Whenever I travel, I try to stay at a hostel. I know what you are thinking.. They are gross, dirty and for teenagers. While this can be true, I have found they can also be clean, for more mature people and fun! Here are my top 5 reasons why I love staying at hostels: You […]
Author: alisontheadventurer
The Grandest of Canyons
One of the things that has been on my travel Bucketlist for awhile now is to visit every National Park in the US. I was recently able to check off 10 more from my list making my total count to 14 out of 59 parks! In April, I found a killer deal for airfare from […]
My Favorite Shoes for Travel
When you are backpacking through new territories, you want to pack lightweight but comfortable shoes! You also don’t want to scream “tourist” when locals see you. Here are my favorite shoes for all of my adventures abroad. Please note, I have not been sponsored to write about these shoes.. I just really love them and […]
Stay Golden (Bay)
After my Abel Tasman adventure, I headed to Golden Bay to check out some more beaches and Farewell Spit, the narrow sand spit at the Northern end of the South Island. The drive from Moetuka was short and only took me an hour. When I arrived at my hostel, I asked what beach I should […]
Cliff Jumping, Seals and Abel Tasman, Oh My!
I started driving to Moetuka the day after I climbed Franz Josef Glacier. I found out from the Franz Josef DOC office, I should make a few stops on the way. The first stop I made was to Hokitika. Hokitika is a town on the South Island that is known for Pounamu or Greenstone Jade. […]
I Climbed A Glacier And I Liked It
After finishing Routeburn Track, I knew I had to start making my way up the South Island. Next up.. Franz Josef Glacier! Franz Josef is the steepest guided glacier in the world and one of only three glaciers in the world that descend into a temperate rain forest. All three glaciers coincidentally lie on the […]
Routeburn Track Made Me Cry
After I finished Milford Track, I vowed to myself, I would do Routeburn Track no matter what. I planned on going to the DOC office the next day to see if any huts were available. Luckily, I didn’t have to, as Joyce from the Idaho group was impaled in the leg by a tree trunk on […]
How Milford Track Changed My Life
Milford Track is one of nine Great Walks in New Zealand. It has been called “the finest walk in the world” and ends at Milford Sound which has been called the Eighth Wonder of the World. It is 53 kilometers or 33 miles long and you have to reserve huts for this Great Walk well […]
Keep Wanaka Weird
I’m officially on the North Island! Wellington, to be exact. I actually cried because I didn’t want to leave the South Island as I think I’m obsessed with it.. But, here is my very belated post from my trip to Wanaka. Before heading to Wanaka, I wanted to check out Glenorchy which is where some […]
First stop.. Queenstown
I have officially been in New Zealand for 5 days. To say I’m in love with the country would be an understatement. I flew into Auckland and then directly to Queenstown, which is located on the South Island. It is called “The Adventure Capital of the World” and with good reason. Bungy jumping was invented […]