NEW: Thee Write Away - Writers Retreats in New Zealand

Introducing Thee Write Away - where you design your own special retreat experience.

Lose the crowds in this fully customisable writer's retreat in Rotorua, the heart of the Hot Tub Valley, New Zealand

Created by writers for writers  - our retreats are designed with your personal wellness in mind. Ideal for singles, couples or small groups. 

Next Group Dates: starting 14 October 2024 or pick your own date.

Search accommodation based on your interests.

Write, cycle, walk, play golf, sample wine, take photos, sing, sail, fish or swim.  

Isn't it time to look after me?

A fresh, collborative, community-led approach has breathed life into a new Tourism Concept.

The concept is a fusion between traditional hotels and cloud-based software.

It provides singles, couples and small groups with a clean, safe and more regenerative way to travel.

Rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Soothing thermal springs for deep relaxation.

Be nurtured by nature - fresh forests, tranquil lakes, mesmerising hot springs.

Leisure, family and hard-out mountain bike trails for all kinds of cycling.

#SoakCycle #Soak&Cycle

The Secret Spot is hidden away in the Waipa Valley, in the heart of New Zealand’s mountain biking mecca.  

Check out our Soak + Cycle + Eat + Stay + Play options in Rotorua

Gorgeous locations, impeccable hospitality, spacious rooms. Most of our B&Bs offer Queen bed with ensuite, guest lounge and cooked breakfast.

B&Bs offer exceptional value, are fasdiously clean and great for people who enjoy the benefits of local knowledge and a fantastic cooked breakfast brought right to their room. 

Exceptional value, fasdiously clean and great for people who wish to prepare their own meals while on holiday. 

By Monica Lewis

Traveling incites some wonderful sayings. One of my favourite quotes is this;

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

I couldn’t agree more and personally I’d like to read all the pages and see the greenest of grass on the other side. But even if you have retired we may have the time to travel, there is the sordid question of the 'means'.

When one grows-up, intrepid travel does seem less romantic. Sleeping in a tent or in bunk beds in a dormitory loses its appeal for some of us and understandably so. There are the physical restrictions once the bones have gone weary. 

Check out these five top golf courses in beautiful Queenstown.

Christchurch is an exciting place to be at the moment. Visit this city as it rebuilds.

What to do, once you’ve withdrawn from the daily duty of putting bread on the table? Have you ever wondered about turning your home into your business?

A wonderful Robert Palmer song sums it up in the opening line; “the fight to make ends meet keep a man on his feet” (click to hear the song)

Despite our moaning about the traffic when we were obliged to travel to the office every day - maybe now we miss it! Without the deadlines and obligations which in turn give the drive to get started in the morning; what to do with all that available time?  Sure for some there are family demands, clubs or volunteer commitments that help fill the day but those activities take up time and money and give back – let’s say - a non-material return on investment . For some of us the chance to make a bit of pocket money while doing something we love doesn’t sound so bad. 

It's now the school holidays and that's the perfect excuse to take one or two of your grandkids away and really have a wonderful time together.

Labour Weekend is a much-deserved long weekend - an opportunity to celebrate the end of a long winter stretch. Here are our top tips for a Labour Weekend Getaway.  

With glimpses of warm summer weather and spring baby animals and blossoms, we suddenly leave our hibernation, say farewell to the fire-lighting routine and make plans for getting out and about.

We go potty about our gardens

To say that kiwis are a bit potty is an understatement - we adore our gardens and even more, we love to share them!

From structured professionally landscaped vistas, planned-to-blossom and colour-coordinated year round, to simple elegance of mass species plantings, right thru to forests of native flora and fauna - it is this variety that truly captivates the New Zealand Gardner.  

New government funding, a National Tourism Plan, changes in the way travellers are booking, evolving demographics and a global hospitality revolution, are just some of the factors impacting local tourism businesses. Julia Charity reports.

Come and stay with hosts who have access to primo fishing spots. Even better, our mad-keen fishing hosts can't wait to give you their best fishing tips - from a humble kiwi homestay ($60) to a luxury lodges in Hawke's Bay or Gore.

Easter is a great time to build up your bragging rights, biggest catch, longest battle, the largest number in a day and of course 'the one that got away'!!

A fabulous way to try something new, deep sea, lake or river fishing try out new gear, learn the best spots from your friendly host who will most likely will smoke your catch for the price of a cold one!

We warmly welcome you to indulge in one of your favourite past-times and enjoy the sights and smells of your hosts efforts, explore their take on gardening.

No matter the season, there's bound to be fruit, flowers and vegetables for you to enjoy.

Dominion Post. Story: Jenny Keown