Holiday guide
Best of New Zealand
New Zealand is not merely a rewarding place to visit, it genuinely ranks as one of the world’s greatest destinations. And luckily for us, it’s right on our doorstep.
How to have the perfect NZ holiday
Half the challenge of planning a holiday in New Zealand is not deciding what to do but where to start.
- Anthony Dennis
When it comes to great food, New Zealand is cutting Australia’s lunch
New Zealand’s set to show up its trans-Tasman culinary cousins with its soon-to-be-published first-ever Michelin Guide.
- Ben Groundwater
Peter Jackson put a small town on the map with a thrilling attraction
It’s a region best known for its sauvignon blancs and scenery, but the Oscar-winning director behind The Lord of the Rings has added a very different attraction.
- Jane Richards
Most people do this NZ trip for the views. I had a different motive
I’m looking forward to mountains and valleys, lakes and rivers, but I’m hoping this slow exploration will help me get to know the people and places better too.
- Justine Costigan
It’s renowned for wine, but this NZ region has another highlight
It might be globally renowned for its wine, but this hidden gem on New Zealand’s South Island is also a haven for hikers and mountain bikers.
- Megan Levy
The scenic two-hour rail journey that’s pure magic
The Coastal Express leaves from what’s often called the most photographed building in New Zealand.
- Kerry van der Jagt
The hidden side to one of NZ’s most popular islands
Only a 40-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland, Waiheke Island receives an avalanche of visitors every summer. But it’s not hard to get away from them.
- Rob McFarland
Underrated region is the most magnificent landscape I’ve ever seen
I’m hesitant to reveal this, but the underrated mountains of New Zealand’s North Island, as opposed to the popular South, is where the real action is.
- Kerry van der Jagt
Beyond North and South: NZ’s incredible forgotten ‘other islands’
Stray from the two main islands for gob-smacking terrain, and highlights including the most assured kiwi sightings and world’s only island Dark Sky Sanctuary.
- Andrew Bain
Wild and warm: The ‘winterless’ part of New Zealand
Known for its temperate weather, First Nations history and extraordinary scenery, New Zealand’s Northland region unfurls on a journey by road and air.
- Catherine Marshall
The NZ-style of accommodation that showed Australia how it’s done
Alpine retreats, sheep station stays, coastal getaways – no two are the same, but New Zealand’s luxury lodges are famous for delivering magic moments.
- Ute Junker
Nine must-do highlights of Auckland, New Zealand
Few cities can boast such an array of natural and man-made attractions, including a breathtaking holiday island.
- Rob McFarland
Nine must-do highlights of Queenstown
Queenstown offers adventure and scenery with the best wine, food and comforts on offer.
- Anthony Dennis
Nine must-do highlights of Christchurch
After a mammoth, decade's long reconstruction following the 2011 earthquake, New Zealand's second biggest city is experiencing a new dawn.
- Anthony Dennis
How to go from north to south by rail
New Zealand's great rail journey across the North and South Islands involves three trains, plus a ferry.
- Tim Richards
Nine must-do highlights of Wellington
Head to Wellington, New Zealand's funky young capital, for art, museums, culture, great food and vintage shops.
- Jane Richards
Foodies, if you haven’t heard of this region, that’s about to change
The Ayrburn project – a $184 million playground for devotees of good food and wine – is set to open on New Zealand’s South Island.
- Trudi Jenkins
New Zealand’s wild west is stunning and untouched
New Zealand’s West Coast is a remote, untamed frontier that’s sparse in population but rich in scenic and mineral treasures.
- Julie Miller
11 things to do in an NZ winter besides skiing
In New Zealand there's far more to do in winter than just strap a few planks to your feet and slide down a mountain.
- Ben Groundwater
10 of the greatest NZ walks you can do in a day
New Zealand is also filled with great day walks, taking in some of its most spectacular natural features.
- Andrew Bain
I’m a ‘savvy b’ hater but this region made me fall in love with it
Would you even bother to visit Marlborough if you weren’t a fan of sauvignon blanc? Does this region have anything to offer those who say no to savvy b? I’m here to find out.
- Ben Groundwater
- ★★★★½
This legendary New Zealand hotel is an attraction in itself
Admiring one of the world’s most dramatic alpine landscapes from The Hermitage’s refurbished Aoraki Wing is an unmatched experience.
- Jim Darby
Chic wineries and scenery dazzle in this fast-growing wine region
Head out of Queenstown to Central Otago, and you’ll find modern cellar doors and excellent dining with a sumptuous backdrop.
- Brian Johnston
- Opinion
Ten things Australians should adopt from New Zealand
We Australians have nicked plenty of ideas from across the ditch, and vice versa. But here are a few more things we should take.
- Ben Groundwater
One of the world’s most spectacular ski spots is surprisingly easy
On New Zealand’s Tasman Glacier, the skiing is mild but the environment is wild.
- Jim Darby
More holiday guides
Affordable travel
From intel on the best budget accommodation to making your dollar stretch further, our experts reveal how to travel light on cash without compromising comfort.
- 39 stories
Australian road trips
Our writers share some of their most memorable Aussie road trips that invariably involve getting lost, discovering somewhere new and eating too many snacks.
- 26 stories