TRAVEL NEW ZEALAND
Beyond the beaten path
KIA ORA, I’M PETRINA
Your local source for unforgettable road trips and adventures in New Zealand.
Discover immersive adventures with my New Zealand travel guide, featuring carefully curated routes, locally owned and independent businesses, and authentic experiences.
MY WRITING HAS APPEARED IN
HIT THE ROAD
New Zealand is one of the best places in the world for a road trip
Explore my collection of curated road trip routes and itineraries around the North and South Islands
GET INSPIRED
North Island destinations
The beaches, camping spots, and coastal walks that fuel my ongoing love for the North Island
BEACHES | CULTURE
Cape Reinga
A journey to the far north of New Zealand.
BEACHES | WINE
Waiheke Island
An island of wine and sunshine.
ADVENTURE | CULTURE
Rotorua
The geothermal heart of New Zealand.
BEACHES | RELAXATION
The Coromandel Peninsula
Coastal walks and endless chill.
URBAN | CULTURE
Auckland
New Zealand’s biggest city.
URBAN | CULTURE
Wellington
A cool little capital.
SURF | CHILL
Raglan
A hippie surf town on the west coast.
GET INSPIRED
South Island destinations
The South Island is unmatched for hiking, adventure, and road tripping.
MOUNTAINS | ADVENTURE
Queenstown
The adventure capital of New Zealand — and possibly the world.
CITY | CULTURE
Christchurch
The garden city.
HIKING | MOUNTAINS
Aoraki/Mount Cook
Epic mountains and glaciers.
ADVENTURE | HIKING
Franz Josef
Walk on glaciers.
ADVENTURE | HIKING
Te Anau
The gateway to Fiordland’s wilderness.
HIKING | MOUNTAINS
Wanaka
A laid back resort town in the mountains.
Visual travel inspiration
A selection of photos from my travels around New Zealand. Choose one, see where it takes you.
ABOUT ME
The sole writer and photographer behind this blog
I’m a proud New Zealander with a passion for the outdoors and a camera in my bag. I find magic in our natural world. I hope you do too.
After years of writing about New Zealand for other publications, I started sharing my knowledge on my own New Zealand travel blog.
I want to give unfiltered New Zealand travel advice, so this blog is a collection of my personal advice, stories, and trips.
I like to write about the things I’m passionate about — like solo travel, outdoor adventures, long hikes, van life, and slow travel.
I don’t really like lists of things you must do, or trying to find the absolute best of everything — when places are beautiful but busy, I’ll tell you. And when they are quieter and just as beautiful, I’ll also let you in on the secret.
MY PHILOSOPHY