Jon Algie 
Have you been searching for the ultimate two week New Zealand South Island itinerary but can’t seem to find the right one? Not to sound arrogant or anything, but this could be the post for you! I’ll take you through some two week South Island itinerary options and will help you decide where to spend … Read more
Looking for something different to do in Dunedin? The Taieri Gorge Railway trip takes you through the outskirts of Dunedin and out to the stunning vistas of the Taieri Gorge. A lot of this area can’t be reached by car, so the train really is your only option – and it’s a beautiful (and quite … Read more
We’ve always been fascinated with cable cars. Riding a cable car / gondola / funicular is a great chance to see a place from a whole new perspective. On our recent trip to Christchurch we took a ride on the Christchurch Gondola. The central city is known for its flat terrain in comparison to other … Read more
You’ve probably heard of the Hooker Valley Track, by far the most popular hike in Mount Cook National Park. While that hike deserves all the praise it gets, there’s heaps more to explore in the land of New Zealand’s tallest mountains. The Red Tarns Track, a steep two-hour hike (return) from the valley floor, is … Read more
Central Christchurch is home to a variety of attractions, including beautiful old buildings, the meandering Avon River, street art, the botanic gardens and various reminders of the Christchurch earthquakes. It’s a strange mix of the old, the new and the soon to be demolished. A fun way to explore central Christchurch is on the historic … Read more
One of my earliest memories was driving through the lion enclosure at Orana Wildlife Park and seeing lions wandering around outside the car. You can’t do that anymore (that all ended in 1995), but it was exciting to return to this place after so many years. Orana Wildlife Park has a great selection of animals to … Read more
Lake Tekapo, the tiny town with an old stone church by the lake of the same name, is the perfect place to relax after hiking in the Mount Cook / Mackenzie Basin region. After a long day of hiking it’s hard to beat a relaxing soak in the Tekapo Springs hot pools. These pools look … Read more
In small town New Zealand there generally isn’t much to do when the sun goes down. That’s not the case for Lake Tekapo though, as it sits in New Zealand’s only dark sky reserve, meaning it’s ideal for stargazing. Dark Sky Project (formally Earth and Sky) invited us to do the Mount John Observatory stargazing … Read more
This underrated hiking track, just a 30 minute drive from Twizel on the road towards Mount Cook and Tekapo (from Dunedin), features sweeping views of Lake Benmore and the Waitaki Valley. Hiking the Benmore Peninsula Track only takes an hour or two and it’s easily one of the best things to do in the Waitaki … Read more
Have you ever been to a place so beautiful that you can’t work out why more people don’t know about it? For us that’s the Hakatere Conservation Park / Ashburton Lakes District, a stunning collection of tiny lakes and scenic roads surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It’s a dream to drive through, and there are heaps … Read more