Aotearoa Adventures: The New Zealand Travel Podcast

Anne Bonfert has been skydiving for ten years and worked as an instructor across the world, from Namibia to Spain. Living her long-time dream, she came to New Zealand with her husband to spend a season jumping over Wanaka and Queenstown. Anne shares her experience as an instructor, from taking nervous first-timers to managing up to 15 jumps a day. Anne talks about the process to becoming an instructor, the different pathways you can take, and the best drop zones across the North and South Island. Alongside skydiving, Anne and her husband made the most of their days off, tramping to backcountry huts, kayaking Abel Tasman, and even making it down to Stewart Island.

Discover the best of New Zealand with my NZ Map & Guide, featuring 100+ incredible locations for your next adventure. Use PODCAST10 at checkout for 10% off and start planning your dream trip today 

• Get my NZ Map & Guide
• Book your 1-on-1 consult and personalised itinerary

 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 Anne on Instagram: instagram.com/mydreamofafrica

Follow Anne on Medium: medium.com/@anne.bonfert

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

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Amelia Hayes works in the trucking industry, but one Instagram photo of Peak Hill reignited her love for the outdoors. Based just two hours from Arthur’s Pass, Amelia has explored the area more times than she can count. She shares about her three attempts at climbing Mount Philistine - long days with friends, and eventually reaching the summit - with no view at all. Amelia talks honestly about the frustration of falling behind, the pressure of hiking in groups, and how it felt to finally make it to the top. She also shares the best day hikes in Arthur’s Pass, birdlife to look out for, and all the little roadside stops worth pulling over for.

Discover the best of New Zealand with my NZ Map & Guide, featuring 100+ incredible locations for your next adventure. Use PODCAST10 at checkout for 10% off and start planning your dream trip today

• Get my NZ Map & Guide
• Book your 1-on-1 consult and personalised itinerary

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 Amelia on Instagram: instagram.com/mealzhikes/

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

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The Aotearoa Adventures whānau got offline and out in nature for the FIRST TIME EVER to celebrate 3 years of podcasting and well...it's probably about time.

Meet the legends that were there, they dropped some epic travel recommendations. I learnt some epic things too.

Ashley: @littlekiwitravels

Beccy: @beccyvincent

Katy: @katheryne_mck

Cole: @2passingthru

Rachael: @nz.rainbow.hunter

Mohamed: @md._.ahamadi

Kristina: @kristinamonts

Garfield: @dersteppemwolf

Kaelyn: @misswalkalot

Where would you like to see the next Aotearoa Adventures community hike?

Justin Wimmer grew up between Aotearoa and Europe, skiing in Austria and climbing in New Zealand from a young age while also being involved in YSAR. He shares the story of setting two new alpine routes in Aoraki National Park - Mount Lindenfeld and Mount Haast - with storms, rime ice, and long glacier approaches to climb remote rock and ice walls. Justin also talks about essential gear for beginners and reflects on risk and the alpine culture in New Zealand.

Discover the best of New Zealand with my NZ Map & Guide, featuring 100+ incredible locations for your next adventure. Use PODCAST10 at checkout for 10% off and start planning your dream trip today

• Get my NZ Map & Guide
• Book your 1-on-1 consult and personalised itinerary

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 Justin on Instagram: instagram.com/alpinedirtbag

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

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Jessica Lockhart is a travel writer with Lonely Planet and has spent 3 years house sitting across New Zealand. She shares about the concept of being a parachute journalist and the importance of getting to know a country on a deeper local level. Jessica shares advice for anyone that wants to housesit - including where to find sits, what to expect with pets, finding routine with instability and some mishaps along the way. She also shares her favourite destinations and experiences in New Zealand to connect with the history and culture for visitors and Kiwis alike.

 Discover the best of New Zealand with my NZ Map & Guide, featuring 100+ incredible locations for your next adventure. Use PODCAST10 at checkout for 10% off and start planning your dream trip today

• Get my NZ Map & Guide
• Book your 1-on-1 consult and personalised itinerary

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 Jessica on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnelockhart

Shop Lonely Planet NZ

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

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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. Jarrod's favourite moments were seeing the first Wapiti - and seeing a wild kiwi in Fiordland. He shares the world of hunting in a beginner-friendly way with helpful tips and advice.

Discover the best of New Zealand with my NZ Map & Guide, featuring 100+ incredible locations for your next adventure. Use PODCAST10 at checkout for 10% off and start planning your dream trip today

• Get my NZ Map & Guide
• Book your 1-on-1 consult and personalised itinerary

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 Jarrod on Instagram: instagram.com/j_mclauchlannz

Subscribe on YouTube

Hunting Wapiti in Fiordland

www.bloodlinegear.co.nz

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

Get my NZ Map & Guide

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 minimal food, and celebrate his birthday alone. He talks about the turning point when he abandoned his original plan, chose curiosity over ego, and began exploring the island’s waterfalls, granite cliffs and subantarctic–like beaches. Brando reflects on ADHD, storytelling and the importance of doing adventures for the right reasons.

Discover the best of New Zealand with my NZ Map & Guide, featuring 100+ incredible locations for your next adventure. Use PODCAST10 at checkout for 10% off and start planning your dream trip today

• Get my NZ Map & Guide
• Book your 1-on-1 consult and personalised itinerary

 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 Brando on Instagram: instagram.com/brandoyelavichexplorer/

www.wildboyadventures.com

Watch Wild Boy (limited time): docedge.nz/events/wildboy/

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

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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. Dom shares about some of the technical parts of alpining - from altitude sickness in Nepal, to gear that's important to have and communities for beginners to learn skills. He reflects on his shifting perspective of the mountains and says, "the biggest thing I'd tell people is just to go and look at a mountain. Not everything has to be climbed. Not everything has to be summited."

Discover the best of New Zealand with my NZ Map & Guide, featuring 100+ incredible locations for your next adventure. Use PODCAST10 at checkout for 10% off and start planning your dream trip today

• Get my NZ Map & Guide
• Book your 1-on-1 consult and personalised itinerary

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 Dom on Instagram: instagram.com/rum_doodle/

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

Get my NZ Map & Guide

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 resilience, and helped her reconnect with her adventurous self.

Discover the best of New Zealand with my NZ Map & Guide, featuring 100+ incredible locations for your next adventure. Use PODCAST10 at checkout for 10% off and start planning your dream trip today

• Get my NZ Map & Guide
• Book your 1-on-1 consult and personalised itinerary

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 Laura on Instagram: instagram.com/spearotual_mermaid/

Listen to Spearo Diaries

Freediving Community: Salt Aotearoa

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

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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 about grief, creativity and joy and tips for anyone that wants to start tramping.

Discover the best of New Zealand with my NZ Map & Guide, featuring 100+ incredible locations for your next adventure. Use PODCAST10 at checkout for 10% off and start planning your dream trip today

• Get my NZ Map & Guide
• Book your 1-on-1 consult and personalised itinerary

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 Chris on Instagram: instagram.com/chrislierheimer/

Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@ChrisLierheimer

Hut Ranking Spreadsheet

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

Get my NZ Map & Guide