My holidays: Fern Sutherland

Fern Sutherland.

What was your greatest holiday? I absolutely adored Airbnbing around Croatia. My boyfriend and I went right at the beginning of the off-season and it was heaven. Only once did we encounter unpleasant and insanely patronising Americans wearing fanny packs getting off a cruise ship. Then we took an overnight ferry to Italy. I still find it so mindblowing that in that part of the world you can go to sleep then wake up in a different environment.

And the worst? Well I loved Samoa, but one of my memories of it is not being able to control my bowels after eating some metallic-tasting palusami, and our beachfront fale being bombarded by monsoons.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing? Walking, walking, walking.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be? I have never been south of Nelson (I know, I know) and would love to get to Queenstown. A friend recommended staying at Sherwood (hotel), which was created by the dudes responsible for Golden Dawn and Matterhorn. And after looking at the website I am devising ways to get there.

How about for a dream holiday internationally? I would love to do a full Scandinavian tour of duty.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling? Trying to engage a man in conversation about the Croatian War of Independence and finding he had pulled bullets out of his dog at the table we were sitting at. I don't think I picked up on the hints that he didn't want to talk about it.

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without ... someone who is doing the organising. I drift into Fern-land, looking at things and not concentrating and tend to put train tickets in rubbish bins.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given? Buy your tickets to the Colosseum at a vendor down the road from where everyone on Earth queues for three hours at a time. Instant access.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling? Probably the unsolicited one our airbnb hosts cooked us in Dubrovnik. It was 6 different courses all matched with a pitcher of red wine mixed with coke. My boyfriend and I stared at each other like, 'what are we eating?' and more importantly, 'how are we going to pay for this?'

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip? I'm usually on a severe budget and I hate carrying stuff.

Favourite airport to land at? Changi is a gross/amazing wonderland of hot pools, butterfly gardens and high-end luxury brands.

What's the next trip you've got planned?

I think it will be an Aussie trip. Perth with a road-trip to the Margaret River.

Fern Sutherland stars in The Brokenwood Mysteries. Season three premieres Sunday October 30, 8.30pm on Prime