Top picks of the month
Eight places to go camping on Banks Peninsula
New Zealand South Island Banks Peninsula is a perfect getaway from the crowds camping destination. There is the urban vibe of Akaroa if you need a coffee fix or simply a place to relax in a bush setting there are several choices for camping. In Lyttelton you can explore a maritime heritage or browse among the art and craft shops. Several of the camping grounds are open only in the peak season, forward bookings are recommended. There are no designated freedom camping sites on Banks Peninsula. Check travel pack information for further details.
The patriotic tourist
The serious holiday, the holiday with the intention of doing good, the holiday for a good cause is now fashionable. New Zealand tourism advertising has got it nailed. No longer do you need to go to Africa to support charitable causes. You can stay at home (yes, I know we can’t go overseas at the moment) and feel saintly while visiting Waiheke or Bondi Beach. Who would have thought chilling out the local vineyard was a worthwhile cause.
Dunedin street art: heritage buildings got a serious lick of new paint
It's a brisk -10c in the sunshine (perhaps you better make sure you've a blunt umbrella in the backpack). It’s winter and you are in Dunedin. A great time for a Sunday morning stroll around city streets to observe the best street art in New Zealand. Melbourne better watch out. Inspired use of warehouse space. Dunedin has a new layer to its identity. Dunedin street art is glitter, monochrome, whimsical, challenging and humorous, the gamut of emotion is captured on a brick wall, thank you Dunedin.
Ten historic hotels worth a night or two
A heritage hotel has creaky floors, possibly, poor service, perhaps the plumbing is not great and it's shabby. These hotels did not make this list. The historic hotel must be comfortable and worth spending a night in. It’s your holiday accommodation after all. The sense of visitors past, the stories, the furniture and the slightly odd tilt to the floor create an atmospheric holiday experience. The room is a holiday in itself. The hotel becomes a destination which is savoured as you try bouncing on the bed and checking out the bathroom.
Ten tips for a romantic holiday location on a budget
Romantic holidays are often promoted in glossy magazines and online as getaways to expensive luxury locations. The enticing scenes of tropical palms, drinks in hand and platters of nibbles at the elbow are an advertising staple. It costs money. Your holiday can be romantic, have romantic moments and here are ten tips to inspire you think beyond the budget planning of a luxury resort.
Ten quirky Tararanki places worth a detour
Taranaki is a treasure trove of New Zealand history reaching back over 1000 years with heritage Pa sites to explore, blockhouses from the NZ Land Wars and remnant bush reserves capturing a sense of the landscape before wholesale forest clearances. There are fascinating museums filled with stuffed animals, quirky shops in largely abandoned towns, beautifully sculptured bridges, functional industrial water towers complete with a homage to the farmer’s clothing Swanndri. Taranaki is worth a detour.