Growing up between Whangaparoa and Seattle gave Auckland firefighter Nicole Koch an adventurous spirit, inspiring her solo bikepacking trip from Queen Charlotte to Cromwell. On a $500 mountain bike, Nicole chased freedom and slow travel in the South Island, choosing a route of her own. Following a difficult break up, the 1200km journey gave her 14 days of biking to take time off work, a mental escape through the natural beauty of Aotearoa. Nicole shares the day-to-day challenges of a solo adventure and the experiences that kept her motivated. She also gives advice to anyone wanting to travel as a slower pace on a bike, along with her favorite bike trail suggestions in the South Island. KEA Outdoors is a kiwi brand on a mission to build innovative, versatile and reliable outdoor gear for the every-day adventurer. Use the code Adventure2024 for 15% off your next online order: bit.ly/458VGEG Thank you so much for tuning in and coming along for the ride. If you love the show and enjoyed listening, please take the time to leave a review on Apple or Spotify. I would also love to connect with you, so send me a DM on Instagram, leave me a voice message and I can’t wait to see you next time. Until then, keep adventuring :) Follow Nicole on Instagram: instagram.com/nicolevkoch Read the Blog: www.abigailhannah.nz Follow Abigail on Instagram: instagram.com/abigailhannnah/ Follow Abigail on TikTok: tiktok.com/@abigailhannnah/