Aotearoa Adventures: The New Zealand Travel Podcast

Jarrod McLauchlan is an aircraft engineer based in Nelson with a love for alpine hunting. Growing up, his weekends were filled with motocross and mountain biking and later discovered a love for hunting as a way to connect with others. Jarrod shares about drawing a coveted Fiordland wapiti ballot - but then having to wait 3 years before he could go. He talks about the importance of having the right crew and what gear is essential. J...

Brando Yelavich AKA Wild Boy has spent the past decade chasing knowledge of the world and of himself through epic expeditions. He has walked the coastline of New Zealand, skied across Greenland, sea kayaked around Vancouver Island and cycled across Australia. He shares about his Solo Expedition on Rakiura Stewart Island to circumnavigate its rugged coastline. Brando shares what it was like to navigate wind–swept scrub, survive on m...

Dom Huxley made a name for himself after climbing Aoraki Mt Cook as a teenager. The outdoors became a safe haven for Dom early in his life and since then, he's climbed Mt Aspiring more than a dozen times and spent seasons mountaineering in Nepal. Dom shares about a recent Mt Aspiring trip and how he took a friend up for their first mountain summit. They camped under rock bivvys and had a 15 hour day with 1,200m of altitude gain. Do...

Laura Kuggeleijn discovered spearfishing while living in the middle of Auckland - with her first catch at Ti Point. Laura shares about learning to hold her breath, navigating seasickness, and slowly shifting her fear of sharks into awe. Laura shares stories of diving off Great Barrier Island to encountering a great white shark up close at Stewart Island Nationals. She talks about how the ocean has shaped her friendships, built resi...

Chris Lierheimer moved to NZ from Colorado and quickly fell in love with the DOC hut system - and made a spreadsheet to rank them all. He shares about tramping to Barker Hut, a remote and challenging alpine hut near Arthur’s Pass. After misreading the route and starting late, the hike pushed them to their limits. Chris shares lessons from that trip and why he believes the backcountry in New Zealand holds a kind of magic. He shares ...

Sharon Evans AKA @freewheelingkiwi shares her story of solo tramping the Mangamate Loop in Whirinaki Forest Park. After years away from multi-day hiking alone and logistics to sort, she spent three days on the trail -with stream crossings, freezing nights and full huts. But a magic moment hearing wild kiwi call in the bush made it all worth it. Sharon offers honest advice for beginners, practical gear tips, and a reminder that solo...

Grace Reeves, is a self-described “slightly hippie ADHD adventure princess slash country cottage girly” and building a life full of outdoor adventure, softness and freedom. After working in tech, she spent a year solo on the road in a campervan, eventually settling in her dream home in rural Canterbury. She shares about how four-wheel driving opened up wild places, like her solo mission to Macaulay Hut. Grace also represented NZ in...

Josh Parker started climbing in 2019 and was hooked after one gym session. Since then, he’s set a goal to climb Grade 27 and now spends most weekends at the crag. Josh shares about his favourite North Island spots like Kawakawa Bay and Waipari, his first multi-pitch route, and the joy of finding a like-minded climbing community. They talk about mental challenges, gear progression, and what it’s like to start from scratch. They brea...

Kristina Montgomerie is back to share all about Aotea, Great Barrier Island. A travel and outdoors content creator, Kristina has hiked some of the country’s toughest hikes, now balancing her love for adventure with motherhood. She talks about hiking the Aotea Track - both the two-day and three-day versions with advice on which routes to avoid, like the gorse-ridden clay Tramline Track. Kristina shares practical tips on getting to G...

Jasmine Trafford lives in Christchurch with her two young children and shares about her journey finding outdoor adventures that work for their family. Growing up in Marahau, she loved sea kayaking in the Abel Tasman National Park. Jasmine shares her favourite family-friendly spots in Christchurch and Canterbury, from Mount Vernon Valley and Sign of the Bellbird to Mount Thomas Conservation Area and the hidden Tumbledown Bay. Jasmin...

Sarah Morrison shares about an epic off-track tramp to Lake Unknown, Park Pass Glacier and Lake Nerine in the Rockburn Valley. Her love for tramping started in the Auckland Uni Tramping club with some questionable adventures like stream-bashing and long, late-night drives. Now based in central Otago, she gets out every weekend tramping, mountaineering or tramping. Sarah shares about a six-day adventure planned in under 24 hours to ...

Canadian Tim Ward retired early when Covid-19 disrupted his business and found a love for slow travel, as a self-proclaimed Mature Flâneur. Finally finding an excuse to visit New Zealand, he visited with his wife and they maxed out their tourist visa, staying for three months and exploring as much of the country as possible. Tim talks about his favourite experiences in the Catlins, Dunedin and Oamaru, including where to see penguin...

Hazel Phillips shares her deep love for Tongariro National Park and the wild stories behind her new book Fire and Ice. Living in Ohakune, Hazel has spent years exploring Ruapehu and Tongariro, uncovering hidden huts, old memorials, and the impacts of receding glaciers. She talks about Ruapehu Crater lake’s surprising tourism past, the spiritual significance of Ngāuruhoe, and why intent matters when we explore sacred places. Hazel s...

Host Abigail Hannah speaks with her husband Isaac about their dream to live on the road full-time in a van. Their journey began in 2020, with a $2,800 Mitsubishi van and they have now completed their $60k home-on-wheels build. Isaac shares the process of self-containment regulations and how to build a basic setup with simple tools. They discuss their favourite features of each van and the lessons learnt through each design process....

The Hump Ridge Track is New Zealand's newest Great Walk, and Helen Griffiths was pushed to her limits as she experiences the best and worst day of her life on the trail. Helen is a photographer, originally from the UK, and found herself stuck in New Zealand during the Covid pandemic. She has a love for slow travel and exploring deeply, rather than quickly. Helen shares about her experience on the Hump Ridge track, where she was cha...

Ivan Polyntcev started ultra-swimming - an elite open-water sport - less than six years ago, after moving to New Zealand. As a professional dancer, Ivan wanted a new sport to get into competitively. He started swimming in the ocean and soon he was hooked. Ivan attempted to cross the Cook Strait two years ago, but didn't even get in the water to start. He shares about the mental and physical journey to return and attempt the crossin...

Sophie Wakelin is a doctor, who quit her job in Wellington to spend time travelling. Over three months in the South Island, she slept out of her car and bagged 67 huts from Nelson Lakes to Rakiura Stewart Island. Sophie shares her top three favourite huts, including Mataketake Hut that required a second attempt to get to. She shares the challenges she faced while tramping solo, how to grow your confidence in the outdoors and plenty...

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Life is life-ing at the moment for host Abigail Hannah as she is in a period of transition both personally and in business. She is taking a break this week to go tramping with whānau and will be back next week with another epic guest episode.

In the meantime, go ah...