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Continue reading →: Unplanned Road Trip: Exploring New Zealand’s CoastThis trip wasn’t planned at all. One random morning I woke up, filled up the tank, packed my camping gear, and decided to hit the road from Hamilton to Tauranga. No schedule, no bookings – just me, my car, and a loose idea of where I wanted to end up.…
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Continue reading →: Beaches, Bends & Waterfalls: A Journey Across the Coromandel to MarokopaThere’s a rhythm to life on the road that only travelers know – the hum of the engine, the sudden change of weather, the way each bend feels like both a challenge and an invitation. This past weekend, I left Hamilton chasing that rhythm, winding through the Coromandel and down…
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Continue reading →: From Foodie Culture to Fitness: My TransformationThree months ago, I sat down to write a deeply personal reflection about my health, a draft I kept tucked away in my notes. It was a moment of reckoning after a year of immersing myself in New Zealand’s vibrant foodie culture, which led to a significant change in my…
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Weekend Road Trip: From Horse Trekking to Geothermal Soaking
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Continue reading →: Weekend Road Trip: From Horse Trekking to Geothermal SoakingSometimes the best weekends aren’t about ticking off big destinations but about stringing together small, meaningful stops along the road. It’s the unhurried breakfasts, the open stretches of highway, and the hidden corners of nature that make the journey unforgettable. There’s a certain kind of freedom that only a weekend…
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Continue reading →: Van Life Diaries: NZ Roads – Scenic, Savage, and Slightly SadisticIf you’ve ever driven through New Zealand, you’ll know there’s a difference between a road trip and a New Zealand road trip. One is relaxing. The other? Well, it’s a blend of jaw-dropping scenery, tight white-knuckle corners, and the occasional “I should’ve written a will” moment. Since moving to the…
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Continue reading →: A Taste of Kiwi Life: Coffee, Community, and ChaosSometimes, the best adventures aren’t found on grand expeditions, but just down the road, with the right people. That’s exactly what unfolded this weekend, thanks to my incredible friends, Rikki and Emma (and let’s not forget Kelly!). They decided to initiate this wide-eyed newcomer into a slice of authentic Kiwi…
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Continue reading →: Van Camping in New Zealand 2025: Your Essential Freedom Camping Survival GuideRain drums hard on my van roof tonight – a familiar rhythm for anyone freedom camping in Aotearoa this July. If you’re reading this from a damp seat, a borrowed library Wi-Fi signal, or a roadside pull-off, you already know: New Zealand’s wild beauty demands resilience. But in 2025, it…
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Continue reading →: My First Celebration of Matariki: A Kiwi ExperienceThere’s something magical about gathering under a winter sky, sharing food, stories, and laughter with people who were once strangers but now feel like whānau (Family). This year, for the first time, I was invited by my Māori neighbors to celebrate Matariki – the Māori New Year – and what…
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Continue reading →: Surviving Van Life: Winter Prep for Tropical TransplantsLet me tell you something about daylight. Back home near the equator, the sun was as reliable as my grandmother’s chai recipe – 12 hours of golden light, every single day. Here in New Zealand? I swear I blinked in early May and suddenly the sun clocks out at 5:30…
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Continue reading →: Exploring the Unique Kiwi Dating SceneAh, New Zealand – land of stunning landscapes, friendly locals, and a dating scene that’s as unpredictable as our weather. As a single guy who’s lived in both the North and South Islands, I’ve had my fair share of romantic misadventures, awkward first dates, and the occasional “where is this…
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