Jon Algie 
If you want some of the best views in Nelson Lakes National Park without doing a multi-day hike, the St Arnaud Range Track is a great option. This walk takes you from the shores of Lake Rotoiti up to a couple of stunning viewpoints and will take most people 4-5 hours to complete. Keep reading … Read more
If you want to see one of the best waterfalls at the top of the South Island and also get some awesome views of Lake Rotoiti, this is the hike for you. It’ll take three to four hours to hike to Whiskey Falls and back and there is so much to see along the way. … Read more
You’d think the West Coast, one of the wettest and wildest regions of New Zealand, would have heaps of iconic waterfalls. That isn’t really the case, so we had to get a little off the beaten path to seek some out. Coal Creek Falls, a short drive from Greymouth (on the way north to Punakaiki), … Read more
Kaikoura is famous for being a place where “the mountains meet the sea”, but in all my (quick) trips to Kaikoura I’d only ever set foot on (or very near) the coast. On my most recent trip to Kaikoura I decided to head into the hills to see some of the inland attractions. It turned … Read more
The Lord of the Rings wasn’t the only fantasy franchise filmed in New Zealand. The Chronicles of Narnia was also shot here, and if you’re anything like me that doesn’t excite you in the slightest. I watched a bit of one of those movies and wasn’t a fan. Why am I writing this? Well, Castle … Read more
If you enjoy reading articles ranking New Zealand’s best beaches you would definitely have heard of Kaiteriteri. It’s a niche form of literature I know, but there is always plenty of debate on the subject and people really seem to love Kaiteriteri Beach. It’s not my favourite beach in New Zealand (or even the immediate … Read more
If you’re short on time but still want to visit a beach almost as good as you’ll see along the Abel Tasman Coastal Track, a trip to Split Apple Rock could be a great option. It’s just over an hour’s drive from Nelson (and 10 minutes from Kaiteriteri) and only a few kilometres from Abel … Read more
The short and (relatively) easy Rakaia Gorge Walkway takes you to some beautiful viewpoints where you’ll see snow-capped mountains, rolling countryside and the crisp blue waters of the Rakaia Gorge. If you’re driving through the Canterbury High Country and want to get out and stretch your legs I’d highly recommend this scenic hike – keep … Read more
In a region so blessed with beautiful beaches it can be hard to decide which ones to visit. Curio Bay, towards the southern end of the stretch of coastline known as the Catlins, is special for a few reasons. The main one is that it’s a great place to see dolphins playing in the waves … Read more
This short, easy hike takes you up through exotic forest to viewpoints above Mount Cook Village. You’ll see heaps of mountains, a waterfall, and some great views and you can combine it with the nearby Red Tarns Track for a more challenging hike. Keep reading for more information about this short walk in Mount … Read more