Travel

Fact: You’re never too old and there is no time like the present.

The weather can be very fickle in the South Island in early spring. But even on rainy days or when a cold wind is blowing, there is a lot to enjoy.

When an irresistible air fare came up on Grabaseat for $39 each way from Auckland to Christchurch plus $10.00 per bag we booked on the spur of the moment. We'd be able to catch the first weeks of spring in the South!

There are places in the world whose name carries meaning well beyond mere geography. A thousand kilometres off the west coast of Ecuador lie the islands of the Galapagos Archipelago - 24 specks of geology straddling the equator that have become, not only

After I got back from China people kept asking, 'So how was it on the train?' I went by rail from Shanghai to Beijing. One of the world's fastest, the train rips along at around 300kph though is capable of even more.

We arrived in Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, on time, and quickly transferred to Viking Njord (for only its 5th trip since being launched in April 2012) to drop our bags and go exploring.

As long as I can remember, I've kept a bottle of lavender oil on hand to ward off coughs, colds and insect bites; to clean and heal wounds; to assist sleep and diminish anxiety; and simply because I love the intoxicating smell of this magical floral herb.

Derek Greslewski, author of My Trout Diaries, A Year of Fly Fishing in New Zealand, takes a close look at the Tongariro River loop track, through trout-fishers' paradise

Do you think of huge, bustling Beijing as a city with eco lodges at its doorstep?

Best to take a half-empty suitcase if you visit Shanghai. The shopping is vast and varied, from to the very best brands in the world to fake knock-offs you can bargain hard for.