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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)
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
UPDATED MARCH 2025! Abel Tasman National Park, on the northwestern edge of the South Island, was one of my favorite destinations of my six-week New Zealand road trip. This is truly a slice of paradise: pristine sandy beaches, epic hiking trails, a remote stillness and sense of peace. I had just a short amount of… Read More Kiwi Paradise: A Travel Guide for Abel Tasman National Park
New Zealand is a dream destination for many – myself included! But it ain’t cheap; New Zealand is one of the most expensive countries I’ve visited, let alone lived in. While there is a high minimum wage here that helps balance things out if you’re living in NZ, as a tourist/visitor the prices can be… Read More How to Save Money Traveling New Zealand on a Budget
Hiking Roy’s Peak was one of my favorite days I’ve had in New Zealand so far. It’s a challenging climb, and not one to be underestimated: this is a hike up a real mountain, and you need to be prepared. It’s also a very popular route, with the crowds to match (especially for sunrise). Here’s… Read More The Most Epic Hike in Wanaka: What to Know About Roy’s Peak
Mount Sunday was one of my first destinations on my big New Zealand road trip earlier this year. And it was also one of my favorite places from the entire trip! This epic hill in the Ashburton Lakes region was the stand-in for Edoras, the capital of Rohan, in the Lord of the Rings movies.… Read More Everything You Need to Know About Hiking Mount Sunday (Edoras)
UPDATED MARCH 2025! Queenstown is a must-visit destination on any trip to New Zealand. It’s full of adventurous things to do, and the scenery around Lake Wakatipu is breathtaking. There are so many good walks to do in the area, it can be hard to choose! Here are the most beautiful day hikes to do… Read More The Best Day Hikes Around Queenstown, New Zealand
Mount Kosciuszko is the highest mountain in Australia, rising 2228 meters above sea level. It’s a pretty popular peak to summit! There are several different routes to the summit of Kozzie (as it’s known). The Summit Track is the shortest route up from Charlotte Pass, or you can take the chairlift up from Thredbo for… Read More The Best Route Up Mount Kosciuszko: The Main Range Loop
So, you’re heading to New Zealand on a working holiday visa? Congrats! Moving abroad is one of the hardest but most rewarding things you can do – I would know, I’ve done it three times now! A working holiday visa is a fantastic way to live abroad short-term, explore a new destination, and experience an… Read More Moving to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa: How to Start Your Life (2025 Guide)
The Vic High Country was a favorite stop of mine on my Lap of Australia. This is one of the most underrated destinations in the country! In winter, it’s a super-popular spot for skiing and snow sports. But I visited in March, and it was a hiker’s paradise! It’s not on the classic Melbourne-Sydney coastal… Read More A Hiker’s Travel Guide to the Victoria High Country, Australia
New Zealand has been a dream destination of mine for decades. After spending a year Down Under in Australia, I knew I wanted to visit New Zealand and finally explore this spectacular country. I spent the first six weeks of my working holiday visa in New Zealand traveling, before settling down to work. As always,… Read More How Much Does it Cost to Travel New Zealand for 6 Weeks? (2024 Budget)
