Taupō, also sometimes written as Taupo, is a cute lakeside town located in the center of New Zealand’s North Island on the edge of Lake Taupō, which is the largest freshwater lake in the country. It’s a friendly, picturesque place with fantastic views of the lake and mountains (on a clear day). When the weather is stunning, you’ll want to spend...
Chances are that if you’re planning to visit New Zealand’s South Island (and you absolutely should, because why else are you going?), you’re going to drive through Kaikōura on your way to Christchurch from Picton (where the interisland ferry stops). It’s a beautiful small town that’s a starting point for your most incredible adventures...
Every time I talk about a place in New Zealand, I say it’s my favorite. But that’s just it: New Zealand is stunning. I loved every place that I went to, and I had no regrets (but I came back with a list of things I had to see on my next trip). Lake Tekapo [Takapō (Māori)], located in the Mackenzie District of the South Island’s Canterbury Region...
If I had to pick a place to live in New Zealand (should I ever decide to take a leap of faith and move across the world), it would be Queenstown. In addition to its central location on the South Island (and proximity to Milford Sound), it’s a beautiful town with so much to see and do. And the views? Unreal. I enjoyed walking through town, trying different...
Unless you’re planning to strictly visit New Zealand’s South Island, Wellington should be a must-visit city on your list. If you are visiting both islands and arriving through Auckland, you’ll go through Wellington to reach the South Island (unless you plan to fly there). We took the ferry from Wellington to Picton through the Cook Strait, which...
A road trip is the only way to see New Zealand, whether by car, campervan, or foot (if you’re backpacking). It’s an epic journey that makes the country special and unique, and it’s small enough that you can go from the North Island to the South by ferry and crisscross from coast to coast in a short time. Will you be able to see everything in one...
New Zealand is an incredible country, but it also requires extensive planning (especially if you’re flying in from the other side of the world). You’ll want to make sure you plan properly and have all of your documentation (and suitcase) in order before you drive to the airport. Here are a few common mistakes to avoid when traveling to New Zealand. Not...
Visiting New Zealand was a bucket-list trip for me. I had been planning it with my cousin since 2018, because we had planned to visit the country in November the next year (and then the COVID-19 pandemic happened and the world shut down). But, last year, we were finally able to make it happen and I’m so glad we did. I’ve said it before and I’ll say...
I am definitely biased, but if I were to ever go back to New Zealand to visit, I would go in November (again). There was one very specific reason that my cousin and I wanted to travel to New Zealand in November (I’ll get to that later), but I enjoyed it so much. The weather was perfect, and the country felt like it was gradually in bloom. In my opinion...
When I flew to New Zealand late last year, the less expensive flight option was out of JFK International Airport to Auckland, via Qantas Airlines. I’ve flown Qantas once before (also out of JFK), back in 2015 (an entire decade ago!) when I went to Sydney with my paternal grandparents to visit family for six weeks. Even back then, it was a superb flight...