If you’ve been furiously Googling “Tasman Glacier heli hike Reddit” trying to find a thorough, first-person Tasman glacier heli hike review, you’re in the right place! I did a glacier heli hike in February and am spilling all the info you need to figure out if heli hiking in New Zealand is worth your precious […]

If you’re visiting New Zealand and are a dolphin lover (and seriously—who isn’t?) you may have heard that you can swim with the world’s smallest dolphin species off the South Island! But before you start furiously searching Reddit for, “swimming with dolphins in Akaroa, New Zealand? What’s the best time to see dolphins in Akaroa? […]

When my boyfriend and I started our road trip through New Zealand’s South Island in a 22-foot camper van, everyone—from the grizzled barista in a Wanaka café to the Swiss couple spending a year working at a local winery—told me Milford Sound was a must-see destination. I felt a tangle of excitement and disappointment; excitement, […]

When I was planning a two-month trip to New Zealand, I knew that many of my loose plans would involve zigzagging around the South Island looking for wildlife—fur seals on the coast, dolphins in the bays, and maybe even the elusive kiwi (the bird, not the fruit—though I sought out plenty of the fruits, too!). […]

If you’re wondering what to pack for Borneo in September (a great month weather-wise, and a good general list for other months!) here’s the short answer: lightweight short and long sleeves, breathable pants, serious bug spray, quick-dry everything, fully body rain gear, and a dry bag. But that’s just the beginning! Borneo is hot, humid, […]

A river safari in Borneo is one of those experiences that looks unreal in photos—orangutans swinging above the river, elephants on the banks, mist rising off the water at sunrise. But it’s also remote, time-intensive to get to, and the jungle = giant leeches, malaria and dengue fever-carrying mosquitos, sudden downpours—you get the picture. So […]

If you’re trying to figure out the best time of year for a river safari in Borneo, here’s the honest answer: there isn’t one single perfect month, and Borneo is a year-round destination! But there are better times depending on what you care about most. Weather, river levels, wildlife visibility, and even how crowded the […]

If you’re googling “Is Borneo safe for solo female travelers?” I’m going to guess two things: I went to Borneo solo for a river safari and I’ll say this: it was one of the safest solo trips I’ve done, but there are still some things (unexpectedly massive jungle leeches, rainforest weather, etc) you need to […]