An Unforgettable Experience at Stonyridge Vineyard – Waiheke Island I recently had the pleasure of visiting Stonyridge Vineyard on beautiful Waiheke Island, and wow — what an unforgettable experience from start to finish. To be honest, I’ve never really been much of a wine drinker - but that may have changed forever after this visit. From the moment we arrived, we were captivated by the stunning surroundings and relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. The vineyard itself is absolutely picturesque, like something out of a postcard. Shout-out to Ella for the warm welcoming as we went in! Your a star! Our wine-tasting was taken with Gary, and it was truly exceptional. His knowledge of both the wine and the vineyard’s rich history brought a whole new appreciation to the experience. He was passionate, engaging, and made learning about wine feel effortless and fun. After tasting a variety of wines and learning how to truly appreciate the flavors, I think I’ve officially converted! Pinot Gris may just be my new drink of choice! Gary, if you’re reading this - thank you for making it such a standout experience! 10/10 recommend Gary for your tastings! Now, let’s talk about the food… incredible!!. Every dish was bursting with flavor, beautifully plated, and perfectly paired with the wines. From rich, savory mains to delicate fresh starters, each bite felt thoughtfully crafted and elevated by the wine it was served with. But the real showstopper? The cheesecake! Hands down, 100/10. If I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I absolutely would. Creamy, dreamy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious—it was the perfect sweet ending to a flawless meal! Thank you Chef Sam and Chef Arnaud! The staff were warm, friendly, and attentive throughout our visit, and I have to give a special mention to the Manager - Jaden - who was absolutely wonderful—approachable, professional, and clearly loved what they do. You could feel the positive energy flowing from the entire team. To the incredible team at Stonyridge - Chefs Sam and Arnaud, the staff (S/O to Vale, Kiki and Mathis), the wonderful manager Jaden, and of course Gary....THANK YOU for such a memorable day. I came in as someone unsure about wine, and left as a total convert with a new favorite drink and a full, happy heart. I’ll definitely be back!

A fantastic low-key adventure for all ages! We had such a fun time with EcoZip Adventures—it’s been on my list for years, and it didn’t disappoint. The guides were friendly, informative, and made everyone feel at ease with a simple, well-delivered safety briefing. I really appreciated the extra care they took for those with back issues or injuries—it made a big difference. The views soaring above the treetops were absolutely stunning. A perfect way to kick off our inaugural Dad & Daughter adventure day!

We popped in here for dessert and a wine tasting and were not unhappy with our choice. We were there on a gorgeous winter's day so were blessed with a spectacular view of the beach and ocean. This was topped off with some great wine and delicious sticky date pudding. What's not to love? The winery is a little out of the way but definitely worth the drive.

A perfect beach on Coromandel peninsula, view from the top is breathtaking, higly recommended ! (You do need to walk on rocks, first half of the track to get to the beach so it requires a bit of balance ; should be ok for most people ; but the path to access the viewpoint is very steep (but quite short), very rewarding though !)

A peaceful spot, perfect for a relaxing day out. The falls is stunning, and the area is well-maintained and can have a dip. Visited on perfect sunny day. Can walk up to the bottom of the fall. The walk up to the upper lookout is easy and has breathtaking views. If you look out carefully, you’ll see a Waka Hotel which is lovely and quite interesting. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a scenic getaway. Children friendly.

Our GoSkydive New Zealand experience was excellent right from the very first phone call. The owner answered the call and explained everything I needed to know before making a booking for my group of six. He even gave me a discount which was great. We were personally picked up in Auckland CBD and driven to the skydiving site. The whole staff were honestly the most professional and extremely friendly people I have met. The guys doing the tandem jumps with us were very patient and understanding and made the whole experience easy and enjoyable. The videos taken during the jumps, were edited and emailed to us straight away. It was an excellent first time experience, I would definitely do again with these guys.

We were warmly greeted by the friendly staff, who shared the fascinating history of this private water garden, created by a German couple. The gardens were stunning, with numerous lotus flowers in full bloom, and the walk to the waterfall was a lovely, easy hike. I truly appreciate all the effort that went into creating such a wonderful experience. Just a heads-up — the road leading to the garden can be quite windy, and don't pay any attention to the 100 km/h speed limit sign; it's a bit ridiculous!

Customer orientation at its best! Astonishing tour! Great organization, easy communication via WhatsApp, paddling made for everyone, relaxing stop at cathedral cove with tea and cookies, lot of information on Cook, Tasman, Māori, marine reserve park from the guide, we saw stingrays just beneath our Kajak. Great day! Lovely experience! Do it if you have the chance to do so! Thank you Mike and team also for the extra transfer service! Great day!

One of the oldest natural spa in Auckland, the administration is really cheap plus no time limit. They also have locker for your important items. The most important part this play is they have very good fish and chips. I think the combo is $16 if I am right. It’s really yum yum yum. Not a fancy place but its wonderful place for the family trip.

It was a rainy day but we set off for Thames to visit the Butterfly and Orchid Garden. We had read an article in the NZ Today Magazine about it. We were not disappointed in the amount of beautiful butterflies in the enclosure. The party of 7 of us thoroughly enjoyed our outing. There are lovely tropical plantings and 2 fish ponds. Great to be inside in the warmth and pleasant surroundings. Afterwards we looked around the interesting items for sale in the shop.

My husband and I went to Pauanui Beach today 6/6/2024. We enjoyed our stroll there as it was so peaceful and tranquil. We highly recommend you to visit there.

Beautiful beach. Great waves. Lovely locals. Very chill comfortable vibe.

A great walk on a fine day, (no rain, there is not much shelter) it took us about 2 hours, the signs say 1 hour but there is a bit to look and read the photos attached shows the walk well including the turtle we saw photo included below. There is a panorama photo as well

Awesome stay. Room was amazing. Nice to come from Auckland to such a clean room. Hosts! Well, we couldn't rate them highly enough. Awesome people and guided us through the town. Our 5 year old loved being there also with the Pool and Mum in the Spa. Wouldn't stay anywhere else! And we will be back again. Thanks so much. See you soon!

This was an great place to visit the gardens were nice and there were many trails to follow throughout the gardens. You can buy bags of food for the birds and feed the wild birds. They will all run to you for food and will enen fly onto your arms and head. There are birds everywhere to feed.

We visited the Hobbiton movie set in November 2025, and what a great experience it was. We are not huge fans, but I have read the LOTR and Hobbit books, and we both saw the movies, so lots of places and stories felt familiar. Most of the Hobbit holes have been built after the movie shooting was done, and there is ongoing construction to build even more. Being here in spring was perfect, so many flowers and lovely weather. Upon arriving at the visitor center, you need to check in at the ticket booth (we had make online reservations) and then stand in line for your tour - they leave every 10 min. There are bathrooms and a cafe if you arrive early. The group then boards a bus, which drives about 10 min through green hills with sheep, while you get to see some movie clips. Then the group will be taken on a 1.5h walk through the outdoor set, which leads you alongside many hobbit holes. Noelle, our guide, did a great job explaining details about which scene was taken where, which artifacts were real or fake, etc. The attention to detail was stunning; most hobbit homes have a theme, so you can guess what the owners do for a living (bee keeping, fisherman, etc.). We even got to visit one of the homes from the inside, which was the highlight of the tour for me. The home had lots of rooms, including bedrooms for the children, a cat bed, recipe books, a pot of boiling water, and lovely decorated china with leftover cake or cheese. Those hobbits love to eat! At the end of the tour, we all got a complimentary (non-alcoholic) ginger beer or 'real' beer from a local brewery (other drinks also available), before we walked back to the bus. Highly recommended!

Such a lovely lil' visitor center in a cute town near Hobbiton. There are many maps, pamphlets, and souvenirs. You can also mail postcards here. The exterior of this building is amazing, too, especially if you love Hobbit homes. 🏡

Superb kayak journey up a creek / canyon with narrow tall walls and GLOW WORMS! You make the journey upstream in the early evening then return in darkness seeing thousands of glow worms. The guides are great and look after you really well. Strongly recommended.

One of my must stops with my daughter was the Mount. Memories were made that will last a life time. We actually visited twice. Once to walk around the base and the 2nd to go to the top. HIGHLY recommended as a part of any trip there.

One of my must stops with my daughter was the Mount. Memories were made that will last a life time. We actually visited twice. Once to walk around the base and the 2nd to go to the top. HIGHLY recommended as a part of any trip there.

Beautiful spot at the base of Mount Maunganui that offers scenic views. There’s a boardwalk to stroll along, a grassy area for the kids to play on, plenty of sandy beach, seating, toilet facilities and drinking fountains. There’s limited parking though so the earlier you arrive the better. We visited on a Saturday morning and there were plenty of vendors there offering paddle boarding, jet skis, cattermeran hire etc. Lots of activities on offer or just enjoy the leisurely walk along the path u der the beautiful Norfolk pines.

Really good walks and views throughout the park. One part is like a jungle of native trees and ferns. Well worth the trip!

absolutely stunning! 🌿💧 The water is crystal clear with the most beautiful shades of blue and green, and the walk along the river is peaceful and refreshing. It’s the perfect spot to relax, take photos, and enjoy nature. The track is well maintained and easy to walk, suitable for all ages. Highly recommend visiting if you want to experience one of New Zealand’s most beautiful natural places. Truly magical! ✨