About Me
Hi, I’m Tristan and I love an adventure
Hi, I’m Tristan and I love an adventure. I’m a travel-bug, wanderluster, or whatever you call someone who’d rather be exploring the world than sitting in a cubicle.
In this blog I share my tips, tricks and travel guides so you can get lost and have the adventure of a lifetime, or a lifetime of adventure..
Happy Travels, Tristan
Where I’ve been featured.
My writing and photography has been featured in other well known publications inlcuding the following;
Lonely Planet – New Zealand’s Best Wild Swimming Spots, The Benifits of Camping
New Zealand Herald – Travelling Through New Zealand History, Tauranga Spring Adventures
Otago Daily Times (Photo Credit) – Victoria To Build 800k Homes
Huffington Post – Sunday Table
Best Bits (NZ Jane) – Mount Tauhara Hike
Some of My Favourite Hikes
New Zealand
Northland
Te Paki Trail, the Cape Brett Lighhouse Hike
Coromandel
Corsbies Hut, Kauaeranga Valley Circuit (Pinnacles Hut Hike),
Bay of Plenty / Waikato
Mount Tauhara Hike (Taupo)
Tongariro National Park
Ruapehu Summit, Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk
Tasman
Abel Tasman Coastal Track, The Heaphy Track.
Europe
Samaria Gorge Hike, Greece.
Asia
Adams Peak / Sri Pada Pilgrimage Walk (Sri Lanka),
Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail (Japan)
South America
Macchu Picchu Salkantay Trek (Peru),
Africa
Kilimanjaro Summit Hike (Tanzania)
Follow me on Pinterest
Give me a follow on Pinterest, where I share some of my favorite photos, travel cheat sheets, and photo-guides every week!
About TristanBalme.com (The Legal Stuff)
Tristanbalme.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I may earn a small commission off products or services referred to you through this site.
Get more inspiration
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Where to Eat in Thamel, Kathmandu | 6 Spots I’d Go Back To
The Thamel restaurants I would actually go back to before or after an Everest Base Camp trek: momos, coffee, fresh bowls, burgers, pizza and a rooftop dinner.
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Pele Island Tour, Vanuatu (Is It Worth It + Who To Book With?)
My honest Pele Island tour guide: whether it is worth it, who I would book with, what the day is like, current Vanuatu Ecotours pricing, and whether self-guided Pele makes sense.
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How To Drink Kava In Vanuatu (Where To Go + What To Expect)
How to drink kava in Vanuatu as a first-timer: where I would go in Port Vila, how to order, what washmouth means, what it feels like, and what not to mix it with.
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How To Get Around Vanuatu (Buses, Scooters, Taxis + Car Hire)
How I would get around Vanuatu and Efate: local B buses, T-plate taxis, scooter hire, rental cars, airport transfers and outer-island transport.
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Vanuatu SIM Card Guide (Vodafone, Digicel Or Airalo?)
My practical Vanuatu SIM card guide: why I would buy Vodafone at the airport, when Airalo makes sense, and whether Digicel is worth using as a backup.
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What To Eat In Vanuatu (Local Foods I’d Actually Look For)
What to eat in Vanuatu, from laplap and tuluk to Kai Vanua, fresh fish, Vanuatu beef, kava, Tanna coffee, and 83 Islands rum.
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Lelepa Island Tour, Vanuatu (Is It Worth It + Who To Book With?)
My honest Lelepa Island tour review: who I would book with, what the day is actually like, what felt awkward, current price notes, and whether it is worth doing from Port Vila.
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Best Cafes In Port Vila, Vanuatu (2026 Update)
The Port Vila cafes I would actually use: Coco & Co, Tanna Coffee, Cafe Vila, The Playground, Cafe Waves, Tana Russet, and Nambawan.
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Best Things To Do In & around Port Vila, Vanuatu (5 Days on Efate)
The Efate activities I would actually prioritise: one island-loop day, Lelepa, Paradise Cove, Top Rock, Blue Lagoon/Eton, kava, local food, and the caveats I would watch.
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Where To Eat In Port Vila, Vanuatu (7 Places I’d Go Back To)
The Port Vila restaurants I would actually recommend now: Kai Vanua, Cafe Vila, Three Pigs, Stonegrill, Coco & Co, Banyan and Lalala.
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Best Places To Stay In Vanuatu (Where I Would Book In 2026)
If you want one answer for where to stay in Vanuatu, book Nasama. Here are the caveats for budget, couples, families and luxury.
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Do You Need Diamox To Climb Kilimanjaro? (What I Did)
Should you take Diamox for Kilimanjaro? Here’s what it does, the side effects, what I personally did, and whether it’s worth it.
