Category: New Zealand
Why I love this New Zealand Beach Resort
New Zealand beach communities are dotted along the country’s coast. Until recently, I thought I’d experienced the best of them – but then I found Waikanae. In a roundabout way, I have my husband to thank for this discovery. If he hadn’t wanted to spend “at least one full day” at the Southward Car Museum, […]
Christchurch NZ, My Personal Post-Quake Tour
Christchurch, New Zealand has long been known as “The Garden City.” However, these days when I mention my home-away-from-home in New Zealand, I’m likely to hear “Isn’t that the place that was pretty much destroyed by an earthquake?” Well, yes. There’s that, but it wasn’t just “an earthquake.” Since the first quake in September 2010, […]
Most Romantic Christchurch Accommodation
New Zealand: Christchurch accommodation comes in all shapes and sizes, but Otahuna Lodge is easily the most romantic. The stately Victorian mansion is surrounded by 30 acres of beautiful gardens, emerald green lawns, and fragrant woodlands. Seven spacious bedrooms – most with working fireplaces – are both grand and welcoming. If you’ve ever longed to […]
Air New Zealand, Santa & Our Fabulous Trip
Air New Zealand made it possible for my husband Richard and me to enjoy four wonderful weeks of New Zealand summer. We left Los Angeles on December 24, 2015 and came back on January 21, 2016 – and it was all terrific. As I’ve mentioned before , I’ve spent a lot of time Down Under […]
Christchurch NZ – Rooms With A View
Christchurch NZ is a little short on places to stay at the moment. The earthquakes that shook the area during 2010 and 2011 wiped out almost 80% of the city central, including several hotels. So what’s a visitor to do? Had I been looking for a chic boutique hotel, I would have opted for The […]
Bargain Airline Tickets From Santa
Airline tickets: if you’re like me, shopping around for the best airfares is not your favorite thing to do. I mean, could it be more confusing? You have to research a zillion carriers, times of day, days of the week, seasons of the year, and – now – even specific seats within the plane. Seriously, […]
Pavlova – Best Down Under Dessert
Pavlova may not be a household “name” in the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s perennially popular in Australia and New Zealand. The iconic gooey meringue, topped with colorful fruit, is often served at birthday parties, holiday meals, and other special occasions. Because pavlova is considered the national dessert of both Australia and New Zealand, authentic travelers […]
Best Time To Go To New Zealand
The best time to go to New Zealand depends on what you want to do and how fussy you are about the weather. Having said that, there’s really no bad time to visit this beautiful country. Because New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are opposite of those in North America, Asia, and […]
Non-touristy Glow Worm Caves – New Zealand
Glow worm “sightings” are on the must-see list for many visitors to New Zealand. This isn’t hard to understand. Who wouldn’t want to see the “tail lights” of tiny invisible insects light up the inside of dark caverns and wooded dells. It’s an ethereal experience and one of the unique natural wonders of New Zealand. […]
New Zealand North Island Trip Report
This “New Zealand North Island” Trip Report was written by Maya & Mark from San Diego, California. They asked for my help with trip planning last spring when they were headed to New Zealand for the first time. I was happy to oblige, since this is an area I know quite well. They traveled during the […]
Farmers Markets for Authentic Travelers
Farmers markets are great places to connect with the local lifestyle of a place you’re visiting. Luscious red tomatoes, carrots with frilly green tops…and what’s that spikey thing? It’s fun to see what’s grown nearby and get inside information – and maybe samples – from the vendors. Suddenly, dining out is more fun, as you order dishes […]
The Best New Zealand Scenery
The best New Zealand scenery – Are you headed to New Zealand for some Southern Hemisphere summer? If so, be prepared to witness jaw-droppingly gorgeous scenery and make more than a few wonderful memories. I’ve written four guidebooks to “Godzone” (God’s own paradise) and spoken to many audiences about my home away from home. The […]
Enjoy New Zealand Spas and Natural Remedies
New Zealand spas offer a hands-on way to experience New Zealand’s natural wonders. Several spas throughout this clean green country use products made from local plants, honey, and – even – clay in wonderful massage therapies, body treatments, facials, and treats for hands and feet. I made this discovery after a long hike in the Bay […]
New Zealand – Hot Spas and Good Times
Majestic scenery and a clean, green environment draw visitors to New Zealand. We hike through native forests; kayak in crystal clear water; bike past picture-perfect views and, if we’re smart, we recover by soaking our bodies in water warmed by the country’s geothermal hotline. Thermal spas throughout New Zealand offer pools of naturally-heated water where […]
