driving Archives - Planet Whitley

How I got trapped in Guam’s Ritidian Point Wildlife Refuge

A long layover, tiredness and a Japanese map almost lead to disaster in Guam… A layover in Guam Around the world, there are some places we never spend time in by choice. Nonetheless, we’re forced to tackle them through inconveniently long layovers between connecting flights.…

driving, Guam, Pacific Islands, stopovers

Sign at Slope Point on New Zealand's Catlins Coast.

Discover nature’s beauty on New Zealand’s Catlins Coast

Very few people need to drive along New Zealand’s Catlins Coast. And that’s what makes the road trip so enjoyable. Native birds at Kaka Point The noise along the muddy tracks near Kaka Point is extraordinary. Glimpses of wing and tail can be caught amongst…

driving, New Zealand, South Island, waterfalls, wildlife

Why leaf-peeping is not just for old people

Driving through New England, New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, the joy of autumn colours reveals itself. What is leaf-peeping? Up until I actually tried it, I’d treated the concept of “leaf-peeping” with utter contempt. For the uninitiated, the general concept works as follows: You drive…

Boston, driving, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, USA

Some random observations about driving in the US

Americans drive differently, you know. The following random thoughts were ones that sprung to mind as I drove from Boston to Chicago. They’re not entirely based on this trip – a lot of these things I’ve noticed on other big US drives as well. Not…

driving, USA

Penguins arriving at the Oamaru blue penguin colony, New Zealand.

Christchurch to Oamaru drive: The best things to do on the way

The itinerary from Christchurch to Oamaru spans 300km, highlighting key stops like the International Antarctic Centre, Lake House at Ashburton, and Te Ana Maori Rock Art Centre. Visitors can enjoy Oamaru's Victorian Precinct and conclude by watching the Blue Penguin Colony at sunset.

Christchurch, driving, New Zealand, Oamaru, South Island

A Route 66 gift shop in Williams, Arizona.

Las Vegas to Williams, AZ: Best stops, distance & drive time

The best road trip stops on the Las Vegas to Williams drive are Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and Kingman. Planning a visit to Williams, Arizona Williams, Arizona, is one of the more appealing stops on Route 66. It has something of an Old West feel,…

Arizona, driving, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Driving into the Andes from Santiago, Chile

From the Chilean capital Santiago, it’s an enjoyable drive through the Aconcagua Valley towards the dreaded Los Caracoles. Driving through the Maipo Valley from Santiago You don’t have to drive too far out of Santiago for the landscape to start getting hillier. The south-eastern route,…

Andes, Chile, driving, mountains, Santiago