Discover New Zealand.
Aotearoa, end to end. Stories, places and experiences from across the North and South Islands, written locally for the people who go.
Where to go
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Bay of Islands: an honest visitor's guide
What's worth doing in the Bay of Islands, where to base yourself between Paihia, Russell and Kerikeri, and when weather and crowds break the trip.
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Christchurch: The honest guide to New Zealand's Garden City
What you need to know about Christchurch: what's worth your time post-rebuild, how to use it as a South Island base, and the stuff most guides skip.
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Queenstown: Honest guide to the adventure capital
What's actually worth doing in Queenstown, when to skip the crowds, and how to base yourself here for Milford Sound and the rest of the South Island.
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Rotorua: an honest visitor's guide
What to do in Rotorua, which Māori cultural experience to pick, where to stay, and the practical stuff (yes, the smell) no one warns you about.
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Taupō: an honest visitor's guide
What Taupō is like, how it compares to Rotorua, and how to use it as a base for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Huka Falls and Lake Taupō.
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Wanaka: Queenstown's chiller cousin
Honest guide to Wanaka, NZ: Roys Peak, That Wanaka Tree, Rob Roy Glacier, Cardrona. How to get there, when to go and whether to base here.
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1.5 to 4 hours depending on site (Nevis is a half-day with transfers) AJ Hackett Bungy Queenstown: the three jumps
An overview of AJ Hackett Bungy in Queenstown — the Kawarau, Nevis, and Ledge sites, what each jump involves, and what the experience is like.
Full day (8h day cruise) or 24h overnight Doubtful Sound: Fiordland's Sound of Silence
Doubtful Sound is bigger, quieter and more remote than Milford. An overview of the day cruise and overnight options and what each experience involves.
Heli-hike 3 to 4 hours; scenic flight 20 to 40 minutes; valley walk 1.5 hours return Franz Josef Glacier: New Zealand's most famous ice
What Franz Josef Glacier looks like in 2026 after years of retreat, and an overview of the heli-hike, scenic flight, and free valley walk options.
2h on-set tour; 3 to 4h including arrival and Shire's Rest Hobbiton Movie Set: visiting the Shire
An overview of visiting Hobbiton Movie Set at Matamata, including the tour options and how to get there from Auckland, Rotorua or Tauranga.
Half day to overnight (most travellers pass through in under 4 hours) Lake Tekapo: an honest visitor's guide
What to do at Lake Tekapo, how long to stay, and the truth about lupins, the Church of the Good Shepherd and Mt John stargazing.
Full day (cruise itself: 1h45m–2h30m) Milford Sound: an honest visitor's guide
What you need to know about visiting Milford Sound: which cruise is worth it, how to get there from Queenstown or Te Anau, and what the brochures skip.
About Sun Travel
A small, independent New Zealand travel publication. Written locally by people who live here, walk the tracks, drive the roads, and visit the places before they write about them.
- Written locally. Every page is researched and written by New Zealand–based contributors.
- Two islands, end to end. Coverage from Cape Reinga to Stewart Island, town to track.
- Kept fresh. Pages carry a last-verified date so you know when they were last looked at.