1. Auckland

As a city and holiday destination, Auckland left me pleasantly surprised. I hear it’s changed a lot and it’s clear to see that the city, particularly the harbour front is under massive redevelopment and change.

When visiting New Zealand’s North Island, spend some time in Auckland and make sure you check out:

• Auckland’s harbour – walk around the city’s harbour side or consider taking a ferry ride.
• Sky tower – iconic to the Auckland skyline, the sky tower is the tallest structure in Auckland. The sky tower features observation deck and cafe/bar.
• Mt Eden – it’s worth the drive to see Mt Eden, Auckland’s highest volcanic cone. Views of the city are stunning.
• Devonport village- take a ferry over to the quaint village of Devonport. Climb the volcanic cones, visit Mount Victoria and North Head Maori and navy site. The perfect place to watch sunset!

2. Waiheke Island

One of the very best of the 25 things to do on New Zealand North Island would definitely be Waiheke Island. With over 30 wineries, stunning beaches and quaint settlements there is so much to do for girls weekend away, family trip or couples getaway.

Just a 40 minute ferry from the Auckland Harbour, Waiheke Island is the perfect holiday. Or as you’ll see from the photo above, there are helipads at a number of wineries so travelling by chopper is also an option.

An Aussie living on the East Coast, the flight for a long weekend in Auckland is no longer than a flight to Melbourne or Adelaide from the Gold Coast. And depending on exchange rate could be considerably cheaper – do it!

3. West Auckland beaches

Just an hour from the city centre, West Auckland beaches are where Aucklanders spend their weekends. Known best for its volcanic black sandy beaches, cute coastal villages and the Waitakere Ranges.
Make sure you stop and see:

• Piha – The first glimpses of Piha is the Lion Rock. You can climb it, surf and even catch a glimpse of the colony of penguins that live around the northern end of the beach.
• Karekare – Known for it’s strong currents, surfing, hiking tracks and the Karekare Falls.
• Bethels Beach – Super tiny Bethels Beach is known for its’ black sandy beaches and giant sand dunes.

4. Waipou Forest

Winding the narrow highway on New Zealand’s west coast, you’ll find the Waipou Forest, home to the one of the world’s most ancient forests and the kauri tree. Waipou Forest contains two trees very significant trees, the Tane Mahuta and Te Matua Ngahere. Tane Manhuta is known as ‘The Lord of the Forest’ standing at 18 metres tall, 4.4 metres in diameter and is about 2,000 years old. Te Matua Ngahere or ‘Father of the Forest’ is thought to be about 2,500 to 3,000 years old.

Waipou Forest is slightly off the main tourist route however for me it’s one of my favourite of the 25 things to do on New Zealand North Island.

5. Cultural experiences

There are many opportunities to learn about Maori culture while visiting the North Island. These include:

• Waitangi Treaty Grounds – the country’s most historical site is the place in which the Battle of Waitangi was fought and the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between Maori people and the British.
• Kauri night walk – Take the Kauri night walk through the ancient Waipou Forest hearing stories of the local Maori people, listening for the calls of the kiwi (native flightless bird) and observing the kauri forest.
• Tamaki Maori Village – in Rotorua you will find the Tamaki Maori Village where you can have a traditional Maori hangi feast and experience ceremonies and rituals cultural centre.

6. Hobbiton

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies have been huge influences to New Zealand’s tourism. The Hobbiton Movie Set is one of the most popular sites on the North Island and as a viewer of the films (not a hard-core fan by any means) the Hobbiton Movie Set was an amazing experience. Even on a cold and rainy day wandering around the Hobbiton movie set and having a beer at ‘The Green Dragon’ was worth the $75.

7 . Waitomo Glow Worm Caves

The Waitomo Glow Worm Caves are said to be some of the best glow worm caves in the world. Taking a boat ride through the caves is highly recommended to appreciate this ancient natural wonder created over 30 million years.

8. Hamilton Gardens

The Hamilton Gardens is an incredible display of cultural gardens from local Maori to cultures further afield like Indian, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Modernist and an English Flower Garden amongst other things.

9. Raglan

Raglan is one of New Zealand’s most loved coastal towns by backpackers and travellers alike. In Raglan you can learn to surf, hike or mountain bike in the beautiful surrounding natural parks, kayak but most importantly chill out and enjoy the natural beauty this little town holds.

10. Waterfalls

The New Zealand North Island is scattered with waterfalls.

• Huka Falls – one of the most visited waterfalls natural attractions in New Zealand, Huka Falls is about 10 minutes outside of Taupo. About 220,000 litres pass through these waterfalls per second.
• Bridal Veil Falls – only 15 minutes from Raglan, Bridal Veil Falls is a stunning 55 metre fall waterfall. You can see Bridal Veil Falls on the Waikato walking track.
• Kitekite Falls – located just outside of Piha in the Wiatakere Ranges, Kitekite Falls is best known for as a cascading waterfall.
• Waipunga Falls – on the road between Taupo and Napier, Waipunga Falls is a pleasant distraction from the two hour drive.

11. Rotorua Redwood Forest

The 100 year old redwoods of the Rotorua Forest tower above at over 70 metres tall. There are a series of walking trails for you to walk through the forest ranging from half hour to a full day. Access to the forest is free however you’ll need to pay to access the Redwoods Treewalk. The treewalk is a series of suspension bridges through the redwood tree canopy. It’s worth going in the late afternoon so you can walk the treewalk as day turns to night and the fairy lights come on.

12. Walking and hiking

There are a range of walking and hiking trails on the North Island varying in difficulty, length and duration. Some of the more popular walks on the North Island include:

• The Tongariro Alpine Crossing – is one of the most popular hikes on the North Island but definitely not for the unprepared. The hike is about 19km in length and is a full day (8 hour) hike. The trail has become very popular so it can be quite busy.
• Cathedral Cove – located on the Coromandel Coast this roughly 3 hour walk is relatively easy (even my dad 6 months after double knee replacements managed). The scenery is beautiful and well worth the reward at the end.
• Mount Maungunai Summit – with stunning views over Tauranga and the northern coastline, the Mount Maungunai Summit is only about an hour to the top.
• Tane Mahuta walk – The Tane Mahuta walk is an easy walk which takes you through the Waipoua Forest to see some of the oldest trees on the planet at over 2,000 years old.

13. Geothermal sites

New Zealand’s North Island is filled with volcanic and geothermal sites that have shaped the landscape having developed over thousands of years. Geothermal activities that can be seen across the North Island are geysers of exploding boiling water from the earth, pools of bubbling mud and steam from streams, rivers and lakes.

The geothermal sites across the North Island include:

• Wai-O-Tapu – colourful range of mud pools, geysers and sulphur pools located outside of Rotorua (pictured above)
• Craters of the moon – steam mud craters located outside of Taupo
• Hell’s Gate – the largest hot water waterfall located outside of Taupo
• Whakarewarewa – with over 500 hot springs, terraces, pools and a traditional Maori village, Whakarewarewa is one of Rotorua’s most popular geothermal sites.

14. Experience natural hot springs

On the North Island there are a number of places to experience natural hot springs. These include outdoor spas which allow you to experience natural outdoor hot springs in addition to spa treatments.

I visited the Polynesian Spa in Rotorua. With views over the lake, the Polynesian Spa offers a number of pools in varying temperatures along with massages, facials and other spa treatments. A peaceful and relaxing exercise and necessity for any NZ holiday.

15. The Coromandel Peninsula

As someone who loves the ocean, exploring the Coromandel peninsula was one of my absolute favourite things to see on New Zealand’s North Island. About an hour and half from Auckland, it doesn’t take long to escape to wide open spaces for hiking, kayaking, driving stunning coastline and taking a step back in time to see a heritage gold rush towns.

16. Hot Water Beach

Two hours either side of low tide you will find hot water bubbling through the sand. Outside of Hahei on the eastern Coromandel peninsula, you’ll find the Hot Water Beach where you can rent shovels to help build yourself a little hot water pool to soak in.

17. Visit the wineries

New Zealand is known for its wine, and particularly famous its white wines including Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Niors, Resilings and Chardonnay. There are several wine regions across the North Island which are worth a visit:

• Auckland and Kumeu region
• Waiheke Island
• Gisborne
• Hawkes Bay
• Wairarapa (Martinborough)

Coming soon – my guide to New Zealand wineries!

18. Taupo

At the centre of New Zealand’s North Island, Taupo is blessed with natural beauty. Taupo is the place to come to experience the outdoors from walking and hiking, cycling and mountain biking, fishing, geothermal activities and hot springs. And of course any water activity on the lake #lovetaupo.

19. Napier

Napier was completely destroyed by a volcano in the 1930s. When the city rebuilt the art deco architectural style was popular at the time making Napier one of the best examples of an art deco city around the world. Take a self guided or paid walking tour to appreciate this beautiful heritage city.

20. Hawke’s Bay

Not far from Napier you’ll find Hawke’s Bay a food and wine lovers paradise. As the birth place of New Zealand wine and second largest wine region, Hawke’s Bay is known for its’ florally reds which happen to be some of my personal favourites. Te Mata Peak is also worth a visit for hiking, mountain biking and scenic views over wineries, ocean and the township.

21. Rugby game

To New Zealanders, rugby is engrained in the culture. The All Blacks are their National team and begin each game with the haka – a Maori war dance, traditionally used on the battlefield to display pride, strength and unity.

When visiting New Zealand strongly consider seeing a rugby game to get a taste of country’s national sport and culture. The All Blacks play across the country in major cities of Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch.

22. Eat local food

New Zealand is blessed by climate, coastline and culture. These factors have influenced the food scene of New Zealand, evolving over time to become leaders of sustainable food and the gate to plate movement prioritising local produce. While in New Zealand make sure you sample local seafood, cheese, honey, fish and chips. And for the meat eaters, lamb is a local delicacy and one of the country’s top exports.

23. Wellington

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand is a small but cosmopolitan city. Make sure your visit includes a trip to Mount Victoria, a walk along the waterfront and on Sunday make sure you hit the Harbourside Market for food trucks and other stalls show casing the local food scene.

24.Biking and mountain biking

While the South Island is more commonly known as the adventure isle, the North Island has plenty of cycling and mountain biking opportunities. The cycling infrastructure around New Zealand is so impressive you can easily cycle from North to South Islands. As for mountain biking there are a range of trails to keep you busy with varying difficulties.

25. Mountains

While the majority of mountains in New Zealand are located on the South Island, there are a number of semi-dormant volcanoes (including Mount Taranaki in the west and centre of the North Island surrounding Taupo) as well as mountains along the Axial Ranges in the east. There’s a range of activities to pursue depending on the mountain from hiking, mountain biking in the summer and skiing and snowboarding in winter.

And lastly…

To me, hiring a camper van is an absolute must to experience New Zealand. It gives you the flexibility to change plans at the last minute depending on the weather and any local tips you pick up along the way.

While there are many companies you can choose to hire your camper van from, I used Motorhome Republic. They source deals from agencies across the country meaning you’ll find a good deal. One thing to note though is if you have any issues with your provider it’s really up to you to sort out.

So now you should be well and truly prepared for your trip to New Zealand. Enjoy 25 things to do on New Zealand North Island soon!

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

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It was never hard for me to pick my favourite thing about Japan. The Japanese people would have to be the kindest and genuinely considerate collective group I think I’ve ever encountered travelling. The funny thing is, it’s not uncommon to be approached by locals offering assistance, but it my experience it’s uncommon to be approached regularly! Our first evening in Japan on board a local train from the airport, an elderly Japanese businessman made his way to the exit as the train slowed to stop. Before he left though, he made a turn and approached us. He slowly spoke in English “I wish you a pleasant stay in Japan”…. awwwww it melted my heart. It didn’t stop there, we were approached many more times with well wishes, or offers of assistance, even when they couldn’t speak English there was still a major attempt to help!

Anyway, go for the culture, the food and the beautiful scenery but do take time to connect with the locals, they are pure magic. Here is my 2 week Japan itinerary, it will keep you on your toes but it’s doable! Take longer if you want to go at a slower pace.

The best way to cover some ground in Japan is on the fast train network. Booking ahead will save you some cash making it very affordable. As an Australian traveller, I found Japan Travel to be cheapest place to buy my rail pass in Australia. The 7 day pass was $300 (now about $380) which seems like a bargain when you consider unlimited use for 7 days including use of the local train networks within cities. Especially when comparing the cost of flying in Australia! For the additional 3 days not covered by the pass, we used the subway system in Tokyo which wasn’t too expensive, never more than about $5 a day.

This guide has been set up in a way for you to maximise your time as part of a 2 week Japan itinerary.

Tokyo is the largest city and where the majority of international flights will be flying into. I have based this itinerary from a Tokyo arrival.

From Australia watch out for regular Jetstar sales. If you are lucky you may score 2 for 1 flights like I did.

Tokyo

Start your 10 day adventure in Tokyo. Stay at least 3 days to get your bearings, to take in the sights and recover from your jetlag!

Tsukji Fish Market

The Tsukji Fish Market is a great place to kick start your time in Tokyo. The market opens early (around 5am), get there early when the atmosphere is at its peak to see all the action when the early bird gets the best seafood! The market wraps up about midday.

Possibly the busiest intersection in the world, but most definitely the busiest intersection in Japan, Shibuya Crossing is something to be experienced in person. But if the thought of the crowds bring you to a state of anxiety – there’s always L’Occitane Cafe (or a nearby Starbucks if you’re desperate) to see the crowds from above. Our little break at L’Occitane Cafe is captured below.

The Imperial Palace is the main residence of the Imperial family (aka the Emperor and his extended family). There’s not a whole lot you can see without pre-booking for a guided tour so its highly recommended.

There’s a famous story you may have heard about a professor who’s dog would follow him to work every day and wait at Shibuya Station. When the man died, his dog would return to Shibuya Station every day for 10 years until he too passed. A statue in Hachiko’s honour now stands in Shibuya Station in honour of the sweet pup. Knowing the story behind this statue made the Hachiko Statue my mum’s highlight of Day 2 in Tokyo!

Another unique Japanese experience would have to be seeing a sumo match. While it can be a little hard to get tickets it’s definitely worth it. You can purchase tickets online before you travel through the Ticket Oosumo website or same day at the stadium.

For panoramic views of the city, the observation desk of the Metropolitan Government Building offers free entry from the 45th floor. Go on your last day in the city to pick out your favourite landmarks of Tokyo.

In recent years, themed cafes seem to have become an emerging trend in the past few years. Anything from animals (think cafes where you can interact with animals like cats, goats, hedgehogs, owls) or see robots, get cuddles. These weird cafes seem to becoming a more common place to visit while in Tokyo.

Take the train for free look out over the city and to Mt Fuji if its a clear day.

The city of Hiroshima is most commonly known for its bombing and destruction during World War II, even today the city remembers its history through beautiful memorial parks and informative museums. Hiroshima is a five hour fast train ride from Tokyo – about 45 mins into the trip, on a clear day you can see Mt Fuji on your right hand side of the train.

I recommend spending at least 1.5 to two days in Hiroshima to see all the history and parks of the city as well as include a day trip to Miyajima Island.

Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park is a significant feature within the city. At 120,000 m2, the park is hard to miss! It includes beautiful paths, trees and gardens.

Wandering through the paths of the Peace Memorial Park will lead you to the Peace Memorial Museum. You’ll be deeply moved by the displays which capture the suffering and recounts of the nuclear bombing.

If you were anything like me, in school you may have learnt about a healthy little girl from Hiroshima who developed leukaemia following World War II. In hospital she folded paper cranes as she believed it would make her feel better. After eight months of fighting sadly young Sadako lost her life. Following her death, Sadako’s death triggered a campaign to acknowledge the children who lost their lives after being exposed to the A-bomb. Every year 10 million cranes are collected for the monument.

A-Bomb Dome or as it’s also known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial was an industrial building bombed and one of the only buildings left standing. The memorial is a constant visual reminder of Hiroshima’s past.

Less than an hour’s train and ferry ride from Hiroshima’s city centre, you’ll discover Miyajima Island. Miyajima or ‘Shrine’ Island is most commonly known for the giant red torri gate which appears to float on the water just off shore. It also features a number of over-friendly deer, temples and a series of hikes with stunning views towards Hiroshima.

While the island isn’t all that big, if you are fit and active you could take one of the three hiking trials up Mount Misen. The views are simply stunning and you can rest in the restaurant on top of Mount Misen and catch the Ropeway down.

While everyone has their favourite Japanese city for different reasons, mine without a doubt is Kyoto. Kyoto is a city of history, culture and has easy access to some beautiful natural features.

By train you can access Kyoto from Hiroshima in about 2.5 hours. I recommend basing yourself in Kyoto for at least four days, more if you’d like to go at a leisurely pace.

My highlight for Kyoto was travelling out to see the Bamboo Grove.  Access to the Bamboo Grove is free, and you can pay for the bus or use your rail pass to get there for free. The Bamboo Grove is located in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, about 45 mins outside of the city. Get there early for insta-worthy shots.

Gion is known as Kyoto’s entertainment district. It is also the best place to spot Geisha.

Southern Higashiyama has many with cultural buildings and landmarks. Spend a few hours walking along the base of the mountains, flowing narrow streets and taking in the historic Kyoto street scape. My personal favourites include Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavilion) and Yasaka Pagoda.

Sitting at the base of the Higashiyama Mountains, Northern Higashiyama is less busy than Southern Higashiyama. It contains a number of significant temples, shrines and other cultural landmarks including Nanzen-ji Buddhist Temple, National Museum of Modern Art, Tetsugaku-no-Michi (Path of Philosophy) and Eikan-so temple.

There are a number of day trips you can take from Kyoto. Some of the popular day trips you can do to make use of your rail pass would have to be Osaka, Kobe and Nara.

Giant Buddha in Nara

With the time we had available we opted to see Nara after reading about the Giant Buddha, more temples, and a little town filled with deer – need I say more!

While I can’t recommend visiting Japan enough, there will be some people who find it challenging and possibly very overwhelming. In a 2013 Japanese survey, over 70% of Japanese people claim they can’t speak English. For the less experienced, this might be a bit daunting and if you rely on communicating in English to get around!

And finally, it’s a surprise to many people (mostly Australians who live in an endless summer), that cherry blossoms bloom in the spring, during March-April. It can be hard to time your visit as warmer or cooler seasons and wet weather can all impact the timing of cherry blossoms and how long they stay in bloom.

This 2 week itinerary of Japan includes everything you need to know about planning your Japan holiday. More travel in Asia here.

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

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The post 2 Week Japan Itinerary – All You Need To Know About Planning A Trip To Japan appeared first on Follow The Sun Seeker.

The list below includes my favourite coastal walks around Sydney.

Bondi to Coogee coastal walk by Pinterest

Bondi to Coogee coastal walk

Probably one of the busiest coastal walks in Sydney, the 6km stretch between Bondi to Coogee has been a popular Sydney walk for some time. The walk either starts or finishes at Australia’s famous Bondi Beach and Bondi Icebergs pool and passes through the rugged sandstone cliffs to Coogee via boardwalks and the mansions of the eastern suburbs.  Time your walk around a meal in Bondi – there are plenty of amazing cafes to choose from.

For three weeks every October, the section of coastline between Bondi and Tamarama hosts Sculpture by the Sea. The free public exhibition is the largest annual sculpture exhibition in the world.

Distance: 6km

Time: About 3 hours

Watsons Bay to Bondi Beach coastal walk

Watsons Bay to Bondi Beach coastal walk

Definitely a favourite of mine! Catch a ferry from Circular Quay passing through Sydney’s iconic harbour to start your walk from Wastons Bay. Walk out towards the Hornby Lighthouse to catch views towards Sydney Harbour. Follow the coastline south checking out the views and vistas from the viewing platforms along the rugged coastline.  You may even catch a glimpse of some migrating humpback whales between July and September or Aussie birds in the trees and scrub.

Distance: 5km

Time: 1.5 hours

Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk

Okay technically a pedestrian bridge crossing, not a coastal walk but walking the Harbour Bridge is one of my favourite things to do in Sydney. This harbour city is like no other and the views from the bridge are absolutely breathtaking.  Catching my first glimpses of the Opera House from the bridge always brings a smile from ear to ear. You can walk across the bridge via the pedestrian walk for way free of charge in just 20 minutes or via over the top bridge span with Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb for about $200. The Pylon look out can be accessed for $15 from the pedestrian footbridge and offers views over the city skyline and harbour also.

Extend your walk by exploring the surrounding villages of the Rocks and Kirribilli.

Distance: 1.5 km

Time:   20 mins (one way)

Spit Bridge to Manly coastal walk

One of my personal favourites, the Spit Bridge to Manly walk travels along the harbour taking in bushland, ocean views and Aboriginal rock engravings. This walk spans about 10km in length and can be started at either end but I personally like finishing up in Manly, for a drink or ice cream then to ferry back to the city or to a parked car at the Spit Bridge.

When the weather is warm be sure to bring your swimmers for a dip in the ocean, there are many beaches along the way for you to cool down in.

Distance: 10 km

Time: 4-5 hours

Taronga Zoo to Balmoral Beach coastal walk

This walk ticks all the boxes for iconic Sydney experiences starting with a ferry ride with picturesque harbour views to Taronga Zoo. The harbour views just keep getting better as you follow the coastline north towards Balmoral.

Distance: 7km

Time: About 2-3 hours

Barrenjoey lighthouse walk

A visit to Palm Beach just isn’t complete without walking to the tip of the northern beaches to Barrenjoey Headland. This is a relatively quick walk of 30 minutes one way and is quite steep in places. Walking from the beach via Smugglers Track, the path to the Barrenjoey Headland takes in 360 degree views back towards Palm Beach and Pittwater. Making it to the top of the lighthouse you’ll see vast views of the Pacific Ocean, the Hawkesbury River and the still waters of Pittwater and Broken Bay.

Distance: 3km

Time: 1 hour (return)

More on Sydney coming soon!

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

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The post 6 Of The Best Coastal Walks In Sydney appeared first on Follow The Sun Seeker.

Southeast Alaska – Take a cruise along the southeastern coast of Alaska taking in the mountainous coastline, fjords, glaciers and great open ocean.  Cruising is a convenient way to see the coastline, and it can also be a very affordable way to given the cost of cruises these days.

Anchorage –  As the most populated city in Alaska, Anchorage is a good resting place and stop over for a day.  As it is not a big place, you’ll be able to cover the main attractions in a few hours. During the late summer to fall months see the salmon spawn at the Wild Salmon Parade, and the 26 acre Alaska Native Heritage Centre, just outside of town. In the downtown core and not to be missed is the Anchorage Museum is a must for a visit to Anchorage. The museum has recently obtained the Smithsonian collection of rare Alaskan Indigenous heritage objects. It is wonderful to see the collection returned home to the people of Alaska.

Kenai Fjords National Park and the Kenai Peninsula – spend at least two days in the Kenai Fjords National Park to take advantage of a full day boat cruise, kayaking around the fjords and taking in the local sights like the town of Seward and the Exit Glaciers.

Denali National Park – Grizzly bears, moose, caribou and sheep as well as beautiful Mt. McKinley. Denali National Park is a must see.  Read my post on Alaska’s Mt. McKinley and Denali National Park

Prince William Sound – Prince William Sound lies between the Alaskan southeast coastline, the Canadian Yukon and the Kenai Peninsula. This beautiful coastline of fjords and glaciers is something to see.

Kodiak, Katmai and Southwest Alaska – You’ve seen those iconic pictures of grizzly bears catching salmon in streams, this is where you can see it.

There are a few ways you could travel to Alaska.

Cruise
A cruise is probably the most popular way to see Alaska. There are several cruise lines that travel to Alaska leaving from Vancouver or Seattle. They are either return journeys from their original departure port, travelling north along the British Columbian/Alaskan coastline, stopping in usually Ketchikan, Juneau, Glacier National Park and Skagway. Otherwise there are one way journeys from Victoria, Vancouver or Seattle to locations just outside of Anchorage such as Whittier or Seward. This option is great if you want to see more of Alaska following your cruise.

Flight

Fly into any of the Alaskan airports, Alaskan Airlines fly in and out of 12 locations, Air Canada flies into Anchorage.  Anchorage is a good option to fly into and then drive around the see the sights of Alaska. This could be a good option if you don’t have a lot of time to include a cruise.

Drive

Drive in from Canada’s British Columbia or the Yukon.

The food wasn’t great during my visit in 2013. In the tourist areas it is really hard to find anything that isn’t deep fried that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. And given the journey fresh fruit and vegetables have to reach Alaska, they will often be missing from the meal you ordered until the next truck arrives.

Book early – I made the mistake of planning a last minute trip and found it difficult to find hotels, cabins, cars etc. Given there is a short tourist season in Alaska it is suggested to book at least six months in advance.

Car vs RV – I opted for the car. It is much easier to get around in a smaller vehicle that you can park anywhere, that moves faster and requires less gas/petrol. The advantages to the RV though is that during the peak tourist season when its hard to find accommodation, you won’t have that problem.

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

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The post How To Travel In Alaska appeared first on Follow The Sun Seeker.

Here are 8 things to do in South Beach, Miami.

For those of you who don’t know much about architecture, art deco is a style which came about after World War II. You will distinguish art deco from other styles due to its geometric shapes, bright colours and ornamentation. Miami has over 1200 buildings, more than anywhere else in the world and Miami has done a great job of keeping them in great condition. Take a walk down Washington Ave and then head back down Ocean Drive and feel like you’ve stepped back in time.

Grab one of the City of Miami’s bikes by swiping your credit card and take a leisurely ride along Ocean Drive.

Soak up the sun’s rays on Miami Beach.

Along Lincoln and Collins Avenues for all the big brand names from Zara, Nike, Aldo, Mango, Sephora etc.

Rent a car or take one of the many tours to the Everglades or Disney world. Tours to Disney world will be a full day affair. If you aren’t in a rush, might be worth to a make a few days out of it.

From Miami, consider taking a day or two to explore the Florida Keys. Read my Guide to the Florida Keys.

Why not see one of the better teams in the NBA while you are in Miami. Buy your tickets in advance, Heat games sell out in advance.

Miami is a cruise hub. While you are in town, why not consider taking a few days or a week or two to explore the Caribbean. Read my article on Experiences of a First Time Cruiser. 

It will be much easier to explore Florida with a car. If you are flying into Miami International Airport, consider renting a car with Fox Car Rental. They are located offsite from the Airport, but they offer an airport shuttle and their prices are cheaper than the bigger name car rentals.

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

followthesunseeker.com

The post 8 Things To Do In South Beach Miami appeared first on Follow The Sun Seeker.

This blog post has been inspired the countless times I’ve given this advice when asked “What should I do when I have 24 hours in Sydney?” Usually this happens when I’m flying back from a trip and sitting next to someone who is in town for work or on a brief lay over. It’s also been tried and tested by the countless times I had friends visit or when I’ve had a short stay in Sydney.

Morning in Bondi Beach

A trip to Sydney, wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Australia’s most famous beach, Bondi. Start your day early to fit as much as you can into the day – you’re only in Sydney for a day after all.

Bondi Beach is known for it’s extensive organic and gate-to-plate movement cafes. It makes a great place to grab breakfast during your 24 hours in Sydney. Some Bondi breakfast favs include Harry’s Cafe, Brown Sugar or Lox Stock & Barrel.

Bondi Beach

What to do in Bondi?

Bondi Beach

Make your way to the iconic Bondi Beach, easily Australia’s most famous beach. Here you may find the life guards filming Bondi Rescue or the beautiful people of Bondi doing their morning exercise.

Bondi Icebergs

Bondi Icebergs

Bondi Icebergs is the home to Australia and one of the world’s oldest surf clubs. Take a dip in the icebergs pool or just admire the view.

Bondi to Coogee walk via Pinterest

Bondi to Coogee coastal walk

Easily Sydney’s most popular coastal walk, the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is a tourist favourite. The 6km pathway links the eastern beaches of Sydney passing sandstone cliffs, mansions and views to die for!

Sculptures by the Sea 2018

In late October to early November every year, Sculpture by the Sea takes place along the Bondi to Tamarama coastline. Sculpture by the Sea is the largest outdoor sculpture exhibition in the world.

Between June – July and September – October watch for migrating whales.

How to get to Bondi

Arriving by plane:

From the Sydney Airport, make your way downstairs in the International or Domestic terminals following signs to the train station. Make your way to Central Station, it’s only 2 stops from the domestic terminal and 3 from the international terminal. This is a great place to start your Sydney adventures.

Arriving by cruise ship:

If arriving by cruise ship, you’ll arrive in Circular Quay. From Albert Street bus bay, catch the bus to Bondi Beach. The trip will take about 45 minutes.

Arriving by bus/train:

If arriving by bus or train, you’ll most likely you’ll arrive to Central Train Station. Central Station, is the major transport hub. From here make your way to platform 4 to take a train to Bondi Junction. Once you arrive at Bondi Junction, take the 333 bus to Bondi Beach.

How to get back to the city:

When you’ve completed the Bondi to Coogee walk, take the bus back to Circular Quay. It will take about 40 mins to get back into central Sydney.

Afternoon in Sydney

Sydney Harbour

Sydney Harbour

Arriving in Circular Quay you are in the heart of Sydney Harbour. You might call it the tourist heart of Sydney. Take some time to wander around the waterfront, watching the bustling harbour with ferries constantly moving people around the city.

Opera House

Once you’ve wandering around the waterfront a bit, make your way towards Sydney’s Opera House. Grab lunch here at the Opera Bar for stunning views over the harbour.

Alternatives to lunch could include any of the German pubs in The Rocks – the next stop on your itinerary. Otherwise, nearby Mr Wong, is a popular little Cantonese bar with fantastic food.

The Rocks

The Rocks

The Rocks is Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood and adjoins Sydney Harbour. It marks the place where the first Europeans settled Australia. Wander the cobbled stones streets, stop off for a beer at some of Australia’s oldest pubs or visit the galleries, museums or stock up on Australian souvenirs at the markets on Saturday, if that’s your thing.

Take a ferry

Make your way to Circular Quay’s ferry terminal to take a short ferry trip on the harbour to Barangaroo. On your way you’ll pass by the Opera House, pass under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and then onto Luna Park. Luna Park is an amusement park also located on Sydney Harbour.

Barangaroo

The city once turned its’ back to this corner of Sydney’s central business district and with good reason, it was a large industrial ship yard. Barangaroo is one of the world’s largest urban renewal projects. Once the last stage is complete in 2024, it will be not only be home for 3,500 people but also home to high end restaurants, a world-renowned casino and expansive parklands, plazas and coves. Spending some time wandering around to take it all in.

Dinner

To finish your 24 hours in Sydney, stay within the Barangaroo precinct for plenty of food options. And by plenty of food options I mean many of the city’s best. While you can’t go wrong with any, some stand outs are Zushi Barangaroo (Japanese), Anason (Turkish), Cirrus Dining (seafood), Ume Burger or The Meat and Wine Co.

How to get around in 24 hours

The most cost affective way to see Sydney is to use the public transport network. Sydney’s public transport network is world class and locals rely on it to get around for work and fun. Sydney locals use their ‘opal card’ as their transport ticket which can be reused and ‘topped up’. It is free to obtain but a minimum of $20 needs to be loaded for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

For visitors to Sydney, you can get an opal card or use your own contactless credit or debit card or mobile device. Purchasing a single ticket is also available on some services. For all you need to know about paying on Sydney’s transportation network, click through here.

If you’d prefer you can also Uber or taxi for more direct trip.

Where to stay with 24 hours in Sydney

Assuming your 24 hours in Sydney is a lay over while travelling by air, it is suggested you stay close to the airport to allow for ….

Got longer than 24 hours in Sydney?

Check out my favourite coastal walks in Sydney

Or plan your time wisely hitting up all the best places to eat in Sydney. Read my post on best brunch spots in Sydney.

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

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From Positano with love Italian breakfast Gelato in Italy… is there anything better? Positano Italian getaways for friends

For more on European travel see my Travel Europe page

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

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Looking for things to do in Puerto Rico? While on a cruise through the Caribbean, I spent just a day in San Juan, Puerto Rico and while it was a great visit, it was by no means enough time.  While other islands I visited in the Caribbean were very manageable to see in a day, Puerto Rico is not one of those islands. A day in Puerto Rico was a great taste to this beautiful Caribbean Isle, and it got me hooked to come back for more.

Puerto Rico has an interesting history, founded in 1521, Puerto Rico was long under rule of the Spanish. The island was considered a huge asset due to its strategic location.  As the first major island in sailing path from Europe, Puerto Rico provided fresh water for ships travelling west from Europe.

Locals speak English and Spanish, but predominately Spanish.

Puerto Rico offers the perfect combination of culture, architecture, rain forests, beaches. Here is my guide to a day in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Stroll through the streets of Old San Juan admiring the pastel coloured colonial buildings and  cobble stone streets.

The Fuerte San Cristobal is San Juan’s second fort and covered approximately 27 acres when it was still in use, today it covers a much smaller area. We started our tour of San Juan’s forts and fortresses here.

The Fuerte San Cristobal offers amazing views of the Old Town of San Juan and out to the Atlantic Ocean (see below). The fort was constructed in 1634 as a result of Dutch invasion. The fort became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.

After seeing the Fuerte San Cristobal walk along the Atlantic coastline, admiring the view and pastel coloured heritage buildings to the El Morro.

See both the Fuerte San Cristobal and the El Morro for $5 admission.

The El Morro was was built over a span of 250 years to guard San Juan’s harbour. Positioned at the entrance of the Caribbean, the El Morro protected Puerto Rico from merchant ships for over 400 years. Similar to the Fuerte San Cristobal, the El Morro was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. Free Guided tours of El Morro take place every hour.

We felt we had seen enough forts and fortresses so left of the La Fortleza. La Fortleza was the oldest fort of San Juan, however was replaced by the much larger El Morro and Fuerte San Cristobal.

Spend some time shopping in Old San Juan for many of your favourite brands such as Guess, Nike, Coach plus many, many more.

If we had been more organised, I would have taken a trip out to the jungle. The journey to the El Yunque National Forest should be organised in advance through your cruise line or a local tour company. Many of the local taxis do not have the required permits to entry the area and with the cost to arrange a taxi, it works out to be cheaper to go on an organised tour.

Leave sufficient time to do your jungle tour and time to explore Old San Juan. If it comes down to choosing between one of the other you will need to make that call.

If you are looking to relax by a beach while in San Juan, Isla Verde is accessible by local bus and by taxi. Isla Verde is located alongside hotels which makes it a very busy beach.

If you have just one day in San Juan, make sure you plan accordingly. There is much to see and do and you may have to decide between a few activities. If I were to do San Juan again in a day, I would arrange a jungle tour and then ensure I got to explore the Old Town, El Morro and Fuerte San Cristobal.

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

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Without a doubt another highlight of my Central American adventure, the beautiful Bocas del Toro. Bocas del Toro or “Bocas” to those of us who know her well, is a magical place. Having spent two months through the Caribbean coast of Central America I was no stranger to the magic of turquoise blue water. But couple that with Panamanian rainforest, white sandy beaches, beautiful Panamanian people and island life where you boat in from island to island, it truly takes your breath away. After arriving from Costa Rica by bus and then by boat, Bocas does simply that, take your breath away.

Bocas had been on my must see list, but I also decided to stay a while longer and attend one of the better spanish schools in Central America, Habla Ya. I go into detail about Habla Ya and finding the best language school here. I was fortunate that I didn’t have to do much planning organising while in Bocas, Habla Ya did all that for me, from my accommodation to all my social outings, Habla Ya had me covered.

• Surf – but only certain times of the year will you actually have surf. In May when I was there the ocean was flat!
• Diving – Bocas has some average diving. The visibility isn’t always the greatest, but there’s some interesting sealife to be seen, some of which includes barracuda, stingrays and dolphins. I dove with La Buga Dive Centre – great people, good times!  Bocas is also known to be a cheap place to learn to dive.
• Boat tours – There are a number of travel agents on the island who will set up boat trips for you.
• Biking – grab a bike and ride around the island to other beaches on the north and eastern shore of the island
• Spot turtles – A local conservation groups takes people out to see the loggerhead turtles coming in to nest. Nesting season happens between May to September. After years of disturbance, fewer and fewer turtles are coming back. We didn’t see any turtles the night I went out, however our fee of $10 went straight back to turtle conservation. Go see the little yellow hut in the park for details on turtle tours.
• Learn Spanish  with Habla Ya – read about my experience here
• Explore the surrounding islands

• Aqua Lounge – a popular place to stay for backpackers. Also a nice little getaway if you are staying on Isla Colon. Aqua Lounge is built on stilts over the water and takes advantage of its waterfront property with its pools, rope swings and aquatic trampoline!

• Red frog beach – Red frog beach is popular as it has waves, unlike many beaches in Bocas. The local strawberry poison-dart frog should be avoided for obvious reasons.

For an afternoon of great food, snorkelling, cocktails and even lemon meringue pie – grab a boat and go to the blue coconut. The Canadian run establishment is built over the water on stilts and has some incredible views. Coming soon, accommodation! Definitely worth the 10 – 15 minute boat trip.

• Oreba Chocolate tour – It is definitely worth taking an afternoon trip to the Oreba Chocolate tour. For about $25 you will be boated to the indigenous community of Ngobe. You’ll walk through the villages, learn about the culture and then learn about chocolate! You’ll walk through the cacoa plantations, see the chocolate making process and even get to sample. If you are lucky (like me) you may even see a sloth while walking through the plantation. Book with a local travel agent on the island.

• It rains a lot in Bocas – make sure you bring a rain coat or umbrella
• Panama uses the US dollar.
• A boat ride between the islands will cost $1-2.
• Getting to Bocas is easy from Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica – catching a bus to the border and then a taxi to the river and then a boat in to Bocas.

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

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Quito is a UNESCO world heritage city, high in the Andes. The city is made up of the “Old Town” and the “New Town”. Due to the high crime rates I had been advised to stay in the Old Town which is where most of the hostels are anyway. Crime targeting tourists was focused in the New Town.

So what to do in Quito other than plan your Galapagos trip?! More than you would think… read on!

What to do in Quito

Visit the Old Town

Wander the streets of the UNESCO World heritage listed Old Town. See the plazas, parks and cathedrals, marvel at the ancient historical buildings.

Cathedral

Visit the famous Cathedral which sits high on the slopes of the Old Town. Inside contains some beautiful paintings of the last supper. The outside of the cathedral is very impressive too!

Take a trip to see the equator

Or where they thought it was. There are two moments to the equator located about 20 km north of Quito. The first site (pictured below) was measured in 1736. This site is called Mitad del Mundo.

Visit the actual equator line

The actual equator line was measured by a GPS when the technology became available. It found that where they though the equator was, was actually 300 metres off. The actual equator line has been recognised around a museum called Museo Solar Inti Nan, which is worth the visit. For a few dollars you can enter the museum and be guided around and shown a number of bizarre phenomenons around the forces of gravity at the equator.

Travel agent

Without a doubt CarpeDM Adventures. These guys not only know their stuff they were so incredibly helpful and kind. They went out of their way to help me on my Galapagos tour and I am so grateful!

Amy

Amy is the enthusiastic traveler and seasoned writer behind FollowTheSunSeeker.com. With a master’s degree in Travel and Tourism Management and over 6+ years of exploring the world, Amy combines her in-depth knowledge with a passion for storytelling to create captivating travel content. Her blog is dedicated to discovering hidden gems, offering practical travel tips, and sparking wanderlust in her readers. Join Amy’s adventures and find travel inspiration on Pinterest: FollowTheSunSeeker.

followthesunseeker.com

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