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Travel

The second magical pumpkin.

Naoshima and Teshima: An ode to being alone and lost in Japan

These buzzy Japanese islands offer polka-dotted pumpkins, tiny fishing villages, and underground art unlike anything you've seen before.
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By Liv Sisson | 1st December, 2025
Commercial editor
Memories from a journey on the Number 24 bus. Image: Joel MacManus

In praise of the Number 24 Bus, Wellington’s most scenic commute

The best tour of Wellington costs just $4.34 with a Snapper card.
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By Joel MacManus | 11th July, 2025
Senior writer
Gabi Lardies and other great things from Argentina.

Travel Diary: A holiday within a holiday at Iguazú Falls in Argentina

This is one waterfall worth chasing.
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By Gabi Lardies | 15th April, 2025
Contributing writer
Help Me Hera: I regret convincing my partner to move to London

Help Me Hera: I regret convincing my partner to move to London

He's having the time of his life. I'm crippled by homesickness.
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By Hera Lindsay Bird | 6th March, 2025
Contributing writer
What is a long haul flight in premium economy actually like? (Design: The Spinoff)

Living the dream: What it’s really like to fly long haul in Premium Economy

'I myself am a little bit premium and a little bit (fine, a lot) economy, so this was a dream come true.'
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By Tara Ward | 3rd March, 2025
Staff writer
How to travel luxuriously in Thailand, for less

How to travel luxuriously in Thailand, for less

Tara Ward travels to Koh Samui to live her best life as a five star wannabe.  
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By Tara Ward | 17th February, 2025
Staff writer
Illustration: Bob Kerr

The Spinoff Essay: Sunset Limited

Two nights, five states and one train journey along the border, pencil and paper in hand.
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By Bob Kerr | 15th February, 2025
Guest writer
Kanpai! A guide to drinking in Japan

Kanpai! A guide to drinking in Japan

Japan’s food scene is world famous, but its drinks culture remains something of a hidden gem.
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By Catherine McGregor | 20th January, 2025
Contributing writer
I survived in another country without a smartphone – this is my story

I survived in another country without a smartphone – this is my story

Alex Casey spends the weekend in a new city without her trusty iPhone, and lives to tell the tale.
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By Alex Casey | 11th January, 2025
Senior writer
Queenstown’s KFC road sign has disappeared. Image: Tina Tiller

What happened to the Queenstown KFC road sign?

The iconic 'No left turn except access to KFC' road sign has vanished. Joel MacManus investigates.
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By Joel MacManus | 18th December, 2024
Senior writer
Like other New Zealanders in London, my travel aspirations are in tightening tension with their impacts on climate change, communities, and cultures. (Photo: crowds of tourist on Barceloneta beach, Barcelona, via Getty)

New Zealanders in London are engaging in competitive ‘overtourism’. Can we redeem the classic OE?

Pressure to visit as many European destinations as possible is causing harm to local communities and the climate. Is there an alternative?
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By Charlotte Doyle | 6th November, 2024
Guest writer
It probably won’t, but a lot can go wrong on holiday (Image: Getty / Tina Tiller)

Every travel disaster I can think of – and how travel insurance would help

Your trip will probably go off without a hitch. But what happens if it doesn't?
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By Tara Ward | 5th November, 2024
Staff writer
My budget for the entire trip was $3,000, and I didn’t go into the red. (Photos: Getty, additional design by The Spinoff)

My Greatest Trip: Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos

A white woman’s account of backpacking through southeast Asia? Groundbreaking. 
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By Madeleine Holden | 5th November, 2024
Guest writer
Low carbon travel is possible, and for those who do it, preferable. (Photos supplied, additional design by The Spinoff)

Is it possible to travel without damaging the climate? Yes

Trains, bikes and sailboats already exist, and choosing to travel more slowly can be a pleasure, too.
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By Shanti Mathias | 5th November, 2024
Contributing writer
Much has been written on the art of travelling solo. Far less is said about holidaying with your parents.

Parent trapped: A collaborative guide to travelling with your parents

Three adults, seven days: here’s how we survived our latest family holiday. 
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By Fran Barclay | 4th November, 2024
Guest writer
Dane and Stacey on making travel a business, owning half a dog, and finding balance

Dane and Stacey on making travel a business, owning half a dog, and finding balance

They've built a big following for their videos on combining long-term travel and remote work. But what does it really take to become a successful digital nomad?
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By The Spinoff | 9th September, 2024
Staff writers
Photo: Stewart Sowman-Lund

How two pōhutukawa ended up on Alcatraz

A small part of New Zealand on a famous island 10,000 kilometres away.
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By Stewart Sowman-Lund | 4th September, 2024
The Bulletin editor
Cherry blossoms missed, but pressed sardines found: Japan’s little surprises

Cherry blossoms missed, but pressed sardines found: Japan’s little surprises

I made many checklists and Pinterest boards in the lead-up to my Japan trip. None of these things were on them.
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By Anna Rawhiti-Connell | 1st July, 2024
Senior writer
The making of ‘Inshallah’ (All photos supplied by Isobel Ewing)

‘Are you afraid?’: The escapades of two NZ women cycling through Pakistan

We rode our bikes through northern Pakistan for a month and made a film about it too.
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By Isobel Ewing | 13th June, 2024
Guest writer
I survived in another country without a smartphone – this is my story

I survived in another country without a smartphone – this is my story

Alex Casey spends the weekend in a new city without her trusty iPhone, and lives to tell the tale.
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By Alex Casey | 8th June, 2024
Senior writer

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The Spinoff is subject to NZ Media Council procedures. A complaint must be first directed in writing, within one month of publication, to info@thespinoff.co.nz. If not satisfied with the response, the complaint may be referred to the online complaint form at www.presscouncil.org.nz along with a link to the relevant story and all correspondence with the publication.

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