2025 Travel Year in Review - Family Travel, Road Trips & Fiji

Happy New Year everyone!

I haven’t written one of these yearly round-up posts in about five years - back when I had a lot more countries to add to the list. But I thought I’d bring it back just for fun, especially now that I’ve gotten back into blogging in 2025.

Christchurch with Kids: 5 Awesome Things To Do

Christchurch is the largest city in New Zealand's South Island and we love any excuse to visit! It’s an easy, family-friendly base for South Island road trips and a great city break in its own right, especially with kids.

We’re not locals, but over the last few years we’ve visited three times with little ones at different ages - 4 and 2, 1.5, and a tiny 3 months - to see family and explore more of Christchurch with kids.

5 Favourite Places I’ve Travelled Solo - and Loved Every Minute

Solo travel changed me as a person.

It made me brave. It forced me to step out of my comfort zone, trust myself, be independent, and learn to love my own company - all while doing my favourite thing: exploring exciting new places! 

If you can travel solo, you can do anything.

Wairarapa with Little Kids - Our Favourite Things to Do

We live in the Wairarapa and honestly think it’s one of the loveliest places to raise young children. With its wide open spaces, quiet friendly towns, and slower pace of life, it’s ideal for little ones to grow, explore, and play.

My Top Ten Favourite New Zealand Experiences

It’s no secret I love exploring my own country, New Zealand - we’re so lucky to have a place full of wild landscapes, jaw-dropping views, and unforgettable adventures right on our doorstep. While there are so many amazing things to see and do here, I wanted to share ten of my absolute favourite New Zealand experiences to date - the ones I still think about long after the trip is over.

Queenstown with Little Kids - Why It’s a Must-Do Family Trip in NZ

I’ve taken my daughter to Queenstown twice now, and it’s one of my favourite places in New Zealand to visit with young kids. The first time we went was just before she turned two (gotta make the most of those free flights for under 2's!), and we made a big family trip of it with my two sisters, brother-in-law and nephew. More recently, we went again just before she turned four as part of a South Island roadie with my mum - and to my surprise, so many activities were still free or super affordable for her.

If you’re looking for a destination that’s scenic, relaxing, adventurous and family-friendly, Queenstown ticks all the boxes. Here's everything we loved, plus a bunch of tips if you're thinking of going with your own little explorer/s.

A Magical Winter Day in Milford Sound with Southern Discoveries

If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting somewhere so surreal it feels like another world - where waterfalls tumble down sheer cliffs and misty mountains disappear into the clouds - Milford Sound in New Zealand is that place.

There’s a stillness here that makes you feel small in the best possible way, and deeply grateful just to witness it.

My daughter and I recently did the most incredible winter day trip with Southern Discoveries, and I can’t recommend it enough - especially if you’re travelling with little ones and want a stress-free experience without the need to drive.