Nature & Wildlife Archives

Dunedin & Otago Peninsula where to go to view wildlife

Must-go hotspot for wildlife is the Otago Peninsula with several guided tour options to observe Royal Albatross, ...

Royal Albatross Centre attractions & things to do

Royal Albatross gliding, seemingly floating above the Taiaroa Head are the world’s largest ocean birds. Royal ...

Dunedin gardens and parks attractions & things to do

Dunedin is a treasure for garden lovers, Dunedin Botanic Garden, Larnach Castle & Olveston Victorian & Edwardian ...

Lady Thorn Rhododendron Garden

Discover a quiet treat overlooking the busy Port Chalmers harbour. A converted quarry is now an outstanding garden ...

Lan Yuan Garden

Dunedin is home to a classic Chinese scholars garden, Lan Yuan. A fascinating glimpse into Asian garden fung shui ...

Tannock Glen Garden

Dunedin offers rhododendrons ideal growing conditions creating one of New Zealand’s glorious spring displays of ...

Glenfalloch Garden and Restaurant

Otago Peninsula Glenfalloch woodland garden is a beautiful example of how the harbour’s panoramic views have been ...

Kapiti nature sanctuary attraction

New Zealand wild where exotic predators are eliminated is a nature highlight. Easily accessible from Wellington, ...

Rangitoto Island attractions, things to do and getting there

New Zealand’s latest volcanic upstart is a witness to New Zealand’s place on the Pacific ring of fire. It is a ...

Mighty River Domain, Lake Karapiro things to do and attractions

Discover where crowds relax on grassy banks watching New Zealand’s premier water sports venues. Lake Karapiro, ...

Waiwhakareke wetlands, Waikato a quiet backwater in suburban Hamilton

An award winning community project to capture the biodiversity of pre-European flora and fauna is showcased at ...

Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain attractions, things to do

Imagine a world where humans are optional. A world where the forest reigns supreme and prolific wildlife flourishes ...

Rotopiko National Wetlands Centre & Yarndleys Bush

Discover an original slice of Aotearoa New Zealand wetlands, flora and fauna now protected by a sturdy predator ...

Top attractions, 11 best things to do on the West Coast

Remote, off the beaten track from New Zealand’s well known visitor destinations the West Coast offers adventure, a ...

West Coast National Parks & Scenic Reserves best things to do

NZ West Coast National Park offers visitors a diverse range of things to do from exploring fascinating natural rock ...

Waterfalls Haast Pass & Mount Aspiring National Park walks

Rainfall, mountains and runoff create a series of waterfalls on the must-go destinations for waterfall buffs and ...

Top 10 walks, Buller District: where to go

Visit unforgettable places … Unwind in hidden corners of the West Coast, Buller district. Find walks exploring ...

Top 10 hidden walks West Coast, Punakaiki, Greymouth and Lake Brunner

West Coast, South Island is a premier walking destination. The West Coast is packed with interesting places to go. ...

The Charming Creek North Walkway West Coast

West Coast, NZ Charming Creek walkway a great short walk, suspension bridges, rustic mining relics, dense lush ...

Top picks for families & friends in Hokitika

Find places to go from the strikingly beautiful Hokitika Gorge to quietly glorious lakes where swimming, boating ...

Mangapohue natural rock arch bridge

Mangapohue Natural Bridge is a spectacular sight. The 17 metre-high limestone arch which spans Mangapohue Stream is ...

Hamilton gardens attractions, things to do

Hamilton Gardens is a glorious taste of what the Waikato has to offer visitors intent on enjoying cultivated ...

Waikato top 10 unmissable gardens to visit

Outstanding star of the Waikato is Hamilton Gardens. While an undoubted highlight the Waikato has a number of ...

Auckland Regional Parks, attractions, things to do, places to go

Waterfall buffs wil not be disappointed in the Hunua Ranges Regional Park. A great place to hike in Auckland’s ...

Auckland best activities for animal lovers

Find Auckland’s wild side. Uncover where the animals live in Auckland from farm animals everyone can pet to ...

Nature, wildlife & conservation in Marlborough places to go

Wildlife encounters, places to go, attractions and things to do in Marlborough range from endangered kiwi and ...

Pelorus River scenic reserve things to do

Discover enchantment. A pocket sized reserve of original river flat podocarp forest harking back to a period before ...

Wildlife & conservation in Marlborough, NZ

Wildlife encounters, places to go, attractions and things to do in Marlborough from endangered kiwi and native ...

Queen Charlotte track, top 10 things to do

Discover an underrated walk. QUEEN CHARLOTTE TRACK is part of the Marlborough Sounds. It’s beautiful and where the ...

Wildlife, conservation, Nelson attractions

Families, couples interested in wildlife and animal encounters have plenty of places to visit in Nelson.

Walks – Central Hawke’s Bay – places to go

Maraetotara waterfalls, Tuki Tuki shared walking, Otatara Pa heritage pa (village) Blowhard Bush Reserve is a ...

Walks – North Hawke’s Bay – places to go

Discover walks with plenty of room to stretch your arms wide as you embrace wide open spaces. Places to go include ...

Lake Taupo short family friendly, dog friendly walks

Dog friendly, short easy strolls suitable for all fitness levels ticks the boxes for kids and mature walkers. Lake ...

Christchurch 14 top picnic spots

Rediscover the impromptu feel of a picnic. The sense of adventure, getting away from it all is the stuff of ...

Best 10 short walks in the Bay of Plenty

Discover McLaren waterfalls, coastal Bay of Plenty beaches, estuaries and heritage Maori Pa sites on a short easy ...

Whirinaki Te Pua-A-Tane conservation park guide

Aotearora New Zealand is home to a prehistoric rainforest. Ancient forest giants tower up to 200 metres. The ...

Kauri Coast beaches things to do & see

Fascinating dangerous currents and shifting sand bars continuously moving with the surging ocean and high tides ...

Wellington walks, attractions, things to see and do

Explore Wellington city centre on foot finding a writer's walk, the interesting waterfront with its buzz of people, ...

Rotorua nearby Ngongotaha what to do

Find something else to do in Rotorua that does not involve hot bubbling mud pools. You will look into the eyes of a ...

Rotorua town walks, Sulphur Bay boardwalk

Discover a quiet boardwalk tucked behind the well known Government Buildings. It’s a free walk and a gem. A perfect ...

Rotorua 10 free & cheap things to do

Discover Rotorua without breaking the bank. Geothermal activity at Kuirau park, magnificent redwoods to picnic ...

Taupo romance, things for couples to do

Romance does not need to cost the earth. Taupo has plenty to offer couples from adventures on water double kayaking ...

Taupo things to do for free

Uncover holiday experiences where cost is not part of the experience. The best bits in life are free with Taupo ...

Mangawhai & Mangawhai Heads Walks

Find coastal walks where sweeping panoramic views creates a special place to stretch the legs and go walking. For ...

Auckland day trip to Motuihe Island

Auckland skyline and Hauraki Gulf are the backdrop to safe sandy beaches and interesting walks through regenerating ...

Mahurangi Regional Park

A regional park that spans both sides of the Mahurangi Harbour creating Mahurangi East and Mahurangi West. The park ...

Tawharanui Regional Park

Tawharanui Regional Park is white sandy beaches overlooking the Hauraki Gulf. Farmland pastoral scenery, shingle ...

Autumn in Auckland, 9 inspiring places

Relish nature’s announcement of a weather change. The inperceptable bronze colour tinted leaves is sub-tropical ...

Shakespear Regional Park

Shakespear Regional Park is an invitation to enjoy a summer rite of passage, collapse on a beach under an umbrella. ...

Southern Scenic Road Trip Guide Dunedin to Queenstown

What to do and see on the journey between Queenstown and Dunedin is covered in detail. The Southern Scenic Route ...

Greymouth, an inland day trip to Kumara, Lake Brunner, Moana township and Jacks Mill

The town of Kumara is a rock star, complete with an enormous Rock to prove the point. Kumara’s location is ideal ...

Glacier Country, West Coast’s Gillespies Beach

There are interpretation panels and historic photographs of the period when the area was bustling with miners ...

Take a trip to the ice age, unmissable things to do in Glacier Country

Melting glaciers, disappearing rapidly. Visit now. The ice is melting, the story of the retreat of glaciers makes ...

8 Unmissable Walks In Glacier Country

There are over 30 walking tracks from short scenic tracks to multiple day backcountry tramps. From glacier faces, ...

Lake Brunner what to see and do

Discover a local secret, Lake Brunner. Deep inky waters are home to wild brown trout. The largest lake on the West ...

Charleston, Paparoa National Park, Punakaiki Pancake Rocks

Charleston is a former gold mining town, now a hub for adventure tourism. The town sprung into existence after the ...

Whangarei 6 family friendly walks

Whangarei offers visitors a variety of walks from the well known Hatea River walk past tempting cafes, a stunning ...

Coromandel what to do with kids and families and the young at heart

The Coromandel is a kid’s idea of a holiday. Rather than a carousel of themed entertainment the Coromandel offers a ...

Tiritiri Matangi Island, Hauraki Gulf attractions, things to do

Deafening bird song heralds the dawn on an island where the iconic flightless takahe bird can safely stroll on the ...

Larnach Castle gardens

Description: Check out day trips around Otago Peninsula. Larnach Castle gardens are magnificent, especially the ...

Dunedin Botanic Garden

Dunedin Botanic Garden is New Zealand's first botanic garden and holds the status of six star Garden of ...

Olveston House

Explore a Dunedin heritage merchants home. “Opened as a historic house museum in 1967, Olveston is a time capsule ...

10 Wellington Gardens cool climate beauties worth a day’s ramble

Wellington gardens are dominated by public parks and gardens meaning they are free to visit. The best time to visit ...

10 outdoor things to do in New Plymouth

Taranaki has spectacular outdoor places to go from a short fantasy walk in Mount Egmont National Park to a stunning ...

10 reasons to visit Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park & Karangahake Gorge

An area quietly slumbering in the valleys of the Coromandel. It is all too easy to keep on driving through the ...

Abel Tasman Travel Guide

Abel Tasman is New Zealand’s pocket handkerchief park. A treasure with global appeal due to glittering gold sandy ...

10 Taranaki Gardens and Parks worth a detour

The ten gardens are both privately owned and public spaces for visitors to enjoy. Perhaps the private garden you ...

10 short easy Coromandel walks

Explore historic logging trails where kauri was extensively milled and gold mining relics. You have opportunities ...

6 Taupo family friendly outdoors places to visit, nature explored

Let’s get the kids outdoors and meet the wildlife. Taupo offers several options for families with native bush walks ...

White water rafting NZ 6 top spots: thrills, holiday fun

White water rafting, kayaking, canyoning, jet boating or natural rock water slides take your pick. Your family ...

Poor Knights Islands

The best spot for diving is … advocates debate where to go and what divers will encounter. The Poor Knights Islands ...

Turangi walking trails for families and all fitness enthusiasts

Spoiled for choice with wild natural places on either side of the town, from Kaimanawa Forest Park with its iconic ...

9 family excursions & short easy walks

Exploring the outdoors is a core part of the holiday experience with New Plymouth / Taranaki offering a range of ...

National Trout Centre Turangi: what to see

I think it is a place where drivers keep on driving on their way south? Stop, check it out and be ...

Muriwai Gannet Colony attractions, things to do

Observe ocean gannets as they soar above their Muriwai beach nesting site. Discover one of Auckland’s best day ...

Geology, rocks, NZ fantastic natural sculptural landscapes

From the tip of the North Island to the Southern Oceans New Zealand is a wealth of geological wonders to explore. ...

4 special places to visit in the Aongatete Forest, Kaimi Ranges Conservation Park

Volunteers the backbone of conservation, the passionate individual who gives time freely. This article is ...

Favourite Places

I am usually in a hurry to get to Nelson, why take a detour to Blenheim? Often overlooked by visitors rushing off ...

Department of Conservation Volunteer Contributions

Get involved in activities around the country, and find out about volunteering for conservation. There are ...

Westport to Karamea & Kahurangi National Park what to see

Long empty beaches River estuaries rich in bird life Incredible granite and limestone formations of the Oparara ...

Day trip to Te Aroha

The Edwardian spa town is New Zealand’s intact original spa resort nestled at the base of Mount Te Aroha. Edwardian ...

Great Alpine Highway 73, day trip to Arthurs Pass

The Great Alpine Highway is a day spent exploring natural landscapes from impressive karst rock formations to ...

Day trip from Auckland to indulge in autumn colours, leafy highlights in the North Island

Cool undertones to the morning with warm light in the morning invigorating the day. Nature walks are comfortable ...

Day trip Duntroon: natural history and wildlife

Ancient rock formations created before dinosaurs walked the earth, a vanished world where fossiled shells narrate ...

Day trip Dunedin cycling from Port Chalmers to Aramoana spit

Port to Port ferry (Portobella wharf – Port Chalmers) 11 km bike ride in conjunction with Dunedin’s Bike rental in ...

Whanganui River Road in a day

The road is approximately 79 km in length and is carved from the cliffs surrounding the river. It is the only ...

Wellington Wildlife: 5 favourite places

An inviting picturesque island bang smack in the middle of the harbour is predator free and today the island has ...

Zealandia, a city sanctuary hidden in plain sight

This article is a heartfelt ode to one of the world’s great sanctuaries and it is in Wellington.