For the last five years, every Christmas has had an element of travel. When I reflect back on my last five Christmas holiday seasons, I feel so much joy. My passion for travel and adventure and spending time with Nick, have been the most central themes in my life. Since I met Nick in 2017, …
When I moved out here, I felt like I knew nothing about New Zealand. I kept reading blogs and guidebooks, and watching videos, but nothing stuck. I felt like I couldn’t understand the culture or determine if there even was one. So there’s this island near Australia and it’s really pretty. Britain colonized it in …
A tale of international love, life abroad, mental health, and adventure in its purest form. The Complexities of Living Abroad When I post photos of myself smiling in breathtaking landscapes and share exciting travel anecdotes on social media and my blog, that’s only a tiny snippet into my world here in Queenstown. And that’s only …
A weekend in New Plymouth is the perfect getaway if you’re in Auckland. 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 …
Published 2019 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 …
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 …
Published 2019, Updated 2025 To Do New Plymouth: Ski and Surf All in One Day 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, …
Having already been to two different parts of the Northside of Mount Taranaki, upon our boss’ recommendation, we headed East to Dawson Falls. On the rainiest day of the week, it was definitely hard to motivate for this hike, but totally worth it. After committing to the causes of exploration and new experiences, we drove …
DAY ONE: My first time going up Mt. Taranaki was when I hiked to Pouakai Tarns, a mirror lake that reflects the mountain, which is the first section of the Pouakai Crossing. I loved this walk because the path was so well-maintained and easy to follow. It was incredible how curated and constructed the wooden …
Wellington is an upbeat, young and hip city. After spending time in Auckland, which was more globally-minded and posh, Wellington was a breath of fresh air. From diverse food and street art to sweeping city views and terraced landscaping, Wellington had character. On our way down, we stopped at Lake Taupo for coffee and saw …