New Zealand

Exclusive guide to the best holiday destinations in New Zealand, independent reviews from award-winning travel writers

Hanmer Springs

Hanmer Springs, South Island, New Zealand

Keith Lyons discovers there’s everything and nothing to do at New Zealand’s spa resort of Hanmer Springs

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Anna Smith reminisces on her glamping at the Splore Festival experience near Auckland in 2020. SerenaStevenson 9110 e1616575891898

Glamping At the SPLORE Festival, New Zealand

Anna Smith reminisces on her glamping at the Splore Festival experience near Auckland in 2020.

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Hidden wonders in southern New Zealand

Carved by glaciers over hundreds of thousands of years, and further shaped by some of the highest rainfall in the world – around 6.5 metres or 252 inches a year – this scenery is raw and majestic.

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Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

Bonjour’ is not how you expect to be greeted in Auckland, New Zealand – especially when you are not French, but it’s how staff welcome us to the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour (I’m presuming it’s a company-wide thing).

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auckland view from Waiheke

Waiheke Island Guide

When Anna Smith arrives at Waiheke Island it is raining, but the weather doesn’t deter her as she reveals her exclusive Waiheke Island Guide.

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Andy Mossack offers up his guide to The Cook islands. A South Pacific hideaway.

Guide to the Cook Islands. No two awesome sunsets the same.

When you think of the South Pacific Islands you would probably think of Tahiti or Fiji or maybe even Easter Island. However there is one group of islands that have quietly gone about their business of providing absolute unadulterated heaven on earth to discerning visitors for many awesome sunsets. The Cook Islands (or just The Cooks to locals) are a Polynesian coral necklace of some 15 islands spread out over 2 million kilometres of Pacific Ocean but actually only a combined land area just 240 kilometres.

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