Jon Algie 
Fairlie, like many small towns close to tourism giants, is in a strange position. It gets heaps of people passing through on the way to Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook, but aside from grabbing a pie (at one of the most famous pie shops in New Zealand) most tourists don’t linger. Should you stick around … Read more
Te Anau is both a gateway to Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park and a destination in its own right. Sitting pretty by the shores of Lake Te Anau, the town makes for a pleasant base for exploring the region, trips on the lake and is the ideal place to recover after doing one of … Read more
The tiny town of Fox Glacier is home to (or at least close to) some awesome short walks, as well as a scenic beach accessed via a long gravel road. There isn’t much to do in the town itself, but it makes for a good base for exploring the area. Looking for the best things … Read more
If you’re looking for a slightly different angle on the spectacular scenery surrounding Franz Josef, the Canavans Knob Walk could be a good option. It starts at a very scenic car park and then winds up a hill for views towards Franz Josef Glacier. Getting to the Canavans Knob Walk This walk starts around a … Read more
Glacier Country, encompassing the tiny towns of Franz Josef and Fox Glacier, is one of the top hiking destinations in New Zealand. You’ll see heaps of beautiful mountain scenes, including the towering glaciers, on walks varying from a few minutes to a full day. We’ve been to this region a few times over years – … Read more
After seeing the sparkling waters of Lake Wakatipu from Queenstown, you’ll probably be keen to get out on the water. There are several to choose from — we did the TSS Earnslaw cruise with a buffet lunch at Walter Peak Station. This is what we saw (and what we ate). This post contains affiliate links. … Read more
Geraldine certainly isn’t the most iconic tourist town in New Zealand, and if you’re a traveller from overseas you’ll likely pass right through it on your way through the mountain regions of the central South Island. It’s a popular weekend spot for Cantabrians though, being a short drive from Timaru (and not too far from … Read more
Looming high above farmland and the foothills of the Southern Alps, Little Mount Peel is a fun mountain to climb in South Canterbury. It seems like one of the easier mountain hikes, but it’s still a mountain, and with about 1000 metres in elevation gain it’s tough in parts. We did the hike to the … Read more
If you’re making the journey to Peel Forest then you’ll likely want to see a waterfall. It’s so much better walking through the bush when there’s something to see at the end of it all! We did the walk to Emily Falls recently and it was the perfect preparation for our hike up Little Mount … Read more
When you think of Timaru and beaches, one place comes to mind – Caroline Bay. But are there any other good beaches, or coastal walkways with beautiful views, away from Caroline Bay? I headed to Jack’s Point Lighthouse to find out. A Clifftop Path When arriving at the car park for Jack’s Point Lighthouse (Tuhawaiki) … Read more