New Zealand Coast: Cathedral Cove

On the eastern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, about halfway up, is place called Mercury Bay. Before you get to Mercury Bay, you’ll pass Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve, also known as Cathedral Cove. This is easily one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, though in New Zealand, it’s pretty easy to say that … Continue reading

Travel Writing: On The Culture Trip: Top 10 Things to Do and See on the Coromandel Peninsula

Happy holidays everyone! I know what you all wanted for Christmas: a new travel writing piece by yours truly! While I work on my EPIC Coromandel Peninsula blog post (I’m actually going to be breaking it down into a series because it’s way too long to post as-is), here’s a little preview of what I … Continue reading

Rangitoto Island, aka “Auckland’s most iconic island”

Unlike Waiheke Island, which, though technically a Maori name, was named incorrectly (read about that here), Rangitoto Island is apparently the real deal. Rangitoto’s name has been translated to mean “the day the blood of Tamatekapua was shed,” relating to a major Maori battle at Islington Bay about 1350. – Rangitoto.org Congratulations, colonists, on using … Continue reading

Crater Lake National Park

Back in the spring, I declared this 2014 summer The Summer of Camping. My goal was to camp at least once a month during May, June, July, and August, and I’m proud to say I made it! I wrote earlier about my Alaska adventure in May. Now for my Crater Lake adventure just a couple … Continue reading