Articles in Travel

LOW ROLLER BRINGS THE HOUSE DOWN

2011-07-17T11:56:05Z

Towards the end of a long-haul journey across Europe an adventurous Australian in a wheelchair confronts a problem: he's on a strict budget but wants to see the fabled interior of the luxurious Monte Carlo - a vexing problem until he starts to think laterally ...

A shaky year later

2012-01-16T08:34:46Z

A brief summary of the traumatic events over the last year in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Arthurs Pass Wilderness Lodge

2010-07-20T02:27:59Z

High on the eastern side of the Southern Alps, the Arthur's Pass Wilderness Lodge is a working example of a strong ecological conservation ethos, bringing the splendour of our alpine high country to visitors from around the world.

Successful settlement in a new country

2010-08-18T02:45:29Z

A brief look at some of the basic steps one can take to smooth the transition experienced when moving to a new country.

Stealthy death by water

2010-09-10T09:08:39Z

Tips for anglers on preventing the spread of Didymo in North island waterways.

Native and natural in a bush spa

2010-09-10T10:10:10Z

Nestled away in native bush on a quiet forestry road, Kerosene Creek is one of Rotorua's best kept secrets, with thermal hot water free all year round.

A volcanic experience

2010-09-12T01:39:52Z

Mount Tarawera has a formidable presence on the Rotorua skyline and getting up close and personal with the source of the catastrophic eruption that destroyed the famed Pink and White Terraces is a sobering experience.

On the wings of freedom

2010-09-12T02:00:14Z

Looking at the Wingspan Trust, the only bird of prey conservation programme in New Zealand featuring our native hawks and falcons.

An oasis off the highway

2010-09-12T02:26:42Z

Just off the main highway at Okere Falls is a bush oasis that meanders out onto a lookout that allows you to see rafts 'popping' out of the water above Tutea Falls, the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall.

Summer holiday

2010-09-21T01:09:11Z

Road sign showing beachgoers; an illustration by Falco.

@ Globe

2010-09-21T01:11:21Z

Globe revolving around @ symbol; an illustration by Falco.

Let's Do It!

2010-11-04T02:55:32Z

Guy Fawkes and Commercial Space Flight. A column by Dave Wolland.

Will your holiday be in ruins?

2010-11-15T08:35:57Z

Can't think of where to go on your next holiday? Ever thought of touring the amazing archaeological sites of the world? It's even better than the Discovery Channel...

Explore mysterious ships' graveyards

2010-11-15T08:59:35Z

Wreck diving is a fascinating way to see real reef life and sunken ships

Passion for Travel

2010-10-15T00:54:07Z

Passion for Travel; an illustration by Falco.

News boat

2010-10-15T01:26:39Z

News boat, an illustration by Falco.

Around the world in six years

2011-01-29T06:17:01Z

South African adventurer, Ray Chaplin is setting off in May on a six-year self-powered vertical circumnavigation of the world - a world-first if he succeeds. Find out more about Ray's plans and what makes him tick.

On a Higher Plain, Reflections of a well-versed bum

2011-05-11T22:29:34Z

Nothing is new in travel, the author turned hostelier explains why.

Take a break on horseback

2010-11-15T07:56:04Z

Horseback riding has become a popular way to see the world

Thai time

2011-07-10T03:49:17Z

Ever tried learning a foreign language in the country you're living in? It's hard, but even harder when there are five tones involved. Claire Connell explores the challenges of mastering Thai.

Zimbabwe; Land of Generators

2010-08-31T10:16:48Z

An economy which seeks to move forward is hamstrung by receeding infrastructure. Frequent lack of electricity and poor access to communication technology is keeping Zimbabwe down.

Land Reform Still Under Way in Zimbabwe

2010-08-31T10:31:12Z

Zimbabwe's land reform programme, put in place by President Robert Mugabe, is thought by many to be winding down. But while the world waits for South Africa's reaction to ongoing calls for land reform the policy seems to be resurgent north of the Limpopo. Diamond discovery and crop harvests are spurring a new wave of farm invasions in Zimbabwe.

Hotel California

2010-04-27T14:52:55Z

With design by Philippe Starck, SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, is a getaway unlike any other.

Serendipity

2010-04-28T18:04:38Z

New Zealand-born Sandra Nunnerley on a little bit of New York real estate luck.

New York Subway Takes Riders Around The World

2010-07-28T21:09:32Z

From the bright tourist lights of Times Square to an end-of-the-line Chinatown in the neighbourhood of Flushing, the 7 subway line takes travelers through a section of New York City where people from over 150 nations have made their home. The ride is an unofficial tour of the world.

Nicaragua: The Road Less Travelled

2010-07-28T21:31:22Z

Nicaragua may be one of the world's last destinations untouched by hordes of travelers.

New York: Empire, State of Mind

2010-10-19T02:46:00Z

A short travel piece on the irresistible allure of New York, city of light. Covers downtown Manhattan, thoughts on 9/11, commercialism and capitalism on Times Square, riding the subway and wandering Rockefeller Center.

Dining in the USA: Extreme comfort food

2010-10-28T14:57:44Z

In the heart of Virginia, USA, there lies a legendary comfort food restaurant that entertains and engorges its legions of loyal diners in a grand old homestead.

New York on the Down Low

2010-11-16T01:30:50Z

Travel/culture piece exploring the mythology of the New York subway system, with reference to movies, urban legends and the felt experience of the subway itself.

Colombia's Wild East: The Guajira Peninsula

2011-05-11T22:35:58Z

A land of mystery, indigenous practices and contraband. The Guajira desert, soon to be on the beaten track.

Sunday Shopping in Chiang Mai

2009-12-10T21:17:15Z

Each Sunday in the old city of Chiang Mai, Thailand there is a market where craftspeople, artists and performers gather along the traffic-free streets displaying goods for the avid bargain hunter. Thailand’s ‘rose of the north’ tempts many to enter behind the reddish walls which enclose its treasures.

Soaking My Way To Happiness

2010-01-26T00:38:10Z

This is a feature story of the writer's experience in Japan. The etiquette of bathing in a public place in a foreign land and the hot spring experience. It shows how ones culture clashes with the other.

Stuck On You

2010-06-17T03:10:42Z

Leeches, leeches, everywhere. Close encounters of the bloody kind whilst trekking in Nepal leaves both physical and emotional scars.

On The Road

2010-06-17T02:54:09Z

A mother of two attempts long-haul travel with a baby and a toddler... and survives.

Asian Food Explored - Singapore

2010-09-28T22:47:00Z

This article was written during a long holiday in Singapore, which was where I had lived for five years as a child. I loved the food and the people and still visit often. It covers some great Asian recipes and defines the various cultures which contribute to the flavours of Singaporean/Malay cooking.

Eyes in India

2010-09-30T09:32:41Z

The writer, previously sure of her uncompromising feminist views, comes to a new understanding of the burqa. Against the current European trend that has surfaced in Australasia which views Muslim dress and veiling as the embodiment of male oppression, this article flips that view over, following an eye-opening experience while travelling in India.

Fighting the heart of China

2010-10-27T21:56:54Z

As a budding martial artist, Chloe Johnson finds out what goes on behind the gates of a traditional Kung Fu school in China, while also tasting the local cuisine.

Shanghai's growing wealth and rapid pace of change

2010-11-07T02:33:20Z

Beside a busy intersection in Shanghai stands a gob-smackingly kitsch sculpture, a fake tree covered in enormous plastic flowers. I'm told it's a symbol of prosperity, but the gleaming Shanghai World Financial Centre seems a much more apt symbol of the growing wealth in this city of 20 million. By Amanda Cropp

HONG KONG WITHOUT THE HUBBUB

2010-11-14T04:29:39Z

Hong Kong is one of the world’s most exciting and irrepressible cities, but if you want some respite from all the action and crowds, suggests Penelope Barker, make your base on the laidback neighbouring island of Lantau.

Bahrain Sex Store Booms for Arab Businesswoman

2011-01-18T23:06:04Z

Business is booming for Khadija Ahmed, the female owner of the only sex store in the Arab world.

Cricket: Afghanistan's Fastest Growing Sport

2011-01-24T19:34:49Z

Think of Afghanistan and the first things to run through your mind will (not unreasonably) be war, Taliban, and US military forces. But Afghan cricket proudly claims more than 70,000 male participants play in most of the country’s 34 provinces and that even the country’s most unstable areas have teams that compete in national tournaments. In a country where Taliban once banned girls from attending school, today in Kabul more than 100 women play. A new documentary film follows the fortune of the national team.

Not one of the flock: confessions of a non-birder at a bird conference

2011-02-25T04:59:59Z

Having read Steve Braunias’ book “How to Watch a Bird" I was sure I’d prepared but it soon becomes obvious I’m out of my depth at this international gathering of bird watchers.

Golfing in India: bring your own balls

2011-02-25T05:02:46Z

Love golf? Off to India? Well be warned - travellers are advised to carry not only their own golf clubs but also a supply of balls. Although this was the first country outside Britain to embrace the game, it seems India still relies on the West for its golfing equipment.

Asian Food- dried seafood

2011-03-19T07:02:46Z

Taken in 2006 on holiday in Hong Kong and China

Avoiding the tourist avalanche in Phuket

2011-07-10T11:15:55Z

Every summer thousands of tourist flock to Phuket in search of the perfect sunny seaside holiday. Claire Connell explains how to avoid the common tourist traps and find the more unique parts of the island during your stay.

If you really want to see Australia, take the train

2010-02-28T00:59:50Z

From acres of bleached wheat to a rich history of gold, immigrants and stories of kids bringing trains to a halt with shoe polish on the tracks, Kingsley Field finds a lot to like in his slow $60 trip on The Overlander from Melbourne to Adelaide. This story suits a magazine or newspaper magazine and has not been previously published.

A dream ride cycling in the Mackenzie Basin

2010-03-15T04:22:47Z

Charles Riddle saddles up for a cycle tour of the Mackenzie Basin's 'wide roads, friendly gradients and big sky'.

Mountain biking in National Park

2010-09-30T21:24:57Z

Anna Carter grabs a bike and meets the challenge of the 42 Traverse bike trail through virgin rain forest and the spectacular mountain backdrop of National Park. (Includes notes and tips on getting there and what to take)

White Island - an alien environment

2011-01-01T06:03:39Z

White Island is unique in being the only island volcano of its kind in the world and is much visited both by tourists and vulcanologists alike. The eerie and completely different colours and geography, along with the silently rotting remains of mining make for a visit that is unforgettable.

Tekapo: A national park in the sky?

2011-02-25T05:07:57Z

The Mackenzie Country is one of the special places left where you can still see the night sky and its dazzling starlight and, from the top of Mt. John, I have a 360º view of the big skies of the McKenzie Basin and its carved-by-ancient-glaciers landscape.

Hiking to the World of the gods

2011-02-26T06:12:57Z

“This walk is the quickest and easiest way into the mountain terrain of Kaikoura” Lance tells us. His soft voice continues, “We’ll be going through different types of terrain and vegetation, through stands of manuka from regenerating totara forest to ancient forest areas and fine stands of beech and podocarp (conifer family) forest” This is civilised hiking: no wet clothes or canvas tents here!

Irish times are good times

2009-12-10T03:52:25Z

Irish-born Nelsonian Rachel Ryan can’t believe her luck (but being Irish one would expect her to be at least slightly serendipitous) – her job these days takes her and small groups of travelers from New Zealand’s winter shores back to her homeland where they spend 10 summer days tripping about in Ireland on a cultural-immersion walking experience. Rachel runs her walking tour business, Walk the West of Ireland, from her home in Delaware Bay near Nelson.

All roads lead to Rome

2009-11-24T07:05:42Z

Nathan Gray heads to Rome and gets incredibly lucky when it comes to scoring tickets for the big game.

A tour through the horrors of Auschwitz

2009-11-24T07:02:12Z

In every building, the corridors hold pictures of victims. They look out, expressions of anguish in their eyes. So many faces, so many corridors. It's impossible to walk away unmoved from Auschwitz.

Caravan to the sea

2010-01-21T23:04:20Z

Every May there is an annual gathering of thousands of Gypsy folk from the four corners of Europe and beyond, to venerate patron saint Sara. This extraordinary event, in the Camargue region of France, attracts many non-Gypsy people who are welcomed to this Catholic celebration. The article explains the myth and gives a first-hand account of the procession and the spectacles in the little town of Saintes Maries de la Mer.

Krakow the city of sex and business?

2010-10-27T22:19:09Z

Poland's a city of contrasts. From the chilling and morbid history of Auschwitz to the intense young party scene, Chloe Johnson leaves Krakow with mixed emotions.

Blind dining an eye opening experience

2010-11-15T17:21:54Z

For a few hours diners experience the life of the blind at a London restaurant as they eat their meals in the pitch darkness while being served by blind waiters. Inside Dan's le Noir? we rely on the blinds' eyes.

Tour de France

2010-10-15T00:55:46Z

Tour de France; an illustration by Falco.

Visit Dublin: Vibrant First City of The Emerald Isle

2011-02-05T13:59:45Z

In the recent past it was dubbed "Dear ol' Dublin". But that was the past. Almost overnight, thanks to the recession, the pricey city has become an extremely good-value destination. Yet, it hasn't lost any of its legendry style and youthful buzz.

The Travel Virgin - Leaving for Ukraine

2011-05-11T21:45:56Z

I wasn’t going to eat my food anyway but I felt irked all the same that this weighty German beside me was leaning over my tray table and helping himself uninvited to my lunch.

Driving England

2011-07-05T04:58:46Z

A New Zealander ventures onto British roads in his first foray into the UK in 26 years, finding long lost relatives and unbelievable weather along the way.

Holland – a lowdown

2011-07-05T05:17:56Z

Holland has changed in 26 years: after several shifts in philosophy and experience, five-lane motorways can grind to a stop and the once-vaunted rail service is faltering.

Belgium — two in one

2011-07-05T05:20:41Z

Belgium has an interesting history and an interesting future, writes Mark Webster, after a visit to Ypres and a cultural lesson along the way.

Salty tea and carbuncles in the mountains of Kashmir

2009-11-02T02:32:53Z

It’s stifling hot, we’ve been lounging on a houseboat in Srinagar for days and we’re climbing the walls with boredom. Suddenly, there’s relief. Not rain, but a pronouncement. We’re going to the mountains, says the Old Man, a singular Kashmiri grandfather and notable cook whose family I am staying with.

Munich: Bavaria’s Vibrant Capital

2011-07-17T16:39:24Z

Bavaria is one of Europe’s most picturesque regions as well as an economic dynamo of Germany. Its beautiful capital, Munich, has lost none of the charm of its rich medieval heritage, despite being the capital of an industrially vibrant federal state. Though famous for the Oktoberfest – a huge attraction every autumn – the city’s agreeable climate, unique architecture and vibrant cultural life draw tourists from all over the world throughout the year.

Yorkshire countryside

2011-07-18T07:42:46Z

Yorkshire countryside.

Silbury Hill

2011-07-18T07:46:48Z

Silbury Hill, a manmade chalk mound near Avebury in Wiltshire, UK. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silbury_Hill)

Rainy day in Mayfair

2011-07-18T07:49:25Z

A rainy day in Mayfair, London, UK.

Estate, South London

2011-07-18T07:52:10Z

Estate building, south London, UK.

Giant ice-cream cone

2011-07-18T07:58:10Z

A giant ice-cream cone graces a seaside store in the north west of England.

Eeling in the Po

2011-08-11T04:39:19Z

It's autumn in the Po Delta in Italy. A couple of kiwis are freedom camping in an old van and tasting the local eels. It's not just the Renaissance buildings that are intriguing. The other car park dwellers are a mysterious lot.

The Wall, That Soon Did fall

2011-09-12T00:11:30Z

Peter Jacobs had the fortune of being in Berlin at the time of the opening of the Berlin Wall. He relates his observations of the events at the time.

Southern adventures

2009-12-16T22:50:28Z

Steve and Jeanette Brough opened the first luxury lodge on the outskirts of Queenstown 13 years ago, starting a trend. Now the consummate hosts are on to their third, in picturesque Arrowtown

Okarito...do you know where it is?

2010-01-18T00:46:40Z

Okarito is the home of the White Heron breeding colony. Postcard perfect, great coffee, whitebait, peace, tranquility, coastal walks, kayaking and undiscovered New Zealand gem.

Coasting the Catlins

2010-01-08T20:58:35Z

The wild and isolated Catlins Coast of Southland is a land of empty beaches, stories of ships wrecked on rugged headlands, Rastafarian horses, paddling sheep, twisting gravel roads and windswept hills.

A privy with no privacy in whale watching Kaikoura

2010-03-29T02:50:00Z

Turns out it's not just the whales that are watched in the tourist town Kaikoura, there's a distinct lack of privacy in the public privy too.

Air New Zealand

2010-05-21T02:07:57Z

A news cartoon by Malcolm Evans.

Subterranean Safari in New Zealand's Unique Hinterland

2010-09-30T21:03:54Z

Blackwater rafting through Waitomo's underwater cave system is not for the faint-hearted, but if you take the plunge it will likely be the highlight of your trip, writes Anna Carter.

Kiwi or kitsch?

2010-11-07T02:10:42Z

New Zealand pitches itself as a tourism hotspot—the world’s adventure playground, pure, clean and green. But when it comes time for our guests to leave, what do they have to remember us? By Amanda Cropp

Postcards, teaspoons and pounamu - a taste of NZ

2010-11-07T02:22:48Z

Four sidebars profiling innovative souvenir makers in New Zealand. Accompanies: http://allaboutthestory.com/articles/2080

Amazing Moeraki

2010-11-07T02:43:38Z

We were all in need of a holiday and Moeraki fishing village, near the famous boulders, seemed the perfect place. It's only a three and a half hour drive from our home in Christchurch and we could rent a relatively inexpensive bach, writes Amanda Cropp.

Authentic Maori tourism

2010-11-07T02:50:53Z

There's a growing demand from visitors to New Zealand to experience a slice of real Maori life, writes Amanda Cropp.

A Picasso palette from Mother Nature

2011-01-01T05:30:17Z

Wai-O-Tapu, unique geothermal wonderland with pools of colours unlikely to be seen anywhere else in the world.

Bringing to light the buried village

2011-01-01T07:10:44Z

The Buried Village in Rotorua is one of the few archeological sites in New Zealand that has a long, ongoing history since it was discovered almost 100 years after Europeans first stepped foot on the famed Pink and White Terraces.

An unusual route to a hidden valley

2011-01-01T07:28:50Z

The Orakei-Korako Geyserland in the Hidden Valley is home to one of New Zealand's most breathtaking thermal areas. While you can get to the valley by car, being ferried down the mighty Waikato river via the Riverjet is an exhilarating experience.

Floral photo essay

2011-03-20T12:48:41Z

A selection of colourful blooms taken in and around the winter gardens in Auckland Domain last year.

Sunset finals

2011-06-09T04:57:53Z

Evening time on the South coast, A Magical time to land at Wellington Airport. Air New Zealand Q300 on finals from across the Cook Strait.

Mornings across the Magical City.

2011-06-10T10:25:35Z

Taken on the way to Nelson a few years back looking down across the city as the dawn breaks.

Meeting Trout Fishing in New Zealand in Rotorua

2011-06-09T00:22:43Z

This story is about a personal journey involving trout fishing in New Zealand and how I came to arrive at the Rotorua A-Z Trout Fishing School this year. The story invokes the spirit of Richard Brautigan, and American author who created Trout Fishing in America as a character in a novel by the same name. So Trout Fishing in New Zealand becomes becomes not only a theme but also a character.

Trout fishing at Lake Taupo

2011-07-10T23:48:53Z

A fisherman in late afternoon light at Lake Taupo, New Zealand.

Fly fishing on Lake Taupo

2011-07-11T00:05:16Z

Fisherman in late afternoon light on Lake Taupo.

Fisherman in late afternoon light on Lake Taupo

2011-07-11T00:09:33Z

Fisherman in late afternoon light on Lake Taupo.

Kawhia Safari

2011-07-17T01:47:27Z

Travel story about travelling to Kawhia, on the West Coast, on a Vespa 150 ET8 scooter.

Fun in the rain on a scooter

2011-07-17T01:56:41Z

Paul Kendon takes his scooter off the beaten track on a trip to Auckland in the latest of a series of rides through the Waikato's back roads.

Taking in the country - and a touch of sun

2011-07-17T02:01:55Z

Hamilton scooter enthusiast Paul Kendon knows a run in the countryside can brighten up your life after days and days of rain.

Riding the Waikato on a four-stroke pony

2011-07-17T02:06:05Z

With spring in the air, Paul Kendon powers up the Vespa and heads for another ride through the Waikato south and east of Hamilton.

A spring jaunt in the Waikato sunshine

2011-07-17T02:10:31Z

With the spring has come new opportunities for Paul Kendon to get the Vespa out and find out what is down another Waikato road

Take a break on your way north and check out Maungaturoto

2011-08-10T21:17:29Z

Visitors willing to take a short detour from SH1 in Northland to the small township of Maungaturoto and its surrounds will be well rewarded.

Flower seller, Nagin Lake, Kashmir

2010-02-03T21:31:34Z

A flower seller makes a stop at a house boat on Nagin Lake, near Srinagar, in Kashmir.

Fiji Holiday 2006 - Photo essay

2011-03-19T07:58:08Z

All photos on here were taken in Fiji by Monique Jones in 2006

Balolo fishing in Fiji

2011-03-21T05:19:36Z

This story was written in 2006 after a holiday in Fiji. Having never heard of or seen these strange worm-like fish, I was intrigued to learn more about them from the local people. The fish only rise to the ocean surface two days a year, in October and again in mid November.

Fijian Rule of the Road

2011-08-10T05:26:34Z

A road accident in Fiji demonstrates the Fijian attitudes, standards and law.

ARK ANGELS

2010-11-14T06:10:38Z

Queensland couple Alan and Susan Carle have devoted their lives to collecting over 3000 species of ethno-botanical plants from the world’s fast diminishing rainforests, dodging bugs, bulldozers and bullets along the way. At their property, the Botanical Ark, the pair run tours for groups of business executives to show the many important uses these plants have for humans – from food to fuel and medicinal ingredients.