Distinctively Kiwi

03/05/2026

Our trip to the Abel Tasman and our first experience of kayaking in the Park. A truly magical experience. With thanks to Wilsons Abel Tasman

Awaiting the start of the next leg of kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park It's 33 years since I first took a Wilsons Abel Tasman boat from Kaiteriteri

06/04/2026

We visited the stunning Maruia River Retreat in October 2025 and our story and photos from the visit feature in the gorgeous winter edition of WORLD magazine released this week. Check out the story here

WORLD Magazine is your guide to Luxury travel, cruises, style, design, cars and golf.

21/02/2026

Hospitality can be a challenging business but the proprietors of Donegal House Kaikoura are doing a fine job. We loved returning to see how the place is thriving under their management since our first visit on their very first night! Read our story here

Donegal House is establishing itself as a mecca for people travelling around the country in campervans because of its well appointed (and very reasonably

21/02/2026

Sometimes the real gems are ones you've driven past and missed (for years!). We were so thrilled to discover The Cow Shed Restaurant during a recent trip home from Christchurch. Read our story here

Sometimes it's amazing how many times you can drive past something and not notice it's there. This is the case for The Cow Shed in Murchison. According to

11/02/2026

If you’re looking for a great place to stay in Kaikōura we highly recommend Te Mahuru Retreat.
Here’s our story:

We've stayed at Mahuru Retreat just north of the Kaikōura town centre several times now and it's hard to beat in terms of genuine hospitality, value, and

10/02/2026

There's a lovely Local Gem in Rai Valley that's well worth stopping at next time you're passing - here's our story about The Coffee House https://distinctivelykiwi.nz/local-gems/the-coffee-house-rai-valley/

11/01/2026

Le Cafe Picton is a delight and a wonderful supporter of live music and musicians (always to be encouraged!). Here's out story about our latest visit there.

Le Cafe is a cultural hub for the Picton community, hosting many visiting musicians and providing a meeting spot for locals and a highlight for visitors

08/01/2026

We really enjoyed our trip with Beachcomber Cruises to Motuara Island bird sanctuary. Here’s our story about it

Family members gifted us an experience for Christmas a couple of years ago and we finally redeemed it in the form of a half-day trip to Motuara Island

08/01/2026

We love our visits to Cloudy Bay - and we know that there'll be a warm welcome every time. Read our story here

Whether you're a serious wine connoisseur, a gourmand, or just someone looking for a picturesque setting to enjoy a nice glass of wine, there's an

12/12/2025

We love this time of year!