New Zealand
A weekend in Hurunui, North Canterbury – Kia Ora
“Your bed for the night is at Tipapa Estate, an elegant venue and accommodation owned by charming Aussie expats Jane and Stewart Whiteside. Once part of a 4047ha sheep station stretching across the Greta Valley, the estate is now both a luxury bed and breakfast and one of Canterbury’s most lovely wedding venues.”
How to do Dunedin – The Spinoff
“In a sign of Dunedin’s deserved confidence in its appeal as a travel destination, boutique hotels are beginning to crop up across town. They’re making the most of the city’s unrivalled architectural heritage, breathing new life into buildings that often spent decades in a state of benign neglect. One of the most exciting recent openings is Fable Dunedin in the heart of the historic business district.”
Kumiko’s Guest House, North Canterbury – Kia Ora
“Owners Paul Robertson and Sue McGregor have transformed the family residence into an exclusive short-stay property with a design that draws inspiration both from Kumiko Black’s Japanese heritage and the dramatic North Canterbury landscape in which it sits.”
On the menu: Christchurch – Kia Ora
“At Super in Lyttelton, chef Anna Meyerhoff incorporates Maori kai into many of her dishes – the crispy-soft hangi kumara flatbread with karengo butter is incredibly moreish, and her sesame, horopito and fried shallot seasoning takes a bowl of edamame to a whole new level.”
The Mayfair Hotel, Christchurch – Kia Ora
“Don’t miss: The gorgeous creations of in-house patisserie chef Aurelien Fermen take pride of place at Majestic’s counter, and are the stars of the cafe’s swoon-worthy high tea.”
The Observatory, Christchurch – Kia Ora
“Inside, the decor is a luxe take on Arts and Crafts design, with verdant William Morris prints offset by exposed brick and richly coloured velvet furnishings. The plush drawing room is reminiscent of a country lodge, with local art on the walls and a selection of books on Christchurch art and architecture to leaf through.”
Blanket Bay lodge, Glenorchy – Metro
“The gates opened; the car rolled forward then stopped. Below me, beyond fields still tinged with brown from the harsh southern summer, the gentian blue of Lake Wakatipu gave way to the dark snowy peaks of the Humboldt Ranges, dissolving into a glowering sky. I turned off the car stereo, sat for a moment, and broke out in awed laughter.”
A weekend in Christchurch – Kia Ora
“Take a stroll through the CBD to appreciate the remarkable strides the city has made in the past few years. Opposite Turanga, widely considered to be the country’s best central library, is Te Pae, the recently opened convention centre. Constructed along strict sustainability principles, the centre has an undulating facade designed to suggest the braided rivers of the Canterbury region.”
A weekend in NZ’s cheap eats capital – The Spinoff
“Further down the laneway, in the old laundry room of what was once the Hannah’s Shoe Factory, peanut butter maestros Fix & Fogg encourage customers to get experimental. Peanut butter, sauerkraut and avocado toast with microgreens? Sounds great, but please, after you.”
Where to go in Wanaka – Metro
“Too often, ‘urban’ cafes in small towns don’t get it quite right, mistaking chrome furniture and 90s trip-hop for city-style cool. Not Federal Diner, a truly stylish cafe down an alleyway in the middle of town.”
A weekend in Kaikoura – Kia Ora
“Once the boat stops and the all-clear sounds, you’re free to jump in – and told to make as much sound as you can through your snorkel, to encourage the curious dolphins to come near and play. When they do, the feeling is nothing short of magical.”
What’s new in Christchurch – Kia Ora
“If you think you’ve grown out of hostels, Drifter Christchurch may just make you reconsider. The new hybrid hostel-hotel on Lichfield Street is about as far from a grotty backpackers as you can get, with sleekly designed dorm rooms and seemingly endless shared spaces including work areas, a cinema, a library, a yoga studio and ground-level restaurant and bar Rambler.”