Jon Algie 
Hiking in the Silver Peaks Scenic Reserve is one of the best things to do in Dunedin for lovers of the outdoors. You’ll get heaps of wide-ranging views, from the coastlines north and south of Dunedin to the Taieri Plains and beyond. I’ll show you how to make the most of a trip to the … Read more
As well as having one of the more interesting names, Murdering Beach, now officially known as Whareakeake, is also a good place to visit for beach views and quiet walks. You have to drive down a dodgy road to get there, making it one of the more difficult beaches in Dunedin to access, but don’t … Read more
New Zealand is home to heaps of interesting native birds, and the best place to see them in New Zealand (on the South Island at least) is at Orokonui Ecosanctuary. It’s high on the hills above Dunedin (a 25-minute drive from town) and, as you might expect, is full of birds enjoying the predator free … Read more
Nelson, the biggest (and only) city at the top of the South Island, is most famous for being the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park. It’s a great reason to visit, but stick around a while and you’ll find plenty of other fun things to do in Nelson, both in the city centre and the … Read more
The coastline west of Nelson is home to some interesting places, including one of the area’s most loved beaches, a cool seaside eating spot and some weird tame eels which you can feed. It’s not the most picturesque piece of coastline near Nelson (that title would go to Abel Tasman National Park or the Marlborough … Read more
Tahunanui Beach, the closest beach to downtown Nelson, is popular for a few of reasons. Obviously the first is its location – it’s in suburban Nelson and is very easy to get to – but it’s also loved for its calm waters and relaxing, laid-back atmosphere. Throw in a couple of bars, heaps of places … Read more
If you’re looking for a fun, photogenic and informative place to visit in Nelson, look no further than Founders Park (also known as Founders Heritage Park). This open-air museum features heaps of cool old buildings with lots of information about what life was like in New Zealand back in the olden days. The Main Street … Read more
New Zealand tourist towns don’t get much more iconic than Wānaka. It’s home to some of the best hikes in the country, a wide variety of activities to suit all types of traveller and one of the prettiest lakefront beach areas in New Zealand. There are so many things to do in Wanaka — I’ll … Read more
Central Otago and the Queenstown Lakes District, which includes Wānaka, is one of the most famous wine growing regions in New Zealand. I’d love to write more about it, but I’m one of those unsophisticated people who can’t stand wine. I do, however, enjoy a good viewpoint, and the Rippon Vineyard certainly excels in that … Read more
If you’re travelling through the mountain areas of the central South Island, then you’ll almost definitely end up in Lake Tekapo at some point. It’s one of the most popular South Island tourist towns and the surrounding area, known as the Mackenzie Basin (or Mackenzie Country), is full of interesting sights. Mountain vistas are the … Read more