The Blonde Abroad

Popular travel and lifestyle blog featuring travel tips, fashion, food and photography from around the world. Follow Kiersten on her adventures!

Destination

New Zealand Travel Guide

I love New Zealand—from great metropolitan cities, rolling hills, Ancient Kauri trails, surf breaks, wine and food, and treks… there is something for everyone!

New Zealand’s amazing National Parks, glacier trekking and many extreme sports make it a beautiful place for those who seek adventure and adrenaline! After all, this is the birthplace of commercial bungee jumping.

The country has a rich history and an incredible Māori culture, plus the locals are some of the most friendly I’ve come across. There are so many reasons to add New Zealand to your travel bucket list!

Destinations

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Best Time To Visit

While I don’t think there is a bad time to travel to New Zealand, you do need to think about the different seasons and activities to get the most out of your trip.

New Zealand’s high season is in the summer months, December through February. If you’re planning to visit over these months, book your flights and accommodation well in advance to lock in lower prices.

If you’re a hiker, March to May is the best time to tackle New Zealand’s famous Great Walks. It’s also a good option period for budget travelers from the US, with flight prices dipping during these months.

Check out The Best Time to Travel to New Zealand for complete details!

What To Expect

Language: New Zealand has three official languages: English, Maori, and New Zealand Sign Language.

Currency: The currency in New Zealand is called the New Zealand Dollar. 1 USD is equivalent to about 1,46 New Zealand Dollars.

Credit Cards and ATMs: You won’t have a problem using your credit or debit card in New Zealand. As long as it’s a Visa, MasterCard, or Maestro you can use it for purchases or cash withdrawals. However, your card will need to have a four-digit PIN code to work.

Plugs: The plugs in New Zealand are type I. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50Hz. I recommend buying a universal adapter (make sure it has surge protection) and using a converter for hairdryers and hot tools.

Safety: New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world and is one of the best destinations for solo female travelers. However, petty theft is a reality here. Make sure you practice common sense and keep an eye on your things to avoid any problems while you’re abroad.

Travel Guides

Bucket List experiences

1

Queenstown

Skydive
2

Milford Sound

Fiordland National Park
3

North + South Island

Road Trip New Zealand
4

Wanaka

Wanaka Tree
5

Matamata

Hobbiton Movie Set
6

Tongariro National Park

Tongariro Crossing Hike
7

Mount Cook

New Zealand’s Tallest Mountain
8

Kaikoura

Whale Watching

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Day Trips from Auckland

While Auckland is gorgeous, you just have to get out of the city to truly experience the raw beauty. Here are a few of my favorite day trips from Auckland.

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Travel Products

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GoPro HERO10 Black Camera

My Fav Camera Purse

Lo & Sons Claremont

Collapsible Travel Water Bottle

Water Bottle

Hand Sanitizer

All-Natural Sanitizer Spray

Skyroam

4G Global WiFi Hotspot

My Fav Camera Messenger

Ona Brixton Camera Messenger

Anker Powercore

Portable Charger

3-D Eye Sleep Mask

Travel Eye Mask

Wheeled Duffel Bag

Large Suitcase

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FALL-ing in love with New England one leaf at a time 🍂 🍎🍁
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
Last year, I took my dream trip to New England to experience some exquisite leaf-peeping and all of the fall things with my mom and son and it was truly one of the most magical trips I’ve taken.

I did a ton of research and scoured the internet for the best of the best when it comes to fall foliage, farms, orchards, scenic drives, tasty eateries, cozy inns, and picturesque towns. And I want to pass that knowledge onto you!

If you’ve been dreaming of a trip across New England during the fall season, I created a New England travel guide and map, including my itinerary, a packing list, and a downloadable map of the region.

Let me know below with ‘MAP’ and I’ll make sure to send it your way.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
#fallfoliage #newengland #autumn

283 88
Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18298915438268787
FALL-ing in love with New England one leaf at a time 🍂 🍎🍁 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠ Last year, I took my dream trip to New England to experience some exquisite leaf-peeping and all of the fall things with my mom and son and it was truly one of the most magical trips I’ve taken. I did a ton of research and scoured the internet for the best of the best when it comes to fall foliage, farms, orchards, scenic drives, tasty eateries, cozy inns, and picturesque towns. And I want to pass that knowledge onto you! If you’ve been dreaming of a trip across New England during the fall season, I created a New England travel guide and map, including my itinerary, a packing list, and a downloadable map of the region. Let me know below with ‘MAP’ and I’ll make sure to send it your way. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠ #fallfoliage #newengland #autumn

Here’s how we spent a weekend in Philadelphia #MarriottHotelsPartner
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
We were lucky enough to stay at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, located right in the heart of the city! From there, we made sure to see the best the city had to offer families:

🥞 Breakfast at The Pantry (inside the Marriott!)
🖐️ Please Touch Museum
🔔 The Liberty Bell + Independence Hall
🍲 Lunch at Reading Terminal Market
💦 Splash time at Sister Cities Park
🧬 Visit the Franklin Institute
🏮 Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square (annual summer event)

There’s so much for families to do in Philadelphia and being a Marriott Bonvoy member makes it so much more accessible.

From the location to having toddler amenities on-hand and staff who actually understand what traveling with a toddler is like — it’s those small comforts that make a huge difference on family trips.

Thank you for the stay @MarriottHotels!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
#Philadelphia #travelPennsylvania

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18061867520570740
Here’s how we spent a weekend in Philadelphia #MarriottHotelsPartner •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠ We were lucky enough to stay at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, located right in the heart of the city! From there, we made sure to see the best the city had to offer families: 🥞 Breakfast at The Pantry (inside the Marriott!) 🖐️ Please Touch Museum 🔔 The Liberty Bell + Independence Hall 🍲 Lunch at Reading Terminal Market 💦 Splash time at Sister Cities Park 🧬 Visit the Franklin Institute 🏮 Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square (annual summer event) There’s so much for families to do in Philadelphia and being a Marriott Bonvoy member makes it so much more accessible. From the location to having toddler amenities on-hand and staff who actually understand what traveling with a toddler is like — it’s those small comforts that make a huge difference on family trips. Thank you for the stay @MarriottHotels! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠ #Philadelphia #travelPennsylvania

I wanted to make history come alive for Ollie and what better place than in Philadelphia, USA? #MarriottHotelsPartner
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
Our stay at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown created the perfect opportunity to really explore the heart of this historical city. From the Liberty Bell to Franklin Square, we really dove into the heart and culture of Philadelphia.

After a day of exploring, we were treated with some of Philadelphia’s finest delicacies at Marriott’s Thirteen Restaurant.

We stayed cool on our trip by bowling a few games at Liberty Lanes, the hotel’s on-site, retro bowling alley. Did I mention there was even an arcade??

And after a long day, we were soothed by the many comforts and amenities Marriott has to offer.

Traveling with little ones isn’t always easy, but being a Marriott Bonvoy member truly
makes it so much smoother.

From comfy cribs already in the room to friendly staff who actually get what traveling with a toddler is like, Marriott Hotels takes so much stress off our trips. It’s the little things that make a big difference when you’re on the go with a little one!

Thank you for the stay @MarriottHotels!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
#Philadelphia #travelPennsylvania

399 28
Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18095001646661387
I wanted to make history come alive for Ollie and what better place than in Philadelphia, USA? #MarriottHotelsPartner •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠ Our stay at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown created the perfect opportunity to really explore the heart of this historical city. From the Liberty Bell to Franklin Square, we really dove into the heart and culture of Philadelphia. After a day of exploring, we were treated with some of Philadelphia’s finest delicacies at Marriott’s Thirteen Restaurant. We stayed cool on our trip by bowling a few games at Liberty Lanes, the hotel’s on-site, retro bowling alley. Did I mention there was even an arcade?? And after a long day, we were soothed by the many comforts and amenities Marriott has to offer. Traveling with little ones isn’t always easy, but being a Marriott Bonvoy member truly makes it so much smoother. From comfy cribs already in the room to friendly staff who actually get what traveling with a toddler is like, Marriott Hotels takes so much stress off our trips. It’s the little things that make a big difference when you’re on the go with a little one! Thank you for the stay @MarriottHotels! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠ #Philadelphia #travelPennsylvania

THIS is my travel sidekick I cannot fly without 👇
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Did you know that 1 in 4 flights are delayed or canceled? It’s enough to make you go mad… unless of course you have @airhelp!

AirHelp is a flight & claim tracker app that is a complete lifesaver on travel days helping me...

✔️ Track unlimited flights (no ads, no limits)
✔️ Get real-time updates for gates, terminals, and baggage claim details
✔️ Receive automatic alerts if I’m eligible for flight compensation
✔️ See my travel history log with a built-in travel map (my favorite part)

Honestly, I wish I had this app sooner! It would’ve been a game-changer on long-haul flights with my toddler. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or just planning your next adventure, this is one of the smartest tools you can have on your phone.

Download the @airhelp app today and fly with peace of mind.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#AirHelpApp #TravelSmart #StressFreeTravel

489 37
Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18157527106340460
THIS is my travel sidekick I cannot fly without 👇 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Did you know that 1 in 4 flights are delayed or canceled? It’s enough to make you go mad… unless of course you have @airhelp! AirHelp is a flight & claim tracker app that is a complete lifesaver on travel days helping me... ✔️ Track unlimited flights (no ads, no limits) ✔️ Get real-time updates for gates, terminals, and baggage claim details ✔️ Receive automatic alerts if I’m eligible for flight compensation ✔️ See my travel history log with a built-in travel map (my favorite part) Honestly, I wish I had this app sooner! It would’ve been a game-changer on long-haul flights with my toddler. Whether you’re a frequent flyer or just planning your next adventure, this is one of the smartest tools you can have on your phone. Download the @airhelp app today and fly with peace of mind. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #AirHelpApp #TravelSmart #StressFreeTravel