Tag Archive: National Park

Ulva island, land of birds

Ulva island is one of New Zealand’s only open island sanctuaries. The moment you step off the boat (15min water taxi from Golden Bay in Oban) you’re greeted by birds. The songs carry… Continue reading

The impact of travel

If it wasn’t for travel where would I be? I can’t even imagine the sort of person I’d be if I hadn’t studied in Austria, become close friends with other international students, one… Continue reading

Borneo cave exploration and leech strewn forest

Cancelled flight, missing luggage, exhausted naps and before you know it I’m in the depths of the Borneo jungle. Mulu National Park 4:30am trip to the airport for 3 flights and eventually we… Continue reading

Making a difference while travelling

Whether it’s smiling at a stranger, helping someone with their bags, giving food to the homeless or just complimenting someone on a piece of clothing, it all goes a long way to making… Continue reading

Scenic delights of Aoraki Mount Cook

Ice cracks and crashes as an echo is sent through the Hooker Valley. This is a pretty special way to celebrate the start of 2018 on New Years Day, walking the Hooker Valley… Continue reading

Postcards from Moody Doubtful Sound, Fiordland

Saying farewell to the sunshine in Wanaka, I packed up the car for a few nights of camping before New Year’s Eve. The drive over the Crown Range into Queenstown always freaks me… Continue reading

Wanaka Hiking Mount Iron

Sometimes it’s difficult to comprehend such beauty and this road trip has had those moments over and over again. Wanaka didn’t disappoint. I fell in love with this small town a few years… Continue reading

3 Years on.. Places I can’t get out of my head

Back in 2015 as part of the monthly bloggers linkup I shared my passion for Africa as the place I couldn’t get out of my head. Three years on and is it still… Continue reading

The REAL middle of nowhere: Oparara Arches

Day 2 Route: Picton > Westport > Karmea > Oparara Arches > Kohaihai Campsite, Kahurangi National Park Where the heck are the Oparara Arches you may ask? The Oparara Arches are nestled away… Continue reading

Reigning in Christmas in the wop wops

Wop Wops you say? (Plural for Woop Woop: a humorous name for a remote outback town or district.) Yer that’s the middle of nowhere in New Zealand. I didn’t realise you can actually… Continue reading

Daintree Rainforest and Cassowary Falls day trip from Port Douglas

Nestled amongst glorious green vegetation, farms of sugarcane and little country towns is the Daintree Rainforest…. and a LOT OF RAIN! Yes, this was to show me just how wet the tropical rainforest… Continue reading

#30 Top Travel Experience before I’m 30: Rediscovering New Zealand

Number 30 in my Greatest Travel Experiences before I’m 30 had to lead me back home to my homeland, New Zealand, Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud. New Zealand was never high… Continue reading

Cinque Terre – Walking through 5 little Italian Villages, A Top Travel Experience

Colourful buildings adorning a coastal landscape. Wildflowers blooming amongst spring grass. Views from above village standing on cliffs. Pizza, pasta and gelato… need I say more? Cinque Terre is a little area of… Continue reading

A Greatest Travel Experience: Safari in Africa

Snap. Leopard darts from a tree. One of the only photographs taken of it was mine. Eyes wide open. Lion’s munching on a zebra on the side of the dirt path. They didn’t… Continue reading

Greatest Travel Experience #6: Immersing myself in Patagonian nature

Whales, penguins, seals. Glaciers that grow. Snowcapped mountains to hike amongst. Beaches. Where else could this fantastic destination be? None other than the Chilean and Argentine wonder of Patagonia. On my long backpacking… Continue reading

A Greatest Adventure: Cruising around the Galapagos

Picture this: Waking up in the morning in a king size bed, strolling out to a balcony, gazing out over warm clear blue water, watching the odd turtle or stingray swimming by… that’s… Continue reading

An Easters day visiting Nelson Lakes

I could be in Bariloche staring out at Cerro Campanario or maybe one of Switzerland’s gorgeous lakes, but instead I’m at the delightful Nelson Lakes region on a sunny Easter Sunday with my… Continue reading

Kayak and Hiking in Abel Tasman National Park

The birds were deafening as we kayaked up to the little island in Abel Tasman National Park. Seals played by the rocks and the birds sang their hearts out. I don’t think I’ve… Continue reading

10 Things I love about travel

This month’s travel linkup is all about love… here’s 10 things that I love about travel: 1. Waking up in the middle of nowhere and pinching myself that I’m actually there 2. Being surprised… Continue reading

One Year. 20 Locations. A year of memories

On this day last year I left my home of almost 5 years, London, to begin a world adventure and return to my homeland of New Zealand. It’s hard to believe it’s been… Continue reading

Getting back to nature at Yosemite National Park

Sun, snow, birds, deer, squirrels, elusive black beers and an abundance of pure nature, all part of Yosemite National Park in California, USA. For years I’ve wanted to go to Yosemite National Park,… Continue reading

Monteverde and Santa Elena: Cloud Forest of Costa Rica

Green trees and birds all around, this area of Costa Rica is a great starting point for any adventure in Costa Rica. Monteverde and Santa Elena are cloud forest reserves with a town in… Continue reading

Caribbean Coast of Colombia: Cartagena and Tayrona National Park

If colour, heat and beaches is what you’re after then the Caribbean Coast of Colombia won’t disappoint! Flying into Cartagena, the first thing that hits you as you get off the plane is… Continue reading

Visiting San Cristobal island in the Galapagos

Red, Blue and Nazca Boobies – birds that is. Male Red Frigate birds with their bright red chest ballooned out. Green, Grey and Leatherback turtles. All just a few of the amazing wildlife… Continue reading

Christmas in Bariloche

Christmas can be a lonely time for the solo traveller. This year I opted to choose a nice hostel (Penthouse 1004) and participated in the shared Christmas Eve dinner that they organised. So… Continue reading

A day in Chile at Torres del Paine

Five layers were never enough. Ten minutes outside was too long. It was safe to say Torres del Paine was freezing. I gave away the dream of doing the W Trek in Torres… Continue reading

Whales, seals, penguins, all in a day at Peninsula Valdes

Just a few minutes out from shore and we’re surrounded. All around us are families of Southern Right Whales. From babies (that are still massive) to super long mothers. These whales bob up… Continue reading

Day Trips from Cape Town, South Africa

Wine, incredible landscapes, chocolate, boutique shops. Penguins, lighthouses, mountains. All the incredible sights I saw during a few days trips out from Cape Town. Visiting the wineries of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch South Africa, like New… Continue reading

Victoria Falls to Cape Town Tour: The End

It seems fitting that after such a variety of landscapes that our tour ended in an incredible spot in South Africa called Highlanders – a camp ground surrounded by vineyards in South Africa. I… Continue reading

Etosha National Park, wildlife galore

Elephants bathing in the waterhole, surrounded by giraffes, oryx, kudu and impala. This is Africa. Moreso, this is Etosha National Park, filled with wildlife around waterholes and hiding away in the desert planes.… Continue reading

Room with a view

Nature, sunrises, sunsets, ocean… these are all the things we look for in a view when we travel. Sad thing is I usually don’t have a decent view. I travel cheap and far,… Continue reading

Photography Friday: Q is for ‘Queen Elizabeth National Park’

Bobbing around on a boat, spotting elephants, hippopotamus, lions, eagles and so much more. Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda is today’s location for Photo Friday and what a location it is! So… Continue reading

Most memorable night’s sleep while travelling

Bang! Bang! That’s the taxi driver thumping on the window as I wake up inside, stranded on a back road in Nairobi. Brushing the sleep from my eyes I see the road covered… Continue reading

Face to face with a silverback (East Africa: Part 3)

Exhausted, stepping through the brush I suddenly became spellbound. Sitting just a few meters away were the most incredible creatures on earth that I’d ever met. There they were, a group of gorillas… Continue reading

Chimps, National Parks and lush landscapes of Uganda (East Africa: Part 2)

Moving onwards from the amazing animals in Kenya I headed to Uganda. Uganda is definitely worth the wait as you cross the border. Keep your head down; get through to see some amazing… Continue reading