Visiting Queenstown, it quickly becomes apparent how busy the city is. The traffic is reaching problem level, and the locals will tell you they are none too pleased. If that’s the case, why is Queenstown so popular? Why do droves of kiwis and tourists alike flock here year-round? Well, the answer is simple: adventure. Honestly, nobody does […]
If you’ve ever considered a trip to Australia or New Zealand, now is an excellent time to start planning. Both the New Zealand and the Australian dollar, while always quite volatile, are lower than they have been in more than two years against the USD, making those beautiful (and pricey) hotels like Cape Kidnappers, Southern […]
I don’t bathe often. That is to say, I don’t have a bath often. I’m clean, I promise. But never mind that. Throughout my travels, I have stumbled across a few choice spots to take a dip. Some had sweeping views over the ocean, some out to lush jungle, and one just plain outdoors. There […]
More like lord of the manor, but we love it all the same. Otahuna Lodge is running a great promo during their upcoming winter months, and we want to share it with you: guests now have the option to rent the lodge out on an exclusive basis. That’s up to ten guests who get to […]
Sometimes—you might even say often—we travel to escape. When routines become audible like the meshing of gears, we feel the compulsion to lose ourselves, to shed skin. Some places encourage fantasies of time travel—where we imagine ourselves living as adults in a different age. Take the ancient Medina of Fez for example, or the caves […]
Love is in the air. Mostly because we’re trying desperately to ward off the snowy chill of February, but also because of that heart-shaped holiday awaiting us at the end of the week. Whether you think it’s a perfect time for romance or a total Hallmark sham, you can’t lose if you simply look at […]
There are many reasons to go to New Zealand. But the most compelling one I can think of today is that it’s winter here and it’s summer there. That’s right, while you’re chipping ice from your sidewalk some lucky bloke is leaving his bach and preparing for a beach-side picnic on the bonnet. What I mean to […]
Kauri Cliffs has long been on the top. This rings true both geographically (it’s near the top of New Zealand’s North Island), as well as reputationally (is that even a word?). A killer location, phenomenal food, a world class golf course, and beautifully understated luxury all roll together to give you a chart-topping Kiwi experience. Combine Kauri Cliffs […]
During my everyday Wall Street-workaholic life, I stare at spreadsheets and presentations on a computer screen for 12 or more hours a day. So when I worked with Trufflepig to plan my trip to New Zealand, I was definitely looking for a new challenge, and a change of scenery. I figured I would be staring […]
Of all the hotels, lodges, inns, B&B’s, home stays, hostels, villas, ships and couches I’ve experienced over the years, nothing makes me feel more at home than the company of a furry friend. I’m talking about dogs (to quickly clear up any confusion). New Zealand seems to incorporate man’s best friend into the environment better than […]
New Zealand is hardly a country of beaten paths. Nevertheless, foreign visitors tend to flock to certain towns and regions, whilst other areas remain untouched or visited primarily by vacationing Kiwis (as in the people of New Zealand, not the national bird of New Zealand). The Coromandel Peninsula is a prime example of a classic […]
Hitting the open road in New Zealand is one of our favourite things to do. When on said road, one of the most noticeable things you see is the large variety of campers, or caravans to use the vehicular vernacular. Every time I see one, it brings me back to a point in my childhood, reminiscent of […]
Abel Tasman rocks. And it also does the splits (see the photos above and you’ll know what I mean). Seriously though, any visit to the Nelson area of New Zealand should definitely include a visit through Abel Tasman National Park. This park, founded in 1942, is the smallest of all the National Parks in the […]
There’s a camp, set high (so high you need a helicopter to arrive) in a valley in New Zealand. And at this camp there are no restaurants. No shops. Not even any trees. From an initial look, there’s nothing to do. Yet, it’s the background of one of the top ten experiences of my life. […]
Let’s go out on a limb and predict that the world isn’t going to end tomorrow. Christmas and New Year’s will come and go, and then those of us in the northernmost parts of the northern hemisphere will enter what one Trufflepig planner calls “the long, dark tea time of the soul.” Give your soul […]
We’re foodies. Hands down. Fresh, local, meat, veg, wine, beer, we want to try it all. Never in a million years have I found myself thinking that I may have had too much. “I don’t know if I can sit through another five-course meal” and “I hope this one doesn’t have wine pairings” are both […]