New Zealand Travel Blog

I'm in New Zealand, at the end of a 3-month stay, returning to my home in the US on December 3. It's been an interesting experience, from the 2-weeks of quarantine at an Auckland hotel on arrival, to living in a country where Covid-19 is no longer in the community. It's surprising how long it takes to adjust to live in a place where masks are no longer seen when out and about. [...] read more...

Right now, it's winter down in New Zealand. So, we've selected some inspiring winter images that show just how beautiful winter in New Zealand can be. The air is crystal clear, the night skies are magnificent and the countryside is as beautiful as it ever gets. Yes, it can get cold, especially in the south, but our selection of winter images will inspire you to consider a winter visit. [...] read more...

Manuka Honey is made by bees that pollinate the native New Zealand manuka tree. It contains active compounds that give it natural antibacterial properties and this is what sets it apart from other honeys. Manuka honey is sold throughout the world, and in this blog we discuss what's special about manuka honey and are the health claims about this expensive ingredient really true? [...] read more...

Thanks to Covid-19, there will be no springtime visitors to New Zealand this year. So we'll use this blog to take a look forward, to discuss the opportunities for visiting in November 2021. There's much to be recommended by a visit in springtime, but it does come with some caveats that we'll discuss. It's also the time to see cute little lambs and we've got some great photos to share with you. [...] read more...

Visits to our website suggest that many people are still planning to visit New Zealand when COVID-19 has been beaten and the world returned to some semblance of normality. In this series of blogs, we look beyond the iconic favorite destinations, to lesser known places that are often the highlight of a New Zealand vacation. Today, it's the stunning high country sheep station of Erewhon. [...] read more...

The many visits to our website suggest that many people are still planning to visit New Zealand when COVID-19 has been beaten and the world returned to some semblance of normality. In the coming weeks, our blogs will look beyond iconic favorites like Milford Sound and Rotorua, to lesser known places that are often the highlight of a New Zealand vacation. Today, The Alpine Pacific Touring Route. [...] read more...

The Christchurch port of Lyttelton is a favorite hang-out for the people of Christchurch, with a tunnel under the Port Hills providing an easy 20-minute connection between the two. On Saturday's it's Farmers Market Day when the town bristles with activity as city dwellers and locals enjoy a coffee, browsing through one of the many quirky gift shops in the town or enjoying a relaxing lunch. [...] read more...

Jane & Steve ended their East Cape visit with a visit to the Mahia Peninsula, and they were in for a surprise! Because on this remote peninsula of beautiful beaches and peaceful holiday villages, a natural playground for people who like to surf, fish, dive, kayak, hike and swim, they found some 21st century technology that they would have expected to find at Cape Canaveral or Vandenberg AFB. [...] read more...

Visits to our website suggest that many people are still planning to visit New Zealand when COVID-19 has been beaten and the world returned to some semblance of normality. In the coming weeks, our blogs will look beyond the iconic favorites like Milford Sound, to lesser known places that are often the highlight of a New Zealand vacation. Today, East Cape, North Island. Dream, be inspired and plan! [...] read more...

Visits to our website suggest that many people are still planning to visit New Zealand when COVID-19 has been beaten and the world returned to some semblance of normality. In the coming weeks, our blogs will look beyond the iconic favorites like Milford Sound, to lesser known places that are often the highlight of a New Zealand vacation. Today, Kahurangi National Park. Dream, be inspired and plan. [...] read more...

Visits to our website suggest that many people are still planning to visit New Zealand when COVID-19 has been beaten and the world returned to some semblance of normality. In the coming weeks, our blogs will look beyond the iconic favorites like Milford Sound, to lesser known places that are often the highlight of a New Zealand vacation. Today, The Orongorongo Trail. Dream, be inspired and plan! [...] read more...

Visits to our website suggest that many people are still planning to visit New Zealand when COVID-19 has been beaten and the world returned to some semblance of normality. In the coming weeks, our blogs will look beyond the iconic favorites like Milford Sound, to lesser known places that are often the highlight of a New Zealand vacation. Today, Bethell's Beach. Dream, be inspired and plan! [...] read more...

Visits to our website suggest that many people are still planning to visit New Zealand when COVID-19 has been beaten and the world returned to some semblance of normality. In the coming weeks, our blogs will look beyond the iconic favorites like Milford Sound, to lesser known places that are often the highlight of a New Zealand vacation. Today, Dusky Sound. Dream, be inspired and plan! [...] read more...

Visits to our website suggest that many people are still planning to visit New Zealand when COVID-19 has been beaten and the world returned to some semblance of normality. In the coming weeks, our blogs will look beyond the iconic favorites like Milford Sound, to lesser known places that are often the highlight of a New Zealand vacation. Today, The Pouakai Crossing. Dream, be inspired and plan! [...] read more...

One of the advantages of writing our blogs, is that from time to time I can "indulge" myself with the blog content. This entry is one such example. I've chosen to feature the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, not only because it's a fine orchestra, but also because I have a personal family connection with two of the orchestra players. We also explain what the orchestra is doing during COVID-19. [...] read more...

This week I have to drive from Auckland to Wellington. I'll start with a stop at the coastal town of Raglan, a place that holds many personal memories for me. After that I'll visit the 'Tree Church' at Ohaupo and finally the town of Taumarunui, my last stop before entering the Tongariro National Park. I'd recommend this routing for the scenery and many places of interest along the way. [...] read more...

This is a new a blog series that will feature rare occurrences in New Zealand. Our first example of a rare occurrence took place a few days ago (May 8) in the capital city of Wellington. It was a nice autumn afternoon and Lilia Alexander drove to the top of Wrights Hill hoping to get some photos of snow that had recently fallen in the hills behind the city. But then she saw something unexpected. [...] read more...

Over a hundred years ago, New Zealand was test planting imported trees, to see if any would be suitable for commercial forestry. One of the trees they selected was the California Redwood. When our colleague Jane Cousens was in Rotorua last year we asked to find out if the trees they had planted still existed. What she found was very different to what was planned for them a hundred years ago. [...] read more...

Before the coronavirus, Auckland tourism leaders had been working on the production of a video extolling the beauty of their city. Now, with the virus among us, the video has been adapted to reflect on the times we are living in and the promise of a return to better days. For anyone planning a visit to New Zealand in the future, this video will inspire them to keep their dreams alive. [...] read more...

Another humorous story from our archives. We first published this story in 2017. In these stressful times of the coronavirus, some humor might help us to get through our day, so we've decided to update the story and to run it again. We suspect that the is an example of Dunedin humor at work, possibly at the expense of people living in a local upscale suburb of their city. But you can decide. [...] read more...

This is the second story from our archives to hopefully bring a smile to the faces of our readers in this time of the coronavirus. It's about a New Zealand cat that goes by the name of Steve. He lives on a farm near the remote town of Ngamatapouri (nah-mat-a-poori) in New Zealand's North Island. Ngamatapouri's main claim to fame is that it's longest "No Exit" road in New Zealand... [...] read more...

Our third humorous blog from the archives is a hilarious story, one that's become the stuff of New Zealand legend, based on a true event. It starts with the 1993 sighting in the South Island, of a huge Moa bird, thought extinct for over 500 years. In this blog we've had to rely on some second-hand accounts of what took place, but don't let this detract from your enjoyment of this great tale. [...] read more...

The 50 mile drive from Christchurch to the old French settlement at Akaroa on Banks Peninsula presents some excellent sightseeing and photo opportunities. On our last visit, it was a beautiful summers day that encouraged us to spend a day exploring the region. We'd delved into the history of Akaroa and as you'll see in our story, there were some amusing aspects to what happened here in the 1800's! [...] read more...

This BBC documentary has to be seen for two reasons. Firstly, for the fascinating story of the Whanganui River and how it was given the same legal identity as a person. Secondly, to see some of the magnificent video camera work that brings this beautiful North Island river alive. We've added some ideas of our own about how you can include a hands-on experience of the river for yourself! [...] read more...

The South Island university city of Dunedin lies adjacent to the stunning Otago Peninsula where yellow eyed penguin, albatross, seals, sea-lion and other wildlife make their homes. It also offers some of New Zealand's best walking trails, a feature of the city often overlooked by visitors. In this blog we focus on one of our favorites, called the Harbour Cone Trail. [...] read more...

A highlight of any New Zealand visit is the opportunity to see the Māori people sharing their culture through their music and dance. This video is one such example of their music, recorded in 2012 when a New Zealand group competed in a music contest in the USA. It took place outside of the actual competition venue, an impromptu and powerful example of what bringing people together can do. [...] read more...

It's not widely known, even by many New Zealanders, that over the past 140-years, many species of wallaby have been introduced into New Zealand, all from Australia. Some for zoos and others for private collections. Unfortunately, many have escaped and they have bred in the wild, in such large numbers, they are now regarded as a pest, especially to those in the farming community. [...] read more...

Orcs, trolls, and wargs, beware! In 2021 Amazon Studios is bringing audiences back to Middle-earth with a TV series set in The Second Age, thousands of years before the events of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.​ It will be the world's most expensive TV series and filmed entirely in New Zealand. We have an update on the progress of this and other movies currently being shot in New Zealand. [...] read more...