New Zealand
I'm a freelance travel writer based in Auckland, New Zealand. My work has appeared in print and digital media in New Zealand and internationally, including the Sunday Star Times, Otago Daily Times, New Zealand Herald, Verve, Vacations & Travel, and Fly Solomons.
I aim to inform and inspire readers so that they can take the next step in making their dream trip a reality.
Recent destinations include Tohoku, Yokohama and Tokyo in Japan, and Melbourne in Australia. Forthcoming destinations include Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, and another trip to Tokyo and Kyoto.
I am a member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers and Travmedia.
Ningyocho’s main street still has an old Tokyo feel, lined with small shops whose proprietors spend years perfecting one thing. When I stepped inside Itakuraya, it felt like it had been there for a while.
Denise Stephens follows a trail through a mossy green forest in the north of Japan. A frothing veil of water tumbled into a pool that was almost...
I steeled myself before a first tentative taste of pickle ice cream. In my mind, pickles and ice cream were not made for each other.
The Nakasendo Road winds through centuries-old villages and forests in the Japanese Alps.
Discover Taiwan's best hot springs, from historic Beitou baths to mountain onsen retreats in Guguan and Guanziling.
Inuyama had everything Denise Stephens was looking for in a traditional Japanese town - a castle, shrines and temples, a classic garden, and a...
Denise Stephens finds the perfect way to relax after a busy day sightseeing.
Many visit to learn about the state's convict past, but it's also worth stopping to enjoy the scenery and food.
While Japan's December festivities differ from those in Aotearoa, it's a time of many unique traditions. Denise Stephens shares what to expect during a...
Denise Stephens experiences the vibrant spectacle that is Taiwan's national Lantern Festival. We stepped out of Taoyuan High Speed Rail Station...