This is what Lonely Planet says about Hamilton: “Landlocked cities in an island nation are never going to have the glamorous appeal of their coastal cousins. Rotorua compensates with boiling mud and Taupo has its lake, but Hamilton, despite the majestic Waikato River, is more prosaic.” We initially thought prosaic sounded nice until we googled…
Goat Island to Whangarei Heads, New Zealand
While the Waikato holds most of my heart, Northland holds the rest. It is truly paradise, think endless deserted beaches, fresh seafood and gorgeous campgrounds. This blog post is only a small taste of what the area has to offer but covers an area that is easy to do in a weekend. On this particular…
Matai Bay to Cape Reinga, New Zealand
This part of the world is truly spectacular and if you have the time then it is well worth the long drive north. After all that driving you will bee in need of a snack so stop in at Mangonui Fish Shop for some fish and chips. Yes it is always pretty busy and yes…
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
The Bay of Islands in Northland is a top top tourist destination for a reason, it is beautiful. However, it is busy and the beauty of it can only be truly appreciated by boat, which can be a bit expensive if you are not in possession of one. It is still definitely worth a visit…
Kai Iwi Lakes and Surrounds, New Zealand
While you can be forgiven for only sticking to the coast on your trip to Northland, there are a few places inland that are worth checking out, even if its just on your way to your next paradise beach. This is my very brief blog post on a couple of places to visit. First off…
Edinburgh, Scotland
After moving from Vancouver to London, our first European excursion on the continent was a trip up to Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival. Luckily we were meeting some family friends there and could take advantage of some free accommodation! Travelling to Edinburgh during this time is hectic (and expensive) so be sure to book any…
Vancouver, Canada
When we moved over to Vancouver we had no idea what to expect, except for what we had seen in movies – it is beautiful, people are really, really, really nice, and it is the home of Lululemon. Yes this was all true plus so much more. We came over on the 2 year IEC…
Canoeing the Yukon River, Canada
The Yukon Territory in Northern Canada is wild and rugged and indescribably beautiful. I can’t recommend this area enough and it has been an absolute highlight during our travels in Canada. There are many different ways to explore the area and we decided to get a group of friends together and embark on a week…
Vancouver Hiking Trails, Canada
Vancouver is an outdoor lovers paradise! With the mountains just a stone’s throw away, there is no excuse not to get out and about and take advantage of the stunning landscapes that Vancouver has to offer. With a pretty good public transport system, most of the hikes we went on are accessible by bus. Here…
Clearwater and Wells Gray Provincial Park, Canada
The drive up to Jasper National Park from Vancouver is pretty far, so we decided that a stop over in Clearwater on the way would be a good idea. Clearwater is right next to Wells Gray Provincial Park so is a good base for exploring the area. Ideally we would have camped in the park…