Travel New Zealand

New Zealand Spring Means Food & Wine

Spring in New Zealand is a season inspired with vibrant colours and unfurling new life, brimming with the flavours of early produce and new vintage releases, and a feast of imaginative festivals celebrating everything from seafood to wine. Below are three of the most popular spring events.

New Zealand's Must-Eat Seafoods

True foodies and lovers of “fruits of the sea” won’t want to miss out on trying these tasty fresh seafood delicacies while travelling in New Zealand. New Zealand has one of the world’s longest coastlines and richest marine environments. The waters of the vast surrounding oceans offer some of the best seafood on the international market.

Discover New Zealand's Best Chefs

New Zealand’s boasts a thriving food scene due to the quality of the ingredients, the innovative cuisine, the presentation, and the style and design of the restaurants themselves. Below is a list of five New Zealand chefs worth seeking out.

Fleur Sullivan

Fleur’s Place, a small and affordable restaurant, café and bar on the Moeraki Wharf, has earned iconic status in New Zealand’s cuisine heritage. After 20 years working as the owner and host of the award-winning Central Otago establishment, Oliver’s, Sullivan felt a need to connect back with a simpler lifestyle.

New Zealand – A Bird Watcher’s Dream

New Zealand is an amazing destination for bird watchers. The country offers exceptional opportunities for fans of our feathered friends to see some rare species. Found only in New Zealand, the flightless kiwi is the national bird. Of the five species of kiwi – two are considered vulnerable, one is endangered, and one is critically endangered.

Experience the Queenstown Winter Festival

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, this year’s American Express Queenstown Winter Festival, from June 19 – 28, is sure to be the best one yet. It starts off with the American Express Opening Party at Earnslaw Park,where anyone who feels the chill of winter can grab some delicious food and hot drinks from the food stalls and watch the fireworks over Lake Wakatipu.

Prince Harry Visits Ulva Island, New Zealand

After arriving in New Zealand on May 9, His Royal Highness Prince Harry is visiting the country until May 16. Prince Harry’s visit went off-the-beaten track and away from the crowds on Sunday, when he travelled south to Stewart Island. This was no ordinary royal day out. New Zealand's third and southernmost island community has a population of approximately 400 residents and most of them, along with a few extras, turned out to welcome the Prince to their piece of island paradise.

New Zealand is a Garden Lover's Paradise

If your idea of a great vacation is visiting beautiful gardens that showcase beautiful flowers and diverse native greenery, New Zealand should be at the top of your travel plans. Kiwis love their gardens and put a great deal of energy and effort into them. For fans of flora, the land of the long white cloud really is a bucket-list destination.

FIFA¹s Youngest and Brightest Stars Descend on New Zealand

New Zealand is the host country of one of FIFA’s most important international tournaments, the FIFA U-20 World Cup. From the beautiful northern white beaches of Whangarei where Maori culture is ever-present, through the cultural capital of Wellington, and down to the wildlife area of Dunedin, the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup will make its mark as one of FIFA’s most diverse and beautiful tournaments.

Hopping Aboard New Zealand¹s Craft Beer Trend

New Zealand is well known for its New World wines, especially its award-winning sauvignon blanc and pinot noir. But the country also has a lot to offer beer lovers; New Zealand has developed a thriving boutique brewery culture. In fact, beer in New Zealand can be traced back to Captain Cook who, in 1773, brewed up what could only be considered the first craft beer in the country. It was developed to help his crew overcome scurvy – at least, that’s the excuse they used. Today, the land of the long white cloud is home to more than 250 different locally brewed beers.

New Events in New Zealand

The Ultimate Waterman, Crankworx

Napier, New Zealand is in Full Swing!

Napier, famous for the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the Southern Hemisphere, has a rich history. In 1931, a devastating earthquake damaged the city and a subsequent fire killed 256 people and decimated the town. From the ashes of this tragedy, the town of Napier was rebuilt with a real focus on the style of the times – Art Deco.

Taking Advantage of Off-Peak Travel in New Zealand

Whether it’s for Maori culture, food and wine, outdoor adventures, or seeing incredibly diverse landscapes, there are many reasons to travel to New Zealand. Visiting during shoulder season can make choosing New Zealand as your destination even more attractive.

Tudor Gardens unveiled in New Zealand at Hamilton Gardens

Carved mythical beasts perched on green and white striped poles are seen throughout the garden

The Many Ways to Get Around New Zealand

People in New Zealand, like those in the UK and Australia, drive on the “other side of the road” from what we do in Canada. This sometimes makes Canadian visitors to New Zealand a little apprehensive about getting behind the wheel. In fact, it is a pretty easy shift to make.

December in the Land of the Long White Cloud

As Canadians bundle up to brave the winter holiday season weather in Canada, it’s summertime in New Zealand. The country’s beautiful beaches, fabulous wine regions, world-class or budget-friendly golf courses, biking and hiking are all great reasons to check out Santa Claus in New Zealand.

Canadian Hobbit Fan Contest Winner Visits Hobbiton

Gearing up for the final big screen journey to Middle-earth with the December release of The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, the third film in Sir Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit Trilogy, an army of keen Hobbit fans, their guests, and around 40 high profile international media have converged on New Zealand for The Hobbit Fan Fellowship, a six-day Middle-earth adventure.

Test Your Taste Buds at New Zealand¹s Food and Wine Classic

The New Zealand Food and Wine Classic (F.A.W.C!) is for people who seriously love exceptional food and wines. Set in Hawke’s Bay, on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, F.A.W.C! is the country’s hottest and fastest growing food and wine festival. With a series of out-of-the-box experiences, set in stunning locations throughout the region, it’s a chance to get up close and personal with the chefs, food producers and wine that make up the New Zealand food and wine scene.

It¹s High Time for High Tea in New Zealand

Like Canadians, New Zealanders take high tea very seriously and there are several stand-out high tea establishments around the country

Maori Cultural Experiences in New Zealand

Maori culture is at the heart of what makes New Zealand special and the Maori influence can be seen and felt throughout the country. There are many opportunities for visitors to learn more about Maori culture through a range of interactive experiences.

New Zealand on a budget

With incredible natural beauty, unique wildlife, fabulous food and wine, and fascinating Maori culture, visiting New Zealand is often considered a bucket list trip. However, a dream vacation doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg – there are many ways to see the country on a budget.