After two amazing hiking trips in the Italian Dolomite Mountains, I want to share some thoughts, tips and ideas for planning a hike in the Dolomites, one of Europe’s best hiking destinations. Hiking in the Dolomites So why go hiking in the Dolomite mountains of Italy? This area has been […]
It’s that time of year again – I’m planning a hike in the European Alps, that incredible theme park for lovers of alpine trekking. After tackling the Tour du Mont Blanc in recent summers I was a bit worried that I wouldn’t be able to find another Europe hike to […]
As I write my 2016 travel year in review I can’t help reflecting upon a year that has been a mixed bag. On the one hand political events have plunged the world into great uncertainty. On the other hand, the Wandering Kiwi family has had a consistently excellent year pursuing […]
The morning views on departing Rifugio Elisabetta as my Tour du Mont Blanc hike continued were spectactular. As forecast, the weather was closing in but there was still a bit of sunshine breaking through and turning the braided waterways of the Lac Combal to molten silver. The TMB day between […]
Hiking the Tour du Mont Blanc clockwise, my path continued from the beautiful Italian town of Courmayeur towards the Rifugio Elisabetta. The ‘TMB’ is one of the world’s most famous long distance hikes. It is a circuit of the magnificent Mt Blanc massif, on paths that cover around 170 kilometres […]
Millenia of history, culture and geography make it difficult to choose my top 10 things to do in Sicily. We flew into Catania airport, an increasingly popular route for low cost airlines, and found this a good jumping off point to explore the east coast of Sicily. DH Lawrence once […]
After enjoying the many delights of ancient Ortygia, the Wandering Kiwi family decided to do a day trip from Syracuse with our hire car along the south-east coast of Sicily. We drove an hour to the tiny fishing village of Marzamemi, then worked our way back towards Syracuse, exploring the […]
I’d never heard of Florence Trevelyan before I visited Sicily. But her story has become one of my abiding memories of my time here, beginning with wandering around the Isola Bella. Florence Trevelyan was an upper-crust Englishwoman who became the talk of the town in Edwardian England after she had an affair […]
After seven days hiking the Tour du Mt Blanc clockwise from Les Houches in hot weather, I awoke in Courmayeur to the sweet sound of summer rain. The stone roof tiles glistened and the rain dampened down the dusty days. Last night I was wiped out by a glass of […]