Toi Kari Retreat is a boutique garden studio located near the peaceful waters’ edge in beautiful Lorenzen Bay New Zealand. Raglan is a small coastal town on the west coast of New Zealand, 2 hours south of Auckland, renowned for its surf, beaches, harbour, volcano, waterfall, great cafes, artisan shops, artists, health and wellbeing practitioners and sustainability. Long … [Read more...]
Womens Adventures NZ
Anyone who follows their Facebook page will know that women are raving about the trips they have done with Womens Adventures NZ Debbie Goldingham has built a fabulous network of women who love and adventure. Many trips are day trips from Auckland, so excellent for those who live there - canyoning, fishing kayaking... Don't feel left out if you do not live in … [Read more...]
The North Island of New Zealand – My Personal Favourites
When I told my well-traveled friends that I'd be pursuing an adventurous road trip around New Zealand's North Island, I received quite a few disappointed faces. “North? Why go North? All people ever talk about is the South Island!”. Don’t get me wrong – I was happy to have their input and wasn’t totally surprised by their reactions. The South Island, with its dramatic … [Read more...]
A Blissful Haven for travellers on the East Coast of New Zealand
North of Opotiki on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand is one of the world's most amazing road trips. It is Eastland - coastal highways that hug it's beautiful coastline, small villages, this is Maori country. Aruhe is a B&B and holiday home at Whanarua Bay, just north of Te Kaha, the latest listing on the Women's Accommodation Network. In New … [Read more...]
Coromandel B&B
Jill Kaeppeli has found a patch of paradise on the Coromandel Peninsula, and and is keen to share it with others at her Kaeppeli's B&B near Whitianga. Jill is a kiwi but also speaks Swiss-German - with a kiwi accent of course. Since 1994 she has welcomed guests to her BnB at Kuaotonu, north of Whitianga on the east coast of the Coromandel. Drive off the road and wind … [Read more...]
Devonport – just a ferry away from Auckland
Devonport is just a 12 minute Ferry ride (they run every half hour) from downtown Auckland, we often catch the Ferry and have coffee on the 'other side'. Until the Auckland Harbour Bridge was built, this was a backwater - a place for holidays and leisure pursuits. The remnants of this remain with some gorgeous old buildings in the main street and elegant older homes, now … [Read more...]
Drive East – Discover East Coast New Zealand
Eastland - State Highway 35 from Opotiki to Gisborne - One of the Worlds Great Coastal Journeys The first time I headed out from Opotiki on this road, it felt like another world. Here was New Zealand in a more raw and untouched state, where development seems to have passed it by, and left a world where Maori were at home, and I was a visitor - welcome, but a visitor. 30 … [Read more...]
Matakohe Limestone Island, Whangarei
Great half day out on the Whangarei Harbour on the MV Waipapa I have often looked out on Matakohe Limestone Island in Whangarei Harbour and thought I would love to go there. I had heard of the replanting work which began in 1990 when it was made a scenic reserve and the re-introduction of kiwi, lizards and other birds which now thrive in this predator free … [Read more...]
Helena Bay – Exploring the Coastline on the Back Road to Russell
NZ off the Beaten Track - Less than one hour north of Whangarei is the beautiful road that is the back road to Russell in the Bay of Islands. These days access to Russell is usually via the Opua car ferry. All very good for those for whom time is short. If you are the kind of people who are roaming New Zealand’s magnificent back country, where the locals holiday and play but … [Read more...]
Explore Devonport by Bicycle
Devonport Devonport is a short (15 minute) ferry ride from Downtown Auckland. It is a beautiful older established area of Auckland, cut off from development until the Harbour Bridge was build. Devonport forms a peninsula - on one side you see Auckland city and there are boats safely at anchor, on the other a string of beaches looking out on the more recent distinctive … [Read more...]