Latest from City Breaks

Helensville: West of Eden

Helensville weaves its historic origins into a modern-day paradise, writes Cate Foster.

Walking the Waiheke way

Good food and wine reward your exertions on a new Waiheke track, writes Donna McIntyre.

Auckland: Our backyard aquarium

Virgil Evetts is wowed by some incredible sea life, including whales, all within minutes of downtown Auckland.

Tauranga: Bountiful Bay of Plenty

Tauranga is making a name for itself as a serious foodie destination, writes Catherine Smith.

Awhitu Peninsula: To the lighthouse

Danielle Wright discovers the dramatic drive to Manukau Heads Lighthouse along a winding road through Awhitu Peninsula.

Brown's Island: Rewarding watery adventure

Efforts are rewarded on a group kayaking trip by gorgeous sights and a hearty lunch. Andy Kenworthy joins in.

Bethells Beach: The wild west

Danielle Wright finds the blustery conditions and loudness of the ocean strangely soothing on a weekend break at Bethells Beach Cottages.

A dose of Waikato culture

It may not be the first place that springs to mind when you're after an art fix, but Waikato is home to two exhibition spaces that will have culture seekers revelling, writes Libby Nicholson-Moon.

Waikato: Vacations in cow country

Easing his bones in natural hot springs and filling up with a hearty meal in an old colonial hotel is Phil Parker's idea of a great weekend in Waikato.

Northland: Northern lights

Cate Foster and daughter circle the north in a weekend road trip that takes in food, history, craft and culture.

Waitakeres: Walk out west

Ancient forests and waterfalls are all part of a short trek through the Waitakeres, writes Danielle Wright.

Tauranga: Testing the waters

A weekend in Tauranga has a wet theme for Sarah Lawrence who goes kayaking, to a seafood festival, looks for dolphins and visits hot pools.

Waiheke Island: Living on island time

Carolyn Bergquist enjoys a short break on Waiheke, so near to Auckland, yet so far.

Waiheke Island: Fly me to la luna negra

A helicopter flight is the quickest way to get from crowded city to island vines, finds Danielle Wright.

Canada: Montreal's weapons of seduction

The French-Canadian city of Montreal is an easy place to fall in love with, discovers Linda Shackelford.

Devonport: Sightseeing by Segway

A Devonport company offers an unusual way to see the highlights, writes Susan Edmunds.

Waimauku: West is best

Just 30 minutes west out of Auckland city and Alexia Santamaria was feeling like she'd left the stresses of the world well behind her.

Waiheke Island: Backyard wonder

Never mind Europe's easy weekend haunts, we have Waiheke Island, writes Kerri Jackson.