As summer came to an end and winter was rolling in I was struggling to find a job in any of the big cities. I was lucky enough to meet a guy who knew a guy who would give me a job in Ohakune (pronounced Oh-ah-koo-nee). It was that easy. I hopped on the bus, arrived... Continue Reading →
A summer Christmas in Gisborne
If you're from the northern hemisphere then a Christmas in summer will seem like a strange and unnatural thing to you. It is. Having a Christmas dinner, watching snowy Christmas movies, going for a surf and a few beers on the beach. Weird, but fantastic. I spent mine exploring the beautiful beaches around Gisborne. Gisborne... Continue Reading →
Living the dream in Whangamata
Pronounced Fung-uh-ma-tah. I was lucky enough to live in this idyllic surf town for three months. I worked part-time in a bar and spent my days kayaking, surfing, swimming, sunbathing and reading. The waves here are perfect, good for beginners too. It has a cool vibe, and some good summer activities and festivals. The huge... Continue Reading →
Exploring the Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel is a peninsula that extends north on the western side of the Bay of Plenty. It is full of rainforest and sandy beaches, islands and hiking trails. It's beautiful and unspoiled, this is a place you could spend a lot of time in. Cathedral Cove This protected marine reserve is worth the short... Continue Reading →
Auckland, the city of sails
Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand and the only city in the world to be built on an active volcanic field. It's got everything you expect in a city, with some beautiful parks and beaches to escape to. Check out Mount Eden, Mount Victoria, and One Tree Hill - three volcanic cones with... Continue Reading →
What to do in Wellington
Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand, located on the southern tip of the North Island. It's got tons of things to do whether you need to get your Lord of the Rings fix at the Weta Workshop, discover the Te Papa Museum or you want to just relax and smell the roses in... Continue Reading →
The top, middle and bottom of New Zealand
This was a must do on my NZ Bucket List. I wanted to stand at the northern tip of the north island, the very center of the country and the furthest southern point - literally as far away from home as I could possibly be, just to say I had. It took a while to... Continue Reading →
Dunedin and around
Dunedin is a city in the southeast of the South Island; the gateway to the beautiful Otago Peninsula and home to the world's steepest street. You can visit the Cadbury's Factory and the natural phenomenon of the Moeraki Boulders. It's a nice place to come and get away from the tourist trap of Queenstown, spend a... Continue Reading →
Take a trip to Milford Sounds
Milford Sounds is a fjord located in the south of the South Island of New Zealand and is easily accessible via car or bus. You can even ride along on the Milford Explorer, a cheap add-on to the Kiwi Experience, that stops a few times on the way. The best way to see it is... Continue Reading →