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Kapiti Island (Summer 2024)
Counting birds and blessings
As a born and bred Wellingtonian, Kapiti Island has formed the backdrop of many of my most-loved memories. Whether glimpsing her shrouded visage on a misty winter road trip up the coast, or hiking up to a lookout on a sweltering day to watch the blindingly blue sea lap her sides and the sun speckle her peaks, she’s always been there.
Kapiti Island (Summer 2024)
Enchanted isle
Waking up before the sun for an adventure has a particular feeling tied to it. The air seems crisper, your tummy feels fuzzy, and a sense that anything is possible pervades everything around you. On the morning my fiancé Jas and I embarked on a trip to Kapiti Island overnight, the mood was exactly that.
Top of the South (Summer 2024)
Bluebird skies and rows of vines
By the time the plane reached altitude, we were already preparing the cabin for landing on our 30-minute flight from Wellington to Blenheim. Just a hop, skip, and a jump and yet on this side of the Cook Strait, we were greeted by bluebird skies and rows of vines stretching out towards the mountains.
Mackenzie District (Summer 2024)
Rendered speechless
On a Friday morning, my friend Alex and I shot for a sky full of stars. Leaving Welly on a drizzly, cloudy day, it was hard to fathom that on the other end of our flight to Te Waipounamu, a clear sky might be waiting for us. We were bound for the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, where the stargazing is second to none.
Fiordland (Summer 2023)
A painting at the edge of the universe
On a Friday morning, my friend Toula and I flew down south for a weekend in Fiordland. Neither of us had been to this mystical pocket of New Zealand before, and what better way to explore it than on an overnight cruise of Doubtful Sound/Patea, nestled deep in the heart of Fiordland National Park?
Whangārei (Summer 2023)
Forever in Whangārei
An adventure in Whangārei seemed like the perfect opportunity for a mother-daughter trip. It has been some time since we have been able to go on a trip just the two of us, and my mum is the best travel partner and super cool. I love Te Tai Tokerau and couldn’t wait to share this special region of Aotearoa with her.
Wairarapa (Summer 2023)
Daydreaming of twinkling Wairarapa nights
On a Friday after work, my partner and I shot over to Wairarapa from Wellington for a night of starry-eyed adventure at Stonehenge Aotearoa.
New Plymouth (Summer 2023)
Sparkling, shimmering, sun-soaked
We knew from the minute we arrived on a Saturday afternoon that our weekend in New Plymouth would be wonderful. With the sun beaming down on us, my partner and I felt beyond fortunate pulling into Belt Road.
West Coast (Summer 2022)
Striking gold on the West Coast
The moment my partner Amy and I landed in Westport for the beginning of our four-day adventure on the West Coast, it became pretty clear the type of people we were going to encounter along the way. We were met with a huge smile and a massive “Welcome to Westport” from our friendly Sounds Air baggage handler and the stunning weather matched his joy.
Hawke's Bay (Summer 2022)
On cloud wine in Hawke’s Bay
Ahh, sunny Hawke’s Bay. My friend Toula and I spent a weekend in New Zealand’s golden food and wine country, where I’m pleased to report we ate and drank to our hearts’ content.
Kāpiti (Winter 2021)
An irresistible taste of Kāpiti-Horowhenua
My husband Dean and I have only really passed through Kāpiti and Horowhenua. We decided to change that fact over a long weekend in winter, setting out to eat our way up and down as many townships as possible. I’m thrilled to say we achieved this noble aim.
Taranaki (Winter 2021)
The colours of the coast
Sure, I’ve spent a couple of nights in Taranaki before, stopped for lunch and quickly browsed a few shops in central New Plymouth, but what is this place really about? Is it the coastal culture, the immense Māori and European heritage, the quality experiences, the colourful art plastering the walls?
Dunedin (Summer 2020)
History, heritage, and a whole lotta cool
Ōtepoti Dunedin has always held a special place in my heart. My grandad, Barry Empson, taught German at Otago University and lived in Waipiata, a tiny ‘town’ an hour and a half out of the CBD. I stayed there the odd school holiday and remember him taking me into the city for hot chocolate. Even as a kid, the buildings fascinated me. They seemed to ooze history and heritage, words that would come to define a long weekend in Dunedin so many years later.
Northland (Summer 2020)
A hāngi, a scooter, and an oxygen tank
Tourism in Aotearoa has changed. Attractions that once thrived on international interest must now adapt to an all-Kiwi crowd. After spending four days in Whangārei, splitting time as cultural observers and thrill-seekers, my partner Alex and I realised that not only is there an abundance of fun to be found up north, there’s also plenty to learn.
Marlborough (Summer 2019)
Freshly shucked happiness
Blenheim and summer go hand in hand like a glass of wine and, well, a hand. My fiancé Dean and I were excited to visit wine country for a long weekend of good food and great drops, and Marlborough did not disappoint.
Wairarapa (Summer 2019)
On cloud wine in Wairarapa
The Wairarapa region is one Wellingtonians know well. Over the hill but not far away, it offers us city-dwellers a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of our daily lives in a region that feels a world apart from our own. Food and wine, boutique shopping, sunshine, and wide-open spaces – it’s all here in Wairarapa.
Kāpiti (Summer 2019)
Where kiwis tread and birds sing
I arrived in Kāpiti excited for a new experience. As a South Islander, I’m ashamed to say I am not as well versed in the North Island’s marvels as I’d like to be. Over three days, my friend Jeremy and I found a new appreciation for our country’s native wild and forest life thanks to the wonderful guides and people we shared our time with at Ngā Manu Nature Reserve and Kāpiti Island.
Top of the South (Winter 2019)
A grand adventure in the scenic south
On a brisk but remarkably windless winter evening in Wellington, my partner Dean and I drove to the Interislander ferry terminal and boarded Kaitaki to Picton. We made good time and arrived at a quaint Airbnb in the heart of the town centre close to midnight. Crashing into bed, we slept straight through till morning and awoke bright and early for a day of new discoveries.
Whanganui (Winter 2019)
Loving the River City
Famous for sitting on the banks of New Zealand’s longest river, Whanganui is home to about 40,000 people. As far as I knew, Whanganui was a city like any other, albeit with ongoing confusion about how to spell its name. However, word has been getting out about the North Island centre’s burgeoning arts scene, its embrace of its rich heritage, and lively community. So I decided to see what all the fuss was about!
The Catlins (Summer 2018)
A different world
My partner and I arrived in Dunedin on a Friday morning for a weekend of immersion in the great outdoors of the Catlins. If you haven’t heard of the place, I’d describe it as a little pocket of dramatic beauty filled with surprises that will take your breath away.
Central Plateau (Summer 2018)
Terrific Taupō
Taupō is one of New Zealand’s premier tourist destinations, attracting visitors far and wide with its stunning scenery, incredible geothermal activity, and activities to get the adrenaline pumping. We at Destinationz had never ventured to this popular region, and so we thought “why not!” and booked in a weekend of adventure in the spring of 2018.
Queenstown (Winter 2018)
There’s something in the air
As I stepped off the plane in Queenstown, I was immediately struck by the beauty of the place. Mountains. As far as the eye can see. Encircled, it’s as if I’ve been transported to the centre of a snow-capped universe. The air is different here.
Gisborne (Winter 2018)
Getting to know Gisborne
On a Friday morning, one of my oldest friends, Hannah, and I headed north for a weekend of relaxed fun in Gisborne. After a surprisingly smooth take-off from Wellington airport, we landed in Gisborne just after lunchtime.
Nelson/Golden Bay (Summer 2017)
Dreamy days
On a Friday morning we hopped on a plane to Nelson/Golden Bay for a weekend of exploration and adventure.
Hawke’s Bay (Summer 2017)
The hardest part is leaving
My partner and I decided to get out of the fast-lane and spend a weekend in Hawke’s Bay. A Google search will reveal this region has much to offer, and we sampled a small portion of this amazing part of New Zealand.
Wairarapa (Summer 2017)
With romance in mind
After work on a Friday, my partner Dean and I set off for a romantic getaway in the Wairarapa. I think Wairarapa is one of the most beautiful regions in New Zealand, and it’s only an hour and a bit out of Wellington.
Central Plateau (Summer 2017)
On the fly
A few years ago, I read the book A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean and ever since I have been intrigued by the art of fly-fishing. Turangi, located on the banks of the Tongariro River, is well-known for fly-fishing; fishermen flock there year-round seeking to hook a rainbow or brown trout.