Activities

  1. Stalking kiwis

    Stalking kiwis

    If you go out in the woods today you’ll be hard pressed to find our iconic bird. In fact even if you go out in the woods tonight, you’ll be a very lucky stalker indeed to be rewarded with the sounds of a kiwi rustling in the undergrowth. But that’s exactly what I did (or [...]

  2. 10 things to do within cooee of Matakana

    10 things to do within cooee of Matakana

    So you’re about an hour and a half north of Auckland in the cute village of Matakana but bugger, it’s not Saturday. The famous farmers market is closed so there’s no trawling for fresh produce, chocolate, berries, smoked meats, et al. But wait! Before you drive on by, here is a list of 10 other [...]

  3. Visit Zion Wildlife Gardens – if you can find it!

    Visit Zion Wildlife Gardens – if you can find it!

    Having heard more about Zion Wildlife Gardens in Northland from their notoriety than anything else, I was curious to make the detour from Whangarei. Firstly it is ridiculously hard to find! There was one sign in the tiny town of Kamo pointing left, then nothing. They left us in the lurch for what seemed like [...]

  4. Swing through the trees at Woodhill

    Swing through the trees at Woodhill

    If, like me, you’re an aunty of a 15 year old boy and are tasked with entertaining him for a couple of days, a visit to the shopping mall is not going to cut it. I know this because I tried. Apparently trying on clothes followed by a flat white mixes with yoof like oil [...]

  5. Spend 3 days in a New Zealand rainforest!

    Spend 3 days in a New Zealand rainforest!

    Fancy going AWOL (with a guide) in the NZ rainforest for 3 days? The guys at Whirinaki Rainforest Experiences are all set to guide you through New Zealand’s native bush for 3 days/2 nights. But wait – they provide your tent, meals and even a well deserved glass of wine! It’s luxury camping. Glamping, they [...]

  6. Honest to goodness weekend farmers markets

    Honest to goodness weekend farmers markets

    I stumbled upon a farmer’s market yesterday in my ‘hood and it was just the coolest thing – fresh breads (we’re talking posh Grey Lynn ciabatta and pain au chocolat), fudges, macadamia nut butter, fresh veges, smoked salmon, oils, pestos and spreads. They even had a stall where locals could sell their own odd shaped [...]

  7. The chocolate tour of Wellington

    The chocolate tour of Wellington

    If you were a chocolate, what kind would you be? Calling all chocolate fiends – fancy seeing, doing and tasting something a little different on your visit to New Zealand’s capital city, then how about embarking on a Chocolate Tour of Wellington – and find the answer to that question! Wild About Wellington runs all [...]