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

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

Hiking to tiny Lake Emily, set amidst golden tussocks and surrounded by snow-capped mountains, is one of the highlights of any trip to the Hakatere Conservation Park. This region of the Canterbury High Country is part of the wider Ashburton Lakes area and has that perfect combination of stunning views

In case you haven’t heard already, a little film series known as the Lord of the Rings trilogy (as well as the less well-loved Hobbit trilogy) was filmed in New Zealand. There are heaps of filming locations all over the country, and Mount Sunday, a little rocky hill thing surrounded

There are some places in New Zealand which would never be the main destinations for tourists. Lake Ruataniwha is one of those. You’ll pass it when driving between Queenstown / Wanaka and Mount Cook / Tekapo and it makes for a nice place to stop for a quick rest or

The Pineapple Track is a great option if you want to see some stunning views of Dunedin and get a bit of a workout. The Pineapple Track, part of which in the Flagstaff Nature Reserve, is one of the most well-known hiking trails in Dunedin and the views over the

The journey between Queenstown and Mount Cook is a scenic one, and one of the most impressive stretches takes you through the Lindis Pass. It takes around an hour to drive and there are several places to stop along the way. It’s a great place to drive, especially in winter,

Mount John Observatory is the ultimate lazy person’s viewpoint. You can drive right up to the café at the top of the mountain and from there you can see 360-degree views of the stunning surrounds, including lakes, mountains and the little town of Tekapo. It’s one of the best things

Lake Tekapo, with its characteristic blue water and mountain surrounds, is one of the top scenic spots in the Canterbury High Country. 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

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