Travel & Tourism

Taupō turned on another stunning Monday; perfect for our walk along a section of lake shore and the Waitahanui River. 

Tongariro River Rafting is a finalist in two categories of the 2025 New Zealand Tourism Awards.

Sunny faced daffodils nodded a cheery welcome to us, and to the first day of spring, as we arrived at the Rotorua lakefront.

Coffee, kai, jobs and another Ball Blaster is coming to Lake Taupō Hole in One Challenge.

If we were eggs, we would have been cracked and scrambled by the time we arrived at the River Road carpark in the Whirinaki Te Pua-a- Tāne Conservation Park.  

A $750,000 dredging operation in the privately owned Kinloch Marina is due for completion in September.

Foreign visitors will be charged a fee of $20-$40 to walk the Tongariro Crossing and three other popular New Zealand places.

The accelerated roadworks project between Waiouru and Tīrau will start again on September 1 but NZTA Waka Kotahi says there will not be any more 24/7 road closures.

The establishment of the 78,000 hectare Pureora Forest Park has long been regarded as a hero story in New Zealand’s conservation history.

Sitting on the edge of a plane door, 5km in the air, with a guy called Gareth strapped to my back, I’m thinking ‘How the flying fox did I get myself into this situation?’

Another beautiful Monday, how fortunate we have been with the weather.

Tūroa Ski Area is opening the High Noon Express chairlift this Saturday, marking the first weekend of the 2025 ski season with top-to-bottom skiing on Mt Ruapehu.

Rainbow Crater, Sulphur Crystal Cliffs, the Lagoon, Sauron’s Eye, Miner’s Lament all names oozing drama and colour.

The Department of Conservation is reminding four-wheel drive owners that the 42 Traverse is off-limits over winter to protect the track.

Today we walked in New Zealand’s largest mainland ecological island, an area protected by 47 kilometers of pest proof fencing situated on Maungatautari.

Life is a series of changing seasons and Matariki and the winter solstice is a perfect time to remember those and what has passed, celebrate what we have and reflect on the future.

Purchasing fishing licences for the Taupō Trout Fishery is now under a new licence sales system managed by the Department of Conservation.

The Tongariro Northern Circuit as a multi-day Great Walk loop is out of action over the 2025-26 season to make way for construction of a new Oturere Hut.

Another blue-sky Monday. How fortunate we were especially with the huge downpour on Sunday night and meteorological winter only weeks away.

A pair of Taupō women could best be described as active relaxers when they head overseas on holiday.

Taupō Motorsport Park’s Winter Driving Experience instructor Andrew Waite has all the tips when it comes to winter driving.

Rāhina dawned, chilly, crisp and clear.

A Taupō family of six has walked the length of the country along the Te Araroa trail, homeschooling all the way, having never done an overnight hike before.

Whakapapa Holdings Ltd has plans to “regrow” the popularity of snow sports after finally obtaining a concession to operate the ski field on Mt Ruapehu.

Whakaipo Lodge has been recognised in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best for 2025.

Most people are familiar with the dangers birds pose to aircraft but in rural airports like Taupō, ground-based wildlife can also be problematic.

Despite dire forecasts of rain an optimistic crowd of walkers set off for the Ohaaki Wetlands.

The Department of Conservation’s Director-General, Penny Nelson, has granted Whakapapa Holdings Limited (WHL) a 10-year concession to operate Whakapapa ski field.

This Rāhina we walked a medley of short, easy trails in the Lake Ōkataina Scenic Reserve.

He may bear the name of a famous explorer, but Peter Cook (55) is fairly laid back about his own expeditions.