Here are 18 of the world’s fastest, highest, longest, deepest, happiest, smelliest, most dangerous – and more – things I’ve done:
New Zealand
New Zealand remains one of my favourite places in the world, hands down. My first trip there was to film a television show, where I met a woman in Rotorua who offered up some genuine Kiwi hospitality, which I immediately took her up on, as well as visiting with other friends near Auckland.
I later volunteered in trade for free accommodation at a beautiful retreat centre that I returned to many times over the next couple of years. All in all I spent a cumulative nine months in New Zealand.
A Week-In-The-Life of Syd and Macky: Nomadically Inclined
Join pro mountain bike racers Syd and Macky as they live and bike their way around New Zealand in this week-in-the-life!
The Paralysis of Choice
The recent exercise of booking my flights back to Canada from New Zealand was a harrowing one. It took forever to actually decide on a plan of action and execute it. And for a full-time traveler of four years, it shouldn’t have been that difficult. Then again, maybe my very freedom inspired this paralysis; the […]
Singing, Performing, Traveling, and Chasing Passion
This is the story of how a little girl who sang into her pillow growing up is learning to sing to the world. (Or maybe just a bigger pillow). Both of my parents are musicians. Growing up, we lived in a two-bedroom apartment with two pianos; often one parent would teach a student in the […]
Driving Creek Railway: A Different Kind of Train
Driving Creek Railway: With 16,000kms of Australia’s rail lines under my (slightly maniacal) rail-enthusiastic belt, I recently conquered the formidable train infrastructure on New Zealand’s Coromandel peninsula: all 2.6kms of it. But this 2.6km train journey has a story all its own; one of art, conservation, and engineering.
A Week-In-The-Life of Bernard and Danielle: Border Jumpers
Bernard Pollack and Danielle Nierenberg embarked in October 2009 on a journey to visit almost every country in Africa. Their mission: to dispel the idea that Africa is only about conflict, disease and famine. They’re meeting with farmers, workers, NGO’s, and governments to tell stories of hope and success in agriculture. So far they’ve visited […]
Crater Walking on Mount Tarawera, New Zealand
Chilling on Mount Tarawera – an awesome day! “We’re going to WHAT?!” a fellow hiker said in disbelief when we looked at the massive volcanic crater we would shortly descend into – and back out of – in the next few hours. I could hardly believe my own eyes, but you know me: I’m always […]
Mana Retreat: Video
Having written enthusiastically about living at Mana Retreat and learning the art of meditation, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Mana Retreat and its unbelievably beautiful vistas! Please enjoy this video that encapsulates the beauty and energy of Mana Retreat and the Corormandel peninsula in New Zealand. About two-thirds of the way through, […]
A Week-In-The-Life of Ben: Motorcycling Through the Americas
Ben is an engineer by trade but an adventurer by necessity. He’s terrible at speaking foreign languages but loves to do so. Being on two wheels is where he’s most at home while traveling the world. Please enjoy this week-in-the-life of Ben motorcycling through South America. El Pimero Dia (Day 1): It’s the middle of March […]
Sister Shalom, and the Art of Meditation
Sister Shalom, a short woman clad in Buddhist robes and headdress, is standing silently in front of a candle as we walk into her garden on this dark night and take our places across from her. Her bright eyes and mouth are only the surface expression of her smile, which seems to emanate from her […]
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing: New Zealand’s Best One-Day Hike
Shortly after I arrived in New Zealand, a number of people who knew of my passion for hiking and mountaineering told me it was worth my while to hike the 19km Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Yup. They were right. The crossing has been described as the best one-day hike in New Zealand for ages, but has […]
A Week-In-The-Life of Dina and Ryan: Vagabond Quest
Dina is originally from Java, Indonesia and Ryan is from Ontario, Canada. (Like me), they got tired of the 9-5 routine in Ontario, feeling weighed down by “stuff”. So they sold or gave away most of their possessions, and hit the road with only a couple of backpacks and each other. They’ve been traveling since […]
Living at Mana Retreat
For the last month, I’ve been working in trade for my accommodation at a little piece of paradise in New Zealand: It’s called Mana Retreat. I’ve just left (ready for my next adventure), and I’m already working out how and when I will come back. It all started in Thailand, two years ago. While enjoying […]
Maori Culture in New Zealand
Maori culture: While visiting Rotorua (both as part of shooting the tv show – as well as subsequent visits when staying with friends), I had the opportunity to visit two Maori villages and cultural shows. One was Tamaki Maori Village, and the other was Mitai Maori Village. Both were very educational, and the experiences complimented […]
Trailer for the New Zealand Episode of Alive
Hot off the press, here’s the official trailer for the New Zealand episode of Alive, which we spent a week shooting in early March. As I get more news, I’ll be sure to pass it along. In the meantime, please enjoy the trailer! (Click here to view if you can’t see it in your browser).
Abseiling, Caving, and Spotting Glow Worms in Waitomo, New Zealand
After a week of shooting the tv show Alive in Rotorua, we bade Heather of Destination Rotorua goodbye, but she still had a trick up her sleeve. She sent us to Waitomo for an “adventure” of unknown – and epic – proportions. Waitomo is north of Rotorua and is known as one of the largest […]
Adventures at Agroventures
As I mentioned in my week-in-the-life of shooting a tv show post, one of the adventures we got to experience was a half day at Agroventures. It’s best described as an adult playground, with a collection of fun activities that will get the adrenalin pumping. Please check out this video of my Adventures at Agroventures […]
A Week-In-The-Life of The Professional Hobo: Shooting a TV Show
Having created the popular week-in-the-life series last year, I’ve not yet written about a week in my own full-time traveling life. The week profiled here is far from my average week, but was enough of a full-on adventure that I thought you might enjoy it. As a quick introduction, I was corresponding with Adventure […]
Helicopters, Sledges, and Jet Boats: Oh My!
We really had no idea what lay in store for us when we were driven to Kaitiaki Adventures for the day. Our small television crew of three were cordially received by a confusing myriad of people who fitted us (which basically meant looking us up and down then sifting through their racks) for wetsuits, booties, […]
White Island: New Zealand’s Most Active Volcanic Site
50kms off the coast of New Zealand in the Bay of Plenty exists White Island: a living, breathing, steaming, venting, bubbling, heaving entity called White Island: New Zealand’s most active volcanic site. To walk on its shores gives you a true feeling for the earth’s power, and a humbling sense of mortality to go with […]
How I Planned a Year of Travel in Less Than 2 Weeks
This post hails to you on my first full day in Auckland, New Zealand. You may recall that I was here just a few weeks ago, which – in part – explains why I’m back. Let me tell you how I got here. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. First, I’ll tell you why […]
New Zealand Introduction
Kia Ora from New Zealand! (“Kia ora” means hello, goodbye, thanks, you’re welcome, ta, have a nice day, pleasure to meet you, and just about any other friendly expression you can think of in the native New Zealand language and culture of Maori). Actually to be fair, by the time this post goes live, I’ll […]
