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…
Tag: North Island
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…
Historic Northland
Where Europeans first settled in New Zealand, Northland is a fascinating place, filled with historic sites. The best place to start is with Kerikeri’s Kemp House and neighbouring Stone Store,…
Northland nature
New Zealand is blessed with beautiful scenery seemingly almost everywhere, but Northland has more than most. It is home to some of the longest beaches in the country. Ninety Mile…
New Plymouth
Powered by New Zealand’s oil and diary industries, New Plymouth is often considered one of the best places to live in New Zealand. Wages are good, house prices aren’t overly…
New Plymouth Street Art
Continuing my series of street art from random places around the world with New Plymouth, heart of the Taranaki region of North Island, New Zealand. There is definitely an animal…
Best of Rotorua, Taupo and Tokoroa
Rotorua The original New Zealand tourist destination long before Queenstown and Milford Sound. In particular they came to visit the Pink and White Terraces, before they were destroyed by the…
Diving at the Alderman Islands
A less well known alternative to the Poor Knights Islands, the Aldermans are 20km east of the Coromandel Peninsula, and offer some great diving opportunities. I spent a weekend away organised…
Diving at the Poor Knights Island
The Poor Knights are deservedly the most famous place to dive in New Zealand, once rated by Jacques Cousteau as one of the top ten dive sites in the world. A…
Best of the Coromandel Peninsula
Where much of Auckland goes on holiday, and justifiably so, for the Coromandel Peninsula is a beautiful microcosm of some of the best of New Zealand. Home to stunning beaches,…
New Zealand North Island from the air
To really appreciate what four million people look like in a country 10% bigger than the UK you need to see New Zealand from the air. Vast amounts of farmland,…
Best of Hawkes Bay
One of the sunniest and most attractive parts of the country, though there is rather a lot of competition. Home to some beautiful heritage buildings and natural sights. Here are…