Location: Towering high above St Patrick’s Square on one side, and among the cluster of international-grade Albert Street skyscrapers on the other, The Hotel Indigo is about as central as you can get in downtown Auckland. But more than that, this is a midtown neighbourhood that’s soon to be the new beating heart of the…
Vietnam, October 2025 – places selling now for my hosted tour! Why it should be on your bucket list
I’m hosting an unforgettable 17-day trip to Vietnam in October in conjunction with Wendy Wu Tours and I’d love to have you join me! For NZ $7380 per person, you get all your flights (departing Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch), all your hotels, all your meals and all your activities. Here’s why I’m such a massive…
Review: Tasman Holiday Parks Papamoa Beach stunning $8m refurb revealed
I’m not much of a camper. I’m a fairly happy camper figuratively speaking, but literally? Not so much. “If only this campground had some luxury accommodation, then I’d be away laughing!” is the sort of line I’ve used in semi-jest over the years to much eye-rolling, but me and tents just don’t get along. As…
The lost Bee Gees album that paved the way for Saturday Night Fever – Mr Natural at 50
The Bee Gees’ 10th international studio album, Mr Natural, turned 50 in 2024. Produced by 11x Grammy winner Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, Hall & Oates, Dionne Warwick, Donny Hathaway, Carly Simon, Roberta Flack etc.), here’s a deep dive – including detailed track-by-track analysis – about why this lost classic is one of the most important…
Oasis beyond Definitely Maybe & Morning Glory, d’you know what I mean? 10 essential songs
“All my people right here, right now, d’you know what I mean?” It’s my favourite line from my favourite Oasis song. Cocky and communal all in one. Relatable and untouchable at the same time. Noel and Liam Gallagher summed up in one almighty hook. Let’s hope D’You Know What I Mean makes the cut for…
The Bee Gees’ finest post disco-era LP turns 30 – Size Isn’t Everything, track-by-track
Album: Size Isn’t Everything Release date: September 13, 1993 (UK), November 2, 1993 (US) Recorded: August 1992 – June 1993, Middle Ear Studios, Miami, Mayfair Studios, London Producers: Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb with Femi Jiya Late period Bee Gees albums don’t come much better than this. Forget that, 90s pop albums by heritage acts…
Review: Why the revamped Cordis is Auckland’s most affordable 5-star hotel
I remember the first time I ever got a blank face for booking a staycation. “You’re paying money to stay in a hotel, but you’re still in Auckland! Why don’t you just stay at home?” I think they thought I was suffering a head knock. Granted that unenlightened yarn was 15-years ago, but oh how…
10 Pointer Sisters’ essentials, from blistering funk to the country song Elvis adored
I’d always been a fan of the Pointer Sisters, but I don’t think I really understood the breadth of their brilliance until I became a dad. Baby Riley Roxy took to Neutron Dance the first instance she heard it. She couldn’t get enough. She’d bop her shoulders, bounce her bum-shuffling legs, and giggle every time…
Why Rotorua is still a brilliant place for a family holiday
We are fans of the intergenerational holiday, specifically in this case, three generations, three days, and with Rotorua the destination. Travelling with children as well as grandparents makes memories for the entire family, while also making looking after the little one(s) that much easier. As most people will know, there’s so much to do in…
Christine McVie dies aged 79 – the greatest Fleetwood Mac song you’ve never heard
Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie has died of a short illness at the age of 79. Here’s my tribute: Christine McVie was one of the two ‘Macs’ of Fleetwood Mac. She was the key melodic link between the first, more bluesy era of the band, to their transition to a second, more melodic pop-rock era. She…
Review: Rotorua’s Black Swan Hotel & the extraordinary Whirinaki Forest
Location: The Black Swan Lakeside Boutique Hotel is on the shores of Lake Rotorua in the Rotorua suburb of Kawaha Point. How big is the hotel? Think of it as a mansion converted into a boutique hotel, in this case, a 9-bedroom luxury property on a finely manicured 1 acre section. What sets the Black…
Review: The Pacifica – NZ’s tallest residential building
Location: Apartment 3401, level 34 of the 57-storey Pacifica Tower, 12 Commerce Street, Auckland CBD. On the doorstep of the fashionable Britomart neighbourhood with its restaurants, bars and boutique stores. Just how tall is the Pacifica? At 178.7m, it is the tallest residential building in New Zealand and the third tallest structure behind the 180.1m…
