“The Best Place Is Right Here, This Moment.”

It’s winter in New Zealand, but this morning I sat on my deck for an hour feeling the sun warming my pale skin. Blackbirds were tootling away in the neighbour’s trees. Occasionally I heard cars driving past on the road 114 steps below my house. It seemed like spring had finally arrived and as I … More “The Best Place Is Right Here, This Moment.”

Chasing A Whale

The catamaran sped away from Kaikoura through the surf, rolling over the waves at breakneck speed. We had to sit inside whilst moving for safety reasons and I can’t say I was feeling too rosy. Thankfully whenever the vessel came to a stop we were able to go back outside on to the deck. The … More Chasing A Whale

Volcanoes and Fairies

The path is steep and the weather bitterly cold. It’s only 8AM and we have a long day of hiking or, as the Kiwis call it, ‘tramping’ ahead of us. We are aiming for Mount Taranaki’s Tahurangi translator tower which should take about two hours to reach. However, this track requires clement weather conditions and … More Volcanoes and Fairies

Cruising Milford Sound

“Milford is a wild, romantic looking place, abounding in high mountains and intermediate deep valleys.” Milford Sound as described by the sealer John Boultbee in 1826. This is one of the iconic New Zealand experiences. Milford Sound is peaceful, picturesque (weather permitting) and teeming with wildlife. A cruise on the sound will set you back … More Cruising Milford Sound