The Northland is the northernmost region of New Zealand. It’s referred to as the Winterless North on account of its mild subtropical climate year-round. The region is famous for its winding roads, golden sandy beaches, beautiful coastal views and ancient kauri forests.
Tag: travel
Whangarei
Whangarei is considered the gateway to the Northland region in the North Island of New Zealand. It’s a large city, the northernmost city in New Zealand actually, and has a subtropical climate. It contains plenty of opportunities to enjoy the coastal views and volcanic mountains.
Auckland
Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand. It’s known as the City of Sails as its harbours are often filled with thousands of sailboats and yachts. It’s located in the North Island and it's typically where most international travellers begin their journey to New Zealand. With several museums, parks and other points of interest it’s the perfect spot to spend a few days to acclimatize.
A Short Stop in Vancouver
Vancouver is an extremely picturesque city that’s surrounded by the mountains and the sea. But it’s also one of the rainiest cities in Canada. While the summer is typically dry, the rest of the year can be damp and wet. I guess they don’t call it the wet coast for nothing.
Thousand Islands National Park in the Winter
The Thousand Islands are a group of 1,864 islands located in the St. Lawrence River between southeastern Ontario in Canada and northern New York in the United States. Thousand Islands National Park is located on the Canadian side and is spread across 21 of these islands and a few different areas on the mainland. While the islands are inaccessible in the winter, there are a few hiking trails on the mainland section of the park that remain open year-round.
Point Pelee in February
Point Pelee may be one of the smallest national parks in Canada, but it’s also the most ecologically diverse. It’s located on a peninsula on Lake Erie and is the southernmost point of the mainland in Canada. It contains several habitats including beach, marsh, dry and wet forest and cedar savannah. It’s open year-round and is a popular spot for swimming, birdwatching and hiking.
MacGregor Point Provincial Park in the Winter
MacGregor Point Provincial Park is located along the shore of Lake Huron. It’s super popular in the summer because of its sandy beach. But the park remains open in the winter and offers a variety of activities to enjoy the snow, including skating, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Winter Camping in a Cabin in Arrowhead Provincial Park
Arrowhead Provincial Park is located in Muskoka. While this area is commonly known as cottage country, it also boasts of being one the snowiest regions in Ontario. In the winter Arrowhead offers skating, cross-country, skiing and other winter activities to enjoy the snow. It also offers winter camping, including in several cabins for those that want to stay overnight in the park.
Winter Camping in a Yurt in Killarney Provincial Park
For the past few years we’ve been visiting Killarney Provincial Park at the end of fall or beginning of winter when the trails are much quieter. It’s located along the northern shore of Georgian Bay and features windswept pines, lush forests, pink granite and white quartzite ridges. The landscape is so breathtakingly beautiful that it provided much inspiration to the famous Group of Seven painters. We typically stay in one of the rustic cabins, but they’re becoming harder to book. We managed to reserve a yurt though and decided to give that a whirl.
Diving in Curacao
The ABC islands consist of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao and are the three westernmost islands of the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. Curacao is the largest of these islands and is home to a healthy coral reef and vibrant marine life. It’s located below the hurricane belt and with crystal clear waters, it’s reputed to be a popular spot for diving, especially from the shore.