Want to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Tongariro National Park? Understandable, considering it’s on countless “best day hikes in the world” lists. When we got back from our New Zealand North Island road trip, most of our friends and family asked some version of “what was your favorite part of the trip” and, invariably,…
On New Zealand’s North Island, you’ll find a landscape shaped by volcanic activity over countless millennia – which is a unique aspect of this part of the world – along with beautiful stretches of coastline featuring sweeping views and glorious sand beaches, fertile agricultural land producing some of the country’s best produce (and cheese!), and…
Is there a better way to spend a morning than hiking past a gorgeous waterfall and climbing through the brush with views of not one, but two active volcanoes? The Tama Lakes track takes you through a beautiful, desolate landscape where you’ll have simultaneous views of Mount Ngāuruhoe, the inspiration for Mount Doom in the…
I wasn’t sure how I was going to like Queenstown. I’m admittedly not much of a fan of heights, and haven’t quite talked myself into the things that Queenstown is really famous for – like bungy jumping or skydiving. But after spending 3 days in Queenstown, I realized that there’s a lot to do both…
I have never been to a place with as many diverse landscapes packed into a single place as the south island of New Zealand. And I live in California. From the rolling hills of Marlborough’s wine country, to the rocky peaks of Mount Cook and Mt. Aspiring, to the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound, and…
The South Island of New Zealand, with the exception of Queenstown and Wanaka, was not the most Celiac-friendly place I’ve ever been, particularly in terms of finding gluten free restaurants. I ended up cooking for myself for 90% of the three week trip, and luckily New Zealand makes gluten free grocery shopping a breeze. However,…