Deciding to buy your first tent is really exciting. However, choosing the right tent for you can be a bit overwhelming. I will try to list some of the important things to consider when buying your new tent.

1. Budget
The first step is to set your budget. How much are you prepared to spend. Tent prices are vary from $100 to $1,500 or more depending on: brand, size, material and design. Try to get the best quality that you can afford.

2. Size
Tents come in a variety of sizes, depending on how many people it will sleep, how tall you are and the size of your pack. Make sure you check the tent measurements carefully. The size of the tent is usually related to the price and weight.

3. Purpose
If you planning to carry your tent in your pack for long distances, you want something that is light and can pack down small. If you are planning to camp at a campsite next to your car, weight won't be a problem.

4. Conditions
If you planning to camp in snow, you will need a four season or mountaineering tent. These kinds of tents are usually more expensive but are designed to survive severe weather conditions and keep you warm in very cold temperatures.

After you think about all those factors, it is time to look closely at the tents features.

1. Material
Compare the material between the tents. Some materials have more durability to UV exposure than others. This is important if you will mainly use the tent in unsheltered areas, like most campsites. Some tents are made of material that is resistant to fire, this will give you extra time to get out of the tent in the event of a fire  or even better - not catch fire in the first place.

2. Waterproofing 
Some materials are more waterproof than others, some have extra waterproof coatings. Check whether the seams are sealed or not.

3. Shape
Apart from its size, the shape of a tent is also important. As you will realise from the beginning of you tent hunting journey, there are various shape of tents, dome, tunnel, pyramid, etc. They all have advantages and drawbacks, for example tunnel tents may be suitable for windy weather but do not provide spacious head room. Some tents have irregular shapes and this could either provide more room or alternatively reduce available space. 

4. Poling system
In my opinion, poles are the most important part of the tents because they are the structure that will shape your tent, and make sure it stands up to the elements. Pole arrangements affect the  ability of tents to survive strong wind. The material the poles are made from will impact their durability and the weight. Poles that are connected together will make the tent easier to build.

5. Ventilation
Air flow is really important, it needs to be able to keep you cool in hot weather without making you cold when it's windy. Ventilation also helps to keep moisture inside the tent under control. Fully covered tents may seem to be a great idea for camping on windy and cold nights. However, without enough air flow you will get too hot in the day and moisture will be trapped inside during the night. This moisture will wear out your tent faster and tents without good air flow might shake more when the wind blows.

6. Extra features
The small extra features make each tent unique. Extra pockets or vestibule areas, holes for the electricity cords, and extra doors or ventilations will make you appreciate your tent more. These extras are not necessary but they might drive you to buy a particular tent.

My description above is not an expert opinion, but I believe that it will help people who are planning to buy their first tent. The outdoor suppliers always make improvements on their products, so I did not go into specific details because they always change over the time.

My final advice is, do go to the shop and build each tent after you have decided on the short-list because some tents are easier to build than others and you do not want to find this out in the worst possible conditions.

Please check out my post about my tent hunting experience here. Happy shopping!!!

The best and cheapest way to travel in New Zealand for more than a week is by buying a car or camper and do a road trip. You can drive in New Zealand for up to a year with your international drivers license or your national drivers license, accompanied with official English translation - read more here. Do make yourself familiar with the New Zealand Road Code.

It probably scares some people to buy a car in a foreign country when they can only stay for a week or so, especially for those who come from asian countries where car prices are sky-rocket-high. Well, I have a good news for you, unlike everything else in New Zealand, car prices are cheaper than in other countries. With $2000 to $5000 NZD you can get a nice car that will take you around the country. You probably can get something cheaper than that, but in a condition that will probably need attention from a mechanic. Since you buy the car to travel long distance, you might want a car in sound mechanical condition. When you finish traveling, you can sell your car in the car markets or to other travellers, for the same price as you bought it, or slightly cheaper if you want a quick sale.

There are other ways to travel around New Zealand on a budget, if you do not like the hassle of buying and selling cars, or if you are only travelling for a short period. There are a lot of backpacker hostels around the country, you can even find free accommodation in return for some work (bear in mind that you need a working holiday visa or work visa to work legally anywhere in NZ, except for Australian citizens). Check out here if you are thinking of work and travel in NZ.

If you travel with friends you can always rent a car and share the cost (car rental prices vary from 25NZD to 250NZD per day). Another option is budget travel buses, for example: Naked Bus fares start from $1. This site has good tips of how to choose your rental camper.

My husband, David, and I have converted our car into a camper successfully. We bought a Hilux Surf 1991 in 2013 for $3000 and put in a customised bed, designed by me, and made beautifully by David. We have had so much fun exploring different places. We chose a 4WD because it enables us to travel on all kinds of terrain in New Zealand, which 2WD's can not reach. Some backpackers prefer a smaller car like a  station wagon. 

Please check here to buy a car with local price or check out the notice board in your hostel.

The picture above, with me in the 4WD, was taken during our honeymoon in Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Now we have made the bed a bit lower by shortening the legs, to give more head room, but we had to take off the back seats to do this. So if you have a ride in our 4WD, this explains why we do not have back seats.

Each traveler has their own style of travel, some like traveling as a backpacker, some travel in luxury. Some prefer to do everything spontaneously, some organise everything in detail. There is no right or wrong of traveling, as long as you do not break the law.  You can decide what suits you better, because you are the one who knows what you like and dislike.

I am a mix-match style (haha I just made up a new style). I do like to organise everything in detail, but I also give a lot of room for spontaneity. I do sometimes stay in luxurious resorts, but I do like sleeping in a tent or in the back of the car, if that mean that I can spend more time exploring and enjoying nature. One thing that never changes is that I prefer travel as a local not as a tourist. 

Travel as a local gives us the chance to experience how to live as a local in our travel destination. It does not mean that we have to suffer, but that we can taste the local life. I personally think, this is the essence of traveling. Moreover we can see the local's hidden gems and find the beauty that lies off the beaten tracks. There is nothing wrong with going to major tourist attractions, but you might miss out the real beauty of the places that you visited.

If you're interested to try and travel as the local, below are some of my tips that will hopefully help make your travel enjoyable:

1. Do your research: Prepare your self, search as much as you can about the local culture, to avoid any cultural shock.
2. Learn some basic phrases in the local language (thank you, greetings and sorry etc). Knowing a bit of the local language can bridge your relationship with the local.
3. Make sure you have enough time to travel, do not rush yourself.
4. Stay with local people when possible. Do keep in mind your safety and cultural rules about sharing accommodation. This is will help you to get insight about the culture and where to go.You may even make some new friends.
5. Choose your guide carefully, some guides provide more private tours that bring you closer to the local life, some just show you the main attractions. I sometimes ask local students to be my unofficial guide as they usually like to help.
6. Try food from where the locals usually eat, choose restaurants or food stalls that look popular among the locals. You can always ask people around you or search on google.
7. Always be open minded.
8. Take advantages of a working holiday visa if you can get one.

The places that you visit may be very different from your home-town. This can be a bonus of your travel. Traveling is all about going to new places and getting new experiences. Enjoy it, divergency is beautiful.