WELCOME

My recent vacation in Lanzarote coincided with the final of the 2024 Euros between Spain and England. To be watching the final, live in a Spanish Fan Zone, in the harbour at Puerto Del Carmen was one of life's unplanned experiences that I thought I would share with you. It's also one of the positives from travelling on your own, the ability to seek out spontaneous moments of fun. And the better team won!

A quick overview of just a few of the amazing things I experienced on my first ever trip to New Zealand's stunning South Island.

Stirling Point is located at the beginning (or end) of New Zealand's State Highway 1, in the small township of Bluff. It is named after Captain William Stirling who established a Whaling Station nearby in 1836. Stirling Point is most famous for its signpost, which depicts directions and distances to major cities around the world. This signpost has featured in thousands of travellers photographs and is a must-do for visitors to Southland.

The Centre of New Zealand, on Botanical Hill at the start of the Maitai Valley, is an iconic walk in Nelson Tasman. I started the Botanical Hill walk at the Reserve, where the first ever rugby game was played in New Zealand. From here, there are a couple of options to take you to the top where you will enjoy spectacular views over Nelson Tasman.

The iconic Interislander ferries have been getting travellers across Cook Strait for over 60 years. This video charts my recent crossing on the 'Aratere', which is now in its 24th year of operating on the Cook Strait route after replacing Aratika in 1999. Sailing between the North and South Islands (Wellington and Picton) every day, the Cook Strait ferry crossing is 93 kilometers (58 miles) and takes three-and-a-half hours. Two-thirds of that journey is a scenic spectacle, with the ferry looping around Wellington Harbour and drifting through the fjord-like channels and inlets of the Marlborough Sounds. The remaining third of the journey is spent navigating Cook Strait between New Zealand's main islands - a seafaring adventure through a dramatic and rugged channel where two seas meet.

This video covers my recent visit to Hawkes Bay, and Napier in particular. Napier is, by far, the undisputed Art Deco capital of the world, having been completely rebuilt in the 1930's after a massive earthquake and fire devastated the town. But there is much more to Napier than just art deco as I found out on my recent visit. Enjoy this video, it's in three sections: - The journey from Taupo to Napier - Art Deco Napier - Ahuriri. Port of Napier, Bluff Hill and Colonial Park Obviously, there is much more to this region than I cover but it's a good overview of a unique part of New Zealand. Enjoy!

Visiting Singapore for a short stopover and coinciding with the arrival of the Chinese New Year, which is the Year of the Wooden Dragon in 2024

Whether you are staying in a beachfront hotel or a city centre hideaway, everyone celebrates Christmas in Spain on January 6th. This year I was in Puerto Del Carmen on the Canarian Island of Lanzarote to witness it for myself for the first time. Enjoy the video and the special Xmas music soundtrack!

Bringing in the New Year with my latest trip to Lanzarote and the resort of Playa Blanca in particular. Playa Blanca is a town that belongs to the municipality of Yaiza, with more than 11,000 inhabitants. Currently, it is considered the third tourist destination on the island, due to its variety of hotels and restaurants, its marina, and its incredible beaches.

Boasting a privileged and unique location, on the far south-westerly tip of Europe and creating a bridge between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean, Portimão is a place which has a fantastic climate and a very rich natural beauty. It holds its rural and maritime roots in high esteem