Ahh, Wellington… this vibrant little city (and the capital of New Zealand) is a gem in so many ways. Situated in a beautiful harbour and flanked by tree and house-topped hills, Wellington is a compact and easily walkable city with…
A Back-to-Basics Hideaway by the Sea: Maraehako Campground
Over the past few years of living in New Zealand, we’ve been lucky enough to visit some pretty amazing campgrounds. One of the very best camping trips we took this summer was to Maraehako Campground. Located in the Eastern Bay…
Piha Beach: Where Mountains Meet the Sea
Just under an hour from Auckland lies one of the North Island’s most magnificent treasures: Piha Beach. Piha Beach is just one of the many stunning places in the Waitakere Ranges, a subtropical chain of mountains covered in jungly forest…
The Best Things to Do in Napier: a Travel Guide to New Zealand’s Art Deco Capital
Napier, in the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand’s North Island, is a wonderfully pleasant place to visit. While Napier is now a mecca for anyone seeking a bit of the good life, a haunting past precedes the city we…
3 Beautiful Waterfall Walks in Tongariro National Park
With an otherworldly volcanic landscape, epic mountains, lush beech forests, stunning waterfalls, and heaps of great day walks, Tongariro National Park is a must-visit region on New Zealand’s North Island. One of the best ways to experience the natural beauty…
A Fairytale Hike on New Zealand’s North Island: The Te Waihou Walkway (Blue Springs)
In the middle of New Zealand’s North Island you’ll find one of the best easy hikes the country has to offer: the Te Waihou Walkway. The Te Waihou Walkway is an out-and-back hike that leads to Blue Springs, a place…
6 Awesome (Free and Low Cost) Hot Springs around Taupo and Rotorua
The North Island of New Zealand is chock-full of natural hot springs, thanks to a volcanic landscape that’s created an abundance of geothermal activity. The regions of Taupo and Rotorua are particularly rich in geothermal wonders, including some incredible…
The Best Camping Getaway in the Coromandel
We’ve officially found our favourite campground for a getaway in the Coromandel Region: Opoutere Coastal Camping. Opoutere is about 20 minutes north of Whangamata, on the southern tip of the Coromandel Peninsula. It’s a special haven that provides a mix…
Hiking in an Enchanted Forest: Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park
In the heart of the North Island stands a forest unlike any other: the Whirinaki Forest. It’s one of the world’s last remaining prehistoric rainforests and it’s the most peaceful, mystical forest we’ve ever set foot in, with tons of…
The Best of Golden Bay, New Zealand
If you’re looking for a laid-back getaway with a mix of beautiful mountain and beach scenery, great local food and drinks, and good vibes all around, look no further than magical Golden Bay. Situated on the northwest end of Abel…
A Treetop Wonderland in the Coromandel
One winter weekend, Tyson took me away for a night with no indication of where we were going. We hopped in the car from our Auckland apartment on a Saturday morning and hit the road, and it was…
Sweet Stays: Hopewell Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds
We thought we’d made a horrible decision as we pried ourselves away from the Sans Souci Inn in Golden Bay. There were three nights left in our holiday, and we’d booked a stay at Hopewell Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds……
