Wairarapa hikes and bike rides

 

Walking and hiking throughout New Zealand is the best way to see beautiful landscapes and explore the wilderness. Here in the Wairarapa we are spoilt for choice when it comes to family friendly hikes. A walk in the Wairarapa can be anything from a short lakeside stroll to a walk along the coast or in the bush-clad Tararua Ranges. We love exploring and sharing our family day adventures and regularly find ourselves returning to these trails. We wanted to share our tried and tested family favourites. Whether you’re up for a light walk, run or bike ride, the trails below are a must to try! We are also looking forward to sharing some overnight hikes that are family friendly and where you can stay in some of the beautiful huts and lodges that we have here in the Wairarapa.

Yearly recap: 2020 Happy New Year!

2020 has been a year of high and lows however, most importantly it has taught us to slow down and truly appreciate what we have. As always, I wanted to share a little round up of the year that was. We also use this time of year to do some family photos. This year we headed down to one of our favourite spots here in the Wairarapa, Morrisons Bush which is on the banks of the Ruamahanga river and surrounded by native Manuka trees. It's the perfect spot to sit and relax if you're looking for some peace and tranquillity in the outdoors. It also makes the perfect backdrop for family photos. During Summer you can find us here, swimming, or having a picnic and it’s a great spot to camp too.

Hawke's Bay family getaway

Ever since our first glamping experience we’ve been hooked! Now when booking holidays or getaways we seem to be basing them around glamping sites that we want to stay at. We've been eyeing up Mangaone Cliffs for a while and a few weeks ago Jake surprised me for my birthday and booked it! If you've been following us for a while you will know we are more about experiences than gifts. 

Wairarapa Eats

You guys asked for it! Check out the short reviews of the cafes and restaurants below and decide where to eat out today! Highchairs? Changing facilities? Who does fluffies? The Wairarapa is filled with gorgeous places to eat - from bistros and vineyards to artisan bakeries. Here is a list of our favourite Wairarapa eats. Jake and I are big foodies and we are always looking for family friendly places. Whether you're popping out for a coffee or off for a family meal, finding a place that caters for small kids will help make life more enjoyable for everyone. Of course we are always trying new places and love supporting local so you can expect this blog post to grow over time. 

J&J in Rotorua

We've done a lot of travel around the world! During our travels one thing we always said was how lucky we are to call New Zealand home. There's nowhere like it and there is a reason why it's on so many travellers bucket list! One of my fondest memories as a child was spending weekends and holidays exploring New Zealand. Rotorua was one of our family's regular destinations. 

Due to covid-19 there's no better time to explore this place we call home. We’ve even made a new section on the blog and you can find all our family friendly things to do here in New Zealand along with all our Wairarapa adventures. 

We have always been big on experiences rather than presents and for Arlo’s second birthday we decided to pack up the car and head to Rotorua for a family holiday! Rotorua is widely recognised as the cultural capital of New Zealand and the adventure capital of the North Island. With incredible geothermal activity, it’s unlike anywhere else you’ve ever visited and is a must-see destination on any New Zealand trip.