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Eating my words: dining out in Taranaki

Passionate foodie and traveller Alexia Santamaria discovers the foodie delights of Taranaki. Read the story . . . 

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The not-so-distant summit: day hikes to mountain tops

Alpinist and climber Paul Hersey chooses five one-day hikes to our mountain tops to celebrate International Mountain Day.  Read the story . . . 

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Get outside: Auckland's eight best runs

Running coach and passionate explorer Hayden Shearman shares his favourite running routes in central Auckland . . .   Read the story . . . 

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Earn a 10 cents per litre AA Smartfuel discount for every $100 spent up to a maximum of $1.00 per litre when you book selected accommodation. More . . . 
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State Highway 6: roadtripping at its best

Drive the length of the South Island, skirting the West Coast and traversing through the Southern Alps, and experience bountiful roadtripping at its very best. Read the story . . . 

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New Zealand on film: more than hobbits and snowy mountainscapes

Film critic Sarah Watt explores how movies put New Zealand on the map — and how it can be something of a blessing and a curse that, nowadays, most people immediately think of The Lord of the Rings when it comes to local cinema. Read the story . . . 

Hokianga: a road trip around a heavenly harbour

Storyteller and happy traveller John McCrystal discovers that the most rewarding direction in which to approach the Hokianga is from the south along State Highway 12, which also happens to be the leg of the Twin Coast Discovery Highway route that features the great Waipoua and the Trounson kauri forests. Read the story . . . 

For for kids aged five to 105, scaling the sand dunes is a must-do in the Hokianga. © Gina Guarnieri

Art and culture

Wellington Waterfront: where writers' words are cast

 John McCrystal pounds the pavement and takes in the Wellington Writers Walk on the waterfront, the envy not only of most other New Zealand cities, but also around the world. And so are its writers, including Katherine Mansfield, Robin Hyde, Bruce Mason, Maurice Gee and Patricia Grace. Read the story . . . 

Out and about

Auckland’s West Coast: rugged beauty

From the secluded beach at Whatipu, past the Manukau Harbour entrance, to Rangitira Beach at the southern entrance to the Kaipara, the west coast beaches are strung like black pearls.  Read the story . . . 

Out and about

The Pinnacles: the name says it all

It’s hard to argue that the discovery of gold was a good thing for the Coromandel Peninsula but one positive is the tramping tracks it left behind . . .  Read the story . . . 

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Food and drink in New Zealand

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Fleur’s Place: as fresh as it comes

World famous in New Zealand, Fleur Sullivan's place is a must-do for anyone visiting north Otago. Read the story . . . 

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The finest of wines

There was a time when New Zealanders could get all the locally-produced wine they wanted, so long as they got it from a handful of diehard Dalmatian winemakers making do with limited viticultural resources and licensing laws that viewed sales of wine to the general public as sly-grogging. Read the story . . . 

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New Zealand produce: fresh is best

Passionate foodie Delaney Mes believes fresh is best and that is undoubtedly the case when it comes to New Zealand produce: it’s one of the single greatest things our country has to offer. Read the story . . . 

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Loved by the locals: food and drink in Tauranga

Do what the locals do for food and drink in Tauranga. Read the story . . . 

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Our Must-Do's

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Akaroa: French heritage charm and the finest of foods

This is the place where sheltered harbour, French heritage, colonial architecture and a passion for fine food fuse perfectly together. Read the story . . . 

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Christchurch’s street art: an expression of solidarity

This isn’t a couple of cute billboard-type pieces put up in obvious places. This is a thing. There is even a map which shows where the major outdoor artworks in this city are located.    Read the story . . . 

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The wondrous wildlife of Otago Peninsula

‘The most accessible wildlife in the South Island’ is the catch-cry here. Well, there are wheeling seabirds, honking sea lions and all manner of other natural noises, but you get the point. Read the story . . . 

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Castlepoint Scenic Reserve: the views, the views, the views

Discover a perfect getaway of blissful walks, long, languorous beaches, exquisite sunrises, sheltered lagoons and fossil-rich reefs . . . and of course the prettiest lighthouse, fondly and simply known by locals as 'holiday light'. Read the story . . .