Taupō is a popular spot on the New Zealand tourist trail. There isn’t much to do in the town itself, but Taupō sits on the shore of a massive lake. Lake Taupō was formed by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history. Unsurprisingly, therefore, things to do around Taupō Read more…
New Zealand may not have much history, but what it does have can be fascinating. Since moving to New Zealand, I’ve been to many different historical places, from museums to heritage sites. The following list features the places that have really stuck in my memory. That means they must be Read more…
New Zealand certainly isn’t short of beautiful gardens. It has so many that a ‘top ten’ list would be quite impossible to write. Instead, here’s a list of ten gardens that I thought were really nice. Each one would make a lovely addition to any trip around New Zealand. 1) Read more…
Yes, it’s true. Some parts of New Zealand are so beautiful you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d wandered into a fantasy story. No wonder so many fantasy films and television series are shot here. Here’s a list of the top ten… List compiled by Abigail Simpson
Looking for a relaxed holiday in the New Zealand of the good old days? You could spend a few days in Taranaki. Taranaki, or ‘the Naki’, is a beautifully green region of the North Island, jutting out into the wild Tasman Sea. It’s dominated by a stunning, snow-capped volcano and Read more…
New Zealand is a very outdoorsy nation. Bush walks are a big thing. The Department of Conservation maintains nine ‘Great Walks’ in different places around the country, but they all take a few days to do. I like walks I can do in less than a day. Happily, New Zealand Read more…
I’m a huge fan of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films. Living in New Zealand, I’ve visited a great many of the filming locations. Frankly, they’re worth seeing even if you’re not a Lord of the Rings fan – their sheer beauty is unsurpassed. People from all over globe flock to them, and Read more…
New Zealand is one of the most secular countries in the world. Less than half of the population identify as Christian, according to the 2013 census. Almost as many people declare no religion at all, and even of those who say they are Christian, only about 15% actually go to Read more…
Chances are you’ve heard the words ‘crazy’ and ‘Kiwi’ in the same sentence. This is because New Zealanders are insane. No concern for personal safety, they throw themselves headlong into their obsessions, combining inherent ingenuity with mad optimism. Kiwis can conquer the world with a piece of number 8 wire, Read more…
Every country has its slang – its silly words and phrases that make absolutely no sense to outsiders – and New Zealand is no exception. Here’s a list of ten of the silly words and phrases that Kiwis say, of which I had to hastily make sense when we emigrated from England, Read more…