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...]
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...]
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...]
I have flown into Auckland – What now?
Auckland Airport is the gateway to New Zealand, it is about 40 minutes from Downtown Auckland, and it is easy to get an airport bus directly to the city if you are going to spend a few days there. Like many great cities, you do not need a car to get around and explore. However one of the things I recommend to women is to make use of the Auckland Airport Car Rental - hire … [Read more...]
Drag Cabaret in Auckland
Caluzzi Cabaret & Bar offers an unforgettable Drag Queen Cabaret in Auckland City open on Friday & Saturday evenings only , and also a LGBT (straight friendly) catch up night every Wednesday. Caluzzi Bar: Legendary Caluzzi Bar & Cabaret is an unforgettable dining experience. From the moment you step foot off flamboyant K Rd and through the front door, the girls … [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...]
Best Pizza In New Zealand
It is Official Kevin from Dante's Pizzeria in the lane at Ponsonby Central makes the best Margherita Pizza in New Zealand. Ponsonby Central and it's group of funky shops is one of my favourite shops on what is definately my favourite road in Auckland. Dante's Pizza is authentic Napolese Pizza - it is the first pizzeria in New Zealand to receive membership into the … [Read more...]
White and Windy – Bird Watching at Muriwai –
https://www.womentravelnz.com/bird-watching-muriwai/(opens in a new tab) It had been some time since I had taken the drive out to Muriwai on the west coast of Auckland, one day in November a friend visiting Auckland for an ecology conference was just the excuse I needed. I was reading a lot about birdwatching on learnbirdwatching.com and this was a too good a chance to miss … [Read more...]
Why Visit Auckland? Here are 6 Reasons to start with…
One of the more under the radar major cities in the world, Auckland is a region that’s just waiting to be explored. Featuring plenty of things to see and do, here are a handful of compulsory destinations for everyone travelling to Auckland. Waiheke Island Few places manage to blend the beauty of farmland, forest, beaches, vineyards and olive groves; but Waiheke Island manages … [Read more...]
Cycle Free on the Auckland Waterfront
The Auckland waterfront has undergone huge changes in the post 20 years, as it has shifted from being the working hub of the city. And what better way to see it than a new free bike hire service. I tried it last week and it is fantastic. You can hire the bikes for 2 hours for free from two spots – Wynyard Quarter and Queens Wharf. You need to register on the website Next … [Read more...]