It's strange how our perception of a place can change with time. Upon arrival, New Zealand felt like a check in the box – a place we wanted to see before moving on to the next destination. Now, looking back at our time there, it feels like another home. It's a... Read more
Our original plan for visiting the New Plymouth area was to explore Mount Taranaki, but we really enjoyed this area much more than we realized we would and (due to weather) ended up seeing far more of it than we realized! Staying at Oakura Beach Although the New... Read more
Some of our favorite hiking memories were poorly planned, last-minute adventures that went nothing as we expected. And the Wilkies Pools Hike in the Mount Taranaki (aka Egmont National Park) area was a prime example of the magic of spontaneity. When we looked up and... Read more
In New Zealand's Northland area, there are some fantastic hikes and beach walks. But the Mangawhai Heads Cliff Walk combines both, which makes it so wonderfully special. You'll just have to check the tides to make sure you will be able to walk on the beach! Mangawhai... Read more
What's that famous Lord of the Rings quote about going out your front door? ‘Dangerous business,' indeed. Pandemic or not, sometimes travel plans just fall apart. Whatever you had expected turns into a crumpled heap of disappointments and you just have to make... Read more
We've read so many stories of fellow travelers stranded abroad during this crisis who our hearts just go out to. Their flights were canceled, they couldn't afford the high prices, or they just don't have another option. But, that isn't our story. Yes, leaving New... Read more
Sometimes being extra spontaneous on a trip can really come back to bite you. Other times, it leads to unexpected places you would have never discovered had you not been forced to make a detour. That's how we discovered Mount Tutu Eco-Sanctuary outside Rotorua and... Read more
One of the most gorgeous coastal areas of New Zealand, the Coromandel Peninsula is a must for beach lovers – especially the multi-hour walk to Cathedral Cove beach (or water taxi). It's a (sometimes overly) popular track, but we loved spending a sunny summer day... Read more
As the day approached for our big Rotorua rafting adventure in New Zealand, I began to panic a bit. What if our raft tips over? What if we fall out? A 7-meter (23-ft) drop is no joke. A lot can happen over that distance, not to mention the risks once underwater. (All... Read more
Trying to decide on a first destination in a place with hundreds of amazing options is a challenge. Luckily, we were celebrating my birthday a few days after landing in Auckland and I only wanted one thing: sunshine. GLORIOUS SUNSHINE! After six weeks of winter in... Read more
