I’ve spent most of my time in New Zealand living in Twizel, a small town in the Mackenzie region on the South Island. It’s a beautiful area, with so many good walks and hikes to do! As I haven’t had a car, I’ve done essentially every walk in Twizel that can be done without a… Read More The Best Walks in Twizel, New Zealand
The day I hiked the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand is one of my favorite travel days of my life. With poor weather forecast for the entirety of my time in the area, I’d given up hope that I’d be able to do this phenomenal hike. At 9pm before the first full day, the… Read More Tongariro Alpine Crossing: What to Know About New Zealand’s Most Epic Day Hike
Abel Tasman National Park, on the northwestern edge of the South Island, was one of my favorite destinations of my six-week New Zealand road trip. This is truly a slice of paradise: pristine sandy beaches, epic hiking trails, a remote stillness and sense of peace. I had just a short amount of time here, but… Read More Kiwi Paradise: A Travel Guide for Abel Tasman National Park
New Zealand is a dream destination for many – myself included! But it ain’t cheap; New Zealand is one of the most expensive countries I’ve visited, let alone lived in. While there is a high minimum wage here that helps balance things out if you’re living in NZ, as a tourist/visitor the prices can be… Read More How to Save Money Traveling New Zealand on a Budget
Hiking Roy’s Peak was one of my favorite days I’ve had in New Zealand so far. It’s a challenging climb, and not one to be underestimated: this is a hike up a real mountain, and you need to be prepared. It’s also a very popular route, with the crowds to match (especially for sunrise). Here’s… Read More The Most Epic Hike in Wanaka: What to Know About Roy’s Peak
Mount Sunday was one of my first destinations on my big New Zealand road trip earlier this year. And it was also one of my favorite places from the entire trip! This epic hill in the Ashburton Lakes region was the stand-in for Edoras, the capital of Rohan, in the Lord of the Rings movies.… Read More Everything You Need to Know About Hiking Mount Sunday (Edoras)
Queenstown is a must-visit destination on any trip to New Zealand. It’s full of adventurous things to do, and the scenery around Lake Wakatipu is breathtaking. There are so many good walks to do in the area, it can be hard to choose! Here are the most beautiful day hikes to do around Queenstown, New… Read More The Best Day Hikes Around Queenstown, New Zealand
So, you’re heading to New Zealand on a working holiday visa? Congrats! Moving abroad is one of the hardest but most rewarding things you can do – I would know, I’ve done it three times now! A working holiday visa is a fantastic way to live abroad short-term, explore a new destination, and experience an… Read More Moving to New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa: How to Start Your Life (2024 Guide)
The Vic High Country was a favorite stop of mine on my Lap of Australia. This is one of the most underrated destinations in the country! In winter, it’s a super-popular spot for skiing and snow sports. But I visited in March, and it was a hiker’s paradise! It’s not on the classic Melbourne-Sydney coastal… Read More A Hiker’s Travel Guide to the Victoria High Country, Australia
New Zealand has been a dream destination of mine for decades. After spending a year Down Under in Australia, I knew I wanted to visit New Zealand and finally explore this spectacular country. I spent the first six weeks of my working holiday visa in New Zealand traveling, before settling down to work. As always,… Read More How Much Does it Cost to Travel New Zealand for 6 Weeks? (2024 Budget)
Driving a Lap of Australia is one of the most epic adventures you can ever do. I would know – I did it myself! But a journey of this magnitude means doing a lot of research, planning, and preparation beforehand. From how you’ll travel, what your setup will be, and where to go (and when!), there’s… Read More Driving a Lap of Australia: Top Tips for Planning Your Trip
Looking for a fantastic day hike in Tasmania? Head to Mount Field National Park and tackle the Tarn Shelf Circuit – this walk goes past beautiful alpine lakes, climbing up onto the shelf for spectacular views over the area. This was one of my favorite hikes in all of Tasmania, and that’s saying something as… Read More Hiking the Tarn Shelf Circuit in Mount Field National Park, Tasmania
My month road tripping Tasmania was one of the best of my entire Lap of Australia. Tasmania is a dream to explore – especially if you like the outdoors and hiking. Public transportation is very limited or simply non-existent in Tassie, so most people choose to rent a vehicle and road trip. After driving all… Read More 12 Tips for a Road Trip Around Tasmania
I spent one glorious month in Tasmania, road tripping the island as part of my Lap of Australia. Tassie, as it’s affectionately known, is like a playground for people who love being outdoors: hiking, swimming, paddling, wildlife spotting, and more. Tasmania is an incredible destination for hiking – there are simply so many phenomenal walks to… Read More The Best Hikes in Tasmania, Australia
Tasmania was one of my favorite places that I visited during my Lap of Australia. It really is heaven on earth for people who love being outdoors and hiking! Camping is popular throughout Tassie, and there are some phenomenal free campsites around the state. If you’re traveling Tasmania on a budget, this post is for… Read More The Best Free Camps in Tasmania
Driving a Lap of Australia – solo – is my greatest accomplishment to date. I spent 338 days on the road, and slept in my vehicle for 158 nights. This was my year in Australia: on the road in my Nissan X-Trail, driving and road tripping, living my best life and having incredible adventures. Living… Read More What I Learned About Life Living Out of My Car
One of the best stops I made on my road trip from Adelaide to Melbourne was the Grampians National Park. If you love hiking and being outdoors, you’ll absolutely love this area! After driving a Lap of Australia and visiting every state/territory in the country, the Grampians are one of my top picks for hiking.… Read More The Best Hikes in the Grampians National Park, Victoria
I spent nearly 5 months road tripping up the East Coast as part of my Lap of Australia. This is such a spectacular part of the country, with so many amazing hikes to do. From scrambling mountain summits to chasing waterfalls, there’s no shortage of hidden gems to discover here. If you’re traveling on the… Read More 15 Incredible and Underrated Hikes on the East Coast of Australia
And just like that… my adventure in the Land Down Under finally came to an end. After an incredible 12 months, and completing a solo Lap of Australia, the time came to say goodbye and fly off to New Zealand. The majority of this month was spent on the road, on the last leg of… Read More Australia Budget: Month 12 (March 2024)
Southwestern WA is full of amazing beaches and jaw-dropping coastline. But head away from the coast and you’ll discover atmospheric forests and impressive mountain views – especially in the Stirling Ranges National Park! Bluff Knoll is the highest peak in the Stirling Ranges, at 1099 meters high. If you’re exploring this part of WA and… Read More Bluff Knoll: Hiking the Highest Peak in the Stirling Ranges, Western Australia