Jon Algie 
If you’ve browsed this site at all over the last few years you’ll already know that New Zealand is home to heaps of scenic drives, and the South Island has most of the best ones. The drive through the Buller Gorge is one of the prettiest, and it’s quite different to the others. Think emerald … Read more
If you’re considering a trip to Stewart Island you have two main ways to get there. You can either catch the ferry, which takes an hour and takes you across the notoriously choppy Foveaux Straight, or opt for a flight. What’s a flight to Stewart Island like? It’s amazing (and very short). Keep reading for … Read more
A trip to Ulva Island is a cornerstone of many a Stewart Island holiday. This tiny island is a predator-free sanctuary for a wide-range of native New Zealand birds and is also home to some great beaches. It’s a short boat ride from Golden Bay and you’ll likely spend a few hours there – keep … Read more
When you think of Punakaiki you immediately think of the Pancake Rocks, one of the most iconic tourist spots on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The Pancake Rocks are reason enough to visit, but there are heaps of other things to do in Punakaiki, including some nice beaches, a stunning river walk … Read more
We wanted to do the Rakiura Track on our recent trip to Stewart Island. It was winter though, and I’d read reports of military-grade bed bugs destroying many a recent hut experience. Instead, we opted for a Rakiura Track day walk, and our research led us to the section between Port William and Lee Bay … Read more
Karamea is as close as you’ll get to a frontier town in New Zealand. A few kilometres north and the road runs out, leaving a huge expanse of Kahurangi National Park to take over. Being an end of the road town, you really have to want to visit, and those that do are richly rewarded … Read more
Stewart Island is at the extreme south of New Zealand, and I reckon most people think that it’s too cold and windswept to have really good beaches. That’s not true at all – we visited Stewart Island in winter and found some amazing beaches — beaches that wouldn’t look out of place somewhere far more … Read more
Rakiura, AKA Stewart Island, is New Zealand’s third largest island. It may be big, but with only 22 km of roads, there’s only so much of it you can see. One of the best viewpoints on the island is only a 15-minute walk from downtown Oban – don’t miss Observation Rock when visiting Stewart Island! … Read more
If you’re looking for somewhere to camp, eat and explore on the West Coast, consider a visit to Gentle Annie Beach. There’s a really good café there as well as a unique “maze” walk, and if you’re lucky you might even spot some dolphins. Gentle Annie Beach There’s quite a lot to see at Gentle … Read more
It’s no secret that Lake Wānaka is one of the prettiest lakes in New Zealand. You’ll get great views of it from town, from the mountains above and from the road when driving towards the West Coast or to Rob Roy Glacier. But what’s a trip on the lake itself like? We recently did a … Read more