Devonport
One of the most pleasant suburbs in Auckland, Devonport is blessed with an idyllic location across the harbour from Auckland CBD, and some of the best preserved heritage in the…
Tag: New Zealand
Mt William Walkway
Just south of Bombay, the Mount William Walkway offers stunning views from some of the highest vantage points in the Auckland region. Only 40 minutes drive from the CBD, it’s…
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…
Awhitu Peninsula
A great day trip from Auckland, the Awhitu Peninsula is a beautiful place about an hour south west, on the southern headland of the Manukau Harbour. Sweeping views of the harbour,…
Te Ara Hura
A relatively unknown Auckland gem, Te Ara Hura is 100km of connected tracks and trails around the Waiheke Island, only 40 mins by ferry from downtown Auckland. Particularly now the…
Mt Holdsworth-Jumbo Circuit
One of the best known tracks in the Tararuas, a popular forest park a couple of hours north of Wellington, the Mt Holdsworth-Jumbo Circuit is a 24km loop running through…
Best of 2018 – Travels
By far the biggest year of travel I’ve done, helped by taking a fifteen week leave of absence from work, in addition to eight weeks of paid and unpaid leave…
Mt Crichton Loop Track
If you’re after a straightforward but scenic and historic walk near Queenstown you can’t go far wrong with the Mt Crichton Loop Track. Starting 12km down the road from Queenstown on…
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…
Lake Marian
Lake Marian is a scenic alpine lake in a hanging valley formed by glaciers, reached by a 4.8km three hour return walk from the start of the Hollyford Road, just off…
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…
Kepler Track Day Walk to Luxmore Hut
One of New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks’, the Kepler Track makes for a wonderful winter day 28km return walk up to Luxmore Hut to soak in the views over lunch, before…
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…
Waikowhai Walkway
A 20km return walk through native bush, crossing rock shelves and sandy beaches, by an often serene expanse of water. Amazingly such a thing exists only 11km from Auckland CBD.…
Auckland public art
Though Auckland has seemingly little compared with Wellington public art, there is more than you might think scattered around the city. Here’s a few that have caught my eye over…
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…
Dart Glacier and Cascade Saddle
This quite stunning day walk is a must for anyone venturing though Dart Hut on the Rees-Dart Track, if time and weather allows. For many people it is one of…