Tongariro Alpine Crossing Day Hike

Heralded as one of the top walks in the world, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing attracts all sorts of visitors from keen hikers to Lord of the Rings fanatics alike. My love of the Tolkein universe and the outstanding New Zealand landscape meant that this was one adventure I just had to complete. Here’s how I found my day hike, from the (literal) ups and downs, stunning views, and throwing the One Ring into Mount Doom! 

Top Things To Do In Canterbury New Zealand

On any trip finding the best activities to suit you can be a daunting task. Whether you enjoy the outdoors, art and culture, or indulgent treats, the region of Canterbury and its city of Christchurch have it all. Here are just a few of my favourite things to do in Christchurch and Canterbury!

Me at 23 – Reflections On The Year

I turn 24 this week, and I thought I’d mark the occasion by remembering all the things that made my 23rd year on this beautiful Earth memorable.

Where Would You Return To From Your Travels?

We all get holiday blues on return from travelling, and as a part time traveller I’ve seen plenty of friends and colleagues visit the beautiful places I experienced while I’m doing the daily grind. Besides the obvious envy over the wonderful time they’ve had I’ve been wondering what I would have done differently and what I wish I could see again in more detail.

Suzy’s Suitcase: What I Wish I’d Packed

We’ve seen the best things to pack in my (not literal) suitcase, and the packing items I regret lugging about, so what did I find a burning need for? What was I kicking myself over NOT packing? Crossing over with the previous parts, here are a few of the unexpected items I wish I’d had to hand!

Wanderlist

As my wanderlust itch is never satisfied, I’ve decided to follow an idea I’ve seen before and curate a collection of ideas to inspire my future travel plans and bucket list goals for around the world. I’ve included those which I’m lucky enough to have already crossed off, and the list is by no means complete as I imagine I’ll continue to add more and more when inspirations hits, and when I’m reminded of something amazing I’ve already done! Suggestions are most certainly welcome – sharing is caring!

Arthur’s Pass Weekend Road Trip to West Coast New Zealand

After enjoying exploring Canterbury and Christchurch, for my final weekend road trip around the South Island I finally got the chance to visit somewhere very high up on my NZ bucket list. Arthur’s Pass is a tiny village nestled in the depths of the Southern Alps and is one of very few townships to stop at during the long drive between the east and west coast.

Christchurch In A Day – New Zealand Photo Diary

Although I was working remotely while in NZ, I was fortunate enough to take a couple of days off to make the most of the time there, and spend as much time with Kazimir as possible. Following a very relaxed night away in Hanmer Springs, we spent the rest of our long weekend closer to home, and enjoying more of what the city of Christchurch has to offer. Having spent a little time in the city last year, I knew of a few spots that I liked already, but the benefit of having my very own local tour guide meant I was lucky to get the inside knowledge on all the top recommendations.

One Night Visit To Hanmer Springs – New Zealand

Following on from a weekend away at Banks Peninsula, for our second mini-break we headed north and inland to the picturesque alpine town of Hanmer Springs. About a two hour drive from Christchurch, along the coastline and after stopping off to admire the mountainous views several times we reached our cabin room at a cosy holiday park. This efficient accommodation was perfect for our one night stay, with shared facilities but a lovely comfortable room with all you could need, but we weren’t in there for long as Hanmer Springs is truly a place to embrace the outdoors.

Top Picks: Best Christchurch Food & Drinks

While working from home in New Zealand free time throughout the week was mostly spent chilling out, enjoying the sunshine, and staying close to home in order to get enough rest for an early work start. However, we still had the pleasure of enjoying some delicious meals out and about Christchurch, and discover some unique bars to have a drink at. While there are loads of places to eat and drink out and about, here are some of my favourite spots around the city!

Weekend Trip From Christchurch to Akaroa – New Zealand

The beautiful district of Canterbury is crammed full of stunning places to visit. Just a short drive from the city of Christchurch is a whole host of short walks, viewpoints, and peaceful views across the coast and landscape. Here we go from Christchurch to Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula to soak up that Kiwi countryside over a weekend break!

Suzy’s Suitcase: What Not To Take Travelling

We’ve heard about the wonders of the spoon and more in the list of my favourite items to take travelling, and now here’s the next part in Suzy’s Suitcase! This time we take a look at the things that in hindsight I really shouldn’t have bothered with, and what was better off left behind when packing for a long trip away!

New Zealand Road Trip – Christchurch to Auckland

How do you drive the length of a country (or near enough) in just over two weeks? Here’s how we managed to road trip New Zealand from Christchurch to Auckland and hit all the best spots along the way! 

New Zealand – A Week in Queenstown

With incredible views, scenic walks, and any kind of activity your heart could desire, is a week long enough to enjoy all that Queenstown has to offer? Here’s what I filled my time with on my second visit, and a few ideas to enjoy what Queenstown has to offer! 

WWOOFing in New Zealand

During an extended tour of New Zealand, I decided I wanted to spend some time WWOOFing. I chose to revisit Franz Josef after enjoying my time on the Kiwi Experience tour which took us along the West Coast of the South Island, and realised this tiny glacier town hadn’t seen the last of me. If you’re looking for where to WWOOF in New Zealand, check out what Franz Josef has to offer! 

Ultimate Guide To Solo Travel in Christchurch and Canterbury

What to do after you finish the Kiwi Experience? Here are few things to do in Christchurch and Canterbury around the city and further afield to soak up the South Island beauty in New Zealand!

Kiwi Experience – South Island: Otago & Canterbury

Moving away from the West Coast on the Kiwi Experience bus and towards left us in Wanaka, and then in Queenstown. There’s a lot of hype about this destination, many of the people have heard such great things so it was hard to avoid high expectations. I have to say, it was a great place, the views and lakes are amazing, but you can tell it’s a bit of a tourism hotspot for extreme sports, partying and generally enjoying youthfulness. Having said that, I did very much enjoy my time there and could definitely stay again!

Kiwi Experience – South Island West Coast

Thinking about taking the Kiwi Experience bus tour? Here’s all you need to know about the stops and itinerary of the West Coast of the South Island in New Zealand from Abel Tasman to Wanaka.

It’s fair to say that the South Island is considerably more stunning than the north (sorry northerners!). It seems that the south is all about the outdoors, nature, and extreme sports while the north is more about history, culture and a more urban life. It’s all personal preference really, but I can see why it’s recommended to spend longer in the South Island.

Kiwi Experience – North Island: Auckland to Wellington

For many backpackers the favourite way to get around New Zealand is through the Kiwi Experience. I signed up for the Sheepdog Pass to take me from Auckland to Christchurch using the hop-on hop-off travel approach, and here you can find just how it went on the North Island leg of our trip. From the cosmopolitan Auckland down to the cultural Wellington plus some incredible spots in between, you can be sure that the North Island of New Zealand has incredible scenery and exhilarating activities to suit every backpacker!

4 Days In Auckland On A Budget

Kia Ora from Auckland!

As the most expensive and busiest city of New Zealand, it can be easy to burn your budget in a few short days. Here you can find the best activities to cover 4 days in Auckland from wandering the city and cultural areas, plus a few unique activities along the way – all for under $30!