Best Beach is back for 2025, presented by Fruju. New Trip Notes host Lorna Riley is joined by comedian Eli Matthewson (new show Heaven's Devil) and Find My Country House New Zealand host Matt Gibb to discuss their picks for the best family-friendly, city, surf, hidden gem and camping beach in the country. 

To read more about the Best Beach campaign and have your say, go to nzherald.co.nz/bestbeach. Nominations close January 12th. 

A new season of Trip Notes returns in early March. 

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In this special bonus episode of Trip Notes, the Herald Travel team is once again looking for New Zealand's Best Beach - this time with support from Fruju, NZ's favourite ice block.

To get the ideas ball rolling, NZ Herald Lifestyle and Travel editor Stephanie Holmes is joined by Celebrity Treasure Island finalist Turia Schmidt-Peke, and Small Town Scandal host Tom Sainsbury, to get their ideas.

To nominate and vote, head to nzherald.co.nz/bestbeach

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It’s been a while since you’ve heard from us here at Trip Notes, but we are back for a special bonus episode thanks to New Zealand’s favourite ice cream Tip Top in order to celebrate New Zealand’s Best Beach! But we need your help – we want you to tell us your favourite beaches around Aotearoa as part of the Herald’s Best Beach campaign. 

We last crowned a winner back in 2021, when Ōhope voted New Zealand’s best beach. Now we’re letting Kiwis pick their favourites once again, and this year, we’ve extended our search to five special categories. You can find out more, and nominate your favourites, at nzherald.co.nz/bestbeach 

In this episode, NZ Herald Travel editor Stephanie Holmes talks to Damien Venuto, host of The Front Page, and Jenni Mortimer, lifestyle editor and co-host of One Day You’ll Thank Me, about their favourite beaches - plus, hear from some notable Kiwis as well! 

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Trip Notes is proud to present the first episode of the new travel podcast miniseries from NZH Travel's Thomas Bywater. In the first episode of this seven-part series, Bywater explores the mysteries of Antarctica while stuck on a cruise ship at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

You can find all episodes of Detour: Antarctica at nzherald.co.nz/detour, or on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you run a travel magazine when you can't travel?

Somehow, despite the world being shut off for the last 18 months, the NZ Herald Travel magazine has been able to not only survive, but also thrive and become an award-winning magazine.

But we're not going to lie - it's been a tough road.

In our final episode of this season's Trip Notes travel podcast, travel writer Juliette Sivertsen, Deputy Editor Maggie Wicks and Editor Stephanie Holmes take a look down memory lane, and chat about some of the challenges we've had producing two weekly travel magazines in a Covid era.

The episode was inspired by Juliette Sivertsen's article, Why The Australia Bubble Pause Is Giving Me An Identity Crisis, which you can read here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/transtasman-bubble-why-the-australian-bubble-pause-is-giving-me-an-identity-crisis/YVJCQMPSMNKMPNGDN4ZH4Z4NWU/

Find more great travel stories here: www.nzherald.co.nz/travel

Hosted by: Stephanie Holmes

Story narration: Juliette Sivertsen

Guests: Maggie Wicks, Juliette Sivertsen

Audio Engineer: Adam Pomana

Social: Instagram and Facebook - @nzhtravel

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

Thanks for listening!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I came back to Milford Sound because I couldn't get the shape of the landscape out of my head; those glacier-carved mountains plunging toward deep green water, the lichen and moss hugging the faces of giants who seemed to lean in and admire their faces in the deep stillness."

Actor and writer Michelle Langstone is rarely lost for words - except when she tries to describe the beauty of Milford Sound.

In this episode of our Trip Notes travel podcast, NZ Herald Travel Editor Stephanie Holmes and writer Juliette Sivertsen talk to Michelle about travel to Fiordland and the magic of Milford Sound.

They also discuss boating holidays in New Zealand and abroad, and their favourite memories of being out on the water.

The episode is inspired by Michelle's article 'Sounds of Silence, which you can read here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/go-nz-a-milford-sound-overnight-cruise-in-magical-fiordland-national-park/IQAMWFX6DIYRYJD7HVSCDNXTKI/

Find more great travel stories here: www.nzherald.co.nz/travel

Hosted by: Stephanie Holmes

Story narration: Juliette Sivertsen

Audio Engineer: Adam Pomana

Guests: Juliette Sivertsen and Michelle Langstone

Social: Instagram and Facebook - @nzhtravel

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

Thanks for listening! Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe and share with all your travel-loving friends.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you remember about family holidays growing up?

From being piled in to clunky old cars, to what felt like endless hours on the road, family road trips can make up some of our strongest childhood memories.

Join NZ Herald Travel Editor Stephanie Holmes and writers Juliette Sivertsen and Karl Puschmann as we discuss family travel memories, as well as tips and advice for planning a road trip with the kids in tow.

Read Karl's story, Remembering The Classic Kiwi Road Trip, here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/go-nz-remembering-the-classic-kiwi-family-road-trip/YA7VGUNKAJV4DS23E6LGEG6TAA/

Find more great travel stories here: www.nzherald.co.nz/travel

Hosted by: Stephanie Holmes

Story narration: Juliette Sivertsen

Audio Engineer: Adam Pomana

Guests: Juliette Sivertsen and Karl Puschmann

Social: Instagram and Facebook - @nzhtravel

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

Thanks for listening! Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe and share with all your travel-loving friends.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you prepare for an adventure holiday?

From skiing getaways and hiking trips to intense Coast to Coast multi sport adventure tours, adventure travel is as much of a mental battle as it is a physical challenge.

In this episode of Trip Notes, join NZ Herald Travel Editor Stephanie Holmes and her writers Juliette Sivertsen and Maggie Wicks as they discuss their most active adventures in New Zealand and abroad, including the Jordan Trail and through Italy's Cinque Terre.

Listen to what went on behind the scenes of Stephanie Holmes' Adventure South Coast to Coast experience, a 243km trail in four days of cycling, kayaking and hiking. The Herald Travel team also discuss their favourite active adventures in New Zealand, the best international walks they've ever completed, and where they would love to pull on the hiking boots - or cycling shorts - next.

Read Stephanie's story, Pushing Through Tears, here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/go-nz-a-coast-to-coast-adventure-is-the-perfect-challenge-to-end-2020/SY6CA52WTSPERLS37IQ5JTC32Y/

Find more great travel stories here: www.nzherald.co.nz/travel

Hosted by: Stephanie Holmes

Story narration: Juliette Sivertsen

Audio engineer: Adam Pomana

Guests: Juliette Sivertsen and Maggie Wicks

Social: Instagram and Facebook - @nzhtravel

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

Thanks for listening!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What makes a luxury holiday so... luxurious?

Be it a city hotel or remote lodge, staying in luxury accommodation is often about bespoke service as well as exquisite amenities and fine dining.

In this week’s episode of Trip Notes, NZ Herald Travel Editor Stephanie Holmes is joined by writers Juliette Sivertsen and Greg Bruce to discuss their most luxurious stays in New Zealand and abroad - and what sets those places apart.

Hear about what went on behind the scenes at Greg Bruce’s stay at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay, as the travel writers talk about their favourite luxury holidays, and how they change their behaviour when in high-class company.

Read Greg’s story, Bet the Farm, here:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/the-farm-at-cape-kidnappers-hawkes-bay-luxury-resort-beyond-limits/JDVIZMDYRNTUJUSLV6FGOSVRWE/

Find more great travel stories here: www.nzherald.co.nz/travel

Hosted by: Stephanie Holmes

Story narration: Juliette Sivertsen

Audio engineer: Adam Pomana

Guests: Juliette Sivertsen and Greg Bruce

Social: Instagram and Facebook - @nzhtravel

Email: [email protected]

Website: nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

Thanks for listening!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wish you could just get away from it all? The Travel team loves going to truly remote places, and this week, we're covering our favourites.

Listen to Maggie Wicks' story about 'podhopping' her way around the South Island, staying in the truly remote PurePods in Kaikoura, Waipara Valley and the Banks Peninsula. Then join Maggie, travel writer Juliette Sivertsen, and travel editor Stephanie Holmes discussing their favourite far-out destinations, and whether it's scary to stay far from civilisation.

From simple huts to remote luxurys, and from being alone, to being alone in a crowd, we have some really far out adventures to share this week.

This episode covers the Coromandel, the South Island's Routeburn and Hollyford tracks, windy Iceland, the Bolivian Salt Plains and newly opened Sydney - one of the last places you might expect to experience being alone.

Read Maggie's story, Peace in a Pod, here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/new-zealand-holidays-purepods-sleep-in-luxury-under-the-stars/RKHTV2JXO3RP7WKF5OFXRUAUYM/

Find more great travel stories here: www.nzherald.co.nz/travel

Hosted by: Stephanie Holmes
Story narration: Juliette Sivertsen
Audio engineer: Adam Pomana
Guests: Juliette Sivertsen and Maggie Wicks
Social: Instagram & Facebook - @nzhtravel
Email: [email protected]
Website: nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

Thanks for listening!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.