Five of the cutest small towns in New Zealand stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BROOK SABIN/STUFF
New Zealand s tiny towns are home to some of our best hidden gems, from an emerald lake, to cliffs that look like they re from the moon.
There’s something sweetly melancholy about the last days of summer when it’s still warm enough for swims and eating outdoors, but the chill in the early mornings and late evenings signals the frigid days that lie ahead. With the timeline for travel bubbles still uncertain, it’s probably best not to bet on escaping to warmer climes this autumn – but fortunately New Zealand does the season particularly well. With foliage that drew travellers from across the world pre-pandemic and some standout festivals on the horizon, there’s a lot to look forward to over the next few months. Particularly in some of our small towns. If you think you’ll be able to escape for a couple of days or more, why not start planning a trip as you enjoy the last of the summer wine? Here are just a few suggestions.
BROOK SABIN/STUFF
New Zealand s tiny towns are home to some of our best hidden gems, from an emerald lake, to cliffs that look like they re from the moon.
New Year’s Day may seem like an odd time to put together a guide to New Zealand’s oldest towns. But with many of us either on holiday or planning one, we’re hoping it’ll come in handy. Not just for history buffs, our oldest settlements include a former booze and brothel mecca now doing a roaring trade in jet boat rides and island-hopping cruises, a smallholder farm service town turned wining, dining and shopping hub, and New Zealand’s answer to the French Riviera. Plus arguably the best place in Aotearoa to get a bellyful of fresh kai moana.