Jules And Matt On Tour

Aug. 13, 2018

We've come together to leave it all behind

It's been quite the journey since first meeting my wife Julia in sunny Napier, New Zealand. A combination of chance and the region's need for seasonal workers…

by julesandmatt2018

Sept. 07, 2018

Where there’s smoke there’s fire

DRAFTJS_BLOCK_KEY:1bfpe I was told of the wildfires in British Columbia and had seen many updates from friends commenting on the smoke in Vancouver, but the…

by julesandmatt2018

Sept. 08, 2018

Radium...Hot Springs

“Is it Radium or Radium Hot Springs?”, I was asked after being caught using both names interchangeably. “Both...sort of....I guess.”, I replied hoping that…

by julesandmatt2018

Oct. 01, 2018

Kootenay National Drive Thru and Banff National Popularity

Something was different the morning we packed up to leave Radium. Looking up through the trees, we could see past their tops and to our amazement, gaze at the…

by julesandmatt2018

Oct. 10, 2018

En Route and Jasper

Arriving in Jasper, it had a very different feel to it compared to its big sister Banff. With fewer tourist busses parked and a cosy little information centre,…

by julesandmatt2018

Oct. 10, 2018

Wells Gray Provincial Park & Whistler

That section of our trip held several highlights. For one, seeing black bears in the wild was phenomenal and breathtaking as you can imagine. Another, although…

by julesandmatt2018

Oct. 10, 2018

Vancouver Island

by julesandmatt2018

Oct. 10, 2018

Nature and the City

While there is much to do and see in Vancouver, my favorite aspect of what the city has to offer is the food. It has such a diverse and delicious offer of…

by julesandmatt2018

Oct. 18, 2018

Land of the Long White Cloud

New Zealand first stole my heart back in 2004 when I lived in Hokitika, located on the South Island, for six months. Having completely fallen in love with the…

by julesandmatt2018

Oct. 18, 2018

Bagshot Row and Bag End

In December 2001 I saw Sir Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring at the cinema. Arriving at home, I almost immediately started reading my mother’s old and…

by julesandmatt2018

Oct. 18, 2018

White Island

New Zealand’s most active volcano is a world of its own. An early start to the day and a cloudless sky were the perfect conditions for a trip to the island. On…

by julesandmatt2018

Oct. 19, 2018

Rotorua - Geothermal Hot Spot

Rotorua is renowned for its geothermal activity in and around town. These features include volcanic crater lakes, spouting geysers, bubbling mud pools, hissing…

by julesandmatt2018

Oct. 19, 2018

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Often described as New Zealand’s greatest day walk, its reputation does it full justice. The 6-8 hour hike (walking time, excluding numerous photo stops)…

by julesandmatt2018

Oct. 27, 2018

Putangirua Pinnacles - Traversing the Paths of the Dead

Similar to Hobbiton the Putangirua Pinnacles were on my list of must-sees. The pinnacles served as a filming location for the Lord of the Rings where scenes of…

by julesandmatt2018

Nov. 04, 2018

Mt Fyffe

“Mount Fyffe and the Seaward Kaikoura Range dominate the Kaikoura skyline. Superb views over the Kaikoura plains and peninsula reward those who climb on Mt…

by julesandmatt2018

Nov. 04, 2018

Mt Hay Stn Lake Tekapo Lookout

On Wednesday we had not yet decided what route to continue on. The main reason for our hesitation was the rather gloomy weather forecast. In the end we decided…

by julesandmatt2018

Nov. 04, 2018

Mt Cook and its Surroundings

Mount Cook is New Zealand’s highest mountain and its surrounding Southern Alps and stunningly blue Lake Pukaki only add to its impressive presence.

by julesandmatt2018

Nov. 14, 2018

Queenstown and Around

Queenstown is a wondrous place that 99% of visitors coming to the country’s South Island stop at. It is New Zealand’s, if not the world’s, high risk activity…

by julesandmatt2018

Nov. 14, 2018

Doubtful Sound

While Milford Sound is New Zealand’s poster girl for the Fiordland National Park and draws visitors from near and far, Doubtful Sound is much less visited, more…

by julesandmatt2018

Nov. 14, 2018

Northern Fiordland National Park

Neither of us had previously ventured this far North into the Fiordland National Park. The native bush that is unique to this Southern part of New Zealand is…

by julesandmatt2018