Travel Tips @nz | Transfercar Blog

Wwoofing around the world

The concept of working for your food and accommodation while travelling is not a new one and many a budget conscious traveller has walked this well-worn path.

Wwoofing however is a little more specialised. Originally an acronym for “Working Weekends on Organic Farms”, the definition changed over the years to “Willing Workers On Organic Farms” as the need for assistance over longer periods arose. Due to the word “work” however causing some problems, the name finally settled to being “World Wide Opportunities On Organic Farms”.

Sue Coppard, in 1971 was the first to recognise the need for people like herself, who did not have the means or the opportunity, to access the countryside and support the organic movement. It was here in the suburbs of London that Wwoofing set its roots, now growing as a movement with more than 50 WWOOF groups worldwide. Continue reading Wwoofing around the world

How to make a great travel journal

If you are a traveller like me and plan to continue traipsing around the world in your free rentals, then you are likely to have loads of little reminders of your journeys. Little things such as tickets to shows, a bus pass or an entry to visit some iconic artifact or concert line your travel bags, draws or hand bag well after the journey is complete.

Even though you have photos galore to back the stories, these little items are tangible reminders of epic life journeys that will eventually get lost, torn or destroyed. I wish I had made more of an effort to keep all these reminders in some order as I travelled, but I didn’t. So with that in mind, this little blog is to help anyone else out there with the same dilemma:

Here are a few tips I have found floating around that will help get you started: Continue reading How to make a great travel journal

The Great Barrier Reef Australia

Sitting in the aptly named Coral Sea off the coast of Queensland (beginning at the tip of Cape York Peninsula in the north and extending down to Bundaberg in the south) the Barrier Reef is host to an unusual array of plant, bird and marine life. Nestled amongst its almost 3000 individual reefs, built from 360 species of hard corals, and 880 islands, are a variety of dolphins, dugong, 6 different types of turtles, over 175 bird species, approximately 2,200 native plant variations, approximately 2,000 fish species and is a safe breeding ground for Humpback and other whales. Continue reading The Great Barrier Reef Australia

What to do when visiting a Marae in New Zealand

When travelling around New Zealand, it is highly likely you will be taken to visit some of the local Marae. These are sacred meeting houses for Maori and are symbols of tribal identity. Considered by Māori as tūrangawaewae – (standing places or places of belonging), they facilitate public discussions and debates, funerals and celebrations and other local gatherings. They are often elaborately carved and designed community spaces equip with a dining hall and cooking area and the marae ātea (sacred space in front of the meeting house).

When visiting a Marae, it is important that you are prepared. Before the visit: Continue reading What to do when visiting a Marae in New Zealand

Food for camping: Quick and easy cashew nut cups

I’ve recently come back from a well needed stay at a Yoga retreat in Koh Samui, Thailand (Samahita Retreat) where we trained in Ashtanga Yoga twice a day. As you can imagine, the food was delicious, organic and highly nutritious. However with all that training, my craving for something sweet was almost overpowering (and there is only so much honey you can put in a herbal tea!).

Amongst some of the incredibly mouth watering desserts available was a little beauty called a Cashew Nut Cup. Now why is this a good addition to Transfercar’s travel blog you ask? The reason being, that this can be easily made on a gas stove, over hot coals or on a BBQ, making it a fantastic travel treat that is cheap and easy to prepare. Check this out yourself. Continue reading Food for camping: Quick and easy cashew nut cups

Black sand and burnt feet: Navigating the West Coast beaches of New Zealand

New Zealand is a country of contrasts. From the rolling hills of the North to the majestic, snow capped peaks of the South, it truly is a place of epic variations. Where the East is home to smooth waves and white sand, the West is united by jet black coastlines and turbulent waters loved by surfers worldwide. Both are as beautiful as the other, and can leave you breathless with wonder or lifeless if care is not taken.

Tag: Travel Tips