Josh CurrieExplorer

Cathedral Cove is known to be the most beautiful and photographed beaches in all of New Zealand. A visit to this sanctuary is a must! Cathedral Cove is an isolated beach on the Coromandel Peninsula in the small coastal town of Hahei. Being that this is one of the most beautiful places in all of New Zealand, you can expect some crowds. You can take your chances at finding a spot in the small ...

Norman Island is one of the more popular islands in the BVI's, with great snorkeling, hiking, and caves to explore. There is a restaurant in one of the perfect blue water bays that is also open during the high season. There are no inhabitants on the island, except for wild goats. There are tales of buried treasure all over the island because of all of it's caves a long the shore as well as hidd...

The Trinity River is one that is rarely visited by your typical Bay Area resident. In fact, much of true Northern California is "untouched" in the eyes of those who live in The City, which is what drew me to this place to begin with. After a five hour journey from San Francisco, we made it to our destination, Bigfoot Campground, just past Junction City on highway 299.To be honest, I prefer hike...

Situated in the hills above Palo Alto; Foothills Park is the perfect spot to spend the day outdoors. With hiking, fishing, picnic areas, wide open fields, and expansive views of the Bay Area, this hidden gem is a must visit. Foothills Park is 2.7 miles west of 280 after exiting Page Mill. After exiting you take a short scenic drive up the hill and come to the park entrance on your right. Like ...

Crescent Lake is another beautiful spot a long the Beuna Vista loop. Starting at the Chilnualna Falls Trailhead in Wawona, you start your journey climbing about 4.6 miles and 2,300 feet to the top of Chilnualna Falls (always a good place to rest). Beyond the falls, continue a long the trail and always head east at each fork in the trail. There will be signs for Royal Arch and Johnson Lakes to d...

Chateau D'oex sits at 3,100 feet above sea level in the French-speaking Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. The easiest way to get to this picturesque place is by train, unless you happen to be staying nearby with a car. The small mountain town of about 3,500 people is riddled with history, beautiful landscapes, snow activities, and lest we forget, the International Balloon Festival, which has been an...

Mount Maunganui sits right on the water in the Bay of Plenty. Half the island rests on the open ocean, where the other half rises out of the bay. Driving in to the town, it's impossible not to see this massive piece of land jutting above the flat town and ocean around it.Once you have found parking, which might take awhile, the trail starts at the end of the beach walkway along the sand. There ...

Wairere Falls is located just ten minutes from Matamata. If you're in the area for the Hobbiton tour definitely make sure to take some time to hike the falls as well. Parking is super easy at the base of the hike and there is a restroom if needed before starting the trek. Allow yourself at least 4 hours to complete the tramp.You start the hike through dense, lush rain forest and weave your way ...

Marokopa Falls is located right off Te Anga Rd in Waitomo. Most people visit Waitomo for the world famous Glow Worm Caves, but I encourage continuing on down the road to visit the falls.The tramp to the falls is very easy and should only take about ten minutes through the covered green forest. You then pop out on a wooden deck overlooking the massive waterfall. Though it isn't the nearly the hi...

First, I must say that the only way to get here is by boat. But that is the case for the majority of the destinations in the British Virgin Islands. Apparently the legend goes that the pirate, Blackbeard, after doing his pirate duties, would store his treasures in the caves. Though many people every day swim through the caves, I don't think any treasure has been found for quite some time. There...

Nicasio is a quaint town just inland of the more popular coastal town of Point Reyes. It's most known for it's wine country, rolling hills, and the home of Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas's getaway home. Most visitors of this area either pass right on through for Point Reyes or use it's scenic roads for cycling. The land has a lot to offer, especially with hikes, streams, and small lakes for fish...

Mangapohue Natural Bridge is about 30 kilometers past the infamous Glow Worm Caves in Waitomo. Continue on Te Anga Rd and you'll run into the beginning of the trail on the right. It's only about a 10 min walk out to the cavern so no need to worry about bringing a day pack.You walk through a tree covered gorge of limestone with the stream running below until you run straight into the cavern. The...

Andrew Molera is about 27 miles south of Carmel and one of the first State Parks you'll hit heading down the coast. There will be signs for the Park as you approach and the main parking lot is only a couple hundred yards from Hwy 1. There are a number of hiking trails and activities to do around the park if you want to just hang for the day. For those who are interested in camping, it is one of...

Your hike to Devils Kitchen will start from Warner Valley Campground. The hike starts out thorough the valley and eventually winds through the forest and ends at the top of the Devils Kitchen site. You'll then hike down the hill a bit and get to explore the area! There are pretty specific walking paths for you to stick to as people have fallen through the soft ground into the thermal mud and b...

There are a couple of different ways to get to the rock, but the easiest will be at the end of Westward Beach Rd. The rock is impossible to miss as you drive further down the beach. Once parked, which I believe you have to pay for beyond a certain point, it's a short walk out on the sand to the base of the cliff.Make sure you bring all your own gear as this is an outdoor route, though there cou...

Many visitors to Yosemite head straight to the valley and don't often explore the other areas of the park. So if you are interested in staying away from the massive crowds and getting to enjoy the beauty of the park a little more quietly, the Wawona is a great option for a getaway.  The Chilnualna Falls hike is about 4 miles each way and you gain approximately 2,300 feet of elevation. So thoug...

Morro Bay is located west about 13 miles of San Luis Obispo. Typically Pismo Beach and San Luis are the go to spots when traveling to that area, but after spending the day there I would highly recommend giving it a visit! The first thing you'll see when pulling into downtown Morro Bay is the massive, perfectly shaped rock jutting out of the ocean. Like any human, your instinct will be to find ...

Kite Hill is nothing more than what the name describes. A simple ascent less than 100 feet in elevation. But that 100 feet is all you need to feel like you discovered a little escape from the buzz below. To get there, you can park directly at the base of Kite Hill along Peter Coutts Rd and simply follow the trail to the top. If you are interested in making more of a walk out of it, there are t...

Lake Tikitapu is the smallest of the mountain lakes in the Rotorua area. Take Tarawera Rd about 9 kilometers and you'll run right into it. There is a huge lawn to the right that you can park on if the lot at the shore is full.The beginning of the 5.5 kilometer trail starts on the right hand side of the lake at the base of the forest. The majority of the trail is covered with trees but there are...

The trailhead begins at the end of Golden Gate Rd in Coleville, Ca on highway 396. There are very limited signs, so maps are necessary! Depending on how fast of a hiker you are, you can most likely reach the lake in 6 hours with minimal breaks. If you cannot start in the morning, there are beautiful spots to camp along the way. Either in on the ridge beneath Juniper trees or in the valley next ...

Located in the iconic Silicon Valley town of Woodside, Wunderlich County Park offers a number of hiking trails as well as some horseback riding trails through the wilderness.  Once in the parking lot, you will see a number of stables, riding ring, as well as a beautiful historic stable that was originally owned by the Folger Family (The best part of waking up, is Folgers in your cup).  Grab a...

The Hamilton Gardens is a massive property right along the Waikato River which runs through the city. The focus of the gardens is to replicate the historical gardens of specific civilizations around the world.Parking is very easy as there is a massive lawn in front of the entrance and there is no entrance fee for the gardens. Aside from walking the paths through the gardens there is a cafe over...

The Hobbiton Movie Set is built into the hills of a private farm in Matamata, two hours south of Aukland. You can get your tickets online, in town, or right at the set. Peter Jackson and crew spent many months right here on the farm filming and building the immaculate set for the films. It truly is incredible to see the craft that went into recreating Tolkien's Shire. You will learn all about ...

There are two different ends to begin the walk. The one I suggest starts at the Leslie Road Carpark, about 20 mins from Matatmata. Though the entire 5 km track is absolutely stunning, the most popular section, being the Blue Springs, is less than a ten min walk from the lot. The Blue Springs pool is absolutely out of a fantasy world. The water running through the river is the clearest and pures...