Love the way Wanaka is taking cyclists with it as it grows and develops - great traffic calming measures, safe crossings, wide walking/cycling paths. We are here for a week and this is some of the fun stuff we got to do. Although a tourist town, it is built for locals to enjoy - eat and play like a local is one of their by lines. Magical any time of the year - but autumn is … [Read more...]
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From Sheep Shearing to Bungee Jumping: Unexpected Experiences in New Zealand
New Zealand has to be one of the most underrated countries that I hear people talk about and when you do hear someone who might have recently travelled or visited family there, you are in absolute awe of its natural beauty, amazing people and weird and wonderful things to do. So whether you are a resident of this wild country or you are planning a spur-of-the-moment trip, we … [Read more...]
Wild Westland – untamed Wilderness
Running down the spine of the South Island of New Zealand is the Southern Alps - on one side the east coast with our main cities Christchurch and Dunedin and Invercargill. Mostly dry and windy and sometimes very hot - the wide Canterbury plains formed by the extraordinary braided rivers. On the west a narrow strip of land forms the West Coast. If the cities are the east, … [Read more...]
The Roads Less Travelled – Northland – beaches and rich cultural stories
Journeywoman recently published an article of mine along with others in a series 30 Less Travelled Places for women Read them all here or read my NZ contribution below Northland - New Zealand beaches are amazing Recommended by Rosemary Neave, JourneyWoman Women’s Advisory Council member At Christmas time in the north of New Zealand, our red flowering Pohutukawa tree … [Read more...]
Ultimate Guide to Skiing in Queenstown
You’ve just landed on the ultimate guide to skiing in Queenstown! Nestled in the Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island, Queenstown is a winter wonderland that attracts skiers and snowboarders from around the globe. With its breathtaking alpine scenery, world-class ski resorts, and vibrant après-ski scene, Queenstown is a dream destination. In this guide, … [Read more...]
Te Ara Ahi cycle trail – Rotorua connections
Te Ara ahi cycle trail is 48kms long and can be done in 1-2 days, or you can do what we did and use it to access other trails or the city. From our base at Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park we hopped on the trail to Embark on a journey shaped by fire and culture on the earth's active crust which has been ripped apart and now gives glimpses into its belly at seven steaming … [Read more...]
Rotorua – cycling the Whakarewarewa Forest Loop
This ride is not for the faint hearted - it says it is Grade 2 with bits of Grade 3, I found it a challenge largely because it is a four hour ride, but there were lots of opportunities to get off the track and head home if it was too much. The Whakarewarewa Forest Loop is the newest of NZ's great rides (the app is a must for cycling in NZ). The Loop is a 33km circular, … [Read more...]
Cycling the Old Coach Road Ohakune
What do you associate with the words 'old coach road'? Showing my ignorance here, but I didn't think of cobbles! Lots of cobbles on this old coach road - not the smoothest ride and to think each stone was fashioned and laid by hand - wow! A wonderful historic ride over viaducts and through rainforest - towering ancient podocarps - always breathtaking in their beauty. Cynthia … [Read more...]
Cycle Wellington’s Rocky Shoreline
They say you can not beat Wellington on a good day. The heavy morning rain had cleared, the sea was flat, there was little wind. This 35 km ride is flat, on mostly quiet roads. Who would have guessed that so close to the heart of a great city like Wellington would be a coastal ride like this. Basically it takes you in a coastal circuit with Wellington Airport in the … [Read more...]
Observatory Hotel Christchurch
We have just spent a very special weekend in Observatory Hotel, a new boutique hotel which is in the middle of the Old revitalised Arts Centre. It was magic. Nothing about this hotel screams "generic". There are art and history books to read, comfortable sitting areas, and at the top I found a quiet room to zoom one early morning - the Conservatory. It is midwinter and … [Read more...]