Before I went on the Milford Track, I was extremely nervous. It felt like a big step (and, indeed, quite an impulsive one) to even press the “Confirm Booking” button on the computer as I booked the trip, let alone strapping on hiking boots for someone that w…Read More

Yesterday I visited the Waitomo Caves, which are about 2 hours south of Auckland. Originally discovered in the 19th century by an English surveyor and a Maori Chief, they are magnificent treasures that lie beneath an unassuming rainforest. In Maori …Read More

Rangitoto Island is a volcanic island about 25 minutes away from Auckland by ferry. It erupted from the sea almost 600 years ago, and it now acts as a hiker’s escape from the industrialism of the city. While there are many different trails on Rangitoto, t…Read More

Waiheke Island is a beautiful island about 40 minutes by ferry from downtown Auckland. A treasure in the ocean that surrounds the greater Auckland area, it acts as a relief from the industrialism of the city. It is an oasis of surf homes and calm beaches, centered…Read More

On my second weekend in Sydney I met my friend Christie for brunch on the north side of Sydney Harbour in a neighborhood called, “Kirribilli”, a name that I found a little unusual but similar to other stops I had passed on the train like Wahroonga and Warra…Read More

On one of our first days exploring together, Will, Oren, Olivia and I decided to go to Manly via a ferry that left from Circular Quay which is right in the center of the downtown Sydney coast. It was much cheaper than a taxi and felt faster than bus. For only five dollars we got...Read More

The only way I can try to explain the Aboriginal concept of “Dreamtime” is to share my experience learning about it. It is so different than western ideology that learning about the beliefs while in Sydney, an advanced and westernized city, makes it even more confusing. Dreamtime consists of many parts of Aboriginal life including,...Read More

You can’t spend much time driving through the Blue Mountains or Australian countryside without wondering about how people survived in this rugged terrain before cars, restaurants, and roads. My grandpa connected me, Taylor, Olivia, and Anna to …Read More

On my first day in Sydney I was wandering around what was soon to become my neighborhood. At that point, it was just a mess a buildings and stores I had never heard of. All I wanted was to find this “woollies” place everyone kept telling me about. Ap…Read More

Despite my intense phobia of snakes and some other sneaky animals in wildlife, I decided to walk through the beautiful trail leading to Grotto Point to see some Aboriginal Engravings. First of all, the view from the trailhead was spectacular. I felt like I was looking ac…Read More