Jon Algie 
Cromwell is less than an hour from both Queenstown and Wanaka and is a quiet alternative to those busy tourist towns. Cromwell’s main claim to fame is its brilliantly restored old town featuring many buildings from the 1800s. Another reason to visit Cromwell is to explore the many bays and beaches of Lake Dunstan, a … Read more
Sutton Salt Lake, the only inland Salt Lake in New Zealand, can be found a few minutes outside of Middlemarch, around an hour from Dunedin. It’s an interesting spot to explore and the walk is easy – it’s the perfect way to kill an hour or so! Getting to Sutton Salt Lake Middlemarch is on … Read more
One of the best day trips from Christchurch involves a scenic drive through Banks Peninsula to Akaroa, an old town with a strong French influence. I won’t be talking much about Akaroa here (I’ve written heaps about it already) – the drive there requires a post of its own! Keep reading to see some of … Read more
If you’re looking for a compact tourist town full of historic sights, awesome short walks and waters teeming with dolphins, you’ll want to add Akaroa to your New Zealand itinerary. Akaroa is most famous for its French influence, but there are heaps of other fun things to do in Akaroa. The hills above town are … Read more
One of the main reasons to visit Akaroa is the chance to get face to face (from the comfort of a boat) with tiny hectors dolphins. We were lucky to see around a dozen of the cute little creatures on our voyage, as well as some great scenery and even a dolphin-sensing dog! Keep reading … Read more
A visit to Christchurch will likely never be the most memorable part of your trip to New Zealand. You’ll almost definitely end up there at some point on your travels around the South Island though, and there are plenty of fun things to do in Christchurch including some nice beaches, hikes and the historic city … Read more
One of the best things to do in Christchurch is free and easy to do – a walk by the Avon River! The Avon River winds its way through the heart of Christchurch and there is heaps to see along the way, including the Antigua Boat Sheds, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, historic bridges and plenty … Read more
If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand’s South Island, chances are you won’t be spending that much time in the big cities (well, big cities for NZ, they’re still pretty small). You will pass through places like Christchurch, Dunedin (which is actually really great) and Nelson though, which gives you a good excuse to … Read more
The Southern Alps, a mountain range which runs down most of the length of New Zealand’s South Island, is the place to go if you want to see stunning views of New Zealand mountains. They’re often reflected in calm lakes and there are countless hikes, viewpoints and scenic roads where you can see them. Where … Read more
There are plenty of cute small towns on New Zealand’s South Island, but Akaroa stands out from the crowd by being the only one with a big French influence. Akaroa was founded by French settlers in 1840 and although it wasn’t “French” for very long, it still retains a certain Gallic vibe. Throw in a … Read more