Zach & Julie Ruhl

10 Best Day Hikes in New Zealand – North Island

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New Zealand is home to some of the most unique and incredible hiking and tramping sites in the entire world. On New Zealand’s North Island, the diversity of hikes is amazing, you’ll be able to hike a mountain one day and to a hidden beach the next. You’ll see a beautiful waterfall, a beach connected by a natural archway, a perfectly shaped mountain with a reflective pool, free hot springs, and SO MUCH MORE! To be honest, it was difficult to narrow all of the hikes down to the 10 best hikes in New Zealand’s North Island, but we did it. We made a countdown from number 10 all the way to the very best New Zealand hike, one that will take a full day and will leave you in awe of the natural beauty that surrounds you in New Zealand.

9 Best Hikes & Free Things to Do at Mount Taranaki

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Mount Taranaki and the New Plymouth area of New Zealand is full of tons of opportunity for incredible adventure, hiking, exploration, and FUN! The central feature of this area is, of course, the stunning Mount Taranaki, where you can experience awesome hikes from the Pouakai Reflective Tarns to Dawson Falls and the Wilkies Pools! On top of that, there are tons of free things to do in Taranaki and New Plymouth, including the famous New Plymouth Coastal Walkway. Heck, there is even a feww museum for you to learn about the culture, wildlife, and history of Taranaki and New Plymouth! This area is full of adventure and enjoyment. And you can see it all for free! Put that wallet away and come along exploring. Are you ready? We sure are!

9 Best Free Things to do in Taupo New Zealand

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Lake Taupo is the stunningly beautiful lake located right about smack dab in the middle of New Zealand’s North Island. Lake Taupo is by far New Zealand’s largest lake, and the area around Taupo is full of fun activities. What’s better? Many of them are free! Aratiatia Rapids and Huka Falls, the Taupo Maori carvings and hot springs at Otumuheke Spa Park, all of them are free! There are so many fun free things to do in Taupo that we had to write a blog about it. Without further ado, here are the 9 best free things to do in Taupo New Zealand!

8 Best Free Things To Do in Rotorua New Zealand

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Rotorua New Zealand is a wonderful place full of fun and exciting activities. The best part about all of these activities? So many of them are free! There are tons of great free things to do in Rotorua. From hanging out at Lake Tikitapu or Lake Rotorua to strolling through Government Gardens and Kuirau Park. You can be among the Whakarewarewa Redwoods in the morning, atop Rainbow Mountain in the afternoon, and finish the evening with a soak in the free hot springs at Kerosene Creek! There are a wide range of activities that will be fun for everyone of every age. Let’s get talking about the best free things to do in Rotorua New Zealand!

Complete Tongariro Alpine Crossing Guide

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The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is one of the best one day hikes, if not THE BEST one day hike, in all of New Zealand! It is an absolute must do on your tour of New Zealand. From Mount Ngauruhoe to the Emerald Lakes, and all the way to the Ketetahi carpark where you’ll finish this beautiful hike. You will see incredibly unique landscapes, beautiful blue and green lakes, volcanoes, mountains and have conquered a challenging hike! The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is a 1 way track so there is some essential planning that needs to be done before you hit the trail. We will go over everything you need to know to have an awesome and enjoyable trek. Also, we will go over everything you’ll need for your Tongariro Crossing packing list, plus some additional helpful information!

3 Best Free Things To Do in Raglan New Zealand

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A view of Raglan beach from above. The first look at the beach from the parking lot. It's an amazing surf beach with black sand.

Raglan New Zealand is home to so many incredible things to do. Surfing here is as good as any in the world, including a great opportunity to learn how to surf at Ngarunui Beach. Do you need to know where to eat in Raglan? There are tons of awesome cafes and restaurants right in the middle of Raglan town! And of course, you can’t mention Raglan without talking about Bridal Veil Falls, also known as Waireinga, the most beautiful waterfall in New Zealand’s North Island! Let’s talk about the 3 best free things to do in Raglan New Zealand.

7 Best Free Day Trips From Auckland New Zealand

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Auckland is an amazing major city in the north island of New Zealand. If you are traveling to New Zealand, you will most likely fly into the Auckland airport. After flying into Auckland ourselves, we spent 1 week in the city and took day trips each day to explore all around the Auckland area, so that we could explore more than just the city itself. We went to Muriwai Beach, Bethells Beach, Russell, Raglan, Bay of Islands, and more!

13 Best Free Things To Do in Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand

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a drone shot over New Chums Beach which is a white sand beach in the Coromandel.

The Coromandel Peninsula is an incredibly beautiful section of New Zealand’s North Island. In the Coromandel, you’ll find beautiful beaches such as New Chums Beach and Cathedral Cove. There are wonderful hikes in Mount Maunganui and the Karangahake Gorge. Secret swimming holes and island paradises are waiting for you. Follow our guide and be whisked away to the Coromandel Peninsula, one of the most unique and beautiful places you can visit in the world!

New Zealand Campervan Tips – How To Buy & Freedom Camping

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If you plan on buying a campervan for your trip to New Zealand you are in the right place. We are going to explain everything you need to know when buying a campervan and living the New Zealand van life. You’ll learn where to find vans for sale, what REGO and WOF mean, how to pay for your van, and what New Zealand Freedom Camping with a self contained camper means. We’ll tell you how to do the change of ownership, get insurance, and of course driving on the left side of the road in New Zealand. You are well on your way to an awesome NZ campervan, let’s get to it.

Ultimate Vail & Beaver Creek Skiing Guide – and New Year’s Eve!

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Vail is one of the most incredible skiing and snowboarding experiences you can do. Beaver Creek is a stunning ski resort offering wonderful views and runs for all skill levels. Both Vail and Beaver Creek have villages full of shops, cute cafes, resorts, restaurants, and a beautiful mountain atmosphere. Combing all of this, and sprinkle in the fact that you can make a special visit for New Year’s Eve, and what do you get? An action-packed fun-filled adventure that you will never forget!