You'll see this everywhere: greenstone pendants in New Zealand
As soon as you arrive in New Zealand, you’ll notice the greenstone (pounamu in Māori) pendants, often attached to a leather necklace, around the necks of many locals and tourists.
Born in London to New Zealand parents, I somehow ended up growing up in New York, Sydney and then Melbourne, Australia. Today I have whānau around the world, which is a blessing - even if I don't know where to call home.
As well as working as a travel editor and writer, I trained to teach English during the pandemic lockdown (ask me anything about phrasal verbs) and produced a travel podcast with a team of grounded travel folk. Have a listen to "This Place, This Story" on Spotify, Audible, or Apple podcasts.
When not away on assignments, I spend my days tinkering on my canal boat in London, and am raising two kids and a fat Russian Blue cat called Millie.
As soon as you arrive in New Zealand, you’ll notice the greenstone (pounamu in Māori) pendants, often attached to a leather necklace, around the necks of many locals and tourists.
Tickets to the headline events like Glastonbury may have been snapped up the moment they went on sale (although we give you the inside scoop on other ways to get there). But there's more to summer than the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm – Great Britain knows how to put on a musical festival with something for every taste and budget. Here are the very best festivals to book for a summer of camping, dancing and partying.
Meet Elsewhere, Lonely Planet's new travel-planning service. From Argentina to Vietnam, our worldwide network of local experts can plan your trip from arrival to departure, so you can spend less time poring over train timetables and more having the best experiences possible.
Discover the freedom of the open road with Australia's Best Trips. A guide to 38 amazing road trips that range from two-day escapes to two-week adventures. We'll also show you recommended detours to take, where to have the best experiences outside of the car and how to link your trip to other routes.
Lonely Planet's Experience London travel guide reveals exciting new ways to explore this iconic destination with one-of-a-kind adventures at every turn. Find a floral jungle at Columbia Road Flower Market, visit Sky Garden's park in the clouds, see Shakespeare at the Globe - using our local experts and planning tools to create your own unique trip.
If you’re headed to Australia or New Zealand this summer, you might want to pack your national flag along with your sunglasses and camera. The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is on in nine cities across these two countries this July and August.
The ultimate trip planner for every month of the year: discover the best places to visit throughout the seasons. From city breaks to tropical beach vacations and family adventures, this book is organized by month with recommendations for trips that range from weekend escapes to one- and two-week getaways.
If you’re planning a great Antipodean adventure, Australia and New Zealand tempt in equal measure. Yet since that year-long sabbatical that will allow you to travel slowly across both countries may be a long time coming, you’ll likely have to make the tough decision to visit one over the other. How do you tackle such a choice? Let two of our travel experts help.
In this series, Lonely Planet’s team of writers and editors answers your travel problems and provides tips and hacks to help you plan a hassle-free trip. All-around travel expert and native Aussie Tasmin Waby helps a reader with the Sydney-related question below.
Take your bicycle on the ride of a lifetime with the help of The Bikepackers' Guide to the World. Discover 75 of the most amazing cycling routes across every continent and use the detailed maps, directions, accommodation and practical information to plan your trip.
Discover the freedom of the open road with Australia's Best Trips. A guide to 38 amazing road trips that range from two-day escapes to two-week adventures. We'll also show you recommended detours to take, where to have the best experiences outside of the car and how to link your trip to other routes.
Lonely Planet's Best of East Coast Australia is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip and what hidden discoveries await you. Snorkel the Whitsundays, tour the Opera House or bushwalk at Wilsons Prom; all with your trusted travel companion.
Lonely Planet's Best of East Coast Australia is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip and what hidden discoveries await you. Snorkel the Whitsundays, tour the Opera House or bushwalk at Wilsons Prom; all with your trusted travel companion.
It’s been a turbulent couple of years for travelers. So, once again, nothing makes us happier than having our next trip to look forward to. Whether you’re traveling to learn something new, giving back in a meaningful way or simply immersing yourself in the beauty of the world, here are 10 travel ideas we’re excited about for 2023.
Lonely Planet's Australia is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Dive in the Great Barrier Reef, marvel at the unique wildlife, and hit the beach at Byron Bay; all with your trusted travel companion.
Discover the freedom of the open road with Australia's Best Trips. A guide to 38 amazing road trips that range from two-day escapes to two-week adventures. We'll also show you recommended detours to take, where to have the best experiences outside of the car and how to link your trip to other routes.
Discover the freedom of the open road with Australia's Best Trips. A guide to 38 amazing road trips that range from two-day escapes to two-week adventures. We'll also show you recommended detours to take, where to have the best experiences outside of the car and how to link your trip to other routes.
Discover the freedom of the open road with Australia's Best Trips. A guide to 38 amazing road trips that range from two-day escapes to two-week adventures. We'll also show you recommended detours to take, where to have the best experiences outside of the car and how to link your trip to other routes.
If you’re heading to Western Australia to get away from it all, camp under the stars, frolic on empty beaches, explore mind-blowing geology, and learn from millennia of indigenous cultures, you’re in the right place.
For the first time, the team at Lonely Planet and its panel of industry experts have ranked the top 500 unmissable experiences and hidden gems across Australia - to create this definitive travel wishlist.
Discover the freedom of the open road with Australia's Best Trips. A guide to 38 amazing road trips that range from two-day escapes to two-week adventures. We'll also show you recommended detours to take, where to have the best experiences outside of the car and how to link your trip to other routes.
For the first time, the team at Lonely Planet and its panel of industry experts have ranked the top 500 unmissable experiences and hidden gems across Australia - to create this definitive travel wishlist.
Lonely Planet's England is our most comprehensive guide that covers all the country has to offer. Ideal for travelers that are visiting for an extended time and want to tailor their own trip. Experience the charm of the Lake District, gaze up at the dreamy spires of Oxford or kick back in a cozy pub - all with your trusted travel companion.
I wrote, edited and produced the London episode of This Place, This Story. Each episode is anchored by an audio 'love letter' to a location that aims to inspire wanderlust, spark a connection and provide an insight into extra special parts of our planet.
From stalwarts like Glastonbury and Reading plus boutique festivals such as End of the Road and brand new ones like Kite Festival in Oxford, here's your guide to the UK's best festivals in summer 2022. After two years of pandemic cancellations, the Brits are ready to party. Grab your tickets today.
If time allows you can circumnavigate this vast and varied land by car, van or bus – with the occasional train or plane journey too.
New Zealand is one of those destinations best explored by car or campervan. Public transport is limited outside cities, and so much of what you'll want to see and do is off-the-beaten-track, immersed in New Zealand's incredible natural environments. Road tripping means touring at your own pace, stopping for stunning walks, cycle rides, wild swimming, or wildlife spotting.
To celebrate and acknowledge Australia 's Aboriginal cultural heritage, Tourism Australia has announced it will be adopting a dual-naming approach for capital cities and other major locations. Dual-naming not only recognises 60,000 years of Indigenous custodianship, it brings Aboriginal languages and understandings into mainstream consciousness. A number of Australian place names already have dual-names.
Te reo Māori is today one of Aotearoa New Zealand's three official languages. Here's how you can learn more about te reo Māori before a visit to New Zealand.
It may be true that Oxford’s prestigious university is the city’s defining feature, but stray a little beyond the educational institution’s hallowed grounds and you’ll stumble upon intriguing museums, labyrinthine bookstores, and excellent historic pubs to while away an afternoon like the writers of yesteryear did. There's a lot more to this golden-hued city than austere and solemn academia. Here are the top things to do in Oxford, a centuries-old city full of modern inspiration.
Almost everyone wants to see Antarctica but not everyone can afford the price tag. Some lucky travelers visit this dream destination on a once-in-a-lifetime cruise where photography and wildlife viewing are the primary focus. Others dream, plan, train and then test their limits tackling super-human adventure activities in this incredible wilderness frontier.
There are too many Melbourne highlights to fit into one trip. Our best list features the big-ticket Melbourne experiences, plus some top locals tips.
More travelers are choosing sober nights out when traveling, finding their experiences are richer, more memorable and they're more engaged with local culture than when they hopped between bars.
Unless you're sailing from Australia or a Pacific island, getting to New Zealand is always going to require flying - something many are reconsidering as they look to reduce their carbon output from air travel. The good news is once you're in this beautiful country, there are many ways to travel sustainably.
More travelers are choosing sober nights out when traveling, finding their experiences are richer, more memorable and they're more engaged with local culture than when they hopped between bars or spent the night chasing a single beer in an alcohol-free country. Not-drinking is one of the most surprising trends of the early 21st century.
Climate concern is cited as the number one reason for increasing numbers of travellers choosing train travel over flights. This inspiring book shows readers who are motivated to travel more sustainably exactly what is possible, introducing some amazing European trips from three days to three weeks in duration with 100 no-fly itineraries across the continent.
Lonely Planet's New Zealand is our most comprehensive guide that covers all the country has to offer. Ideal for travelers that are visiting for an extended time and want to tailor their own trip. Hit the slopes in Queenstown, experience Maori culture and explore the Bay of Islands - all with your trusted travel companion.
No matter how well studied prior to arrival, visitors to Australia can't help but have their understanding of this ancient and spiritual country transformed by embracing Aboriginal cultural experiences on a trip here.
Take only photographs, leave only footprints - but how many of us really keep the environment at the forefront of our travel plans?
Some parents have to travel solo with kids because their partner is working, not interested in travelling, or are otherwise incapacitated. Others travel with their kids because they're single parents. If that's the case, you're probably used to some of the logistics required, but you might not be prepared for the experiences you're to have.
When the 100% Pure New Zealand marketing campaign was launched in 1999 it was considered 'pure genius' by many. Twenty years on this branding was at risk from localised overtourism issues: Aotearoa-New Zealand's population of around 5 million was hosting 11 million visitors per year from 2016 to 2019, and the strain was beginning to show.
Called 'the Winterless North', the Bay of Islands region is a favourite New Zealand summer-time destination, with its sparkling azure waters scattered with 150 lush green islands. Most of the action is out on the water...
Just because you don't drink doesn't mean you don't want a good night out. Here's our guide to the best nightlife for sober travellers in Europe's cities.
British people love their dogs. In fact 25% percent of households in the United Kingdom include a dog, a figure that is likely to be even higher this year thanks to a surge in pet-owning popularity during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The United Kingdom may be relatively compact, but it has a wealth of travel experiences that you've probably dreamed of since childhood. Buckingham Palace? Hadrian's Wall? Stonehenge? They're all here. Of course there are dozens of incredible places to visit across Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, but we give you the 10 best UK experiences to put on your itinerary, especially if it's your first time here.
Yes it has pristine wilderness, vibrant culture, and super-friendly locals, but did you know New Zealand is also blessed with some of the world's best accommodation? Aotearoa's luxury lodges offer not only security and privacy: guests get exclusive access to such memorable experiences as horse-riding in alpine meadows, heli-skiing and fly-fishing.
It's called the Harbour City for good reason. Few places on earth are as defined by their geographical form as Sydney, and even fewer incorporate such a spectacular water feature. Everything here revolves around the water - suburbs, recreation, traffic, even the collective consciousness.
Sydney is not the easiest city to get around, but its public transport network is reliable, reasonably priced and way more convenient than driving. Sydney's transport network is as complex as its roads system which grew organically, marrying disparate settlements around the harbour.
London may have Seedlip, distilling non-alcoholic spirits to export to the world, but now Australia has its very own non-alcoholic craft beer company...
Family skiing in the French Alps is possible on a budget - if you know where to look. Here's three great resorts for those with young skiers in tow.
It seems like this is the year of the Solo Woman Traveller with more women than ever deciding to head out on the road for transformative life experiences. Around the world there are some experiences that are uniquely feminine, cue: new female-only group tours in the Middle East. Get to know this region from a woman's perspective and enter places men are not allowed, travelling with other like-minded female adventurers.
Lonely Planet's England is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Experience the singular charm of the Lake District, gaze up at the dreamy spires of Oxford, or kick back in a cozy pub; all with your trusted travel companion.
Lonely Planet's Best of Great Britain is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Explore London's museums, sip whisky in Scotland, and hike in Snowdonia; all with your trusted travel companion. Discover the best of Great Britain and begin your journey now!
Due to its position between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, Caloundra can often be overlooked - explore the town's surfing hotspots with a stay booked with Culture Trip.
Diamond Head, reflects cool surfer vibes of yesteryear in its decor. All rooms come with private lanais (balconies), and splurging is particularly worthwhile: the penthouse ocean suites please the eye with tropical print cushions and ocean-deep statement wallpaper; the one-bedroom suite boasts its own wet bar.
This title will not be in stock until June 8 in the US.For the first time ever, Lonely Planet has compiled the best dining spots in every country of the world.
This title will be in stock September 21 in the Americas regions.Lonely Planet's Great Britain is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Puzzle the mysteries of Stonehenge, sip whisky in Scotland, and hike the mountains of Wales; all with your trusted travel companion.
Unless you're sailing from Australia or a Pacific island, getting to New Zealand is always going to require flying - something many are reconsidering as...
What if your school books actually got it all wrong, though? There is now strong evidence there's an eighth continent, mostly under the ocean - and no, it's not the lost city of Atlantis. It's one you might actually have visited. It's called Zealandia.
Australians have been coming up with their own unique ways to raise money and support the recovery and rebuilding efforts that lie ahead, after the...
Social Media Content Creator (Instagram, Facebook, Google) & SEO consultant for a new nature health & wellness business.
The latest stars New Zealand, as well as some local homegrown talent, such as international supermodel Rachel Hunter and actor Joe Naufahu who played Khal Moro in Game of Thrones. This Summer of Safety edition, shot at ten locations across Northland's Bay of Islands and Hokianga, was inspired by the classic Kiwi road trip.
Australia's current bushfire season has been the worst to date, but what does that mean for travellers right now?
Overtourism is a 'wicked problem', one that is difficult to solve because of contradictory and changing requirements that are often difficult to reconcile...
With the 50th anniversary of the moon landing coming up on 20 July 2019 the world's attention will be turning skywards this summer. But did you know one...
New York is set to add another major museum to the must-visit lists this decade. Plans are now going ahead to build the world's first museum dedicated to...
To mark 250 years since Captain James Cook's ship set sail from Plymouth in 1768, the British Library on London's Euston Road will be hosting a major exhibition (from 27 April 2018 to 28 August 2018) telling the story of Cook's three voyages through original documents, many of which were produced by the artists, scientists and seamen on board the ship.
Fans of 20th-century art will be given one more reason to head to London in spring 2020, when a major retrospective of Andy Warhol's work opens at the...
After a few high profile shark attacks lately including one in Queensland and another in Reunion, travellers are naturally asking: 'are more shark attacks...
Lonely Planet brings you 40 perfect weekends in Australia and New Zealand wine country, introducing vineyards in regions including the Clare Valley, Margaret River, Hawkes Bay, Tamar Valley and Marlborough, as well as celebrating secret gems off the beaten path.
It may be synonymous with adventure sports, epic scenery from the Lord of the Rings films and the spine-tingling haka of the All Blacks rugby team, but New Zealand has plenty of lesser-known experiences for travellers.
BodyPump in the sky? Not exactly, but Air New Zealand has teamed up with the world leaders in group fitness at Les Mills to create a series of inflight...
Idyllic, wild swimming holes, alluring lakes and magical coves; discover more than 60 locations around the world to experience The Joy of Water with this inspirational new book from Lonely Planet. Tap into the 'water wellness' trend with personal stories about the best places to take a dip and forge a stronger connection to the elements through interactions with water.
New Zealand artists have made a splash with the opening of the Oceania exhibition at the Royal Academy in London this month. While a unique opportunity to see Kiwi art curated in one show in London, creatives from this Pacific Rim nation are popping up across all arts industries with their unique voices and perspectives.
Strict new laws being considered by Indonesian authorities may spell trouble for unmarried and LGBTQ+ visitors to popular spots like Bali.
Wouldn't it be great to gaze upon your hometown with the wide-eyed wonder of a child? Where the city is not a collection of office blocks and car parks,...
This unique sand island is now a favourite Australian tourist attraction, often hailed as one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
There are well over 100 beaches in and around the city, but finding one that offers peace and quiet can seem like an impossible task in summer.
Morocco is one of those countries where real life surpasses the imagination. People are overwhelmingly friendly especially when you have children in tow - a real benefit for women travellers who can be unpleasantly overwhelmed by ‘friendliness’ in some hotspots.
A startup in Melbourne is hoping to change the way we produce food by building vertical edible farms in cafes and restaurants in the city.
Travelling with a hangover is never ideal. And it's a predicament our Lonely Planet staffers know all too well... But whether you wake up worse for wear in...
A new smartphone app has been launched to teach locals and visitors about the rich Aboriginal culture and history in Melbourne, Australia.
The Hoxton Hotel chain has launched a space-rental package for non-office workers and digital nomads seeking to rent a workspace out of the home.
The 'Clean Up' movement has gone global with over 150 countries joining in a worldwide community-led movement to clean up the world's litter in a single...
It's hard to believe the boy wizard is no longer young, but it's now more than 20 years since the publication of the first in JK Rowling's beloved series,...
Most people have heard of Uluru, formerly called Ayers Rock, in the red centre of Australia, but within the same national park is another rock formation...
American actor and comedian Steve Martin might be known for his not-so-secret passion for bluegrass, but did you know he also has an enviable collection of Aboriginal Australian artworks. Learn more about the art, Steve Martin's love for it, and how Aboriginal motifs and understandings are influencing the globe.
Animals residing at Sydney's Taronga Zoo are blessed with a knockout location overlooking the Sydney harbour. And soon humans will be able to join them...
Australia's first off-the-grid adventure park has opened in the heart of Victoria's Great Ocean Road region. Nestled among the towering Otway treetops,...
The greatest flower show on Earth has begun with wildflowers blooming on Western Australia's mid-north coast. And thanks to the perfect trifecta of...
In response to the growing popularity of hiking in New Zealand, the Department of Conservation (DOC) is planning to expand its family of nine Great Walks...
Train buffs, New Zealand is excited to announce that the Coastal Pacific railway will be taking passengers once again along the South Island's route from...
Air New Zealand is the first airline in the world to serve the award-winning, plant-based Impossible Burger. It's now available as part of its Business...
Wandering through Melbourne is even better when it's budget friendly. Here is our guide to the best free stuff to do in the world's most liveable city.
Ultra-long-haul flights are the future of aviation but what does that mean for airline passengers? Qantas has conducted some new research as it prepares...
An Australian watermelon farmer was caught unawares when his vegan watermelon ham, inspired by Ducks Eatery in New York, went viral this week after naming...
Working holidaymakers are about to get a little less young. Canadians up to the age of 35 will soon be eligible to apply for a working holiday visa to...
Following in the (train) tracks of the 'slow TV' movement in Norway - where viewers have binge-watched everything from salmon fishing, to sweater knitting...
The desolate beauty of Australia's west coast is now even easier to explore, thanks to a new pricing structure for self-drive travellers flying into Perth...
One of the most iconic pubs in outback Australia, the pub at Daly Waters (population 25) between Darwin and Tennant Creek, is up for sale.
Destination editor: planned, commissioned, briefed and contracted this first edition title for Lonely Planet.