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
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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
Tongariro Crossing and Lake Taupo
Leaving Wellington behind we were very excited about our next destination, the Tongariro National Park, and its famous day hike. The distance was a too much to do it in one evening, so we had an overnight stop at the free Simpsons Domain Campsite. Tongariro National Park The next day we arrived quite early at the National Park and pitched our tent in the Mangahuia campground. From there we made our way past the Chateau Tongariro to do the … [Read more...] about Tongariro Crossing and Lake Taupo
Free things to do in Wellington
Being a tourist in a city can be difficult when traveling on a budget. Eating out and entry fees are likely to leave a hole in your wallet. But you don't have to spend a huge amount of money, here are the free things we did in Wellington. Walk from the top of the cable car to the parliament To be honest we paid to go up the hill with the cable car. However, the ticket only cost 4 NZD per person so we found it fairly reasonable. From the top … [Read more...] about Free things to do in Wellington
Barhopping in Wellington
Wellington takes pride in its variety in local craft beers. In the city, you will find plenty of pubs offering various lagers, pale ales, pilsners and more. After two weeks of camping with very little alcohol consumption, we were very excited about our little bar hopping evening plan. Here are the places we tried. The Malt House The first place was a recommendation from our Airbnb host. The Malt House has a lovely interior with several … [Read more...] about Barhopping in Wellington
Vegan Review of Wellington
As always when we visit a new city we like trying vegan restaurants. Not only to get a break from our camping dishes but to have a glimpse of the cities’ plant-based scenery. After a good experience in Dunedin and an unsatisfactory one in Queenstown we were curious about New Zealand’s capital. As always, the first thing we do to find out how vegan-friendly a city is, we consult the HappyCow! app.In Wellington, it showed us four pure vegan … [Read more...] about Vegan Review of Wellington