THE BEHIND THE SCENES TO AN EF ULTIMATE BREAK TRIP ABROAD: Australia & New Zealand

every city has its story, tap the photo for its post

I’m here for you throughout the process if you have more questions. I’m super excited for you in this next journey and can’t wait to hear all about it!!!

*EF is a travel group that plans trips all over the world. I’ve gone on a few trips with their groups in my lifetime because it’s a fun way of traveling with likeminded people around your age group, meeting travelers nationwide, and you don’t have to plan anything! I got to know so many tour directors and have made so many memories, that they gave me the opportunity to become an EF Ambassador. I even get to give you a special link as a first time traveler to get $100 per traveler you and your buddies go on! Just tap away here and find a trip that’s right for you. And if you have any questions, as always, let me know!

The post What the Logistics Looked like Traveling to Australia and New Zealand appeared first on Plane and Cheesy.

Waiheke is a haven of beautiful vineyards, olive groves and beaches, all just a 40-minute ferry ride from downtown Auckland. In landscape, lifestyle and experience. The white sandy beaches at Oneroa, Palm Beach and Onetangi slope gently down into the Hauraki Gulf and are perfect for swimming, kayaking, or having a picnic.

If you love walking, explore the island’s trails which meander along cliff tops, down to the beaches and into cool enclaves of native forest. At the eastern end of the island the Stony Batter walkway leads you to a system of World War II gun emplacements and underground tunnels. 

Wai Kitchen

Before we started our winery adventures, we met up for some much needed eats. Going to a poke spot seemed like a great idea because we knew they would have a fresh catch being next to the water. I had the wai poke bowl with house king salmon- purple rice, slaw, tomato, edamame, corn roasted sesame sauce mayo, sweet soy sauce. Mmm mmm good!

New Zealand was absolutely incredible in so many ways. While we only spent a week in this country, we truly did so many activities to make it feel like we were locals. From Queenstown to a few detours in the mother nature areas, flying into Rotorua, and getting to know Auckland; there are an abundance of adventures to have if you’re feeling that wanderlust kick. The flight on the other hand was about 17.5 hours from Auckland to Dallas, Texas and then another flight to Miami. Let’s just say we re-lived the same day twice.

I even had to separate Queenstown’s eats and created a whole guide on New Zealand to help plan your next trip!

Travel with me on EF Ultimate Break too! I’ll give you the lay of the land here.

*EF is a travel group that plans trips all over the world. I’ve gone on a few trips with their groups in my lifetime because it’s a fun way of traveling with likeminded people around your age group, meeting travelers nationwide, and you don’t have to plan anything! I got to know so many tour directors and have made so many memories, that they gave me the opportunity to become an EF Ambassador. I even get to give you a special link as a first time traveler to get $100 per traveler you and your buddies go on! Just tap away here and find a trip that’s right for you. And if you have any questions, as always, let me know!

The post Top 3 Wineries in Waiheke Islands, New Zealand appeared first on Plane and Cheesy.

Something I never thought I would do but just had to do was a new “risk my life” kind of adventure. I had already flown out of a plane, which most of our friends were planning to do. And it was pretty darn expensive to do it in Queenstown, even with the USD being more favorable than the New Zealand currency. If I had to skydive again, I would do it in Ibiza or somewhere exotic.

Anyway, Ari and I wanted to bungee jump. We did it with a well-known company called AJ Hackett Nevis Bungy, Swing & Catapult. After much research, they pretty much owned all the adrenaline junky activities in Queenstown. They even have a lifetime discount after you’ve adventured with them once before, which is nice. We had other friends do different activities with them, so we pretty much all spent a morning risking our lives and then all hung out.

I think one of my favorite parts about Queenstown as a whole were its sunsets, besides the food, of course. I definitely did not try to wake up for the sunrise because it was quite chilly in the morning and I get cold easily. I know I’m a chicken, as my fiancé would say. We would walk from our hostel to the beach and sit on the pebbles to enjoy the view. The colors of the sky and everything just made it so much more special. It felt like a mix of the ocean with forest and mountains all in one view.

We even got to ride a gondola and luge in town. The views were amazing during sunset and a bit chilly on top!

Detour to Mirror Lakes, Cleddeau Valley, Milford Sound

Stopping at Mirror Lakes felt like I was in a Twilight movie- out in the woods, in the middle of nature, lots of fog, gloomy weather, and just an overlook into the wilderness. The bus dropped us off at the entrance and it was a one way to the exit.

Funny enough for this day in particular, our tour directors told us to “wear warm clothes,” which I totally ignored or had selective hearing for that comment, I guess. So when we arrived to the breakfast spot before Mirror Lakes, I needed something warm.

While everyone made a huge line in this one cafe, Ari and I walked a bit around town for something else. We ended up at a sandwich shop, which ended up working great because we had the other half of our sandwich for later. *Just call us smarty pants*

And I found a thrift store that I bought these sweat pants at!!! They were also basically $0.50 USD from the New Zealand currency exchange I looked up. I made my tacky outfit workout because my top was actually a t-shirt dress, and then I had a super light rain jacket on top, and of course, sneakers. WHAT A TIME!

Next stop was Cleddeau Valley! We found talking birds, river streams that were fresh and good for refilling your water bottles, and a FANTASTIC view!!! We were the first tour bus there, so it was nice to not have so many people photobomb our photos. We left just in time to make it to Milford Sound next for our boat day.

This was probably the first time we had a boat to ourselves! It was Ben’s and Justin’s group (the EF tour that stayed for both Australia and New Zealand). The lunch was provided and there was an opportunity for bar items too. Thankfully, I took my sweat pants off and was able to tan my legs a bit. Of course, we had to do the Titanic pose!!

the beauties of milford sound

january 11, 2023

A Day in Rotorua

Breakfast at Caper’s Cafe

Some of us needed energy in the morning, so we walked to breakfast before heading out to our adventures. I had something super small and a coffee with whip cream!

Polynesian Spa

This spa is known for its hot sulfur pools. Each pool ranged from 101 to 106 degrees. At the entrance, you have an option of borrowing a swim suit or using your own, because you had to wash your own right after the pool. We came prepared with tide packets to wash our swimsuit after.

Nestled on the shores of Lake Rotorua lies Polynesian Spa – a geothermal bathing and soul-soothing retreat, where you can experience wellness sourced from Rotorua’s very own backyard. Renowned for its healing waters and decadent spa therapies, discover why people have flocked to these waters since the 1800s. Waters from two natural springs are fed into the 28 mineral pools at Polynesian Spa. The slightly acidic Priest Spring relieves tired muscles, aches and pains while the alkaline waters of the Rachel Spring nourish skin. Wellness rituals include absolute lakeside hydrotherapy pools, heated recliners and a reflexology walk for the ultimate in relaxation.

Polynesian Spa

Legend has it that the sulfur water can cure anything: arthritis, stress, even a hangov— um… common cold.

Mitai Māori Village

Māori culture is an integral part of life in Aotearoa, New Zealand. For millennia, Māori have been the tangata whenua, the indigenous people of Aotearoa. Arriving here from the Polynesian homeland of Hawaiki over 1,000 years ago, the great explorer Kupe, was the first Māori to reach these lands. Manaakitanga is all about welcoming guests and providing great hospitality, something which all New Zealander’s pride themselves on. Make the connections between our past, present and future by embarking on guided experiences.

New Zealand

Kaitaki Adventures at Mount Tarawera

Into wild, natural experiences and fantastic scenery? We experienced the unique landscape and history of Mountt Tarawera. Infamous for its eruption on June 10th, 1886, Mount Tarawera created the world’s youngest geothermal valley of Waimangu. We participated in a fully guided walking experience encompassing the unique landscape and history of the area. With unmatched scenic vistas and 360 panoramic views, the trip was a total of 4.5 hours.

Volcano hiking was pretty scary because it was all downhill but it was also fun because, ya know, I got some rocks in my shoes. So I felt like a kid the whole way. I think being afraid of heights doesn’t help, but it was something I really wanted to take part in. Ashley helped me gain confidence as she walked next to me and made sure I didn’t fall forward… which would not be exciting. *Thanks Ashley!*

It was pretty chilly in morning but got warm later on. So I suffered a bit in the morning. ALL GOOD!

The colors of the craters were amazing! The erosion back in the day created a hole within the volcano so that was a site to see. We had pros from the Kaitaki Adventures lead the whole way through and they were so kind to us. I absolutely loved the hike and would recommend this company!

Hobbiton

Hobbiton is home to some of the series’ most famous hobbits like Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, and the Hobbiton Movie Set is where many scenes were filmed. Today, it’s one of New Zealand’s most famous tourist attractions.

Jackson first began the nine-month construction at the Alexander family farm on Buckland Road in 1999, thanks to the emerald rolling hills untouched by 20th century clutter such as roads, buildings, or power lines. 37 hobbit holes were created and The Mill and double arch bridge were built.

The Insider

Fun fact for you— if you want to stay on site, you can book a stay in Hobbiton. You would have to book a two-night minimum. They cost 10 New Zealand dollars (just over $6 USD) per night— in honor of the 10th anniversary of the first movie in The Hobbit trilogy.

hobbiton movie set

a day in the life of a hobbit

What it was like in Auckland

Cookies from Mrs. Higgins

Pit stop to a sweet spot. I feel like I need to have something sweet in each city I’m in, so Mrs. Higgins will do! The cookies were the perfect amount of moist and a much needed snack. Very fresh!

Ending the Trip at Brew on Quay

This was where our farewell dinner took place. We booked the elevator seated area in the restaurant on the first floor. It was nice to sit with everyone together for one last time and of course, enjoy a free meal on EF! We also had a mini photoshoot behind the brick wall of the restaurant.

On the other side of Auckland, we traveled to three wineries in Waiheke Island. That was worth its own post though. We even had to go on a ferry to arrive to the island for our last stay in New Zealand. Stay tuned for that!

No wine-ing here… let’s have a grape time!

PS We stayed at Nomad’s Queenstown Hostel | 5/11 Church Street, South island, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand

PSS We stayed at Sudima Hotel Lake | 1000 Eruera Street, Central, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand

PSSS We stayed at Auckland City Hotel | 157 Hobson Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

*EF is a travel group that plans trips all over the world. I’ve gone on a few trips with their groups in my lifetime because it’s a fun way of traveling with likeminded people around your age group, meeting travelers nationwide, and you don’t have to plan anything! I got to know so many tour directors and have made so many memories, that they gave me the opportunity to become an EF Ambassador. I even get to give you a special link as a first time traveler to get $100 per traveler you and your buddies go on! Just tap away here and find a trip that’s right for you. And if you have any questions, as always, let me know!

The post A Mini Guide through New Zealand’s Beauties appeared first on Plane and Cheesy.

1. Long Champ Back Pack

I have had my long champ for a good 4+ years. Basically since I studied abroad back in undergrad. This is the type of bag that fits all kinds of things. My friends called it the witch hat because I was always pulling something out! You can even fold it up if you wanted to take the bag with you and use it later.

2. Steamer

The most portable steamer that I’ve ever owned. I love that I don’t have to carry something huge to make my clothes look great. This steamer works amazing in all kinds of settings!

3. Tide To Go Pen

You know that one thing you can’t live without? This is it for me. I am the clumsiest person, so this pen works wonders. I also like to carry it for my clumsy friends. It definitely makes you feel powerful when you can erase your little mistakes on clothes and make it look good as new!

4. Portable Charger

I only really use my portable charger for travel or long events. I have used this portable charger in particular for my phone and my ipad! From the last time I used it, it gave me about three full charges for my phone and one full one for my ipad. Definitely a must!!

5. Revlon Air Dryer

This blowdryer is incredible! I have timed the duration it takes for my hair to be blowdried and I have a record timing of 12 minutes. As one of my favorite purchases, I completely recommend this for all hair types. It works wonders and is so easy to use!

6. Laundry Bags

If there’s anything you know about me, it’s that I’m an organized packer. I like to use my laundry bags to separate my clean from my dirty clothing, because once you get home, you know exactly what to put in your laundry. I absolutely love the mesh bags too. Easy to spot in all your clothing!

7. Tripod and Remote

I know it’s a two in one, but the purchase together makes all the difference. There’s so much that goes into a photo, this tripod and its remote make life so much easier. The mini tripod is amazing! Every time I travel or even walk by myself, I attach the tripod to anything it can hold onto and use my remote to click away. The mini tripod is super flexible and can grab onto any uneven surface! I mostly use my phone with it because it just makes it easier to carry and snap!

8. Waterproof Shoes

These waterproof shoes saves lives. I love that it looks like a regular shoe but has plenty of breathing space for your feet. It feels great to walk in and out of water, and has a little elastic to make it tighter or not depending on how you want the strength of your shoe to weigh on your feet. I also love the neutral color, meaning it matches with all my outfits!

I can write about tips forever on what to travel with, especially when the items coincide with my favorite items to move with. These items are my absolute favorite to explore with because they make my life so much easier! I absolutely love everything I can do with each item and how much value it brings in my life, and those around me. If you needed any gift ideas for travel bugs like me, THIS IS IT!

This page contains some affiliate links. This means that I may receive a commission if you click on the link and decide to purchase. I promise everything I write here is my own, honest opinion. I will never recommend anything I don’t love, trust and use myself. I am SO grateful for your support!

The post 8 Gift Ideas for Travelers that They’ll Actually Use appeared first on Plane and Cheesy.

It’s pretty freaking amazing how much body of water surrounds these islands, the amount of activities you can do and wander off to, as well as spend time with family and making memories.

Key West, a U.S. island city, is part of the Florida Keys archipelago. It’s also Florida’s southernmost point, lying roughly 90 miles north of Cuba. Famed for its pastel-hued, conch-style houses, it’s a cruise-ship stop also accessible from the mainland via the Overseas Highway. It’s known more for its coral reefs – destinations for diving and snorkeling – than for its beaches.

Google

Let me tell you a little something about this post before I really get started. It’s actually based off one of my close friend’s, Alex’s, experiences. Grateful she’s letting me use her photos and fun!

I’m trying to make this as touristy as possible!

What should you do in Key West if you’re going for the first time?

90 miles to Cuba

It only took a buoy structure for everyone to know we were 90 miles from Cuba. I feel like it’s actually become a landmark since then. Havana-ooh-na-na

It’s actually just a very large statement piece. I love that everywhere you go, you have a reminder of Cuba. The stories flood every time I look at something that reminds of this beautiful country. #ThanksPapi

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

Housing about 60 different species of live butterflies from around the world. The nature conservatory is in a climate-controlled, glass-enclosed habitat too. They’re absolutely beautiful!

Up close and personal too!

Ernest Hemingway’s home

Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters

This was Ernest’s home in the 1930s. As an American writer, he situated himself in Key West, Florida.

The exact address is 907 Whitehead St, Key West, FL 33040. To give you some visuals, it’s on the other side of the Key West Lighthouse by the southern coast.

Walk through Mallory Square

Duval Street

These photos don’t do it justice.

This specific street had a strip of restaurants, live music, markets, and beautiful sunsets. Mallory Square was the life of the party in the Keys.

Restaurants

• Fat Tuesday: souvenir cups are my all-time favorite!
• Willie T’s Restaurant and Bar: where you place $1 from all over and make it decor
• Kermit Key Lime Shoppe: best key lime pie ever
• Santiago’s Restaurant: yummy tapas, or Spanish food

Islamorada

Robbie’s

This place brings back so many memories. I love coming here and doing all kind of water activities. Ironically enough, I’m not a huge water person. And I’m from Miami, so that took a lot of me to say.

You can feed tarpon and manatees. Going snorkeling was my highlight! You can also rent kayaks, boats, and go into local shops for your handy dandy souvenir.

Marathon

Turtle Hospital

As a non-profit organization, the monies goes straight to the rehabilitation and care of turtles. Look how cutie they all look!

Fun fact: Another way to find sea turtles in Key West is to go snorkeling! At “The Great Florida Reef“, you can explore them too. Did you know that this coral reef is actually the only living coral barrier reef in the United States?!

Dolphin Research Center

Holding a 90k sqft saltwater lagoons makes it home to dolphins and Cali sea lions. It’s located in Grassy Key, Florida too! Since 1984, this is one of the most respected institutions that study and protect these animals.

Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters

Where all sea creatures meet in a safe environment. They also include sharks, tortoise, and sting way when treating them.

Did you know, turtles can breathe through their butts?

The keys is always somewhere everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. I’m pretty bias too, but it makes all the difference because South Beach and Miami Beach are always packed. This way, you have different areas to do all kinds of water activities.

Right Alex?!

If you have any questions, please let me know! I’d be happy to help mediate more places to go in these fine islands. Florida has so much to offer, so I want to be able to expand on much more than Miami.

The post What it’s like Being a Tourist in Key West appeared first on Plane and Cheesy.

Let’s Explore!

Ridin’ Dirty

One of the goals in this trip was to do an activity that each person had a dream of doing. Khadeil’s dream came true today! We went horse back riding in the mountains about an hour from the city. We worked with the Promontory Club to choose our horses and just ride them! It was more of a follow the leader structure and chat along the way, versus a free for all type of ride. Depending on what you’re interested in, you can guide your group in that direction. We didn’t mind either or, because the views made up for everything! Look at those mountains!!!

Seven Wonders, but Keep it Industrial

This was one of the spots I couldn’t miss in this trip. It’s the Golden Spike National Park, which means that it’s part of the Industrial Edition for the Seven Wonders of the World. In case you were wondering, there are multiple editions for the Seven Wonders and I always try to do my research before traveling somewhere to pick on the historical parts of the state to visit. This train station is the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States connecting the Central and the Union Pacific Railroads from Sacramento to Omaha.

Be One with a Foodie

Feeling a little wHOLE again

We had a quick pit stop to an ice cream spot downtown. Normal Ice Cream made the list! Because of covid, it was more of an on-the-go ice cream shop, but the sweetness overload was much needed. We also stopped at the Rock Stop by Zion, which had coffee, pre-made donuts, and cutie stones for sale. It was a mom and pop shop, and looked like a place from the Flintstones. Adorable!!!

Pit Stop for Comfort

Everyone needs that comfort style food in their trips. We love going to pubs and grills to bring the feeling of home in our trips. Squatters Pub and Legend’s Pub and Grill did the trick. Of course, we got a flight at Squatter’s to add onto our city experience, and Ashley tried cheese curds for the first time EVER! We also dumped our faces in Legend’s nachos and had the full sports bar experience. A nap was completely called for after the day we just had!

Din Din time!!!

To find a spot that we were all craving the food for and that was open, but not as packed, was a mission and a half. They don’t even allow you to make reservations in these restaurants, so it became a little difficult to find a good spot. We came across Iron Horse, specifically because there was a grocery store around the corner where we killed time to wait for us to get a table. I shared the Surf and Turf with Ashley, and it was SO worth it!

Rodizio Grill is similar to Texas de Brazil, where the meat comes to you and is cut in front of you. They also have a buffet style prior to getting the meats to come to you, so it was nice that we got to experience the full idea. We actually arrived to the restaurant about an hour before the kitchen closed, so we thought we had enough time, but no one informed us of the closing time of the kitchen. So we basically had to devour our foodie to end on a good note.

Post-Dinner, like the Pre-Game, but After

You know you had a good trip when you stopped at a few speakeasies! We hit Bourbon House and Bodega and thankfully actually got in. The lines were HUGE! We had even made reservations, but I guess it was also a first come, first serve basis… so we walked to the other reserved spot to maximize our time in both locations. Both felt very intimate, great charcuterie type vibes, and the drinks were so worth it! I think this trip made me love speakeasies even more. Catch me out there!!!

Taking the Films to a Whole Other Level

Can you guess what was filmed in each location?!

Utah’s Capitol

East High School

The Real UP House | Riverside Park

I wanted you to soak in all the photos before I told you what the movies were for each spot we went to. Also wanted to keep you on your toes, but that’s the suspenseful part of the fun.

• Utah’s Capitol was used in Legally Blonde. Who knew?!
• East High School is the High School Musical location, major throwback!!!
• The Real UP House is actually still a livable home, and it’s from the Pixar movie UP.
• Riverside Park, which is also an oldie, is the baseball field from Sandlot.

Adventure to National Parks

I don’t know how many miles we walked, but the National Parks are worth it! We only had an opportunity to do a couple, mostly because of time, but we made the best of it. I think depending on the parks you want to visit, you would allot the time necessary to explore. Major TIP! Don’t forget to take weather into account, because we struggled just a tad.

Bryce National Park

We were absolutely not prepared for this weather. It was SO cold. If you’ve ever seen me when I’m shivering, I look like I have chicken skin (the saying sounds better in spanish). But I had already pre-planned my outfit, so there was no backing down!

At Bryce National Park, we saw Thor’s Hammer… from very far. I think this was the shortest we walked around a park, because the weather was just not for us that day. It was a cute time though, because we got to eat our snacks in the bench and just people watch.

Zion National Park

The park signs lied to us. It took us 4.4 miles one way to go towards the top. I’ll give you some insight. It might’ve taken the 2.5 miles to reach Angel’s Landing, but if you’re feeling adventurous, our group climbed to the tippy top reaching Eagle’s Landing. The sign doesn’t tell you about that at the bottom, so we were pretty much dead by the time we reached the top. Thankfully we packed our lunch to eat at the top and snap some shots.

The view was breathtaking, but you had to be so careful with every step you took. The hikers were so nice too, because we formed pretty much a line of people going either way to not cause a traffic jam. These hikes are no joke, but absolutely should be part of the trip!

Let me tell you a little about our Zion National Park Experience. As part of our trip, we allotted about two days for all things around Zion National Park. The first day was originally for the park and exploring all the areas that we had researched and the second day was more to chill and stay closer to the Airbnb. We drove with our rental car and as we were driving up, there were people already parking on the sides. my extroverted self asked what was going on, and one of the hikers that parked mentioned that we had to call a shuttle to go to the top and reserve it from days prior.

No one told us that nor did the website for the National Parks say that nor anything about covid.

Basically half a day wasted, because Zion wasn’t going to work, but we adapted! We planned for Zion for the second day and switched our days around to make it work. I totally recommend a few things that we didn’t have time or think of doing:

• Bring lunch / snacks that last for everyone for the day. The food at the parks gets pretty pricey if you don’t plan ahead. My back pack was water proof and had a water pouch inside that was easy to drink out of. It was SUCH a life saver!!!
• Bring a water proof phone case for the Narrows, or anything that you’ll be in the water for. also helps carry your ID’s and cash. Here’s the one I used!
• The morning’s are ALWAYs more chilly than the rest of the day. I know a sweater might be bulky once it’s hot and annoying to carry, but no one wants to freeze all day. I personally brought a windbreaker because it kept me warm, from getting super soaked, and it helped with the rain. It also had pockets inside, which was absolutely the best thing ever!
• If you want to go deep into the Narrows, I suggest and extra change of clothes to leave in the car. As well as renting the long pants and boots to cover your outfit when you’re in. I would do the full out suit, because we saw some people in the overalls suits and they fell so quick and got soaked. So what was the point of that? The hiking sticks are also necessary to walk in the water!

I hope these tips worked, if not, can work. It makes your trip worthwhile for sure!

Utah, you will be extremely missed. Let’s head to COLORADO!

This page contains some affiliate links. This means that I may receive a commission if you click on the link and decide to purchase. Everything I write here is my own, honest opinion. I will never recommend anything I don’t love, trust & use myself. I am SO grateful for your support!

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