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Backyard Travel Family Helping families have epic travel, outdoor and hiking adventures in New Zealand

This New Zealand Road trip route often gets missed often the NZ highlight list but it’s a really special part of the cou...
20/10/2026

This New Zealand Road trip route often gets missed often the NZ highlight list but it’s a really special part of the country… right near the bottom of the South Island

The Catlins in particular are full of very easy walks, tons of beautiful waterfalls and lighthouses all in the 10-40 minute mark too - easy for young kids and those who don’t want a big hike to somewhere pretty

Have you been to the very South of New Zealand?

I think New Zealand is one of the best places to visit - the variety we have here in such a small place is actually incr...
18/10/2026

I think New Zealand is one of the best places to visit - the variety we have here in such a small place is actually incredible

But travel in New Zealand does have its quirks… and even if we don’t think it’s odd.. maybe visitors do..

Let me know if you have any others we should talk about

16/10/2026

It’s interesting how Cross Country in schools is quite an individual thing...

That’s all I’ve ever known (as the non runner who never placed in school cross country)

But for clubs - its all about racing as a team, obviously go nuts for your own self, but every place you creep up is one step closer to your whole team winning a team medal.

So you’re not just running for yourself..

It’s pretty cool to see ❤️❤️❤️

Funny story: We had the most lovely family come to visit us from overseas and while travelling in the North Island, we g...
13/10/2026

Funny story: We had the most lovely family come to visit us from overseas and while travelling in the North Island, we get this message saying they were a bit stuck.. they didn’t realise there was a ferry between the North and South and they needed to book

They were gobsmacked - I thought it was hilarious

But you don’t know what you don’t know - that’s New Zealand travel for ya

Anything else amusing that you’ve heard from travellers 🤣🤦‍♀️

09/10/2026

Don’t get confused - there are two Pinnacles Huts in New Zealand

The biggest hut in New Zealand - this Pinnacles Hut is in the North Island but this one here is a South Island walk

This is Pinnacles Hut on the Mt Somers Track and itwill take about 3 hours to reach the hut

The hardest part is the first steep climb and then it’s not quite too bad after that

It’s a great trail if the Woolshed Creek hike has become a bit too easy and you’re keen for a bit more of a challenge

Don’t get these two huts confused - both great New Zealand hikes

07/10/2026

New Zealand does scenic drives a little different 🤣🤣

This is the Franz Josef Wilderness Tours quad bike and buggy tours which is great for families and groups of up to 5. (Ad-gifted previously)

Kids can join from about age 4 and older kids can join adults on a quad bike if they wish

A great New Zealand adventure on the Wild West Coast, New Zealand in our favourite part of Glacier Country NZ

And did I mention they include free photos and videos from your trip?

Is there your type of family adventure?

05/10/2026

My cup is very full with this new Christchurch hiking track ticked off my list and some nourishing Rockit™ apple (ad) in our bellies... I can’t think of a better day.

For a great energy boost, we love popping our in our pack. They’re always crispy, the perfect size, juicy and sweet and importantly, they’re always eaten.

Happy hiking!

02/10/2026

This didn’t quite start out as a big planned mission…

It’s just the huts were already booked and we were really keen to do it

So we parked a car at both ends of the track, started early.. was prepared for the dark and just knew it would take us ages

We didn’t rush though.. and Emilia found tramping today particularly hard - although she told me that walking in the dark with torches was the most fun.. and eating yummy food. There’s always a silver lining

*We had also done the dark section many times so had an idea of what we were in for

New Zealand hike details
📍Sharplin Falls Carpark ➡️ Packhorse Hut ➡️ Woolshed Creek Hut ➡️ Carpark
✅ 17.1km
✅ About 10 hours with stops

You can find this South Island walk all about 40 mins from Ashburton on the Mt Somers Track

01/10/2026

Blown away by the sportsmanship at Merrell Race Tekapo with a number of the male athletes coming over to say thank you for a good race

All 3 kids were on a high and even though Kippy won his race, I think I'm most proud of Nathan who tackled the massive hill of Mt John and he took a full 3 minutes off his practice time where he completed 10 out of the 12km

A few weeks back Kipton and Nathan did a reccy on the course to see what it was like to run it.... so he went in knowing that he would walk that very first section so he wouldn't blow out his calves and then ran/walked the next bits - trying to be as efficient as he could

A great learning curve and one he was super excited about since the minimum age to do that course is 12.

A big thank you to all the sponsors - the 4 Square Supermarket stock up after the race was a huge hit stocking some epic post race goodies

The winners prize was pretty incredible with Merrell NZ and The Frontrunner Timaru vouchers that I know he will get good use out of

See you next year!

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