Travel in New Zealand

There’s no better way to explore and get a taste of a country than by hiking, the essence of slow travel. The best and most memorable hikes are usually so-called bucket list trips, journeys that may replicate historic walks. These are the hikes that people dream of, train for, and budget the time and money to make them happen. Here are five of the classic hiking trips.

This article originally appeared in the February issue of AGENTatHOME magazine. Subscribe here to receive your free copy each month.

“ A death toll of 1.19 million is way too high a price to pay for our mobility… we need to do more. The rates of deaths in the United States are seven times higher than in Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.” — Dr. Etienne Krug

Not many countries have the sights-to-size ratio of South Korea. You can get from one corner of the country to the other in just two and a half hours, and in between you’ll find mountain trails leading to Buddhist hermitages, super-spectacle K-Pop concerts, back-alley pubs serving craft rice wines, enchanting bamboo forests and much more.

In the midst of winter with its low grey skies, the scents and colours of embryonic spring are a welcome morale booster. These gardens will offer spectacular views over the coming months, as banks of delicate snowdrops, and armies of budding daffs, bluebells and tulips return.

The State Department poured a bucket of cold water on spring break 2024 when it recently issued warnings for several popular spring destinations.

I shower and wash my face with La Roche-Posay Toleriane Dermo Milky Cleanser. I like to use body washes that I bring back from my travels to remind me of those trips: I have this Kokum Almond Cleansing Shower Oil that I got on a trip to India that smells so good. Because I dye my hair, it’s quite thirsty — I use L’Oréal Professionnel Purple Shampoo to keep the yellow out, and Davines Oi Conditioner. I always use Davines Minu Hair Serum when I blow dry my hair and finish with Oi Oil.

When Aegean Airlines revealed its latest uniforms last October, the Instagram announcement looked not unlike a teaser of a Jacquemus show. In it, models glided down a mirrored runway as the sea shimmered on the horizon, dressed in uniforms designed by Zeus+Dione, a fashion brand rooted in Greek craftsmanship. “The [colors] reflect the Greek landscape: deep Aegean blue alternating with sunlit silver-blue hues of rocky surfaces, along with washed-white shades reminiscent of the traditional architecture in the Cyclades and Dodecanese Islands,” said Zeus+Dione co-founder Dimitra Kolotoura.

So, you’ve met someone you are so completely and madly in love with that you want to spend the rest of your lives together. Congrats! There’s no better feeling. You’ve likely decided on a ring, perhaps even told those close to you that you plan on doing it, but here’s the big question: where will you propose?

International travelers visiting New Zealand go to Queenstown; Kiwis go to Wānaka. Like its better-known neighbor to the south, Wānaka has spectacular outdoor pursuits, breathtaking scenery, and a buzzy lakefront. But this is where the two towns diverge: Adrenaline-fueled Queenstown increasingly caters to foreign visitors (members of its seasonal workforce frequently have English or American accents), while Wānaka leans in the other direction, creating an oasis of localness that has made it an under-the-radar capital of the Kiwi lifestyle. Now, in-the-know overseas travelers are catching on.

On Monday, one European airline started inviting passengers to ‘weigh in’ before flights.

If your New Year’s resolution was to earn more miles and points, take more trips, and reap more value from loyalty programs, the best points and miles deals in February will definitely interest you. Airlines, hotels, and credit cards have promotions and deals to kick off your travel year. Here’s how you can benefit.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating an outbreak on a luxury cruise ship after more than 150 people reported symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhea and vomiting.

Flying with kids can be a stressful experience. But some airlines make the process easier by welcoming families with special comforts and conveniences. While it’s not always a given in the United States, most international airlines still offer early boarding for families with small children. Globally, on long-haul flights, most full-service airlines (versus a low-cost or charter airline) offer bassinets for infants, kids’ meals, and a kid-friendly category on the in-flight entertainment screen—at a minimum. For families looking for the smoothest in-flight experience, we’ve rounded up the airlines that offer the best services and amenities for people traveling with kids.

American Airlines is getting ready to stamp its passport by adding new international flights to Australia, Mexico, and beyond.

European airline Finnair will become the latest carrier to ask passengers to weigh in before boarding this month in an effort to collect data on aircraft balance calculations.

Another airline has started asking its passengers to volunteer to step on the scales before boarding.

Pig cafes are the latest craze pulling in tourists in Japan.

Few things in life are as miserable as flying in an uncomfortable airline seat for hours on end. Fortunately for air travelers, cramped legroom and sleepless flights are so last year.

For travellers with serious hiking ambitions, there’s no better country than New Zealand. ‘Tramping’, as the locals call it, is easy and accessible in this land of fern-fringed rivers, glacial valleys and volcano calderas. But the crowning glory is its ‘Great Walks’ — a collection of 11 multi-day hiking trails that capture the best of New Zealand’s spectacular landscapes. Though easy enough to complete, tackling any one of them requires planning — so, from how to budget or book huts to what to pack, here’s all you need to know.

Scattered and remote in the South Pacific, the Cook Islands are a taste of tropical perfection.