Category: Outdoor Adventures

Ideas and tips for outdoor adventures in North America, Europe, and beyond. Hiking, biking, off-roading, scuba, snorkeling, scenic drives, and more! From activities for nature lovers to adrenaline junkies.

5 Fun Day Trips from Queenstown & Why It Makes a Great Base

As we traveled around New Zealand, all the other backpackers warned about how busy Queenstown is. And our research came up with similar results. We actually almost cut our trip there short! But with so much to do in the area, we decided to base almost a week of our... Read more

Coronet Peak Picnic Date with the BEST Views of Queenstown

The Queenstown area is known for its epic views and adventurous activities. It is definitely a can't-miss stop for anyone touring New Zealand. Want 360-degree views of Queenstown and the surrounding mountains without all the work of hiking all the way up? Coronet Peak... Read more

Private New Zealand Glow Worms Tour with Unique Eco-Sanctuary Stay

Sometimes being extra spontaneous on a trip can really come back to bite you. Other times, it leads to unexpected places you would have never discovered had you not been forced to make a detour. That's how we discovered Mount Tutu Eco-Sanctuary outside Rotorua and... Read more

Detouring to See Hokitika Gorge with Grey Water?!?

After a great time in Arthur's Pass, we were headed to explore the Franz Josef Glacier area for a few days. It was going to be a 3+-hour driving day, so we didn't plan much – as we didn't know what the weather would be like. However, it was a beautiful day, so... Read more

Remote Coast Sea Kayak Tour of Abel Tasman National Park

Some places are just meant to be viewed from the water and Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand's south island is definitely one of them – especially to enjoy the beauty and wildlife of the Tonga Island Marine Reserve. Since this area is protected, only a... Read more

Cathedral Cove Beach Walk in the Coromandel, NZ

One of the most gorgeous coastal areas of New Zealand, the Coromandel Peninsula is a must for beach lovers – especially the multi-hour walk to Cathedral Cove beach (or water taxi). It's a (sometimes overly) popular track, but we loved spending a sunny summer day... Read more

Northland New Zealand Road Trip: One Week of Beaches, Backpackers & Beautiful Views!

Trying to decide on a first destination in a place with hundreds of amazing options is a challenge. Luckily, we were celebrating my birthday a few days after landing in Auckland and I only wanted one thing: sunshine. GLORIOUS SUNSHINE! After six weeks of winter in... Read more

The Rock Overnight Cruise in Bay of Islands

We don't always plan to splurge for birthdays and other special occasions … but when we do, we tend to really go all out (like learning to cook in Rome or hot air ballooning over Colorado Springs). So, when we decided to go to New Zealand for my big 3-0, I... Read more

22 Tips for Minimalist Packing with Carry-On Bags: Multi-Season Trip

Although we've managed to make carry-on bags work, we are far from pros at this minimalist packing thing. For our most recent five-month trip to Europe, I packed a thermometer “just in case we need to check if one of us has a fever.” We also brought a... Read more

Iceland Snowmobile & Glacier Ice Cave Tour with Mountaineers of Iceland

Planning to visit Iceland in winter and looking for something that will make you feel like an epic explorer? Taking an Iceland snowmobile tour to a glacier ice cave after a 4×4 monster truck bus ride through a mountain landscape not accessible to cars …... Read more