Billed as one of the world’s most spectacular road trips, the Great Ocean Road runs from Torquay to Allansford along the southern coast of Austraila in the state of Victoria. Despite its name and impressive coastal views, much of the drive is inland through temperate rainforest, offering wildlife spotting opportunities. Unlike many of the long stretches of […]
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Karangahake Gorge Walks: Windows out of Old Gold Mines
Karangahake Gorge is an odd mix of remnant goldfields and nature’s majesty. Once the site of New Zealand’s most lucrative gold strike, it is now a recreation and impressive hiking destination. Swing bridges, gold mine shafts, a historic cyanide treatment plant, and lush green forest led us to the gorge, a jaw-droppingly beautiful site. The Karangahake Gorge Historic […]
Tauranga Nightlife: Consider a Kayak Glow Worm Tour
Darkness descended quickly after the sunset. We climbed into sea kayaks and gently slid into the water. A night kayaking glow worm tour wasn’t what I had in mind when I initially thought about Tauranga nightlife. Yet, gazing upon the Lake McClaren glow worms turned out to be a highlight of our time in New Zealand’s […]
25 Fun Things to Do in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui
Home to New Zealand’s top rated beach, the world’s most accessible active marine volcano, kiwifruit, glow worms, street art, and more, the region is aptly named the Bay of Plenty. It is filled with exciting and fun things to do in Tauranga (the largest city), Mount Maunganui (coastal beach town), and the surrounding region. It’s […]
Kiwifruit Country: Tour a Kiwifruit Orchard in New Zealand
Kiwifruit Country produces a classic New Zealand icon, the kiwi fruit. And not just a few, they grow 1,500 tonnes annually. That’s a lot of fruit, especially when you think that each piece is handpicked. We toured their kiwifruit orchard just days before the start of the annual ten-week picking season. The fruit on the vines was […]
Papamoa Beach Resort: the Perfect Stay in Bay of Plenty NZ
Coffee in hand, I watched the rolling surf as the sun rises over the horizon. There is no better way to start the day, and I did this each morning from my beachfront villa at the Papamoa Beach Resort in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. From here, my days only got better. I found […]
Ngatea Water Gardens: Nature with a Sense of Humour in New Zealand
Offering surprises around every corner, Ngatea Water Gardens in New Zealand exceeded our expectations on every level. While the landscape is beyond lovely and the birds and fish plentiful, it is both the owner’s sense of humour and the massive “Can Museum” that caught us off guard. Ngatea Water Gardens The five-acre water gardens are […]
Photographing a Light Festival: Enjoying Auckland at Night
Vivid colours, artistic lighting, and marine projections brought with it the challenge of photographing a light festival in Auckland at night. Bright Nights brought Viaduct Harbour alive with a light and sound spectacular curated by international award-winning light artist Angus Muir Design. As always, New Zealand knows how to throw a party. “The waterfront means […]
East Cape NZ Driving Itinerary: Gisborne to Opotiki
Along the east coast of the North Island, and often overlooked by tourists, East Cape NZ juts out into the ocean. A piece of real New Zealand, East Cape is nature, history, and culture. The dramatic coastal drive from Gisborne to Opotiki is 334 kilometres, a 5.5-hour drive over mostly paved roads. It can easily be […]
20 Things To Do In Gisborne NZ – First Place to See the New Day
Gisborne New Zealand is the first place in the world to see each new day. A small coastal city off the main tourist track, there are a surprising number of unique things to do in Gisborne. Steeped in Maori culture and history, it is worth a visit. We spent our limited time here hiking, relaxing in […]
Zealandia Ecosanctuary by Night and Day – Wildlife Outside Wellington
Tucked up over the city of Wellington is Zealandia, an ecosanctuary reminiscent of the days before humans arrived in New Zealand. A predator-proof fence surrounds the Zealandia sanctuary, creating an “island” within New Zealand’s capital city and allowing birds and other native creatures to live wild as nature intended. Whether you are a nature or […]
Exploring Waipu Caves and Waipu Cove New Zealand
One of the things I really love about living in New Zealand is that we don’t have to go far to have an adventure. We drove less than two hours north of Auckland to Waipu Cove campground (with beachside cabins). In the morning we explored Waipu Caves, one of the glow worm caves in New […]
Quinn’s Post Joins Two Powerful War Exhibits in Wellington NZ
The recently opened Quinn’s Post Trench Experience is Sir Peter Jackson’s latest addition to World War I history in Wellington New Zealand. The experience at the Great War Exhibition is a one of a kind. “It takes Peter Jackson’s creativity to pull this together,” according to the museum’s general manager. Quinn’s Post is one of now […]
Obidos Portugal: A Medieval Town with a Padlocked Entrance
Portugal is a treasure trove of small, picturesque medieval towns like Obidos. It’s a charming walled city whose highlights can be seen in just a few hours. At only an hour’s drive from the capital, it is ideal for a day trip from Lisbon. ⇒ Check out these Obidos Tour options from Lisbon While a […]
One Tree Hill an Auckland Icon, but Where’s the Tree?
As you reach the top of Maungakiekie, more commonly known as One Tree Hill, the first and most obvious question is, “Where is the tree?” That won’t be your question for long, as newly planted trees are continuing to grow. Interesting History of One Tree Hill (and the missing tree) Located adjacent to beautiful Cornwall […]
Arataki Visitor Centre: Gateway to Auckland’s Subtropical Rainforest
A world apart from city life, the Arataki Visitor Centre is the gateway to the Waitakere Ranges. This lush green subtropical rainforest is just a 30-minute drive from Auckland’s city centre. Here, we found ourselves surrounded by the rugged natural beauty one expects to see in New Zealand. Greeted by an eleven-meter tall Maori pou (post) at the […]
Azure Hokitika Gorge, Vibrant Sunsets and Greenstone to Carve
Hokitika Gorge, on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, is one of those magical places I will remember forever. Hokitika Gorge The turquoise waters of the gorge is a must see if you are on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The Hokitika Gorge walk is an easy trail […]
Hidden History and Quirky Facts about Auckland’s Queen Street
Every major city has a street that does it all; in Auckland, this is Queen Street. This main thoroughfare was once a dirty canal leading out to sea. Today, Queen Street is the heart of the central business district (CBD), a shopper’s paradise, and tourist destination. And, unbeknownst to many, the canal still runs deep […]
11 Tips to Avoid Crowds in Paris France
Paris is one of those cities that you either love or hate. Either way, you know you are not in Paris alone. There are masses of people everywhere, and it can feel overwhelming even to those who came for the ambience, romance, and excitement of the city. Visitors who aren’t used to so many people […]
Volvo Ocean Race Around the World – Auckland Stopover
Auckland knows how to throw a party, and I could feel the excitement in the air as I approached. The City of Sails is perfectly situated for a stopover of Volvo Ocean Race Around the World. Auckland has been a host for nearly all of the races since it’s inception in 1973. A gruelling test […]
Barcelona Day Trips: Dali Museum and 9 Medieval Towns in Catalonia
Famous for its Mediterranean coastal cities, there is also a treasure trove of medieval towns in Catalonia Spain. Driving from one small medieval village to the next, you can choose various combinations to make exciting Barcelona day trips. Each of these small towns in Spain holds something special and unique. Often, it feels as if time […]
Traditional Moroccan Markets and a Donkey Parking Lot in Rissani
As we travelled through Morocco, we visited a variety of very different Moroccan markets. While most cater to tourists as well as locals, we found the more traditional Moroccan markets to be a window into everyday life. Our favourite was the traditional market in Rissani, an eastern Moroccan city situated at the base of the […]
Adventure and Other Things to do in Denali Alaska
Surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscape on the planet, our biggest decision at Denali National Park was what to do first. Did we want to be active and adventurous, passive and observant, or something in the middle? Like everywhere we went in Alaska, there are so many things to do in Denali National […]
Auckland Lantern Festival: A Vivid Celebration of Chinese New Year
Brightly coloured Chinese lanterns light the Auckland Domain this weekend as the Auckland Lantern Festival is in full swing. Celebrating the Chinese New Year welcoming in the Year of the Dog, it’s an event filled with hundreds of handmade Chinese New Year lanterns as well as crafts, performances, and food (plenty of food). It’s a […]
39 Things to Do in Christchurch After The Quakes – Should I Visit?
Christchurch New Zealand is a blank canvas, a vibrant and dynamic garden city taking full advantage of the opportunity to reinvent itself. I was apprehensive about our recent visit. My fond memories of this elegant city were just that, memories. In 2010 and 2011, two significant Christchurch earthquakes devastated portions of the city, and I […]
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