A bird’s eye view is your reward when you take to the skies above Waiheke, discovers Helen van Berkel.   When I was a kid, a flying fox involved perching a tiny piece of wood attached to a rope attached to a pulley, leaping out of a tree, shrieking along a sometimes rusted wire and …

Waitomo’s ‘starlit’ caves spark Alex Robertson’s curiosity.     Waitomo’s story began in 1887 when Maori Chief Tane Tinorau and an Englishman named Fred Mace floated down a stream on a flax raft, through a cave mouth and into the history books.   Passing into the darkness, they found a new universe of thousands of …

Elisabeth Easther took a quirky rail trip and has been singing the little engines’ praises ever since.     Ever since we discovered people could pilot golf carts along disused rail lines between Stratford and Taumarunui, my son and I had been eager to give it a whirl.   Forgotten World Adventures, the brainchild of …

  Now that summer’s over and sunbathing is off the to-do list, head north to Atiu Creek Regional Park.   At 847ha, it’s Auckland‘s third largest regional park (after the Hunua and Waitakere Ranges) and offers many options for exploring and relaxing.   Atiu Creek was gifted to New Zealand by Pierre and Jackie Chatelanat …

  There’s a tract of hilly land above Coromandel Town that the Department of Conservation might want to keep a careful eye on.   It abuts the 60-acre (24ha) property that’s home to the wonderfully whimsical Driving Creek Railway – renowned New Zealand potter Barry Brickell’s decades-long labour of love.   What began in 1975 …

    In a Waka Hone Mihaka, owner of Taiamai Tours Heritage Journeys, was struggling to find employment and most of his family had sadly had to leave their Bay of Islands marae. When Hone’s grandchildren were born, he had a dream to get into the tourism industry and create a legacy for these children so …

  Before the Auckland Harbour Bridge opened, a whole day would be needed for the ferry excursion from the Shore into the city. These days, a quick drive-by to run into a shop is all my family normally have time for in town. So, we decided to take our time and spend the day.   …

    1. Horseriding near Colville Village Spend a sunny afternoon – or several days – horse trekking at White Star sheep station near Colville. Host Belinda and her daughter are the sixth generation of family on this land. For longer stays there are bush lodges, cabins a backpackers or caravans. Ten minutes up the road …