Nikki Birrell

Freelance journalist

Food and travel are what make my heart thump — the two combined is heaven on Earth. Over the past 20 years, I’ve built a career that keeps me close to both.

Alongside editorial work, I specialise in branded travel and lifestyle content, creating stories that balance compelling narrative with clear commercial intent.
I’m always interested in working with publications and brands that value original storytelling, a sharp editorial eye and content that genuinely connects.

Portfolio

FOOD AND TRAVEL EDITORIAL

NZ House & Garden
28/07/2025
Copenhagen: Making memories

From crown jewels to cardamom buns, a stay in Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen, is a perfect way to mark a milestone

JRNY America
20/07/2025
New Haven, Connecticut: A hundred years of 'apizza'

Celebrating a whole century in 2025, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana is more than just a legendary pizza parlour – it’s a family institution and the birthplace of New Haven’s signature dish: apizza.

NZ Herald Travel - cover story
22/04/2025
Porto: A taste of past and present

From Porto’s historic streets to the vine-clad hills of the Douro, Northern Portugal makes for an appetising getaway at any age, writes Nikki Birrell

NZ Herald Travel
27/02/2025
Provence in perfect contrast

Marseille and Aix-en-Provence may be close neighbours, but it's their striking differences and distinctive characters that make them such a complementary pair.

NZ Herald Travel - cover story
02/02/2024
Mexico City: Beyond imagination

For a first-time visitor, the incredible scope of attractions in Mexico’s capital can be daunting — but following a few simple rules can make all the difference, writes Nikki Birrell

stuff.co.nz
01/11/2023
The joys of solo travel

With a little know-how, travelling solo can be a deeply satisfying experience. Travel writer Nikki Birrell describes her ideal holiday.

Vacations & Travel (Australia) - issue 119
01/09/2023
Kent Coast: Beside the seaside

Sea-carved white chalk cliffs, colourful beach huts, rock’n’roll – there’s much more to Kent than glorious countryside, although there is that too. By Nikki Birrell

Kia Ora (Air NZ in-flight magazine)
Fiji: The lap of luxury

Fiji’s 300-plus islands offer ample spots to enjoy a tropical holiday, but the five-star options are where indulgence is kicked into overdrive. We explore two of the best.

Dish online
18/07/2018
Aska: Behind the masterpiece

New York’s Aska restaurant’s eponymous cookbook is an examination of the rarified realm of Michelin star cooking. Nikki Birrell chats to chef and owner, Fredrik Berselius, about the impetus behind his experiential cuisine.

HOTEL AND FLIGHT REVIEWS

Vacations & Travel (Australia)
01/09/2023
The Londoner - hotel review

The relatively new Londoner hotel, on the edges of Leicester Square, has quickly become a modern classic. By Nikki Birrell

BRANDED CONTENT

NZ Herald - Sponsored content
17/05/2022
Fiji: Family adventures in paradise

Swaying palm trees look down on a patch of silky white sand where a circle has been drawn, a smaller one in its centre. The air is balmy, the mood is light and the anticipation on kids' faces is palpable.