Leaving Hobbiton behind to the small coastal area known as the Coromandel. We stopped at Paeroa, home of the giant L&P bottle – L&P being New Zealand’s answer to Iron Bru on the popularity stakes, but lemon in flavour. Unfortunately the giant bottle that is meant to celebrate the local drink is now a reminder of… Read More The Coromandel
No tour of New Zealand could be complete without a visit to The Shire. The success of the first LOTR film meant set dismantling was stopped and the farmers whose land it was started up a new venture of guided tours. When The Shire was rebuilt for the Hobbit movies it was with one eye… Read More The road goes ever on and on..
There are five great day walks which are considered “must dos” when in New Zealand. The most popular one is the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, the photos of which are splashed across nearly every walking brochure and blog you’ll come across. We had heard it’s a bit like doing a pilgrimage there are so many people… Read More The Way of the Kiwis
We took the mountain drive to Rotorua from Napier, stopping briefly at the tiniest town, which proved to be two roads and the shops and pub were all closed, being owned by the same person who had gone on holiday. By the time we got to our campsite the rain was just starting & we… Read More The Hot Earth
Despite leaving Wellington at peak hour there was very little traffic and we enjoyed a nice pub lunch in the town of Martinborough. This cutesy town is an emerging wine region in itself but we didn’t do any wine tourism except for sampling a glass from a local vineyard at lunch. On the way into… Read More Art Deco by the glass
After three hours and relatively flat conditions the ferry ride from Picton to Wellington was done and we were once again on the North Island. There are no campsites downtown in New Zealand cities (unsurprisingly) and rather than check-in at the local YHA as per usual, we cashed in a few loyalty points I had… Read More The Windy City
Leaving Jackson’s retreat, our lovely independent campsite. We left Arthur’s Pass behind and headed for the West coast. It was another lovely drive with multiple viewpoints of rocky outcrops going out into the Tasman Sea. Arriving at Punakaiki, being a well renown spot meant that parking spaces were at a bit of a premium. The… Read More Pancakes & (more) Wine
From Dunedin we drove along the coast an hour north to the Moeraki boulders. We knew in advance that the tide times were not in our favour but there was still coachload of tourists competing for photographs. We stopped for a picnic lunch in the attractive Timaru botanical gardens. Nearby stands the statue of Phar… Read More Arthurs Pass
Dunedin is known as the Edinburgh of the South and in some of the architecture it’s possible to make the leap. The railway station is a glorious Edwardian building across from the law courts. Of course the street art is a fairly modern addition, of which there are many examples. We took in the Toitu… Read More Penguins on the Otago Penisula
Bluff is the oldest European town in New Zealand having been continuously settled since 1824 and it was also our first destination in The Catlins. We came south to The Catlins chasing photographs but unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate but we had a great time nonetheless and I didn’t have to get so early so… Read More The Catlins
The Ottners 