A Bach is a peculiarly New Zealand word to describe a rustic holiday home. It can be in the mountains or by the beach or lake. It is definitely never in suburbia. Rosemary is a New Zealander who loves Baches and what they represent Five things you should know about NZ Baches... 1. A Bach is rustic – by this I mean they usually look like they could do with some repairs, or a paint, the garden is often non existent or a bit overgrown. … [Read more...]
Papua New Guinea
Beth Whitman of Wander Tours says there is not much that can tear her away from a Seattle summer. Here's the exception: Papua New Guinea!!! She is now away for her eighth trip to this incredibly diverse and extraordinary destination, which coincides with the Mt. Hagen Singsing festival each August. 75 - 100 tribes from around the country descend upon showgrounds to sing, dance and drum in a cacophony of sound like nothing you've ever … [Read more...]
Getting around in New Zealand and Australia – instead of a car – try a train or fly
Many people coming to New Zealand or Australia want to hire a campervan to do their whole trip. My suggestions is think in a more varied way flying between some centres, catching a train or bus, or hiring a small car. New Zealand suggestions For your international flights - try flying into Auckland and out of Christchurch or vice versa instead of in and out of Auckland Hire a car to drive north of Auckland - not many tourists make time … [Read more...]
Cycle New Zealand – Great Walks and Great Rides
For many years doing one of the New Zealand Great Walks was on everyone's bucket list. Now you can do a Great Ride - Cycle New Zealand! I have never met anyone who did not have New Zealand on their bucket list - even those of us who live here have more of New Zealand they want to see. And one of the great features is our scenery - in a small country we have everything from Glaciers to hot pools, beaches to lakes, sand dunes to … [Read more...]
Gunnadoo – your base to explore Northern Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef
If Northern Queensland is not on your bucket list, then it should be... Great Barrier Reef Daintree National Park Mossman - Ngadiku Dreamtime Walks I was there 10 years ago and stayed at the Pink Flamingo in Port Douglas, a very gay friendly funky boutique motel in Port Douglas. For the past 8 years Gigi and Andrea have been the lovely hosts at Pink Flamingo, but all things come to an end, the motel has been sold and … [Read more...]
Discovering Uluru at Your Own Pace – Cycle Uluru
Forget climbing the rock - cycle Uluru! I’m more of an off-the-beaten-track kind of a traveler, a nature enthusiast who falls madly in love with all things timeless. It’s the magnificent giants of our time that completely captivate my desire to roam, and so, as an avid hiker, an adventure-seeker, it made all the more sense for me to finally visit the famous outback of Australia and Uluru. But there’s so much more to this wilderness, an … [Read more...]
Rarotonga – a Threatened Paradise?
We loved our recent trip to Rarotonga (read about it here), but we were concerned about the loss of coral, the growth of weed - it looks like we as visitors are contributing to the decline of the very thing that makes this place special. Sadly it looks like Rarotonga and New Zealand have a lot in common - once pristine environments now under increasing pressure from economic development that is threatening the very things that make them … [Read more...]
New Zealand Countryside: A Woman’s Perfect Place to Escape the Busy Life in the Corporate World
If you are a woman trying to juggle corporate work and life, the desire to escape the rat race, even just for a few days or weeks, can be strong. You may want to go to a tranquil, unpopulated area for rest and relaxation. Perhaps indulging in gourmet food and wine is your idea of heaven. You may even be thrillseeker and crave adventure and adrenalin rushes. Whatever your dream getaway, the areas outside of New Zealand’s main cities are the … [Read more...]
Walk with Camels
Rensina is once again heading overland. This time in Australia. "Just stay up on the wagon, hang on to the reins and hold the handbrake as well; in case they bolt," Debbie yelled at me as she attempted to control the two huge woolly beasts which she has just harnessed to the wagon which I am now standing on. Truth be known I was actually clinging on; in an elevated state of alert....not quite panic. My adrenaline levels hit a new high when … [Read more...]
New Zealand With the Girls: My Backpacking Tour Experience
In July 2015, I got tired of having New Zealand holiday pictures popping all over my Facebook feed and leaving me salivating. I called two of my female friends and asked them what they thought about a month-long backpacking trip to New Zealand. They got on board with the idea fairly quickly, but I was reminded of the costs. We resolved to save a bit more for the trip and go in 2016. We obviously didn’t expect the Pound blast that happened … [Read more...]
