An Andean resort town situated on the shores of a spectacular reservoir in central Colombia, Guatapé is without a doubt the most colourful city I've ever seen. From the jaw-dropping lake views atop La Piedra to the rainbow-coloured streets decorated with bas-relief zócalos, there is seriously SO much to enjoy in this charming pueblo. Best of all, Guatapé is an extremely easy day trip from Medellín, accessibl[...]
Nestled between verdant mountains and cut by the Fonce, Suarez, and Chicamocha Rivers, San Gil (sahn-híll) is a small, picturesque town in the Santander Department of Colombia, a day's travel from the bustle of Bogotá or Medellín. Although its quiet streets, filled mostly with locals, would never suggest it— San Gil is Colombia's undisputed adventure capital, considered the place to head for extreme sports[...]
In crafting a small section of the 13-day Grampians Peaks Trail into a 3-day loop, VicParks included the official trail between The Pinnacle and Mt Rosea as the first two days, but today's walk now takes us off the scenic, well-graded trail and onto fire trails whose only purpose is getting us back to Halls Gap where we begun. Our final day is pretty uneventful as a result, but the weather is fantastic and we're out[...]
After an incredibly scenic start to the Grampians Peaks Trail yesterday, our second day involves even more sweeping views, this time from the top of Mt Rosea over the Serra and Mt Williams Ranges. The distance covered is slightly longer at 14km, but it's still a comfortable day full of interesting rock features and fascinating trail characteristics. Trail stats: Bugiga Hiker Camp to Borough Huts Distance:[...]
About 250km NW of Melbourne, the Grampians Peaks Trail is set to be the state's newest "iconic walk", a 13-day journey along the peaks and through the forests of one of Victoria's most spectacular (and often overlooked) national parks. I absolutely can't wait for the project to be completed so I can hit the trail on what will be the longest hike I've ever done in Australia— but in the meantime, VicParks has opened[...]
Situated in the misty foothills of Volcán Tungurahua, the jungle air thick with a palpable, infectious energy as countless cascadas drum out a beat amongst the trees, Baños is THE place to go for outdoor activities in Ecuador. Amazingly, its high adrenaline offerings are every bit as spectacular as the setting. Perfectly blending Baños' lush water-rich scenery with an adventurous DIY excursion through the moun[...]
Welcome to Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud. Māori people originally used this word to refer to New Zealand's North Island, but it has since come to define the entire country— and it seems a perfectly mystical name for a positively magical place. High alpine peaks and imposing glaciers border dense rainforests and wild beaches, while textured valley, vibrant lakes, and gushing waterfalls cut th[...]
New Zealand is one of my all-time favourite travel destinations, dishing up spectacular adventures and surreal scenery within a compact, cultured, and incredibly safe country. By all accounts, it's the perfect place for a long road trip, the views out of the window hard to beat anywhere in the world. After spending 2 months road tripping around New Zealand on a couple different trips, I'm keen to share all my fi[...]
Set against the spectacular backdrop of The Remarkables and bright Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown is a lively, backpacker-filled resort town in the SW of New Zealand's South Island, best known for its seemingly infinite number of adrenaline-fuelled activities. With alpine peaks perfect for tramping in summer and skiing in winter, beach access onto countless lakes and rivers, endless biking trails, and the world's first c[...]
As we prepared for our trip around New Zealand and looked into the seemingly infinite number of incredible hikes on offer, the trek to Mueller Hut was an immediate standout. If the stars aligned and we were lucky enough to have clear skies, we'd be rewarded with unparalleled views of the majestic, snow-capped Mt Cook nearly close enough to touch. I've done this trek twice now, obsessed with the alpine scenery and[...]
When people think of trekking destinations, it's usually the Himalayas or the Alps that immediately spring to mind. Flying somewhat under the radar, the Peruvian Andes attract far fewer hikers but seem to leave every single one with the resounding impression that this is the best trekking on the planet. Imagine 6,000m snow-capped peaks towering in every direction, the world's largest canyon, mountains in e[...]
Once considered the spiritual and political heart of the vast Inca empire, Cusco (meaning "centre of the universe" in Quechua) is still one of the most vibrant and historically significant cities in Latin America. Its close proximity to Machu Picchu and some of the country's best high-altitude trekking have made this enchanting city the centrepiece of nearly every Peru itinerary and cemented its spot on the classic&[...]
Widely considered to be one of Peru's most stunning glacier lakes, Laguna Parón in Parque Nacional Huascarán is easily accessible as a day trip from Huaraz— photos of an impossibly blue lake framed by towering peaks of the Cordillera Blanca were all the encouragement I needed to cram yet another day of trekking into my already overflowing Peru itinerary. Featuring a fun scramble up to Huandoy Viewpoint and doubt[...]
After an incredibly scenic day along the Ausangate Circuit yesterday, we are linking up to Vinicunca today for a spectacular sunrise at Rainbow Mountain. The added benefit of beating the crowds travelling from Cusco is certainly not lost on us, but what really sets the experience aside is the insane early morning glow on an already vibrant landscape. It's like a journey across Mars. Trail stats: Anata to Hanchipa[...]
The Ausangate Circuit, a 70km trek around a towering peak of the same name, is easily accessible from Cusco yet remains delightfully undiscovered by the masses. Cramming in every possible trek to our itinerary, though, means that we really only have time for an abridged version of this incredible trek before we have to zip off to Huaraz for the main event (the 10-day solo Huayhuash Circuit). Over two days, joine[...]