Jon Algie 
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
Te Anau is a heavy hitter in the New Zealand travel scene, but there’s an often-overlooked small town just next door that you might want to check out. There are some fun things to do in Manapouri, including a great beach, a half-day walk above Lake Manapouri and the day trip to Doubtful Sound. Keep … Read more
I can assume if you’ve landed on this page that you’re planning a trip to Dunedin. Congratulations – you’ve chosen wisely! Dunedin is (in my slightly biased opinion) the most beautiful city in New Zealand. You’ll find dozens of viewpoints, beaches and other natural attractions as well as heaps of history. This Dunedin itinerary will … Read more
Twizel sits in a strange space as far as tourist towns go. It’s a popular spot with locals, due to a huge number of baches (holiday homes) and is perfectly positioned as the closest town to Mount Cook National Park. But it’s only 45 minutes from Lake Tekapo, one of the most iconic small towns … Read more
If you’re venturing all the way up to Karamea, in the far north of the West Coast, you’re probably going to want to check out some beaches. But where are the best beaches in Karamea? I’m here to help – I’ll show you some of the beaches near Karamea, including a particularly special one a … Read more
As a kid growing up in Timaru, I have vague memories of visiting Peel Forest. It’s a big tract of forest in the otherwise farming intensive plains of South Canterbury. You’ll see plenty of trees, some waterfalls and there’s even some mountains to climb (Little Mount Peel, Big Mount Peel). I ventured back there for … Read more
Te Anau is the gateway to Fiordland National Park (Milford Sound) and is one of New Zealand’s most popular tourist towns. It’s situated on the shores of Lake Te Anau, and across the lake sits a series of caves. Those caves are home to some unique creatures — glowworms! Note: We paid our own way … Read more
High above Central Otago, where only 4WDs dare to tread, sits a big rock next to what looks like a desolate moon base. Welcome to the Old Man Range, where you’ll drive to over 1600 metres above sea level and explore a barren, lifeless, and beautiful landscape the likes of which are rare in New … Read more
Manapouri is a tiny town near Te Anau, and the fact it isn’t on the main road means a lot of people miss it. It’s a cool place to see, mostly because of Frasers Beach. We reckon it’s one of the best lake beaches in New Zealand — keep reading and see if you feel … Read more
The drive between Queenstown and Te Anau is a popular one, with scores of tour buses, cars and vans desperate to get to Milford Sound and the other wonders of Fiordland National Park. What can you see on the drive between Queenstown and Te Anau? Keep reading to find out! This post contains affiliate links. … Read more