Peter Jackson uses his creative genius to tell aviation stories.

Sarah Ell finds our favourites around the edges of the city.

Bluff has an annual rainfall of about 1000mm, although I'm told the town enjoyed just as brilliant a summer as the rest of us.

Pauanui was a perfect weekend getaway, says Holly Jean Brooker.

Elisabeth Easther strikes gold for visitors to the West Coast's former mining town.

Helen van Berkel becomes a fan of life on the road as she tours Northland in style.

Elisabeth Easther takes a trip back to a time when flight was an adventure.

In the heart of Central Otago Paul Davies is a little enclave that gives wine lovers a taste of heaven.

So you're a grommet, I say to my teen on the way to Raglan. He looks puzzled but his friends enlighten him. A grommet or grom is slang for a young surfer.

Bronwyn Sell finds the natural wonders of the West Coast can match the Big Five of any safari.

Waiheke - The jewel of the Hauraki Gulf has been named as one of the world's best regions in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2016, the publisher's annual summary of the travel trends for the upcoming year.

Lonely Planet rates island among the hottest travel destinations.

Liz Light visits Gibbs Farm for art's sake.

Debbie Griffiths discovers the wonder of a Bay of Plenty 'Dinosaur Forest'.

Punakaiki's pancake rocks are enough to make Elisabeth Easther flip out.

Whisky and art are the first drawcards - but Colin Hogg is surprised to find there's much more to the once-named Chicago of the south.

World-famous for its vines, Marlborough is now getting a reputation for craft beer.

Fresh local fare, a gentle massage and thermal valleys -- Catherine Smith takes it easy.

Megan Singleton looks at some of the more unusual ways to occupy yourself in Auckland.

Elisabeth Easther finds gold in a charming hamlet in Central Otago.

A fruit distillery provides an alternative to Marlborough's usual wine tours.

Taupo is a great playground for thrillseekers, finds Shandelle Battersby.

The Mackenzie Country is full of photo opportunities. Megan Singleton finds five of the most scenic.

Next year's Wellington Sevens will be held on Saturday January 30 and Sunday January 31, and here are seven reasons why you should be there.

First-timers are full of the joys of spring on the slopes of Happy Valley, writes Dionne Christian.

From Pahi to Shelly Beach, cruising by boat was a perfect family day-trip, writes Sarah Ell.

Try fish and chips at the beach - washed down with as much wildlife as you can handle.

You can't head up this way without taking a detour all the way west to Muriwai, or Maori Bay or Shelly Beach off South Head.

Shandelle Battersby slathers herself in thermal gloop and waits for the magic to happen.

Going walkabout is a great way to experience the winterless north, says Donna McIntyre.