My holidays: Nigel Latta

Nigel Latta says he learned early on that, when travelling, it's best to 'relax and roll with it'. Photo / Supplied

Psychologist and TV host Nigel Latta shares his holiday memories.

What was your greatest holiday?

When our boys were little we took them to Disneyland - it was completely magic. The first ride we went on was Pirates of the Caribbean and they thought it was just the most amazing thing ever. Magic is always best when you're with people who believe in it.

And the worst?

I've honestly never had a worst. Even the bad bits of travelling are still travelling, and travelling is always good.

If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be?

A bach on the West Coast ... down near Hokitika. I love the coast down there. It's the one place where you can walk along the beach and every so often a big wave will come through and try and kill you.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?

Sitting in a cafe, with an espresso and sampling some tasty local pastry, or staring wistfully at some vista, or standing in a museum, slightly bored, and wondering when I can go have another espresso.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?

When I was younger my brother-in-law and I slid down a huge hill on a handrail at a sacred Buddhist site in India. We were young, and idiots, and weren't thinking about the sacred site, just how cool it would be to slide down the rail. The local cop came out and took us off for questioning. I think he wanted a bribe. We just smiled stupidly and kept saying "New Zealand ... Richard Hadlee". He eventually gave up and let us go.

Complete this sentence, I can't travel without ...

... my Kindle. I read heaps when I'm away and the Kindle is great. I can take hundreds of books in one handy gadget.

What's the best travel tip you've ever been given?

The first time I ever travelled overseas was to Hong Kong just after I got married. I was 24 and had never left the country. People were shoving and pushing and I was getting pretty grumpy at everyone being so rude. My wife pointed out that this was not New Zealand and I needed to just relax and roll with it. I've never looked back.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?

In Antarctica we slept out on the ice shelf and cooked dinner out there. It was boil-in-a-bag stuff ... Thai green curry in my case, but I will remember that meal when I am an old man.

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip?

I bought a small replica statue in Greece that I call "Mr Glum". I'm sure it has a classically correct title, but it just looks like a little glum bloke slumped over, weighted down with utter gluminicity.

Favourite airport at which to land?

Dubai International Airport. It is the only time I've ever got off a plane, kept saying "wow", and started taking photos. It is one of the most striking airports in the world.

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

I'm keen to go to Vietnam. I've heard you can head up into the jungle and have a go with AK-47s, machineguns and even a grenade launcher. How fantastic would that be?

Nigel Latta hosts 'Nigel Latta Blows Stuff Up' which screens Sundays at 8pm on TV One.