Around New Zealand
New guides and local stories from the 20 Explore city sites, newest first. Each one opens on its own city's site.
AucklandWheelchair and Pushchair Friendly Walks in Auckland
Thirty Auckland walks rated by Auckland Council for wheelchairs or pushchairs, from Auckland Botanic Gardens and crater parks to harbour shared paths.
8 Nov
TaurangaŌmokoroa Wharf Fishing
Ōmokoroa Wharf is the long jetty at Ōmokoroa Domain, at the end of the Ōmokoroa peninsula on the western side of Tauranga Harbour, about 25 minutes from Tauranga. It reaches deeper water and fishes all year: NZ Fishing World reports…
8 Nov
RotoruaWhakarewarewa Forest Rotorua
Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Forest: a 1901 redwood grove, free visitor centre, walking, mountain bike and horse trails, dog rules and the forest’s nursery history.
8 Nov
HastingsKaweka Forest Park near Hastings
DOC’s Kaweka Forest Park west of Hastings: tussock tops, beech forest, rare wildlife, historic huts, sika hunting and road ends to Kaweka J.
8 Nov
WhanganuiPākaitore / Moutoa Gardens Whanganui
A riverside historic reserve in central Whanganui, once a Māori trading place, holding New Zealand’s first war memorial and the Kemp and Māori war memorials.
8 Nov
Palmerston NorthLower Ruamahanga Track to Cow Creek Hut Palmerston North
A 5-hour Expert route up the lower Ruamahanga River near Mt Bruce, over Cow Saddle to Cow Creek Hut in the Tararua Forest Park.
8 Nov
NelsonSilvan Forest Nelson
A privately owned Richmond forest where the Griffin family opens over 30 km of free single track to mountain bikers, with links to Kingsland.
8 Nov
BlenheimWheelchair and Pushchair Friendly Walks in Blenheim and Marlborough
Seven Blenheim and Marlborough walks rated by the council or DOC for wheelchairs, prams or both, from Seymour Square and Pollard Park to Pelorus Bridge.
8 Nov
ChristchurchHead to Head Walkway Christchurch
The open sections of the Head to Head Walkway around Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour, from Lyttelton and Governors Bay to Diamond Harbour.
8 Nov
DunedinKaritāne Fishing
Karitāne sits on the west bank of the Waikouaiti River estuary, north of Dunedin, where the river runs south behind a long sand spit and reaches the sea beside the Huriawa Peninsula. The estuary is fished from the village foreshore…
8 Nov
WhangāreiRainbow Falls Whangārei
A 10-minute easiest-grade DOC walk in Kerikeri to two viewing points over Rainbow Falls, suitable for buggies and wheelchairs.
8 NovAucklandTakarunga / Mount Victoria Auckland
Devonport’s 66-metre volcanic cone, a Tūpuna Maunga with pā terraces, kūmara pits, an 1841 signal station site and an 1885 gun fort, open to walkers.
8 Nov
HamiltonRaglan Wharf Fishing
Raglan Wharf sits on Ann Point at the end of Wallis Street, on the north-east tip of the Raglan town peninsula, looking out over Whāingaroa Harbour. Locals fish from the wharf edge and from the boat ramp beside it, and…
8 Nov
New PlymouthManganui River Fishing
The Manganui River is one of the larger Taranaki ringplain rivers, running off the eastern side of the maunga past Inglewood to join the Waitara River. It holds brown trout in moderate numbers, up to about 2.5 kg, and suits…
8 NovWhanganuiShort Walks in Whanganui
Nine walks around Whanganui of about an hour or less, from Round the Bridges and Durie Hill to Virginia Lake and Mangawhero Falls.
8 NovChristchurchŌhinetahi Tracks Christchurch
Steep, narrow bush tracks in Ōhinetahi Bush Reserve above Governors Bay, plus the Orongomai Trail loop through old Port Hills forest.
8 NovWhangāreiWilsons Dam Fishing
Wilsons Dam is a water supply reservoir just north of Ruakākā, off State Highway 1 between Prescott Road and Sail Rock Road. Northland Fish & Game stocks it with rainbow trout most years and brown trout every few years, and…
7 NovAucklandMaungauika / North Head Auckland
Maungauika / North Head in Devonport: an ancient volcanic cone with 1885 forts, disappearing guns and tunnels, governed by the Tūpuna Maunga Authority.
7 Nov
PukekoheTuakau and District Museum
Tuakau’s community museum in the former post office on Liverpool Street, with colonial, Māori and military exhibits, farm tools and a research room.
7 NovTaurangaPukehina Beach Fishing
Pukehina Beach runs along a 10 km peninsula east of Maketū, with the open Bay of Plenty surf on one side and the sheltered Waihī Estuary on the other. The Western Bay of Plenty District Council describes the beach as…
7 NovRotoruaWaikawau / Hannahs Bay Reserve Rotorua
A Lake Rotorua reserve behind the airport with a swimming beach, mobility playground, Otauira wetland walkway, bridle trail and an off-lead dog exercise area.
7 NovNew PlymouthHangatahua (Stony) River Fishing
The Hangatahua (Stony) River runs off Taranaki Maunga to the coast just south of Ōkato, about 25 minutes’ drive from New Plymouth. Fish & Game Taranaki says it often has the best water quality of any ringplain river, and it…
7 NovPalmerston NorthDundas Circuit Palmerston North
A three-day Expert loop in the northern Tararua Forest Park from Putara Road, linking Herepai, Dundas, Cattle Ridge and Roaring Stag huts.
7 NovNelsonHacket Track Nelson
An advanced 4-hour return tramp from Aniseed Valley up Hacket Creek to Hacket Hut, on a track DOC says has been badly damaged by slips.
7 NovChristchurchCrater Rim Walkway Christchurch
Six council sections along the Port Hills crater rim, from Godley Head to Ahuriri, with harbour views, gun emplacements and Coopers Knob.
7 NovAucklandBeachlands to Maraetai Path Auckland
A 6 km coastal path between Beachlands and Maraetai with Hauraki Gulf views, beaches, two playgrounds and a rest stop at Ōmana Regional Park.
7 NovPukekoheWaiuku Museum
Waiuku’s volunteer-run museum on Tamakae Reserve, with Māori and colonial displays and historic buildings including Hartmann House, Pollok Cottage and a lock-up.
7 Nov
NapierTaradale Park and Centennial Park Napier
Taradale Park, Napier: home of the Taradale Sports Association’s four clubs, with Centennial Park’s trees, rose garden and water features on its western side.
7 Nov
WellingtonSmith Creek to Tauwharenīkau River
A DOC day trip from Kaitoke over Puffer Saddle and down beech-lined Smith Creek to Smith Creek Shelter on the Tauwharenīkau River.
7 NovDunedinTaieri Mouth Fishing
Taieri Mouth is where the Taieri River leaves its gorge, passes under the Taieri Mouth Bridge and runs past a small fishing village into a shallow estuary and the sea, south of Dunedin. A large share of the lower river’s…
7 Nov
InvercargillCatlins Conservation Park
Catlins Conservation Park, DOC’s inland Catlins forest: ridges of beech and podocarp, mohua, the Catlins River Track, Tawanui campsite and a long human history.
7 Nov
TaupōOld Photo Restoration in Taupō
A cracked wedding portrait, a faded school photo, a print that has been through a flood: most families have at least one picture they wish looked the way it once did. Photo restoration can repair a surprising amount of damage,…
6 NovTaupōSlide Scanning in Taupō
Many Taupō families have a carousel or two of 35mm slides in a cupboard, along with shoeboxes of prints and albums that nobody has opened in years. Slides in particular are hard to enjoy now that projectors have mostly gone,…
6 NovTaupōHow to Remove a Virus From Your Computer
Pop-ups that won’t go away, a browser that keeps landing on strange websites, or a computer that has suddenly slowed to a crawl can all point to a virus or other malware. Before you do anything drastic, it helps to…
6 NovTaupōWhy Is My Computer So Slow? A Taupō Guide to Speeding It Up
A computer that takes five minutes to start, freezes when you open email or crawls through a simple web page is one of the most common tech complaints in any household or office. The good news is that most slow…
6 NovRotoruaBrand Guidelines for Rotorua Small Businesses
Most small businesses do not set out to have an inconsistent brand. It happens gradually: the signwriter picks a slightly different green, a staff member makes a flyer in whatever font is on their laptop, and the logo gets stretched…
6 NovRotoruaLogo Design in Rotorua
A logo ends up on more things than most business owners expect: the shop sign, the ute, uniforms, invoices, a Facebook profile picture the size of a thumbnail and, if things go well, a billboard. Getting one designed in Rotorua…
6 NovRotoruaBusiness Cards in Rotorua
A business card is small enough that people assume it is simple, and then the box arrives with the phone number sitting a millimetre from the edge, a thin white sliver down one side and a logo that looks muddy…
6 NovWhangāreiUrquharts Bay Fishing
Urquharts Bay sits on the harbour side of Whangārei Heads, in the outer reaches of Whangārei Harbour close to the entrance. Urquharts Bay Road follows its eastern shore to a car park at the southern end, where boats are launched…
6 NovAucklandAotea Conservation Park Auckland
DOC’s Aotea Conservation Park covers 43 per cent of Great Barrier Island: kauri forest, rare birds, the Aotea Track, two huts and Kaitoke Hot Springs.
6 NovPukekoheMercer Art and History Museum
A small Mercer museum in an old villa on Roose Road, telling the story of the Waikato River trade and river trader Caesar Roose.
6 NovHamiltonHapuakohe Walkway Hamilton
A 23 km advanced tramp along the Hapuakohe Range, split by Ohinewai Road into two day sections, with views over the Hauraki Plains and Waikato.
6 NovTaurangaWairoa River Fishing
The Wairoa River flows north from the Kaimai Range into Tauranga Harbour between Bethlehem and Te Puna, passing under State Highway 2 at the Wairoa River Bridge. Fish & Game describes its lower reaches as tidal and reached by boat…
6 NovHastingsWhite Pine Bush Scenic Reserve near Hastings
A 19-hectare DOC reserve of kahikatea and nīkau north of Napier, with two easy loops, a stream, a small waterfall and picnic tables.
6 NovNew PlymouthAround the Mountain Circuit New Plymouth
A 4 to 5 day Advanced/Expert tramp around Taranaki Maunga through forest, rivers and alpine country. Check DOC for section closures before you go.
6 NovPalmerston NorthKiriwhakapapa to Blue Range Hut Palmerston North
A short, steep 2–3 hour Tararua climb from Kiriwhakapapa Road end past tall redwoods to the four-bunk Blue Range Hut.
6 NovNelsonTāhunanui Hills Walks Nelson
Walk over the Tāhunanui Hills on Nelson City Council’s Observatory and Britannia routes, with Tasman Bay views, the Songer Tree and the Haven Cemetery.
6 NovChristchurchWaihora Park Domain Camping Ground Motukarara
A grassed domain camping ground at Motukarara, next to the racecourse and 50 m from the Little River Rail Trail, for $10 a night.
6 NovWhanganuiExcessive Sweating in Whanganui
Everyone sweats, but for some people it goes well beyond what heat or exercise would explain. Damp hands make paperwork and handshakes awkward, underarm marks show through work shirts by mid-morning, and feet can slip in shoes. This is hyperhidrosis,…
6 NovWhanganuiSkin Boosters in Whanganui
Skin boosters have become a common item on appearance medicine menus, and the name does not explain much. They are not a facial, not filler and not the same as anti-wrinkle injections. They sit somewhere between skin care and injectables,…
6 NovWhanganuiLip and Cheek Filler in Whanganui
New Zealanders search for lip filler more than a thousand times a month, and it is an easy treatment to misunderstand. Some people expect a dramatic change, others worry they will end up looking overdone, and many are not sure…
6 NovPukekoheNanoplasty in Pukekohe
If you spend Auckland’s humid summer months fighting frizz with a straightener, you have probably seen Nanoplasty mentioned. It has become a regular on New Zealand salon menus, and searches for it here have grown over the past year as…
6 NovPukekoheBalayage vs Highlights in Pukekohe
Soft, sun-kissed blondes that look as if they grew in that way usually start with a choice between balayage and highlights. Both lighten parts of your hair, but they are applied differently, grow out differently and need different amounts of…
6 NovPukekoheHair Extensions in Pukekohe
Hair extensions have moved a long way from the chunky bonds and heavy clip-ins many people remember. Most salon extensions today fall into three main semi-permanent methods: tape-ins, wefts and small bead-style tips. Each one attaches differently, suits a different…
6 NovAucklandCornwall Park Auckland
A free 172-hectare park and working farm in Epsom, gifted by Sir John Logan Campbell, with sheep, cattle, 8,000 trees and seasonal gardens.
6 NovPukekohe‘Pioneer’ Gun Turret and War Memorial Mercer
A revolving iron turret from the colonial gunboat Pioneer, topped by a soldier figure as Mercer’s First World War memorial beside the Waikato River.
6 NovTaurangaLower Kaituna River Fishing
The lower Kaituna River runs out of its bush gorge onto the farmland near Te Puke and reaches the sea through the Te Tumu Cut, west of Maketū. Fish & Game says rainbow and brown trout live here, and the…
6 NovRotoruaRotorua Walkway Rotorua
A 26 km network of council walkways in ten sections, linking Rotorua’s lakefront, Sulphur Bay, Kuirau Park and the Puarenga and Utuhina streams.
6 NovNapierKennedy Park Rose Gardens Napier
Kennedy Park Rose Gardens in Marewa, Napier: about 5000 roses of 500 named varieties, a 90-metre climbing rose display and blooms from October to April.
6 NovNew PlymouthPanitahi and Syme Hut Track New Plymouth
An Advanced/Expert 5 to 6 hour return climb from Dawson Falls up steep scoria to Panitahi, formerly Fanthams Peak, and Syme Hut.
6 NovNelsonMotueka Freedom Camping
Three signposted council freedom camping sites in Motueka with 71 self-contained spaces, weeknight rules at Decks Reserve and a free dump station.
6 NovChristchurchLakeside Domain Camping
Free first-in, first-served camping at Lakeside Domain on Te Waihora / Lake Ellesmere, a Selwyn council reserve suited to large vehicles.
6 NovInvercargillRakiura National Park near Invercargill
DOC’s Rakiura National Park covers 85 percent of Stewart Island/Rakiura, with kiwi, coastal forest, Māori and settler history and the Rakiura Track.
6 NovWhangāreiOne Tree Point Fishing
One Tree Point is a low sandy point on the western side of Whangārei Harbour, a few kilometres inside the entrance from Marsden Point. The harbour’s main channel swings in close along the north side of the point, while wide…
5 NovAucklandWaiatarua Reserve Auckland
A 41-hectare council reserve in Meadowbank and Remuera, built around New Zealand’s biggest urban wetland restoration, with a gravel loop, birdlife and off-leash dog areas.
5 NovPukekoheAlexandra Redoubt Tuakau
Grassed earthworks of a British redoubt built at the start of the Waikato invasion, with a memorial obelisk and historic cemetery above the Waikato River.
5 NovPalmerston NorthBlue Range to Cow Creek Hut Track Palmerston North
A 3-hour Advanced Tararua tramp from Blue Range down into the Waingawa River valley and across a swing bridge to Cow Creek Hut.
5 NovWellingtonPapatahi Crossing Wellington
An advanced DOC tramp over Papatahi (902 m) from the Ōrongorongo Valley to Western Lake Road, with bookable and basic huts on the way.
5 NovBlenheimRiverside Park Blenheim
Riverside Park on the Taylor River in central Blenheim: boardwalks, bridges, amphitheatre steps down to the water, duck feeding and picnic lawns.
5 NovDunedinAramoana Mole Fishing
The Aramoana Mole is the long rock breakwater that runs out from Aramoana village to the mouth of Otago Harbour, about 25 km from Dunedin past Port Chalmers. It is about 1,200 metres long, with open sea on one side…
5 NovDunedinLymphatic Drainage Massage in Dunedin
Lymphatic drainage massage has become one of the most searched massage treatments in New Zealand, helped along by plenty of social media videos promising instant results. Underneath the hype is a genuine technique with a long history, used in hospitals…
5 NovDunedinPregnancy Massage in Dunedin
Pregnancy changes how your body carries weight almost week by week. Your lower back takes more load, your hips loosen, your feet and ankles can swell, and sleeping comfortably gets harder. Massage is one of the simplest ways to ease…
5 NovDunedinDry Needling in Dunedin
Dry needling has moved from physio clinics into plenty of massage rooms, and it is now one of the techniques people ask about most when they book a remedial or sports treatment. The name puts some people off. The reality…
5 NovNelsonMicrobiome Testing in New Zealand
Bloating, irregular bowels, fatigue and food reactions send a lot of New Zealanders looking for answers about their gut. Microbiome testing has become a popular next step, and searches for a microbiome test in NZ keep growing. This guide explains…
5 NovNelsonWhat Is Reflexology? A Guide for Nelson
Reflexology is a popular complementary therapy in New Zealand, and an easy one to try: you keep your clothes on, you lie back, and the work happens on your feet. If you are in Nelson and wondering what a session…
5 NovNelsonColonic Hydrotherapy in Golden Bay, Near Nelson
Colonic hydrotherapy is one of the more talked-about natural health treatments, and one of the least understood. People in Nelson and Tasman often hear about it from a friend or a naturopath, then search to find out what actually happens,…
5 NovWhangāreiMarsden Point Fishing
Marsden Point is the flat sand spit that forms the southern head of the Whangārei Harbour entrance, at the northern end of Bream Bay. The point itself is industrial: the former oil refinery, now Channel Infrastructure’s fuel import terminal, covers…
5 NovAucklandTe Muri Regional Park Auckland
A walk-in regional park north of Auckland, reached across Te Muri Estuary at low tide, with coastal forest, farmland, a beach campground and a bach.
5 NovHamiltonKarioi Track Hamilton
The steeper, more scenic route up Mt Karioi near Raglan, with chains and ladders, a Raglan Harbour lookout and the 756 m summit.
5 NovTaurangaMaketū Fishing
Maketū is a seaside settlement on Okurei Point, east of Pāpāmoa in the Western Bay of Plenty, beside the Maketū Estuary, Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi. Surfcasting from its beaches and launching from its boat ramps are local favourites, and Okurei…
5 NovRotoruaLinton Park and Mangakākahi Stream Trail Rotorua
A smooth, easy council family ride along the Mangakākahi Stream from Pukehangi Road to Sunset Road, mostly downhill on the way out.
5 NovNapierClive Square and Memorial Square Napier
Clive Square and Memorial Square, central Napier: the original village green, with a lily pool, the Blythe Memorial Fountain, the Cenotaph and Tin Town history.
5 NovHastingsTainui, Tanner, Tauroa and Hikanui Reserves Havelock North
Four council reserves in the Havelock North hills with walking and mountain bike tracks, off-leash dog areas, two streams and the Hikanui Pā site.
5 NovNew PlymouthTaranaki Maunga Summit Climb New Plymouth
A demanding full-day climb from North Egmont via Tahurangi Lodge and the Lizard to the 2518 m summit, best for non-mountaineers January to April.
5 NovNelsonCascade Falls Nelson
A 1 hour 30 minute return side trip off the Abel Tasman Coast Track near Torrent Bay, steep in parts, to a waterfall in bush.
5 NovBlenheimPicton Foreshore Reserve near Blenheim
Picton’s waterfront showpiece on London Quay: a paved boulevard, sandy swimming beach, lawns, playground with water play and model railway rides.
5 NovChristchurchSelwyn River Fords Camping
Free first-in, first-served camping at Coes Ford and Chamberlains Ford, two Selwyn District Council reserves on the Selwyn River near Christchurch.
5 NovInvercargillFiordland National Park near Invercargill
New Zealand’s largest national park: 14 fiords, the country’s deepest lake, Great Walks and a long human history, with Te Anau as the gateway.
5 NovAucklandTahuna Tōrea Nature Reserve Auckland
A Glendowie nature reserve on the Tāmaki Estuary with a long sandspit, tidal lagoon, freshwater wetlands and bush tracks, and a key roost for shorebirds.
4 NovPalmerston NorthStanfield Hut to Cattle Creek Hut Track Palmerston North
A 2-hour Advanced Ruahine tramp linking Stanfield Hut and Cattle Creek Hut by river, steep bush climb and ridgeline.
4 NovChristchurchPigeon Bay Camping Ground
A back-to-basics council camping ground at Pigeon Bay on Banks Peninsula, with a sheltered beach, boat ramp and toilets but no showers.
4 NovInvercargillSandy Point Domain Invercargill
Over 2,000 hectares of beach, river, estuary and native forest 7 km west of Invercargill, with 13.5 km of tracks, playgrounds and dog exercise areas.
4 NovWhanganuiGetting a Logo Designed in Whanganui
Search for a logo designer and the first results are often logo maker apps promising a finished logo in minutes. For a Whanganui business that only needs something quick for a market stall or a Facebook page, that can be…
4 NovWhangāreiRuakākā Beach Fishing
Ruakākā Beach is the northern end of the long white-sand sweep of Bream Bay, about 30 minutes’ drive south of Whangārei city. Surfcasters fish the open beach in front of the township and the mouth of the Ruakākā River, where…
4 NovAucklandRotoroa Island
A predator-free Hauraki Gulf island run by the Rotoroa Island Trust, with takahē and kiwi, short walks, white-sand bays and Salvation Army heritage.
4 NovTaurangaBowentown Heads Fishing
Bowentown Heads guard the northern entrance to Tauranga Harbour, at the end of the long sandspit that runs south from Waihī Beach. The Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s Bowentown Domain covers the headland, with tracks from Anzac Bay to…
4 NovNapierMaggie’s Way Napier
Maggie’s Way, or Te Ara o Matareta, is a 3.5 km walkers-only Taradale pathway in Napier linking historic Ōtātara Pā with Kent Terrace.
4 NovNew PlymouthDover Route New Plymouth
An Expert 3 hr 30 min climb from Carrington Road up the exposed Dover Spur to Pouākai Trig, with views of the maunga and coast.
4 NovNelsonWhangamoa River Fishing
The Whangamoa River is a small, clear river over a rocky bed, about 30 minutes’ drive from Nelson. It holds brown trout in low numbers, generally 2 to 4 lb, and the clear water lets you spot them before you…
4 NovBlenheimMotuara Island Scenic and Historic Reserve
Motuara Island in outer Queen Charlotte Sound: a pest-free DOC bird sanctuary and rowi kiwi crèche, where Cook proclaimed sovereignty in 1770.
4 NovChristchurchOkains Bay Camping Ground
A Christchurch City Council camping ground at Okains Bay on Banks Peninsula, with tent and campervan sites, two cabins and a dump station.
4 Nov
TimaruGeraldine Military Museum
A hands-on military museum on Talbot Street, Geraldine, with rare vehicles to sit in, a Vietnam War display, German displays and an interactive trench.
4 NovDunedinTomahawk Beach Dunedin
Discover Tomahawk Beach, a wild south coast surf beach near Dunedin with sea caves, visiting wildlife and a low-tide walk to Smaills Beach.
4 NovWhangāreiUretiti Beach Fishing
Uretiti Beach is about 5 km of open sand on Bream Bay between Ruakākā and Waipū, facing almost due east. Most people reach it through the DOC Uretiti Beach Campsite off State Highway 1, and surfcasters fish straight out from…
3 NovAucklandMurphys Bush Reserve Auckland
A Flat Bush council reserve protecting mature kahikatea forest on flat land, with bush walks, a stream, birdlife and the 1877 Flat Bush School House.
3 NovHamiltonWairake Track Hamilton
The shorter, less steep route up Mt Karioi near Raglan: an advanced 2–3 hour tramp across farmland and through coastal forest.
3 NovTaurangaMoturiki Island Fishing
Moturiki Island, also called Leisure Island, sits at the end of Mount Maunganui’s Main Beach, joined to the shore by a man-made land bridge. A short, well-marked track leads out to rocky points on the open-coast side, where NZ Fishing…
3 NovRotoruaMokopuna Trail and Tītokorangi Loop Rotorua
A 3.2 km gravel family loop from the Redwoods i-SITE that suits balance bikes, plus the 8.5 km Tītokorangi Loop for the next step.
3 NovNew PlymouthLake Dive Tracks New Plymouth
Advanced upper and lower tracks from Dawson Falls to Mangōraukawa / Lake Dive beneath the Beehive, 3 to 4 hours each way.
3 NovPalmerston NorthSouth Ohau Hut via Waiopehu and Dora Ridge Palmerston North
A 7–8 hour Advanced Tararua tramp from Poads Road near Levin over Waiopehu and Twin Peak, along Dora Ridge to South Ohau Hut.
3 NovWellingtonMt Matthews Wellington
A tough DOC tramp from Catchpool Valley to the 941 m summit of Mt Matthews, the highest Remutaka peak, with views over Wellington Harbour.
3 NovBlenheimKaipupu Point Scenic Reserve near Blenheim
Kaipūpū Sanctuary on Kaipupu Point, a fenced predator-free reserve ten minutes by water from Picton, with blue penguins, native forest and a loop track.
3 NovTimaruKyle Park Transport Museum Seadown
A volunteer-run museum at Seadown near Timaru with two working traction engines, steam machinery, vintage tractors, farm gear and classic trucks.
3 NovInvercargillMores Scenic Reserve near Invercargill
Howells Hill above Riverton/Aparima, with four bush and coastal tracks, a tree-top lookout platform and views over Foveaux Strait towards Stewart Island.
3 NovWhanganuiBrand Guidelines in Whanganui
A logo is often the first piece of branding a Whanganui business pays for, and for a while it is enough. Then the business grows. A second staff member starts making social posts, the signwriter asks for the exact colour,…
3 NovWhanganuiWebflow vs WordPress in Whanganui
Most Whanganui businesses that commission a new website end up choosing between two platforms, often without realising a choice is being made. WordPress runs a large share of the sites you already know, from trade businesses to community trusts. Webflow…
3 NovAucklandMeola Reef Reserve Auckland
Meola Reef Reserve (Te Tokaroa) in Western Springs: a lava reef in the Waitematā Harbour, mangroves, bush, gravel paths and a fenced off-leash dog park.
3 NovNapierLake Tūtira Camping Napier
Two campsites at Lake Tūtira north of Napier: DOC’s free year-round site at the park gateway and the regional council’s paid paddock campground.
3 NovHastingsOpouahi Scenic Reserve near Hastings
A bush-fringed lake reserve on Pohokura Road with a 40-minute lake loop, a fenced kiwi crèche, a carved whare waka and easily seen birdlife.
3 NovWhanganuiMatipo Park Whanganui
Matipo Park, gifted to Whanganui in 1913: a reserve of native and exotic trees with walking and mountain bike tracks, reached from the Westmere Walkway.
3 NovNelsonLake Rotoiti Fishing
Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park is a deep, clear lake ringed by forest-covered mountains, with the village of St Arnaud on its shore. It is not the Rotorua lake of the same name. Lake Rotoiti holds a self-sustaining…
3 NovBlenheimBlumine Island Scenic Reserve near Blenheim
Pest-free Blumine Island (Ōruawairua) in Queen Charlotte Sound: rare tīeke and parakeets, Second World War gun emplacements and a DOC campsite reached by boat.
3 NovChristchurchAkaroa Freedom Camping Area
The only freedom camping in Akaroa: 18 marked spaces at the boat park for certified self-contained vehicles, two nights in any 30 days.
3 NovTimaruTe Manunui Rock Art Site Maungati
A Category 1 Māori rock art shelter at Maungati, inland from Timaru, with birdman and fish drawings that Ngāi Tahu regard as a taonga.
3 NovDunedinGovernment Track Dunedin
A 4 hr 30 min advanced walking and biking track on an old goldfields pack track through beech forest in the Waipori Valley.
3 NovWhangāreiWaipū Cove Fishing
Waipū Cove is a sandy surf beach on Bream Bay, about 47 km south of Whangārei city, with a small tidal river and rocky outcrops at its southern end. Surfcasters fish the open beach, and anglers who want rock under…
2 NovAucklandLloyd Elsmore Park Auckland
Lloyd Elsmore Park in Pakuranga: sports fields, two playgrounds, skate facilities, a pool with splash pad, Howick Historical Village and Howick Little Theatre.
2 NovTaurangaPilot Bay Fishing
Pilot Bay, Waikorire, is the sheltered harbour beach on the inside of the Mount Maunganui isthmus, running from the foot of Mauao to Salisbury Avenue. NZ Fishing World reports flounder and trevally here, best at high tide with berley. The…
2 NovRotoruaTe Pūtake o Tawa Rotorua
Whakarewarewa Forest’s second mountain bike hub, on the road to Lake Tikitapu, with Tūhourangi taonga, bike hire and a Forest Loop start.
2 NovNew PlymouthWaingongoro Hut Tracks New Plymouth
Advanced 1 hr 30 min tracks from Dawson Falls or East Egmont through goblin forest and over a 24 m swing bridge to Waingongoro Hut.
2 NovPalmerston NorthA-Frame Hut and Takapari Road Track Palmerston North
A steep 2.5-hour Ruahine climb from Tamaki West Road end near Dannevirke, through podocarp and leatherwood to the two-bunk A-Frame Hut.
2 NovNelsonRiuwaka River Fishing
The Riuwaka River, long spelt Riwaka, is a small, clear brown trout river that reaches Tasman Bay at Riwaka, just north of Motueka. It is a separate river from the Motueka. Its north branch rises at the Riuwaka Resurgence below…
2 NovChristchurchDevils Punchbowl Falls Christchurch
A waterfall DOC gives as 131 m high, in Arthur’s Pass National Park, reached on a 1-hour return DOC track with more than 400 steps.
2 NovTimaruShort Walks in Timaru and South Canterbury
Sixteen Timaru and South Canterbury walks of about an hour or less in all, from Caroline Bay and Dashing Rocks to Peel Forest and Waimate.
2 NovInvercargillGreenpoint Recreation Reserve near Invercargill
A council coastal reserve at Greenpoint on Bluff Harbour, with regenerating native vegetation, harbour views and scuttled ship wrecks in Shipwreck Bay at low tide.
2 NovAucklandHarbourview – Orangihina Park Auckland
An 85-hectare coastal park on Te Atatū Peninsula with wetlands for fernbird and godwit, harbour views, middens, a brick villa and WWII gun emplacements.
2 NovHamiltonKakepuku Track Hamilton
A 2–3 hour return climb in Kakepuku Historic Reserve through crater forest to a lookout tower on the 449 m summit of an old volcano.
2 NovNapierAhuriri Estuary Fishing
The Ahuriri Estuary, Te Whanganui-ā-Orotu, is the long, narrow estuary behind Napier’s Inner Harbour, reached from Humber Street and Pandora Road. Napier City Council’s estuary masterplan describes the lower estuary as a known yellowbelly flounder nursery, and fishing from the…
2 NovNew PlymouthMaketawa Hut Circuit New Plymouth
An Advanced 3-hour return circuit from North Egmont to Maketawa Hut via native forest or Translator Road, with fantastic views of Taranaki Maunga.
2 NovWhanganuiHipango Park Whanganui
Hipango Park is a Whanganui River reserve reached only by boat, with a jetty, shelter, toilets and barbecues for kayakers and river day trips.
2 NovWellingtonWhakanui Track Wellington
An advanced DOC tramping track from Wainuiomata to the Ōrongorongo River through podocarp forest, with Remutaka Range views from around 700 m.
2 NovBlenheimWhale Trail Blenheim
The Whale Trail around Blenheim: the 14.6 km Wairau section from Tuamarino into town and the 32.4 km Awatere section over Redwood Pass to Seddon.
2 NovChristchurchDog Stream Waterfall Christchurch
A 41 m waterfall in Hanmer Forest Park, reached on DOC’s Waterfall Track from Mullans Road in about 1 hour 30 minutes one way.
2 NovTimaruWheelchair and Pushchair Friendly Walks in Timaru and South Canterbury
Nine Timaru and South Canterbury walks rated by their managers for wheelchairs or strollers, from Caroline Bay and Centennial Park to Geraldine and Peel Forest.
2 NovAucklandReformer Pilates for Beginners in Auckland
Reformer Pilates has become one of the most popular ways to train in Auckland, but the machines can look intimidating the first time you walk into a studio. A reformer is a sliding carriage on rails, held back by springs,…
2 NovWhangāreiOcean Beach Fishing
Ocean Beach is the surf beach at the very end of the road on Whangārei Heads, running north from the foot of Bream Head (Te Whara) and facing the open Pacific. Local anglers name it as one of the few…
2 NovTaurangaLake McLaren Fishing
Lake McLaren is the winding hydro lake in McLaren Falls Park, about ten minutes’ drive from Tauranga. Fish & Game Eastern stocks it with rainbow and brown trout, and its shallow, weedy edges and many small bays let you fish…
2 NovRotoruaWaipā Mountain Bike Hub Rotorua
The main mountain bike entrance to Whakarewarewa Forest, with bike hire, showers and food, plus the Kids’ Loop, Tahi, Creek and Dipper.
2 NovTaupōTaupō Street Art Trail
A self-guided walk through Taupō’s town centre laneways to more than 80 murals from Graffiato, New Zealand’s longest-running street art festival.
2 NovHastingsBoundary Stream Mainland Island near Hastings
DOC’s mainland island on the Maungaharuru Range above Tūtira, where predator control since 1996 has brought back kōkako, kiwi, kākā and robins.
2 NovPalmerston NorthRokaiwhana Stream Walk Palmerston North
A 2-hour return forest walk from Tamaki Road end near Dannevirke, through low-level bush in Eastern Ruahine Forest Park.
2 NovNelsonMaitai River Fishing
The Maitai River, also known as the Mahitahi or Maitahi, runs out of the Maitai Valley and through the middle of Nelson to the sea. It holds small numbers of brown trout, mostly under 2 lb, and the best fishing…
2 NovBlenheimPicton Skate Park near Blenheim
A 1500 square metre streetscape-themed skate park in Picton’s Auckland Street Reserve, refurbished with a new half-pipe and ramps for young skaters.
2 NovChristchurchRyde Falls Christchurch
A five-tier waterfall in Oxford Forest: 1 to 2 hours one way from View Hill, or 3 hours one way from Coopers Creek.
2 NovDunedinHeyward Point Track Dunedin
A 2-hour advanced cliff-top track near Aramoana through farmland and bush, with views over the Otago Harbour entrance and Taiaroa Head.
2 NovInvercargillDonovan Park Invercargill
A 79-hectare council park on Invercargill’s northern edge that is still part working farm, with a duck pond and off-lead dog exercise.
2 NovWhangāreiMorepork Track Whangārei
An advanced DOC track along an old logging road through Kaiikanui Forest to a 218 m high point with views to the Poor Knights Islands.
2 NovHamiltonHihikiwi Track Hamilton
An advanced Te Araroa tramp from Pirongia West Road to Hihikiwi Lookout, Pāhautea Hut and the Pirongia summit, with views over the west coast harbours.
2 NovTaurangaPylon Peak Summit Loop Tauranga
A strenuous 6–7 hour climb from the Waiorongomai Valley to Pylon Peak, past old power pylons, with views of the Hauraki Plains and Waikato.
2 NovTaupōTe Ātea Taupō
A lakefront gathering space in Taupō with a tōtara pou by master carver Delani Brown and thirteen steel pou for the lake’s rivers.
2 NovNapierAropaoanui River Fishing
The Aropaoanui River is a small river that reaches Hawke Bay about 25 km north of Napier, beyond Tangoio and Waipātiki. Fish & Game describes about 4 km through a forestry valley and about 3 km across flat farmland to…
2 NovNew PlymouthTahurangi Translator Tower Round Trip New Plymouth
A 4-hour Advanced climb from North Egmont up the Summit Track to a viewpoint beside the Tahurangi translator tower, with an alpine loop option.
2 NovBlenheimWhites Bay and Mount Robertson Mountain Biking Blenheim
DOC’s Mount Robertson Loop above Whites Bay: a 7.1 km grade 3 to 4 technical loop, with a summit route and expert Pukaka Valley descent.
2 NovChristchurchAshley Gorge Waterfall Christchurch
A 2-hour return DOC track from Williams Flat in Ashley Gorge Reserve, near Oxford, climbing 140 m to a 15 m moss-covered waterfall.
2 NovInvercargillFortrose Freedom Camping
Two Southland District Council freedom camping sites at Fortrose: a year-round green site and a self-contained site open August to November.
2 NovPukekoheWaiuku Skatepark near Pukekohe
Waiuku Skatepark in Massey Park pairs a mini ramp bowl with a 2018 extension of rails, ledges and quarterpipes, built with the Waiuku Lions.
2 NovTaupōShort Walks Around Taupō, Tongariro and Pureora
Eight walks around Taupō of an hour or less, from Huka Falls and Craters of the Moon to Pureora Forest Park and Tongariro National Park.
2 NovNew PlymouthHolly Hut Track New Plymouth
An Advanced 3 to 4 hour tramp from North Egmont across Taranaki Maunga, past the Dieffenbach Cliffs and Boomerang Slip, to Holly Hut.
2 NovWhanganuiCastlecliff Domain Whanganui
Castlecliff Domain on Rangiora Street, Whanganui: a beachside council reserve with a rope climbing playground, half court, skate park, barbecues and toilets.
2 NovPalmerston NorthRoaring Stag Hut to Cattle Ridge Track Palmerston North
A short but very steep 2-hour Tararua climb from Roaring Stag Hut to Cattle Ridge Hut, with wide views over the northern Wairarapa.
2 NovNelsonWaimea River Fishing
The Waimea River runs across the Waimea Plains past Brightwater and Appleby to the Waimea Inlet, about 15 minutes’ drive from Nelson. It holds brown trout averaging about 2 lb, with bigger fish upstream and large sea-run trout coming into…
2 NovChristchurchHinewai Reserve Waterfalls Christchurch
Hinewai Reserve near Akaroa has more than 50 waterfalls, including 30 m Whakamate Falls, on free walking tracks open to everyone on foot.
2 NovWhangāreiNorthern Tangihua Track Whangārei
An advanced DOC tramping route along the Tangihua range from the Te Haua Uru junction to Tangihua Hut, an eight-bunk standard hut.
1 NovTaurangaNorth-South Track Tauranga
A 5–7 day expert tramp along the Kaimai Range from Karangahake Gorge to the Kaimai Summit, using huts, campsites and rugged unmarked routes.
1 NovRotoruaWhakarewarewa Forest Mountain Biking Rotorua
A guide to riding Whakarewarewa Forest: free entry, trails from Grade 1 to 6, the Waipā and Te Pūtake o Tawa hubs, and felling closures.
1 NovWellingtonMcKerrow Track Wellington
An advanced DOC tramp to the 706 m summit of Mt McKerrow in Remutaka Forest Park, with glimpses of Wainuiomata, the Hutt Valley and Wellington.
1 NovNelsonMāpua Wharf Fishing
Māpua Wharf sits at the end of Aranui Road in Māpua, on the narrow, fast-flowing channel between the village and the western tip of Moturoa / Rabbit Island. Children fish from it, and the old cool-store buildings behind it are…
1 NovBlenheimThe Link Pathway Picton
Te Ara Tūhono, The Link Pathway: a volunteer-built walking and mountain bike track joining Picton, Anakiwa, the Queen Charlotte Track and Havelock.
1 NovChristchurchNewton’s Waterfall Christchurch
A 15-minute, 300 m bush track from the end of Aylmers Valley Road in Akaroa to the foot of Newton’s Waterfall in Misty Peaks Reserve.
1 NovTimaruKakahu Bush Scenic Reserve near Timaru
A DOC scenic reserve near Geraldine with one of Canterbury’s largest lowland podocarp forest remnants, limestone pinnacles, long-tailed bats and two walks.
1 NovDunedinChalkies Track Dunedin
A 3 hr 30 min advanced loop from Silverstream Valley Road with stream crossings and a steep climb to Powder Hill for Silverpeaks views.
1 NovInvercargillDunsdale Camping Area Invercargill
Free Southland District Council camping in Dunsdale Recreation Reserve, open to tents outside winter, with a three-day limit and a public toilet.
1 NovHamiltonTe Tapui Loop Track Hamilton
A 3–4 hour advanced loop in Te Tapui Scenic Reserve near Morrinsville, climbing through bush to a summit lookout tower with Kaimai views.
1 Nov
GisborneMahia Peninsula Scenic Reserve
DOC’s 374-hectare Mahia Peninsula Scenic Reserve on Kinikini Road: tawa and kohekohe forest, a 3.5 km loop to Te Kapu trig and Wairoa coast views.
1 NovNapierEsk River Fishing
The Esk River, Te Hukawai-o-Hinganga, runs 43 km from the Maungaharuru Range down the Esk Valley to Hawke Bay north of Napier. Fish & Game says it holds healthy numbers of trout, mostly rainbows averaging about 1 kg and usually…
1 NovHastingsBalls Clearing Scenic Reserve near Hastings
A DOC scenic reserve near Puketitiri protecting unmilled rimu, mataī, miro and kahikatea forest, with short walks, picnic shelters and long-tailed bat colonies.
1 NovNew PlymouthNgatoro Loop Track New Plymouth
A 1-hour Advanced loop from North Egmont into a valley of fern and moss covered goblin forest, with steep steps and a stream crossing.
1 NovWhanganuiThree Rivers Ride Whanganui
A 60 km Heartland Ride on quiet sealed country roads between Whanganui and Hunterville, via Durie Hill, Fordell and the Turakina Valley.
1 NovPalmerston NorthRoaring Stag Track Palmerston North
An Advanced 4-hour Tararua tramp from Putara Road near Eketāhuna, over a ridge to Roaring Stag Hut beside the Ruamahanga River.
1 NovBlenheimVictoria Domain Mountain Biking Picton
Mountain biking on Picton’s 200 ha Victoria Domain: 13 council-listed trails from easy to advanced, starting near the ferry, plus the Kanuka Trail.
1 NovWhangāreiTe Haua Uru Track Whangārei
A DOC track in Tangihua Forest from Lions Lodge to a kauri grove viewing platform and on up to the main ridge for experienced trampers.
1 NovTaurangaTui Mine Track Tauranga
An advanced descent from the summit of Mount Te Aroha past the historic Tui Mine to the Mokena Geyser in Te Aroha Domain.
1 NovRotoruaLake Rerewhakaaitu Rotorua
Discover Lake Rerewhakaaitu, a peaceful lake below Mount Tarawera with summer swimming, lakeside camping, picnic spots and rare birdlife.
1 NovTaupōPureora Forest Park near Taupō
Pureora Forest Park west of Lake Taupō: podocarp forest, the Forest Tower, old logging tramways and the treetop protest that helped end logging there.
1 NovNelsonTāhunanui Beach Fishing
Tāhunanui Beach is Nelson’s closest beach, a 1.75 km stretch of sand about five minutes’ drive from the city. Its western end, which locals call the Back Beach or dog beach, is where people go surfcasting and kitesurfing, away from…
1 NovTimaruTalbot Forest Scenic Reserve near Timaru
A small DOC reserve in Geraldine protecting rare podocarp forest on an ancient lava flow, with four short tracks and an 800-year-old tōtara.
1 NovInvercargillThornbury Camping Area Invercargill
A free Southland District Council camping area by the Thornbury bridge where tents and non-self-contained campers can stay up to 28 days a year.
1 NovWhangāreiHorokaka Track Whangārei
A challenging DOC tramping track in Tangihua Forest, climbing an old logging road and rough ridge to the Horokaka Transmitter and its views.
1 NovPukekoheHūnua Traverse Pukekohe
A grade 4 Heartland Ride of about 45 km from Clevedon to Kaiaua over the Hūnua Ranges, with a campground at Upper Mangatāwhiri Dam.
1 NovTaurangaDaly’s Clearing Loop Track Tauranga
A 4-hour advanced Kaimai loop from Franklin Road near Waikino through nīkau groves to Daly’s Clearing Hut and back down the Waitawheta tramway.
1 NovTaupōTongariro National Park near Taupō
New Zealand’s oldest national park, south of Lake Taupō: three sacred volcanoes, the 1887 tuku by Ngāti Tūwharetoa, dual World Heritage status and native wildlife.
1 NovGisborneAdventure Playground Gisborne
Gisborne’s Adventure Playground spreads eight play areas, a duck lake and a junior cycle park across a reserve opposite the beach on Centennial Marine Drive.
1 NovNapierTūtaekuri River Fishing
The Tūtaekuri River rises in the Kaweka Ranges and crosses the Heretaunga Plains to reach the sea just south of Napier, where the Ngaruroro and Clive join it. Fish & Game describes extensive public riverbed access from the sea to…
1 NovNew PlymouthKōkōwai Track Round Trip New Plymouth
A 6-hour Advanced round trip from North Egmont up the Holly Hut Track past the Boomerang Slip, returning through forest on the Kōkōwai Track.
1 NovPalmerston NorthMangahao Track Palmerston North
An Advanced 11.4 km river tramp up the Mangahao Valley in the Tararua Forest Park, from the Upper No 1 Reservoir to Mangahao Flats Hut.
1 NovWellingtonClay Ridge Track Wellington
An advanced DOC climb in Remutaka Forest Park from Clay Forks to the 706 m summit of Mt McKerrow, with harbour views.
1 NovBlenheimEsson’s Valley Tracks Picton
Two moderate bush walks from Garden Terrace in Picton to Humphries Dam and Barnes Dam, with picnic tables and glowworms at night.
1 NovDunedinSutton Salt Lake Walk Dunedin
An easy self-guided loop near Middlemarch to Sutton Salt Lake, which DOC describes as New Zealand’s only inland salt lake.
1 NovHamiltonBell Track Hamilton
An advanced Pirongia tramp from the Nikau Walk past Kaniwhaniwha Caves and the Cone to Pāhautea Hut. Check DOC for its status before you go.
1 NovHastingsHawke’s Bay Trails Hastings
Nearly 200 km of mostly flat, off-road Great Ride trails around Hastings and Napier, grouped into the Water, Wineries and Landscapes rides.
1 NovNew PlymouthMaude Track to Mangakotukutuku Falls New Plymouth
An Advanced 1 hr 30 min tramp from Maude Road across farmland and up a Pouākai Range ridge through old forest to Mangakotukutuku Falls.
1 NovWhanganuiThat Place MTB Park Whanganui
A 50 ha private mountain bike park 30 minutes north of Whanganui, with Grade 2 to 6 trails, day passes, inductions, shuttles and camping.
1 NovBlenheimPicton to Waikawa Track Picton
A shared walking and cycling track from the Picton Marina to the Waikawa Marina, with an easy route via Endeavour Park or a higher one.
1 NovTimaruMt Nimrod Track Timaru
An advanced 3 km loop in Mt Nimrod Scenic Reserve with coastal views, a stream ford and a 15 m waterfall through a rock arch.
1 NovInvercargillThe Chasm Invercargill
A 20-minute Easiest-grade walk through native bush to the Cleddau River, where water has carved the rock into sculpted shapes and basins.
1 NovWhangāreiMain Ridge Track Whangārei
A rough, advanced DOC tramping route along the Tangihua Forest main ridge, linking the Horokaka and Te Haua Uru tracks in a 9-hour loop.
31 OctTaurangaHomunga Bay Track Tauranga
An advanced coastal track in Orokawa Scenic Reserve to Homunga Bay, north of Waihī Beach. Check DOC for section closures before you go.
31 OctRotoruaWhirinaki Waterfall Rotorua
An easy 3 hr 30 min DOC loop through podocarp forest beside the Whirinaki River to a waterfall with picnic tables and a toilet.
31 OctTaupōKaimanawa Forest Park near Taupō
Kaimanawa Forest Park south-east of Lake Taupō: DOC beech forest and tussock tops, four river catchments, backcountry huts, giant land snails, history and road ends.
31 OctGisborneLavenham Road Circuit Gisborne
An easy, sealed 38 km road loop from the Bushmere Arms through Pātūtahi, crossing the Waipaoa River twice and passing three marae.
31 OctNapierBay View and Whirinaki Fishing
Bay View and Whirinaki share the long open beach either side of the Esk River mouth, about 10 km north of Napier. Bay View, to the south, is a Napier suburb strung along the shore beside SH2, and Whirinaki, to…
31 OctPalmerston NorthKumeti Road End Tramping Tracks Palmerston North
Advanced tramps from Kumeti Road near Dannevirke to Kiritaki Hut or across the southern Ruahine Range to Opawe Road.
31 OctBlenheimTirohanga Track Picton
A steep, moderate Picton bush track from Garden Terrace or Newgate Street to Hilltop View, with views over Picton, Waikawa and the Sounds.
31 OctInvercargillLake Marian Falls Invercargill
An easy 10-minute walk over a swing bridge to a series of waterfalls on Marian Creek, where the Lake Marian Track begins.
31 OctWhangāreiŌpua Kauri Walk
A short DOC walk near Ōpua, partly on boardwalk, through kauri groves to an elevated lookout over a valley of young and ancient kauri.
31 OctTaupōTongariro River Delta Taupō
The Tongariro River delta at Lake Taupō’s southern end: a DOC wetland of channels and lagoons with at least 48 bird species, reached by kayak.
31 OctNew PlymouthBoars Head Mine Track New Plymouth
An Advanced Kaitake Range tramping track from Weld Road near Oakura to the old Boars Head mine. Check DOC for its status before you go.
31 OctWhanganuiTe Tuaiwi Shared Pathway Whanganui
A 2.3 km shared walking and cycling path along Whanganui’s central rail corridor, linking the City Bridge and Taupō Quay to London Street.
31 OctTimaruCentral South Trail Timaru
A community-built cycle trail from Washdyke through Pleasant Point to Cave, with three more open sections around Fairlie, Kimbell and Lake Tekapo.
31 OctDunedinHawksbury Lagoon and Beach Walk Dunedin
An easy 1 hr 30 min loop along the beach and around Hawksbury Lagoon in Waikouaiti, a wildlife refuge crossed by causeways.
31 OctHamiltonMahaukura Track Hamilton
An advanced tramp in Pirongia Forest Park from Grey Road past Wharauroa and Mahaukura lookouts to the summit. Check DOC for its status.
31 OctTaurangaWaipapa Track to Waitawheta Hut Tauranga
A 3-hour advanced Kaimai tramp from the Waiorongomai Saddle along the Crimson Thread ridge and down to Waitawheta Hut.
31 OctRotoruaLake Ōkaro Fishing
Lake Ōkaro is a small lake south-east of Rotorua, off Waimangu Road, with a council reserve, boat ramp, toilets and camping on its shore. It holds rainbow trout and is open all year to fly and spin fishing, and its…
31 OctGisborneTūranganui-a-Kiwa Winery Trail Gisborne
A flat 39 km loop from the Gisborne i-SITE on country roads, the Waipaoa stop bank and the Oneroa Cycleway, passing two wineries.
31 OctNapierWestshore Beach Fishing
Westshore Beach is on Napier’s northern shore, just north of the city centre, with the Westshore Beach Reserve on Ferguson Avenue at its heart. Hawke’s Bay Tourism lists fishing alongside swimming, surfing and boating here, and the beach is generally…
31 OctPalmerston NorthMangahao Makahika Track Palmerston North
A 13 km one-way Te Araroa tramp through the Tararua Forest Park from Mangahao Road to Levin, with ridge views to Kāpiti.
31 OctWellingtonCattle Ridge Track Wellington
An advanced DOC ridge track in Remutaka Forest Park linking the Butcher and Ōrongorongo tracks, with outstanding views of the Remutaka Range.
31 OctBlenheimSnout Track Picton
A moderate Picton walk along Victoria Domain to the Queen Charlotte View lookout and Snout Head, with views over Queen Charlotte Sound and Waikawa Bay.
31 OctInvercargillHumboldt Falls Invercargill
An easy 30-minute rainforest walk at the end of the Hollyford Road to a lookout over Humboldt Falls, 275 m high, in Fiordland National Park.
31 OctPukekoheHūnua Ranges Camping Pukekohe
Auckland Council’s seven bookable camping spots in Hūnua Ranges Regional Park: a drive-in campground, four walk-in tent sites and two self-contained parking areas.
31 OctNothing new from that city in the last while. Try another city or all of New Zealand.