Last Updated: October 2026 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...
Last Updated: September 2026 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...
Last Update: September 2026 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. At about 9 hours’ drive from the Sunshine Coast/Brisbane, it’s not your average weekend getaway, but that’s also part of...
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. Table of Contents 10 Best...
Last Updated: September 2026 During our stay in Ballina over Christmas, we drove an hour south to the picturesque town of Yamba, another delightful seaside town in northern New South Wales. Set right at the mouth of the Clarence River, Yamba is a little gem that is well worth visiting. Like Ballina and Byron Bay, Yamba is known for its beautiful beaches and great...
Last Updated: September 2026 The coastal town of Ballina is a short 30-minute drive from the famous Byron Bay. While the hipster town of Byron Bay attracts hordes of backpackers and tourists every year, Ballina is the perfect, quieter alternative. We don’t like crowds, traffic or sharing a beach with thousands of others, so Ballina was perfect for us. Basing...
Last updated September 2026 On our most recent trip to Cairns, we finally made it to Fitzroy Island. It’s one of those places that had been sitting on our list for ages. We’d been to Cairns a couple of times before, yet somehow kept finding other things to do instead. Queensland is ridiculously big, and no matter how many times we travel around our own state, there...
Last Updated: September 2026 With 17 beautiful beaches, crystal-clear water, snorkelling straight from shore and kilometres of walking trails, Great Keppel Island is one of Queensland’s most underrated island escapes. Just a short ferry ride from Yeppoon, this Southern Great Barrier Reef island is surprisingly easy to reach and still feels wonderfully undeveloped...
Last Update: September 2026 The small rural town of Monto is not on everyone’s radar and being a two-and-a-half-hour drive inland from Bundaberg, it’s not an easy place to visit for most people either. However, it has become more popular in the recent years due to its Silo Art Trail. When I saw a picture of the Three Moon Silo in a local tourist guide, I knew we had...
Last Updated: September 2026 Yeppoon is a relaxed coastal town on Queensland’s Capricorn Coast, surrounded by beautiful beaches, scenic coastal walks and the islands of the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Just a 40-minute drive from Rockhampton, it’s a fantastic base for exploring this quieter and often overlooked part of Queensland. We visited during the peak Christmas...