The horn blared loudly signifying it was okay to jump in, and we slipped off the end of the boat into the icy cold water, immediately surrounded by a pod of 250-300 wild dusky dolphins. I couldn't believe my eyes as I sat there floating on top of the water looking to the left, right, behind, and below me — dolphins were everywhere! Having the opportunity to swim with dolphins may just be [hands down] one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had in my entire life. Kaikoura truly is the hidden gem of the South Island, and if you're one of those that takes the extra time to visit, you'll know exactly why it's so special. This coastal town is nestled right between the ocean and the mountains, giving you scenic views every direction ... Read More
A Romantic Stay at The Gangsa Private Villas
Relaxation, away from the hustle and bustle of life, is sometimes the best gift you can give yourself. Add a little romance and significant other to that equation and you have the perfect couples' getaway. There's nothing more refreshing than a few days relaxing in a private villa…just you, your loved one, the sun and a fruity drink or two. The Gangsa Private Villas Review The Gangsa is one of three private villa resorts owned by Kayumanis, a team of professionals committed to offering some of the most sought after villa retreats in Bali — which I can attest to being true the second we stepped into The Gangsa's grounds. Although the area of Sanur doesn't exactly scream luxury, Kayumanis has done a fantastic job creating an oasis out ... Read More
A Luxurious Getaway at Samabe
Derik and I absolutely adore Bali. We visited way back in August of 2012 (where has the time gone?!?), and knew from the second we boarded the plane back home that we were going to return. Luckily for us, after we decided to leave New Zealand, a few marketing opportunities came up in Bali, and it became the perfect 30-day stopover before heading up to Europe. After initially landing in Bali, we needed a place to relax and unwind from the stress of moving, and Samabe , a Bali all inclusive resort turned out to be exactly what the doctor ordered. Samabe Bali Suites and Villas Review I remember initially looking at Samabe's website and thinking, "Are you kidding me? This place is absolute paradise!" It's new, it's clean, it's private…and ... Read More
An Adventure Tour through New Zealand
Once Derik and I figured out we would be leaving New Zealand in a matter of a few weeks, we were hitting things pretty much full throttle trying to arrange flight tickets, get out of our rental agreement, what to do post-New Zealand, and packing up our stuff. We both had this nagging feeling like we hadn't seen enough of New Zealand (or even participated in an official New Zealand tour) to be completely satisfied before we left can you ever be completely satisfied?. Yeah, sure we lived in NZ for an entire year, but if you've ever visited you'll know what I mean when I say you can't ever have enough of "the most beautiful places on earth." That's where Haka Tours came in. First of all you should know that I love planning and knowing ... Read More
A Weekend Getaway at Kinross Cottages
In the 5 years we have been together, Derik and I have never made elaborate plans to celebrate Valentine's Day. However, this year I wanted to do something special 'just because,' and planned a weekend getaway in Queenstown. I booked our stay at Kinross Cottages last minute, and really had no idea what to expect, except that the place was new-ish and in Gibbston Valley (wine country). The Kinross Cottages Review The second we pulled into the Kinross drive Derik and I were completely blown away. We had somehow completely missed the part of the website description that stated our cottage would literally be smack dab in the middle of a vineyard, and that paired with the gorgeously designed 'General Store' and cottages, we felt like giddy ... Read More
Central Otago Wine Tour
I knew from the second I found out New Zealand was prime wine country, that I wanted to go on a wine tasting tour. I'm not quite sure why it didn't make my NZ bucket list, but would it be cheating if I threw it on there real quick just to cross off? It should have been part of the list for sure! For Valentine's Day I wanted to do something fun and romantic with Derik, so I booked a last minute wine tour through Appellation Central Wine Tours. Central Otago (and Queenstown) is only a few hour drive for us from Dunedin, and honestly I have no idea why it's taken us this long to drop by this area during the summer! We've visited Queenstown three times previously, but all have been in the winter/early springtime. If it says anything, we're ... Read More
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
From the very moment we found out that we would have a week in NSW, Australia, I knew that I wanted to hold a koala. After further research, I found out that you actually have to go up to Queensland to hold them, but Derik and I were open to a little road trip! We hopped into our sweet new rental car, graciously provided by Europcar , and hit the road bound for Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. We arrived in Brisbane at night, and stayed in an adorable little apartment overlooking the harbor. Unfortunately in the morning we woke up to a downpour, and I was worried my hopes and dreams of cuddling koalas and feeding kangaroos at Lone Pine would be dashed. After reading a few reviews online about it being ok to visit during the rain (due to the ... Read More
Rain Boots or Wellies?
Gumboots or Galoshes? Why are there so many names for a simple pair of boots made of rubber? This is one of the many things I think about on a daily basis. I have a weird mind. I'm also quickly discovering that some of the words I learned growing up mean completely different things on the opposite side of the world. For example: pissed actually means drunk here. And just don't ever mention a fanny pack, because that refers to the female anatomy. Not that we use fanny pack in our day to day language as Americans... Anyway. A few months ago I received this gorgeous dress and wellies from JoulesUSA. I most certainly am not a fashion blogger, and I hate being on the other side of the camera. After checking out the company's ... Read More
Maui Photo Session
It's been a long time since Derik and I have had a legit couples photo session. Actually, its been since our engagement/wedding over three years ago, and I knew it was high time to schedule another one. The only problem was finding a good photographer. I thought it would be really awesome to hire someone to take our pictures while we were on our big trip, so I started looking for a professional/freelance photographer in Hawaii. You wouldn't believe the amount of so-called 'photographers' in the Maui area. Most charged over $1,000 for something I could have easily done with a point and shoot. I took one last drastic measure to find the kind of photographer I was looking for by checking out Craigslist. Yes, you read right, Craigslist. I'm ... Read More
