Trips & Treks for the Thrifty Traveller
I love packing for Hong Kong. It is a place that I will never tire of visiting; with its vibrant city and stunning islands, it just keeps drawing me back again and again. Of course, I have family there, so that helps too. I have completely lost count of the number of times I’ve visited Hong Kong, and I know… Read More
Often described as one of the best day hikes in New Zealand, Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a must for avid hikers. It is a long, challenging hike through a dramatic volcanic landscape and it takes around 7-8 hours to complete. The track is 19.4km long, which doesn’t seem too difficult at first glance. But with steep climbs up to 1886m… Read More
Lake Taupō is a huge body of water in the middle of New Zealand’s North Island. The lake is actually the crater from a huge volcanic eruption dating back 26,500 years. Its deepest point is 186 metres. There are many cruise or kayak options to get out onto the lake, and the main attraction is the large Māori rock carving… Read More
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
When you think of the Pacific Islands, you most likely think of Hawaii, Fiji or Bora Bora first before Samoa, Tonga or Vanuatu. But the more underrated islands in the Pacific Ocean have less tourists and all of the beauty. It’s definitely worth adding at least one of them to your bucket list! Samoa is located just under halfway between… 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
When you’re travelling around Asia, particularly South East Asia, you may find yourself thinking about scooter rental. When everyone else is zooming around the streets and there are rental options everywhere, why would you want to walk, right? But, even if you’re experienced in riding a scooter or moped at home, there are a few things you need to be… 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
If you’re visiting Kampot, Bokor Mountain is a must-visit. Originally built as a French colonial hill station, it was later abandoned (twice) and is now slowly being renovated as a tourist destination with new hotels and casinos. For now, though, the area is worth a visit for the old, eerie, abandoned buildings that can be found dotted around the top… Read More
