Jon Algie 
One of my favourite photos from the Queenstown region was taken on the Lake Hayes Loop Track. It was in winter, the hills surrounding the lake were dusted with snow and everything was perfectly reflected in the glass-like water. This small lake, 14 km from Queenstown, is popular with dog-walking locals and cyclists, but the … Read more
With Wānaka being over a hundred kilometers from the coast you wouldn’t expect it to be an awesome beach destination. Lake beaches have their charms too though, and Glendhu Bay is the perfect example of this. The surrounding scenery is beautiful, the water has that exotic clear blue look to it and the “sand” (or … Read more
I always kind of dismissed Kaikoura as being a bit of a one trick pony. I knew there was world-class whale watching on offer, but could that really be it? I later found out there was a waterfall where baby seals go to play, but the recent earthquake put a stop to that. The good … Read more
One of the most spectacular drives in the Marlborough Sounds (and the whole of New Zealand) is the road to French Pass and Bulwer. Sweeping views of the sounds are the highlights, but there are also some nice little coves and beaches to stop at as well as some great short hikes. It takes around … Read more
By now you probably know that Roys Peak is the best sunrise hike in Wānaka, but what if you don’t have the time, stamina or will to walk uphill in the dark for three hours. Mount Iron is the answer. It’s definitely not as impressive as Roys Peak (or Isthmus Peak) but at only 90-minutes … Read more
Hiking the Harbour Cone Track is one of the best things you can do on a trip to the Otago Peninsula. The views of the harbour and the green hills surrounding it are spectacular and you can also see over Hoopers Inlet and some of the Peninsula’s rugged ocean coastline. You can start at the … Read more
We all want to be famous. Options for achieving this in the modern world include controversial reality TV appearances, doing dumb stuff on social media or being genuinely talented at something. Or you could be a partially submerged willow tree standing alone in Lake Wānaka. That Wānaka Tree has become an Instagram celebrity over the … Read more
If you’re going to walk uphill in the dark for three hours the view at the top had better be worth it. Hiking Roys Peak for sunrise certainly isn’t easy, but when those first rays of light hit Lake Wānaka and the surrounding mountains there’s nowhere else you’d rather be. I’m sure it’s an incredible … Read more
If you’re looking for a cool place to visit in Picton that doesn’t involve too much walking, Karaka Point would be a great option. You get great views of Queen Charlotte Sound from the car park and the short walk through the bush takes you to a lovely little beach. It’s a little way out … Read more
Caroline Bay is Timaru’s version of an inner city beach, kind of like Waikiki Beach in Honolulu (only nowhere near as tropical). It’s one of the main reasons to stop in Timaru, especially on a warm summer’s day. You can easily walk down to the beach from the main street and there is quite a … Read more