Aotearoa Adventures
Abigail Hannah
Aotearoa Adventures is the podcast for everything you need to know about travelling in New Zealand.
- 28 minutes 17 secondsBONUS: 2025 wrapped
Please review Aotearoa Adventures wherever you listen.
The annual wrap up - a summary of host Abigail Hannah's year - her travels, her podcast, her business, her life.
Links:
- Support our fundraiser: www.slowpaddle.nz
- Find out more about Feijoa Social: www.feijoasocial.com
- Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah
- Join the broadcast group
Got questions, comments, suggestions? Send me a DM!
I appreciate you being here ☺️
21 December 2025, 5:28 am - 49 minutes 17 seconds168: From First Tramp to Paparoa and all the Great Walks with Nicola Harvie
Nicola Harvie is a travel blogger, tramper and mum. In her twenties, she set a goal to complete all of NZ's Great Walks before turning thirty. Starting out new to tramping, Nicola finished the full list by age 27, squeezing in the Whanganui Journey while 26 weeks pregnant and ticking off tracks alongside friends, family and solo. She shares what it was really like walking the Paparoa Track soon after it opened, including long ridge days, wild West Coast weather and the logistics that make or break a booking. Nicola talks about booking strategies, favourite Great Walk moments and why Milford and Lake Waikaremoana still stand out. Now based in Central Otago with young kids, she reflects on how adventure changes with different seasons of life and why small, local days still matter just as much as big missions.
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
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 Nicola on Instagram: instagram.com/nicolaharviex/
Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz
Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/
Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/
18 December 2025, 11:00 pm - 44 minutes 48 seconds167: Finding Hidden Places and Getting Lost with Cat Macnaughtan
Cat Macnaughtan never thought getting lost would become the heart of her life, but that is exactly what happened. After reconnecting with her teenage sweetheart and blending their families, Cat started a travel blog called Getting Lost, capturing the messy, joyful chaos of their new adventures together, and evolved into a card game, loved around the world. Cat shares stories of unplanned road trips, a camper clipping a low power line and knocking out electricity to the entire neighbourhood, and how the game led them all the way from Dunedin to Cromwell. She shares the importance of being able to let go of control and follow curiosity, especially in this digital age - sometimes the best thing we can do, is to get lost.
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
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 Cat on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gettinglostgames/
Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz
Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/
Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/
11 December 2025, 11:00 pm - 45 minutes 5 seconds166: Caravan Living as a Family and Writing Music on the Road with Emily & Charles
Emily and Charles, the pair behind Aro Music, live full-time on the road with their two kids under 5. They packed up their home in Pukekohe, fitted out a custom caravan, and set off to tour Aotearoa - writing music, playing shows, and raising their kids along the way. Emily shares how she wanted to choose a life with more freedom, more adventure, realising that when the kids start school, it would be harder. Charles shares about how he loved getting more and more time together as a family, working remotely and making music on the road.They share what life in a caravan really looks like and practical advice for travelling with kids, what to expect in a new caravan, and how they plan their days around music, work and where the next good coffee - or playground is.
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
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 Aro Music on Instagram: www.instagram.com/aromusicao/
Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz
Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/
Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/
4 December 2025, 11:00 pm - 55 minutes 13 seconds165: An 18-Day Mission Through Nelson Lakes, Kahurangi and Abel Tasman with the National Park Trifecta
Hannah, Isabel and Harriet are three friends from Motueka who set out to link their local national parks in one continuous 18-day journey and why connecting the Nelson Lakes, Kahurangi and Abel Tasman felt meaningful after growing up in the region. They share what it was like to climb five ranges in six days, deal with blisters and rain-soaked gear, bike between sections and paddle into whitecaps on the Abel Tasman. Fresh strawberries at food drops, long ridgeline days and tiny huts all became part of the rhythm. The trio reflects on the joy of moving under their own steam from St Arnaud to Marahau, the moments that pushed them and the pride they felt finishing something they had dreamed up together.
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
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 National Park Trifecta on Instagram: instagram.com/nationalparktrifecta/
Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz
Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/
Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/
27 November 2025, 11:00 pm - 56 minutes 28 seconds164: Five Months SOBO on Te Araroa and Finding Community with Deni Estivill
Deni Estivill left her corporate job in Brisbane and found herself walking the length of Aotearoa SOBO on Te Araroa with only one overnight hike behind her. She shares how climate anxiety pushed her toward the trail, what it was like to start as a complete beginner and how quickly community formed around her. From the canoe section on the Whanganui River to a tough moment on a scree slope in the Richmond Ranges, Deni talks about the people who supported her and the small acts of kindness that shaped her journey. She reflects on the shift she felt after five months outdoors and what it meant to return home with a completely different outlook on life.
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
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 Deni on Instagram: instagram.com/esti.den/
Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz
Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/
Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/
20 November 2025, 11:00 pm - 50 minutes 1 second163: Best Spots and Hidden Gems in the Bay of Plenty & Coromandel with Ciska
Ciska de Jong grew up sailing around places like Waiheke, the Bay of Islands and even remote parts of Fiji, which set the tone for a life built around adventure. After a long solo trip overseas, she moved from Auckland to Tauranga and found a slower rhythm, with more time to chase waterfalls, paddle hidden chasms and explore the Bay of Plenty. Ciska shares how NZ Adventures began with simple weekend missions and turned into a way of helping others discover what is right on their doorstep. She runs through her favourite spots across Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupō and the Coromandel, and reflects on why small adventures matter, how nature shapes her days and what keeps her exploring.
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
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 Ciska on Instagram: instagram.com/nz_adventures/
Follow Ciska on Facebook: facebook.com/NZadventures/
www.valuemedia.co.nz/nzadventures
Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz
Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/
Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/
13 November 2025, 11:00 pm - 50 minutes 20 seconds162: We are Kayaking From Cape Reinga to Tauranga to Raise $20,000 !!!!
Host Abigail Hannah and Isaac Naylor are kayaking from Cape Reinga to Tauranga in 2026 to raise $20,000 for the ocean and mental health. This sea kayak expedition will take them 800km (or more), exploring one of the most beautiful sections of New Zealand coast - while slowing down, stripping life back to the basics and exploring the coastline. The couple share about where the idea came from, what prep they have done so far, how they are fundraising for the journey and how you can get involved and support the expedition.
Follow @abigailhannnah on Instagram for updates.
6 November 2025, 11:00 pm - 52 minutes 34 seconds161: Empowering Kiwi Women in Hunting & Fishing with Wild Chix Isabell Zitzelsberger
Isabell Zitzelsberger moved to Aotearoa in 2012 to be closer to nature. She now spends her weekends exploring the bush and the sea, whether that’s chasing fish, deer stalking in the Kaimai Range or teaching other women to back a trailer with confidence. After years of being the “partner who just goes along,” Isabell realised how many women shared that same story. She decided to change it, founding Wild Chix - a community helping women gain skills and confidence in boating, hunting and fishing. Isabell talks about her journey from learning to tow a boat to catching her first marlin, the lessons she’s learnt in the bush, and why self-reliance outdoors matters so much. She reflects on confidence, safety and finding freedom in New Zealand’s wild places.
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
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 Wild Chix on Instagram: instagram.com/wild_chix_nz/
Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz
Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/
Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/
30 October 2025, 11:00 pm - 55 minutes 50 seconds160: Hut Etiquette in DOC Huts and Exploring the Whitcombe Valley with Renee Cadigan
Renee Cadigan shares about how her love for the outdoors has evolved as her boys have grown older. Renee now explores solo, and loves discovering hidden valleys and remote huts close to home on the West Coast. She talks about her latest obsession, the Whitcombe Valley, where countless routes and huts go through rugged terrain and some of her favourite overnights and huts in the area. Then Renee dives deep into hut etiquette, sharing an awful and confronting (gross) backcountry experience at Rapid Creek Hut and what not to do when you are using public spaces like DOC huts. With humour and honesty, Renee offers practical advice on the unspoken rules that keep these special places welcoming for everyone. Renee also shares her love of the West Coast with other Coasters in her series Voices of the Coast.
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
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 Renee on Instagram: instagram.com/reneecadigannz/
Follow Renee on TikTok: tiktok.com/@reneecadigannz
Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz
Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/
Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/
23 October 2025, 11:00 pm - 51 minutes 49 seconds159: Exploring Northland and Living on the Road in a 12-Ton Unimog with Kyla and Louis
Kyla and Louis are the kiwi couple behind Out the Gate Off Road and live full-time in their 1988 Mercedes Unimog. With a background in carpentry and a shared love of adventure, they designed and built every detail of their home-on-wheels themselves. They share favourite Northland locations including Ahipara, Karikari Peninsula and Whangarei Heads, tips for travelling with dogs, and how they manage life, work and CrossFit training on the road. Next, Kyla and Louis want to visit the South Island, then Australia, and one day a road trip across the Americas.
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
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 Out the Gate on Instagram: instagram.com/outthegateoffroad/
Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz
Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/
Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/
16 October 2025, 11:00 pm - More Episodes? Get the App