Ben Boland is a born-and-bred Kiwi who didn’t grow up loving the outdoors - and once weighed close to 190kg. He shares how getting active in his 30s led him to walking tracks he never imagined tackling, starting with a humbling first Tongariro Alpine Crossing done mid–weight loss and with minimal planning. Since then he's done the Tongariro Crossing and Tongariro Northern Circuit several times. He breaks down the track in details from shuttles and direction choices to points of interest like the Devil's Staircase, Red Crater, the Emerald Lakes. Ben shares more details about the 3-day Tongariro Northern Circuit, a Great Walk that covers vastly unique terrain on each day of the hike. Ben shares advice from personal experience on when to turn back, winter conditions, gear choices, hiking poles, and carrying better food.

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 Ben on Instagram: instagram.com/ben.outthere/

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nzFollow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/Get my NZ Map & Guide

Sagar and Ami moved to New Zealand separately 10 years ago; then after years of saving and planning, decided to take an "adult gap year" to travel the world. Coming from India, they share the cultural mindset shifts and safety nets required to leave their stable careers and the intentional steps they took before leaving their jobs, like buying a house and getting New Zealand citizenship. Now, they live full-time in their van, Wanda Bee, exploring the South Island while balancing content creation with travel logistics. They share how Nelson Tasman surprised them with how much there is to explore, and their favorite spots like Wharariki Beach, Te Waikoropupū Springs, Rāwhiti Cave and the adrenaline of tackling the new Tākaka Hill via ferrata.

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 @sagarandami on Instagram: instagram.com/

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

Joel Buckley is an outdoor instructor who kayaked around the North Island solo and self-supported. He talks through how the idea formed early, what finally pushed him to commit, and how little he really understood about the scale of the challenge at the start. He shares about long paddle days, rough West Coast weather windows, gear failures and well as highs - like paddling with a baby dolphin in the Coromandel and the generosity of strangers. Joel had 67 paddle days in his 122-day expedition, and shares how daily distances ranged from 30km to 80km, and how he decided when it was safe to paddle. He also had a few close calls, including severe dehydration and a near miss with a ship. Joel shares practical tips for anyone that wants to start sea kayaking or begin longer expeditions.

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 Joel on Instagram: instagram.com/jtbuckley_outdoors

Email Joel: joelbuckley@gmail.com

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

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Verity Jackson has been tramping across New Zealand for decades and joining a tramping club opened up off track travel, navigation skills and lifelong friendships. Actively blogging and documenting her tramps online, Verity has bagged over 350 huts, a mix of easy-accessible hut and remote bivvys. She started 2025 with a goal to bag 25 huts, but halfway through the year, Verity was diagnosed with vulva cancer. Surgery, recovery and uncertainty followed, but tramping became a way to rebuild confidence and keep moving forward. Verity reflects on resilience, the healing power of the outdoors, caring for New Zealand’s huts, and why she no longer puts adventures off for "someday". She finished the year doubling her hug bagging goal, despite the challenges along the way.

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 Verity on Instagram: instagram.com/nzhikingadventures

www.nzhikingadventures.com

Buy trail cloth: www.nzhikingadventures.com/category/all-products

Bag your huts: hutbagger.co.nz

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

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This episode was originally published on Kiwi Yarns with Brodie Kane.

Today’s guest has a job that, on the surface, many would describe as a "dream job" and say, "oh, how lucky!"While there’s no denying that the titles “travel blogger,” “travel writer,” and “travel photographer” have a certain allure, Abigail Hannah’s backstory is truly fascinating.Born in Aotearoa, Abigail spent most of her childhood growing up in rural India, a place that felt like home. She later returned to New Zealand alone to begin her studies, and was diagnosed with depression some months afterwards.Abigail shares her experience of navigating one of the darkest periods of her life, and how falling in love with New Zealand - by reconnecting with nature - changed the course of her life. | Subscribe: https://bit.ly/2JPg8oBRead more:For full coverage visit www.Stuff.co.nzSubscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/2JPg8oB

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This episode was originally published on the Creation in Isolation podcast with Billy Nunweek.

The time has finally arrived, the Creation in Isolation Podcast is back, 5 years on from episode one. This time, I go full circle by inviting my good friend Abigail to sit down and chat about her journey from a young New Zealander, growing up in India through to running her own Social Media Management business.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07lKje77LNo

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Follow instagram.com/ciipodcast/

Please review Aotearoa Adventures wherever you listen.

The annual wrap up - a summary of host Abigail Hannah's year - her travels, her podcast, her business, her life.

Links:

• Support our fundraiser: www.slowpaddle.nz
• Find out more about Feijoa Social: www.feijoasocial.com
• Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah
• Join the broadcast group

Got questions, comments, suggestions? Send me a DM!

I appreciate you being here ☺️

Nicola Harvie is a travel blogger, tramper and mum. In her twenties, she set a goal to complete all of NZ's Great Walks before turning thirty. Starting out new to tramping, Nicola finished the full list by age 27, squeezing in the Whanganui Journey while 26 weeks pregnant and ticking off tracks alongside friends, family and solo. She shares what it was really like walking the Paparoa Track soon after it opened, including long ridge days, wild West Coast weather and the logistics that make or break a booking. Nicola talks about booking strategies, favourite Great Walk moments and why Milford and Lake Waikaremoana still stand out. Now based in Central Otago with young kids, she reflects on how adventure changes with different seasons of life and why small, local days still matter just as much as big missions.

Discover the best of New Zealand with my NZ Map & Guide, featuring 100+ incredible locations for your next adventure. Use PODCAST10 at checkout for 10% off and start planning your dream trip today

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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 Nicola on Instagram: instagram.com/nicolaharviex/

followingfaultlines.com

Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz

Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/

Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/

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