Articles & Tips

It's widely accepted that if you are looking for cheaper travel options, the best time to rent or hire is in the off-season. When travelling in New Zealand throughout the off-season, it’s often possible to grab interesting deals thanks to discounted off-peak prices. In reality, there is extensive vehicle availability for off-peak travel options, due to the slow-down that usually happens after peak season. The only question is, where in the wild blue yonder will you go?

"It’s hard to imagine a better way to get together for a girls’ weekend than taking a road trip to a great destination. Bypass the hotel and jump in a Maui motorhome for your next luxurious girls’ weekend away."  Peta Stavelli tells us why girls long weekend motorhome trips are soaring in popularity, and why you need to take one.

Rach Stewart, a kiwi landscape photographer recently picked up one of our maui River motorhomes and embarked on a trip through South Island. With a passion for landscapes, combined with a love to travel to new places, Rach set about exploring a combination of South Island's most popular locations and a few lesser-known gems, documenting her experiences along the way her stunning photography skills. Here's her story.

There’s nothing quite like making a fresh start, and spring is the perfect time to hit the road in search of rejuvenation and adventure.

And what better place to experience the striking onset of spring than New Zealand, a country literally bursting with colours and flavour from September to November, when its flora and fauna reawaken after the sleepy winter months.

Those who've been to New Zealand will likely talk your ear off about the beauty, the variety, the purity - or maybe all of them at the same time. Maybe that's what motivated Jade to shortlist New Zealand when looking for a holiday with her husband and young child. Clearly, she fell in love with the place as she ended up visiting in one of our maui Ultima campers. Follow Jade's photo story as she travels through the lower South Island.

Cycling is a perfect way to explore New Zealand. And with a whole handful of cycle trails across the country, you'll be spoilt for choice. Threading through unique landscapes, with gentle gradients, they provide a perfect way for you to soak up the natural beauty of New Zealand.

Not a "cyclist?" No problem, rent an electric bike to take the strain out of it as you ride from winery to winery in a day. Want a unique adventure with your partner or group of friends? Try a multi-day ride with a stop off in some quaint accommodation. To get you started, we've put together our local knowledge on how to incorporate the best parts of these rides into easy day trips.

You'll be hard pushed to find the variation that Otago provides. From the rolling tussock hills to wineries, clear blue lakes to snowcapped mountains. The area really comes alive in autumn - as the trees change to a golden hue, the rivers swell, whilst snow dusts the mountain tops. A truly classic New Zealand scene. Here's a selection of must-visit places for your next South Island trip.

When it comes to pairing wine with your platter, there are a few basic rules to follow. It all comes down to matching like with like, whilst opposites attract. Sounds confusing? Let us take you through the in's and out's of the best combinations or wines, cheeses and platter contents you'll find whilst travelling New Zealand.

You don’t need to be a critic to know that wine and cheese is a marriage made in heaven. Still just like marriages, not all wine and food partnerships are equally good. Here are a few suggestions to help you find your own wine and cheese Nirvana.

It’s actually not making too much of ourselves to say that New Zealand is a foodies paradise, and all over the country farm gate markets are the torch bearers of that freshness, quality and artisan dedication. Our farmers markets are all about freshness, provenance, community and sustainability and there’s something deeply rewarding about being able to have a conversation with the person who grew or made the food that you are about to eat. 

These markets also reflect the community and the area that they come from, with all the colour and seasonality that this implies. Shopping here is not about the transaction but more about the relationship with the seller and the fact that you can learn something about their product makes the experience so much more than shopping in a supermarket. Not only can you buy produce and ingredients, but all our markets come with amazing ready to eat food offerings, which if you are anything like us, you’ll find near impossible to resist. So here are 6 of our favourites.