Posts in Hikes
Top Places in New Zealand to See as an Outdoor Enthusiast

New Zealand is home to some of the most remarkably beautiful landscapes you will ever witness. A single day’s adventure may take you from golden beaches to volcanic hot pools, from stunning fjords to glaciated peaks, and from charming lakeside towns to epic backcountry bluffs. I have been lucky enough to visit New Zealand three times now - once as a student, once on a working holiday visa, and once on vacation – and from those three experiences and more than a year in Aotearoa, I have come to adore some specific places.

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Working Holiday Visa in New Zealand: The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Summer or Year in New Zealand

Over the last four months, my girlfriend and I have been traveling across the stunning landscapes of New Zealand and connecting with countless local Kiwis and other travelers from all over the world. We’ve been living a camper van life which has allowed us to chase the sun and experience New Zealand in a far different way than I did when I was a student on a semester abroad at the University of Auckland some eight years ago.

As summer and millions of tourists descended upon the Southern Hemisphere in January, we sped towards the cooler South Island and settled into Wanaka, a homey, adventure-filled town on the edge of Lake Wanaka and surrounded by picturesque mountains. After working as housekeepers at a campground here for the last couple of months, I started to reflect on what the process was to get to this point. While being a relatively easy country to transition to as a native English speaker, there are definitely some confusing hurdles that we had to overcome. There are little secrets that we’ve been learning that could have easily made our journey smoother. Because of that, I thought I’d offer wisdom to those looking for the adventure of a lifetime.

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The Best Hikes in Washington State

Washington is home to some truly world class hikes, as the trails are extremely well-maintained and National Forests and National Parks are aplenty. Towering peaks hug Seattle to the east and west, making for an abundance of outdoor adventure opportunities all within a four hour drive. Before the hikes fade into distant memory, I thought it worthwhile to share some of my best hikes in Washington State.

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8 Day Iceland Road Trip - Iceland's Ring Road in One Week

Iceland’s ring road is the perfect vacation destination for those seeking a thrilling adventure in a fairytale land crafted by volcanoes. Summer is the ideal season for a road trip in Iceland, with July and August being the key months for exploring the raw beauty of the Highlands of Iceland, also known as the interior. Many of the F-roads (mountain roads) are closed off until these months due to the abundance of snowfall that creates dangerous river crossings during Spring melt. Spring and Fall, meanwhile, offer visitors a chance to catch glimpses of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) while still having access to most or all of the Ring Road attractions. Winter shelters Iceland in a near permanent darkness, but provides perfect conditions if you’re an avid Aurora Borealis hunter or you’re a heavy drinker (or planning to become one). Regardless of when you go, the country is super easy to travel in due to its shape and the ring road that loops around the exterior.

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Headed to the PNW!

I’ve got some crazy big news that I’m excited to finally post about… I’m going on an adventure! My girlfriend took a new Travel Surgical Tech assignment in Seattle, Washington and I’m joining her on the journey. It will be my first time ever to Washington State!

Exactly 13 days from now, I’ll be boarding a one-way flight to Seattle with my two suitcases, camera bag, and drone, ready to start an exciting new chapter. We’re not sure how long we’ll be in Washington, but we’re hoping that Re can get extended after three months so that we can spend the entire Spring and Summer exploring everything the region has to offer. If all works as planned, we’ll probably stay until late September and then throw a dart at a map for our next great adventure. Oh, and my work is letting me work remotely, so I can finally evolve into one of those Millennial Nomads that I always read about online but assumed to be a mythical creature. Hooray!

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The Perfect Summer or Fall 7-Day Switzerland Road Trip

Switzerland is every hiker, photographer, adventure enthusiast, or winter sport athlete’s dream. There are virtually endless hikes and excursions in all parts of this tiny European gem. My perfect Switzerland road trip is meant to hit up what I consider the most visually stunning areas that also offer opportunities for less outdoorsy travelers. This was my second trip to the country and so I was okay with skipping major destinations like Geneva, Zurich, and even Interlaken. For a first timer, you might want to squeeze a visit in to these spots and that’s totally fine too! Just do whatever makes you happy :)

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