Jon Algie 
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
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