Central Otago in summer is hot, relaxing, historically interesting, wonderfully scenic and full of activities, and most of those features continue into autumn. Queenstown was lively over the summer months, but nothing like its heady days when the place was packed with international visitors and Kiwis felt alienated by the crowds and the high prices. Autumn is when … [Read more...] about Why there’s never been a better time to check out the charms of Central Otago
Accommodation
‘An authentic Kiwi experience’: Reflections of a campervan virgin
At just past midday on a sunny Auckland Sunday, I climbed into the driver’s seat of a Maui campervan at their depot and pointed my turtle, as I called my new home, down Manu Tapu Drive and onto SH20 and then SH1 and SH 2 heading for Waihi Beach. Eight days later at a bit before midday on another sunny Auckland Sunday, I returned the van having driven 1179km, having spent … [Read more...] about ‘An authentic Kiwi experience’: Reflections of a campervan virgin
Let’s go to a holiday park this summer
Families, couples, and the few remaining international visitors still in New Zealand are flocking to holiday parks around the country to take advantage of reasonably priced accommodation in attractive scenic areas. At the Foxton Beach Holiday Park, owner Uwe Kroll told me his customer profile pre-Covid was 80:20 domestic - international. “It's Kiwis only now”. A migrant from … [Read more...] about Let’s go to a holiday park this summer
Whangamata a feast of beach delights
Whangamata is my favourite beach resort, mainly because during the summer months it combines reliable weather with good swimming and there are enough shops and other attractions to hold the interest of visitors and holidaymakers. The Maori name 'vVhangamatii.' comes from the words 'whanga' which means bay, and 'mata', that means a hard stone, referring to the obsidian (or … [Read more...] about Whangamata a feast of beach delights