Searching Soles👣

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All Good Things Must Come To An End...

All Good Things Must Come To An End…

After 175 days, 8 countries, 13 flights (+ 2 small planes and a helicopter), 1 slow boat, countless bus journeys, 3 moped hires, 2 bouts of sickness and 1 global pandemic later – we made it home!

After an unbelievable experience and trip of a lifetime – we feel a little richer, having visited so many weird, wonderful and beautiful places. The memories we made we will cherish forever and look…

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Auckland and Home

Leaving Paihai and then end of our 1 month in the campervan, we were feeling a little sad to say goodbye. Aukland was our last stop, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to fly home!

Day 1 – Bye Bye Camper, Hello Luxury

Handing the camper back and gutting it of our lives for the past month, we caught an uber to the centre of Aukland to check into our apartment which had a shower and a…

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Hobbiton, Hot Water Beach, Whangarei and Pai Hai

Hobbiton, Hot Water Beach, Whangarei and Pai Hai

Nearing the end of our time in the camper van and our time in New Zealand, we couldn’t leave without a visit to Hobbiton!

Day 1 – Hobbiton & Hot Water Beach Morning/Afternoon

Driving to hobbiton in Matamata, we passed the rolling hills and greenery that made the location for filming for hobbiton.

We arrived and caught our coach into the movie set with many others, apparently the land…

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Rotorua

After the thrills of Lake Taupo, we continued north towards Rotorua, a town which stinks of sulfur and home to many geothermal hot pools. Its also home to a Maori village, which is one of the most highly rated experiences in New Zealand and the world.

Day 1 – Redwoods Walk and Tamaki Maori Village Morning

A short drive from Lake Taupo, we were too early to check into the holiday park.…

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Lake Taupo

Leaving a dangerous activity in Whakapapa (sort of – sleeping under a volcano) we headed towards another dangerous activity – sky diving!

Day 1 – Sky Dive Attempt 1

A little aprehensive, we drove towards possibly our last ever destination…

We didn’t take in much of the views around Lake Taupo as we were too busy discussing whether Suzanne should partake in the sky dive.

As we arrived…

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Whakapapa

In the spirit of Lord of the rings, we’d binge watched as much of the films as we could before arriving. The volcanos featured as the back drop in the LOTR as ‘Mt Doom’. We were excited but a little nervous to be sleeping beneath an active volcano…

Day 1 – Arrival

We arrived just after 4pm. Driving into Whakapapa, the ominous view of Mt Ruapehu, the active volcano loomed over the skyline.

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Wellington

After leaving the South Island and taking the interislander ferry, we arrived at the port in Wellington – New Zelands Capital!

Day 1 – Car Park, Shower in the Leisure Centre & Sals New York Pizza

Arriving on dry land at around 6pm, we quickly used the campermate app to find somewhere to call home. The best option appeared to be a car park next to the museum of New Zealand – how luxurious!…

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The Centre of New Zealand, Blenheim and Anakiwa

The Centre of New Zealand, Blenheim and Anakiwa

Leaving the picturesque Abel Tasman, we carried on our merry way towards the wine region of Blenheim – with a few stops along the way (of course)!

Day 1 – Centre of New Zealand & Peanut Butter!

Our first stop took us to the centre of New Zealand, where we could look across the Tasman Bay! It was a bit of a trek up a steep incline but offered good views out to sea.

When we first arrived…

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Franz Josef, West Port & Marahau (Abel Tasman)

Franz Josef, West Port & Marahau (Abel Tasman)

After Mt Aspiring National Park and settling in to the Orange Sheep Campsite (with free freshly baked scones!) the night before, we were ready for a day of rest and relaxation!

Day 1 – Hot Pools & Heavy Rain Morning – Coffee & A Soak

Due to the ‘lack’ of gas, we ate cereals for breakfast and then headed to Full of Beans for coffee and to plan the next couple of days ahead. After the…

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Queenstown & Mt Aspiring National Park

Packing up shop at Lake Pukaki, we headed to Queenstown to spend a few nights here. Queenstown is a beautiful town, with numerous hikes, a large lake front promenade lined with cafes, restaurants and shops and ,of course, a skyline gondala with a Luge!

Day 1 – Beautiful Scenery, Numerous Lookouts and Breathtaking Views

Leaving our freedom camping spot after cooking a quick breakfast, we…

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🇳🇿Our flight landed in Christchurch where we spent a few days exploring. We hired a car and drove to Kiakoura for some whale watching 🐳 (although this got cancelled due to bad weather 😢)🇳🇿 . . We then picked up our camper which we would call home for the next month!! 🚐🛣️ . . After visiting Lake Tekapo, with its pastel blue colours and the Church of the Good Shepard looking across the lake. A hike around the summit of the St John Observatory for more views, before we freedom camped at Lake Pukaki for incredible views and a starry night sky! . . Check out our busy first few days in NZ 🇳🇿👀🤳👉: searchingsoles.com/blog/backpacking-around-the-world/christchurch-lake-tekapo-lake-pukaki/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- #christchurch #newzealand #lakepukaki #laketekapo #backpacking #backpackers #travelling #travellingcouple #travelphotography #travellingphotography #travelblogging #blogging #blogger #blog #traveltheworld #scenery #lake #camping #campervan #campervanlife #freedomcampingnz #wanderlust #travelgram #travelpost #postcardsfromaroundtheworld -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (at Christchurch, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-61aYUDFE7/?igshid=1v5e1n7xasry4

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Christchurch, Lake Tekapo & Lake Pukaki

Leaving Uluru & Australia, we flew from Sydney to Christchurch, New Zealand to spend a few nights here before picking up our camper van and hitting the road towards Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki. The views coming in to land are stunning!!

Christchurch is a fairly modern city as many of the buildings were destroyed or renovated after the 2009 earthquake. Many buildings are empty or even…

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Our final few nights in Australia spent around the red rock 🇦🇺⛰️ . . We spent a night under the stars in our swag bags and caught the Milkyway ✨ . . A translated guided tour by an Aboriginal local. A hike to the valley of the winds in Kata Tjuta in the sweltering heat (fly nets required!) and finally a trip to the field of lights 💡 . . Check out our blog 👀🤳: searchingsoles.com/blog/backpacking-around-the-world/uluru-ayres-rock/ . . Next Stop: New Zealand! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- #uluru #ayresrock #downunder #Australia #backpacking #backpackers #travelling #travellingcouple #travelphotography #travellingphotography #travelblogging #blogging #blogger #blog #hotday #traveltheworld #scenery #outback #outdoors #camping #wanderlust #travelgram #travelpost #postcardsfromaroundtheworld -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (at Ayers Rock - Uluru) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-q7wNVjmgN/?igshid=1ut9v1whdirfg

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Uluru & Ayres Rock

After driving the Great Ocean Road & visiting Sorrento, we flew out to the red rock to spend 4 nights in the outback! Yaluru is home to around 1200 people and has 1 supermarket, a few cafes and restaurants and several hotels.

It was unbearably hot (more than usual!) as we arrived during a heat wave… Fly nets highly, highly recommended!

Day 1 – Flies, Check In & Meal Out

Up at 4:15 AM…

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Sunshine In Sorrento

After the great ocean road, we were ready to catch some sunshine in Sorrento – about an hours ferry from Geelong.

We’d complained that we had not yet seen dolphins…all that was about to change! The roads and beach front are lined with extremely large properties so there is certainly some money in Sorrento – the waters here are also crystal clear!

A day Out In Sorrento

Up at 7 and taking…

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Driving The Great Ocean Road

After leaving Melbourne and Geelong, where Suzannes family kindly housed and fed us, we hired a car to drive the Great Ocean Road!

We spread our trip over 2 days to make sure that we could enjoy the stops that little bit more! However, the weather (again!) as not in our favour…

Day 1 – The Great Ocean Road

We drove from Geelong along the great ocean road, with our first stop at the…

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Heading into Melboune 🇦🇺🏢 we spent our time wandering the many laneways and coffee ☕ shops! . . A quick visit to meet the penguins of St Kilda and we were lucky enough to get close! . . A day trip to Brighton on the train to visit the colourful Brighton boxes 🏖️ . . Check out our blog here 👀👇: searchingsoles.com/blog/backpacking-around-the-world/7-nights-in-melbourne/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- #Australia #downunder #melbourne #backpacking #backpackers #travelling #travellingcouple #travelphotography #travellingphotography #travelblogging #blogger #blogging #brighton #traveltheworld #scenery #penguin #wanderlust #stkilda #travelgram #travelpost #postcardsfromaroundtheworld -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Jd2C7jL0n/?igshid=1v6gdxtr3duve