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Trips & Treks for the Thrifty Traveller

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Hello and welcome!

My name is Sarah and I am the owner of Last Minute Wanders.
I started travelling on a budget in November 2012 and I haven't looked back!
Exploring new destinations fills me with joy and I'm here to help you do the same, without breaking the bank. Read More…

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Featured Articles

31+ Road trip essentials you can’t leave without

14 Best things to do in New Zealand’s North Island

Luggage List: Packing for Australia

8 Free and cheap things to do in Pai, Thailand

Connect with me on Instagram!

lastminutewanders

With continuing restrictions on overseas travel, I

With continuing restrictions on overseas travel, I think this year will be all about road trips! 🛣
Believe it or not, we lived in this cosy little home on wheels for over a year as we travelled around New Zealand. Our whole life was a road trip!
We cooked, ate, slept, watched Netflix and explored an entire country... I even created Last Minute Wanders from inside this car!
Today’s post on the blog is the ultimate road trip packing guide, all based on personal experience.
Check it out through the link in my bio ☝🏻☺️
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#dreamnowtravellater #theyearoftheroadtrip #roadtrip2020 #roadtripessentials #roadtrippackinglist #ultimateroadtrip #vanlife #camperlife #roadtrip #travelathome #domestictravel #ontheroadagain #newzealandtravel #nzmustdo #nzfinds #lakepukaki #aorakimountcook #nzroadtrip #travelblogger #lastminutewanders

I’m really enjoying getting out again and explor

I’m really enjoying getting out again and exploring close to home and I’m so thankful to be living in such a beautiful area 💙
Today we visited Wareham Forest, and I can’t believe we’ve never come here before!
Are you exploring more close to home too?
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#dreamnowtravellater #exploringathome #travelathome #warehamforest #wareham #dorsetlife #traveldorset #southcoastengland #uktravel #visituk #visitengland #travelengland #inthewoods #travelblogger #uktravelblogger #lastminutewanders

A lot of people skip New Zealand’s Northland as

A lot of people skip New Zealand’s Northland as it’s north of Auckland and most want to head south from there.
We spent a whole month in this region and it was glorious! 🌅
This week’s blog post isn’t just about Northland, but the best bits of the whole of New Zealand’s North Island (including Northland).
Link in bio 😎☝🏻
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#dreamnowtravellater #travelnewzealand #lovenz #90milebeach #northland #northislandnz #newzealandbeaches #kaitaia #beachsunset #nzmustdo #nztravel #nznorthisland #beachlife #travelblogger #lastminutewanders

Today marks two years since we left the UK for New

Today marks two years since we left the UK for New Zealand. We weren’t expecting to be back quite as early as we were, but socially distanced beach days with family are still pretty darn good 🏖🌞
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#beachdays #dorsetcoast #alumchine #stillmissingnz #nzanniversary #bournemouth #jurassiccoast #beachlife #travelathome #dreamnowtravellater #travelblogger #lastminutewanders

Ahh Australia 💙 Okay, so we’re not allowed to

Ahh Australia 💙
Okay, so we’re not allowed to travel there right now, but we can still dream for the future, right?
This week’s blog post is an awesome packing guide for this beautiful land down under, for when those borders start opening again 🤞🏻🌏
Link in bio ☝🏻
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#dreamnowtravellater #australia #packingguide #luggagelist #travelaustralia #packinglist #melbournelove #packingforaustralia #albertparkmelbourne #lastminutewanders

It felt so good to get out into nature and up on t

It felt so good to get out into nature and up on the hills this weekend for the first time since lockdown started.
Devon is absolutely gorgeous and I’m lucky that it’s not too far away! I definitely plan to get out and about a bit more in future and enjoy the beautiful south west of England 💙
Who else is starting to travel a bit further afield as restrictions gradually ease?
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#travelathome #devonlove #southwestengland #countryliving #countrysideandfarmlife #dreamnowtravellater #lastminutewanders #devonuk

Pai is still one of my absolute favourite places i

Pai is still one of my absolute favourite places in Thailand. 💚
Its stunning landscape holds mountains, lush rice paddies, waterfalls, hot springs and a canyon, among many more! 🌴
It’s pretty popular with backpackers for its laid back vibe and the food is amazing 😋
And it’s so easy to explore Pai on a budget! On the blog today is a full guide to the free and cheap activities on offer in this awesome mountain town 🌄
Link in bio ☝🏻
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#dreamnowtravellater #pai #paithailand #northernthailand #thailandtravel #paicanyon #hippievibes #seasiatravel #lastminutewanders

Long term travel may be THE DREAM, but it’s not

Long term travel may be THE DREAM, but it’s not actually all sunshine and rainbows 🌈
In fact, it can get pretty tough at times! No home comforts, no friends and family nearby, being constantly on the move: it can all take its toll after a while. 😴
On the blog today is a survival guide for long term travellers. Whether you’re currently away from home or you’re planning a long trip in the future, these are some important things to be aware of! 😎
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#survivalguide #travelsurvivalguide #longtermtravel #traveltipsandtricks #keepgoing #keeptravelling #lifeontheroad #continuoustravel #constanttravel #dreamnowtravellater #lastminutewanders

#blackouttuesday ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻

What’s the first thing you think of when I menti

What’s the first thing you think of when I mention Siem Reap, or even Cambodia? The answer is most likely the incredible Angkor Wat temple complex, right?
But there are so many other things to do in Siem Reap, too, so if you think you might get a bit templed out on your visit, check out today’s post on 8 great things to do in Siem Reap 😎
Link in bio ☝🏻
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#dreamnowtravellater #siemreap #siemreapcambodia #angkorwat #gatewaytoangkor #visitcambodia #cambodia #visitsiemreap #southeastasia #templelove

We’re talking about blues over on the blog today

We’re talking about blues over on the blog today 💙
Post-travel blues are a very real thing for a lot of people, including me, and with everything happening in the world today these feelings can be a lot harder to recover from.
However, over time I’ve come up with a few methods that I’ve tried and tested over and over, and they really do work for me.
Do you have any methods that work for you personally? Are you struggling with the blues right now?
Check out the full post in the link in my bio ☝🏻
.
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#posttravelblues #posttraveldepression #feelingblue #beatthoseblues #holidayblues #travelblues #vacationblues #dreamnowtravellater #marlboroughsounds #bluebridgeferry #nzsouthisland #lastminutewanders

Being a seasonal worker abroad has given me so man

Being a seasonal worker abroad has given me so many fantastic opportunities over the years, and I have to say I’m really missing it right now! 🌏
This photo was taken from behind the wheel of an old tractor on an avocado orchard in the far north of New Zealand in December; their summer. 🚜
I wish I could be doing this kind of work in my own country and helping to #feedthenation in this time of crisis, but unfortunately I live in the wrong area!
So, for now, I just need to be content with these memories. 🥑
But if you happen to be in New Zealand right now and you’re considering outdoor seasonal work now that the country is opening up again, check out this week’s blog post on how to get outdoor work. And make some awesome memories (and some money 😉)!
Link in bio ☝🏻
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#outdoorwork #seasonalworker #workabroad #avocadoorchard #workingholiday #workingholidaynz #nzfarming #farnorthnz #dreamnowtravellater #workoutside #orchardwork #whvnz #lastminutewanders

Napier was not really on our radar when we were tr

Napier was not really on our radar when we were travelling New Zealand, but when we came across an opportunity to house-sit in this little port town, we were excited to take it and see somewhere new. And we were so glad we did!
We spent a wonderful couple of weeks here, and even though we were coming to the end of our trip and funds were low, we found lots of things to do for free.
This week’s blog post shares the top 10 free things to do in lovely Napier.
Link in bio ☝🏻
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#dreamnowtravellater #napier #newzealand #newzealandfinds #freethingstodo #budgettravel #northisland #bluffhill #ahuriri #hawkesbay #housesitting #thriftytravel #lastminutewanders

I know that none of us are packing to go anywhere

I know that none of us are packing to go anywhere right now, but we can still dream and plan for the future, right??
This photo was taken in the stunning Phong Nha National Park in Vietnam; a country I’ve always wanted to go back to. Vietnam has contained the spread of coronavirus incredibly well; they’ve had 0 deaths thanks to their quick thinking and early response!
This week’s blog post is a Luggage List to help you pack for travel in Southeast Asia. Keep it for later... 😉
Link in bio.
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#dreamnowtravellater #plannowtravellater #phongnhanationalpark #phongnha #vietnam #southeastasia #packingguide #luggagelist #lastminutewanders

Are the Penghu Islands Taiwan’s best-kept secret

Are the Penghu Islands Taiwan’s best-kept secret? This week’s destination inspiration comes from a trip I took back in 2016 to a beautiful little archipelago of islands off the west coast of Taiwan. With beaches, history, culture, geological formations and great food, what’s not to love?? Check out the link in my bio for the full post!
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#dreamnowtravellater #destinationinspiration #penghuislands #taiwan #taiwantravel #travellove #magong #dreamingoftravel #virtualtravel #islandadventures #lastminutewanders

W H A R A R I K I 💙 In today’s blog post I’

W H A R A R I K I 💙
In today’s blog post I’m stepping away from the pandemic talk and providing you with a little destination inspiration.
Wharariki Beach is located right at the top of New Zealand’s South Island and is stunningly photogenic. Do you recognise these islands? They’re used as one of the default Windows desktop images!
Click the link in my bio to read the full post 👆🏻
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#dreamnowtravellater #destinationinspiration #whararikibeach #newzealandfinds #travelblogger #nzsouthisland #capefarewell #seals

Dreaming of better days... 💭 This week on the b

Dreaming of better days... 💭
This week on the blog we’re talking about how you can satisfy your wanderlust from home and keep travel alive, even on lockdown!
I think we’re all finding it pretty hard right now, but we will be able to get out there again one day 💙
Click the link in my bio to read the post!
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.
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#dreamnowtravellater #lockdownwanderlust #dreamingoftravel #keepyourheadup #traveladdict #lastminutewanders

Today’s post on the blog is all about virtual tr

Today’s post on the blog is all about virtual travel.
With most of the world on lockdown, none of us are going very far right now, so it’s important to find a little bit of escapism where you can!
Check out the link in my bio to virtually travel to destinations all over the world, from the comfort of your couch.
Photo taken on my one outing for exercise 🏃‍♀️
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#stayathome #virtualtravel #travelfromhome #explorefromhome #escapism #isolationlife #lovetravel

Trying to focus on the good things in life by remi

Trying to focus on the good things in life by reminiscing about this incredible road trip.
I hope you are all staying safe, wherever you are. Be sensible and follow the rules and guidelines of the country you’re in ♥️😷
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#washyourhands #staysafe #covid_19 #roadtrip #arthurspass #newzealand #nzsouthisland #nzroadtrip #vanlife

I’ll admit, I’ve been a bit apprehensive about

I’ll admit, I’ve been a bit apprehensive about coming back home to the UK after our incredible 18 months in New Zealand.
Yeah, there’s been quite a lot of rain here but when that clears, it’s not bad at all, really!
Featuring Casper 🐶
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#hamworthy #dorset #uk #englandislovelytoo #beachlife #beachinginmarch #uktravel #lastminutewanders

Load More… Follow on Instagram

Footer

Connect with me on Instagram!

lastminutewanders

With continuing restrictions on overseas travel, I

With continuing restrictions on overseas travel, I think this year will be all about road trips! 🛣
Believe it or not, we lived in this cosy little home on wheels for over a year as we travelled around New Zealand. Our whole life was a road trip!
We cooked, ate, slept, watched Netflix and explored an entire country... I even created Last Minute Wanders from inside this car!
Today’s post on the blog is the ultimate road trip packing guide, all based on personal experience.
Check it out through the link in my bio ☝🏻☺️
.
.
.
#dreamnowtravellater #theyearoftheroadtrip #roadtrip2020 #roadtripessentials #roadtrippackinglist #ultimateroadtrip #vanlife #camperlife #roadtrip #travelathome #domestictravel #ontheroadagain #newzealandtravel #nzmustdo #nzfinds #lakepukaki #aorakimountcook #nzroadtrip #travelblogger #lastminutewanders

I’m really enjoying getting out again and explor

I’m really enjoying getting out again and exploring close to home and I’m so thankful to be living in such a beautiful area 💙
Today we visited Wareham Forest, and I can’t believe we’ve never come here before!
Are you exploring more close to home too?
.
.
.
#dreamnowtravellater #exploringathome #travelathome #warehamforest #wareham #dorsetlife #traveldorset #southcoastengland #uktravel #visituk #visitengland #travelengland #inthewoods #travelblogger #uktravelblogger #lastminutewanders

A lot of people skip New Zealand’s Northland as

A lot of people skip New Zealand’s Northland as it’s north of Auckland and most want to head south from there.
We spent a whole month in this region and it was glorious! 🌅
This week’s blog post isn’t just about Northland, but the best bits of the whole of New Zealand’s North Island (including Northland).
Link in bio 😎☝🏻
.
.
.
#dreamnowtravellater #travelnewzealand #lovenz #90milebeach #northland #northislandnz #newzealandbeaches #kaitaia #beachsunset #nzmustdo #nztravel #nznorthisland #beachlife #travelblogger #lastminutewanders

Today marks two years since we left the UK for New

Today marks two years since we left the UK for New Zealand. We weren’t expecting to be back quite as early as we were, but socially distanced beach days with family are still pretty darn good 🏖🌞
.
.
.
#beachdays #dorsetcoast #alumchine #stillmissingnz #nzanniversary #bournemouth #jurassiccoast #beachlife #travelathome #dreamnowtravellater #travelblogger #lastminutewanders

Ahh Australia 💙 Okay, so we’re not allowed to

Ahh Australia 💙
Okay, so we’re not allowed to travel there right now, but we can still dream for the future, right?
This week’s blog post is an awesome packing guide for this beautiful land down under, for when those borders start opening again 🤞🏻🌏
Link in bio ☝🏻
.
.
.
#dreamnowtravellater #australia #packingguide #luggagelist #travelaustralia #packinglist #melbournelove #packingforaustralia #albertparkmelbourne #lastminutewanders

It felt so good to get out into nature and up on t

It felt so good to get out into nature and up on the hills this weekend for the first time since lockdown started.
Devon is absolutely gorgeous and I’m lucky that it’s not too far away! I definitely plan to get out and about a bit more in future and enjoy the beautiful south west of England 💙
Who else is starting to travel a bit further afield as restrictions gradually ease?
.
.
.
#travelathome #devonlove #southwestengland #countryliving #countrysideandfarmlife #dreamnowtravellater #lastminutewanders #devonuk

Pai is still one of my absolute favourite places i

Pai is still one of my absolute favourite places in Thailand. 💚
Its stunning landscape holds mountains, lush rice paddies, waterfalls, hot springs and a canyon, among many more! 🌴
It’s pretty popular with backpackers for its laid back vibe and the food is amazing 😋
And it’s so easy to explore Pai on a budget! On the blog today is a full guide to the free and cheap activities on offer in this awesome mountain town 🌄
Link in bio ☝🏻
.
.
.
#dreamnowtravellater #pai #paithailand #northernthailand #thailandtravel #paicanyon #hippievibes #seasiatravel #lastminutewanders

Long term travel may be THE DREAM, but it’s not

Long term travel may be THE DREAM, but it’s not actually all sunshine and rainbows 🌈
In fact, it can get pretty tough at times! No home comforts, no friends and family nearby, being constantly on the move: it can all take its toll after a while. 😴
On the blog today is a survival guide for long term travellers. Whether you’re currently away from home or you’re planning a long trip in the future, these are some important things to be aware of! 😎
.
.
.
#survivalguide #travelsurvivalguide #longtermtravel #traveltipsandtricks #keepgoing #keeptravelling #lifeontheroad #continuoustravel #constanttravel #dreamnowtravellater #lastminutewanders

#blackouttuesday ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻

What’s the first thing you think of when I menti

What’s the first thing you think of when I mention Siem Reap, or even Cambodia? The answer is most likely the incredible Angkor Wat temple complex, right?
But there are so many other things to do in Siem Reap, too, so if you think you might get a bit templed out on your visit, check out today’s post on 8 great things to do in Siem Reap 😎
Link in bio ☝🏻
.
.
.
#dreamnowtravellater #siemreap #siemreapcambodia #angkorwat #gatewaytoangkor #visitcambodia #cambodia #visitsiemreap #southeastasia #templelove

We’re talking about blues over on the blog today

We’re talking about blues over on the blog today 💙
Post-travel blues are a very real thing for a lot of people, including me, and with everything happening in the world today these feelings can be a lot harder to recover from.
However, over time I’ve come up with a few methods that I’ve tried and tested over and over, and they really do work for me.
Do you have any methods that work for you personally? Are you struggling with the blues right now?
Check out the full post in the link in my bio ☝🏻
.
.
.
#posttravelblues #posttraveldepression #feelingblue #beatthoseblues #holidayblues #travelblues #vacationblues #dreamnowtravellater #marlboroughsounds #bluebridgeferry #nzsouthisland #lastminutewanders

Being a seasonal worker abroad has given me so man

Being a seasonal worker abroad has given me so many fantastic opportunities over the years, and I have to say I’m really missing it right now! 🌏
This photo was taken from behind the wheel of an old tractor on an avocado orchard in the far north of New Zealand in December; their summer. 🚜
I wish I could be doing this kind of work in my own country and helping to #feedthenation in this time of crisis, but unfortunately I live in the wrong area!
So, for now, I just need to be content with these memories. 🥑
But if you happen to be in New Zealand right now and you’re considering outdoor seasonal work now that the country is opening up again, check out this week’s blog post on how to get outdoor work. And make some awesome memories (and some money 😉)!
Link in bio ☝🏻
.
.
.
#outdoorwork #seasonalworker #workabroad #avocadoorchard #workingholiday #workingholidaynz #nzfarming #farnorthnz #dreamnowtravellater #workoutside #orchardwork #whvnz #lastminutewanders

Napier was not really on our radar when we were tr

Napier was not really on our radar when we were travelling New Zealand, but when we came across an opportunity to house-sit in this little port town, we were excited to take it and see somewhere new. And we were so glad we did!
We spent a wonderful couple of weeks here, and even though we were coming to the end of our trip and funds were low, we found lots of things to do for free.
This week’s blog post shares the top 10 free things to do in lovely Napier.
Link in bio ☝🏻
.
.
.
#dreamnowtravellater #napier #newzealand #newzealandfinds #freethingstodo #budgettravel #northisland #bluffhill #ahuriri #hawkesbay #housesitting #thriftytravel #lastminutewanders

I know that none of us are packing to go anywhere

I know that none of us are packing to go anywhere right now, but we can still dream and plan for the future, right??
This photo was taken in the stunning Phong Nha National Park in Vietnam; a country I’ve always wanted to go back to. Vietnam has contained the spread of coronavirus incredibly well; they’ve had 0 deaths thanks to their quick thinking and early response!
This week’s blog post is a Luggage List to help you pack for travel in Southeast Asia. Keep it for later... 😉
Link in bio.
.
.
.
#dreamnowtravellater #plannowtravellater #phongnhanationalpark #phongnha #vietnam #southeastasia #packingguide #luggagelist #lastminutewanders

Are the Penghu Islands Taiwan’s best-kept secret

Are the Penghu Islands Taiwan’s best-kept secret? This week’s destination inspiration comes from a trip I took back in 2016 to a beautiful little archipelago of islands off the west coast of Taiwan. With beaches, history, culture, geological formations and great food, what’s not to love?? Check out the link in my bio for the full post!
.
.
.
#dreamnowtravellater #destinationinspiration #penghuislands #taiwan #taiwantravel #travellove #magong #dreamingoftravel #virtualtravel #islandadventures #lastminutewanders

W H A R A R I K I 💙 In today’s blog post I’

W H A R A R I K I 💙
In today’s blog post I’m stepping away from the pandemic talk and providing you with a little destination inspiration.
Wharariki Beach is located right at the top of New Zealand’s South Island and is stunningly photogenic. Do you recognise these islands? They’re used as one of the default Windows desktop images!
Click the link in my bio to read the full post 👆🏻
.
.
.
#dreamnowtravellater #destinationinspiration #whararikibeach #newzealandfinds #travelblogger #nzsouthisland #capefarewell #seals

Dreaming of better days... 💭 This week on the b

Dreaming of better days... 💭
This week on the blog we’re talking about how you can satisfy your wanderlust from home and keep travel alive, even on lockdown!
I think we’re all finding it pretty hard right now, but we will be able to get out there again one day 💙
Click the link in my bio to read the post!
.
.
.
#dreamnowtravellater #lockdownwanderlust #dreamingoftravel #keepyourheadup #traveladdict #lastminutewanders

Today’s post on the blog is all about virtual tr

Today’s post on the blog is all about virtual travel.
With most of the world on lockdown, none of us are going very far right now, so it’s important to find a little bit of escapism where you can!
Check out the link in my bio to virtually travel to destinations all over the world, from the comfort of your couch.
Photo taken on my one outing for exercise 🏃‍♀️
.
.
.
#stayathome #virtualtravel #travelfromhome #explorefromhome #escapism #isolationlife #lovetravel

Trying to focus on the good things in life by remi

Trying to focus on the good things in life by reminiscing about this incredible road trip.
I hope you are all staying safe, wherever you are. Be sensible and follow the rules and guidelines of the country you’re in ♥️😷
.
.
.
#washyourhands #staysafe #covid_19 #roadtrip #arthurspass #newzealand #nzsouthisland #nzroadtrip #vanlife

I’ll admit, I’ve been a bit apprehensive about

I’ll admit, I’ve been a bit apprehensive about coming back home to the UK after our incredible 18 months in New Zealand.
Yeah, there’s been quite a lot of rain here but when that clears, it’s not bad at all, really!
Featuring Casper 🐶
.
.
.
#hamworthy #dorset #uk #englandislovelytoo #beachlife #beachinginmarch #uktravel #lastminutewanders

Load More… Follow on Instagram

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