Aotearoa Adventures: The New Zealand Travel Podcast

Abigail Hannah

Explore New Zealand with Aotearoa Adventures - your ultimate guide to travel, adventure, and the outdoors. Each week, host Abigail Hannah brings you inspiring stories from everyday people, covering tramping, vanlife, bikepacking, road trips, and so much more. Get beginner tips and practical advice for every adventure, from camping under the stars to multi-week expeditions. Whether you’re a local, on a working holiday, or visiting, this podcast will inspire you to explore New Zealand deeper and connect with nature.

  1. 3D AGO

    180: Hiking the Cascade Saddle Route, Tramping Clubs and Influencers with Alice Milne

    Alice is a tramper, blogger, speech & language therapist and mum, based in Southland. She shares about a special trip with her Dad to Cascade Saddle in Mt Aspiring National Park. Waiting for a rare bluebird weather window, they tackled the demanding route in late summer. It involved a relentless climb, exposed scrambling with huge drop-offs, and having to stash gear in long-drops away from kea. Alice shares she special moments shared with her Dad on this trip, the sweeping views of the Dart Glacier and Tititea Mt Aspiring at sunset. Alice also reflects on tramping through different life stages, levelling up her outdoors skills through courses and joining a tramping club. We discuss the realities of social media and mass tourism and the responsibilities that come with travelling and sharing wild places online.    Abigail & Isaac are kayaking for 1,000km from Cape Reinga to Tauranga in Feb-Mar 2026 to raise $20,000 for mental health and the ocean. Join the community to follow our journey closely, donate or paddle with us.👉 slowpaddle.nz 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 Alice on Instagram: instagram.com/alice.adventuringaliceadventuring.com/Cascade Saddle Route: what you need to know to climb safely Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nzFollow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/Get my NZ Map & Guide

    1h 2m
  2. MAR 26

    179: Vanlife and Revisiting Favourite New Zealand Hidden Gems with Daniel Mauden

    Daniel Mauden is a German-born traveller and photographer, who now lives full time on the road with his partner Dinah. He shares about childhood family trips, volunteering stints in the US, India, and the Bahamas, and the spontaneous decision to move to Aotearoa. Daniel worked in Hamilton for several years, squeezing weekend adventures around full-time work, before leaving his job and freelancing as a content creator. Daniel talks about places he keeps returning to - Cape Palliser, Castlepoint, French Pass - and why lighthouses, remote coastlines, sunset, are his favourite places to explore and photograph in New Zealand. He shares openly about the trade-offs of van life, from tight spaces to constant decision-making, alongside the freedom of waking up beside the ocean or hiking before sunrise. Daniel shares his perspective on slowing down and revisiting places deeply, instead of chasing checklists    Abigail & Isaac are kayaking for 1,000km from Cape Reinga to Tauranga in Feb-Mar 2026 to raise $20,000 for mental health and the ocean. Join the community to follow our journey closely, donate or paddle with us.👉 slowpaddle.nz 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 Daniel on Instagram: instagram.com/roamdates Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nzFollow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/Get my NZ Map & Guide

    48 min
  3. MAR 12

    177: First-Time Packraft Adventures and Hiking to Lake Crucible with Charlotte

    Charlotte grew up outdoors, studied outdoor education, and has spent recent years with new pursuits - from canyoning and whitewater to learning to packraft. She shares about an epic South Island summer trip with her boyfriend, that was shaped by weather windows, flexibility and spontaneous decisions. After buying new packrafts just days before their adventure, their first trip to Lake Crucible which combined jet boating, hiking, camping and packrafting among icebergs. The trip finishes with wet gear, hitchhiking, and the long walk back to the road - the unglamorous side of river journeys. Charlotte has solid advice for packrafting beginners, where to find trip reports, check flows and also knowing when to walk away. Abigail & Isaac are kayaking for 1,000km from Cape Reinga to Tauranga in Feb-Mar 2026 to raise $20,000 for mental health and the ocean. Join the community to follow our journey closely, donate or paddle with us.👉 slowpaddle.nz 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 Charlotte on Instagram: instagram.com/sunshinewithcharlotte/Follow Charlotte on TikTok: tiktok.com/@sunshinewithcharlottewww.packraftingtrips.nz Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nzFollow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/Get my NZ Map & Guide

    56 min
  4. MAR 5

    176: A Local's Guide to Northland and Building Hiking Communities with Hannah Whittaker

    Hannah Whittaker grew up loving travel and now based in Auckland, she shares how exploring New Zealand on weekends, rather than chasing big overseas trips, reshaped how she thinks about adventure, time, and comparison. She shares about her favourite Northland spots, from the Bay of Islands and Urupukapuka Island to Duke’s Nose, Kerikeri, Mangawhai Heads, and Langs Beach. Hannah also shares practical tips for visiting Northland - where to base yourself, campsites, standout walks, access to the islands and why Northland suits both short trips and longer, slower travel. Hannah also shares how hosting monthly community hikes grew out of loneliness in her twenties, and why creating spaces for people to connect outdoors matters.   Abigail & Isaac are kayaking for 1,000km from Cape Reinga to Tauranga in Feb-Mar 2026 to raise $20,000 for mental health and the ocean. Join the community to follow our journey closely, donate or paddle with us.👉 slowpaddle.nz 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 Hannah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notes2homeBay of Islands summer guidenotestohome.comGet Hannah's Rexby Map Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nzFollow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/Get my NZ Map & Guide

    1h 2m
  5. FEB 19

    174: Fastpacking the Travers-Sabine Circuit in 2 Days with Zeb Harris

    Zeb Harris ⁠@backcountrykiwi ⁠is a fast packer, trail runner, and YouTuber. He explains what fast packing is and how he loves to see how much ground he can cover with a light pack and a tight timeframe. Zeb shares about a weekend adventure - a 2 day fast pack of the Traverse–Sabine Circuit in Nelson Lakes National Park. Running on a few hours sleep, he covered 50km on the first day, with side-trips to bag huts along the way. He talks about stomach issues, a foot injury and how he pushes through when it gets mentally and physically tough. Zeb breaks down his gear, sleep system, poles, packs and has practical tips for anyone curious about refining their gear for tramping or fastpacking.   Abigail & Isaac are kayaking for 1,000km from Cape Reinga to Tauranga in Feb-Mar 2026 to raise $20,000 for mental health and the ocean. Join the community to follow our journey closely, donate or paddle with us.👉 ⁠slowpaddle.nz⁠ 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 Zeb on Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/backcountrykiwi⁠ ⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠ Read the Blog: ⁠www.abigailhannah.nz⁠Follow Abigail on Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/abigailhannnah/⁠Follow Abigail on TikTok: ⁠tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/⁠⁠Get my NZ Map & Guide

    59 min
  6. FEB 12

    173: Section Walking Te Araroa over Multiple Seasons and Battling Cancer with Te Aroha Hohaia

    Te Aroha Hohaia grew up moving around the North Island, lived in a caravan as a child, and didn’t discover tramping until adulthood - starting with a summit climb of Taranaki. She shares how that first mentally and physically demanding experience reshaped her relationship with the maunga, leading to repeated climbs and a deeper connection with Taranaki. After getting hooked on tramping she decided to walk sections of Te Araroa, choosing autumn and spring windows until a breast cancer diagnosis and double mastectomy disrupted her seasonal plans. Te Aroha shares her favourite moments from the trail, walking with her mokopuna and adapting plans to fit in extra sections. She shares the benefits of section walking Te Araroa and the joy of returning to a trail and having something to look forward to each season.   Abigail & Isaac are kayaking for 1,000km from Cape Reinga to Tauranga in Feb-Mar 2026 to raise $20,000 for mental health and the ocean. Join the community to follow our journey closely, donate or paddle with us.👉 slowpaddle.nz 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 :) Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/ Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/Get my NZ Map & Guide

    59 min

Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Explore New Zealand with Aotearoa Adventures - your ultimate guide to travel, adventure, and the outdoors. Each week, host Abigail Hannah brings you inspiring stories from everyday people, covering tramping, vanlife, bikepacking, road trips, and so much more. Get beginner tips and practical advice for every adventure, from camping under the stars to multi-week expeditions. Whether you’re a local, on a working holiday, or visiting, this podcast will inspire you to explore New Zealand deeper and connect with nature.

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