New Zealand travel blog
Stories, tips and inspiration for your New Zealand and Realm trip — updated regularly
Wellington's craft beer scene in 2026 — the honest guide
Wellington has more craft breweries per capita than almost any city its size. The honest 2026 guide: what's good, what's changed, and where to go.
Matariki 2026 — where to celebrate New Zealand's Maori new year
Matariki falls on Friday 10 July 2026. Where to celebrate New Zealand's Maori new year — Rotorua, Auckland, marae — and what to expect as a visitor.
Electric vehicle road trip in New Zealand — the 2026 practical guide
Is New Zealand ready for an EV road trip in 2026? Charging network coverage, range anxiety on the South Island, costs versus petrol, and the honest verdict.
Chatham Islands — New Zealand's last frontier, 800km east of everywhere
The Chatham Islands: 800km east of Christchurch, 600 residents, almost no tourism infrastructure. What visiting the far east of NZ actually involves.
Summer 2025-26 in New Zealand — what the season revealed
The New Zealand summer 2025-26 brought record visitors, infrastructure pressure, and a few surprises. A seasonal debrief for trip planners.
Niue in 2026 — the world's smallest self-governing nation's quiet tourism revival
Niue: 1,600 people, one airport, one road, and some of the clearest water in the Pacific. A look at what's drawing travellers to the Rock of Polynesia in 2026.
The Routeburn vs the Milford Track — an honest comparison
Both are iconic New Zealand Great Walks in Fiordland. But they're very different experiences. Here's a direct comparison to help you choose, or plan to do both.
New Zealand ski season 2025 — a recap of the winter that was
The 2025 New Zealand ski season is done. Snowfall, resort performance at Coronet Peak, Cardrona, and Ruapehu — and what it means for planning winter 2026.
Freedom camping in New Zealand — the rules are tightening in 2025
Freedom camping restrictions are spreading across NZ councils. The honest 2025 picture: what's allowed, what's banned, and how to plan around it.
NZeTA fee increase 2025 — what the higher IVL means for your trip
New Zealand's International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) rose significantly in 2025. Here's what changed, who pays, and how to plan around it.
New Zealand prices in 2025 — an inflation snapshot
What has New Zealand travel cost since 2019? A 2025 price snapshot: accommodation, food, activities, and transport in NZD, USD, and EUR.
Lord of the Rings locations at 25 years — what's changed since filming started
Peter Jackson started filming The Lord of the Rings in New Zealand in October 1999. Twenty-five years on, here's what the locations look like now.
Hidden corners of the Catlins — New Zealand's least-visited southern coast
The Catlins coast between Invercargill and Dunedin is one of New Zealand's most undervisited regions. Sea lions, fossils, waterfalls, and almost no one else.
New Zealand adventure activity prices in 2024 — what things actually cost
Bungy, skydiving, glacier heli-hikes, jet boats, canyoning — here are the 2024 prices for New Zealand's major adventure activities, in NZD, USD and EUR.
Aitutaki vs Rarotonga — which Cook Island should you choose?
Rarotonga has the infrastructure. Aitutaki has the lagoon. A genuine comparison of both Cook Islands: cost, access, and what you actually get.
West Coast glaciers retreating — what to see now before the ice changes again
Franz Josef and Fox glaciers have retreated significantly. Here's what the glacier experience actually looks like now, and what's worth your time and money.
Cyclone Gabrielle and Hawke's Bay — recovery, and why you should still visit
Cyclone Gabrielle hit Hawke's Bay in February 2023. Six months on, here's the honest picture: what's open, what's changed, and how tourism supports recovery.
Is Queenstown overcrowded? A real answer
Queenstown gets accused of being over-touristed. Here's an honest answer: when it's genuinely crowded, when it's fine, and what to do instead.
Whakaari/White Island — three years on from the eruption
Three years after the 9 December 2019 eruption that killed 22 people, Whakaari remains inaccessible and the legal proceedings continue. A factual update.
The best shoulder season itinerary for New Zealand — 14 days in autumn
A 14-day New Zealand itinerary designed for March and April: fewer crowds, better light, lower prices, and the same landscapes everyone comes for.
Matariki becomes a public holiday — what it means for travellers in New Zealand
On 24 June 2022, NZ observed Matariki as a public holiday for the first time. What it means, how it's celebrated, and what to expect as a visitor.
Hobbiton at 25 — how the Shire became a permanent fixture in New Zealand
From a rushed film set built in 1999 to a permanent tourism destination visited by 600,000 people a year — the unlikely story of Hobbiton's evolution.
The Cook Islands travel bubble — what happened when New Zealand opened its borders in 2021
In May 2021 NZ opened a quarantine-free travel bubble with the Cook Islands. Three months later, Delta closed it. A look at what worked and what it revealed.
New Zealand during COVID — what travel actually felt like
August 2020: New Zealand had eliminated community transmission. What did travel inside the country actually look like during that strange window?
Slow travel on Stewart Island/Rakiura — three days in New Zealand's third island
Stewart Island/Rakiura in winter: no crowds, wild kiwi at dusk, and a ferry crossing that earns its reputation. A case for going further south.
Kaikoura after the 2016 earthquake — what's changed
Three years after the 7.8 earthquake, Kaikoura is open for business — and in some ways more interesting than before the disaster.
Seven things I wish I'd known before visiting New Zealand
From GPS optimism to freedom camping rules, seven things that would have made my first New Zealand trip smoother and cheaper.
The Tongariro Crossing in shoulder season — a hard-won lesson
Doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in April: what the weather actually does, what the shuttle logistics look like, and what I got wrong.
Lord of the Rings locations — a pilgrimage that's still worth doing
The LOTR pilgrimage in New Zealand: which locations hold up, which disappoint, and how to plan a trip that's honest about the nostalgia.
Why New Zealand is worth the flight
After three trips to New Zealand from Europe, here's the honest cost-benefit: when 24 hours in transit pays off, and when it doesn't.