Jon Algie 
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
If you’re travelling between New Zealand’s North and South Islands you have two options: fly or catch a ferry. You’ll obviously want to go opt for the ferry if you have your own transport, and that’s exactly what we did on our recent North Island trip. We travelled from Picton to Wellington on the Interislander, … Read more
In a country full of scenic roads, the road to Mount Cook stands out as one of the most spectacular. The Southern Alps, including Mount Cook, are on full view as you skirt the bright blue waters of Lake Pukaki. Thinking of driving the scenic road to Mount Cook? Keep reading for more information (and … Read more
So, you want to see Milford Sound but don’t want to shell out for a cruise? You should definitely consider the cruise option, but you can get some great views of Milford Sound from close to the car park. The Milford Sound Foreshore Track runs along the, ah, foreshore and is obviously easy to find, … Read more
This pair of side-by-side lakes sit right next to the main road through the Hakatere Conservation Park and are well worth a look when driving through this stunning area. Lake Clearwater and Lake Camp are two of the many “Ashburton Lakes” and are surrounded by mountains. Lake Clearwater is the more scenic of the two … Read more
Located a few kilometres north of the famous Pancake Rocks, the Truman Track is a nice little walk to a couple of viewpoints and then down to one of the best beaches on the West Coast. It’s not the reason you’ll visit Punakaiki but it’s good dessert after the main course (the main course being … Read more
Having done most of the popular hikes on the road to Milford Sound we found ourselves searching for this area’s more hidden gems. That led us to the Tutoko Valley Track, which starts a short distance from Milford Sound. It isn’t one of my favourite hikes (in fact, it’s one of my least favourites!) but … Read more