Looking back on 2014, I’m amazed and grateful for the incredible adventures I’ve had.  From London to Cappadocia, Athens to Copenhagen, it’s been a year of travel, and I’ve loved it!  I’ve been lucky enough to be accompanied by my awesome friends on every trip, with a particular standout being my sister’s three-week summer visit in the middle of the year.  It’s tough to pick a few favourites, but here goes…

Hunting Dragons in London

I kicked off 2014 with a very quirky adventure exploring the City of London.  I’d read that at each of the old city gates there were now statutes of dragons – I was utterly intrigued!  After a bit of research Nicole and I walked, biked and tubed around the city on a chilly but gorgeous day to hunt down all the dragons – it was a fantastic way to explore and see the sights with new eyes.

Read about how I hunted down the dragons

Exploring Turkey

My ten days in Turkey was an eye-opening experience.  It was fascinating to witness the East-meets-West in Istanbul, magical to float above Cappadocia in a hot air balloon, and a privilege to visit the Gallipoli Peninsula to commemorate ANZAC Day, the New Zealand and Australian day of remembrance.  The country was very different to what I’d anticipated, ranging from snowy mountains to crystal-clear waters, and it was hard to leave at the end – I feel like I’ve so much more to see!

Read about Eating My Way Around Turkey, my experience Hot Air Ballooning in Capadoccia, and ANZAC Day at Gallipoli

Eating My Way Around Barcelona (Twice)

I was lucky enough to visit Barcelona twice this year – once for a bank holiday and once when Kiwi friends were in town.  I quickly grew to love the city, from its Gaudi architecture to relaxed beach-town vibe to beautiful sunshine!  Most of all, I loved eating my way around, sampling tapas, paella, pintxos, fresh seafood and so much more, all of it delicious.

Read about Eating My Way Around Barcelona and Visiting Sagrada Familia

Copenhagen

Colourful Copenhagen took me by surprise in late May.  I was expecting an interesting city-break, but hadn’t anticipated the warm weather, laid-back vibe, beautiful buildings and above all, sheer colour everywhere.  I really loved the long weekend there and would love to visit again soon!

Read about the Colours of Copenhagens and Finding Elephants

The Madness of Glastonbury

It would be impossible not to include one of the biggest music festivals in the world in my 2014 highlights – Glastonbury was nothing short of epic.  I saw favourite bands like Arcade Fire and the Black Keys, legends like Dolly Parton, and partied til the small hours in Shangri-La.  It was an experience for sure, from the crowds to the mud to the incredible range of music.  Can’t wait to do it all again next year!

Read about my experience of Glastonbury

Paris with My Sister

My younger sister Zoe and I are close, so with me living over here there are a lot of texts, snapchats and Skype calls exchanged between us.  It was a total treat to have her staying for almost three weeks in July, and the highlight was without doubt our four days in Paris – even if it rained every day!  We consoled ourselves with macarons, art and wine, and had a fantastic time together.

Read about The Best Views in Paris and Visiting Versailles’ Gardens

Sailing the Greek Islands

Normally my holidays are about seeing as much as I can see in a very limited time, so a week where the toughest decision was swim or sunbathe definitely took some getting used to!  I relished the opportunity to soak up some Vitamin D, relax with great friends, and enjoy a change of pace in an incredible setting.  Greece was a treat!

Watch my video of Sailing in the Greek Islands

Prague

Can you call something a tradition if it’s happened twice?  If so, I’ve got a very indulgent birthday tradition going on – a trip somewhere that’s been calling my name.  In 2013 I tied in a trip to Dublin with a nail-biting rugby match between the New Zealand All Blacks and Ireland.  In 2014 the focus shifted from sport to a girls weekend in a stunningly gorgeous town, complete with beautiful autumn sunshine.  Prague intrigued me and a weekend was not enough to explore – I’ll be back!

Read about Eight Awesome Things To Do In Prague

Time for 2015…

I’m so excited for 2015 and all it has to offer – I’m ready to jump right in!

What was your travel highlight for 2014?