An Update & Travel Question

I rarely  bring specifics of my personal life into this blog. I’d prefer you visit Backpackingmatt for destination specific travel content, backpacking advice, and travel reviews. However, this glimpse into my life at the moment ends with a question I hope you can help me answer. I imagine we all struggle with this as backpackers, [...]

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Friday Travel Photo: Loch Ness, Scotland

Today’s Friday Travel Photo takes you Loch Ness in Scotland’s Highlands. Loch Ness is 23 miles long and 755 feet deep at its deepest point – so deep, that all the water in England and Wales would still not be enough to fill it. If you’re visiting Edinburgh, consider getting out of the city on a [...]

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Dealing With the End of Your Travels

Today’s Guest Post was written by Melanie Colby – a first time traveler come backpacker from Plymouth, England. During Melanie’s working holiday she traveled a lot, worked a little, and even gave Wwoofing (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) a go. Melanie has guest posted for Backpackingmatt previously and was recently featured on the front page [...]

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Crossing the Cook Strait With Interislander

As a backpacker or budget traveler in New Zealand, you’ll have a couple different options when planning your trip from the North to the South Island (I recommend this direction of travel). While you have the option of flying – or even the option of skydiving (yes, skydiving) – I recommend you cross the Cook [...]

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7 Challenges of Being a Backpacker

There are plenty of blogs out there encouraging people to travel. I consider Backpackingmatt to be one of them. I believe in the importance of experiencing the unknown, learning about new cultures, meeting new people, and gaining a better understanding of this world we live in. It’s a big place, and I for one want [...]

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New Zealand’s North: Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach

I’m not typically a fan of bus tours. To be fair, I haven’t been on many – but, when given the opportunity, I’ll always choose solo travel over guided bus tours. I can’t personally think of anything worse than being stuck on a coach full of young backpackers who are just looking for an excuse [...]

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Friday Travel Photo: Istanbul Sunset

Istanbul marked the end of my interrail journey throughout Europe back in 2008. I fell in love with Turkey, the people, the raki, and the tavla (backgammon). Whenever I look through my pictures of Istanbul, I yearn to go back. Someday, I will. For now, enjoy this sunset over the Istanbul Harbor which I snapped [...]

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Cruising the Bay of Islands on The Rock

If you’re on a backpacking trip to New Zealand, you can’t miss out on the Bay of Islands – an inlet off the South Pacific north of Auckland dotted with over one hundred tropical islands. On a sunny day, the blue-green, emerald waters contrasted with the white sand beaches will almost take your breath away. [...]

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7 Tips and Resources for Relocating Abroad

This  post  was  written  by  Lauren  Fritsky,  a  journalist  and  blogger  from  New  Jersey  currently  spending  a  year  in  Sydney,  Australia, on  a work/holiday  visa. Her  work  has appeared  on  major  Web  sites  including  AOL  and  CNN  and in   magazines  such  as  Weight  Watchers. Read  about  her  time  abroad  on  her  blog. A move [...]

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A Day Trip on New Zealand’s West Coast (Photo Essay)

If you’re visiting New Zealand’s West Coast and have tired of the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, consider spending a half-day driving to Gillespies Beach. It’s an epic beach and there is plenty to keep you busy on the drive there. Gillespies Beach is found 30 minutes from Fox Glacier Village and 60 minutes from [...]

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