New Zealand

This year's Sony Alpha Awards just landed, so we’ve sussed out some truly incredible places across Australia and New Zealand—to inspire you to pick up your camera and snag the winning shot. 

We all deserve to soar into the sunset as often as our jobs and lives allow, so this year, there’s a new plan of attack: staggered spending. 

From Singapore to Tokyo, we're here to make your next vacay even sweeter with a bunch of international travel packages under $2000*—thanks to Zip and Webjet.

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. 

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

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.

It’s something that’s usually reserved for the rich and famous, but now, you too can achieve baller status by renting out an entire floor of a luxe hotel and throwing the most epic party. That’s right, the cool kids at QT want you to send off the rollercoaster that is 2020 in total style by launching Floor’d—a one-of-a-kind wild night in that allows you to book the whole floor at one QT’s 10 swanky digs located around Australia and New Zealand.

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. 

New Zealand truly is an amazing spot for hot springs due to a mass amount of volcanic activity, especially in the Taupo and Rotorua regions. The geothermal energy radiating from these places often make for the best sightseeing and relaxation spots. There’s something about visiting a natural geothermal area that leaves you feeling cleansed, refreshed and connected to the earth again. Whether it’s witnessing the healing mineral waters, steaming blue and orange waters, exploding geysers, or boiling hot mud pools, it’s pretty marvellous.

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

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.

There’s no doubt about it, we live in the most incredible country in the world. All too often, we find ourselves day dreaming about far away destinations—when one of the next best places is only a short flight across the ditch. 

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! 

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.

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! 

It's time to shade up, splash in the ocean and toast yourself dry in the sun.