Deb Faith bakes a picnic lunch and enjoys a gorgeous Anzac Day out.

Jim Eagles follows the footsteps of his colourful boyhood hero, Sir Francis Drake.

Sharon Lundy settles into an easy bike-riding tour of Wairarapa's award-winning wineries.

Nicky Park plays leading lady during a rainy weekend excursion to the Coromandel.

Little Barrier Island truly is New Zeland's last untouched natural sanctuary.

Great Barrier is regenerating after its destructive past, finds Cliff Taylor.

Dionne Christian is drawn to the charming characters of Hamilton Zoo.

Joanna Mathers uncovers disquieting stories of places where the former inhabitants just don't want to let go ...

Visiting Ruakuri Cave is a spiritual journey into a subterranean world where time stands still, writes Paul Rush.

Edward Rooney charts a course to the bottom of South Island and across to Australia on one of the busiest cruise ships afloat.

Great scenery and a dollop of sugary history; Liz Light takes an autumn walk in Chelsea Heritage Park.

There's plenty to do in Taupo for the whole family, writes Elisabeth Easther.

Estelle Sarney takes a Rotorua walk through history and a thermal field.

Jill Worrall takes a hike to one of her favourite South Island beaches.

Heading down south by motorhome to the Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow is a nostalgic, and pie-filled, journey for pilot Michael Walsh.

Danielle Wright takes her family to Rotorua and becomes a tourist in her hometown.

Lake Rotoiti is cafe owner Sarah Uhl's haven.

Dionne Christian and her family rummage around in nature's past on a fossil-hunting expedition.

KiwiRail is slashing the number of trips its Overlander train service takes between Auckland and Wellington.

A region's fine food delights MasterChef contestants, writes Joanne Carroll.

Danielle Wright visits the Whittaker's Music Museum and finds a great excuse to day-trip to Waiheke, even on a rainy autumn day.

Andy Kenworthy joins a group of hardy souls to test his survival skills on a wet weekend and comes out alive and kicking.

Golden Bay summers have woven into my memories since I was about 12, when we made our first trip here from Christchurch.

Two writers travel to Rotorua to see the two sides of the honeymoon experience.

Two South Island hotels are looking forward to big spin-offs after appearing on Conde Nast Traveler's 'Hot List'.

Cate Foster's weekend ramble takes her to a garden gallery that every member of the family will enjoy.

Kirsty Wynn and her family find fun by the bucketful at the lakeside.

DoC has indicated it will approve a concession to build a 43km monorail through conservation land, subject to public submissions.

Jill Worrall continues her journey south through the Catlins, the remote coastal region that straddles Otago and Southland.

Luxury presides at Northland's Carrington Resort, writes Julia Shallcrass.