Waiheke Island is Auckland’s most popular day trip, and for good reason. It offers stunning wine tastings, incredible beaches, delicious food, and adventure activities, all just a short ferry ride away. You can easily visit for a weekend if you have more time, but most visitors to Auckland only spend a day. There’s so much to do that you’ll wish for...
Nestled in the sparkling Hauraki Gulf, just a scenic 75-minute ferry ride from Auckland‘s Viaduct Harbour, Rotoroa Island is a little gem that’s equal parts history, adventure, and natural wonder. Once off-limits to the public for over a century as New Zealand’s first and longest-running Salvation Army alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre...
Auckland, New Zealand’s vibrant largest city, is home to around 1.5 million people roughly 30% of the country’s population (yes New Zealand is tiny!). Many people dash off to the countryside for nature fixes and don’t spend enough time in this city. But we really liked Auckland with its soaring skyscrapers framing the sparkling harbour, a world-class food...
The Warrie Circuit is another hike that has been on our hiking wish list for years. Every time we’ve visited Springbrook National Park in the past, the trail was closed, either from heavy rain, storm damage, or ex-cyclone recovery. But persistence pays off, and after almost five years of waiting, we finally got to experience it for ourselves. Taking a Chance on the...
Carnarvon Gorge has been on our “one-day” list for way too long. You know those places that always sound amazing, but are just far enough away to make you say, “Maybe next year”? Well, this was that place but no longer. A sunrise to remember! At about 9 hours’ drive from the Sunshine Coast/Brisbane, it’s not your average weekend getaway, but that’s also part of its...
Ever since exploring the stunning Binna Burra section of Lamington National Park, I’ve been itching to visit the park’s lush Green Mountains section. While both areas are part of the same national park, visiting them in one weekend is quite a trek—so despite our best intentions, it took us a while to finally make it to O’Reilly’s. Life has a way of getting in the...
After having to cut our Everest Base Camp trek short due to a nasty bout of altitude sickness (thanks, thin air), we found ourselves with an unexpected extra week in Nepal. Changing our international flights wasn’t an option, so the question was—what now? Thankfully, our amazing trekking agency, Nepal Hiking Team, came to the rescue yet again. They suggested a side...
After a year of planning our Everest Base Camp trek, we were finally en route to Nepal to turn a long-held dream into reality. Our first stop: Kathmandu — the bustling, vibrant capital that offers a sensory overload in the best possible way and is well worth exploring before heading into the mountains. Following a long, chaotic journey from Brisbane (complete with...
Let’s be honest — I’ve got some pretty wild dreams on my bucket list. And trekking to Everest Base Camp? That’s been right up there, screaming for attention for years. There’s just something magnetic about the Himalayas — the crisp air, the towering peaks, and of course, standing in the shadow of the legendary Mount Everest. Trekking along the Everest Base Camp Trek...
Esk is a quaint little country town in the Somerset region, which is nestled between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. Because it’s so close to both the Wivenhoe and Somerset dams, Esk is the perfect getaway for water sports enthusiasts. But even if water sports aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other amazing things to do in the area. The beautiful scenic drive...