Here are a collection of places that are not necessarily regarded as ecologically endangered but should still be regarded as fragile, that our Members and Visitors may wish to explore.
CORANZ is not a travel guide, nonetheless we encourage readers to explore the benefits of engaging with the great outdoors.
If you have a favourite place you think would appeal to others, please send us details to info@coranz.org.nz
- Kawhia Hot Water Beach: Access Without Guardrails
Hot Water Beach at Kawhia offers a familiar concept in an unfamiliar setting. Like its Coromandel counterpart, it allows visitors to dig into the sand and create their own hot pools from naturally heated groundwater. The experience … Continue reading - Tight Budgets Don’t Cancel Summer - They Change It
Recent reporting shows many New Zealand households are feeling the squeeze. Utility bills are rising. Shopping trips are fewer. Discretionary spending is tightening. When budgets compress, holidays are often the first thing reconsidered. But “holiday” does not … Continue reading - Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony
The Cape Kidnappers gannet colony sits on the cliffs at the end of Cape Kidnappers, south-east of Napier. The colony is one of the largest and most accessible mainland gannet colonies in the world, perched above a … Continue reading - The Clay Cliffs (Omarama)
The Clay Cliffs lie just outside Omarama, at the southern end of the Mackenzie Basin. They sit in a dry, open landscape, shaped by erosion rather than vegetation, and feel markedly different from the surrounding high-country valleys. … Continue reading - Mahurangi & Kaipara – A Big Blue Backyard Worth Exploring
From time to time it’s worth simply pointing people toward a place and saying: go, see this, experience it for yourself. The Mahurangi–Kaipara coastline, north of Auckland, is one of those places. Often described as a “big … Continue reading - The Pinnacles: Stone, Water and Time
If Lake Wairarapa is a lesson in how water is managed, redirected and negotiated, then the Pinnacles are a reminder of what water does when left to its own devices - patiently, relentlessly, and over immense spans … Continue reading - From Lake Wairarapa to Onoke Spit
Where Freshwater, Salt and Policy Collide Lake Wairarapa is not a place of dramatic cliffs or postcard drama. It is broad, low, and quiet - a lake you come to slowly. That, perhaps, is its strength. For … Continue reading - The Buller Coast & Hinterland
The Buller region sits on the northern West Coast of the South Island, shaped by sea, river, forest, and distance. It stretches from the exposed coast around Cape Foulwind, inland through the Buller Gorge, across to Reefton, … Continue reading - The Port Hills (Christchurch)
The Port Hills form the southern edge of Christchurch, running from Godley Head in the east through to Gebbies Pass in the west. They rise directly from the city and overlook Lyttelton Harbour, creating a long, accessible … Continue reading - Glow-worms: A Reason to Slow Down
Many New Zealanders associate glow-worms with caves, guided tours, and well-known attractions. Yet for most people who encounter them unexpectedly, glow-worms are found somewhere far less dramatic: beside a track, above a stream, or on a damp … Continue reading - Craigieburn Forest Park - Scale, Weather, and Choice
Craigieburn Forest Park lies inland of the Canterbury Plains, rising quickly into steep beech forest and open mountain basins. It is a place defined less by landmarks than by exposure. Weather, gradient, and terrain shape every visit, … Continue reading - Horowhenua Coast - A Coast Shaped by Use
The Horowhenua coast runs south–north from Waiterere Beach to Tangimoana, forming a long, open edge between land and sea. It is not defined by a single landmark or destination. Instead, it is shaped by continuity: dunes, estuary, … Continue reading - Victoria Forest Park - Scale Without Spectacle
Victoria Forest Park occupies a large tract of forested land between the Lewis Pass and the Buller Gorge. It is one of the country’s largest forest parks, yet it rarely features in promotional narratives. There are no … Continue reading - Golden Bay - Distance Without Difficulty
Golden Bay sits at the north-western edge of the South Island, separated from the rest of Tasman by ranges rather than borders. Reaching it takes time, but not specialised skill. The distance does most of the filtering. … Continue reading - Rangitoto - A Young Island That Asks Effort
Rangitoto rises from Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour as a singular form: broad-based, symmetrical, and unmistakably volcanic. Visible from much of the city, it appears close and familiar, yet remains separate in character and experience. Access is straightforward. Engagement … Continue reading - Matiu / Soames Island - Close Enough to Matter
Matiu / Soames Island sits in Wellington Harbour, visible from much of the city yet experienced by relatively few. It is not remote in distance, but it is distinct in character. Reached by a short ferry crossing, … Continue reading - Mt Damper Falls - A Place That Asks Commitment
Mt Damper Falls lies inland in the central North Island, away from formed roads and casual stopping points. It is not encountered by chance. Reaching it requires intent, preparation, and a willingness to accept that the journey … Continue reading - Swimming Opportunities Courtesy of RNZ
Rather than reinvent wheels, take a look at this excellent feature from Nicola McCloy at RNZ – all the hard work done for us - Red Rocks, Wellington: An Ordinary Place, Well Used
On Wellington’s south coast, beyond Owhiro Bay, lies a stretch of shoreline known as Red Rocks. It is a place many locals know well, not because it is exceptional in the conventional sense, but because it is … Continue reading