The Bay of Plenty had been highly recommended to us so we were excited to see what the sunny coast had to offer and we were certainly not disappointed. Papamoa and Mount Maunganui Our first stop was in Papamoa, but not because we really wanted to - it was the only beach that had an affordable campsite. We couldn’t believe how much the prices had risen in this area. We were used to paying 8 or max 13NZD per person, but here we were talking … [Read more...] about Bay of Plenty and Coromandel Peninsula
Free things to do in Rotorua
When you check out Rotorua and you are on a budget you may be thinking about just skipping it entirely before heading to the coast of the Bay of Plenty. It is advertised as the Las Vegas of New Zealand and when you check the various hot springs you will notice that all of them charge a lot of money, which you don't have when traveling with limited funds. We still wanted to have a stop here and after some research, we found some free things to do … [Read more...] about Free things to do in Rotorua
Vegan Review of the Nourished Eatery
From our previous experiences of vegan options, we didn't have high hopes to find a good place in the Bay of Islands. But after consulting the HappyCow! app we found a highly recommended vegan restaurant, the Nourished Eatery, in Tauranga. Location For us, the location in Tauranga was excellent because we left the Bay of Plenty and were on our way up towards Auckland. From the highway, it is just a quick detour and it allows you to have a … [Read more...] about Vegan Review of the Nourished Eatery
Our Sustainable Products for Traveling
Traveling itself is not the most environmental friendly activity with moving around by plane, car, or having to use plastic water bottles in countries where you can't trust the drinking water. However, even whilst traveling you can do as much as possible to make your impact on the environment as little as possible. Following are some of our favorite sustainable products: - Bamboo Toothbrush and Case These toothbrushes clean … [Read more...] about Our Sustainable Products for Traveling
Short trip to Rotorua
We had mixed feelings about Rotorua. On one hand, the geysers and steam vents are interesting and worth a stop, but we also read that Rotorua is nicknamed “Rotovegas” because it’s a town fully focused on tourism entertainment which is not particularly in our interest. Not to mention that almost everything had to be done through a tour which we weren’t willing to pay. We did research on some free stops that are worth a visit. Redwood … [Read more...] about Short trip to Rotorua
How to do the Tongariro Crossing
One of the best day hikes in New Zealand, even officially mentioned in the brochure of the Department of Conservation, is the Tongariro Crossing. A 19.4 km hike across volcanic landscape. The area was used for Mount Doom so all Lord of the Ring fans would especially love this hike. After completing the crossing, here are our recommendations to enjoy it to the maximum. Where to stay on a budget There are several accommodation options, … [Read more...] about How to do the Tongariro Crossing