If you’re trying to work out which kind of trip is right for you - and finding the choice harder than expected - you’re not alone. Most women begin by thinking there are only two options: either travelling independently or joining a guided tour. But in reality, there’s a third option sitting in the middle - and understanding the difference between all three often makes the decision much clearer. Self-guided, supported, and fully guided walking or cycling holidays can all be w

If you’ve ever searched online for a walking or hiking tour in New Zealand, you’ve probably noticed something fairly quickly: Different companies use very different words. Some talk about walking tours. Others describe the same experience as hiking, bushwalking, trekking or even tramping. And to make things even more confusing, the same word can mean very different things depending on whether you’re in New Zealand, Australia, the UK or North America. So if you’ve ever wondere

Why it makes sense to book flexi airfares for a planned holiday that's still 8-10 months away instead of opting for the cheapest available.

You’ve found a tour you’d love to join… but then you read “shared room” - and suddenly you’re hesitating. Totally normal. We’ve talked to so many women who felt the same at first. That’s exactly why we started our little Room Talk series - to answer the questions you might not want to ask, but still wonder about. Here’s a quick roundup - honest, practical, and with a bit of humour too.

We get asked this more and more: “I’d love to come – but with my food intolerances, will I even be able to eat with the group?” We understand – and you’re not the only one. For many women, food isn’t “just food.” We get it – and we care.

We know it’s not easy to choose – especially when all four tours offer stunning scenery, small groups, home-style meals, and that special Sidetracks mix of fun, freedom, and feeling looked after. To make it a little easier, we’ve written up a short guide to help you decide.

If you’ve ever considered joining a women’s group tour as a solo traveller, chances are these questions have popped into your mind. In this honest and friendly guide, we’re answering all those quiet concerns – from snoring to shared bathrooms – and showing what rooming on our tours really looks like. Spoiler: no one shares a bed (unless you ask to 😉). 👉 Curious? Here’s what to expect – and why so many women end up saying, “That wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought!”

Booking early means more than just saving money – it helps us plan better, confirms your spot sooner, and keeps your travel stress-free. In this blog post, we explain how our Early Bird offer works, why it’s worth it, and how it benefits everyone involved.

Experience the iconic TranzAlpine Express - a dream for many, now in reach for participants on our West Coast Wilderness Cycle Tour.

Wondering how challenging your cycle tour will be? Find all info you'll need about our simple grading system here.

A question we often get asked! Here are some tips and links for you to help you get the important details sorted.

There is a great offer that makes decisions much easier to commit to your next cycling or hiking adventure!

My experiences on a Sidetracks tour as a single hiker. Signing up to do a guided small group hike with a bunch of women I didn’t know, was a first for me. I had some spare time and thought I’d do something different and interesting, but what? I came across Sidetracks Women online and thought it was serendipitous a tour was starting in the next couple of weeks. Without thinking too hard about it, I signed up. After getting all my gear sorted, I met part of the group at the des

Great reasons for booking your tour early - some you might not have considered before

Wondering how ‘physical’ your hiking tour will be? Our grading system makes it easy to see! Post updated May 2026 What will you experience on a Sidetracks Women hiking tour? The term ‘hiking tour’ can throw up different images for different people. While some may picture a gentle stroll through a flat and sheltered forest, others may have images of scaling steep mountainsides, wandering along icy, windswept ridges and wading chest-deep into raging rivers! So which image is c

On most of our cycle tours, you are welcome to bring your own Ebike. If bringing your own Ebike is an option depends on whether we travel with a bicycle trailer all the way from our starting point Christchurch or not. On most cycle tours we do, but it may differ for some tour dates. Please feel free to ask! Our email: women@sidetracks.co.nz Will it be the same tour price? We are happy to reduce the tour price by the rental fee for the bike minus a small processing fee. Pleas