Around the World Travel (2 Years and counting)
Two years ago we hugged and kissed our families goodbye at Auckland Airport and boarded the plane to Canada. This would be our first step on our journey Around the World in Four Jandals. Right from the beginning we had it in the back of our minds that we wanted to be away for a minimum of 3 years.
We had a rough idea that we would spend 6 months in Jasper high in the Rocky Mountains of Canada working at the local Ski Resort before making our way across to the United Kingdom for a 2 year working holiday stint before heading over to Asia for a year to teach English.
White Water Rafting Guide - Jasper, Canada
However, the greatest thing I love about travel is that plans constantly evolve. We immediately fell in love with Jasper and stuck around for the summertime as well. I secured a job as a White Water Rafting Guide while Adela worked in the hospitality industry. This allowed us to explore our favourite adventure activities including Hiking, Mountain Biking, Fishing and Camping in one of the most stunning areas in the world.
Ready to Road Trip
Sadly our year quickly came to an end so we embarked on an 18,000 km road trip from Jasper across the width of Canada before driving back through America. What a fantastic way to see both countries and we only wish that we had more time to spend on that once in a lifetime journey. I say it was a once in a lifetime journey but it is fair to say we plan to come back to North America and spend some quality time driving through all 50 States of America and to explore more of Canada’s wonderland.
Edinburgh Castle
With one year down and Adela’s British Passport it was a no-brainer to follow the Kiwi tradition to work abroad in the UK and securing the working visa for myself was relatively easy. Fortunately, we made the decision to move to Scotland and settle in Edinburgh rather than London. We love the fact that we can walk everywhere and just 20 minutes drive from our house we can be Mountain Biking on some world class single tracks. And they have a freaking Castle in the middle of the City!
Marrakech Markets
Oktoberfest Celebrations
The major reason we chose to move to the UK was that the benefits are that we can travel throughout Europe very easily. So far we have knocked off Paris, Marrakesh, Ireland and Munich for Oktoberfest. We also have a number of trips planned to Brussels, Bruge, Egypt and Amsterdam as well as a future Cycle Tour along the River Danube and the Euro Velo 6 route.
One of the important things to note is that there is no way we would have been able to enjoy the amount of travel, or the length of travel we have so far if we were not working in some form or another. We plan to break down all our jobs, savings, travel tips and experiences in posts to come so keep an eye out for those shortly. Although the best way for you to be kept up to date is to subscribe to our email list and to follow us on twitter and facebook.
So to wrap up, we are only two years in and with only a few items on our Bucket List ticked off we are already predicting we won’t be back to New Zealand for at least another two to three years (sorry Mum and Dad) but we can’t wait to see what is next!
Let us know below in the comments if you have travel plans, are already travelling (and for how long) or have just finished up that trip of a lifetime. We want to hear from YOU!
Category: Adventure Travel, Other, Travel Tips
We have been wearing out our jandals (Kiwi slang for flip-flops) on our travel adventures around the world since 2009. We love all types of adventures that make us step outside our comfort zone, in comfort, including surfing, skiing, snowboarding, diving and cruising on our bikes. You can find out more 
Nice summary! I love that you guys have been working while traveling. Such a good plan and a great way to keep going.
I think we’re doing the opposite. We’re traveling Latin America first and when our money runs low, then we’re going to try to find a place to work.
A US passport is the worst thing to have when seeking work abroad, though
How did you two secure work in Canada?
Thanks. The working and travelling is the only way we can manage to see so much I think. We save then travel then save and repeat haha. Not sure which is the best method as we generally then only get to do short trips rather than an extended one.
We got work in Canada through a company in NZ that hooked us up with interviews with a number of different ski fields. Allowed us to pick which role and ski field we wanted to work on. Was awesome.
Good luck with your travels!
Congratulations! I’m hitting my one-year anniversary in a few days. Enjoying South America and hoping to make it last another 6 months… or more
Thanks Stephanie – congrats on reaching your one year anniversary! We have not done South America yet but would love to spend some time there. Just have to figure out when haha.
Wow. That’s a long time on the road! Good for you guys. I’m not sure if that is the life for me, but it looks like you guys are having a blast.
Thanks Christy. I sometimes wonder whether it is the best technique or not. It works both ways as working while travelling allows you to travel for longer but you just don’t get the opportunity to slow down and really take in each place which is a shame.
Love that you guys are living abroad and do not know when you’ll return home. Edinburgh is high on my list of must visits. I’m jealous you get to call it home.
G and I are about to embark on our first RTW late December and we’re heading to YOUR backyard – New Zealand. Super excited! We have one month to make it from North to South so any advice/ tips and more importantly, where to eat, we’d love to hear it. Any recommendations for NYE in Auckland? Look forward to following your journey.
Hey Kieu nice to meet you! We love it hear in Edinburgh, although the weather can be the pits sometimes when we are wanting to get out and do some proper outdoor things. Lucky you are headed into some of the nicest weather back home in NZ as well. How long are you in NZ for in total? Would be best to email me with a bit of a rough plan. Are you headed to the Bay of Plenty, more importantly Mount Maunganui / Tauranga? Its my home town. Also recommend going along the Coromandel Peninsula. My parents live in Whangamata and they would cook you up a good feed as well if you want to head there haha. NYE just head down to the waterfront, will be awesome fireworks and big crowds. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on!
Our longest long term travel was for 6.5 weeks- so jealous of your two years! We can’t wait to get out there for longer, hopefully soon!
Thanks Jade. The only way we can make it possible is by working everywhere we go with lots of little side trips. We are debating at the moment whether we should continue working in Edinburgh for another 6 months then backpack for a few months or just keep doing small weekends away to lots of places. So hard to decide because we do want to do a bigger trip!
Happy anniversary!
Thanks Samuel. Wish we had started this blog when we started travelling but now we have loads of stories to share. If only I had the time to write them all.
I didn’t realize you started in Canada, when you say you crossed the width, did you make it to my home province of Nova Scotia?
Hey Ayngelina,
Yea we started in Jasper for 10 months working and then drove across Canada AND the States. It was 18,000 km over 8 weeks. We absolutely LOVED Nova Scotia. Went right up to the tip of Cape Breton. Saw our first ever Moose up there! Would love to head back to that area as we only had about 5 days there which definitely was not enough. Where are you from?
lot know about traveling world
I like your blogs Cole – I don't think you should go back to NZ as you will be bored – Shhhh don't tell Stef that!
Haha thanks Barb