Despite a fruitless search for great coffee, Diana Clement finds plenty to do and see in the warm and welcoming Bay of Islands.

The Foveaux Strait ferry is not for the faint-hearted, says Chris Samsara.

Liz Light takes a walk up Mt Taranaki.

We baby boomers seem hell-bent on dashing off around the world gaining notches in our money belts. Everyone has been, or is going, to Europe or Asia.

Danielle Wright discovers a day at the races, wild west-coast style.

Easing his bones in natural hot springs and filling up with a hearty meal in an old colonial hotel is Phil Parker's idea of a great weekend in Waikato.

Pictures speak a thousand words, but for rookies the first word is "m for moron", finds Kate Roff.

From plains to peaks to rainforest, the TranzAlpine offers a taster of the striking south.

A trip with her 10-year-old to wildlife-packed and tranquil Tiritiri Matangi island proves to Sarah Lawrence that fun can be had far from the reaches of modern razzle dazzle.

An expanded, updated and improved new edition of the book which won deserved acclaim - and an award - when it was first published 11 years ago.

If you're keen for a spot of luxury and pampering, Rotorua's Peppers on the Point may be just the place, says Diana Balham.

Cate Foster gets on her bike and enjoys the trails of Woodhill Forest - and the refreshment waiting at the end of her journey.

No time for a full game of golf? Practise your swing at one of these spots.

So close to Auckland, and yet a world away, is a hotel tucked into an area of unsurpassed beauty. Nikki Birrell heads into the heart of the Waitakeres.

Julie Symons and her fiancé take to the air in magnificent flying machines.

Liz French paddles beneath the Whanganui River's Bridge to Nowhere.

The Ruapehu region is a great place to get on your bike.

Colin McCahon's house reveals another side of Titirangi, says Liz Light.

Kauri Cliffs, Northland's most exclusive address, is known for its golf course, but has so much more to offer, writes Catherine Smith.

A new venture in Denniston allows visitors to step back 100 years to experience life in the coal mines, complete with ghostly visions and echoes of another era, writes Jim Eagles.

Liz Light discovers the delights of windy and wave-pounded Taranaki.

Take time out to enjoy the dramatic scenery along one of New Zealand's well-travelled routes. Diana Clement reports.

Having fallen into disuse once rail made life easier, the Central Plateau's Old Coach Rd is now being utilised by cyclists. Diana Clement got on her bike.

Budding astronauts love Auckland's Stardome, writes Alex Tully.

Kerri Jackson visits Wellywood and finds a film star making a glamorous comeback.

Authorities in quake-damaged Christchurch are looking to get the city's tourism industry back on track with a new "roadmap to recovery".

Cycling through Marlborough is picturesque, says Maria Slade, especially when there's wine at the end of the road.

Christchurch remains one of New Zealanders' favourite places to visit in the country despite the devastating February 22 earthquake, according to a survey released today.

Liz Light drops into a big black hole where trusting the ropes on the way down is one thing - and climbing back up is another.

Tired of taking the kids to the usual big museums during the school holidays? Virgil Evetts discovers Auckland contains many smaller collections worth a visit.