Cromwell offers delicious wine, stunning vistas and small-town charm that is the perfect getaway from the rush of Auckland or the buzz of touristy Queenstown. Head to Cromwell to get off the beaten-track. I was given the opportunity to first visit Cromwell back in 2020 after Covid. The valley is a unique area of New …
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 …
Published 2020, Updated 2025 Just the highlights of people’s lives are broadcast on social media. All the accomplishments, beautiful views, and the picture-perfect curated moments are presented to the world. But what about the not-so-good days, difficult feelings, and the times where life doesn’t go as planned? Ultimately, social media cannot replace human connection although …
Everything you’ll need for your first snowboard season! Snowboard Gear for Rookies Last year, I was debating if snowboarding was worth the hype. I couldn’t shake the image of a bunch of old white dudes cheersing at the ski resorts. In the US, it didn’t seem like the most inclusive or fun sport. It was …
Published March 2021 Some friends and I decided to hike the Routeburn in 2 days and 1 night. New Zealand’s Great Walks are truly epic. Especially the Routeburn. “I want to do the Routeburn,” “I want to too,” my friends would chirp up when we discussed trip plans for 2021. With one of the entrances …
This article is part of my new series, Travel Misadventures, which features anecdotes about when travel doesn’t go as planned. Published March 2021. The Brick House by the Freeway When I arrived in Boston for my romantic weekend, the neighborhood around my hostel was not a tourist area to say the least. Okay that’s alright, …
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 …
Intro to Mount Aspiring I first learned about Liverpool Hut last summer on my first backpacking trip in New Zealand to Mount Aspiring Hut in Mount Aspiring National Park. We heard Liverpool was one of the coolest hikes and huts in New Zealand. Last year, this hut was not bookable, meaning people would wake up …
I wrote this in winter August 2020. The restrictions for Covid had just been lifted in New Zealand. Queenstown to Mount Cook Three friends and I shot off to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park bright and early on Friday morning to spend a winter weekend in Mount Cook. We drove from Queenstown to Mount Cook in …
Welcome to Mars For some reason, I never had any huge desire to explore the Omarama Clay Cliffs. Over the past few months, I had seen photos and heard about them. I couldn’t really picture the alien-looking Mars-like cliffs and surrounding area in my head. Yet I’m glad I waited to go, because I feel …