Aotearoa Adventures: The New Zealand Travel Podcast
Episodes
072: White Water Kayaking and a Harrowing Accident with Ryan Lucas
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Lucas remembers his first time in a kayak at 13 and soon he was hooked on the white water sport. With the Kaituna as his home river, Ryan spent a...
071: Travelling New Zealand in a Van and LOTR Filming Locations with Charlotte and James
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As part of their travels around the globe, Charlotte and James opted to spend a year in New Zealand on a working holiday visa, taking advantage of fle...
070: Learning to Surf in New Zealand with Amber Holyoake
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Amber Holyoake discovered her love for surfing in Portugal and found herself hooked to the sport from then onwards. Based in Tāmaki Makaurau, Aucklan...
069: Hitchhiking and New Zealand's Great Walks with Howie McFadyen
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Howie McFadyen grew up in Christchurch and got interested in the outdoors through his Outdoor Ed classes at school. He shares about his attempt to hik...
BONUS: 2023 Wrapped
25 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Your annual wrap up with Abigail Hannah, looking back at 2023 and forward at 2024. In this episode Abigail covers: Introduction (00:00) Looking ba...
068: An Epic Northland Road Trip and Vanlife with a Toddler with Renata Wiles
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Renata Wiles shares about her first time experiencing vanlife in Northland as a family. Renata grew up in New Zealand but spent a couple years oversea...
067: Hiking and Trail Running in Mount Somers with Lauren Korstrom
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Korstrom is an outdoor lover from Canada, who now lives in Methven, Canterbury. With Mount Somers in her back yard, Lauren has become quite pas...
066: Getting the Most out of Local Weekend Trips with Ashley Elliott
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ashley Elliott @littlekiwitravels shares about juggling a full-time job and making time for smaller local escapes on the weekends. She methodically pl...
065: Exploring the Skies, Paragliding in New Zealand with Josh and Caleb
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We live in a time where we can fly and explore the skies - something our ancestors only dreamed of. Caleb Dearlove and Josh Townshend share their love...
064: West Coast Solo Road Trip and Kiwi Hospitality with Neha Paranjape
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From Franz Josef to Karamea, Neha Paranjape did a solo road trip on the rugged, remote West Coast in her little hatchback. Her adventure included a gl...
063: Tramping the Canyon Creek Track as a Beginner with Debbie Cartwright
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Debbie Cartwright has always had a deep love for the outdoors. She shares about how it took her 47 years to start tramping. Debbie's first overnig...
062: Hiking the Three Passes Route from Arthur's Pass to Hokitika with Pat Nolan
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pat Nolan grew up on the West Coast of New Zealand and describes his outdoorsy family. From a young age, he would accompany his father on deer hunting...
061: Moving to New Zealand and Travelling with Photographer Scott Howes
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Raised in London, Scott Howes was never an outdoorsy person until his late 20s. He moved to New Zealand on a working holiday visa at 30 years old, jus...
BONUS: I Quit My Corporate Job
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aotearoa Adventures host, Abigail Hannah, shares her big life update - quitting her 9-5. While this may look like Day 1, Abigail pulls back the curtai...
060: Unforgettable Experiences in New Zealand with First-Time Visitor Tracy Collins
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tracy Collins dreamed of visiting New Zealand for 50 years. She shares the highlights and unforgettable experiences of her whirlwind trip - with five ...
059: Two NZ Epics - Bicycle Circumnavigation and Packraft Traverse with Dunc Wilson
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dunc Wilson is the first person to have cycled the entire coastline of New Zealand. He set off from Mission Bay in an Auckland summer and circumnaviga...
058: Converting a Bus to Explore New Zealand with Warrick and Chené
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Warrick and Chené have South African roots and visited New Zealand together in 2022. They fell in love with the South Island and decided they wanted ...
057: A Healing Journey on Te Araroa Trail with Germaine
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
[TW: Sexual Abuse] Germaine shares her transformative journey on Te Araroa trail, after contemplating this adventures for years. She opted to only wal...
056: Vanlife, the East Cape and Life Done Differently with Lisa Jansen
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Jansen moved to Aotearoa for a study-abroad semester and stayed. She wondered what life would look like if it wasn't a family focused or care...
055: Hiking with Kids to Mt Brown and Mental Health with Renee Cadigan
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The first hike Renee Cadigan did with her two boys was Mt Brown, a four hour hike which turned into seven. Following a head injury, Renee had a challe...
054: A Memorable Week on the Road from Kaikōura to Aoraki
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Your host, Abigail Hannah, shares a whirlwind week-long roadtrip from Kaikōura to Aoraki with only three days of annual leave! It was a packed trip -...
053: An 85-Day Southern Alps Traverse with Penzy Dinsdale
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The prep for Penzy Dinsdale's epic Southen Alps Traverse expedition started months in advance. She started mapping a route and included plans A, B...
052: Getting Outdoors, Walking and Wellbeing with Kaelyn Kingi
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kaelyn Kingi AKA @misswalkalot started walking after Covid-19. She found that she was sick of being "stuck" indoors all the time and decided...
051: Bikepacking around the South Island with Rachel Davies
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rachel Davies first visited Aotearoa at seven years old and knew it was somewhere she wanted to return. When she moved to Wellington, she started out ...
050: Living and Travelling in a Caravan as a Family with Bronson and Chelsea
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bronson and Chelsea hit the road in their caravan with a toddler and 15 month old twins. They spent a year and a half exploring all that the South Isl...
049: Tramping the Dusky Track in Fiordland with Sam Harrison
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After waiting a while for the right weather window, Sam Harrison hiked the Dusky Track in Fiordland with a few mates. The 84 km, eleven day backcountr...
048: Eight Days in the Kaimai Mamaku Ranges with Jenifer Silva
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jenifer Silva was an outdoor adventure guide in her 20s, but hadn't done much tramping in over a decade. Wanting to get back into tramping, she se...
047: Downhill Mountain Biking in NZ with Laura Goldsworthy
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Goldsworthy started competitive mountain biking in her 20s, very "late" to the sport. While she always loved being outdoors, mountain ...
046: Routefinding and Bivvying on Mount Wakefield with Jinal Govind
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Off the beaten track in Aoraki National Park is Mount Wakefield, between Hooker Valley and Tasman Valley. Jinal Govind shares his experience tackling ...
045: The Underwater World and Scuba Diving with Annika Andresen
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Often found underwater, Annika Andresen is a passionate scuba diver, whose love for the ocean began as a child, spending every summer living on a 30 f...
044: A Spontaneous Solo Road Trip in a Station Wagon with Morgan Healey
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Morgan Healey always wanted to do a vanlife trip, but didn't have a van and found that holding her back. Then she was inspired when she saw someon...
043: Thru-hiking the Te Araroa Trail with Zoe
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Te Araroa Trail stretches from Cape Reinga to Bluff and each summer, enthusiastic hikers like Zoe take on the thru-hiking challenge. She walked 3,...
042: From Corporate Hustle to Outdoor Social Enterprise with Robert Bruce
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Bruce founded Got to Get Out, a social enterprise adventure group based out of Auckland. After being made redundant from his own company, he ha...
041: Growing Up in the Bush and Antarctica Expeditions with Chris Long
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Long had a unique upbringing, living remotely on the West Coast of the South Island, a two day walk from the nearest road. Chris shares the best...
040: Surfing and Skydiving in NZ with Cody and Callie Chase
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cody and Callie Chase met surfing and adventure in the outdoors has continued to be a constant in their lives, with Callie continuing to surf up to fu...
039: Angelus Hut and Tramping Guiding with Dylan Arthur
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dylan Arthur's passion for the outdoors started on the Tongariro Northern Circuit, with borrowed gear and challenges that made his first multi-day...
038: Drone Photography and Unique Rotorua Landscapes with Petra Leary
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hooked from her first flight, drone photographer Petra Leary shares her love for the art form. Her breathtaking compositions capture the symmetry and ...
037: Camping at Earnslaw Burn and Gertrude Saddle with Lauren Murray
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Murray grew up as a beach girl on Waiheke Island and now finds herself calling the mountains in Queenstown home. She shares about her first sol...
036: The Ultimate New Zealand Road Trip with Dane and Stacey
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When the pandemic closed New Zealand's borders, kiwi travel vloggers Dane and Stacey hired the largest campervan possible (a six berth) and travel...
035: Summitting Mt Earnslaw and Mountaineering for Beginners with Wiktoria
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Between hospital shifts, Dr Wiktoria and her partner filled their weekends with adventures around Southland. Her first alpining experience was a guide...
034: NZ's Most Popular Walk - The Milford Track
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Your host Abigail Hannah shares all the details on her most recent Great Walk adventure - a last minute trip to hike the Milford Track. She details wh...
033: A Human Powered Adventure Along the 45th Parallel Traverse with Tanya
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tanya set out on a unique 500 km journey, traversing the South Island from coast to coast along the following the circle of latitude that is 45 degree...
032: Ruapehu and Solo Tramping in the Backcountry with Hazel Phillips
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hazel Phillips describes herself as backcountry addict and a Ruapehu addict. She shares about the "adventure bender" she went on which lead ...
031: Falling in Love with New Zealand with Travel Blogger Tara Tavener
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tara Tavener first stepped foot in New Zealand in 2011, as a uni student on an exchange program to Palmerston North. She fell in love with the country...
030: Hiking the Milford Track in Fiordland with Sam Fulton
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Fulton moved to New Zealand just before the pandemic and found herself living in the country's outdoor capital, Christchurch. She quickly fell...
029: The Red Canoe at Tasman Glacier with Guy and Alisha
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Guy and Alisha first met on a photo mission out at Piha. Fast-forward a couple of years and they got married, moved to Christchurch and continued to a...
028: Mueller Hut and Hiking as a Family with Jen Parkes
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jen Parkes is a mother of three and says, "I was a city girl!" Yet now she finds herself on hikes with her family in New Zealand's beautiful backcount...
027: Experiencing the Night Sky and Astrophotography with Larryn Rae
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us look up at the night sky with childlike wonder. Larryn Rae has taken this fascination and built a career in astrophotography. From growing ...
026: Abel Tasman National Park and Adventure Tourism with Kyle Mulinder
02 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kyle Mulinder moved to Abel Tasman 20 years ago for a "boring" sea kayaking job - and never left. Better known by his Instagram handle @barekiwi, I ta...
BONUS: 2022 Wrapped
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Abigail Hannah reflects on the first year of the Aotearoa Adventures Podcast, the epic journey it has been and what's to come in 2023. Tune in for a r...
025: Sailing, Racing and the Best of the Hauraki with Stephanie Haden
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Having almost drowned twice as a child, no one thought Stephanie would grow up to love the ocean. Now she spends all her time outside of work sailing,...
024: A Lifetime of Adventure and a Few Close Calls with Russell Jennings
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Russell's adventures started during school, when he would skip class to explore the local forest and bush. Now retired, he's walked and cycled most of...
023: Hiking while Pregnant and Gillespie Pass with Alice
10 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After being away for ten years, Alice recently moved back to the deep south, an hour from the farm she grew up on. She loves how close she's located t...
022: Living, Working and Travelling in NZ as an Expat with Justine Jehanno
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Justine Jehanno grew up in the French countryside and when she met her partner, Ben, their passion to see the world sparked their travels. They called...
021: Wellington Gems and Travelling Locally with Tilleigh Ultra
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Hailing from Upper Hutt, Tilleigh Ultra shares how her childhood was filled with local trips in and around the North Island. As she got older, she gre...
020: Travelling the South Island with Dogs with Courtney Mellow
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While some people find that they can't travel because they have to look after their pets, Courtney Mellow has a better idea - take your furbabies on y...
019: Swimming the Length of the Clutha River with Rob Hutchings
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Rob Hutchings, a chiropractor during the week and a triathlete and marathon swimmer on the weekends. Rob faced hardship in his childhood with an ...
018: Slow Travel and Mental Wellbeing with Pamela Edmondson
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pamela Edmondson used slow travel as a tool to get out of a panic disorder. She says, "slow travel found me." Pamela has lived a turbulent life, growi...
017: Enchaining New Zealand's 3000m Peaks with Alastair and Hamish
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Alastair McDowell and Hamish Fleming set out to do something no one had done before. Mountaineers often summit New Zealand's 3000m peaks over their en...
016: Exploring the Nelson Lakes National Park with Mel White
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Living in Marlborough, Mel White has the Nelson Lakes National Park on her doorstep. She shares about where her sense of adventure began - from annual...
015: Hiking Old Ghost Road as a Family with Sonia Barrish
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With an 11 week old baby and a 4 year old, Sonia and her husband walked Aotearoa's longest continuous track - the 85 km long Old Ghost Road. Sonia got...
014: Snowsports in Aotearoa with Olympian Anja Barugh
09 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Anja Barugh is a half-pipe skiier who competed for Team New Zealand in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. She shares the journey from her first time on...
013: Bikepacking from Cape Reinga to Bluff with Greg and Lauren
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Greg and Lauren Cayford, the father-daughter duo that cycled 3,000 km from Cape Reinga to Bluff in 22 days. Following her battle with cancer a fe...
012: Travelling with Pets in New Zealand with Tegan
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
She visited over 60 countries before she visited the South Island, but now Tegan is excited to call Aotearoa home and makes the most travelling on the...
011: Creating the Roady App with Roscoe Price Moor
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When the pandemic disrupted Roscoe's travel company, he pivoted the business and created the Roady App. Pitching to investors at a shark-tank like sit...
010: Exploring Aotearoa with a Toddler with Shoshannah
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Growing up on an isolated farm next to the ocean and hiking a lot as a kid, Shoshannah's life took a turn when she broke her back skiing in Canada. Po...
009: Solo Hiking the Routeburn Track with Emily
22 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Just a month out, Emily booked Great Walk tickets from someone else's cancellation. She then started training for what would be her first solo overnig...
008: Living on the Road for Three Years with Goose and Ellen
22 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Although #vanlife has been glamourised on social media in recent years, Goose and Ellen open up about the realities of living on the road full-time, w...
007: Walking the Length of the South Island with Aimee Roberts
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Te Araroa Trail stretches from Cape Reinga in the north to Bluff in the south. Aimee Roberts spent a couple of months walking the South Island sec...
006: 4WD Land Cruiser Adventures with Bri Woolnough
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
You'll find her bouncing up a dirt track or hooning down the beach in her 70 series Land Cruiser named Sunny. Meet Bri Woolnough, a Wanaka-based photo...
005: Pouakai Circuit and Syme Hut with Kristina Montgomerie
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
An outdoor enthusiast, Kristina Montgomerie has a giant spreadsheet of all the hikes she wants to complete in Aotearoa. In this episode, she shares so...
004: Hiking to Alex Knob, Glacier Views with Lucy
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Since age seven, Lucy spent her weekends on family camping trips and gradually built up to longer day-hikes and Great Walks across Aotearoa. Now in he...
003: Hiking the Kepler Track in Fiordland with Dua
10 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dua's journey of growth from the Kepler Track being her first ever hike to being her first multiday hike a couple years later is inspiring. Her passio...
002: Vanlife on a Working Holiday Visa with Harry and Lydia
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Originally from the UK, Harry and Lydia have been travelling for the last year - first to Australia, then NZ, and they’re now in Bali! I talk to the...
001: Helicopter over Aoraki with Billy Nunweek
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
No one is quite sure if he’s an aerial or landscape photographer, but we know he’s great with a camera. We first met on the shores of Lake Pukaki,...
000: Pilot: Meet your host, Abigail Hannah
02 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From growing up in India, to slowly falling in love with Aotearoa, Abigail discovered a new love and passion for travel. Tune into the very first epis...
Welcome to the Aotearoa Adventures Podcast!
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Aotearoa Adventures, with your host, Abigail Hannah, the podcast for everything you need to know to travel New Zealand. I talk to photograp...