New Zealand is famous for its spectacular scenery and epic hiking opportunities. From mountains to fjords to glaciers to beaches to extinct volcanoes, New Zealand really has a diverse range of landscapes. And the best way to experience them is by walking – or tramping, as the Kiwis say. While long-distance trails like the Te Araroa… Read More 20 of the BEST Day Hikes in New Zealand
2025 was a wild year for me. I started the year in New Zealand, finishing up my working holiday visa and my time in the Southern Hemisphere, before returning to the UK and embarking on my housesitting era. Housesits took me all over the UK, and I had a few other trips to other countries… Read More The Best Places I Visited in 2025
During my year living in New Zealand, I took two epic road trips. Both were for approximately six weeks: the end of March to the beginning of May 2024, and the middle of February to the end of March 2025. I wrote a complete New Zealand budget guide for my 2024 trip, sharing exactly how… Read More New Zealand Road Trip Budget: 2025 Guide
Tongariro National Park is the most-visited national park on the North Island of New Zealand. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is probably the most popular day hike in the whole country! But there’s more to see here than just the epic hikes. Tongariro has three active volcanoes: Ngauruhoe, Ruapehu, and Tongariro. Explore more of the national… Read More A Travel Guide for Tongariro National Park, New Zealand
The Coromandel Peninsula is known for its pristine beaches and beautiful coastline, with spots like Cathedral Cove. But there’s also one of the best hikes on the North Island of New Zealand here: the Pinnacles. This was one of my favorite hikes in the country – and while I did it as a day hike,… Read More Hiking the Pinnacles in the Coromandel, New Zealand
Stewart Island was easily one of my top destinations I visited during my year in New Zealand. After the North and South Islands, it’s the third-largest island in the country! So many people skip this place on their trip, but it’s one of the most beautiful places in the country. Here’s everything you need to… Read More Heaven on Earth: A Complete Travel Guide for Stewart Island, New Zealand
The Catlins, located in the far southeastern corner of New Zealand’s South Island, is a beautiful and underrated part of the country. While certain spots like Nugget Point can be popular, I encountered far fewer crowds than I was expecting – especially after living in the Mackenzie Region for six months. If you’re traveling the… Read More 14 Amazing Places You Can’t Miss in the Catlins, New Zealand
I honestly feel so lucky that I had so many incredible experiences during my year traveling around New Zealand. One of my top hikes in the entire country was Avalanche Peak, a prominent mountain in Arthur’s Pass. This is easily one of the best day hikes in all of New Zealand! Here’s everything you need… Read More Hiking Avalanche Peak: What to Know About This Epic Hike in Arthur’s Pass
Of all the epic experiences I had during my year in New Zealand, my hike on Franz Josef Glacier was one of the best. This included a helicopter ride to and from the glacier, and about two hours of hiking on the glacier itself. I’d never been on a glacier before and it’s such an… Read More Franz Josef Glacier Heli Hike: What to Know Before You Go
New Zealand is an amazing country for hikers and anyone who loves spending time outdoors. The scenery and landscapes here are truly superb – I spent a year living here, and was continually in awe of just how beautiful the country is! One of the best – and most underrated – hikes on the South… Read More Hiking Ben Ohau and the Greta Track: Everything You Need to Know
New Zealand is best explored on a road trip, and vanlife is crazy popular here. What better way to explore the country on a budget when you sleep in your vehicle, traveling from Point A to Point B? A lot will be determined by whether you have a self-contained or non-self-contained vehicle. The laws around… Read More Free & Budget Campsites in New Zealand for Non-Self-Contained
I’ve been lucky enough to have called the Mackenzie Region of New Zealand my home for several months. This is a spectacularly beautiful part of the country, full of stunning lakes and impressive mountain ranges. If you’re wondering how to plan your trip to the Mackenzie, this is the post for you. Here are the… Read More 21 Phenomenal Places You Must Visit in the Mackenzie Region, New Zealand
Poolburn Dam (Poolburn Reservoir) is a remote and beautiful destination in Central Otago in New Zealand. Although it’s not easy to get to, it’s well worth it to visit the area. Poolburn was the site of a number of Lord of the Rings film locations, mainly in Rohan in the Two Towers. Poolburn was one… Read More How to Visit Poolburn Dam, Central Otago (LOTR Film Location)
2024 was an incredible, travel-filled year. I visited three continents, spending the majority of the year in New Zealand after I finished my Lap of Australia. Each year, I write an annual recap post on the best places I visited during the year. There’s no specific criteria for a place to make it onto the… Read More The Best Places I Visited in 2024
It’s time for everyone’s favorite post of the year: my WORST travel moments of 2024! I’ve already shared my top travel experiences of 2024 (there were a lot of them!), but it’s important for me to share the ups and downs. Travel content is often a highlight reel. I’m grateful to be alive and physically… Read More My Worst Travel Moments of 2024
2024… what an incredible year! I know I say this every year, but reflecting back I’m amazed at all the phenomenal places I’ve been and things I’ve done in just one year. I’ve been on the road for the entirety of 2024: I started the year in Australia, then moved to New Zealand. I flew… Read More My Top Travel Experiences of 2024
UPDATED MARCH 2025! As a Lord of the Rings fan for two decades, New Zealand has been the ultimate dream destination for me. When I was planning my big trip with my campervan, my mom asked, “so are you going to go on a Lord of the Rings tour while you’re in New Zealand?” And,… Read More Lord of the Rings Film Locations to Visit in New Zealand
I’ve spent most of my time in New Zealand living in Twizel, a small town in the Mackenzie region on the South Island. It’s a beautiful area, with so many good walks and hikes to do! As I haven’t had a car, I’ve done essentially every walk in Twizel that can be done without a… Read More The Best Walks in Twizel, New Zealand
For Lord of the Rings fans, a pilgrimage to the Hobbiton Movie Set in New Zealand is something you must do at least once in your life. Even if you aren’t a fan, the experience of touring the Shire is wonderfully engaging and interesting. I went with someone who wasn’t a fan, who still loved… Read More What to Know About Visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set: A Dream Come True
The day I hiked the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand is one of my favorite travel days of my life. With poor weather forecast for the entirety of my time in the area, I’d given up hope that I’d be able to do this phenomenal hike. At 9pm before the first full day, the… Read More Tongariro Alpine Crossing: What to Know About New Zealand’s Most Epic Day Hike