Exploring the Magic of the Bridal Veil Falls, New Zealand
One of the many attractions of New Zealand is its scenery and natural wonders, including more than 1500 waterfalls. Some of these waterfalls are transient, only appearing after heavy rain. Not so the Bridal Veil Falls (also known as the Waireinga Falls), in the...
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Exploring the Gold Rush Era in Arrowtown, New Zealand
Many people visit Arrowtown for the walking and cycle trails. The town is surrounded by unspoilt countryside, and it is a lot less crowded than nearby Queenstown. But I was here for the history. I wanted to walk the streets and imagine that I was back in the gold rush...
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Street Art and More – An Art Lover’s Guide to Wellington
Wellington is a perfect destination for art lovers. The streets are full of sculptures and installations. There is Art Deco architecture, and graffiti as you’ve never seen it before. There are murals in public buildings and, of course, there are the galleries and...
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History, Architecture… and Shopping: The Old Bank Arcade, Wellington
Banks were once grand city buildings, their splendid halls and ornate architecture attesting to their wealth. But today much banking is done online and these buildings are more likely to house bars or restaurants. Or occasionally shopping centres. Like Wellington’s...
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The Art Deco Buildings of Napier, New Zealand
The town was full of vintage cars and people in 1930s dress, the start of the annual Art Deco Festival. Napier, on New Zealand’s North Island, is the ideal place for such a festival. It is a unique place, a whole city of Art Deco architecture. Rebuilding Napier The...
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Hot Springs and Rainbow Rocks at the Waiotapu Thermal Park
One of the consequences of New Zealand’s geothermal activity is an abundance of hot springs. Some of these are now spas, visited for their therapeutic and health giving properties. Others, like Whakarewarewa, are centuries’ old Maori settlements. But Waiotapu, 27 km...
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Books to Read Before You Visit New Zealand
This is the first of an occasional series on “Books to Read Before You Visit…” I always like to prepare for a visit to a new country by reading as much as possible. Not just history and guidebooks, but fiction as well: I find that novels and short stories can often...
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Enjoying the Eccentricities of Coromandel’s Driving Creek Railway
The Driving Creek Railway, on New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula, is more than just a scenic ride up a tall mountain. It manages to combine trains, landscape and art with a heavy dose of eccentricity. Four of my favourite things! Barry Brickell and the Driving Creek...
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Cape Reinga, Not Quite the End of the World
You could be forgiven for thinking you’ve reached the end of the world by the time you get to Cape Reinga. You’ve taken a long drive through a slightly alien environment and now you’ve arrived at the northern tip of New Zealand. Ahead of you is nothing but an endless...
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Waitangi Treaty Grounds: Birthplace of a Nation
The Waitangi Treaty Grounds are New Zealand’s most important historic site. It was here that the Waitangi Treaty was first signed on 6 February 1840. This treaty was the founding document of the New Zealand nation, a collaborative venture between the British and the...
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