It was a birthday weekend after a chaotic time at work and a few days in the Marlborough Sounds were exactly what was needed to recharge our batteries. Punga Cove resort ticked all the boxes. We could arrive by boat… Read More ›
Marlborough
Is Air BnB for you?
I’m planning a trip and have been spending some time on Air BnB looking for accommodation. I’m a big fan after staying in amazing homes and meeting interesting people all over the US last year. I’m surprised at how many people are… Read More ›
What we’ve got is a great big melting pot
A little girl in a pink salwar kameez sits cross legged on a rug, ice-cream slowly melting down her arm. A small group waits patiently for fresh tacos being made in a tiny red caravan and nearby a crowd gathers, drawn by… Read More ›
A crazy chef served me a beef doughnut and I ate it all
It never rains but it pours they say and this week it’s raining doughnut stories. First, the bakery owned by my friends Carla and Randall Perkins, the Blackbird Bakery, was crowned best bakery in the state of Virginia by popular vote. That’s… Read More ›
Messing about in boats in the Marlborough Sounds
It’s a weekly ritual that has been going on for almost a century. Some row out in their tiny dinghies, others arrive on horseback along the beach or appear as if by magic from the thick green bush. Dogs wait patiently because… Read More ›
Less is more
I realised that the driver of the expensive 4 x 4 wasn’t going to stop just before I stepped off the kerb onto a narrow inner city street lined with other shiny 4 x 4s and renovated villas. Perhaps I should… Read More ›
Getting to know Marlborough: 1
After 3 months, I am still very much in the honeymoon phase in my relationship with Marlborough. I am delighted with every new discovery I make, beguiled by the charm of life outside the big city and prepared to overlook any disappointments that my new… Read More ›
Rotoroa Island Magic
There is something wonderful about Rotoroa Island and it’s not just the sandy beaches, emerald green water or the breathtaking views from every grassy vantage point. The truth is that there are many other places in New Zealand where the… Read More ›