



















My recent trip to New Zealand was literally the trip of a lifetime. I planned it start to finish based on reading blogs and travel websites to ensure I was getting the best of New Zealand. In the process, I learned a lot about the history, people, and just what New Zealand is known for. Along the way, I found some hidden gems and even some areas to avoid. I’ve always been a planner but this trip took my love for travel and planning to a whole new level. I planned thirteen full days start to finish, which included the flights, hotels, transportation, activities, road stops. I know I sound like I am bragging and it’s because I totally am; a lot of love, frustration, planning and re-planning went into this trip to make sure it was perfect.
In 13 days, we saw so many beautiful places and did so many incredible things. There were things that I never thought I could do just based on the fact I have limited myself so much on past travels. I came up with the list of things that you must do while in New Zealand, which could be an activity, visiting a place, or just something you can’t miss. When you go to New Zealand, none of these things should disappoint. With New Zealand having so much to offer, I will be dedicating one post to the North Island and one post to the South Island. This post will be about the North Island and everything it has to offer.
Hahei, Coromandel
Hahei is locate on the Coromandel Peninsula is located just a short 2.5 hours away from Auckland and the perfect beach paradise. White sand beaches, incredibly pleasant people, and beautiful weather will make sure that Coromandel will not disappoint. We spent an entire day exploring Hahei, one of the most popular towns on the peninsula.
Hobbiton
For any Lord of the Rings fan, this is a must do. I am not a huge fan as I watched the trilogy weeks before we left (should I even admit to this?) but Hobbiton was incredible. If you just close your eyes, you can imagine the scenes being brought back to life and you are standing right there. Who wouldn’t want to visit “Middle Earth”?!
Waitomo
Rotorua
You can do and see so much in Rotorua. Culture, education, and adventure awaits you. Rotorua is a city you could spend days doing all there is to offer.
Auckland
I’ve discovered that travel books based on real stories are far and few so I wanted to give this one some credit. What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding: A Memoir by Kristin Newman is good for a laugh, giving you the travel bug, and reminding you that it is okay to make your own decisions regardless of what is expected of you.
A little background on Kristin Newman first; she was a writer for shows like That 70s Show & How I Met Your Mother (you see where the comedy aspect of this book comes in already). She spent her work breaks traveling the globe rather than sitting at home and preparing for next season of writing.
I am not going to give too much away but this memoir is about a woman who thought she had her life figured out in her early 20s until life happened and flipped everything upside down. She traveled the world and found herself a bit older and still not married or with kids. She accepted that she wasn’t meant to be that person…at least not for awhile.
Even in today’s society, women are expected to have children. Period.
I will be the first to admit that I don’t want what a lot of women my age want; kids. The thought of having someone solely depend on me does not sound appealing, it is actually terrifying. I feel I am still a kid and I have so much to see and do before the time to have one of my own comes. Kristin really put my feelings into perspective. My passion in life is to love and to travel. Traveling with kids is not impossible but trust me, I have seen those parents in airports and on the city streets. They look nothing short of stressed and overwhelmed.
This book is all about Kristin living life without children and having the time of her life traveling around the world sleeping with whomever she wanted and doing whatever she wanted. Through her story, she proves you can live the life you want and still end up exactly where you belong. Your story is your story for a reason. You are in control of the end result.
Not every woman is going to want kids and this books proves that is OKAY. Women should not be shamed for being selfish and wanting to travel the world instead of reproducing. Having or not having kids is a decision every woman should be able to make on her own without judgement. She can always change her mind down the road but that should always be her decision.
Regardless or whether or not you think her lifestyle is the one you have chosen for yourself, the book is well worth the read. You can be married or single. You may love to travel or stay home. I happened to read this book as me and my very new (like a week) fiancé were flying back to the US after a two week trip in New Zealand. Kristin made me giggle through the entire story and made me feel like I am not crazy for not wanting kids just yet. She takes you to Amsterdam, Argentina, Brazil, Paris, Iceland, New Zealand, and even a few more destinations. Kristin lets you you into some of the deepest secrets of her life. I am not going to say anymore, now it’s your turn to read it!
You can pick up a copy of the book at your local bookstore, download it to your tablet, or purchase it from Amazon. *I have no affiliations with Amazon and any of its content (I’m just a huge fan of Amazon Prime)
Credit to The EveryGirl for the featured photo
I have planned two incredible trips in the past six months. One to New Zealand for 13 days (posts Coming Soon!) and one to Spain & Portugal for 10 days for a family friend. I started planning trips when I was studying abroad and I have since advanced in learning what works (and doesn’t work) when planning a trip. A lot of my family and friends always question how I know what to do and how overwhelmed they would be if they had to plan a trip. Now, I can’t give away all my secrets but let me give you a few tips to get you started.
This is just a start to all the tips that go along with planning a trip. It can be as easy or as hard as you make it. Your trip can be as planned out or as bare boned as you make it. Traveling is a passion, a way of life. Everyone has a different way of preparing for a trip but knowing the steps to make the most of your time is extremely important.
Booking your next trip and still need help? Contact me here and I will be happy to assist. I can plan an entire tour start to finish or fill in the blanks and make sure nothing was missed.
Iceland is so diverse in terms of weather, temperature, and activities that you can’t just pack a basic bag and leave. There is so much thought that goes into planning the perfect Icelandic trip that I wanted to make sure I was spreading the knowledge as best I can. Our trip was amazing and I want to share my tips and tricks with you in hopes I can make your trip just a little bit better!
I am sure with each trip to Iceland one would learn something new. How to do something better, what to avoid for future trips. The thing is, all we have is now. Enjoy your trip to Iceland!