TRAVELRAGS

New Zealand

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CitiesWaitomo3Queenstown2Auckland1Christchurch1Dargaville1Dunedin1Fiordland National Park1Matamata1
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See. Dunedin Explore this idiosyncratic South Island town, rich with gold-mining history and unique subcultures. Ōamaru Pair with Dunedin for a unique South Island experience, known for its distinctive character. Naseby Visit this certified dark sky community on the Maniototo Plain for spectacular stargazing. Mirror Lakes Enjoy easy walks and reflections of the Earl Mountains between Te Anau and Milford Sound.

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Lonely PlanetSep 21, 2026

The Ultimate Weekend in Dunedin and Ōamaru

Plan your long weekend exploring in and around the South Island towns of Dunedin and Ōamaru with this itinerary.

25 things in this story
  • Bell Hill ApartmentsHotelDunedin, New ZealandImmaculate with an impressive book collection and whisky decanter.
  • Chapel ApartmentsHotelDunedin, New ZealandHoused within a 1863-era church, the city's oldest.
  • Ebb DunedinHotelDunedin, New ZealandModern with clean lines, calming hues, and contemporary artwork.
  • 858 George Street MotelMotelDunedin, New ZealandAward-winning motel near the university, feels upmarket.
  • The Old ConfectioneryHotelŌamaru, New ZealandHistoric building transformed into luxury accommodations.
  • PoshtelHotelŌamaru, New Zealand16 themed rooms paying homage to NZ's South Island.
  • Robbie Burns statueSightDunedin, New ZealandStatue of Scottish poet in Dunedin's main plaza.
  • NobleRestaurantDunedin, New ZealandLight and airy cafe serving reinterpretations of breakfast classics.
  • WhittakersPlaceDunedin, New ZealandIconic New Zealand chocolate brand.
  • Dunedin Street Art TrailTrailDunedin, New ZealandMap to explore some of the city's best street art.
  • Dunedin's historic railway stationSightDunedin, New ZealandFilming location for Netflix's East of Eden adaptation.
  • Buster GreensCaféDunedin, New ZealandRestaurant on George Street for lunch.
  • Museum of Natural MysteryMuseumDunedin, New ZealandPrivate collection of oddities and curiosities in a Victorian villa.
  • Baldwin StSightDunedin, New ZealandSaid to be the world's steepest street.
  • Tunnel BeachSightDunedin, New ZealandSecret cove accessed by a hand-dug tunnel through limestone.
  • Ocho Chocolate FactoryPlaceDunedin, New ZealandFactory hosting tastings of chocolate with native ingredients.
  • Woof!CaféDunedin, New ZealandPopular student hang-out for pre-dinner drinks and specials.
  • The SwanRestaurantDunedin, New ZealandSlightly more upmarket bar for sharing plates.
  • PequeñoBarDunedin, New ZealandSpeakeasy-style bar with expert mixologists.
  • Commons EateryRestaurantDunedin, New ZealandServes black pudding and Doris Plum French toast.
  • Tales from Darkest DunedinPlaceDunedin, New ZealandGuided cemetery walks sharing stories of early Dunedin residents.
  • Otago PeninsulaMotelDunedin, New ZealandScenic farmland curving north parallel to Dunedin's coastline.
  • Larnach CastleSightDunedin, New ZealandBuilt in 1871, offers high tea and guided historical tours.
  • Pukekura/Taiaroa HeadSightDunedin, New ZealandMainland nesting colony for northern royal albatross.
  • Dunedin Craft DistillersRestaurantDunedin, New Zealand
Read the full piece at Lonely Planet →

Condé Nast TravelerSep 1

Asanas at Sea? The Best Places for Yoga Around the World Are Also the Most Unconventional

From a rocky mountainside to the middle of the ocean, explore these singular places to practice your suryanamaskars.

9 things in this storyRead the full piece at Condé Nast Traveler →

National GeographicAug 31

We Took Our Kid to the Ends of the Earth. Here’s What It Taught Us.

A travel writer who’s taken her son everywhere, from a Zambian safari at age four to Antarctica at seven, shares the lessons that actually hold up.

6 things in this storyRead the full piece at National Geographic →

Condé Nast TravelerAug 28

9 Hotels on Working Farms Where You Can Berry Pick, Hang Out With Animals, and Eat Fresh From the Field

Put your clogs on and become one with the land at these farm stays around the world.

14 things in this story
  • ThistlePlaceGardiner, United StatesExcellent spa with treatments using farm ingredients.
  • The NewtAttractionSomerset, United KingdomOffers harvest suppers, cider tastings, and composting workshops.
  • The Botanical RoomsRestaurantSomerset, United KingdomCombines greenhouse brightness with gentleman's club elegance.
  • Southall Farm & InnHotelFranklin, United StatesOffers special farm suppers and Sunday farmers market.
  • BabylonstorenHotelFranschhoek, South AfricaFeatures daily garden tours, wine tastings, and Soetmelksvlei experience.
  • SoetmelksvleiSightFranschhoek, South AfricaInteractive museum exhibit with craftspeople and farm activities.
  • Wildflower Farms, Auberge CollectionHotelGardiner, United StatesOffers take-home harvests, animal feedings, and apiary tours.
  • ClayRestaurantGardiner, United StatesProgressive New American restaurant using farm-supplied ingredients.
  • Rosewood Cape KidnappersHotelTe Awanga, New ZealandOffers bird watching, shepherding experience, and garden workshops.
  • Cape SanctuarySightTe Awanga, New ZealandNew Zealand's largest privately owned 'mainland island' conservation project.
  • São Lourenço do BarrocalHotelAlentejo, PortugalFeatures ethnobotanical walks, wool-to-yarn workshops, olive harvests.
  • Son Vell MenorcaHotelMenorca, SpainOffers farm-to-table dining, organic gardens, and horse rides.
  • El PretextoHotelCayey, Puerto RicoOffers long table dinners, cooking classes, and garden tours.
  • VermejoHotelRaton, United StatesOffers conservation efforts, bison expeditions, and greenhouse tours.
Read the full piece at Condé Nast Traveler →

Atlas ObscuraAug 17

15 Best Places to Experience Bioluminescence

The humble glow worm is, in fact, a catchall term for numerous glowing creatures, from gnat larvae to fire flys to algae, that can be found all over the world. These tiny critters illuminate the night through bioluminescence, a process in which light is emitted by internal chemical reactions. Bioluminescence has evolved independently in over 90 different species, first emerging some 540 million…

15 sights in this storyRead the full piece at Atlas Obscura →

Atlas ObscuraAug 7

Mirror Lakes in Te Anau, New Zealand

A great spot to take a short break and take in the reflected view of the Earl Mountains. Mirror Lakes is located about halfway between Te Anau and Milford Sound. This is an easy walk suited to all ages and accessible to wheelchairs, with a small boardwalk right next to the road and a 400 meter looped circuit. On a calm day, you can enjoy the beautiful reflections of the mountain scenery. Waterf…

1 sight in this story
  • Mirror LakesSightReflects the Earl Mountains, located between Te Anau and Milford Sound.
Read the full piece at Atlas Obscura →

Atlas ObscuraAug 4

Atlas Obscura’s Guide to Unique Romantic Getaways

You’ve decided to go somewhere together. Maybe you just got married and you’re planning a honeymoon. Maybe you’re marking a decade together with an anniversary trip that actually means something. Maybe you don’t need an occasion at all, save for a wish to get out of ordinary life for a while and remember why you chose each other. Everyone expects you to go somewhere with an overwater bungalow a…

22 things in this story
  • Saihō-jiPlace of worshipKyoto, JapanMoss Temple with over 120 varieties of moss carpeting garden.
  • Fushimi-Inari-TaishaSightKyoto, JapanShrine with thousands of vermillion torii gates up a mountain.
  • Fes el-BaliGuest houseFes, MoroccoWorld's largest car-free urban zone, unchanged since middle ages.
  • Bou Inania MadrasaAttractionFes, Morocco14th-century theological college with carved cedar ornamentation.
  • Chouara Leather TannerySightFes, MoroccoWatch leather dyed in vats from a rooftop terrace.
  • MellahNeighborhoodFes, MoroccoOld Jewish quarter with brass-workers in tiny ateliers.
  • Merenid TombsSightFes, MoroccoClimb above the city for evening views as call to prayer echoes.
  • Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts and CraftsMuseumFes, Morocco18th-century caravanserai with a rooftop café overlooking medina.
  • Mangapohue Natural BridgeTrailWaitomo, New ZealandMassive limestone arch over a stream with ancient oyster fossils.
  • Ruakuri Cave tourSightWaitomo, New ZealandLonger cave tour with spiral entrance and glowworm boat ride.
  • Philosopher’s PathTrailKyoto, JapanWalk along the canal in the early morning light.
  • Ōtoyo ShrinePlace of worshipKyoto, JapanSmall shrine protected by cat statues.
  • TawarayaRestaurantKyoto, JapanTraditional ryokan in Higashiyama with futons and kaiseki dinner.
  • Nishiki MarketMarketKyoto, JapanCovered shopping street known as 'Kyoto's Kitchen'.
  • Kurodani TempleSightKyoto, Japan12th-century Tendai temple where monks practice chanting.
  • TrælanípaTrailVágar, Faroe IslandsHike to see a lake that appears to float above the ocean.
  • EnnibergSightFugloy, Faroe IslandsHighest sea cliff in the Faroese islands, 270 meters above Atlantic.
  • Hotel FøroyarHotelTórshavn, Faroe IslandsHotel above Tórshavn with scenic views and turf roof.
  • Riad LaaroussaGuest houseFes, Morocco
  • Dar RoumanaGuest houseFes, Morocco
  • Te Tiro AccommodationHotelWaikato, New Zealand
  • Golden Ridge RetreatHotelWaikato, New Zealand
Read the full piece at Atlas Obscura →

Lonely PlanetAug 4

23 of the best destinations for fall travel in 2026

Fall smacks of leaf peeping, road tripping, the last bits of swimming and so much more. These destinations offer the best for fall travel across the globe.

20 things in this story
  • Fes el-BaliGuest houseFez, Moroccooldest section of the walled medina
  • ÖlüdenizSightFethiye, Turkeylagoon-side town great for paragliding
  • PataraAttractionKaş, Turkeytown with endless swathes of golden sand
  • ÇıralıNeighborhoodKemer, Turkeyprotected area where sea turtles nest
  • Nara ParkParkNara, Japanhome to over 1000 sika deer
  • Tōdai-jiMuseumNara, Japantemple with one of the largest bronze Buddha images
  • Alta Via 1TrailCortina d'Ampezzo, Italyclassic trek through the Dolomites
  • Lake TaupoSightTaupo, New Zealandarea with hot-spring complexes
  • Kerosene CreekSightRotorua, New Zealandwild-and-free thermal pool with hot waterfall
  • HobbitonSightMatamata, New Zealandfilm set
  • Waipoua ForestSightDargaville, New Zealandforest with towering kauri trees
  • Taos PuebloSightTaos, United States1000-year-old Native American site
  • Sangre de Cristos mountainsSightSanta Fe, United Statesmountain range in northern New Mexico
  • Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaFestivalAlbuquerque, United Statesiconic balloon festival
  • Bocas del ToroNeighborhoodBocas Town, Panamaarchipelago with beaches and watersports
  • Samburu National ReserveSightMaralal, Kenyareserve with kopje-studded plains and acacia hills
  • Maó (Mahón)NeighborhoodMaó, Spaincharismatic capital with Anglo-Spanish heritage
  • CiutadellaNeighborhoodCiutadella de Menorca, Spainformer chief settlement with Anglo-Spanish heritage
  • Camí de CavallsTrailMaó, Spain185km coastal circuit for hiking or biking
  • SeychellesNeighborhoodVictoria, Seychellesarchipelago with palm trees and white-sand beaches
Read the full piece at Lonely Planet →

National GeographicJul 11

10 "Great Walks" of New Zealand: Beaches, Forest, and Mountains By Foot

Whether you are looking for an hour-long hike or a multiday trek, these pristine trails will satisfy any level of adventure.

18 things in this story
  • Paparoa RangeTrailIt was the first New Zealand land seen by a European – Abel Tasman in 1642.
  • RouteburnTrailThe track can be done in either direction, starting on the Queenstown side of the Southern Alps, at the northern end of…
  • Milford TrackTrailForested mountains, stunning waterfalls, high rainfall
  • Sutherland FallsSightThe falls are located 13.5nm southwest of Chao Pass.
  • Abel TasmanViewpointAbel Janszoon Tasman was a Dutch seafarer and explorer, best known for his voyages of 1642 and 1644 in the service of…
  • Te AnauNeighborhoodIn Māori, Te-Anau means the Place of the Swirling Waters.
  • Whanganui National ParkSightEstablished in 1986, it covers an area of 742 km2 bordering the Whanganui River.
  • Whanganui JourneyTrailRiver trek, canoe or kayak through national park
  • Paparoa TrackTrailTraversed by hike or bike, offers panoramic views
  • Routeburn TrackTrailThe track can be done in either direction, starting on the Queenstown side of the Southern Alps, at the northern end of…
  • Rakiura TrackTrailLocated on Stewart Island, known for beaches and kiwis
  • Heaphy TrackTrailLongest Great Walk, winds through tussocks and palm forests
  • Abel Tasman Coast TrackTrailHugs dramatic coastline with boulder formations and beaches
  • Kepler TrackTrailThe track passes through many landscapes of the Fiordland National Park such as rocky mountain ridges, tall mossy…
  • Lake WaikaremoanaTrailFollows shoreline past remote beaches
  • Tongariro Northern CircuitTrailThe Tongariro Northern Circuit, one of the New Zealand Great Walks, offers a three- to four-day tramp through Tongariro…
  • Stewart IslandTrail
  • HeaphyTrail
Read the full piece at National Geographic →

National GeographicJul 7

In search of New Zealand's most mysterious penguin

The bush-dwelling penguins of New Zealand’s South Island offer Jamie Lafferty an insight into the species’ evolution and migration across the seas.

15 things in this story
  • Fiordland National ParkSightPark with myths, home to Tawaki penguins
  • Wilderness Lodge Lake MoerakiHotelOffers tours to secret beach via forest path
  • TawakiPlaceForest-dwelling penguin named after god of lightning
  • KeaPlaceAbout 48 cm (19 in) long, it is mostly olive-green, with brilliant orange under its wings, and has a large, narrow,…
  • KākāPlaceThe New Zealand kākā is a large species of parrot of the family Strigopidae found in New Zealand's native forests…
  • South IslandNeighborhoodWith a population of 1,256,700 as of June 2025, the South Island is home to 24% of New Zealand's 5.3 million…
  • kiwisHostelDunedin accommodation options at extremely affordable rates.
  • PacificSightSPP productions have scored major wins, taking home a Gold and a Bronze Tower at the annual Storytellers gala on…
  • MāoriPlace
  • KiwiPlace
  • Hine-nui-te-pōPlace
  • Gerry McSweeneyPlace
  • keasPlace
  • kākāsPlace
  • Fiordland penguinsPlace
Read the full piece at National Geographic →

The GuardianMay 9

Do look up: stargazing in New Zealand’s first dark sky community

It took 10 years for Naseby to achieve its DarkSky International certification. Now, a night out in the tiny Otago town is like ‘a tour through the history of the universe’ As the last strip of pink on the horizon fades to indigo on the Maniototo Plain in Otago, every word I speak arrives in a puff of condensation. Six hundred metres above sea level, in winter the temperature here can drop to -…

9 things in this storyRead the full piece at The Guardian →

OutsideApr 9

The Seven Wonders of the Trail Running World

These epic routes belong on every runner’s bucket list

15 things in this storyRead the full piece at Outside →

Atlas ObscuraFeb 3

National Transport & Toy Museum in Wanaka, New Zealand

A massive variety of cars, planes, fire engines, farm equipment, engines, household goods, and toys call this place home. While navigating the museum's property can sometimes feel like wandering through a series of overstuffed garages, the condition and diversity of everything present is impressive and utterly unique. It's impossible to describe everything that's here: cars spanning the Morris…

9 things in this storyRead the full piece at Atlas Obscura →

Condé Nast TravelerJan 31

Eight Seasons Into Bare Feet, Mickela Mallozzi Finds There's More of the World to Dance Through

The new season of the PBS travel show takes viewers to the beaches of Cuba, the mountains of Taiwan, and the heart of New Zealand’s Māori communities.

7 things in this story
  • Bare Feet with Mickela MallozziPlacePBS travel series about dance
  • PBSPlaceJoin Emmy® Award-winning travel host, producer and dancer Mickela Mallozzi.
  • Amazon PrimePlaceJoin Emmy Award-winning host and professional dancer Mickela Mallozzi on her travel adventures as she experiences the…
  • Like a CubanPlaceBoutique travel agency
  • HavanaNeighborhoodFeatures Chinese Cuban community history
  • BaladyRestaurantOffers food from Arab countries
  • Bay RidgeNeighborhood
Read the full piece at Condé Nast Traveler →

Condé Nast TravelerDec 15, 2025

The Gold List 2026: The Top Hotels and Resorts in Australia and Oceania

Our global editors across four continents share their favorite places to stay.

10 things in this storyRead the full piece at Condé Nast Traveler →
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