Destination

This peaceful little fishing village beckons as a stopover point with views out to some of New Zealand’s most dramatic coastal scenery. Moeraki (Maori for “a place to rest by day”) is not only home to award-winning restaurant Fleurs Place (see our story on page 100) but also the famous Moeraki Boulders, large spherical stones scattered over sandy beaches.

Unlike ordinary boulders which are shaped by rivers and pounding seas, these were formed during the early Paleocene period 60 million years ago in similar fashion to oyster pearls, where layers of material cover a fossil shell or bone fragment. Over time, lime minerals in the sea accumulated on the core and the concretion grew into perfectly spherical shapes up to three metres in diameter and weighing several tonnes.

Moeraki has strong Maori, whaling and sealing heritages and was North Otago’s first European settlement. According to Maori legend, the boulders are remains of calabashes, kumara and eel baskets which washed ashore after the wreckage of legendary canoe Araiteuru at Shag Point. The long Maori history is represented in the town today by the Kotahitanga Maori Church and a pa site nearby.

Syria’s ancient cities, exotic markets and overwhelming sense of history are a revelation to two Kiwi travellers. Words: Polly Greeks. Photos: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/dreamstime, Max Galli/laif.

New Zealand’s best-looking town? Raglan, according to Lonely Planet guidebooks. And well deserved too, for this quirky little seaside village located on the rugged West Coast of the North Island offers idyllic scenery, beautiful beaches with black volcanic sands and views of Mount Karioi watching over weekend drivers who have fled the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Just a 45-minute drive west of Hamilton or two hours south of Auckland, you can enjoy inspiring arts, fresh coffee and world-class surfing (you’ll need a thick-skinned full-length wetsuit to brave the chilling water temperatures). Manu Bay is said to offer the longest left-hand rides in the world and even featured in the 1964 cult surfing film The Endless Summer.

However, if you would rather keep yourself dry and warm (or surfing is just not your thing), there are plenty of other options for exploring Raglan. With a thermos of hot tea or coffee on hand, throw out a fishing line and have a go at catching your dinner, or explore the picturesque landscape on foot, horseback or by bike.

What’s mostly French, a little bit Italian, wholly bewitching and even better the second time around? It must be Corsica. Words & Photos: Kim Thorp.

Discover Marlborough, your welcome to the South Island. The townships of Blenheim, Picton, Awatere, Havelock and Kaikoura are all close to each other so take a road trip for a taste of the region.

Begin with the little seaside town of Picton. Exhilarating activities here include sky diving for a panoramic view of Marlborough from 15,000 feet above, or sea kayaking to take in the scenery.

Explore Blenheim’s art-and-craft trails and wineries, tee off at some of the world’s most beautiful golf courses and browse the main street full of boutiques.

Just kilometres away is Awatere and its picturesque Pacific coastline. Catch a glimpse of its ruggedness on a four-wheel-drive tour or venture out to the Awatere Valley to visit vineyards and formal gardens.

Dust off your hiking boots and experience the wildlife in the fishing village of Havelock and the surrounding Sounds. Trek the Queen Charlotte track or stop by Canvastown, an historic gold-mining township.

Beneath the slopes of the Southern Alps lies the seaside township of Kaikoura where you can scuba dive, encounter an albatross or whale watch either from the air or by boat.

It would take more than a cyclone to quench the spirit of those who live on Aitutaki. Even After February’s devastating storm, it’s business as usual at the resorts which have always offered holiday-makers a legendary welcome. Words & Photos: Tessa Chrisp.

Martinborough

More than 30 wineries, a main street full of boutiques, olive groves, gourmet food shops and fine-dining restaurants ... oh, and a golf course, scenic walks, horse and bike riding.  More than one weekend is needed to soak up all this Wairarapa town has to offer. But if one weekend it is, then we have to choose the Wine Trail as the prime attraction. (A map and opening hours of all vineyards is available from the Information Site, email martinborough@wairarapanz.com).

You might want to visit Martinborough for the Taste Martinborough weekend in November. They call it “New Zealand’s premier wine, food and music festival” and we cannot disagree. Tickets and accommodation sell out, so book early. toastmartinborough.co.nz

The Martinborough Fair is another premier Martinborough event, so popular it is now staged twice annually (2 February and 6 March this year) and being accepted as a stall-holder is a competitive business. martinboroughfair.org.nz
 

Both these events are day-long experiences, so a second day of wandering the shops and cafes is probably enough for most visitors. The town is laid out in the shape of the Union Jack, with streets names such as Naples, Panama and Cologne reflecting the travels of the town’s founder, Irishman John Martin. He set up New Zealand’s first sheep station here in 1881.

It’s considered one of the world’s most challenging walks, but for Australians in particular Papua New Guinea’s Kokoda Track is not so much a trek as a pilgrimage. Words & Photos by Don Fuchs.

Take your pick – live like a Berber while tramping in the Atlas Mountains or be seduced by the opulence of a sultan’s palace. Three friends on a North African adventure chose both. Words: Amanda Jones; Photos: Kodiak Greenwood.

Three days of hard slog are rewarded with spectacular Southern scenery and some welcome creature comforts. Words Sally Duggan; Photos: Nick Duggan.

SOD’S LAW SAYS that just before a big tramp, every ache and niggle in your body makes itself felt. Nick’s knee had been playing up all year and on the morning before we started the Hump Ridge Track he shuffled stiffly out of the backpackers’ into the clear blue Tuatapere dawn to haul our packs out of the station-wagon. The caged parrot on the veranda fixed him with a beady eye. “Hello Grandad!” he squawked.