What to see on your way to Hokitika? Drive through Arthur's Pass and discover must see Table of Contents: Must stops in Athur's Pass National Kiwi Center in Hokitika Find Jade on the beach Glowworm Dell in Hokitika Where to Stay & Eat in Hokitika Our journey kicked off in Christchurch, heading toward the rugged West Coast. The drive to Hokitika takes about 3.5 hours, slicing right through the heart of the breathtaking Arthur’s Pass National Park. So what is there to see in Ho

We travelled to Christchurch from Kaikoura. Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island and it is known for its English heritage, in fact, while walking around the city the canals with punting reminded me of the afternoons in Oxford (or Cambridge). We even saw a red London bus going around! But let’s go in order, here are the 10 best things to do in Christchurch. 10 Best things to do in Christchurch Table of Contents: Christchurch Botanic Gardens Magnetic Observatory

We took the ferry from Wellington to the South Island and arrived in Picton. (You can catch up on the best things to do in Wellington here. ) Picton is a small but lovely town and worth a walk around before you head further south. Table of Contents: Wine tasting in Marlborough Scenic drive to Kaikoura Spot seals at Kaikoura Seal Colony Try the local crayfish Swim with dolphins Whale Watching Llama Trekking Wine tasting in Marlborough: The area is a haven for wine lovers; in f

Wellington, the vibrant capital of New Zealand, sits perched at the southern tip of the North Island. It is affectionately known as "Windy Wellington" thanks to the powerful gusts funneled through the Cook Strait, and let me tell you, we verified the trueness of the nickname almost immediately! As soon as we arrived, gusts of winds were reaching up to 130 km/h in exposed areas. While it isn’t usually quite that intense, we happened to arrive on a particularly blustery day, s

Looking for the perfect blend of bubbling mud pools and rich Māori culture? Look no further than Rotorua ! Located on New Zealand’s North Island, Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland sitting right inside a volcanic caldera formed 240,000 years ago. Yes, you’re basically walking on a giant (but sleeping!) volcano.  We spent the whole day in Rotorua and then stayed overnight in Taupo. I reccomend spending 2-3 days in the region as there is plenty to see and you can stay either in

Day three of our epic New Zealand road trip we visited the Coromandel Peninsula, a place where you can dig your own spa pool in the morning, find stunning coastal arches by afternoon, and cap it all off with a drink at the Green Dragon Pub in Hobbiton . A jam-packed tour of pure Kiwi adventure! We stayed in Whitianga  overnight. This pretty town, nestled right on the water, makes for the perfect launchpad for exploring the peninsula. If you're looking for a comfortable stay,

Welcome to Travel Toasts! My name is Barbara, I am originally from Italy, moved to the UK at 18 and then to Spain for an Erasmus. I’m usually based in London, but I’m currently in Australia on a Working Holiday visa. I am always exploring new destinations and collecting stories whenever I get the chance. I created this blog as a way of documenting my adventures and share the practical stuff I learnt along the way. At Travel Toasts, we mix the excitement of road trips and imme

We kicked off our epic New Zealand driving adventure right after touching down in Auckland from Sydney in October 2025. As one of New Zealand's major cities, Auckland is a vibrant, modern hub with a truly spectacular waterfront. Since our itinerary was packed with the best of both islands, we only had two busy days here, but we made them count! We didn’t manage to do all the activities, but here are all the ones that I think will help you to make the most of it. Table of Cont