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Tongariro Northern Circuit Vs Alpine Crossing
Interested in trekking Tongariro, one of New Zealand’s premier hikes? This renowned trek traverses through the North Island’s Tongariro Volcano complex which offers an incredible array of diverse landscapes, including old lava flows, turquoise-hued lakes in a lunar-like terrain, dramatic vistas from its peaks, alpine meadows, meandering streams, lush forest, and waterfalls. And although it’s considered challenging, it’s not technical and can be done if you are in good physical shape. The combination of challenging, varied terrain, stunning vistas, and geological marvels, make this hike an unforgettable experience. One I’ve been lucky enough to do twice now. There are two two main treks here, the Tongariro Northern Circuit, which is…
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Hiking Cape Brett Walkway
Hiking Cape Brett walkway, a spectacular, but challenging hike in northeastern New Zealand, offers stunning views of the Bay of Islands, a secluded cove for swimming, and a hut at the end overlooking a lighthouse and giant rocks in the sea. At the end of the Peninsula, and the end of the trail, you will find picturesque rock formations in the ocean and panoramic views of the area. A fantastic area to explore after checking into your hut at the end of the hike. As this hike is pretty remote, it’s not a popular tourist hike. Because of this, you will not only be miles from the nearest town, you…
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Hiking Abel Tasman Coastal Track
Hiking the Abel Tasman Coastal Track in Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand is a unique hiking experience, due to its unique hiking terrain. Instead of up and down mountains, this one-way hike alternates in and out of lush, fern-filled forests, onto beaches of golden sand, and through estuaries that change with the tide. The track is managed by New Zealand’s Department Of Conservation (DOC) and is classified as another of New Zealand’s 10 “Great Walks”. The DOC estimates walking the entirety of this 37 mile (60 km), one way track, to take 3-5 days. As it’s a one way track, you either need to double back, or hire a…
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Hiking Routeburn Track In New Zealand
Hiking the 20 miles of untamed, rugged wonderland on New Zealand’s Routeburn Track is truly a memorable experience. It’s understandable why it’s designated as one of the country’s 9 “Great Walks”.
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Visiting Franz Josef Glacier New Zealand
Franz Josef Glacier (Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere) is one of the most popular glaciers in New Zealand for the simple fact that it’s one of the biggest, steepest, and fastest, and the easiest to access. However, visiting still has its challenges as this dynamic environment is hazard prone, especially by flooding and landslide. Torrential rains in 2019 washed out parts of the access road and walkway to Franz Josef Glacier. It also washed out the access road to nearby Fox Glacier. A not-so-subtle reminder of the powerful forces at work here. That said, it’s still definitely worth visiting. However, road and access conditions need to be verified beforehand. Franz…
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New Zealand Travel Guide
If you plan to travel to New Zealand, this guide will help you plan your trip. It highlights the top destinations of this stunning country, how to get around, visa and currency concerns, the best time to visit, safety, and lots more. This travel guide and posts on New Zealand are updated as of January 2022. New Zealand New Zealand is full of spectacular landscapes. From golden sandy beaches, to picturesque rolling pastures, fern-filled rainforests, epic snow-capped mountains, ancient volcanos, stunning fiords, brilliant lakes, and massive glaciers. It’s extremely diverse and insanely beautiful. If you want to experience outdoor adventure, New Zealand is the perfect place. There’s superb hiking, including…
