10 travel moments that restored our faith in humanity. Stories of kindness from life on the road.
All my friends are buying houses and having babies, yet I'm about to embark on my fourth big trip travelling. Here's how it feels to give it all up again to travel in your thirties.
The Dukes Nose (Kairara Rock) Track has one of, if not, the best view in all of Northland. It has all the wow factor, with endless spectacular bays and headlands. It does involve a near vertical scramble but you’re assisted with a sturdy metal pole. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the trail, including track conditions and how hard that scramble really is.
The effort to reward ratio on the St Paul’s Rock Track has to be the best in all of Northland. This short walk in Whangaroa offers absolutely incredible views from the top and somehow remains blissfully uncrowded. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk, including difficulty and what the chains are like.
As soon as you set eyes on the craggy peaks of Mount Manaia you are going to want to climb it. The short hike is pretty steep but the effort to reward ratio is excellent, with stunning forest and fabulous views from the top. We’re sharing everything you need to know about climbing Mount Manaia including difficulty and track conditions.
The Tutukaka Lighthouse Walk offers incredible views from the top of the headland, as well as access to several sheltered coves for a dip. It’s a relatively easy walk, although it must be done at mid to low tide if you want to make it all the way to the lighthouse. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk including track conditions.
Taheke Falls is Northland’s highest and it’s a very pretty waterfall, but it’s the forest surrounding it that is unforgettable. With both wild and tropical vibes, as well as ancient Kauri trees, all accessed on one short easy loop trail, it’s a walk not to be missed. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the trail.
If you’re looking for a glow worm filled cave adventure without a guide, then Abbey Caves is the place to head. You won’t find walkways or lighting in these three undeveloped caves and that only adds to the fun. Come prepared to get wet and you’ll be rewarded with an incredible glow worm experience. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the caves including difficulty and conditions.
Trotters Gorge is a beautiful forest with crystal clear creeks and a great view from the bluffs at the top of the Trotter Gorge Track. Come back at night and you will be treated to one of New Zealand’s most accessible glow worm colonies! We’re sharing everything you need to know about the gorge by day and by night.
The Roberts Point Track is one of the best hikes on the West Coast. The view of Franz Josef Glacier is phenomenal and there are several amazing swing bridges, and even a floating staircase. It does involve some scrambling and we detail that as well as everything else you need to know about difficulty and the terrain in this guide.
Lake Matheson is one of the most beautiful lakes in New Zealand. Time it right and you will be treated to a mirror image of Aoraki Mount Cook and the surrounding snow-capped peaks in the water. However, not all viewpoints are created equal and the reflection doesn’t always look like the pictures. We’re sharing everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip to Lake Matheson.
Lake Hayes is gorgeous, surrounded by mountains and rolling hills. On a calm day the reflections in the water are a perfect mirror image of the landscape. As well as the full Lake Hayes Walkway, we’re sharing where to get the perfect reflections, how to find the picturesque wooden jetty and not one but two rope swings!
The Alex Knob Track offers one of the best views of Franz Josef Glacier in the whole area, not to mention the incredible mountain range surrounding it. You have to earn the view though with a relatively long hike up to the viewpoint. We’re sharing everything you need to know, including difficulty and track conditions, as well as shorter options which still have great views.
The Galway Beach Track has a bit of everything; wild and remote beaches, sensational mountain views, gorgeous forest and a bit of gold mining history too. It’s an easy walk and not very well known so you’ll likely get it all to yourself, but this being the West Coast you’ll find the track can get a bit muddy. We’re sharing everything you need to know about the walk.
