Guides

Ōamaru is more than meets the eye. While Steampunk is this Waitaki town’s usual calling card there’s also a host of local food and drink to try, native wildlife to discover, inventive art to enjoy and friendly locals to meet. You’ll need more than a few hours to check it all out. 

Auckland is home to some of the best art galleries you’ll find anywhere. From public spaces to dealer galleries, here are the best places to go to get your dose of high culture, and where to grab a drink or meal to make a day of it.

Whether you're visiting Porirua for the day or staying the night, we have the best things to see, eat and do in this little Greater Wellington town of 55,000.  

There’s never been a better time to holiday in Auckland. A recent surge in the offerings of great accommodation options, across a range of price points, has made the experience of staying in a hotel here better than ever, whether you’re looking to be right downtown, on the city fringe or within greater Auckland.

Two of the best things about Auckland are its diverse culture and its excellent food scene. A great way to experience the city, then, is to enjoy the overlap between those two, and eat delicious food from all around the world.

Toss any preconceptions you might have, there is A LOT to do in Palmerston North. If you like food, drink, art, shopping and friendly people, you’ve come to the right place. While you won’t be able to fit all the great places into just one day, this guide will lead you to some of the very best bits. Each spot offers something different, but they all have one thing in common - the owners, proprietors, chefs, artists, curators, shopkeepers and staff take pride in their work and are excellent ambassadors for Palmerston North.

Make the most of your time in Invercargill, one of the southernmost cities in the world. Known for top notch hospitality, cheese rolls and rolling green hills, Invercargill features the very best of Southland cuisine, culture, fashion, design, art and entertainment. You’ll need to use your time wisely to get a sampling of it all.

If you haven’t got long in this beautiful geothermal town, then it pays to plan your visit so you know exactly what hot spots to head to first.

Known for its stunning vistas and native bush, the South Island of Aotearoa has a lot to offer when it comes to a relaxing escape and features some of the best hotels and boutique accommodation options in the country.

As one of the best places in the world to enjoy coffee and breakfast, Sunday brunch is practically a religion for Aucklanders. There’s a great café in every neighbourhood, so brunch is a great way to explore the lengths of the city. We scoured the city for the best places to grab a late morning or early afternoon bite, no matter where you’re looking to go. While some stick with the classics and some mix it up, they all do a great cuppa and a lovely atmosphere.

Whether you’re treating yourself, exploring the rebuilding city, or simply after a fresh take on home base, Christchurch is forever full of surprises. The Garden City is home to top of the line retail, quality eating and drinking establishments, and plenty of activities to nourish body and soul.

Whether you’re an adventurer, an art lover, a beachgoer or a gourmand (or indeed all four), Taranaki has you covered. Here’s our guide to the best ways to spend 48 Hours in this small province with a big personality, that’s worth making the off-the-beaten-track trip to.

Twelve hours in Marlborough and too many options? We’ve got you. From eating and drinking to shopping and exploring, follow our guide to make sure you get the best out of your trip.

Not all coffee is created equal, so in our guide to New Zealand’s coffee roasters, we pay homage to those roasting, brewing and serving it the best. You’ll find micro roasters rubbing shoulders with the country’s biggest producers.

Lovers of sport, great food and wine are all part of a population of people who have a palpable sense of loyalty to their city, and with plenty to be proud of it’s no wonder they have made Hamilton their home.

The best of art and food collide in coastal New Plymouth. Enjoy world class art, culture and cuisine in a seaside setting, with a backdrop of mountain views.

Whether you’re preparing a picnic, BBQ or just looking to stock up your fridge and pantry with items not from the supermarket, we have your guide to the independent butcheries, bakeries, delis, greengrocers and liquor stores in Christchurch.

This coastal town perched just an hour and twenty minutes southeast of Christchurch has all you could want out of a weekend getaway: great food, charming accommodation, and stunning scenery. Home of the small, rare Hector dolphin and New Zealand’s only French settlement, the town of Akaroa still imparts a refreshing and unique charm.

The proud capital of New Zealand, Wellington is well-known for its quirky, colourful streets, its love of fashion and events, and its bustling hospitality scene.

Casual beachy vibes, good people, good food. A township with a penchant for zero waste and keeping NZ beautiful. Welcome to Raglan.

Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland may be considered the big city, but that doesn’t mean you can’t unwind here. Filled with pockets of nature and a vibrant culture, Auckland is an amazing place to reflect, and enjoy the beauty of the region.

The Waitaki region has got it all - the ocean, mountains, bike paths, walking tracks, great food and award winning wine.

Dunedin, which is Celtic for Edinburgh, is the fifth largest city in the world in terms of geographical size. Home to the University of Otago, the only breeding colony of Northern Royal Albatross, the steepest street in the world, the only authentic Chinese garden in the Southern Hemisphere, the first public art gallery in the country and so much more, ‘Dunners’ is a city full of surprising attractions, friendly people and food and drink that showcases the very best of what the bountiful region has to offer.

Excellent coffee, excellent wine and excellent food. There’s little more that needs to be said to encourage one to spend 12 hours in this special slice of North Canterbury. Add breathtaking views, easy driving and friendly people to the mix and the deal will be well and truly sealed.

Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland is a world class city with all the trimmings: great shopping, cafés and dining can be found on every corner. The real magic, though, comes when you journey out of the city centre to enjoy the pockets of nature on the doorstep of the city.

Tāmaki Makaurau: an isthmus dwarfed by two almighty harbours, Manukau to the south and Waitematā to the north. It’s no surprise, however, that Auckland is nicknamed the “City of Sails”, with its abundance of boats (and ocean) that can be seen in every direction. But, boats aside, there are many reasons why 1.5 million people call this place home. With a diverse culture, a bustling food and drink scene, beaches and 48 dormant volcanoes to keep things interesting, Auckland is as cosmopolitan as they come. Here’s how to spend the day in the biggest city in Aotearoa.

Think you can't experience a taste of Kaikōura in 12 hours? We can prove you wrong. We’ve gathered a neat package of activities, delicious food, scenic spots and great entertainment that can all be squeezed within a 12 hour period in this seaside town. 

A place where every house in town seems to have a million-dollar view, can’t be a bad place to spend 12 hours, and with endless activities both indoor and out, Wanaka will be sure to charm even the toughest of critics.