Jon Algie 
You don’t need me to convince you to go to Queenstown. If you’re visiting New Zealand, especially for the first time, I’m pretty sure it’s in your plans. We’ve been exploring the area for seven years now and have poured all that experience into this Queenstown itinerary. It’s a loose 3/5/7-day itinerary with lots of … Read more
You’ll find some of the best scenery in New Zealand surrounding the lakes of the Southern Alps. From Fiordland National Park to the Nelson Lakes — here are the top 12 New Zealand South Island Lakes! Lake Heron Tucked away in a quiet corner of Hakatere Conservation Park, Lake Heron is beautiful lake surrounded by … Read more
There are heaps of places to visit in the Port Hills of Christchurch, where the main attraction is seeing the stunning views both of the city as well as Lyttleton Harbour and Banks Peninsula. Mount Vernon Park is a great option — as you’ll see in the photos below! Getting to Mount Vernon Park Mount … Read more
The drive from Christchurch to Mount Cook is one of the most popular journeys on New Zealand’s South Island. From the South Island’s biggest city you’ll head inland towards its tallest mountain, with heaps to see in between. This post contains affiliate links. If you click one and book a hotel or tour we’ll get … Read more
If you’re looking for the best viewpoints in Christchurch you’ll want to head for the Port Hills. There are heaps of great views over the harbour, city and surrounding mountains, and lots of scenic reserves and walking tracks. Sugarloaf Scenic Reserve is great place to see everything the Port Hills is famous for, as you’re … Read more
Christchurch, the South Island’s biggest city, isn’t widely known as a beach destination. You won’t find exotic white sand or clear blue water, but there are plenty of interesting beaches in Christchurch, from popular dining / family outing spot Sumner to scenic spots such as Taylors Mistake and Tumbledown Bay. This post contains affiliate links. … Read more
Beaches aren’t the first things that come to mind when thinking about Wānaka, an inland mountain tourist town famous for hiking and skiing. Lake Wānaka dominates the area and features some stunning beaches, and nearby Lake Hāwea has good ones too. Looking for the best beaches in Wānaka? You’ve come to the right place! Downtown … Read more
The drive from Christchurch to Dunedin is a bit of a mixed bag. It features some of the longest, most boring sections of road on the South Island, as well as one of the best. It’s a popular driving route and takes 4.5 hours without major stops. Want to see some cool stuff along the … Read more
Driving from Dunedin to Queenstown takes you from the shores of the Pacific Ocean to the Southern Alps in only around 3.5 hours, but you’ll probably want to stop a few places along the way. Whether you’re spending a few days doing this or just want to stop at scenic viewpoint or two, this post … Read more
If you’re looking for a (very) short walk in Roxburgh you can’t go wrong with a walk up to Frog Rock. There’s also the longer Grovers Hill Track which was in a bit of a mess when we visited. Frog Rock The Grovers Hill Track starts on Teviot Street in Roxburgh. You’ll first walk around … Read more