Kiwi Mum • Beijing • Travel
Life’s too short for boring travel…
Real guides, honest reviews, and zero fluff – for families who want to see Asia without losing their minds (or their luggage).
Kia ora, I’m Nicola – a Kiwi mum who packed up my husband & daughter and moved to Beijing. This is everything I wish I’d known before we left.
Where do you want to go?
From living in Beijing to day trips across Asia – find your destination below.
We live here…
The story behind the blog
I didn’t plan on becoming an expat
Kia ora, I’m Nicola – a Māori mum who said yes when my husband’s job took us from Auckland to Beijing. No guidebook prepared me for it. So I wrote one.
This blog is the raw, real and ridiculously practical guide I wish I’d had – from school enrolments, finding the best food and navigating new technology.
Plan your trip
Tools we actually use
Everything we book through, wear and pack (with honest opinions on each)
Fresh from the Blog
Latest Guides and Reviews
No filler, no fluff – just the stuff that actually helps you plan
- Basics | China | Essentials | Technology
Best VPNs for China in 2026: What I Actually Use as a Kiwi Living There
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend VPNs I’ve personally tested. I’ve been living in China for almost a year now, and nothing prepared me for how completely different the internet works here. Google is gone. Instagram is…
Moving to China: The Complete Family Guide
*The information in this blog is accurate as of 10 May 2026. Policies, laws, regulations, and requirements are subject to change. If you are considering moving to mainland China, please ensure you follow the official procedures for immigration, health insurance, and banking as outlined on authorized government websites. This guide has been written from my…
8 Best Tips to Visit The Great Wall of China (with kids or the elderly)
The Great Wall of China Some trips feel big.This one felt once in a lifetime. My dad had never been to China before.In his words, he’s “just a simple Kiwi bloke”… not someone who ever imagined he’d stand on the Great Wall. But for his 65th birthday, that’s exactly what we did. And here’s the…
Your free gift
The checklist I wish I’d had before we moved to China
50+ things to sort before you move abroad – from VPN setup to which baby formula to stockpile. Free, practical, and battle-tested by a real family.
