New Zealand

Dust off your passport—Urban List Vacays has arrived. 

The flight across the ditch takes just over three hours, making Auckland an ideal destination for your next long weekend away. You can understand the street signs, and banter with locals, all while trying local cuisine and breathing new, fresh air.

Auckland never ceases to amaze. Vibrant eateries, exciting experiences and luxury stays are all just a beat away in the heart of Auckland. Look no further, at just over a 3-hour flight, it's perfect for a weekend escape. 

With a massive NZ sale going on right now at Flight Centre, there’s no excuse not to get your diaries out and start organising your next unforgettable adventure.  

It’s Flight Centre’s 40th birthday and they want to celebrate by shouting 40 holidays. 

There's unparalleled magic that comes with exploring New Zealand's South Island region. You'll find a pocket of wonder around every corner; glistening lakes, snow-capped mountain ranges and incredibly mesmerising fiords. 

New Zealand—home to endlessly picturesque scenery, Taika Waititi and accents often confused for our own. Also, one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations, and with good reason. It’s been a hot minute since Queenslanders hopped on a plane and went on what felt like a proper holiday. But now, with the recently introduced quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand, that dream of safely getting on a plane and escaping the country is once again a reality. From Brisbane Airport, you can now fly internationally with confidence, without the hassle of hotel quarantine and with the knowledge that additional safety measures are in place for you and yours.

QT Hotels & Resorts know we don't want to leave our pets behind on holidays—so they're letting you bring them with you. 

From hidden speakeasies to secret swimming holes and neon lighthouses, we’re bringing you all the under-the-radar experiences you need to hit up before they flood your feed.

From sun-drenched seaside towns to the idyllic countryside and islands dedicated entirely to wine, these five dreamy destinations are your answer to beating burnout. 

Wanderlusters take note, here’s everything you need to eat, see and do in the dreamy town of Wanaka.

Secret’s out, the world’s best winter holiday is only a short flight away. Just over the Tasman you’ll find fresh powder to shred, idyllic hot pools, gourmet eats and luxury retreats. 

Wine and food. Food and wine. The most iconic of duos and undeniably next-level in New Zealand. Every year, our country celebrates its world-class offerings with epic food and wine festivals scattered nationwide. Indulge in fresh seafood, sip wine among the vines or try something new at one of the events. 

Twenty five words. That's how many words it takes to get yourself a once in a lifetime travel opportunity in a seriously unique competition currently running over at Microsoft Surface. Move over cheap flights to Bali—this series of ‘Anything But Ordinary’ experiences is going to have you packing your bag quick smart.

Grime institution Eskimo Dance has just announced they’ll be hitting our side of the globe and we are ready.

Did someone say illuminated night kayaking on Moreton Island? Let's get on it. 

Europe’s biggest winter festival Snowboxx will take over Queenstown for a full week of slopeside parties and world-class acts!

It’s no secret that we live in the most beautiful country on earth. From our sweeping coastlines, rugged mountain ranges, ferny forests and open plains, New Zealand has everything you could ever want and so much more. With so much beauty on offer, it would be a shame for you to miss any of it, so we’ve rounded up 10 of New Zealand’s most beautiful spots that you might not even know existed.

It's something everyone needs to put on their bucket list. Here’s a list of where to go hot air ballooning in New Zealand!

It’s already mid-year people. We know, we know—it feels like only yesterday we set our out of offices for the Christmas break and now it’s EOFY, and we’re officially ready for a holiday. Chances are you are too, so if you can relate to any of the below, we suggest booking a holiday, stat.

As winter creeps closer and the days get shorter, we could all do with a little brightening up. And we’ve just received word of a little something that could do the trick! Introducing Light Nelson to your radar, the dazzling light festival that will take your breath away.

A holiday wouldn’t be a holiday without a decent dose of culture. We mean, you can’t just sit in your hotel room binge-watching Netflix! We’re all about embracing things with open arms.

Let’s be honest, Bali is sooo 2017. There’s another island getaway calling your name this year. Picture this: towering volcanoes, untouched wilderness, crystal-clear waters and an abundance of vineyards thrown in for good measure.

New Zealand has got it all. Amazing landscapes? Exhilarating activities? The friendliest people you’ve ever met? Check, check, check! When you think of going backpacking you may daydream about hiking through Peru or getting lost in the Greek Islands but trust us when we say New Zealand is where it’s at! 

New Zealand’s North Island is like one big playground, filled with places to swim, things to eat, mountains to climb, and adventures to be had. Here’s 10 fabulous things to do in the North Island.

Your favourite emoji (aka the window into your soul), can tell us a heck of a lot about you. In fact, these teeny tiny graphics are all you need to decide your next adventure. 

Let’s hear it for Auckland—she’s the food and wine haven that has been whetting our appetite for years with local and international culinary delights.

Crack open your diary and make room for one of these epic trips in 2018

Because a trip across the ditch might be exactly what you need. 

Do you ever feel you just want to get away from it all? Take a load off and breathe in the fresh air away from the hustle and bustle of the city?

Holidays are often seen as a luxury. And we get it, we really do—those things are expensive. But, here at The Urban List we are super thrifty, and we’ve managed to hack our way to two international holidays a year…without sacrificing UberEats and plenty of vino along the way.

So, you’re thinking doing a spot of solo travel. Excellent idea! As someone who’s spent most of the year as a globetrotting backpacker, I can promise you that it will be an adventure of a lifetime. Like travelling with your mates, fam bam or SO, solo travel comes with its own unique challenges, many of which you don’t realise exist until you’re actually on the road.

From the classic bungy and jet boat combo to rafting, sky diving and zorbing, here are 10 of the most extreme activities you can do in New Zealand. Hold onto your hats, folks! 

If there’s anyone who deserves a holiday, it’s you. But there’s no need to chew through your annual leave and jet off to the other side of the world for a much-needed va-cay. Nope, the ultimate short break is just a short plane ride away.