I’ve lived in Auckland since June 2012 and since then I’ve been trying to see as much of New Zealand as I can so when I managed to bag some time off work just after Easter in March my friends and I decided to take a short 4 day trip to Queenstown.

We decided to stay at Nomads Queenstown on Church St, a 2 minute walk from Lake Wakatipu’s waterfront and perfectly located for exploring the resort town’s famous nightlife which we planned to check out after our jammed-packed schedule of luging, riding the gondoliers up to Skyline, cruising Milford Sound, visiting Wanaka and Arrowtown and of course, seeing what all the fuss was about at Fergburger – all of which I’d recommend doing if you’re planning a trip to Queenstown.

First impressions of our 4-bed ensuite dorm room were great.  It was clean, spacious and the beds were comfortable.  Not only did we have a balcony but there were also some small but well thought out details which made our stay better:

Firstly the ensuite bathroom was actually ensuite bathrooms; one had a shower and sink and the other had a toilet and sink meaning there was less queuing and waiting to get ready.

Secondly, each bed had its own wall-mounted light; no getting up to turn off the light or disturbing your dorm-mates while reading.  Thirdly, there were plugs in both bathrooms (perfect for drying or straightening my hair) and in the bedroom where we safely charged our phones and cameras on the wall-mounted lockable shelves.

I also liked the fact that to get into the room we had to use swipe cards which we also had to use at the front door and show at reception (which is open 24 hours) late at night for added security.

The hostel has a huge open plan lounge with lots of leather sofas and a balcony and even though the kitchen was a bit cramped at busy times, especially between the worktops, it was always pretty clean with fresh tea-towels and free tea/coffee.

The free breakfast consisted of white bread with condiments – we couldn’t really complain as it was free but the option of wholemeal bread as well would have been nice.

The atmosphere of the hostel was friendly (we even got given Easter eggs at check-in!) and staff are always on hand to help if needed.  There was even a sauna and a movie room which we unfortunately didn’t get to use because we were so busy on the 4 day trip.

In this hostel you’ll either get a room at the front with views of the lake or views of the mountains behind the town.  We got the latter but it was still a pretty spectacular view to wake up to in the morning.

Downstairs in reception there’s also a booking desk for any activities you want to do while you’re in Queenstown and lots of computers – there is also wifi in the hostel but, like the computers, you have to pay for it.

As for pricing, you’re looking at $31 – $34NZD per night for a dorm which is about average for a resort-town like Queenstown.

Overall if you’re looking for a clean, comfortable hostel in a great location I’d definitely recommend Nomads Queenstown.

Disclaimer: Nomads Queenstown kindly offered me a complimentary stay however all opinions are my own.

I’ve talked so much about how much I love living in the city in Auckland that half the time you’re probably sat there wondering if I ever actually, you know, leave the city.

I’m pleased to report that I do!

So many people pass by Auckland without really exploring any of the suburbs, the islands or the towns a bit further afield.  Of course New Zealand has a lot more to offer than just Auckland (I mean, look at Taupo or Wellington or Tauranga) but if you’re visiting and fancy a day (or 7) out of the city be sure to check these out

Piha Beach

Piha is a coastal town north-west of Auckland with a beach which is perfect for surfing and sunbathing.  Surfing isn’t really my thing but sunbathing?  You never have to ask me twice…

While you’re in Piha you have to climb Lime Rock for some beautiful views over the ocean too.

How to get there

The easiest way to get to Piha is by driving but if you don’t have a car of your own don’t worry, it’s ridiculously easy to hire a car in Auckland and there’s some good deals to be had as well especially if you’re sharing the cost with a few friends.

Driving directions from Auckland to Piha:

View Larger Map

Mission Bay

The beach at Mission Bay is a harbour beach and, with it being the closest one to the city, it always popular on the summer weekends.  There are free barbeques dotted through the park behind the beach and it’s generally a really nice place to hang out with cafes and restaurants lining the street overlooking the sea.

How to get there

Take bus 745 – 769 from Britomart Transport Centre stop 7010 – D13.

Waiheke Island

There’s literally so much to do on Waiheke Island that you might want to spend an entire weekend there instead of just a day!  You’re just a 35 minute ferry ride away from vineyards (wine!), beaches (sunbathing!), cycling, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, zip-lining…and when you’re done you can try out one of the gourmet restaurants if you feel like splashing out (seriously, treat yourself, the food is amazing).

How to get there

Catch the ferry from the terminal on Quay St, Auckland city.

Takapuna

If the view of the city skyline doesn’t wow you on the journey to Takapuna then the view of Rangitoto Island from the beach will.  Takapuna’s another coastal suburb of Auckland with calm water, kayaks and enough shops and pubs to entertain you once you’re done at the beach.

How to get there

Take bus 822 – 896 from Albert St, CBD.

Devonport

Devonport, on the north shore, has a real village-feel to it and is one of Auckland oldest suburbs. Many go to Devonport to visit North Head which was used as a military coastal defense base but just as many go to see the historic buildings, walk around the many book shops and craft stores or just grab a coffee and check out the view of the city.

How to get there

Catch the ferry from the terminal on Quay St.

Matakana

If you love beaches, markets and wineries (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) you’ll love Matakana.  Matakana Farmers Market is held on a Saturday (with a smaller market on a Sunday morning too) and Omaha Valley Winery is a beautiful place to do wine tasting and try local food produce.

Matakana’s also great for surfing and fishing or if you fancy a walk on the sand check out Omaha Beach or Pakiri beach.

How to get there

Matakana is an hour’s drive north of Auckland so either hire a car and make your own way up or take the bus.

Driving directions from Auckland to Matakana:

View Larger Map

Rangitoto Island

Rangitoto can be seen from Auckland city, Takapuna and Mission Bay and the best thing to do here is climb to the top!  Climbing to the top of a 600 year old volcano is totally worth it when you get 360 degree views of the Hauraki Gulf and Auckland.

Obviously make sure you take plenty of water and sunscreen – even on a cloudy day you can burnt in New Zealand.

How to get there

Catch the ferry from the terminal on Quay st.

So, which will you be exploring first?

It started happening as soon as I began telling people I was having a weekend in Raglan with 3 friends;

Are you going to go surfing?

Omigod you have to go surfing!

Raglan’s amazing for surfing!

Me? Surfing? Really?

Erm….

I thought back to the surf lessons I’d had in Australia; the ones where I’d spent the majority of the time bawling my eyes out, bleeding everywhere and generally flailing about in the water.

Did I fancy doing that all over again?

Not so much.

To be honest, all I really wanted to do was have a relaxing weekend away from Auckland.  I wanted to lay on the beach and read a book instead of being glued to my laptop. I wanted to forget what time it was.

I wanted to be in a town where life would move at a slower pace.

In Raglan, I got all of those things.

Ok, maybe we’ll back up a little here because to be honest the weekend didn’t get off to the best start.

Firstly we got a little lost on the drive down from Auckland.  I don’t know what happened.

One minute we were congratulating ourselves for noticing the turning we needed at the last minute and the next we were parked awkwardly outside the only house for miles and attempting to do a 28,000 point turn in a country road to go back the way we came.

Secondly, when we arrived at the hostel in the dark, we found that we’d been given the key to the converted train carriage that two of us would be sleeping in but instructions on which teepee was ours (and where it actually was) were nowhere to be seen.

Honestly for a moment I had visions of all four of us having to sleep in one double bed.

Cut to: a young girl with dreadlocks and a vacant expression, wearing a man’s t-shirt and fiddling about on a computer for half an hour while she tries to figure out exactly which teepee two of us would be sleeping in.

Yeah take your time love, no rush.

Eventually the teepee was found and we celebrated with some wine.  Well, any excuse really….

Yes I stayed in an ACTUAL train carriage!

Raglan really is an amazing place to go surfing.  If you’re going to surf in New Zealand, Raglan is the place to do it.

There’s four main surf breaks (Indicators, Manu Bay, Whale Bay and Vortex Bay) and if you need a bit of guidance you won’t be hard pushed to find a surf school in the area.

Not surfing in Raglan though? There’s definitely other stuff you can do…

Relax on Ngarunui beach

Ngarunui (ocean) beach is about 5km from Raglan’s town centre and sits at the bottom of some huge cliffs which are the perfect spot to take in some amazing views.

Down on the beach the waves are huge, the sand is black and with the beautiful weather we were blessed with it was the perfect place to spend a Saturday afternoon reading, sunbathing and swimming.  Even if I did have to hang onto my bikini bottoms in the sea because the waves were so strong…

Go shopping

If you like unique clothes, scarves and jewelry know this: Raglan is full of little, independent stores where you’ll find something you can wear without bumping into a bazillion other people in the same thing.

Have dinner whilst watching the sun set

In Raglan’s town centre we grabbed some take-away fish and chips and walked to the bottom of Bow St to enjoy them on the grass overlooking the water where the Tasman Sea and Wainui River meet.

There’s something kind of amazing about eating your dinner while the sun sets before your eyes and WOW this sunset was amazing.

Check out the nightlife

So if you’re coming to Raglan to go clubbing you’ve definitely come to the wrong place.

Live music and small, friendly pubs though?

Check!

Like I said, there’s not a huge choice but you can’t go wrong with a couple of drinks while you watch a local band at Vinnie’s or Raglan Harbour View Hotel.

FYI: the latter does amazing ice-cream sundaes………

Take in the views

Raglan is just one photo-opportunity after another, especially when you explore the cliffs and beaches beyond the town centre.

Ocean beach, Manu Bay and Whale Bay are all fantastic places to walk or, y’know, just make like a lazy person (read: me) and admire the views.

LOOK the beach is EMPTY!

Spend the day on a private beach

Beach parking $5

That’s what the sign tied to the gate in the  field read.

We all shrugged and agreed that we’d check it out and if it wasn’t great we’d drive back down to the beach we’d been at the previous day.

Best.  Decision.  Ever.

There’s two reasons why this beach was awesome.

1. It had the prettiest long-drop toilet I’ve ever used

2. It was basically secluded.

I don’t know what the beach was called; the walk down the cliff to it backed onto someone’s private house.  Was it a private beach that only a few people knew about?  I don’t know.

What I did know: this beach had calm water perfect for swimming in without losing your bikini in the waves (always a bonus) and it was quiet.  So, so quiet.

Go kayaking

With the Wainui river snaking through it, Raglan’s a great place to kayak.  That’s not to say I actually went kayaking (remember that whole relaxing/being lazy thing I wanted to do….) but I do know that you can hire a kayak to use on your own or you can buy a guided tour with a group.

Either way, seeing Raglan from the water has to be a beautiful sight.

Don’t look down! Oh wait….

Visit Bridal Veil Falls

Just outside of town and easily accessible by car on the main road into Raglan or by walking through native bush along the Pakoka River is Bridal Veil Falls.

Bridal Veil Falls

This 55 metre waterfall can be viewed from 3 different vantage points, each with stunning views, and even though it’s not technically in Raglan it’s definitely a must-see if you’re in the area.

Go out for breakfast

Breakfast is the most amazing meal of the day.  Don’t believe me?  Read this.  Seriously, going out for lunch….meh.  Going out for dinner…..meh.  Going out for breakfast?

YES!  Omigod, let’s do that right now.

Going out for breakfast with my friends is one of my favourite things to do and Raglan has a couple of cool places worth checking out: The Shack and Blacksand Cafe.  Both of them do a full breakfast for about $18NZD which will set you up for all that……surfing……you won’t be doing….

Do you have any more tips on things to do in Raglan?

I  doubled over on the brown leather chair of the waiting room as the pain in my stomach returned and took a sip of water from the bottle I’d been nursing since spending the flight from Melbourne to Singapore throwing up.

“Boarding pass!”

The lady who’d driven me from arrivals in the airport car was holding out her hand.

“Passport please!”

I produced my documents and asked her how long I’d have to wait to see the doctor, knowing my transfer to London was in 25 minutes.

Qantas had told that I wouldn’t be allowed back on the flight to London unless I saw the doctor and got a certificate of fitness to travel.

“Not long” she  said, “he be here soon.”

That’s when the guy sat next to me piped up in an unmistakable British accent.

“Really?” He said, “because you said that 10 minutes ago.”

Okay, now I was worried.

I needed to make that flight.  I needed to get home for my Grampy’s funeral.

I didn’t care how much pain I was in or how much I could feel sloshing around in my stomach.

I wanted to know how much this whole ordeal was going to cost me.

“Um” I started, trying and failing to hold back tears, “how much is seeing the  doctor going to cost me?”

The lady in the pink blazer answered: “$100”

“Singapore dollars?” I said.

She nodded.

“How much is that in pounds or New Zealand dollars?”

“It’s about £70” – it was the British guy again, the one who’d now seen the doctor and was paying for his medication.

I thanked him, feeling a little better knowing that  I could afford this, that visiting the doctor in Singapore in the middle of the night wasn’t going to bankrupt me.

Then the British guy spoke again.

“Have you got enough money?”

I looked up at this stranger’s face; this complete stranger who didn’t even know my name, who didn’t know anything about me.

“Yes, I have enough money” I said, giving what I hoped was a grateful smile, “but thank you.  Thank you so much.”

Would he have paid for me if I couldn’t have paid for myself?

Would he have handed over his credit card and scrawled his email address on a piece of paper so that I could pay him back at a later date?

I don’t know and I don’t care.

In that moment he cared enough to ask and that was enough for me.

Have you ever had your faith in humanity restored during your travels?

I see them in the street way before one of them tries to shove a flyer in my hand.  They’re all wearing black t-shirts with the logo of a photography exhibition currently showing (and soon to be finishing) at Auckland Art Gallery emblazoned on the front.

Auckland Art Gallery

I’m jet lagged; putting one foot in front of the other in the gorgeous sunshine in an attempt to reset my body clock takes all the energy I can muster.

Three days beforehand I’d boarded a flight in England where I’d spent a couple of weeks visiting family and also attending a funeral and headed first to Singapore where, with my next flight delayed, I sat at the gate’s waiting room trying not to let exhaustion creep in.

Then, having made it to Brisbane from Singapore, I’d taken a short (short, but terrifyingly turbulent) flight to Auckland.

After 30 hours of travel I needed to walk, to be out in the sunshine and out of my apartment where I knew sleep would come all too easily.

I see him way before he sees me actually.  He’s outside a cafe I go to regularly, trying to talk a bunch of twenty-somethings with bandanas in their hair into going to the exhibition before it closes next week when I feel the plastic coating of the pamphlet brush against my hand.

I don’t hear what he says; I’m listening to High Contrast, something up-beat to keep me awake, but I take a guess that he’s telling me about the exhibition.

I take my ear phones out.

“I’ve been twice,” I say, continuing on my way but turning around to address him, “it’s amazing!”

He lifts his arms up in victory and turns to face the table of people behind him as if to say see, there you have it, that girl’s been twice and she said it’s amazing.

I walk away smiling, loving that feeling when you’re not a tourist anymore; when you can recommend places to others.  I love getting so familiar with somewhere that people see you walking confidently in the street and instantly feel like you’re the right person to ask directions of.  

Yes, this IS the view from my apartment!

I’ve lived in Auckland for eight months now.  Before that, two years in Australia.  Before that, I was in England having never travelled before.

When I first arrived in Auckland I hated it. Well, I loved some things about it but I felt like I was a piece of a puzzle that didn’t fit.  I was stuck in a rut, living in a hostel, not getting anywhere.

Then something clicked and all of a sudden I became a part of the puzzle.  I realised that everything was going to be ok and started to see that Auckland was a city I could actually live in. 

As I turn the corner onto Victoria Street East another feeling creeps up inside me.  From my feet pounding the pavements so I don’t fall asleep, to my stomach which is still sensitive from my three turbulence-filled flights right through to my heart;

I belong.

I’m in the right place.

I’m exactly where I want to be right now.

And, maybe the most important one:

I’m home.

It happens at 40,000 feet on 7th February, somewhere between Melbourne and Singapore.  I double over, kneel on the carpeted floor of the back of the plane, wipe away the tears that have found their way onto my cheeks and throw up into the white paper bag I’ve been hyperventilating into for the past two hours.

I’m alone.  I feel so alone.  And I wish I didn’t have to travel back to England from New Zealand to go to a funeral.

Minutes later, when I’ve carefully found my way back to my seat, there is a flight attendant at my side insisting that I see a doctor when we arrive in Singapore.

“It’s just a bit of travel sickness” I tell her but she’s not convinced.

This picture is actually from my Auckland to Melbourne flight because taking pictures out of a plane window when you’re vomming into a paper bag is kind of impossible.

I grip the armrests of my chair, desperate to get back on the ground and breathe a sigh of relief when the plane lands in Singapore.

I will see the doctor, I think to myself as I’m whisked from one end of the terminal to the other in an airport car, I’ll get them to give me a note saying I’m fit to travel and get back on the plane to England.

Easy.

Or not.

Getting the certificate of fitness is easy.  I tell the doctor my symptoms; sickness, stomach ache.  He prescribes me medication for vomiting and nausea, for gastric acid brought on by not being able to eat anything.

I run back to the gate, note in hand, fully believing that despite not feeling any better than when I got off the plane, I’m fit to continue the 13.5 hour journey to London.

I go through security faster than I’ve ever done before, run down the corridor connected to the plane and step into the aircraft ready to find my way back to my seat.

Except I never actually make it that far.

“Let’s have a chat shall we?  Sit down there for me.”

A different flight attendant corners me and I find myself sitting awkwardly in one of the crew seats in the business class gallery.

I’m offered a glass of water in an actual glass.  They must think I’m fit to travel if they’re giving me a drink in an actual glass, I think.

“I’ve spoken to the pilot,” she says, her heavily made-up face just inches away from mine “and he doesn’t think you should fly.”

“Oh”, I say, because that’s all the energy I can muster right now as I double over from another stomach cramp.

Then, as the realisation sets in that I won’t actually be arriving home when I thought I would be, the questions about where I will stay and how much it’s going to cost me and when I’ll be able to fly next roll off my tongue in a panic until I’m being ushered off the plane and into the grasp of a girl who can’t be much older than I am.

She’s wearing a pink jacket and walking way too fast so I scurry alongside her with my backpack on until we arrive at the departure lounge I was in not more than ten minutes ago.

Minutes pass.  I watch the plane I should have been on taxi towards the runway.  I notice how quiet the airport is and realise it’s 11:30pm.

Suddenly another girl in a pink jacket is in front of me telling me that we’re going to the hotel and I suddenly realise how tired I am, how amazing curling up in a freshly made bed sounds right now.

When we get to the check-in desk of the transit hotel inside the airport, I find out that Qantas is footing the bill and the knot of worry inside my stomach unwinds itself a little.

Exhausted, I sleep like a baby until 8am Singapore time when I go and buy a phone card so I can call my parents and let them know to pick me up from the airport a day later than planned.

I take full advantage of Changi airport’s free wifi and sit in Starbucks doing some work until tiredness creeps in again and I retire to bed with MTV humming in the background.

None of this seems real.  Singapore airport’s lovely, it’s literally the nicest airport I’ve ever been in, but the novelty of the nice hotel room and the free wi-fi has worn off.

I glance towards the empty bed next to my own in the twin room I’ve been given and a pang of loneliness hits me, knowing that  if things had been different the bed might not have been empty.  But that’s in the past, I’ve moved on,  I just want to be home.

At 3pm the same lady who escorted me to the hotel last night comes by my room.  I have to go to the doctor again to get another certificate of fitness to give to Qantas when I catch my flight later tonight.

She brings me my new boarding pass and I instantly have an awful feeling in my stomach again.  It’s not sickness though; it’s the thought of having to get on another flight.  It’s nerves and anxiety and I can’t seem to shake it off.

At 10:30pm I go to the gate, board my flight and spend the next 8 hours drifting in and out of sleep.  The anxiety of the possibility of getting travel sick again keeps me from properly resting and by the time the (disgusting) breakfast is served I’m restless, exhausted and itching to land in London.

Even the smell of pre-cooked sausages and perfect little squares of scrambled eggs are making me nauseous.

OMIGOD when can I get off this STUPID plane?! 

It’s at this point that I begin to wonder how I will ever get back to New Zealand.  I mean, obviously, I’m totally done with plane travel.  Totally, completely over it.  If I never see a plane again it will be too soon.

I toy with the idea of taking myself on a nice, relaxing cruise in ten days time when I plan to leave England again but then realise that my boss will probably want me back at work, y’know, in less time it takes to get to Auckland on a cruise ship.

I briefly consider not going back to Auckland, to my apartment and my job and my friends but I love New Zealand too much not to go back and I can’t just leave my flatmate and workmates in the lurch.

No, I will go back to New Zealand. I’ll worry about it when I have to.  Right now I have to try not be sick and pray that there won’t be any turbulence and try to relax.

Deep breaths.  It will all be over soon.

I find myself repeating a little mantra in my head over and over;

I don’t feel sick

I don’t feel sick

I don’t feel sick

It works for a little while but the anxiety is still there.  It won’t go away.  It sits on my shoulder telling me that if I start to feel sick I’ll feel sick for the whole flight.  It tells me that the cabin’s too hot, that the plane’s shaking too much. It laughs when I try and pretend I’m okay and snickers at any attempt I make at eating any of the plane food.

It makes flying a horrible, horrible nightmare.

It wasn’t there when I took my first ever flight (London to Sydney) and it wasn’t there last time I had to unexpectedly fly home.  Why has it just crept up on me now? I wonder with deep frustration.  Why can’t I just be a great flyer like everyone else?

Then, just as I’m about to give up hope of ever making it home without staring into the bottom of another sick bag, I hear my favourite in-flight announcement:

“Cabin staff prepare the aircraft for landing.”

Sweet mother of Jesus I might actually get through this flight.

And then we really do land.  The tyres hit the ground, the cabin shakes as we hurtle down the runaway and the roar of the engines dies down.

I wipe the palms of my hands on my jogging pants, take a deep breath and try not to burst into tears.

Instead I try and find a smile.  It won’t be long until I walk through the arrivals door and into the arms of my parents who I haven’t seen in a year.

I can forget about flying for now because I’m not at home for me.  I travelled all this way to be with my family and to say goodbye to my Grandfather who I know was so proud of me travelling and working abroad.

I leave my travel-sickness and anxiety on the plane and hope that I never have to see them again.

As is rapidly becoming the case on all of my travels, when I visited Orakei Korako geothermal park in Reporoa in between leaving Taupo and arriving in Rotorua I had no idea what to expect.

I don’t know what it is, I guess I just like to be surprised.  Or under-prepared.  One of the two.

I did know a couple of things though;

1. The geothermal park is only accessible by boat

2. I had a new years day hangover

Great combination.

Thankfully when my friend and I arrived at the visitors center it became clear that the boat ride would probably take all of 30 seconds and I breathed a sigh of relief that I’d be able to cross the beautiful Lake Ohakuri, part of the Waikato River, with my dignity intact.

On the other side of the river I fought my way up the first set of stairs amidst a group of travellers scrambling towards the boat and basically spent the next two hours making all those wonder-filled sounds you normally reserve for fireworks displays.

I wish I was joking but I’m really not.

It takes about an hour and a half to walk around the park, with well-marked tracks and boardwalks guiding you safely around the brightly coloured terraces, geysers and mud pools.  Well, as safe as you can be when you’re standing inches away from various bubbling hot pools filled with boiling water.

Oh yeah, a note on that; obviously none of the pools are suitable for swimming in.  If you want to do that head to Rotorua or Taupo.

Orakei Korako Geothermal Park

The first natural wonders to greet you as you enter the park are the Silica Terraces.  Thought to be the largest of their kind, the terraces are covered in colourful hot water algae and the Emerald Terrace extends 35 metres under the lake.

As we ventured further up the wooden pathway, we arrived at Rainbow Terrace which was formed by a huge earthquake in 131 AD.  It’s also where I spotted my first hot pool sending steam upwards from its bubbling water.

That pool was Hochstetter Cauldron which, until the 1950s when earthquakes hit the region, was an active geyser.

The most famous geyser of the 23 in Orakei Korako though is the Diamond Geyser.  It’s unpredictable, filled with boiling water and can erupt up to nine metres in the air.

And linking Diamond Geyser and Hochstetter Cauldron is Map of Africa; a hot pool surrounded by bright orange hot water algae and, from the viewing point, a stunning outlook across the terraces and the lake in the distance.

Known by The Maori people as ‘Te Kapua’ (The Cloud) The Fleece stands at 5m tall and is 40m long.  The area around The Fleece is extremely unpredictable with numerous geysers at its base and it’s the 3rd fault scarp formed in the earthquake of 131AD.

Near to The Fleece are the Fred and Maggie pools…

And then the magnificent, 108,000 square foot silica sinter terrace known as The Artist’s Palette which is made up of numerous heated pools and geysers which erupt sporadically.

Many people who visit Orakei Korako come to see the hot pool called ‘Waiwhakaata‘ (pool of mirrors) which lies 120ft below the opening of the thermal Ruatapu Cave (sacred cave).

Why do so many people want to come and see this specific cave? It’s one of only two caves in the world that exist in a geothermal field.  The other is in Southern Italy.

And, looking upwards towards the steps we’d just climbed down to see the cave, the view wasn’t bad either….

Then it was time to see a rock that (vaguely) looked like an elephant.  Make of that what you will…

And visit some bubbling mud pools….

Before getting all steamy (steady….) at the only geyser in the geothermal wonderland to lay dormant for 17 years only to suddenly burst back into life in 1984; the Soda Fountain.  It’s an unpredictable geyser and can fill and empty at any time.

I couldn’t believe how clear the water was; 100% natural, clear, boiling water bubbling away right in front of me.

A lot of Orakei Korako is actually under Lake Ohakuri; when the Waikato River was raised by 18m for hydropower generation in 1961 about 70 geysers and 200 alkaline hot springs were flooded but some geothermal activity still takes place under the lake with gas bubbles rising to the surface of the water.

As we headed back I stood looking at the view over the colourful terraces for a long time and, once I’d headed down the stairs and pressed the button to call the ferry over from the main land, I had time to appreciate how beautiful the lake was as well.

At $36 NZD visiting Orakei Korako isn’t cheap but honestly, it’s $36 well spent when you consider the fact that it’s not only the largest geyser field in New Zealand but also has some of the biggest silica terraces in the world.

Oh yeah and it’s pretty stunning to look at too….

What do you think guys? Could you see yourself visiting Orakei Korako if you were in New Zealand?

By the time you read this it will be February 7th and I won’t be in New Zealand anymore.  Maybe I’ll be sleeping, or reading the new paperback I bought or doing everything in my power to drown out the cries of a small child 3 rows in front.

I’ll be on a plane home, to England, to attend the funeral of my Grandfather on my Mum’s side of the family who passed away last week.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you might remember that this time last year, February 2012, I was doing the exact same thing.  My Grandmother on my Dad’s side had passed away and I temporarily left my job, apartment and boyfriend in Sydney to spend 10 days with my family.

This time I’m in Auckland, minus the boyfriend, and I’m taking 10 days off work to fly home for what I know is going to be one of the most difficult days of my life.

My Gramps and I, we share the same birthday, except obviously last year he turned 91 and I turned 27.   In every memory I have of my childhood he’s there; him and my Nana, who is still alive.   He was, is, one of the most important people in my life.

My Mum tells me that he was so proud that I was seeing the world, that I am seeing the world,  and that makes me happy.  I love knowing that just like my parents, he didn’t think me settling down was the most important thing right now.

It doesn’t seem real yet.  I know that is still to come.  I’ve been here before.  One of my parents will pick me up from London Heathrow and we’ll drive north-east for a couple of hours until I’m home.  My sister will come by the house to see me.  I will visit my Nana and my Grampy’s chair will be so, so empty. 

If the last 6 months have taught me anything it’s that I’m so much stronger than I thought I was but nothing can prepare you for receiving bad news when you’re a 30 hour journey away from home.

I panicked, I cried, I stared into space until my flatmate came home and then I dropped everything to make sure I could say goodbye properly, one last time.

And so here I am, on a plane bound for England, hoping you’ll excuse the slight interlude in the usual travel/expat related stuff.  Normal viewing will resume shortly……

A lot of people think I saved up a huge sum of money before I started travelling.

Truth?  I didn’t.

It wasn’t even possible.

The idea of starting my travels in Australia came about at the very beginning of January 2010.  I left England in June 2010; 6 months is not a lot of time to save money.

I know some people who have saved for years to go travelling.  They’ve worked hard and I commend them for that.  They’ve sold everything they don’t need, they’ve taken extra shifts at work if they can, they sacrificed luxuries, they’ve walked instead of taking a cab.  You get the idea.

My first day in Sydney – still smiling, clearly jetlag hadn’t set in yet……..

They’ve ended their saving mission with a big chunk of cash and started travelling the world.

I kind of had other ideas because, well, I’m a little bit impatient.  Ok make that a lot impatient. Once I get an idea in my head I kind of just like to run with it.  I struggled to wait 6 months, let alone years.

In truth, I did do what a lot of people do to earn and save money before they start travelling; I used ebay to sell everything I didn’t need anymore, I drove slower to save money on petrol, I bought cheap shampoo instead of the luxury brand, I went on nights out a bit less than normal, I lived with my parents for a year beforehand and I worked harder at work to earn bonuses.

All of this helped but, in 6 months, I still couldn’t save much more than 3,000GBP ($4,800USD) which wouldn’t really get me far if I really wanted travel indefinitely.

Work and Travel

If you haven’t got the time (or, let’s be honest, the inclination) to spend years saving money than one of the easiest ways you’re going to be able to see the world sooner rather than later is to work and travel at the same time.

Working holiday Visas

Getting a working holiday visa means you’ll be allowed to work in a country to supplement your travels which gives you a great opportunity to live abroad temporarily while saving for your next adventure

Teaching English as a foreign language

Completing an online TEFL course before you leave for (or even during) your travels allows you teach English as a foreign language in many countries around the world.  Depending on the country you’re teaching in most TEFL jobs are relatively easy to come by and well paid.

Taking a break from working – Airlie Beach, Australia

To date I’ve travelled on working holiday visas in Australia and New Zealand and I’ll be teaching English in Thailand from October 2013.

The money I saved before I left England is long gone but because I’ve been able to work in Australia and New Zealand (two of the most expensive countries to travel around if you aren’t earning the local currency) I’ve been able to see a lot more, do a lot more, experience what it’s like to live in these countries and most importantly for me; travel slowly.

For someone as impatient as me that can sometimes be a bit frustrating but, as I’ve now spent over two and a half years travelling in this way, I’ve come to realise that there isn’t any rush.  I’m not worried  about how many countries I have or haven’t been to.

It’s really not a competition.

I love that I’ve lived in Sydney, in Melbourne, in Auckland.  I’ve been able to make friends and get experience in jobs that I probably wouldn’t have considered at home.  And by completing my TEFL course this year I’ll be able to teach english as a foreign language not just in Thailand where I’ll be trying out teaching for the first time, but also in China, Japan, Vietnam or South America.

So if you’re getting itchy feet and you qualify to travel on a working holiday visa scheme or teach English as a foreign language, I’d definitely recommend using either of these two strategies to start travelling as soon as you want to.

This is a guest post from the lovely Lillian from Travel Armadillo.  I was lucky enough to see kangaroos, snakes, penguins and dingos in their natural habitat during the 2 years I spent in Australia and Lillian’s written us an awesome guest post on the best places to spot Australia’s wildlife in the wild for your next trip down under.  Enjoy!

Australia’s isolation from the rest of the world for thousands of years has meant that its wildlife has evolved to be unique and distinct from every other living thing in the world.

Australia has so many weird and wonderful animals, and while zoos and reserves are all well and good, if you’re a keen nature lover and up for a bit of adventure, then maybe you would like to see these animals in their natural habitat. There is something a bit more special about seeing them in the wild.

I couldn’t possibly name all of them, so here are some of the more famous animals (and a few obscure ones for good measure) the land down under has to offer, and where you can see them in the wild.

Australian Wildlife in the Wild

Old Favourites

Kangaroo

You can find kangaroos just about anywhere in Australia. There are almost 50 types of kangaroo, but they can generally be divided into two main types: red kangaroos and grey kangaroos.

You will probably need a car to see kangaroos in the wild. If you drive around rural areas at dusk or dawn you will most likely see them grazing and hopping about in fields or paddocks.

Wallaby

Like kangaroos, you can find wallabies in many parts of Australia. There are many different types of wallabies, some of which, like the yellow-footed rock wallaby, are greatly endangered.

Agile-wallabies are the most common and can be found around many parts of Northern Territory. Central Australia is also a great place to see Rock-wallabies, especially in and around places like the MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs, and the Flinders Ranges in South Australia.

 Wombat

Wombats are nocturnal, live in burrows and are closely related to the Koala. They are small, round and muscular, and are sometimes referred to as “the bulldozers of the bush.”

The bare-nosed wombat, is the most common wombat in Australia and you can find them in coastal areas, grasslands or forest areas in New South Wales, eastern Victoria, north-east Tasmania and Flinders Island (a small island just north of Tasmania). One place you definitely won’t find wombats is the desert as they are herbivores.

Kangaroo Valley in New South Wales is another great place to see wombats roaming freely. But, unfortunately there is no guaranteed way to see them in the wild.

Koala

One of the best places to see koalas in their natural habitat is along the Great Ocean Road, especially between Lorne and Apollo bay.

Turn down towards Kennett River and stop at the Koala Cove Café. Across from the café you will see a little walkway, lined with eucalyptus trees. Walk along this walkway and keep looking up; you should see lots of sleepy koalas, you might even catch one snaking on a eucalyptus leaves!

Further along the Great Ocean Road you may come across more koala spotting opportunities. Watch out for people stopping on the side of the road and pointing a camera into a eucalyptus tree, more than likely they’ve spotted a koala!

Crocodile

Crocodiles can be found all across northern Australia. All across the wetlands of Northern Territory, in places like Kakadu and Mary River wetlands, are the best for croc spotting. The best time of year to go is during the dry season as there is less water around and therefore a bigger concentration of crocs in one area.

One sure way to see wild crocs is to go on a Jumping Crocs Tour on the Adelaide River, about hour outside Darwin.  It’s a great way to get up close to wild crocodiles and see their speed and agility in the water.

Emu

Along with the kangaroo, the emu features on the Australia coat of arms and is an iconic Australian animal. Emus inhabit most of Australia, so it’s probably easier to tell you where you won’t find them. You definitely won’t find wild emus in Tasmania, open sandy deserts or rainforests.

Again, driving around rural areas will give you the best chance of seeing them. Outback New South Wales and outback southern-Queensland are the best places to see them roaming about, usually in grain fields.

Tasmanian Devil

Tasmanian devils are not the easiest of animals to spot in the wild. These little nocturnal carnivores are becoming increasingly rare due to various diseases, particularly the facial tumour disease.

Obviously, as their name suggests, the only place in Australia you can see Tasmanian Devils in the wild is Tasmania, though they are thought to have inhabited parts of mainland Australia too, until the arrival of dingos.

You can find Tasmanian Devils in dry woodland and coastal scrubland areas all across Tasmania. You can also apply to volunteer to help with the preservation of Tasmanian Devils, if you’re really keen on seeing them in the wild.

Dingos

Dingos can be found on Fraser Island, in central Australia and the Kimberley region in Western Australia, though they’re not just limited to these areas. Fraser Island, off the coast of Queensland, has some of the most “purest” dingos in eastern Australia and is probably the best place to see a dingo in the wild, though, sadly, numbers are starting to decline.

Some Obscure Australian Animals

Cassowary

Cassowaries are large black birds, with bright cobalt blue heads and larges crests that protrude from their heads, almost like a helmet. They are very rare and only inhabit northern Queensland and Papua New Guinea.

The best places to see them are along roads near Mission Beach, Cape Tribulation and Kuranda, around dusk or dawn. You may be disappointed as these beautiful birds as they are extremely shy and live deep in rainforests.

Penguins

When you think of Australian wildlife penguins probably won’t be the first thing you think of, but 20 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD in St Kilda, you can find a colony of little penguins.

You can spot them at the end of St Kilda Pier just after sunset returning to their nests after a hard days fishing. You can see them all through the year, but expect big crowds during summer months.

Camels

Camels are another unusual animal that you may not think of when you think of Australia, but they are plentiful down under. Camels were imported into Australia in the 19^th century for transport purposes. Today, many camels still roam the Australian deserts and have actually become pests, destroying important water sources.

The best place to catch a glimpse of a wild camel is in central Australia; the areas surrounding Alice Springs; along the Stuart highway and Uluru and Kata-Tjuta National Park.

Lilian is a travel blogger who has travelled slowly around Australia for 16 months. While she has bid Oz farewell, her next destination is Canada. You can read all about her Australian adventures and soon-to-be Canadian adventures, as well as some as other awesome destinations, over at Travel Armadillo