My experience and knowledge of Aotearoa New Zealand is vast, after all, it is my home. I love to share and inspire others with travel experiences and knowledge of my homeland.
Kia ora! I am Karllie, and I love to share my passion for budget solo travel and adventures. A few years ago I left a long career in teaching, sold my home and haven't looked back...
Join this Facebook group is for those who are inspired to explore Aotearoa New Zealand solo. This is a great place to ask questions and share your adventures, advice and tips.
The Cook Islands – Rarotonga & Aitutaki are two of the most visited of the 15 major islands of this Pacific nation. When I decided Rarotonga would be my summer adventure and where I would see in the new year, I knew I had to include Aitutaki. I was told it is one of the…
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland is the largest city in Aotearoa New Zealand and home to over 1.7 million people. The Auckland region reaches as far north as Wellsford and as far south as Pukekohe. It includes Aotea Great Barrier Island and all the other islands in the Hauraki Gulf. Within the region there are 27 Auckland…
Kiwi birds are an icon and taonga (treasure) of Aotearoa New Zealand. The word ‘Kiwi’ is also fondly used as a name to identify a New Zealander. To see kiwi birds in real life is a treat and there is nothing more special than seeing one in the wild, in their natural habitat. However, it…
Free hot pools are a treat that should not be missed if you are visiting the Rotorua area. The region is a geothermal wonderland so it comes as no surprise that there are a number of free hot pools to be discovered and enjoyed. Thermal waters are believed to have many health benefits including improving…
The Rakiura Track on Rakiura Stewart Island is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Great Walks. This happened to be the third Great Walk I completed on my mission to tick off all the Great Walks of Aotearoa New Zealand. However, it wasn’t just the Rakiura Track that I was looking forward to but also the…
Tiritiri Matangi is an island paradise home to a plethora of native flora and fauna. Located in the Hauraki Gulf, just off the Whangaparaoa Peninsular, the island is easily accessible by boat. Thousands of visitors frequent the island each year to discover and enjoy the incredible birdlife. Many hope that they might be lucky to…
The legend of Maui identifies the South Island as Te Waka a Maui (Maui’s Canoe). It is from this canoe that Maui fished up Te Ika a Maui (Maui’s Fish), the North Island. Te Waipounamu translates to ‘the greenstone waters’ and is the name given to the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand by early…
Otuihau Whangarei Falls is one of the most popular attractions in Whangarei and for good reason, they are spectacular! As a regular visitor to Northland, these waterfalls are a place I frequent often and I take great pleasure in sharing it with family and friends. But did you know that Whangarei has five more spectacular…
The Pinnacles Walk, also known as the Kauaeranga Kauri Trail, is one of my all-time favourite overnight hikes and one of the most popular walks in the North Island of New Zealand. The Pinnacles Hut is a fabulous serviced 80-bed lodging making it the largest Department of Conservation (DOC) hut in New Zealand. The first…
Aotea, or Great Barrier Island as it is more commonly known, is a bucket list destination for many. This ‘off the grid’ island is something special with a population of fewer than 1000 residents. It is a popular holiday destination in the summer where many enjoy the beaches and the ocean for snorkelling, fishing, and…
TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK Before getting into the details of the Tongariro Northern Circuit it is important to first acknowledge the Tongariro National Park as the oldest national park in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is also a dual World Heritage area. This recognises the important values of Māori cultural and spiritual connections as well as the…
One of the reasons I love Great Barrier Island is the large variety of walking and hiking tracks. Each and every one of them offers something special but for many, the astonishing views and variety of terrain are a common theme. From remarkable beaches and lush green bush to towering summits you get it all…
The Bay of Plenty is my home, my childhood playground, and I love nothing more than sharing it with visitors. I know it well and have explored many corners of this amazing region including Tauranga. This list of the ‘Top 12 Things to do in Tauranga’ that I have put together for you is in…
There are so many things to do in Nelson! The city is a trove of treasures and the wider Nelson Tasman region is smothered with pockets of paradise. With more sunshine than any other place in New Zealand, there is no shortage of things to do in Nelson. This list is based on my own…
The 309 Road meanders through the Coromandel Hills hiding a trove of treasures. It connects Whitianga to Coromandel Town making for an adventurous route between East and West. The drive makes for a great day trip in either direction and can be accessed by most vehicles despite much of the 309 Road being unsealed. It…
Driving the Great Alpine Highway is an incredible experience of contrasting landscapes from the East Coast to the Wild West. This road trip is essential on any South Island travel itinerary. Easily achieved in one day you will find no shortage of activities to enjoy along the way. This has to be one of my…
I have been to the wider Brisbane area a number of times as I have many friends scattered between the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. These trips have always been to spend time with those friends however, I always try to include a few new experiences. Over the years I have been to several…
Auckland’s West Coast has several impressive beaches where you will find giant waves from the Tasman Sea crashing in onto rocks the black sand shores. Less than an hour from the city these beaches are a great escape from the hustle and bustle. This coast is a favourite with surfers, swimmers, beach walkers and those…
The Karangahake Gorge is one of my favourite locations in Aotearoa New Zealand, located near the Coromandel between Paeroa and Waihi. I purposely take State Highway 2 when I am travelling between Auckland and the Bay of Plenty just to go through the gorge. More often that not I stop for a walk on one…
Don’t let anyone tell you there is nothing to do between Taupō and Napier. Covering a large section of the Thermal Explorer Highway this is a great drive through some stunning countryside. If you are travelling in either direction and have time, then plan to make a few stops along the way. An amazing location…
Waiheke Island Wine is world famous, and a ‘must do’ for any wine lover. This island paradise is the second largest and most populated island in the Hauraki Gulf. Just a short ferry ride from downtown Auckland is a trendy tourist spot and a much welcome retreat for Auckland’s locals. GETTING TO WAIHEKE ISLAND Waiheke…
Moutohorā (Whale Island) Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most awesome little treasures! A dormant volcano that sits less than 10kms off the coast of Whakatāne, it is a special piece of paradise. This island is pest and predator free which makes it the perfect place for many native species to thrive. This…
The Hamilton Gardens was awarded ‘Garden of the Year’ at the International Garden Tourism Awards in France in 2014. It is no surprise that this place is extremely popular with free entry and about one million people visiting annually. The Hamilton Gardens are absolutely worth visiting if you travelling through the Waikato Region of Aotearoa New…
NUDIST BEACH IN SYDNEY Sydney has a number of nudist beaches which are frequented by a diverse crowd. Most of these beaches are not signposted so you may stumble across them without warning. My recommendations are of the beaches I have discovered and appear to be the most frequented. WHY AND WHAT ARE THE RULES?…
The biggest highlight of my time in Europe was hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc with one of my best friends, Haylee. Starting in France and making my way on foot through to Italy and Switzerland then back to France was amazing! If you want an alps adventure this has got be the number one…
The Bay of Islands is one of my all time favourite places in Aotearoa New Zealand. It is a haven of beautiful beaches, that can be found on the east coast in the far north of the North Island. You will find the Bay of Islands in the far north of the North Island. This…
At the beginning of 2016 I started off on my biggest hiking adventure ever! The Northland section of the Te Araroa Trail (TAT) in New Zealand. The complete trail is 3000km from one end of New Zealand to the other and can be walked in either direction but South bound tends to be more popular. I was…
As I mentioned in another blog, 2017 – Croatia to Australia and everything in between, Jamaica has been one of my top to places to visit as long as I can remember. I have always had a fascination with Jamaica and I am not sure what inspired it. Maybe it was Bob Marley, the movie Cool…
I booked a very spontaneous trip to Hawaii which was one of the best spontaneous decisions I have ever made! Having spent three weeks in this paradise and making the most of every day I have a lot to cover so I will try not to go into too much detail and keep it as…
There are so many underrated European cities to be found. Nowhere in the world provides you with so many fantastic metropolitan centers as does Europe. From Dublin to Dubrovnik, or Vienna to Venice. I have spent time in over forty European cities including many of the most popular such as Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Prague, and…
Croatia to Australia and everything in between In 2017 I visited ten countries starting in Europe and ending in Australia. I set foot in seven USA states, and ticked off two countries that have been on my ‘to do’ list for as long as I can remember. This is my year from Croatia to Australia…
I write this on Christmas Eve from Sydney, Australia. It is going to be another scorcher today with temperatures getting into the mid-thirties. This is quite a contrast to where I was this time last year spending Christmas in Croatia. It was below zero! Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia and has been given…
So I decided to take a trip to Budapest just before Christmas. This meant being in Hungary for winter solstice it turned out to be the best adventure ever! It was the first time that I had experienced a frozen white forest. Now, this was not your typical forest covered in snow, there wasn’t really…
