Lifestyle
“Nothing develops intelligence like travel.”
Jasper, garnet, sometimes sapphires: pocketfuls of treasure at Gemstone Beach
At Orepuki, on the remote south coast of New Zealand’s South Island, a bed of riches colour the shoreline, bringing gem hunters from near and far.
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Source. theguardian.com, 20.09.2024
Who is behind the Kiwi accent on Slovakia's train announcements?
A Kiwi travelling abroad was on a train in Slovakia, when she heard a familiar accent come over the speakers.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 17.09.2024
Off the beaten track with Kennedy Warne
Kennedy joins Kathryn to talk about walking the Golden Stairs track at the entrance of the Whangape Harbour on Northland's west coast.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 17.09.2024
The inner-city garden using food scraps to create top grade soil
An urban compost project has fostered an ingenious way to turn all kinds of waste food into fertiliser.
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Source. theguardian.com, 13.09.2024
I’m 70 years old – and climb a mountain every day
When people see my physique, abs and mental state, no one can believe my age.
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Source. theguardian.com, 13.09.2024
Out & About: Celebrating spring
The Timaru Artisan Farmers Market held its Father’s Day Spring Market in Timaru on Saturday. Timaru Herald chief photographer John Bisset went along and captured these images.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 04.09.2024
Viennese waltz: top travel tips for a spin around Austria’s capital
From the ferris wheel featured in the Third Man to an evening with Mozart and the world’s largest collection of Klimts, here’s how to make the most of a break in Vienna.
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Source. theguardian.com, 01.09.2024
‘Even in the teeth of a gale, she has time for a hula’: the sailor breaking barriers on the Pacific ocean
First female Fijian sail master on traditional vessel Uto ni Yalo led a difficult week-long voyage to the Pacific leaders’ summit in Tonga.
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Source. theguardian.com, 27.08.2024
The Pantry Staple That Can Change Your Cooking
There are so many kinds of red-pepper flakes. Getting to know them all can give your dishes a glow up.
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Source. nytimes.com, 23.08.2024
‘A Box of Surprises’: a Rotterdam Apartment That’s Only 74 Square Feet
Two architects in the Netherlands made the most of the tiniest of spaces, “maximizing absolutely everything.”
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Source. nytimes.com, 23.08.2024
36 Hours Denver
Catching tantalizing glimpses of the snow-capped Front Range becomes addictive in Denver, whether you’re running through one of more than 280 city parks, gazing through a restaurant’s west-facing windows, or just strolling between breweries and art museums — an activity even more inviting when temperatures start to cool down.
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Source. nytimes.com, 22.08.2024
36 Hours Provincetown, Mass.
Located at the tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown has overlapping — and sometimes competing — identities.
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Source. nytimes.com, 15.08.2024
36 Hours Helsinki
For seven consecutive years, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world, and summer is the brightest, cheeriest season to visit its capital.
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Source. nytimes.com, 08.08.2024
36 Hours Salzburg, Austria
Summer is when Salzburg, the compact Austrian city of medieval alleys, majestic Alpine views and just 150,000 residents, bursts to life.
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Source. nytimes.com, 01.08.2024
‘People think they’ll smell but they don’t’: inside the Namibian homes built from mushrooms
A sustainable project aims to repurpose encroacher bush to create building blocks to solve Namibia’s housing crisis.
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Source. theguardian.com, 18.07.2024
Shackleton: Famed explorer's Endurance ship gets extra protection
A protection perimeter drawn around Endurance, one of the world's greatest shipwrecks, is being widened from a radius of 500m to 1500m.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 09.07.2024
Fidlets, fingies and riding a doo: study sheds light on Antarctic English slang
Dr Steph Kaefer spent three weeks documenting unique colloquialisms on the frozen continent after newcomers were struck by the distinctive vocabulary.
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Source. theguardian.com, 20.06.2024
From cold showers to hot tomatoes: 10 of Michael Mosley’s top health tips
The TV presenter who died this month was full of ideas for single actions that could benefit body and mind.
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Source. theguardian.com, 15.06.2024
‘Pillars, pergolas, palms and pines’: readers’ favourite gardens in Europe
Our tipsters’ horticultural finds from Hanover’s formal terraces to the world’s oldest university botanical garden in Padua.
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Source. theguardian.com, 31.05.2024
10 of the best gardens in Europe you’ve probably never heard of
From Amsterdam to Athens, these beautiful unsung spaces exhibit a riot of colour, elegant design, history and tranquility.
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Source. theguardian.com, 01.06.2024
Amateur Historians Heard Tales of a Lost Tudor Palace. Then, They Dug It Up.
For generations, residents of Collyweston — a village in central England snuggled up against the River Welland — passed down stories of a grand Tudor palace, of royal processions through the valley below, of the mother of a king who had called it home.
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Source. nytimes.com, 26.05.2024
South of France, but not as we know it: exploring Nîmes and the Gard
Unesco listing for the city’s Roman temple put this city on the map last year, but there are uncharted delights in the surrounding towns as well.
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Source. theguardian.com, 20.05.2024
Walking the ‘outdoor capital of Scotland’: 25 years of the Cateran Trail
Straddling Perthsire and Angus, the five-day, 64-mile hiking route takes in soaring mountains, golden glens and some beaver-curated rewilding.
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Source. theguardian.com, 21.05.2024
Free lunches, brain breaks and happy teachers: why Estonia has the best schools in Europe
How did a small, relatively poor country become an educational powerhouse? Creativity, autonomy and a deep embrace of the digital age.
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Source. theguardian.com, 27.03.2024
‘I feel more connected with humanity’: the club where phones are banned – and visitors pay for the privilege
You’ll need to hand over your phone before you can grab a coffee at the Netherlands’ Offline Club, or attend a music event from Off the Radar. Why are the Dutch so keen on digital detoxes – and are there lessons for the rest of the world?
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Source. theguardian.com, 08.05.2024
The Denmark secret: how it became the world’s most trusting country – and why that matters
There are real benefits to a society where people feel safe enough to leave their babies and bikes on the street. How have the Danes achieved this level of faith in their fellow citizens?
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Source. theguardian.com, 22.05.2024
Fireflies are nature’s light show at this West Virginia state park
By protecting natural darkness, Watoga State Park inadvertently created a haven for thousands of synchronous fireflies.
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Source. nationalgeographic.com, 18.05.2024
From Lincoln to Anne of Cleves, these 5 official portraits created quite a stir
King Charles III’s official portrait is stirring conversation, but it’s far from the first to do so. Throughout history, portraits have often been sources of controversy, blending fact and fiction.
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Source. nationalgeographic.com, 18.05.2024
How to walk the Tour des Combins, the best long-distance hike in the Alps
For a different side of a classic, the Alps have no shortage of lesser-known walking trails and alternative hiking experiences, leading to towering peaks and gentle meadows. Along the way, pick up new skills, meet welcoming locals and form friendships to last a lifetime.
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Source. nationalgeographic.com, 18.05.2024
Where to eat in Mumbai, the Indian megacity that's obsessed with food
Inventive chefs are sharing their stories through food in India’s ever-evolving west coast metropolis, but the city’s appetite for street food, thalis and Parsi dishes remains a comforting constant.
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Source. nationalgeographic.com, 20.05.2024
The ‘Yosemite of South America’ is an adventure playground in Patagonia
Follow in the footsteps of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in this rugged frontier in Chile that has everything—except the crowds.
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Source. nationalgeographic.com, 21.05.2024
48 hours in Cologne, Germany’s most laid-back city
Cologne cathedral, Europe’s biggest collection of pop art and vintage shops are all less than four and a half hours from London by train.
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Source. theguardian.com, 13.05.2024
Mother's Day: 'I love being needed'
Three New Zealand mothers talk about their experiences - a 'miracle' baby, parenting as a trans woman and what it's like to have three sets of twins.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 11.05.2024
Can I get a little more eco-friendly every day? Four tips for a greener mindset
Developing a daily practice of sustainability can help ease your anxiety about the future – so I tried it out for a week.
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Source. theguardian.com, 06.05.2024
France reclaims world record after baking baguette measuring 140.53m
Parisian bakers have claimed victory over rivals in Italy who created a baguette almost 133 metres long in 2019.
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Source. theguardian.com, 05.05.2024
Rolly the foster dog: ‘He rescued us’ say owners
Rolly's first toy was a small, second-hand teddy bear. It was the only thing he brought with him when he was delivered to Caitlin Nugent and Robbie Macgregor in August 2021.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 04.05.2024
Noisy, performative and unapologetically non-European: Nigeria welcomes a museum like no other
The John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History in Lagos ‘pops with colour and sound’ in a dazzling departure from the colonial model.
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Source. theguardian.com, 30.04.2024
Chewing over the South Asian fascination with paan in New Zealand
A specialty Indian digestive made from betel leaves is experiencing a surge in popularity nationwide. Paan, which is made from betel nut leaf and consumed with slaked lime, rose petal jam and mouth fresheners such as cardamom and cloves, has fascinated South Asians for centuries.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 26.04.2024
In Japan, ramen isn’t just a bowl of food, it’s a way of life
Spicy, steaming, slurpy ramen might be everyone’s favourite Japanese food. In Tokyo, long lines circle around blocks, and waiting an hour for your ramen is normal. What awaits might be just a dive, but a hot bowl of ramen rarely fails to hit the spot.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 26.04.2024
Dorset couple find 17th-century treasure hoard while renovating kitchen
‘Poorton coin hoard’, discovered under floor by Betty and Robert Fooks, expected to fetch £35,000 at auction.
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Source. theguardian.com, 18.04.2024
Vegan chocolate crowned Supreme Champion at Outstanding Food Producer Awards
A New Zealand chocolate touted as being 'so good it doesn't taste vegan' has been crowned Supreme Champion at this year's Outstanding Food Producer Awards.
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Source. rnz.co.nz, 18.04.2024
New Plymouth farmers market shortlisted for OrganicNZ award
The Taranaki Farmers Market in New Plymouth has been recognised as one of the best in the country.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 09.04.2024
The botanical wonderland that used to be a dairy farm
When Leonie Hofman moved to the Eltham dairy farm 35 years ago, the garden, named Leonie’s Garden, was merely a twinkle in her eye compared to what it is today.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 06.04.2024
South Canterbury eateries among NZ’s best gastropubs
Overcoming challenges and adapting to change has landed two South Canterbury eateries on a list of the top 50 eateries of their type in the country, and their operators say they are prepared for winter.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 03.04.2024
Let’s move to Disney town! Will life in its 2,000 themed homes be a dream or a nightmare?
Starting at $1m, a Disney home offers Disney art classes, Disney dinners, a Disney clubhouse and a Disney lake that never changes colour. We explore the House of Mouse’s plans for curated living.
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Source. The Guardian, 08.04.2024
It’s like travelling back 700 years: healthy pleasures in rural Andalucía
A group of seven Moorish villages in southern Spain are the perfect place to recharge – offering mountain air, sparkling springs and any excuse for a party.
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Source. The Guardian, 26.03.2024
‘I’ve never seen lily pads so big’: readers’ favourite gardens in Europe
Our tipsters enjoy glorious fragrances and waves of shimmering colour at historic and absorbing gardens from Spain to Sweden
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Source. The Guardian, 08.03.2024
Pride season is here - all the biggest rainbow events coming up
This week sees the launch of the Pride season in New Zealand and over the next few weeks get ready for a bountiful supply of rainbow flags, and general heightened sense of ‘fabulosity’.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 31.01.2024
The best under-the-radar tracks in the North Island
As summer fades into autumn, there are still plenty of chances to get out into the great outdoors here in Aotearoa.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 11.03.2024
Tōtaranui Ranger hero of our inland tracks
Exploring the high Inland Tracks of Abel Tasman National Park (ATNP) has long been on my bucket list.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 09.03.2024
Market day a meeting of the like-minded
On the 19th of March the Nelson Regional Development Agency (NRDA) has arranged for a fantastic opportunity for producers in the Nelson Tasman regions.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 05.03.2024
Naseby: Why you need to visit this South Island tiny town
It might be known for cold winters, but this tiny mountain town is full of warmth for those who visit.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 05.03.2024
Cape Reinga to Bluff: Triumph for classic car lovers
Members of a classic car club in New Zealand have completed a drive from Cape Reinga to Bluff.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 11.03.2024
The benefits of slow travel
The slow travel movement is gathering momentum as travellers seek less stress and a lighter environmental footprint, as well as deeper connections to the places they visit.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 17.03.2024
More than 4000 people get a taste of Havelock mussel festival
Salmon was seared and mussels were shucked as local bands and beloved Kiwi performers set the musical background at the Havelock Mussel and Seafood Festival.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 17.03.2024
10 of the best European activity breaks with a spirit of adventure
Fancy sea trekking, swim running or bodypainting? These and more familiar outdoor pursuits are on offer at destinations from northern Norway to the Greek islands
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Source. theguardian.com, 16.03.2024
Guinea pig show coming to Waimate for first time
Mr and Mrs South Island will be revealed in Waimate, and while they may be wearing their finest outfits, competitors won’t be able to answer any questions from the judges.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 12.04.2024
From techie to market gardener - 'Getting made redundant really pushed me'
Being made redundant from her job in the tech industry was the nudge Morgan Kane needed to get into market gardening.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 08.04.2024
Marlborough Lines lights up Blenheim for centenary
A 10m-tall spaceman will light up a Blenheim park this weekend as a company reflects on the century that has passed since it first flicked the switch.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 10.04.2024
Swap meet to celebrate 40 years in South Canterbury
It’s been a mainstay in the lives of many a bargain hunter and motor enthusiast - now the South Canterbury Vintage Car Club Swap Meet and Bazaar will celebrate its 40 year anniversary.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 04.04.2024
Spectacular autumn adventures: New Zealand by rail
Stretching between New Zealand’s largest city and its windy capital, the Northern Explorer showcases some of the best landscapes to be found on the entire North Island.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 09.04.2024
What happens to the coins tossed into Rome’s Trevi Fountain?
As visitors’ coins splash into Rome’s majestic Trevi Fountain carrying wishes for love, good health or a return to the Eternal City, they provide practical help to people the tourists will never meet.
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Source. reuters.com, 16.02.2024
By the numbers: All the critters and cookies Air NZ transported last year
Airlines don’t just transport human passengers – but also lots of pets and native species for relocation.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 16.01.2024
In pictures: All the good folk of the Urenui Rodeo
It was a typically hot and dusty experience at the Urenui Rodeo on Saturday, where photographer Vanessa Laurie caught up with a few of those who gad about in denim jeans and Stetson hats.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 11.03.2024
What’s on in Manawatū this weekend and beyond
The country comes to town for the New Zealand Rural Games this weekend.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 07.03.2024
Woodbury Harvest Gala to celebrate start of autumn
Woodbury buildings will reap the benefit of the harvest, with things looking autumnal in the Geraldine village as residents prepare for a gala celebrating the change in season.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 08.03.2024
All trails lead to Waikaia for Goldfields Cavalcade
All trails are leading to Waikaia this week as it prepares to host the 31st Goldfields Cavalcade on Saturday.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 29.02.2024
Mountainbikers hit the hills for Cavalcade
Margo Goodsell of Wanaka had a list of adjectives to describe her mountainbiking trail on the 31st Goldfields Cavalcade last week.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 11.03.2024
Wellness festival to be held in Mackenzie
An inaugural wellness festival taking place in the Mackenzie District hopes to make Lake Tekapo/Takapō “synonymous” with wellbeing.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 17.03.2024
My hammock was my window on to the valley: a new type of walking trail in the Swiss Alps
The world’s first hammock hiking trail in southern Switzerland takes hikers into quiet corners of the Alps – with their beds in their backpack for lazy pit stops and overnight stays
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Source. theguardian.com, 18.03.2024
Great Taste Trail generates more than $34m over year
A scenic cycling path popular with locals is having an economic impact on the region worth tens of millions every year, a recent report says.
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Source. stuff.co.nz, 18.03.2024