We've lived in the Wairarapa for five months now (with a roadie in the middle to explore the North Island). It was an unintentional move, brought on entirely by the COVID-19 lock down that was implemented in New Zealand in…
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The lovely people we are staying with in Carterton have extended family in Wainuiomata. Their sprawling farm is nestled into a valley and goes by the name of Totara Downs, just hidden away from the busy Wellington harbour. Close enough…
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Fensham Reserve is a 48-hectare protected region on the outskirts of Carterton. There's one main loop track that circuits the area, with a few extra tracks going off from the main route. Community work is underway to enlist walkers and…
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One of our final bucket list things to do in New Zealand was to spot a real-life actual kiwi! Kiwis are the national icon of New Zealand, as well as what we call New Zealanders and that delicious hairy green…
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We've been living in Carterton since early April when it was initially announced that New Zealand would go into COVID-19 lock down. We have come and gone, completing a massive two month roadie around the North Island when it was…
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I'm the type of traveler who, when they get to a new country or city, likes to do absolutely everything possible. Every UNESCO site, every famous attraction, every hike, every not-so-famous attraction... everything. I travel with the mindset that I…
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I've been backpacking (and did a bit of van life-ing, too) for the past nineteen months through seven countries. Throughout this time, I've been staying in hostels; in fact, in 2019, I lived exclusively in hostels! From Australia to New…
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Hiking is my favourite activity, no matter where I am in the world. I consistently find that hiking brings a sense of joy, clarity, excitement and discovery. It's such a great way to get out and feel good about your body,…
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I've spent the past nineteen months backpacking through seven countries. Before I left Canada, I put together a detailed backpacking packing list; the contents have changed slightly since then thanks to thrift shops + book shops! For shorter trips though,…
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I'll be honest, when I was still in Australia and first researching New Zealand and how to best get around the tiny two-island nation, I was pretty stumped. It seemed that the only way to do it was if you…
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New Zealand is my favourite country in the world! There's so much to see - from abandoned gold mines, beautiful coastlines, epic volcanoes and bursting geothermal activity. I've been living here for a year and a half now and have made…
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The Narnia chronicles were an incredible part of my childhood - the magic in each story greater than the last, all exquisitely crafted by C. S. Lewis. While New Zealand is perhaps most famously known for being the surreal backdrop of the Lord…
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Back in February, we bought a little self-contained van while we were living in Wellington. We named her Bongo (since she's a Mazda Bongo - yes, so creative, we know) and took her out for a few weekend trips in…
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Ahhh, Lord of the Rings. The incredible trilogy, complemented by The Hobbit trilogy, that basically turned New Zealand into one giant film set. It's been said that every kiwi was or knows someone who was an extra in LotR. It's not hard to see…
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