Nature, wildife, culture, history, gorgeous food and a dose of adrenalin - Cate Foster takes advantage of the pleasures of the Bay of Islands.

X marks the spot for eager youngsters in our treasure trove of fossil shellfish and dinosaur bones, writes Alex Tully.

Peter Calder takes a break from creature comforts - and city slickers.

Mitimiti's windswept beauty transports Liz Light to a land - and time - far away.

A driver is being labelled by police as foolhardy for trying to take a bus full of tourists up reputedly the world's steepest street.

Milking cows, riding dirt bikes, sliding in the mud ... The Farm's charm proves irresistible to families, discovers Diana Clement.

Kerri Jackson swaps cocktails for maritime exploration on Wellington's waterfront.

Rangitoto Island offers much more than a walk to the summit, as Danielle Wright finds out.

Pack up the tent and the kids and head ... across town. We round up some unexpected campsites right here in Auckland.

If you've run out of ideas to keep yourself busy these holidays Julie Harries has a novel idea guaranteed to get the suggestions flowing.

This small Bay of Plenty settlement is a great destination for a long weekend away, finds Diana Clement.

In principle the Conservation Department wants as many of the public as possible to enjoy the estate their taxation maintains. In practice, it is not very good at making that possible.

There's plenty to do on and off a cruise ship, finds Shandelle Battersby, and the attentive staff make cruising even better.

A retired mechanic has modified his car so he can tuck it under his bed.

Paul Rush dives below Raglan's surface to sample its many shore-based attractions.

Liz Light explores Westport; a town that owes its prosperity to the earth's bounty.

A set of "absolutely disgusting" toilets at the entrance to one of New Zealand's best short walks has drawn complaints that they are a blight on tourism.

Handing Department of Conservation campgrounds to private companies to run will turn them into "canvas subdivisions", says Labour's tourism spokesman Kelvin Davis.

Auckland is home to more than 50 volcanic cones and craters. Diana Clement explores just a few.

Goat Island proves the perfect base for a a bit of fun on a summer's day out, finds Cate Foster.

Accommodation website wotif.com has released its list of New Zealand's top 20 travel destinations, based on domestic bookings online.

I am starting to think that in this case we do need a national policy on freedom camping, so campers and locals know exactly what the rules are.

They're almost as rare as hen's teeth, but Jim Eagles finally lands his shark tooth in the Chathams.

Tawharanui a Garden of Eden for rare natives.

Liz Light finds Tutukaka living up to the high expectations of it.