Abigail Hannah

Aotearoa Adventures

The New Zealand travel podcast

A collection of real stories from people just like you. Fresh episodes drop every Friday.

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199+unique guests
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2022the year it all started

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198: Around the Mountain on Taranaki in Three Days with Kelsea & Olivia

Kelsea and Olivia met on the first day of year one and are still best mates, sharing their adventures as Girls Off Grid while fitting tramping, hunting and moun…

Show notes

Episode 198

Around the Mountain on Taranaki in Three Days with Kelsea & Olivia

0:00 / 54:49
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Abigail Hannah in a wide-brimmed hat looking out over Lake Pukaki

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    We talk about it all. The epic, challenging and hilarious moments that make the best travel stories.

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    Our backyard is a giant playground and I talk to people out there experiencing it, whether they play in the ocean, mountains or bush.

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    Packed with helpful tips and tricks to help inspire and support your adventures around the country.

[pssst... You'll want to write it all down, but I've got you covered with detailed show notes.]

All 198 episodes

  1. 198 Around the Mountain on Taranaki in Three Days with Kelsea & Olivia
  2. 197 Pioneering Women of Aoraki Mount Cook with Hazel Phillips
  3. 196 Packrafting the Landsborough River from the West Coast with Tom Waters
  4. 195 From Everest to NZ Expeditions to Local Microadventures with Tsewang Nuru Sherpa
  5. 194 Summer as a DOC Ranger on Stewart Island and Women in Trades with Brooke Thompson
  6. 193 Solo Tramping the Richmond Ranges and Running an Outdoor Store with Emily Thompson
  7. 192 Six Week Road Trip in the Top of the South Island with Abigail & Isaac
  8. 191 Backcountry Huts as Art and Tiny Home Living with Kemi & Niko
  9. 190 Family Tramping on a Budget and Child-Free Trips with Shoshannah Shand
  10. 189 Moving to Aotearoa from Chicago and Building a Life in Queenstown with Viktoria De Dominicis
  11. 188 Bikepacking 3,000km in New Zealand on Tour Aotearoa with Laura Bell
  12. 187 From Beginner Trail Running to Setting Course Records with David Haunschmidt
  13. 186 Packrafting and Tramping 48 Days Through Fiordland with Penzy Dinsdale
  14. 185 Thru-Hiking New Zealand Before Te Araroa Opened with Shalane Hopkins
  15. 184 Turning New Zealand Work Trips into Solo Great Walk Adventures with Nick Thompson
  16. 183 Four Years of Aotearoa Adventures and No Home Address with Host Abigail Hannah
  17. WE'RE HITTING PAUSE
  18. 182 Finishing a Two Month Slow Paddle Sea Kayak Expedition with Isaac and Abigail
  19. 181 Scuba Diving in Wellington and Motorbikes with Tyla Bow
  20. 180 Hiking the Cascade Saddle Route, Tramping Clubs and Influencers with Alice Milne
  21. 179 Vanlife and Revisiting Favourite New Zealand Hidden Gems with Daniel Mauden
  22. 178 One month into a 1000km Sea Kayak Expedition with Isaac and Abigail
  23. 177 First-Time Packraft Adventures and Hiking to Lake Crucible with Charlotte
  24. 176 A Local's Guide to Northland and Building Hiking Communities with Hannah Whittaker
  25. 175 Starting Tramping in her 40s and Lake Waikaremoana as a Family with Lois Baldwin
  26. 174 Fastpacking the Travers-Sabine Circuit in 2 Days with Zeb Harris
  27. 173 Section Walking Te Araroa over Multiple Seasons and Battling Cancer with Te Aroha Hohaia
  28. 172 Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Tongariro Northern Circuit with Ben Boland
  29. 171 Planning an Adult Gap Year to Full-Time Van Life with Sagar and Ami
  30. 170 122-Day Self-Supported North Island Sea Kayak Expedition with Joel Buckley
  31. 169 Tramping, Hut Bagging Goals, Cancer and Recovery with Verity Jackson
  32. Bonus Kiwi Yarns with Brodie Kane and Abigail Hannah
  33. Bonus Creation in Isolation Podcast with Billy Nunweek and Abigail Hannah
  34. Bonus 2025 wrapped
  35. 168 From First Tramp to Paparoa and all the Great Walks with Nicola Harvie
  36. 167 Finding Hidden Places and Getting Lost with Cat Macnaughtan
  37. 166 Caravan Living as a Family and Writing Music on the Road with Emily & Charles
  38. 165 An 18-Day Mission Through Nelson Lakes, Kahurangi and Abel Tasman with the National Park Trifecta
  39. 164 Five Months SOBO on Te Araroa and Finding Community with Deni Estivill
  40. 163 Best Spots and Hidden Gems in the Bay of Plenty & Coromandel with Ciska
  41. 162 We are Kayaking From Cape Reinga to Tauranga to Raise $20,000 !!!!
  42. 161 Empowering Kiwi Women in Hunting & Fishing with Wild Chix Isabell Zitzelsberger
  43. 160 Hut Etiquette in DOC Huts and Exploring the Whitcombe Valley with Renee Cadigan
  44. 159 Exploring Northland and Living on the Road in a 12-Ton Unimog with Kyla and Louis
  45. 158 Mountain Biking, Towel Ponchos and a Brain Injury with Debs Brockelsby
  46. 157 Setting the Fastest Self-Supported Record on Te Araroa with Billy Meredith
  47. 156 Taranaki Three Peaks Traverse and Supporting Families in the Outdoors with Jenn Julian
  48. 155 Five days on the Sladden Glacier climbing Mt Sealy and Mt Jeanette with Kaleb Anderson
  49. 154 Working as a Sky Diving Instructor in Wānaka with Anne Bonfert
  50. 153 Arthurs Pass and Three Attempts at Mount Philistine with Amelia Hayes
  51. Bonus Community Hike - Tāmaki Makaurau
  52. 152 First Ascents on Mount Lindenfeld and Mount Haast with Justin Wimmer
  53. 151 House Sitting across New Zealand with Travel Writer Jessica Lockhart
  54. 150 Hunting Wapiti in Fiordland with Jarrod McLachlan
  55. 149 Solo Expedition on Rakiura and ADHD with Wild Boy Brando Yelavich
  56. 148 A Mountaineering Career and Climbing Mt Aspiring with Dom Huxley
  57. 147 An Ocean Obsession, Great White Encounter and Spearfishing with Laura Kuggeleijn
  58. 146 Hiking to Barker Hut and Ranking NZ's Best DOC Huts with Chris Lierheimer
  59. 145 Solo Tramping the Mangamate Loop in Whirinaki Forest Park with Sharon Evans
  60. 144 Solo Adventures, 4WDing and Being Multi-Passionate with Grace Reeves
  61. 143 Intro to Rock Climbing and NZ's Best Crags with Josh Parker
  62. 142 Tramping and Exploring Aotea Great Barrier Island with Kristina Montgomerie
  63. 141 Best Christchurch and Canterbury Adventures with Kids with Jasmine Trafford
  64. 140 Off-Track Tramping to the Unknown in Rockburn Valley with Sarah Morrison
  65. 139 Slow Travel in an EV and Catlins, Dunedin and Oamaru with Mature Flâneur Tim Ward
  66. 138 An Obsession with the Mountains of Tongariro National Park with Hazel Phillips
  67. 137 A 5 Year Journey from Budget DIY Van to Dream Home-on-Wheels with Abigail and Isaac
  68. 136 Pushed to her Limits on the Hump Ridge Track and Slow, Mindful Travel with Helen Griffiths
  69. 135 Ultra-Swimming and 11 Hours to Swim Across the Cook Strait with Ivan Polyntcev
  70. Bonus Listen to Abigail on the Kiwi Yarns Podcast
  71. 134 Three Months of Road Trips and Hut Bagging in the South Island with Sophie Wakelin
  72. Bonus Easter Long Weekend
  73. 133 Tramping the Heaphy Track from Karamea to Collingwood with Jacq Nesbit
  74. 132 Nine Months of Solitude Walking Northbound on Te Araroa with Naomi Arnold
  75. 131 Conservation and Lessons from the Bush with Bushman Sam the Trap Man
  76. 130 Full Time Vanlife and Staying Off-Grid in Fiordland with Jord and Tom
  77. 129 Tramping Four Epic South Island Hikes in 10 Days with Stacey Walker
  78. 128 4WD Adventures across the Length of the South Island with Rich Soult
  79. 127 Tramping an Unmarked Route to Gorge River with Elvisa Van Der Leden
  80. 126 Adventures with Kids and a Peach Cove Rescue with Renata Wiles
  81. 125 Jetboating 27 Wild Rivers on a Solo Trip with Ollie Sharpe
  82. 124 A Bucketlist Birthday Group Trip to New Zealand with Travel Podcaster Jackie Nourse
  83. 123 Best Auckland Adventures for Kids with Outdoorsy Hijabi Mum Veronika Edali
  84. 122 Solo Female Travel in New Zealand in Your 50s with Larissa Hubbard
  85. 121 Avoiding Vanlife Mistakes and Life on the Road in NZ with Tiff and Nathan
  86. 120 Multi-Passionate Adventures and the Olivine Ice Plateau with Alexander Hillary
  87. Bonus Kicking off 2025 with Abigail Hannah
  88. 119 Three Teens' 900km Cape to Cape Human Powered Journey with Olly, Will and Thomas
  89. 118 Hut Bagging and Visiting Over 500 DOC Huts with Benjamin Pigott
  90. 117 Bikepacking to all 23 New Zealand Ski Fields with Tara and Naomi
  91. 116 4WDing and Camping as a Family in the South Island with Kerry Quigley
  92. 115 Quitting his Corporate Job and Preparing for Five Months of Thru-Hiking Te Araroa with Anurag Sharma
  93. 114 Sea Kayaking for Beginners and the Best of the Hauraki Gulf with Bennett Lim
  94. 113 Tramping the St James Walkway and an Unexpected Encounter with Olivia, Jacinda and Sarah Blair
  95. 112 Crossing the Cook Strait on a Paddleboard and Surf Lifesaving with Britt Spencer
  96. Bonus One year of running a business
  97. 111 Coming Home to New Zealand and Living in a Kombi as a Family with Kirianna Poole
  98. 110 A Sea Kayaking Expedition Along the Fiordland Coast with Mark Jones
  99. 109 An Epic 4WD Summer Road Trip at the Top of the South with Brad Willetts
  100. 108 Fastpacking from St Arnaud to Arthur's Pass in 8 Days with Alice Brice
  101. 107 Learning to Freedive, Spearfish and Building Community with Renee Taylor
  102. 106 Overlanding in the Old Man Range and 4WD Trips with Jono Hitchcox
  103. 105 A Multi-Day Canyoning Trip in Abel Tasman with Aimee Jules
  104. 104 Avalanche-Bealey Traverse and Pursuing Adventures with Neurological Disorders with Nick Allen
  105. 103 The Ultimate New Zealand South Island Road Trip in Winter with Barb and Reg
  106. 102 Having an Accident on the Routeburn and a Five Year Recovery Journey with Sarah Heffron
  107. 101 4WD Rakaia Valley Adventure and a Solo Northland Trip with Billy Nunweek
  108. 100 Celebrating 100 Episodes of the Aotearoa Adventures Podcast with Abigail Hannah and Special Host Olly Dow
  109. 099 Moving to New Zealand and Learning to White Water Kayak with Isaac Naylor
  110. 098 Beating Cancer Twice and Exploring Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain with Ellena Butcher
  111. 097 Accidents and Beauty Found in Solo Hiking Whirinaki Conservation Park with Kurt Fenton
  112. 096 Camping and Hiking in Northland as a Family with Waikato Mum Anna O'Brien
  113. 095 Exploring the South Island for the First Time as a Kiwi on a 7 Day Road Trip with Hamish McColl
  114. 094 Climbing Mt Maunganui 38 Times in 14 Days and Living a Nomadic Lifestyle with Bri O'Brien
  115. 093 A Team Effort to Sea Kayak the North Island of New Zealand with Paddle for Purpose
  116. 092 A Passion for Camping, Community and Knowledge Sharing with Jono Collins
  117. 091 Finding Freedom in Slow Travel and Bikepacking with Nicole Koch
  118. 090 A Solo Kayak Circumnavigation of New Zealand Over 5800km with Red Paterson
  119. 089 Skiing to the South Pole on a 50 Day Antarctic Expedition with Mike Dawson
  120. 088 Waterfalls, Beaches, Geothermal Wonders and Other Hidden Gems in the North Island with Barbie Sharma
  121. 087 Overlanding in New Zealand up the Godley and Havelock Valleys with Jack Laurent
  122. 086 From Fly Fishing Guiding in New Zealand to Starting an Outdoor Gear Brand with Matt Butler
  123. 085 Bikepacking as a Beginner and a Solo Trip from Christchurch to Queenstown with Katy Binchy
  124. 084 Low Carbon Adventures Around New Zealand on Foot, Bike and Public Transport with Shanti Mathias
  125. 083 Finishing Te Araroa as a Family Two Years Later with Deanna Gerlach
  126. 082 Family Heli Trips to Chancellor Hut and Almer Hut with Hami Tangiora
  127. 081 Ski-Touring and Camping on Tasman Glacier in a Storm with Helena Sodergren
  128. 080 Safety in the Outdoors and the Importance of Carrying a PLB with Katie Johnstone
  129. 079 Exploring the Trails in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park with Heather Marston
  130. 078 The 10 Great Walks in 10 Days Challenge with Jordan Pratt
  131. 077 Five Days, 85km on Abigail Hannah's First Solo Hike on the Old Ghost Road
  132. 076 Two Weeks Tramping in the Kaweka Ranges as a 17 Year Old with Olly Dow
  133. 075 A Ski-Packraft-Tramping Expedition from Mt Aspiring to Waiatoto with Nick Pascoe
  134. 074 The Frustration and Elation of Landscape Photography with Meghan Maloney
  135. 073 Southland's Five Great Walks in Five Days with Simon Patton
  136. 072 White Water Kayaking and a Harrowing Accident with Ryan Lucas
  137. 071 Travelling New Zealand in a Van and LOTR Filming Locations with Charlotte and James
  138. 070 Learning to Surf in New Zealand with Amber Holyoake
  139. 069 Hitchhiking and New Zealand's Great Walks with Howie McFadyen
  140. Bonus 2023 Wrapped
  141. 068 An Epic Northland Road Trip and Vanlife with a Toddler with Renata Wiles
  142. 067 Hiking and Trail Running in Mount Somers with Lauren Korstrom
  143. 066 Getting the Most out of Local Weekend Trips with Ashley Elliott
  144. 065 Exploring the Skies, Paragliding in New Zealand with Josh and Caleb
  145. 064 West Coast Solo Road Trip and Kiwi Hospitality with Neha Paranjape
  146. 063 Tramping the Canyon Creek Track as a Beginner with Debbie Cartwright
  147. 062 Hiking the Three Passes Route from Arthur's Pass to Hokitika with Pat Nolan
  148. 061 Moving to New Zealand and Travelling with Photographer Scott Howes
  149. Bonus I Quit My Corporate Job
  150. 060 Unforgettable Experiences in New Zealand with First-Time Visitor Tracy Collins
  151. 059 Two NZ Epics - Bicycle Circumnavigation and Packraft Traverse with Dunc Wilson
  152. 058 Converting a Bus to Explore New Zealand with Warrick and Chené
  153. 057 A Healing Journey on Te Araroa Trail with Germaine
  154. 056 Vanlife, the East Cape and Life Done Differently with Lisa Jansen
  155. 055 Hiking with Kids to Mt Brown and Mental Health with Renee Cadigan
  156. 054 A Memorable Week on the Road from Kaikōura to Aoraki
  157. 053 An 85-Day Southern Alps Traverse with Penzy Dinsdale
  158. 052 Getting Outdoors, Walking and Wellbeing with Kaelyn Kingi
  159. 051 Bikepacking around the South Island with Rachel Davies
  160. 050 Living and Travelling in a Caravan as a Family with Bronson and Chelsea
  161. 049 Tramping the Dusky Track in Fiordland with Sam Harrison
  162. 048 Eight Days in the Kaimai Mamaku Ranges with Jenifer Silva
  163. 047 Downhill Mountain Biking in NZ with Laura Goldsworthy
  164. 046 Routefinding and Bivvying on Mount Wakefield with Jinal Govind
  165. 045 The Underwater World and Scuba Diving with Annika Andresen
  166. 044 A Spontaneous Solo Road Trip in a Station Wagon with Morgan Healey
  167. 043 Thru-hiking the Te Araroa Trail with Zoe
  168. 042 From Corporate Hustle to Outdoor Social Enterprise with Robert Bruce
  169. 041 Growing Up in the Bush and Antarctica Expeditions with Chris Long
  170. 040 Surfing and Skydiving in NZ with Cody and Callie Chase
  171. 039 Angelus Hut and Tramping Guiding with Dylan Arthur
  172. 038 Drone Photography and Unique Rotorua Landscapes with Petra Leary
  173. 037 Camping at Earnslaw Burn and Gertrude Saddle with Lauren Murray
  174. 036 The Ultimate New Zealand Road Trip with Dane and Stacey
  175. 035 Summitting Mt Earnslaw and Mountaineering for Beginners with Wiktoria
  176. 034 NZ's Most Popular Walk - The Milford Track
  177. 033 A Human Powered Adventure Along the 45th Parallel Traverse with Tanya
  178. 032 Ruapehu and Solo Tramping in the Backcountry with Hazel Phillips
  179. 031 Falling in Love with New Zealand with Travel Blogger Tara Tavener
  180. 030 Hiking the Milford Track in Fiordland with Sam Fulton
  181. 029 The Red Canoe at Tasman Glacier with Guy and Alisha
  182. 028 Mueller Hut and Hiking as a Family with Jen Parkes
  183. 027 Experiencing the Night Sky and Astrophotography with Larryn Rae
  184. 026 Abel Tasman National Park and Adventure Tourism with Kyle Mulinder
  185. Bonus 2022 Wrapped
  186. 025 Sailing, Racing and the Best of the Hauraki with Stephanie Haden
  187. 024 A Lifetime of Adventure and a Few Close Calls with Russell Jennings
  188. 023 Hiking while Pregnant and Gillespie Pass with Alice
  189. 022 Living, Working and Travelling in NZ as an Expat with Justine Jehanno
  190. 021 Wellington Gems and Travelling Locally with Tilleigh Ultra
  191. 020 Travelling the South Island with Dogs with Courtney Mellow
  192. 019 Swimming the Length of the Clutha River with Rob Hutchings
  193. 018 Slow Travel and Mental Wellbeing with Pamela Edmondson
  194. 017 Enchaining New Zealand's 3000m Peaks with Alastair and Hamish
  195. 016 Exploring the Nelson Lakes National Park with Mel White
  196. 015 Hiking Old Ghost Road as a Family with Sonia Barrish
  197. 014 Snowsports in Aotearoa with Olympian Anja Barugh
  198. 013 Bikepacking from Cape Reinga to Bluff with Greg and Lauren
  199. 012 Travelling with Pets in New Zealand with Tegan
  200. 011 Creating the Roady App with Roscoe Price Moor
  201. 010 Exploring Aotearoa with a Toddler with Shoshannah
  202. 009 Solo Hiking the Routeburn Track with Emily
  203. 008 Living on the Road for Three Years with Goose and Ellen
  204. 007 Walking the Length of the South Island with Aimee Roberts
  205. 006 4WD Land Cruiser Adventures with Bri Woolnough
  206. 005 Pouakai Circuit and Syme Hut with Kristina Montgomerie
  207. 004 Hiking to Alex Knob, Glacier Views with Lucy
  208. 003 Hiking the Kepler Track in Fiordland with Dua
  209. 002 Vanlife on a Working Holiday Visa with Harry and Lydia
  210. 001 Helicopter over Aoraki with Billy Nunweek
  211. 000 Pilot: Meet your host, Abigail Hannah
  212. Welcome to the Aotearoa Adventures Podcast!

★★★★★

Here's what listeners say

Finally had the time to listen to them on the plane home and enjoyed the first few, will listen to a few more on the long trip back down to Dunedin! It's fun to be listening to a travel podcast while travelling!

Hannah, Dunedin

Heck I love listening to all these podcast stories! Got me through my long boring drive yesterday!

Shoshannah, Nelson

So excited to listen to this! I'm in awe of how awesome your podcast is, I love hearing in more detail about trips around NZ and all the stories people have to tell. I can't wait to hear it each week!

Laura, Christchurch

Abigail is such a relatable person, you can't stop listening to her. Her podcast literally made me book my flight to Aotearoa and with her amazing map, we had a really stunning trip.

Germany

This is THE podcast to listen to if you're planning to visit New Zealand. I've learnt so much from Abigail's conversations with guests and my must-visit list is getting longer thanks to all the amazing destinations she introduces her listeners to. Can't wait for the next episode.

Australia

I absolutely love this podcast, it's my go-to when hiking or driving, so inspiring listening to all the great adventurers and their stories. An awesome space creating an adventurous community!

Renee, West Coast

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