A Home Free Global Life
From Waipapa we drove 2 hours north to our most northerly destination in New Zealand. We are staying on a Protea flower farm in the countryside, not really close to anything at all. This was the most northerly place we could find accommodation in order to visit Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach, Read more
Continuing our journey north the next stop was a small farm just outside Waipapa, not far from Bay of Islands. We visited the Bay of Islands in 2023 during our cruise from Vancouver, Canada to Sydney, Australia and found it so beautiful we wanted to return. Waipapa is a growing rural settlement in the Far North District and while it serves primarily as a shopping hub for the area, it is surround by rolling hills, orchards, cattle and sheep farms, and historic landmarks. Read more
Whangaparaoa is a scenic, 11 km long peninsula reaching into the Hauraki Gulf and it’s common to see orcas or dolphins in the surrounding waters. You can walk from one side of the peninsula to the other in about 20 minutes. Located at the tip is Shakespear Regional Park with one of New Zealand’s most visited open sanctuaries. Read more
Instead of the hustle and bustle of a city we opted for the rural quiet of Hastings in the Hawke’s Bay Wine Region. It’s our first time exploring this part of New Zealand and we ended up on a charming small farm tucked between sprawling apple orchards and sun-drenched wineries. It’s the perfect place, Read more
I admit it….I am a Lord of The Rings and a Hobbit fan 😃 This is why we have returned to Rotorua, so I can visit Hobbiton again 💕 We were last here over 6 years ago and of course I was just as excited as the first time for the opportunity to tour the magical place called The Shire. But more on that later. Read more
Auckland is often treated as a mere gateway to the rest of New Zealand but where else can you grab a flat white at 9am, hike to the rim of 20,000 year-old volcano by noon, and be sipping a Syrah on a vineyard-covered island by sunset. This city of 1.8 million is squeezed onto a narrow strip of land Read more
Bali is world famous for its volcanic mountains, emerald rice terraces and stunning coral reefs. What sets Bali apart from other Indonesian islands is its deeply rooted Hindu culture, in the heart of a Muslim nation. On every doorstep you will see Canang Sari, small handmade palm-leaf baskets, overflowing with marigolds and smoldering incense. Read more
The second half of our stay in Kuala Lumpur began by welcoming in 2026. Normally we do not bother staying up until midnight because we are usually by ourselves, but this year we spent the evening with friends and midnight rolled around before we knew it. Our evening started at the 7Ate9 Food Market a short walk from our apartment. Read more