Have your say - add your favourite stop off to the list.
Just email regional@womentravel.co.nz with your "don't miss" places or complete the form below

Women's Centres around New Zealand this link has up to date information and links

Northland

The Far North

We highly recommend

New Zealand The Maori Travel Guide To the Tail of the Fish: Auckland and Northland 

$10 available from us, we can easily post it to you and set up paypal to pay it - contact us

• Kawiti Glow Worm Caves: Forget about the Waitomo Caves, just south of Kawakawa you will find these caves. Check them out and learn about their unique maori history - ph 09 404 0583
• Kawakawa: You MUST stop and view the wonderful toilets designed and created by Austrian Friedrich Hundertwasser, the artist and architect. This small town was his home-from-Europe for many years, and this building the only one he completed in the southern hemisphere. It is quite delightful, and glows brightly in the centre of the main street. His philosophy was that straight lines are the work of the devil, hence his passion for the curved. This is a mini-masterpiece. Local shops are beginning to take up the theme too. All praise to the local council who accepted his offer of the design. What a pity Whangerei turned down his offer to design a large area for them.
• Moerewa: Just a few minutes North of Kawakawa is a GREAT café - the Tuna Café at 67 Main Rd. A café with attitude, run by local maori, the decor is funky, the coffee great and the menu well priced with a great Brekkie and lots of local produce - including Tuna (eel). Its closed Mondays.
• Ngatipa in Keri Keri: is a 5 acre patch of paradise in Keri Keri. It is a magnificent garden of established trees and an art gallery with exhibitions of local artists. There is no visitor entry fee & Art is for sale. Ngatipa is on Kerikeri Road, 1km from Caltex roundabound
• Mangonui: Eat the best fish and chips in the North Island, sipping your beverage, sitting out over the harbour.
• Kaitaia: The Beachcomber, in the Plaza Mall does very good meals - award winning in the area.
• Doubtless Bay: While here, do visit Swamp Palace, the tiny cinema of some 68 seats, which shows up to date movies four nights a week, plus matinees. Only the "better" movies shown, with no advertisements, and a great, personal introduction by Richard, who runs the place, a converted building hauled inland from Cable Bay.

Northland - Warkworth to Whangarei

• The Honey Centre south of Warkworth is worth a stop - a wall of bees, and the yummiest honey icecream.
• Warkworth - worth turning into if you have time, check out the Atomic Coffee, gourmet breads, pastries and deli food at Maddrose Food Co in the main street near the ASB - 21 Queen St. Open Sundays during daylight saving, otherwise Monday-Saturday 09 422 2298. There is also an excellent Craft Co-operative opposite the Information Centre the road which has an amazing variety of craftware. The Information Centre has good toilets and the new wharf area adorned with plaques of names of those who contributed to it . A lovely spot with lots of birdlife.
• Sheep World on State Highway 1 north of Warkworth is definately worth calling into. They have great food and excellent coffee in the cafe plus their sheep and dog show was lots of fun and laughs. On site is New Zealand's biggest Craft Co-Op and we enjoyed browsing and buying some of the local wares.
• Wellsford Love second hand stores? Look for Wellsford Traders on the main road - its a treasure trove!
• Scenic Coastal Drive via Mangawhai: Driving North at a leisurely pace - turn off past Wellsford and drive via Mangawhai and Langs Beach. Stop at the Smashed Pipi Gallery to browse, and our favourite coffee is at Naja's on the main road at Mangawhai, a prize winnning garden centre and great café.
• Staying near Mangawhai - have a Paradise Health and Beauty Pamper Session in your own space - they are mobile!
• Waipu Cove - one of the best  restaurants in the North is the BeachHouse - behind the Waipu Cove Resort - open for breakfast, lunch and dinner - Chef Mark Lane's fusion cuisine is exquisite.
• Waipu village is a must stop, with its scottish heritage - and several great cafes - Café 45 near the 4 square for great coffee and a slice for $5, Waipu Deli near the chemist for fresh deli food, and the new Artform Gallery and Café on the main intersection in town for all day dining and fine food. Of course this is also the home of the famous Waihoihoi Women's Lodge.
• Driving North of Auckland in the dark - check out the fantastic light display in Kaiwaka - best viewed driving North (worth turning around to see it!)
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• Whangarei - great espresso at Caffeine on Water St - regular best café winners, or Fresh beside the cinema in James St. The Cabbage Tree - 28 Rathbone St - stylish fast and cheap food. Don't miss Tuatara Design shop in Bank street - fantastic NZ art, design and craft.
• Whangarei Town Basin is a fantastic place to stop - Mocaba for coffee and eats, The Bach for art and crafts, Burning Issues for fabulous glass, Rivas or Gybe for dinner - all beside the marina.
• Whangarei Heads is definately one of NZ's hidden secrets - drive out through Onerahi and then along what has to be on the of the most scenic drives in the country - the road winds along along the harbour - past Parua Bay Pub which has a wharf for boaties to drop in and wonderful picture window views of the harbour, and pretty good fish and chips. Then on along the harbour McLeods Bay and Mt Manaia, Mt Aubrey (a great walk if you have a few hours). Keep going and you get to Urquarts bay at the head of the harbour and the magnificent Te Whara reserve. A short walk takes to Smugglers Cove - a beautiful white sand beach (good snorkelling off the rocks) or you can do the full 7 hour tramp! Keep going past Urquharts Bay and you will get to Ocean Beach - great surf. All in all a great day's excursion from Whangarei. Manaia Gardens is a wonderful small rustic B&B on a pohutukawa lined bay - check on the B&B book for that.
• Poor Knights Islands - off the Tutukaka Coast is one of the best diving/snorkelling sites in the world.   They have an excellent snorkelling/kayaking trip leaving at 11am each day called the Perfect Day - an it is!  Read a story about it here...
  

If you are travelling to or from the Bay of Islands, you will miss some magic if you don't travel via the Twin Coast Discovery Highway via the West Coast Dargaville. Explore the Hokianga, Kai Iwi Lakes, Waipoua Forest and Ripiro Beach. Highlights of the Kauri Coast include:

• Take the vehicle ferry across the Hokianga Harbour between Kohukohu and Rawene - great cafés overlooking the water on either side of this crossing.
• from Kohukohu travel over to the west coast to Mitimiti - stay at Manaia Lodge where Sally and Tipo also offer a fabulous cultural tour of their local area and marae ($30pp)
• Stay near Omapere the night and join the fabulous Footprints - a unique and memorable night tour into the Kauri forest with local maori, or the new Crossings - an afternoon with a Maori guided boat tour of the Hokianga Harbour. Visit the unique Wairere Boulders.
• Waipoua Forest and the giant tree Tane Mahuta is not to be missed. If you have met the forest by night, then a day trip will be even more enhanced.
• The Matakohe Kauri Museum is as great introduction to the majestic Kauri tree, and the Dargaville Maritime Museum is great even if you're not into history.
• In Dargaville Blah Blah Blah café is as good anything Auckland offers.
• Baylys Beach on the coast near Dargaville - check out the Funky Fish café and Bar - great food and icecream, just the thing after a walk on the wild beach.

Heading in or out of Auckland? We suggest you travel via Highway 16 which goes via the North Western Motorway out of Auckland to Wellsford.  It is more scenic, and definately less busy.  Some highlights:

• Turn off towards Muriwai beach on the west coast nearer Auckland - a wild beach to walk on - it goes for miles, and you can walk up to an amazing Gannet colony.
• Near this turn off, keep an eye out for Bees-on-line - a beautiful contemporary building and garden featuring honey and odds and ends to browse and taste while waiting to be seated at the restaurant which serves wonderful exquisite local cuisine, featuring ingredients used by Maori in their cooking.

Auckland/Coromandel/Waiheke Island

Auckland

• Potiki Adventures offer you a unique insight into Maori culture and local landscapes now available every day… URBAN MAORI EXPERIENCE available every day of the year, and snorkelling/Goat Island trip every day in summer.
• Alba is the new hot gathering in Auckland - The Auckland lesbian business association have monthly meetings and other regular outings, check out their website for dates. Its definately a must, visitors always welcome.
• FLIRT - music and dancing for women third Saturday each month  9pm  $5 Kiss Bar 309 Karangahape Rd
• WILD - Waiheke Island Lesbian Dances: Music and dancing the last Saturday each month 8pm. $5 and BYO, Rocky Bay Hall Waiheke Island. ph Norelle  372 3422
• I'd recommend the Auckland Museum which is extremely interesting, well presented and does a great Maori concert - better than anything I've seen in Rotorua.
• Devonport - Lode Design Jewellery - women specialising in hand made jewellery. 36 King Edward Pde, Devonport - just a short ferry ride from the CBD 4466633 Open Wed-Sunday 10-6pm
• Ponsonby Rd is the café mile in Auckland, and worth a wander along - not forgetting to drop in on The Women's Bookshop at 105 Ponsonby Rd. But also try other inner city suburbs like Kingsland - Crucial Traders on New North Rd has good coffee and the best sweet rolls in town.
• Titirangi Village, on the Scenic Drive to Piha, is a delightful village to have a Cafe stop - try the Hardware Café and then visit the lookout, Arataki, on the Scenic Drive, after Titirangi. It is fantastic - see the views of both harbours, a birds eye view of the bush, and a free 20 minute film of how the area has been created over the years.
• At the top of the Waitakere Ranges, 'The Nikau Club' has an excellent view of the city and is a great spot to eat in the bush!!
• While enjoying a visit to Piha with its local bush and beach walks, visit by car or hike to nearby beaches at Karekare, Anawhata, Whatipu and Te Henga. Blair's on the Beach at Piha has the best hot chips in New Zealand!
• PIHA Dining - if you are staying at Piha or Karekare and want some fantastic food catered in your own place, then Julie and Bobbie can do it for you. phone 9-8128758
• Tiri Tiri Matangi Island: This retored island is full of New Zealands native birds including takeha. Its also a great place to swim and snorkel so bring your togs. Spend the day on this fabulous island paradise, accessed by a Ferry from Auckland.

Coromandel

• I recommend the Coromandel - beautiful sights to view... I've never been there myself however the stories that have been told about the place are exceptional , and if i had the chance to go up there myself i would most definitely go.....
• Barry Brickell's Driving Creek Railway at Coromandel is excellent. He makes beautiful pots and has a restored train that takes you off into the bush he has replanted. Well worth a visit. Driving Creek Cafe, Driving Creek Road, Coromandel, near the for wonderful coffee, fabulous garden, clay plaster walls and organic vegetarian food.
• Colville store north of Coromandel is an amazing country store. It has everything you could ever imagine including a great range of organic food and naturopathic remedies. The associated Cafe has the best home made pies I've tasted.
• Weka Craft Shop - main road of Coromandel town. Wonderful quality crafts. Very inspiring pieces of art. Amazing place.
• Hot Water Beach near Hahei on the Coromandel for natural mineral springs on the beach.Take your spade and dig your own hot pool at half tide. Information on tides available hourly on Coromandel FM.
• Waihi beach a fantastic place to be. great beach excellant fishing and not far away from Tauranga.
• Te Aroha Hot Pools An internationally famous hot spring.150 years ago people sailed to NZ just to soak in these particular hot pools. The crystal clear waters make you feel years younger in just 30 minutes.
• Wilderness Gems, Ngatea. On Highway 2 between Auckland and Tauranga. Importers and wholesalers of semi-precious stones and healing gems from all over the world with a special large NZ section. The staff are very knowledgeable about the healing properties of gems and many lovely finished necklaces and gifts of all kinds are available as well as polished and unpolished gems. Don't miss it for anything!
• Cafe 22 Ngatea Just around the corner from Wilderness Gems. Delicious food and coffee.

Waiheke Island

• Waiheke is a short ferry ride from Auckland CBD, and is an excellent day trip or stay overnight at the places on womentravel. Catch the bus when you get off the ferry and go as far as you can - sit on a pristine beach, visit a vineyard, hire a bike... its brilliant.
• The Waiheke Island PMT Blues Club: Music and dancing the last Saturday each month 8pm. $5 and BYO, Buffalo Hall, Wharakite Rd, Ostend, Waiheke Island. Friendly women and lots of dancing to a wide variety of excellent music in a funky 60's hall. $5, BYO. ked@xtra.co.nz

Central North Island and Taranaki

• The Awhitu Peninsula on the Southern shores of the Manukau Harbour south of Auckland is a magnificent and rarely travelled landscape - check this link for a description to tempt you.
• Raglan: On the west coast near Hamiilton a great surfing spot. Its great to walk on the beach and enjoy Fish and Chips at the picnic tables down at the jetty at the end of the main street
• Te Kauwhata The Mid City cafe in the middle of town, has great coffee and food. A five minute detour worth taking. One catch - they close around 3pm and don't open Sundays.
• Rongopai Winery at Te Kauwhata -- Wine tasting and sales with friendly staff and a maize maze opening next door on boxing day. Both activities combined means something for the whole family.
• Hamilton Walk: If you are in Hamilton and in need of a little exercise or fresh air, you can now stroll (or sprint), along the wonderful Waikato River walkways made up of paved paths and boardwalks. Your walk can be a circuit from ten minutes to several hours as there are lots of entry/exits along the way. Very picturesque - river, native trees, birds - a real haven.
• Hamilton Gardens are a must for any  visitors to the Waikato. As well as glorious  river walks, there are themed gardens (Rennaisance, Indian, Egyptian, Chinese,  Japanese, English, American...); A huge  walled vegetable garden; a totally organic  garden'; scented gardens, herb gardens;  camellia gardens; tropical hothouse; cactus house, seasonal flowerbeds; rose gardens  and more... Any season is fantastic. There  is also a restaurant and cafe by the lake. A  fantastic outing for anyone.
• Rotorua - an excellent backpackers is Treks - very new, not too noisy, great faciities and central to everything.  I know there are all the usual things to do in Rotorua - but what gave me a real buzz was the Luge - fantastic
• Tirau - a great stopoff - on the way to Rotorua or Taupo. Some excellent stores to browse in and for coffee or a meal try The Loose Goose café and bar on the main road. 078831515
• Te Kuiti The Bosco café was runner up in the best café competition in 2001 "A perfect example of a modern country café.
• Taupo has heaps of eateries, but recently we had an excellent and reasonably priced breakfast at JJs right on the lakefront in the main shopping area. They have some great inside and outside seating and serve tea and coffee in some distinctive Petra Ceramic Pottery which they also sell.
• After the desert road, hold on until Taihape which is a must to stop for a break - Sue and Fran invite you to enjoy Café Exchange - they have great food and a carton of crayons so you can leave your mark on the footpath, or across the road the Brown Sugar Café has long been a regular stop for us, with the next dooroutdoors/camping shop that claims to be the cheapest in New Zealand.

Taranaki

• A great place to visit all year round with land, water, and snow activities depending on the time of year you visit. From Dec-Feb there is the annual festival of lights held at Pukekura Park 2mins from town centre when they light up the park with coloured lights at night, no fee to walk through the park.

Bay of Plenty/East Coast/Gisborne

The East Coast - if you have the time drive around the Coast. Magnificent beaches, small maori communities.  Stop near Whakatane and go out to White Island - an active volcano.  Its an awesome day trip - gas masks and hard hats provided! Find out about how Whakatane got its name - When the Mataatua canoe landed near the site of present-day Whakat?ne, the men went ashore. While they were gone, the canoe began to drift out to sea. Ngati Awa tradition says that Wairaka, daughter of the captain Toroa, seized a paddle and cried, ‘Me whakatane au i ahau nei!’ (I must act like a man!). She and the other women saved the canoe. Wairaka is now commemorated by a statue on a rock at Whakatane at the entrance to the harbour.

Gisborne is a "Not To Be Missed" place to be over the summer months. We have great beaches for swimming, surfing, or just sunbathing. Here are some of the highlights of Gisborne:

• Dining experiences: at Cafe Villaggio, C~View Restaurant & Gordon Gecko Bar & Restaurant to name but a few of the choice places in Gisborne.
• Activities: East Coast Museum of Technology,  Gisborne Aviation Museum & the Tairawhiti Museum.
• Wineries: Amor Bendall, Lindauer Cellars & The Millton Vineyard to  name but a few of the many great vineyards in Gisborne.

The best website that you can find out lots of information about Gisborne & surrounding districts is:  www.gisbornenz.com & from there you will find details about what's on offer for visitors to our fair city on the East Coast of New Zealand.

Wellington/lower North Island

Kapiti Coast

• Have a look at the Otaki Information Centre on the main road coming south. Lots of local info. Turn left over Otaki River bridge down Gorge Road to Te Horo. Lovely little cottage called Jenkins Cottage, made by a whaler for his family out of shipwrecked timbers. Beautifully restored to visit or to stay as B&B.
  Try the delicious food and coffee at the Brown Sugar Cafe, on the left straight after the Otaki Bridge.
• At Otaki check out Heather Shaw basket maker at work in her studio in Rahui Rd just off the main road (signposted) and be tempted to some of her willow baskets.
• Continue down gorge to Tararua Outdoor Centre. Excellent cafe on edge of spectacular cliffs. Kayaking, white water rafting, night rafting etc. Walks, picnic spots along river. Amazing scenery to Otaki Forks. Take your insect repellent for the sandflies.
• Harrisons Garden Centre, Peka Peka, very nice to look at and good cafe and loo.
• Waikanae, good B&Bs. Excellent restaurants,lovely beach and Woodseaves Women's Retreat. Bush walks, pretty township with lovely gardens.
• Lindale Farm and Visitor Centre, honey centre and glass beehive, various good craft shops, farms walk and shows. Good things for kids including the Farm Kitchen cafe and a Bistro. Good camp and cabin ground and motel.
• Paraparaumu, excellent shopping mall and parking. All banks and high street type shops as well as MacD's etc. Long safe sands at Paraparaumu beach with good facilities and nice shops.
• Paekakariki, (means green parrots, which live there) Queen Elizabeth Park, tram museum and huge picnic area. Beach with more surf.
• Kapiti Island is a bird sanctuary but you have to have a permit to get there. Easy to get but need to plan ahead. Steep walk to the top of this magical island which protects our coast and gives us lovely weather. Travelling by car? Then try the Magnone track inland from Waikenae. Easy walking for as long as you want. Well signposted from Waikenae.
• Call at Paraparamu Beach and walk the beach - for miles and miles.

Wairarapa

• Castelpoint beach is terrific, with a climb to a lighthouse with magnificent rocky outcrops and views. Several local hikes.
• Carterton the Paua Shell factory is well worth a visit - for education and shopping. Outside Carterton the Phoenix Society is opening the Modern Aotearoa Stonehenge in spring 2004.
• Greytown (close to the food and wine centre Martinborough) has two good second-hand book shops, several antique shops, and some good galleries. We particularly enjoyed Cabbage Tree Cottage and its funky women figures made of diverse materials by different artists/craftswomen. Exuberant large ladies!

Wellington

• Once you reach Wellington, put on your walking shoes, and explore!! Plan to spend at least 3 days if you have the time. It is a city to walk in and take the pleasures of the harbour and the sea.
• The Pound is a great mixed gay/lesbian club on Dixon Street.
• The Information Centre in Victoria Street has great information about various walks around the city, plus excellent advice about how to get there using Wellington's wonderful public transport system (buses and trains).
• The City Gallery always has interesting art; the Dowse Gallery at Lower Hutt is worth a vist (and there is a wonderful Orchid House next door).
• Explore the café life of Wellington by foot. Don't miss the Cuba Street experience - great cafe culture, pedestrian malls. Midnite Expresso at the top end of Cuba Street, lots of designer clothes (often sold by those who make them - fashion & design school grads tend to start out at this end oftown) and also op-shops, 2nd-hand furniture, you name it. Don't be put off by Farmers' being at the harbour end of C mall, it is by no means representative! Leftbank is also a new alcove off the mall, with lots of friendly locals of long-standing in the Cuba community.
  
• Good movies abound, and theatre. Wellington is the cultural heart of New Zealand, and is vibrant, muticultural and friendly.
• And of course there's Te Papa (the Museum of New Zealand) which despite its critics is loved by its millions of visitors - and is free!!
• Afternoons and Coffeespoons (used bookshop) - Not a women's bookshop anymore, but Jan stocks a great collection of second hand books, including women's studies and lesbian titles in inner city Newtown in Wellington. Corner of Riddiford and Wilson St open 7 days. ph 021 1192405
  

Neslon/Malborough

Picton

• Expresso House in Picton is a must if you enjoy good food and they have the best coffee in town. Its a small cottage with a courtyard out the back....I tried the Chicken Tom Kha soup its addictive. The Queen Charlotte Track is a must as well.

Murchison

• Various walkways around this area, some short bush walks, others longer, eg Lake Matiri, a 2 1/2 hour tramp up a valley past major earthquake boulders in the river bed, over pink marble falls at the side of the track and onto the idyllic lake where there is a hut for a night's stopover.
• Johnson Creek walkway, scene of the earthquake damage, looks like a moonscape, walk through native bush to get there, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Skyline, a steepish climb, return 1 1/2 hours, great views of Murchison and the surrounding valleys. Six Mile, trail of the original power scheme in Murchison, and Eight Mile walkways from the Matakitaki Valley, and the two National Parks which bound Murchison, Kahurangi and Nelson Lakes and the miriad of walks to be taken in these places.
• Great coffee and atmosphere at Beechwoods cafe/restaurant, haunt of lesbian "girls" at weekend gatherings.
• Maruia Springs, 1 hour away for a soak in the hot pools, private and bath house style. A local craft shop selling goods made locally and an up-market art gallery with top of the south products from all sorts of art/craft people. And of course the great outdoors, water sports for the adventurous ones, kayaking in the "Kayak Kapital" of NZ, rafting or jet boating, also horse trekking with a very reputable guide.

Nelson

• Visit the bead shop in Nelson - it is fantastic and full of creative ideas to make jewellery "on the cheap".
• Go over the Takaka Hill to beautiful Golden Bay - its fantastic. Drive out to Farewell Spit Visitor Centre for coffee and a trip.

West Coast

• Wow, the whole west coast is incredible. Hiking to it on the Heaphy track might be the best way to get there. The glaciers, the lakes, Punakaiki,the Tasman coast, small towns and greenstone galleries not to be missed! Bike it, bus it, hitchhike it - but be ready for rain!
  
  

Christchurch/Canterbury

Christchurch

• The Honey Pot 114 Lichfield St in the centre of Christchurch - breakfast. lunch and dinner - good value, funky atmosphere - we had a great breakfast there!
• Arts Centre Bookshop: a must for travellers to Christchurch - good range of women's books and NZ published books. Visit them online and order your books about New Zealand.

South Canterbury

• Geraldine is small town on the way to Mount Cook, or a detour to Timaru heading South. Great for shopping, crafts, Barkers wines and preserves- tastings (try the Mountain Thunder), The Giant Jersey-the worlds largest Jersey is here. A favourite is Murch-n-dice for something a little different. Garden tours and lots of crafts people and galleries.
• Peel Forest - bush walks and mountain climbs up Little or Big Mount Peel.
• Glass blower Denise Belanger-Taylor has a studio and showroom open most days. 1032 Te Moana Rd, Geraldine.
• Heading South to Mount Cook, stop off at Lake Tekapo, Kayaks for hire,Lake Cruises, ice skating ring in winter. Salmon farm on the Tekapo Canal, guided tours or catch your own fish.
• The Lake District and canals are quite something.
• Timaru- Marine Cruises, wildlife commonly seen, Spotted Shag nesting colonies,Hectors Dolphins,Black Back gulls, Oyster catches. Sometimes Blue penguin and Yellow-eyed penguin. Freephone 0800661278.
• Timaru is home to the Swandri factory in Church St. Great bargains on swandris and knitware.
• Ashburton, visit the Ashford Spinning Wheel showroom and studios and cafe. Along from the gardens.

Dunedin/Otago/Southland

• Dunedin - highlights for me in a recent trip were: going out on the hour long Monarch boat trip from Wellers Rock to see the Albatross and other seabirds and visiting the nearby Penguin Place. They were both FANTASTIC trips. I also drove around the eastern side of the Otago Peninsula and enjoyed the wild and rugged beaches and walks - especially Allan's beach. For coffee - I liked Arc on High St - a performance café but not open before 10am, and Tangente in Moray Place above the Octagon - casual funk, papers to read and some excellent healthy and unusual baking.
• The Botanical Gardens of Dunedin are a personal highlight. For peace and tranquility it is an ideal destination. The Rhododendron Dell in the upper gardens are a world in itself. So beautiful during the blossoming season.
  Excellent coffee drinks, herbal teas, and food in the Cafe Croque-o-dile in the lower gardens. Try their scrumptious muffins, croques and crepes. They also have a Croque-o-dile in Princes/Dowling St, which has yummy salads and some great vegetarian snacks. As this one serves mainly the office crowd unfortunately it is only open on weekdays.
  
• Queenstown: There's a great cafe bar called Tahuna. It's halfway down The Mall and is very 'family friendly'. It's become quite a hangout for the local lesbian community.
• Queenstown Gay Ski Week - late August/early September, mostly male, but who knows - article about it here
• Invercargill there's a fabulous little cafe bar that appeals to the "wild side" called Zookeepers. The staff are wonderfully helpful and friendly, the menu is tasty and affordable and the Qahar coffee served is always strong and hot! What more could you want?! The "Zoo" is on Tay St just down from Farmers and Trade Aid.
  
• Gore: Try the coffee at The Green Room, Irk St.
• Lumsden - check out the Mayfly Café in Diana St (closed Mon/Tues) and down the road further, the Old Railway Station Craft Co-op.
• Bluff: of course the Paua house is a must, but don't miss a drive up Bluff Hill - fabuloous 360 degree views to Rakiura (Stewart Island),Tiwai Point, Foveaux Strait. The Summit is reached by a unique spiral walkway, and nearby there are lots of walking tracks from 30 mins to 3 hours.
• Otago Rail Trail: I have only done half of the Otago Rail Trail, but I will definitely do the other half. It's great fun, great views. it's refreshing, you don't need to be fit at all. About 150,000 thousand people bike the Otago Rail Trail a year. It's massive. It's becoming one of the biggest tourism attractions in New Zealand.

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Email: rosemary@womentravel.co.nz