Jon Algie 
Lake Tekapo, with its characteristic blue water and mountain surrounds, is one of the top scenic spots in the Mackenzie Basin. The views from the stony beach in front of town are nice, but to really see the beauty of this area you’ll need to head a little further afield. The Peninsula Walkway, located around … Read more
You’ll pass through Fairlie on the drive between Christchurch and Tekapo / Mount Cook — if you have time you should definitely take the short detour to Lake Opuha. This small man-made lake is surrounded by hills and mountains and offers up some beautiful views in its reflective surface. Driving to Lake Opuha Lake Opuha … Read more
The beaches of Golden Bay are famed throughout New Zealand for their soft sands and clear calm water. We explored a few of the beaches in the area after visiting Abel Tasman National Park and were most impressed with Tata Beach. Tata Beach Golden Bay is the gateway to a popular part of the Abel … Read more
Seemingly in the middle of nowhere, down the bumpiest of gravel roads, lies the Oparara Basin, home to a series of arches and caves amidst a wild limestone environment in Kahurangi National Park. Is it worth the journey? Keep reading to find out (although you’ve probably already guessed it is worth it, or I might … Read more
It took us 18 months of living in Dunedin for us to get to Boulder Beach — there are so many beaches close to the city and this is definitely one of the least popular ones. Lack of popularity doesn’t always equal lack of quality though, and Boulder Beach is easily as good as many … Read more
If you’re only in Picton for a short time — maybe you’re on a cruise ship or waiting for the ferry to Wellington — the short walk to Shelley Beach and Bob’s Bay is a good way to kill a couple of hours. From Bob’s Bay you can continue on to the Snout Track for … Read more
One of many wild, rugged and beautiful beaches on the Otago Peninsula, Allans Beach draws people in with its wildlife, scenic headlands and surf breaks. You can also get a great view of the beach from the Sandymount Recreation Reserve — combine the two for a fun day out in Dunedin. Seals Just before reaching … Read more
Despite only being an hour or so from tourism heavyweights Wanaka and Queenstown, Central Otago is a place where you can easily escape the crowds. We only saw one other person while walking the Conroys Dam Track (located in the Aldinga Conservation Area) — if you want to do a walk not many others have … Read more
You can see Smails Beach from the series of car parks on Tomahawk Road, but if you’re keen for a hike and want to see this stretch of coastline from a different perspective the Karetai Track is a great option. Walking from Smails Beach up the hill to Karetai Road takes around 75 minutes return … Read more
One of several scenic bays in the Catlins, Purakaunui Bay is a great place to visit whether you’re planning to camp there or not. The camping ground is definitely a highlight (you’ll get great views from your van / tent) but there are also some stunning viewpoints on offer up the hill and the beach … Read more