Trip Notes

By NZ HeraldSociety & Culture Places & Travel

Trip Notes episodes

March 10, 2025 Exploring Australia off the beaten track - with Lonely Planet's Chris Zeiher
Australia is such a natural destination for Kiwis too visit - but how many of us have explored outside the usual go to’s of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or the Gold Coast? Aren't we all a little guilty of sticking to those tried and true destinations?

Today, Lorna is joined by Chris Zeiher, a spokesperson and writer for Lonely Planet in the Asia Pacific Region. He’s based in Melbourne but an avid traveller and an expert on all that Australia has to offer – including those ‘off the beaten path’ suggestions for travelling across the ditch.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30 min
March 03, 2025 Aesha Scott talks luxury yachting, the super rich, and her favourite holiday destinations
In the first episode of the new season, Lorna Riley is joined by Kiwi Below Deck star Aesha Scott, to discuss her life on the high seas working on super yachts and what really goes on behind the scenes. And she helps us kick off the new season by sharing some of her top travel destinations - and the places she'll never go back to again!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
36 min
February 24, 2025 Trip Notes - New season, new host!
New episodes of Trip Notes with host Lorna Riley out every Tuesday from March 4th.

Proudly supported by AA Travel Insurance.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 min
January 03, 2025 Best Beach 2025: Lorna Riley, Matt Gibb and Eli Matthewson share their picks
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.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27 min
December 31, 2023 Best Beach 2024: Who will triumph in this year's vote?
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
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25 min
December 31, 2022 What is New Zealand's Best Beach? Here's how you can have your say
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!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30 min
January 19, 2022 NZ Herald Travel presents Detour: Antarctica
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.
32 min
August 16, 2021 The meaning of travel writing in a Covid world
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.
31 min
August 01, 2021 Actor Michelle Langstone's tips for visiting the magnificence of Milford Sound
"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.
39 min
July 19, 2021 Top tips for family holidays: How to survive the classic Kiwi road trip
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.
40 min

About Trip Notes

From the publisher's feed

Looking for your next travel destination recommendation? Or the tips and tricks you need to get your holiday off the ground without a hitch? And what's the latest news from the world of tourism?