Mt McIntosh & Mt Judah Tracks
An enjoyably challenging (~1,400m ascent and descent) full day loop walk along the Mt McIntosh & Mt Judah Tracks, in the hills behind Glenorchy (an hour north of Queenstown), offering…
Tag: New Zealand
Auckland Domain Wintergardens
In the Domain, one of the largest parks in Central Auckland, the Wintergardens are always a pleasure to visit. Filled with life and warmth, they’re a great place to escape…
Motukorea / Browns Island
Motukorea / Browns Island is a 10,000 year old volcanic island in the Hauraki Gulf, less than 4km offshore from the Auckland suburb of St Heliers. After centuries of cultivation…
Fletcher Trust Art Collection
One of the largest corporate art collection in New Zealand, the Fletcher Trust collection was established by Fletcher Building in the early 1980s. Thankfully as a separately managed trust it…
Te Uru
An always interesting and engaging place, Te Uru is a wonderful art gallery in Titirangi, in the centre of West Auckland. The new building opened in 2014 is one of…
Pah Homestead
Home to the Wallace Collection, one of the largest private art collection in New Zealand, the Pah Homestead is the perfect use for what was once one of the largest…
Auckland Art Gallery
The second largest art gallery in the country after Te Papa in Wellington, Auckland Art Gallery is always an interesting place to visit. They rotate the exhibitions frequently so there’s…
New Zealand tramps (multi-day walks) ranked
In the past five and a half years since starting with the Routeburn Track, I’ve done 24 multi-day walks (known as tramps in New Zealand), including all of the Great…
Tableland Circuit
A great weekend walk, the Tableland Circuit offers some of the best views in Kahurangi National Park (also home to the better known Heaphy Track) and some eclectic accommodation options.…
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…
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…
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…
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…