Snow is great when it first starts falling. But give it a month, and you’ll be ready to get away from it. So where should you go? New Zealand, no contest. Here’s why.
adventure travel
Visit Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory
A Guide to Darwin, the Gateway to Adventure in Australia’s Top End
If you’re off to Australia, you need to see the rugged Northern Territory. It’s rugged and untamed, and the port town of Darwin is a major gateway to all the fun. There are tons of trips departing Darwin – all ready to take travelers from Litchfield Park to the mighty Kakadu!
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My Recipe for Vacation Fitness – Preparing for Adventure
Adventure travelers can’t just hop on a plane and hope we’re ready for the rigors of wandering from the beaten path. When I became infatuated with the idea of climbing New Zealand’s Mt. Ngauruhoe, I concocted a training regimen that would let me enjoy climbing to 7,520 while carrying a fully loaded backpack rather than just surviving it. This active stratovolcano is not to be taken lightly – it stood in as
Mt. Doom in Lord of the Rings for a reason.
Figuring out my goal (getting through the Tongariro Crossing and getting to the top of Ngauruhoe in 9 hours or less) was the first target, and it should be yours, too. Once you know what you want to accomplish, you can devise a plan to suit your adventure. Here are some of the components of my plan – borrow some ideas in getting ready for your adventure!
Push the Iron
I honestly do not enjoy lifting weights. But my weekly lifting session was essential for building upper body strength. I tracked my exercises, their order, the amount of weight and the number of repetitions. I also switched a few elements to keep my body guessing. I’ll probably add a second weekly session soon.
Pack in Some Training
The Phoenix metro area is silly with steep climbs, though none are quite as steep or loose as Ngauruhoe. Still, loading my backpack exactly as I would in New Zealand and climbing around local peaks helped. It also gave me a chance to dial in the fit [...]
