Aotearoa Adventures: The New Zealand Travel Podcast

Justine Jehanno grew up in the French countryside and when she met her partner, Ben, their passion to see the world sparked their travels. They called Aotearoa home for three years, living and working in Auckland with Ben's skilled migrant work visa and Justine's partnership visa. Justine shares advice from her first hand experience on the visa process, how to find a job, where to find a house and why a campervan leads to the best adventures. She also shares some of the challenges they endured, like losing her tourism job during the pandemic and being apart from family. We also talk about her favourite region in New Zealand and the spots she'd like to visit next.

Thank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can’t wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :)

Follow Justine on Instagram: instagram.com/justinejehanno/

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Hailing from Upper Hutt, Tilleigh Ultra shares how her childhood was filled with local trips in and around the North Island. As she got older, she grew an appreciation for travelling locally and exploring regions closer to home. From hiking for the Duke of Edinburgh Award to organising a road trip with high school friends, Tilleigh loves the freedom, flexibility and affordability that local trips give you. She shares some of her favourite must-do's and hidden gems in the Wellington region - from Kapiti to Upper Hutt and the Wairarapa. Tilleigh shares advice for exploring more of your local region and using community groups to discover places that you didn't know existed.

Thank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can’t wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :)

While some people find that they can't travel because they have to look after their pets, Courtney Mellow has a better idea - take your furbabies on your adventures. Courney is a dog-mum to two gorgeous Bernese Mountain Dogs, Koda and Kash, and has taken them on multiple roadtrips in the North and South Islands. Her advice to anyone who wants to travel with pets is to start them young and to do your research when planning out your trip! She shares advice on how to find suitable accommodation, pet-friendly activities and details their most recent Wānaka trip to experience the winter snow.

Thank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can’t wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :)

Follow Courtney on Instagram: instagram.com/courtney.mellow/

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Meet Rob Hutchings, a chiropractor during the week and a triathlete and marathon swimmer on the weekends. Rob faced hardship in his childhood with an abusive and alcoholic father and endurance sports became his sanctuary. We dive into the details of one of his most epic multi-day adventures as the first person to swim the Clutha River - 256 kilometers down New Zealand's biggest, most powerful and second longest river, from Lake Wānaka to the Pacific Ocean. He's now swum many of the South Island's lakes and rivers - Milford Sound, Lake Te Anau, Lake Tekapō, Waiau River, the Buller River, to name a few... Rob is on a mission to see as much of Aotearoa as possible while swimming, cycle touring or trail running.

Thank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can’t wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :)

Follow Rob on Instagram: instagram.com/downriver_nomad/

Pamela Edmondson used slow travel as a tool to get out of a panic disorder. She says, "slow travel found me." Pamela has lived a turbulent life, growing up in Lebanon, emigrating to the USA, and then booking a one-way ticket to Aotearoa. We exchange stories on what it's like to travel with anxiety and depression, because, "no matter where you go, there you are." Pamela shares how slow travel allows us to access the present moment, practice gratitude and reconnect with nature, others and ourselves. She shares helpful and practical tips for your slow travel journey, to step away from the fast-paced world and live in the moment.

Thank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can’t wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :)

Follow Pamela on Instagram: instagram.com/nutbrownrose_/

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Alastair McDowell and Hamish Fleming set out to do something no one had done before. Mountaineers often summit New Zealand's 3000m peaks over their entire alpine career, but this pair climbed all 24 peaks in just 31 days. They even surprised themselves when they completed this feat - everyone said it would be impossible. Alastair and Hamish share advice for anyone that wants to start alpine climbing - join the university clubs, gain experience, find a mentor and get fit! We talk about the challenges of the human powered expedition and the moments that they cherished the most.

Thank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can’t wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :)

Follow Alastair on Instagram: instagram.com/alastairmcdowell/

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Living in Marlborough, Mel White has the Nelson Lakes National Park on her doorstep. She shares about where her sense of adventure began - from annual holidays in the Mackenzie Region, to hiking Everest Base Camp and ticking off multiple hikes at her local Nelson Lakes National Park, including Angelus Hut and Parachute Rocks. Mel shares tips for solo hiking, photography, and some of her learnings along the way.

Thank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can’t wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :)

Follow Mel on Instagram: instagram.com/mel_whitenz/

With an 11 week old baby and a 4 year old, Sonia and her husband walked Aotearoa's longest continuous track - the 85 km long Old Ghost Road. Sonia got into geocaching and hiking while in uni, and had her wedding at a DOC hut. She talks about all five days of the Old Ghost Road trail, with details on logistics, nappies, tantrums, how to carry kids, what to pack, how to stay dry when it rains, and how to keep a 4 year old entertained on the track! Sonia goes into detail and makes it feel like you’re right there walking with her. She shares advice for people that want to start hiking with kids and the various challenges at different ages. This episode is packed full of helpful information for parents or anyone wanting to hike the Old Ghost Road trail.

Thank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can’t wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :)

Anja Barugh is a half-pipe skiier who competed for Team New Zealand in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. She shares the journey from her first time on skiis at six years old, to moving to Wānaka, competing around the globe and qualifying for the Olympics. Anja talks about some of her adventures and mishaps along the way and what's coming up next for her. Anja also shares her advice for experienced skiiers and snowboarders that want to spend a season in Aotearoa, as well as helpful tips and tricks for newbies that want to give snowsports a go!

Thank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can’t wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :)

Follow Anja on Instagram: instagram.com/anjabarugh/

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/