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.

What's the best part of travelling? Deciding where you're going to eat, of course!

In this week's episode of Trip Notes, New Zealand Herald Travel Editor Stephanie Holmes is joined by writers Juliette Sivertsen and Simon Wilson who talk about their favourite foodie experiences from New Zealand and around the world.

From childhood memories of fish and chips on the beach, to Michelin-star restaurants in Europe, to the strangest things we've ever eaten, the team will whet your appetite for delicious travels to come.

This episode takes us to the Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay, Auckland, the Chatham Islands, Fiji, England, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Italy, New York, Texas, Jordan, Japan and more - all from the comfort of your couch or commute.

Read Simon's story, Golden Daze, here: www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/go-nz-simon-wilson-in-praise-of-flounder-pipi-and-castlepoint/OE4FC5AEYDOARN5OUUHEIDZYHI

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 Simon Wilson
Social: Instagram & Facebook - @nzhtravel
Email: [email protected]
Website: nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

Thanks for listening!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're back! Trip Notes returns and this week we're talking love, romance - and how travel can help mend a broken heart.

To kick off, Travel Editor Stephanie Holmes reveals all - a breakup, a holiday fling, and a new relationship. Then the Travel team weighs in on all the places they've experienced holiday romance and romantic disappointment. This episode takes us to Paris, Sydney, New Orleans, Jerusalem, Taumarunui, Hawke's Bay, Venice and beyond - all from the comfort of your couch or commute.

Read Steph's story about heartbreak here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/go-nz-the-luxury-weekend-getaway-that-helped-heal-a-broken-heart/M6A22QCP2QAMW6L73Y4VDMSU2A/

Read Maggie's story about New Orleans here: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/travel-inspiration-memories-of-holidays-in-new-orleans/VGQELG3URO3QARPHIJDGFT7N2A/

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

Thanks for listening!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facing a milestone birthday, Travel Editor Stephanie Holmes wanted to prove there was life left in her yet. So, she set off for Sri Lanka and joined a group cycling holiday... and ended up having the time of her life.

In this latest episode of Trip Notes, you're going to hear a reading of Stephanie's travel story where she tells all about her trip and the reasons the country is so special.

Then, Juliette Sivertsen talks to Stephanie about her memories from that trip 18 months on, and why she'll always remember it as a trip of a lifetime.

For more travel inspiration, go to https://nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

You can follow the Herald travel team at https://instagram.com/nzhtravel or https://facebook.com/nzhtravel as well as Juliette Sivertsen on Twitter at @j_sivertsen or https://instagram.com/snorkelstosnow, and Stephanie Holmes at https://www.instagram.com/holmesstephanie or https://www.twitter.com/holmesstephanie

Thanks for listening!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone dreams of seeing the northern lights one day, right?

In this latest episode of Trip Notes, we head to Alaska. You're going to hear a reading of a travel article written by journalist Anna Harrison about her efforts to find the sometimes elusive, and definitely mysterious phenomenon that is the aurora borealis.

For more travel inspiration, go to https://nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

You can follow the Herald travel team at https://instagram.com/nzhtravel or https://facebook.com/nzhtravel as well as host Juliette Sivertsen on Twitter at @j_sivertsen or https://instagram.com/snorkelstosnow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Jim's voice was like a man trying to touch his nose and hop on one leg at the same time, and falling over; it was like a garden path, overgrown with thistles and gorse, leading towards a swamp."

In this episode of Trip Notes, host Juliette Sivertsen revisits an article written by Steve Braunias about his trip to Rarotonga, the Shipwreck Bar and the legendary Jim Bruce.

For more travel inspiration, go to https://nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

You can follow the Herald travel team at https://instagram.com/nzhtravel or https://facebook.com/nzhtravel as well as host Juliette Sivertsen on Twitter at @j_sivertsen or https://instagram.com/snorkelstosnow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Scandinavians have long been praised for their smart thinking and innovative ways to bring beauty into everyday spaces.

In this episode of Trip Notes, host Juliette Sivertsen revisits a story by Herald feature writer Greg Bruce, about his visit to Stockholm to explore the Swedish way of life and the art of thinking differently.

For more travel inspiration, go to https://nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

You can follow the Herald travel team at https://instagram.com/nzhtravel or https://facebook.com/nzhtravel as well as host Juliette Sivertsen on Twitter at @j_sivertsen or https://instagram.com/snorkelstosnow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Trip Notes, we revisit a story published by Herald journalist Nicholas Jones, about his trip to Belgium and to the battle sites of World War I.

"A deflated rugby ball and a couple of plastic poppies mark Dave Gallaher's grave. Scrawls, handwritten in Vivid marker pens, make it look like a memento from a modern rugby match: the sort that a child hangs over the halfway tunnel, hoping his heroes will sign," writes Jones.

For more travel inspiration, go to https://nzherald.co.nz/tripnotes

You can follow the Herald travel team at https://instagram.com/nzhtravel or https://facebook.com/nzhtravel as well as host Juliette Sivertsen on Twitter at @j_sivertsen or https://instagram.com/snorkelstosnow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.