Backyard Travel Family

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Backyard Travel Family

Helping families have epic travel, outdoor and hiking adventures in New Zealand
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29/05/2026

💧💦Can you believe how clear the water is?

One of my favourite parts of New Zealand - pristine conditions and I hope it stays that way

Lake Hawea is just a short drive from Wanaka and the lakefront drops off super quick, meaning you can swim in water over your head, right near the shore

Things to do near Lake Hawea
- Breast Hill Track
- Drive out to Fantail and Thunder Creek Falls
- ride on the river track all the way out to Albert Town
- and your only 15-20 mins from Wanaka for all the fun tourist attractions there… but hang out here in the peace

Lake Hawea is huge and a great spot for a picnic without the crowds ❤️

Enjoy travelling New Zealand’s South Island - the best island if you ask me 😉

24/05/2026

Training for this their entire lives 🤣🤣

Over 21km and a gazillion steps

Plenty of Chinese mums and babies being pushed around by their Disney husbands 🤣🤣 but not us

I knew all that hiking would come in handy one day!

19/05/2026

People always ask me: “how do you get your kids to hike that far?”

Honestly it’s not always rainbows and sunshine….

But it usually depends on our choice of track

If it’s too easy.. it’s boring, their brains aren’t busy figuring out a path… it’s just plodding

Even trails that are a few hours uphill, there’s no time to moan because they’re finding a shortcut, trying not to fall over and the like….

Also remember our muscles are all warming up for that first 30 minutes or so.. it always seems hard for me at the start too

We have lots of little tips that work for our family, but this is most of the battle

So if you’re a parent who loves to hike…go off - head for a challenge and good luck!

14/05/2026

🤬🤬🤬I have a plan....

So I couldn’t get the dates my friend needed BUT....

Its time for Plan B

🔥 Let me introduce you to - a campsite and hut availability service (Ad)

So if you’re like me and couldn’t get the dates you want, you can set up a request for the dates you need...

Then wait... Schnerp will refresh the DOC hut website and as soon as there is a cancellation or space, you’ll get an email notification.

Cancellations actually happen quite a bit, but the key is knowing when the pop up and getting that booking right away

⏰ Now I just sit and wait...

And its not just for Great Walks either. You can search any of those popular family huts that book out during the weekends like the Ho**er Hut, Woolshed Creek and Packhorse Hut... super handy!

So if you’ve missed out on your New Zealand Great Walk, jump up to my link in bio and get yourself back in the running

✅ Doc Booking Tips
1. Make sure you have an account already on the DOC site
2. Get in the queue prior to 9.30am, you will be allocated a random waiting room number. After 930am you’ll just be added to the back of the queue
3. Have some dates and backup dates all written down so you don’t get confused
4. Know which huts and direction you’ll walk!
5. Good luck!

29/04/2026

I’m sure many people don’t know this New Zealand hike even exists as I’ve never seen this one busy

While it is a bit of a lung burner you’ll be rewarded with epic views: mountains, braided rivers and this stunning lake

Here are the hike details

📍Location: South Island New Zealand - Lake Coleridge area about 90 mins from Christchurch

✅ the first hour is hard yakka but after that it’s not too bad

⏰ 3-4 hours return

📱Cell phone service is patchy. I’ve had none on the way out but a few bars right on top of the hill

Add this beautiful Christchurch walk to your bucket list

Address

Auckland

Website

https://www.backyardtravelfamily.com/

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