on what admittedly was only a day spent there, Palmerston North is an often lovely city a couple of hours north of Wellington. With…
New Zealand benches
New Zealand is a truly beautiful place, with many views worth spending time to properly appreciate. Thankfully there are often handy benches to help one do so. Here are some…
Gunn’s Camp
Gunn’s Camp began in 1938 as Public Works Department camp to accommodate married men (unsure where the unmarried stayed) who worked on the Hollyford-Okuru Road. 8km up Hollyford Road off Milford…
Milford Sound
Described by Rudyard Kipling as the eighth Wonder of the World, Milford Sound is one of the most famous tourist destination in New Zealand, understandably so. I’ve been there three…
Milford Road
One of the most scenic (if also most dangerous) roads in New Zealand, the northern part of New Zealand State Highway 94, better known as the Milford Road is a…
New Zealand cemeteries
Cemeteries are fascinating places, providing perspective on your life and the times in which people lived and were buried. Here’s a selection from across New Zealand, starting with probably the…
Pekapeka Wetlands
An unexpected gem, the Pekapeka Wetlands are 98 hectares of swamp just south of Hastings, in Hawke’s Bay. On a sunny day (with a little contrast adjustment) the colours are…
Whakaari / White Island
There are so many amazing places in New Zealand, but Whakaari / White Island is pretty close to the top of the list for me. How often do you get to…
Hamilton Gardens
One of the finest gardens in New Zealand, and probably the best thing to do in New Zealand’s fourth largest city, Hamilton Gardens are both varied and beautiful. There are…
New Zealand volcanoes
One of the many things I love about New Zealand is easy access to (mostly) extinct volcanoes. They are always a challenge to walk up and reward with stunning views.…
Arrowtown
An historic gold rush era town close to Queenstown, Arrowtown is worth visiting for it’s heritage, and in April / May is one of the best places in New Zealand…
Exploring Christchurch by car
I’ve been to Christchurch many times, but never with time and a car. My Best of Christchurch post from a few years ago covered what you can see on foot…
New Zealand tramps (multi-day walks) ranked
In the past four and a half years since starting with the Routeburn Track, I’ve done 22 multi-day walks (known as tramps in New Zealand), including all of the Great…
Cave Stream Scenic Reserve
Just down the road from Castle Hill / Kura Tāwhiti Conservation Area is an impressive 594m limestone cave, part of the Cave Stream Scenic Reserve. There are two entrances to…
Castle Hill / Kura Tāwhiti Conservation Area
Just over an hour out of Christchurch on the way to Arthur’s Pass, the Kura Tāwhiti Conservation Area / Castle Hill is an absolute gem. Filled with limestone boulders it’s…
Old St. Paul’s and St Paul’s Cathedral, Wellington
Home to one of the most beautiful church interiors in New Zealand, Old St. Paul’s is an icon of the capital. Only taking nine months to build, it opened in…
National Library of New Zealand and He Tohu, Wellington
He Tohu is a wonderfully designed ‘treasure box’ designed to display three of the most important constitutional documents in New Zealand’s history. Inside this beautiful wooden space are the 1835…
Wellington Botanic Garden, Otari-Wilton’s Bush Native Botanic Garden, and Bolton Street Cemetery
One of the most popular gardens in New Zealand, Wellington Botanic Garden dates back to 1868 and retains some distinctively Victorian areas as well as some more modern additions. The…
Wellington Cable Car and Cable Car Museum
Originally dating from 1902, the cable car offers a short (five minutes) but atmospheric (and less sweaty) trip up the hill from Lambton Quay to the Wellington Botanic Gardens. Other…