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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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

GoPro Action Camera

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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#EGAmbassador Wondering where to plan next year’s adventures? 🗺️
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
If you’re looking for a different kind of vacation destination, one that’s not all over your feed or overrun with tourists, then @expedia’s got you covered!

Expedia just launched Unpack ’26, their definitive guide to emerging travel trends for the year ahead, powered by first-party data from Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, and enriched by global insights, Unpack is designed to help travelers explore more consciously and creatively.

Some of these were a HUGE surprise, but I wasn’t shocked to see The Cotswolds made the cut! I traveled there last fall and fell in LOVE! So much so that I’m planning a month-long stay with Ollie so he can enjoy all of the cute lambs and cozy cottages too!

The Cotswolds are a region in the UK compromising of over 100 villages and 300 towns! There’s so much to be discovered here, but these are the 7 villages you have to visit if you’re planning a trip to The Cotswolds this fall and beyond:

•Castle Combe
•Bourton-on-the-Water
•The Slaughters
•Stowe-on-the-Wold
•Broadway
•Snowshill
•Bibury

For more amazing, best-kept travel secrets, check out @expedia’s Unpack ‘26 list (in my stories) and hurry to book your travels before these less-explored gems become part of the beaten path!

Have you been to The Cotswolds? Which were your favorite villages?
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
#UnpackTravelTrends #autumn #TheCotswolds

631 33
Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18141583144435117
#EGAmbassador Wondering where to plan next year’s adventures? 🗺️ •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠ If you’re looking for a different kind of vacation destination, one that’s not all over your feed or overrun with tourists, then @expedia’s got you covered! Expedia just launched Unpack ’26, their definitive guide to emerging travel trends for the year ahead, powered by first-party data from Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, and enriched by global insights, Unpack is designed to help travelers explore more consciously and creatively. Some of these were a HUGE surprise, but I wasn’t shocked to see The Cotswolds made the cut! I traveled there last fall and fell in LOVE! So much so that I’m planning a month-long stay with Ollie so he can enjoy all of the cute lambs and cozy cottages too! The Cotswolds are a region in the UK compromising of over 100 villages and 300 towns! There’s so much to be discovered here, but these are the 7 villages you have to visit if you’re planning a trip to The Cotswolds this fall and beyond: •Castle Combe •Bourton-on-the-Water •The Slaughters •Stowe-on-the-Wold •Broadway •Snowshill •Bibury For more amazing, best-kept travel secrets, check out @expedia’s Unpack ‘26 list (in my stories) and hurry to book your travels before these less-explored gems become part of the beaten path! Have you been to The Cotswolds? Which were your favorite villages? •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠ #UnpackTravelTrends #autumn #TheCotswolds

Raise your hand if Autumn is your favorite 🤚
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
I don’t know what it is about the magic of Fall foliage, but the whimsy of apple picking and leaf peeping is just too strong to resist!

If you find yourself wanting a similar adventure, I have something just for you: My New England Map & Autumn Travel Guide 🍂

Last year, I did a ton of research in anticipation of my dream road trip across this area 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!

Let me know below if you’re interested with ‘MAP’ and I’ll make sure to send it your way 🍁
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠
#fallfoliage #newengland #autumn

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18099026854675939
Raise your hand if Autumn is your favorite 🤚 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠ I don’t know what it is about the magic of Fall foliage, but the whimsy of apple picking and leaf peeping is just too strong to resist! If you find yourself wanting a similar adventure, I have something just for you: My New England Map & Autumn Travel Guide 🍂 Last year, I did a ton of research in anticipation of my dream road trip across this area 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! Let me know below if you’re interested with ‘MAP’ and I’ll make sure to send it your way 🍁 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••⁠ #fallfoliage #newengland #autumn

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

551 221
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

308 46
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