Published December 2019. Backpacking in Abel Tasman is my favorite thing I have done in my 8 months in New Zealand, hands down! After hiking 13km with blisters on our feet, Nick and I arrived at the most incredible beach; it happened to be the wrong beach. We then swam 30 meters to the south …
I had the opportunity to go skydiving in Glenorchy, New Zealand, recently, and for some strange reason, I went. Before jumping out of the plane, a wave of calm ran over me and it felt like I was mindlessly grocery shopping or driving a route I know really well. Nothing was going through my mind. …
This weekend, I headed out to Aspiring National Park for a much-anticipated backpacking trip. I have been wanting to go camping in the backcountry since arriving in New Zealand, which was unfortunately in winter. Due to my strange hospitality job schedule and the excessive amounts of winter rain, I never got around to it. But …
After one of my first days in Queenstown, after work, my friend/co-worker, Maz and I headed up to Moke Lake to take a walk. We drove alongside Lake Wakatipu and crept higher in elevation. It was so stunning. The views of the lake and the mountains behind it in every direction are stunning. Once we …
When traveling, if you’re someone that’s more interested in doing your own thing, rather than heading with the throngs of other tourists to the most bustling destinations, New Plymouth is the place for you. Do you love good coffee, awesome surf, contemporary art, and sick mountain trails? I have spent time in the more popular …
What Makes Queenstown, Queenstown? I knew that Queenstown would be special, but I didn’t understand why. When I actually got here, I confirmed this notion pretty quickly (i.e. right when I saw Lake Wakatipu). My experience, like anyone’s, is completely unique from those who have been here before me, so what combination of agreed-upon factors …
Thursday, 3:00 pm We arrived in Queenstown absolutely exhausted and nursing “travel hangovers,” as a girl from our hostel called them. Our heads were booming and we felt so demoralized after leaving Auckland. It felt somewhat hard to remain hopeful after our strange homestay experience, which happened exactly one week ago. So much can happen …
In when plans go awry part one, I examine and discuss the major surprise that hit my study abroad group when our homestay organization canceled our stays in Hoi An Vietnam, leaving us with no accommodation and no plan! What drama, plans go awry for kids who are spending three months of their young lives …
When I left the shores of the United Kingdom to travel to the other side of the world and settle in New Zealand, I will admit that I was petrified. I had never been to the country before and my only knowledge was information that I found online and from bloggers’ YouTube videos. If you …
I can never find the words to describe living in a new place/city/country. I always freeze up. Rather than saying living in NZ is “good and I’m having a great time!” to everyone who asks and wants to hear more, I have crafted a few specific and relevant bullet points that explain the aspects of …