Located in New Zealand’s Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound is one of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders and one of the countries most popular destinations. A day trip to Milford Sound from Queenstown is a must and can be done either through a tour or driving yourself.  We rented a car and drove to Milford Sound, the drive there was worth it alone. In this post, I cover it all and go into detail about our day trip to Milford Sound to include what the drive was like versus booking a tour, taking a cruise, and stopping along beautiful sites along the way.  **This post contains affiliate links. If…

If you are looking for amazing hikes in New Zealand then I recommend the Hooker Valley Track to the Mount Cook lookout. The Hooker Valley Track is a 10km there and back hike that offers plenty of beautiful views and stunning mountainous terrains.  From the parking lot, you follow the Hooker Valley Track across three swing bridges that ultimately end at Hooker Lake. At Hooker Lake you get a chance to see Mount Cook and Hooker Glacier.  We did the Hooker Valley Track during New Zealand’s summer months and it was a spectacular time to visit. We completed the hike and want to share our experience, recommendations, and how to…

Are you a fan of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” movie trilogies? If so, then visiting the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata, New Zealand is a must!  Take a guided tour of Hobbiton and see charming hobbit-holes dotting the beautiful green landscape, stand in front of Bag End, and drink a pint of ale at the iconic Green Dragon Inn.  On a trip to New Zealand, we had the opportunity to visit Hobbiton from Auckland and want to share our journey into Middle-Earth from how we booked Hobbiton Movie Set tickets to what it is like walking through a hobbit-hole.  “I’m Going On An Adventure!” – Bilbo…

Just a short ferry ride from Auckland is Rangitoto Island. This volcanic island formed after an eruption around 600 years ago. It has stayed relatively wild as there are no people that live here, it hasn’t been destroyed by agriculture, and many native animals call Rangitoto Island home.  Most visitors come to Rangitoto Island to hike and explore its unique nature. Whether you are hiking to the summit, interested in geology, or just want to escape the city, Rangitoto Island is makes for a great destination that is easily accessible by ferry from Auckland.  **This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one of the links or banners throughout…

If you are traveling to New Zealand, chances are you are flying into Auckland. So if you are like me, you might wonder if Auckland is even worth visiting? After all, you came to New Zealand to see Lord of the Rings sites and beautiful nature. I spent a little over two days in Auckland and have mixed feelings. Personally, I feel Auckland is well worth visiting, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. But at the same time, I feel like Auckland wasn’t as exciting as I’d imagined.  As a tourist, is Auckland worth visiting? I created this post to share my experiences, things to do in Auckland, and how…