Trips & Treks for the Thrifty Traveller
Kaikoura is a lovely little town on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Many people visit the area for its abundance of marine life and opportunities to see whales, dolphins, seals and more. It is also a beautiful area, where huge snow-capped mountains plunge almost directly into the ocean, and the grey pebble beaches hide shining… Read More
3 hour return There are many impressive hiking opportunities around Wanaka. Its stunning location means that you are spoiled for views everywhere you go. But, if you’re looking for a walk that has all of the reward for less of the effort, I highly recommend Rocky Mountain’s summit track. The track starts at Diamond Lake Conservation Area car park, 18.5km… Read More
Nelson is beautiful. Located in the ‘Top of the South’, it has a large number of sunshine hours compared to the rest of the New Zealand’s South Island and is often referred to as ‘Sunny Nelson’. The city itself has a lot to offer, including a lovely weekend market. And, as it is surrounded by THREE national parks, you can… Read More
2 hours return If you’re anything like me, after spending some time in a city you’d like to get back out into nature and do some hiking. I was pretty happy to find out about this short day hike to Whispering Falls, just a 40 minute drive out of Nelson city centre, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island…. Read More
When I visited Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand’s highest mountain, I felt like I’d wandered into a fairytale. I know how that sounds, but honestly, it’s probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever visited! At 3,724 metres high, Mount Cook is a challenge for the most experienced mountain climbers, but for the vast majority of us it is merely a beautiful… Read More
New Zealand, Aotearoa, The Land of the Long White Cloud. If you’re thinking about visiting this beautiful country and want to stay longer than a regular tourist, your best option is probably the New Zealand Working Holiday Visa. The application process can seem pretty daunting at first, but don’t fret! I’m here to walk you through it and to provide… Read More
If you want a challenge, Mount Taranaki’s summit track is certainly that! Located on the west coast of New Zealand’s north island, this volcano is 2,518m high and is an almost perfect cone. This means that there are no easy parts and the whole trek is a steep climb! When we set out to conquer the summit, we were not… Read More
Located on the north-eastern side of the North Island, Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city (although not its capital). There is, however, much more to the city than meets the eye, so I’ve compiled this list of my favourite things to do in Auckland, from hikes and islands to the city itself. This was our port of arrival in the… Read More
Updated September 28, 2020 Day hike: 4-6.5 hours If there is one place in New Zealand that holds a special place in my heart, it’s an island called Aotea. More commonly known as Great Barrier Island or ‘The Barrier’. Located about 100 kms off the coast of Auckland, it is completely off the grid. And it is one of the… Read More
