Posts from New Zealand
This page for New Zealand warrants special attention! I spent more than two years living in New Zealand on a Working Holiday Visa – all thanks to the pandemic. Here you could find the jobs I did, the hikes I walked, and some guides here and there which I think will be highly helpful in your adventure!
To the past me, I’m so glad we did this!
This page is undergoing some changes so some links may be broken. Bear with me as I iron things out. Cheers!
Recommended Guides
Great Walk
- Great Walk Series #8: Whanganui River Track
All you need to know about the Whanganui River Journey – the only Great Walk in New Zealand that does not feature trekking! - Great Walk Series: Lake Waikaremoana Return
My last and ninth Great Walk in New Zealand done and dusted! Lake Waikaremoana is not a loop walk but makes for a nice tramp in the isolated wilderness. - Great Walk Series: Abel Tasman Coast Track
Abel Tasman Coast Track is a stunning 60km hiking trail winding through native forests, golden beaches, tranquil coves, and offering views of the Tasman Sea. - Great Walk Series #7: Tongariro Northern Circuit
All you need to know from my experience doing Tongariro Great Walk within 3D2N (and not the conventional 4D3N). You’ll feel like hiking on another planet! - Great Walk Series #6: Heaphy Track MTB style
The Heaphy Track is my sixth Great Walk in New Zealand! If you’re a mountain biker, you’ll love this track. - Great Walk Series: Milford Return Track | Fiordland
Rated as ‘the finest walk in the world’, this track in the Fiordland National Park must be on your list. Here’s my experience doing the track during winter. - Great Walk Series: Routeburn Return Track
The Routeburn Track in Fiordland has some dramatic landscapes to boot. Here’s my take on what I experienced on this track in the middle of June. - Great Walk Series: Kepler Track | Fiordland
The Kepler Track is one of the best Great Walks in New Zealand. Here’s what to expect when you hike in winter, during the off-peak season. - Great Walk Series: Rakiura Track | Steward Island
Rakiura Track is this great walk on a separate island. The 32 km looped walk takes three days and does not feature alpine terrains or steep elevations.
Hiking
- Mueller Hut in Winter: A Guide | New Zealand
Hiking to the red hut of New Zealand in winter! We had lots of fun going up and sliding down the thick snow of Mueller Hut in Mt Cook National Park. - Abseil, Cave and Glow Worms in Waitomo | New Zealand
Forget about taking the boat into the cave. My adventure in the Waitomo Caves begins with a 100 m abseil into the lost world. - Atop the Stunning Ben Lomond of New Zealand
Add Ben Lomond to your list while you are in Queenstown! It’s a popular hiking destination, with stunning views of the surrounding landscape. - A Weekend at The Beautiful Lake Angelus | New Zealand
One of the most beautiful treks in NZ. You can easily squeeze in an overnight tramp for a weekend at Lake Angelus from Nelson or Blenheim. - Fourth Highest Peak of Kahurangi: Mount Arthur
The fourth highest peak in Kahurangi National Park, Mount Arthur offers an unblocked visage at its summit. - Avalanche Peak Guide from Christchurch
A great weekend hangout from Christchurch. Avalanche Peak is your perfect mountain for back-to-nature vibes and dramatic landscapes. - The Jagged Peaks of Pinnacles | Coromandel
The Kauaeranga Kauri Trail, the Pinnacles Walk, is the perfect weekend hike from Auckland. An easy trek for a beautiful sunrise with stone peaks in Coromandel. - Mount Taranaki: To the Summit and the Tarn
A post on my summit attempt to Taranaki and also an overnight trek to the tarn featuring the most beautiful sight of the near-symmetrical mountain
Work
- New Zealand Holiday Job #9: Blueberry Picking
A short stint as a blueberry picker on the North Island, New Zealand, where I learnt the work behind a punnet of blueberries. - New Zealand Working Holiday #10: Kiwi Grading
Thinking of working in a kiwi packhouse while on a Working Holiday in New Zealand? Check out this post where I did grading, packing and tray lining! - New Zealand Working Holiday Job #5: Calf Rearer
Rearing animals is a dream come true for me while on the New Zealand Working Holiday. Read on to find out more about my job as a calf rearer. - New Zealand Working Holiday Job #2: Mussel Opener
The joy of being a mussel opener? Been there done that as a working holidaymaker! Here’s all I learnt from my short episode as a half-shell mussel shucker. - New Zealand Working Holiday Job #6: Training Hops
How much do you know about hops? If you were to translate the word into Chinese, it would be called 啤酒花, which literally means beer flower. - New Zealand Holiday Job #8: Flower Packing
Working in one of the biggest flower packhouses in New Zealand! I learnt the names of flowers, pricked by roses and packed flowers for your Valentines - New Zealand Holiday Job #7: Cherry Picking
Picking cherry has its perks and its troubles! My short stint as a cherry picker in New Zealand has been an eventful one. Here’s what to expect as a picker. - New Zealand Working Holiday Job #4: Apple Packhouse
What to expect working in an apple packhouse in New Zealand? From harvest to grading to packing and export! Also my experience working over covid lockdown - New Zealand Holiday Job #13: Tomato Greenhouse
My second last job as a working holidaymaker in New Zealand was in the hot and humid tomato greenhouse! - New Zealand Holiday Job #12: Apple Thinning
What is apple thinning? Here’s another post on what to expect for my 12th job in New Zealand – selectively improving the apple qualities in an apple orchard. - New Zealand Working Holiday Job #11: Lamb Rearing
Cuddling lambs all day every day – what more can I ask for? Read on to find out more about my dream job as a lamb rearer in New Zealand!
Guides & Activities & Stories
- 8 Best Stops from Christchurch to Dunedin | New Zealand
A perfect road trip from Christchurch to Dunedin for the famous Moeraki Boulders, Oamaru Victorian streets, and penguins and seals. - 8 Best Stops: Dunedin to Invercargill & Catlins
The road trip you shouldn’t miss at the bottom of New Zealand from Dunedin to Invercargill through Catlins: waterfalls, caves, lighthouses and penguins. - Campervan Adventure in New Zealand with JUCY
An honest review and guide to renting a campervan with JUCY. We rented the campervan for five days around Northland from Auckland. - Northland: A 5-day Campervan Trip ItineraryWhat’s there to do in the Northland? Here’s our 5-day itinerary on the campervan. Waterfalls, sandboarding, diving and the biggest tree in New Zealand!
- Your #1 Guide to New Zealand Working Holiday | SingaporeA must-read guide for your memorable New Zealand Working Holiday experience – visa application, paperwork, bank account, insurance, jobs and accommodations
- Working Holiday Earnings and Expenses | New Zealand
Everything about my earning and expenses unveiled! Here’s how to plan and budget for your New Zealand Working Holiday experience. - Guide to What to Bring for New Zealand Working Holiday
The items I packed in my bag for my sojourn in New Zealand that became two years because of the pandemic – hiking, work, four seasons - Getting Around New Zealand | Car Purchase Guide
Three cars later, this is my guide to getting your first set of wheels in New Zealand while on the Working Holiday Programme. - Crossing the Strait | From Picton to Wellington
I crossed the straits Picton to Wellington vice versa twice while on the Working Holiday. Here’s my experience. Dolphins included. - West Coast Road Trip | 13 Top Things to Do
Guide to the West Coast for budget backpackers! Also included my weekend return itinerary from Tasman to Hokitika. - 32 Stops in Nelson Tasman
Everything you must know about the Nelson Tasman region. From short walks to multi-day tracks and the best places for awesome noms and cheap groceries. - Top 6 Best Things to Do in Arthur’s Pass | New Zealand
Th Great Alpine Highway of Arthur’s Pass is one of the best road trips in New Zealand, from Christchurch to the West Coast. - New Zealand Guide | North Island Maps | Working Holiday
Handy maps and tips to the places I have travelled in the North Island of New Zealand – jobs I did, the good food I ate, and the caves and mountains I visited. - New Zealand South Island ItineraryThe perfect guide for your New Zealand Trip, created for the first-timer! Also, more info from my two-year-long travel around NZ for your planning.
- New Zealand Guide | South Island Maps | Working HolidayHandy maps and tips to the places I have travelled in the South Island of New Zealand, including the jobs I did and good noms – this is the best I could get.
- Of the Caves and Caverns I Visited in New Zealand
Everything about the caves and caverns I visited in New Zealand, from the grandest Waitomo to the picturesque Cathedral cove. - Diving in The Poor Knights Islands | New Zealand
Diving in the Poor Knights Islands was one of the best activities I did in New Zealand! We dived into caves and tunnels and saw stingrays. - Of the Waterfalls I Visited in New Zealand
Your guide to the waterfalls in New Zealand – from the Northland to the Southland. Including the tallest Sutherlands, Wairere, and the Sounds - Top Backpacker To-Dos in Dunedin & Beyond
Your guide to all the best budget-y attractions in Dunedin, including perfect weekend day-tripping ideas to Oamaru and the Catlins - The Republic of Whangamomona: Forgotten World Highway
The forgotten highway to the Republic of Whangamomona is one of the most scenic drives in the North Island of New Zealand. - Fun on the Ice River | Fox Glacier Heli Hike
New Zealand has numerous glaciers, but only three are open for visitors. Here’s what it’s like to heli hike on the gorgeous icy river of Fox Glacier. - Covid in New Zealand | My Experience On A Working Holiday
Covid in New Zealand while on the Working Holiday Visa! Blessed to be in NZ. Here’s what happened for me from 2020 to 2022. - A Thrilling Horse Riding Experience in Glenorchy
An unforgettable adventure as an amateur riding a horse over the breathtaking scenes from the Lord of the Rings. - 2021: My Year in Review
A yearly review of what I did over 2021 in New Zealand, over the pandemic – travelled both North and South islands, tried new jobs, hiked more treks - Silence Beckons in Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound is this other quieter sibling of Milford Sound. Less crowds, more wilderness. - Top Things To Do in Rotorua
The top activities to do in Rotorua, from hot springs to rafting. Also included recommended good food. - Fly Cruise Fly Milford Sound
I flew to Milford Sound from Wanaka. Here’s what to expect from one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand. - The Copland Track: A West Coast Tramp with Hot Pools
The Copland Track on the West Coast is such a gem. After a day of walking by the beautiful Copland River, what awaited us were natural hot pools by the hut. - Caravan Life for Seven Weeks in New Zealand
Seven weeks in the caravan was a great way to force out the Marie Kondo in you. Here’s my experience living in the caravan while working as a hops trainer. - 2020: My Year in Review | New Zealand
A recap to my wonderful year in New Zealand! From trying out different jobs to hiking new mountains and trying new activities! - My Honest Review on The Hostels in Queenstown New Zealand
My honest feedback to the hostels I stayed in Queenstown. Places I stayed in: Adventures Queenstown, Absoloot Hostel, Jucy Snooze and Tahuna Pod. - 8 Budget Items To Do In Queenstown
Top attractions to do in Queenstown - I Survived a Car Accident & Break In in New Zealand
It was terrifying. Also, how can someone be so evil as to break into our car? All this in New Zealand… At least the insurance companies were speedy… - Bungy, Skydiving, and Other Adrenaline-fueled Activities
Bungy? Skydiving? I’ve done both and here’re my honest opinion. Also included are paid videos capturing my fear/ joy. Not forgetting my lost shoe. - Budget Activities in and around Christchurch
Top activities to do in Christchurch, New Zealand for budget backpackers or working holidaymakers! - 7 Reasons Why You Should Visit Arrowtown
Discover the top activities to do in Arrowtown, New Zealand, from hikes to cultural sites and markets.