Having started this site 23 years ago I have given up on the backpacking side of things - hostel, tours etc as it is too time consuming keeping up with latest prices and closures. Although I'm keeping the site up, I've removed all hostel and business listings. I will keep some of the articles up since some things never change. Furthermore, I'll continue to focus on the mapping aspect and have recently added a database of all LINZ tracks or a sortable table limited to tracks over 800m, complete with links to each of their maps.
I will give my final tip for travellers to New Zealand - Go Tramping! It is the best way and cheapest way to see the real New Zealand, the natural side of New Zealand. It's what I miss most about home since I have been living in Europe, no where in the world comes close to the network of hiking tracks and huts we have.
I will give my final tip for travellers to New Zealand - Go Tramping! It is the best way and cheapest way to see the real New Zealand, the natural side of New Zealand. It's what I miss most about home since I have been living in Europe, no where in the world comes close to the network of hiking tracks and huts we have.
Latest Articles
5 Days Travelling The South Island
I highly recommend renting a car / vehicle even if you have more time than I did. I believe it is the most flexible way to see a place as wide open as the South Island. Here is a quick summary of my tour...
Bull Mound / Quoin Ridge
Heading from near Palmerston North to the capital, the Tararua Forest Park offers many weekend tramping opportunities, though the wild winds that strike this part of the country are a constant threat. The open tops provide vistas stretching from the Wairarapa to the Kapiti Coast and south to Wellington Harbour.
Abel Tasman Costal Track
The Abel Tasman Coastal Track is a breathtaking, casual walk around a spectacular, unspoilt coastline. This is a haven for anyone out there who loves the sea. There are brilliant, blue lagoons, estuaries and tropical island sanctuaries. The beaches, oh those beaches are simply a delight covered with sand that is so soft on your skin it feels like powder.
Rotorua
When you say Rotorua, people roll their eyes and nod dreamily. Rotorua is a mystical and magical place where steam rises from the ground, geysers erupt, mud pool bubble and hot springs steam. Rotorua is primarily renowned for its hydrothermal activity which has drawn tourists since the 1800s.
