My Holidays: Nathan Haines

Nathan Haines with Zoot, in Goult in Provence.

Nathan Haines will be performing at the Tremain's Art Deco Festival in Napier, in February.

What was your greatest holiday? Our honeymoon in 2013 — two weeks in Paris then six weeks in Provence in the village of Goult. A proper length of time to unwind, though I actually spent most of it practising saxophone and studying.

And the worst? Well all holidays are great but I seem to have several memories of going away in New Zealand summertime only to spend the whole time indoors sheltering from a tropical storm…

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing? I don't just lie by the pool and drink cocktails. I like to immerse myself in the culture of wherever I am and ideally I like to do some gigs as well which is always a very social affair — more a mix of work and holiday and music which I can't live a day without.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be? Any holiday now is for the three of us, so if the teleporter fitted three then I'd like to spend some quality time in the Abel Tasman Park in Nelson.

How about for a dream holiday internationally?

I wouldn't say no to another two months in the South of France … actually we are planning that for 2018.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling? Well, losing an envelope with US$1000 in it was pretty stupid.

Aisle seat or window seat? Aisle.

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without … a couple of decent books and a copy of Classic and Sportscar magazine.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given? Have a travel kit with multiple adapters on you at all times if you are stranded at an airport.

Favourite airport to land at?

Nice, France, or if you're coming home then Auckland Airport — love the birdsong and smell of fresh air when you walk out of the terminal.

What's the next trip you've got planned?

Part work and part play. I'm heading to Napier to perform at the Tremain's Art Deco Festival from February 14-19 and then off to the UK to play some gigs plus two months in the South of France — I just did a whole winter in New Zealand and vowed I would never do that again if at all possible!