North of Punakaiki you drive into the small settlement of Charleston and you can not miss a huge four story concrete building. First question - what is it? As we drive closer we see an open cafe sign, so seems a good excuse to stop. We have found Underworld Adventures and Cafe. A business that has been going for 20 years and has just invested in this amazing building. It … [Read more...]
Punakaiki – One of the Jewels of the West Coast
I have lived in NZ 40 years and have never been here, so it is a real treat - there are not many corners of New Zealand I have not explored. We have some Pancake Rock formations at Waipu in Northland which are pretty special and one of my favourite places. But they do not compare to the towering cliffs of limestone and wild west coast scenery here at Punakaiki. We are … [Read more...]
Kumara – A Warm Welcome at The Cyclist’s Rest
Our host Mandi used to live in Christchurch, but she is now a West Coaster through and through. They built their home here on the outskirts of Kumara 14 years ago, and the West Coast Wilderness Cycle Trail runs past their property. So they have renovated some of the buildings and made room for the strangers who cycle past - appropriately named "The Cyclists Rest" Kumara … [Read more...]
Christchurch to the West Coast
I love the train journey on the Trans Alpine Express - truly one of the great railway trips of the World - I can not recommend it highly enough (see the video at the bottom of this post) This week we are taking the car across for an extended exploration of the South Island of New Zealand's West Coast. We will cross the Canterbury plains, drive into the foothills of the … [Read more...]
Waiheke Island – Paradise on Auckland’s Doorstep
Just off the coast of Auckland is the Island Paradise of Waiheke - close to the hustle and bustle of Auckland, but a world away. Once the home of hippies, it still retains a little of that counter culture charm, but now it also includes world class cafés and wineries. However the most arresting part of Waiheke Island is it's natural bounty of beaches and bays - white sand … [Read more...]
Night Sky Wonders – Astro Tourism Is Here and it is HOT
Exploring Lake Tekapo and the Mount John Observatory The Night Sky is HOT. New Zealanders take for granted that we can often see the stars and milky way, not so in most of the world. And apparently people around the world are adding a visit to Lake Tekapo to see the night sky to their bucket list. This small town in south Canterbury has less than 500 permanent … [Read more...]
Bali Spa Retreat with a Creative Twist
FigJam Workshops are based in Thames on the Coromandel and are our latest listing on Women Travel NZ and the World. They run workshops on the Coromandel and have just decided to launch out with a great looking Bali based retreat 12-19 June this year. Who does NOT have a retreat in Bali on their Bucket List? Based at the boutique Sama's Cottages in the heart of Ubud, the … [Read more...]
Bushwise Women is no More. Long Live Womens Holidays!
Bushwise Women was the brain child of Cynthia Roberts and her partner Roz Heinz. They gave up their careers in education and set up this company to take women into the outdoors. They took trips for women into much of New Zealand's South Island back country. They started mostly with day walks and kayaking from their Bushline Lodge on the West Coast, but they quickly … [Read more...]
Art Break – Waihi How it all Began…
Art Break Waihi is a Kiwi beach holiday experience over two days and take time to explore your artistic side. Encouragement and a stimulating environment by the sea help you to tap into your creativity. Waihi is a small settlement under two hours from Auckland on the east Coast. Here is a story of their beginnings... Heather and I became friends through working together … [Read more...]
Banks Peninsula Track
This 35 Km track was one of New Zealand's first private tracks, walked over 2 or 4 days it covers 35 Kms along the coastline of this long extinct volcano near Christchurch in the South Island. Maori arrived on this ancient weathered volcano with fire and adzes, dogs and rats and soon a third of the forest was gone. Early European settlers quickly cleared the rest of the land … [Read more...]