Throughout New Zealand there are a series of Great Walks that allow hikers (called trampers in New Zealand) to take in some of the most remote and untouched landscapes in New Zealand. These multi-day Great Walks are exceptionally well maintained and have basic backcountry huts for accommodation along the way.

The Routeburn Track stretches 32 kilometres through the Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks and along the way passes a huge variety of landscapes. The three to four day Routeburn Track offers up fantastic views and is one of the most popular tracks in New Zealand.

You could argue – in fact – that it’s too popular. Walk the Routeburn Track during the high season and you’ll not realize you’re miles away from civilization as you’ll be sharing the track with hundreds of others seeking New Zealand’s untouched wilderness.

I didn’t get that feeling when I walked a day hike on the track recently. As it’s nearing the end of winter, we met all of maybe four people throughout the entire day. It was great to escape Queenstown’s busy resort town feel and be reminded of one of the many reasons New Zealand is such a fascinating place to visit.

Here are some photos from one of New Zealand’s Great Walks – the Routeburn Track.

A stream near the start of the track.

One of the many swing bridges found along the track – while these weren’t tricky to walk across, you felt slightly odd on your feet after getting back on solid ground.

It was a perfectly clear day with some well needed sun. We started early in the morning and these clouds hadn’t yet burned off.

The track starts through thick Mountain Beech forest before opening up at the Routeburn Flats.

Looking down towards the Routeburn Flats.

After walking along the Routeburn Flats and passing the first hut on the track, you quickly begin to gain elevation. While the track becomes a bit more physically challenging, it’s still not difficult. At about 900 meters you reach a point where a massive slip has totally cleared out the native forest.

The slip occurred in 1987 and had the result of opening up this remarkable view of The Humbolts. It’s a great place to drop your pack, grab your lunch and really allows you to appreciate where you’re at.

Check out this photo album on Flickr which features many photos of this exact view taken from different people hiking the track.

Still from the slip, looking slightly to the left.

Looking back at the Routeburn Flats again.

Here is a bridge which was taken out. My guess is it was a massive boulder which came tumbling down the creek valley after a heavy rainstorm.

River along the track.

If you’re keen to do the whole track (and I’m told it only gets more impressive), it has become so popular that a booking system is in place.

Bookings are required during the high season from October to April and it will cost you $45/night to stay in the huts along the track – quite pricey given your hut accommodation is a bunk in a very large room. In the low season, you’re not required to book in advance yet you’re still required to pay $15/night to sleep in the huts.

If you don’t have three or four full days to commit to walking the whole length of the Routeburn Track, I highly recommend you do single days walk as a day trip from Queesntown. You’ll have to start early as the start of the track is just past Glenorchy, or about an hours drive away from Queenstown. We walked from the Routeburn Shelter to the Routeburn Falls Hut (17.6 kms) in about 7 hours return yet spent a lot of time taking in the views from the slip.

It’s a truly impressive area of New Zealand and the day hike offers an excellent taste of one of New Zealand’s famous Great Walks.

Have you done any hiking in New Zealand? Leave your experiences in the comments section below.

Technorati Tags: Backpacking New Zealand, Great Walks, Hiking New Zealand, Queenstown Day Trip, Routeburn Track

Emily from Maiden Voyage had a brilliant idea a couple months back. She decided to create a Travel Blog Carnival that would give travel bloggers a chance to showcase their favorite post from the previous month. The carnival is designed to bring readers the best blog posts from the travel blogging community.

Each month, travel bloggers submit a post they have published from the past month by filling out this form. Once a month, a post like this is put together showcasing the best submissions. 

Emily hosted the first and second editions of the carnival and has graciously passed the opportunity to me this month. Below you’ll find the best of the submissions from August.

Creative Commons: storymary

Tips & Advice

• This might have been one of the best posts I read all month. Hands down. Trail of Ants hashes out the basics of writing a travel blog in Travel Blogging Basics. Maintaining a travel blog presents heaps of challenges and Ant tells you what you should and shouldn’t be worrying about.

• This is an interesting read from the Inhabit Travel Blog where they explain how As a Tourist, Sometimes You’re an Accidental Jerk. We’ve all been in positions where we’re out of our comfort zone and inevitably make … well, fools out of ourselves. I like how the author explains how she righted her wrongs.

• If you’re in to your wine, you’ll love this post by Traveling with the Jones where they give a brief write-up on their 6 Favorite Wine Bars in the US.

• Q Tripper offers up this informative Guide to South American Steaks and Meat. I was absolutely starving by the time I finished reading it. It’s a great resource if you’re a carnivore that will soon be heading to South America as it includes Spanish translations.

Travel Stories

• Rebecca and the World shares this inspiring story about her experience at the Empilweni Primary School in South Africa. The photos in Living the celebrity life in South Africa and the story behind them makes me question why I’ve yet to travel to Africa.

Destinations

• Where is Yvette writes about her experience traveling to the Fairy Falls, New Zealand just outside of Auckland.
• I love stories of finding places that most people wouldn’t know about. Monaco and Beyond shares some great photos and writes about her time in the Quedlinburg, Germany. My guess is you’ll add it to your list after reading this post.
• Never Ending Voyage wrote this extremely informative post about Road Trippin’ in Northwest Argentina. Heaps of great advice for anyone considering a trip to Argentina.
• Correr es me Destino takes us on a tour of Paris by Night – some great photos here showcasing the City of Love.

Interviews

• The Maiden Voyage recently had the opportunity to interview the Priceline Bidding Expert, Don Nadeau. This post is full of great advice for anyone considering taking advantage of Priceline’s bidding option for flights and accommodation.

If you’re interested in being included next month, submit your favorite post by September 30th.

Posts similar to this one are a rarity on Backpackingmatt. I don’t typically feel inclined to bring updates about my personal life to this blog, however I do feel an update of some sort is in order – and we’ll focus on the positives. I know it’s cliche, but it’s shocking how time flies – it really is hard to believe the last time I posted an update was the 28th of May.

At that point I was still in Queenstown, the Adventure Capital of the World, looking to get somewhat settled by finding employment and accommodation. The phantom job at one of Queesntown’s ski fields never came around. While this frustrated me for some time, I ultimately stumbled into a pretty sweet job. For the past two months or so,

I’ve been running a website called NZbyBike.com.

NZbyBike is the industry aggregating website for a government promoted series of Great Rides which are in development throughout New Zealand. NZbyBike contains a wealth of information about these Great Rides and other mountain bike rides, maps, and a directory of operators throughout New Zealand involved in cycle tourism. I’ve been writing content for the website, doing research, and reaching out to businesses and encouraging them to list on NZbyBike.

It’s an exciting project to be a part of and I work with a bloody cool team. I’m employed by @Xebidy, a web-design company. Believe it or not, I managed to land the job with the help of some Twitter networking. How cool is that?

Did I also mention I work with a Lonely Planet author? Needless to say, it’s a pretty sweet place to work.

I’m also the newest blogger over at Flightster.com.

A couple weeks back, Flightster ran a contest where they were looking to hire a new paid blogger for their website. To enter the competition, you had to write a post on your own blog mentioning your interest in joining the Flightster team. I wrote the well-received 7 Reasons You Should Write a Travel Blog post and was selected as a finalist. Thanks to everyone who responded to my tweets and voted for me, as I was one of two bloggers selected.

They just published my first post, 5 Ways to Meet Fellow Travelers on the Road. Check it out and add Flightster to your Google Reader, follow them on Twitter, and sign up for their newsletter. They have some pretty exciting things planned in the coming weeks.

As for me, I’m not entirely what I have planned in the coming weeks or months. Some things have happened recently that have more or less flipped my life upside down. Dealing with life’s blows are never easy when you’re miles away from friends, family, and familiarity and this past month has been a challenge. My deepest thanks to those of you who have sent your thoughts my way.

Today is the first day of Spring in New Zealand and it’s slowly getting warmer. Queenstown is a beautiful place, yet I’m getting itchy feet and would like to get out of town – if only for a long weekend. Short term, I’m going paragliding which should be sweet as – look forward to a post on the experience. Longer term, I’m looking for a cheap flight across the ditch to Australia or maybe the other way to a Pacific island. Who knows?

What about you? Do you have any trips planned in the coming weeks? Share them in the comments section below.

Photo Credit: Prabhu B

Technorati Tags: NZbyBike, Queenstown, Update

Thanks to Nancy from Nancy Under the Stars (@nancyunderstars) for providing today’s guest post and latest installment in the “A Local’s Perspective” series.

Vancouver, British Columbia, a city that hardly sleeps, where you can get take away sushi 24-hours a day and has a forest on the edge of downtown. She is fun, outgoing and romantic, a perfect city to take on a date. Whether traveling alone or with a partner, Vancouver is memorable and satisfying. I recommend a minimum three-day date, allowing time to play in Whistler, the hip mountain village.

Everything starts with Coffee

There are no shortage of coffee shops and cafes in Vancouver. There is a Starbucks, Blenz or Waves on just about every corner. Although no stranger to those shops, in my opinion, the best coffee comes from local baristas. Take a walk down Davie and stop in Melriches for an Americano and a breakfast croissant. The squeaky whale will entertain you while waiting for your food.

Walks, Cycles & Sites

Bikes in Vancouver

Put on your walking shoes or rent a bike and hit the seawall. The seawall is a pathway along the water from Kits Beach, around Granville Island and Stanley Park to Coal Harbour. En route, you’ll pass five beaches surrounding English Bay.

Stanley Park, named after Lord Stanley in 1888, is a 1,000-acre urban park surrounded by the seawall and is filled with fir, cedar, hemlock and spruce trees. There are several walking trails to take you to the Vancouver Aquarium, Totem Poles and the Malkin Bowl outdoor theatre. In winter, take in a rugby game at Brockton Oval. Or, if you prefer, take it easy and meander through the park via horse-drawn tour.

The Vancouver Aquarium is Canada’s largest aquarium. The aquarium is home to more than 70,000 species of marine life and animals. Walk through the various exhibits, sit down and take in a show or participate in an animal encounter. The aquarium will fill a couple hours of the day.

Granville Island, although not an island at all, is a public market with the city’s freshest meats and seafood, handmade pastas and colourful produce. Handmade wares sold by the vendors cannot be found anywhere else. The market is not only a feast for the eyes, but a bouquet of fragrance and an abundance of flavours. Take the seawall to access Granville Island or catch an Aqua Bus from Yaletown, Science World or Hornby Street and get a tour of False Creek at the same time.

English Bay

Nightlife

If you like a pub atmosphere and want to mix with the locals, Doolin’s, the Railway Club or the Malone’s are your watering holes.

Live music is abundant in Vancity. Check out the local free papers for the latest announcements. If a favourite band is playing at the Commodore Ballroom, you must go. This venue is a House of Blues facility and has been stage to the likes of U2, The Police, Franz Ferdinand, Metric and the Tragically Hip. The Commodore is found on Granville between Robson and Smithe.

The Yale is Vancouver’s Rhythm & Blues Bar. Located on Granville at Drake and open seven days a week. Cover ranges in price depending on the performer for the evening. The Sunday night house band, Brickhouse, is fantastic.

If you’re into clubbing or lounges, take a stroll down Granville Street, as there are many. During the summer months, the city closes off Granville to vehicle traffic allowing pedestrians to take over and bounce from club to club. The lounges found on the cobble strips of Yaletown are higher end, with chic bartenders producing mixology masterpieces to some of the city’s premier residents and visitors like Roberto Luongo, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. You’ll find the Yaletown lounges on Hamilton or Mainland between Nelson and Drake.

BC Place & Downtown Vancouver

Whistler

You can’t have a love affair with Vancouver without a play date with Whistler. Just under two hours up the beautiful Sea to Sky Highway, Whistler is a playground 365 days a year. Home to some of the world’s finest skiing; Whistler is also a summer haven for mountain bike fanatics. If the activities are not in your budget, grab a seat on the patio, enjoy an afternoon beer and take in the wondrous views of Whistler/Blackcomb. Over a weekend, end your nights at Buffalo Bills, Longhorns and Tommy Africa’s.

Winter or summer, Vancouver is an attractive, fun city. She leaves you wanting more. After your three-day date, I guarantee you will fall in love. I did!

Have you been to Vancouver? Add your travel tips in the comments section below.

Are you interested in guest posting on Backpackingmatt? Email me at matt [at] backpackingmatt [dot] com for more details.

Technorati Tags: A Locals Perspective, Canada, Vancouver Travel Tips

Today’s Friday Travel Photo takes you to the Czech Republic’s capital city of Prague.

Prague is the geographical center of Europe and one of continent’s most beautiful cities.  Praha is filled with friendly people, world-renowned Czech Pilsner beer, and a stunning range of architecture – Renaissance, Gothic, cubist and neoclassical all sit side-by-side. Did I mention the world-famous Czech beer?

This statue is found outside of the Kafka Museum in the Mala Strana neighborhood of Prague.  It’s called Piss and was designed and created by Czech sculptor David Cerny. Two sculptures stand in an enclosure filled with water. These moving sculptures pee streams of water that write quotes from famous Prague residents. A sign next to the statue gives you a number that you can text messages to. After sending the text, the statues stop and ‘write’ your message.

David Cerny - piss

Some unique artwork to say the least.

Prague is quickly becoming one of Europe’s most popular cities and swells with tourists during the hot summer months. Don’t miss Prague’s famous Charles Bridge – but take a stroll across it at night to avoid the crowds.

Have you been to Prague? Share your experiences in the comments section below.

Do you have a photo and brief write-up you’d like featured here? Email it to matt [at] backpackingmatt [dot] com

Technorati Tags: Czech Republic, Friday Travel Photo, Prague

New Zealand is a country that begs to be explored via road trips. It’s small, has well maintained roads, and cars or campervans are cheap to rent or even easy to buy. Most importantly, New Zealand is home to some of the world’s most beautiful natural scenery – all in an extremely compact area. Drive for three hours and you’ll pass white sand beaches, thick rainforest, glaciers, and towering snow-capped peaks.

While New Zealand isn’t a cheap place to travel to, a road trip is by all standards a pretty budget friendly activity. The views are free and will defiantly last a lifetime. If you’re backpacking or traveling around New Zealand, these are five of the best drives that I don’t think you can miss.

1) The Rugged West Coast from Westport to Greymouth

West Coast

The SH6 skirts the rugged and wind-swept West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island and along the way passes some of the greatest scenery in New Zealand. If coastal drives are your thing, then you definitely won’t be disappointed after driving from Westport to Greymouth.

Along the way you’ll have the mighty Tasman Sea pounding the coast on your right and the majestic snow-capped Southern Alps on your left. Aim for a sunny day, yet be flexible and realize that this is the one of the wettest areas of New Zealand. If you’re keen to wait for the sun (and you should), break up the journey and spend the day in Punakaiki where you can check out the fascinating Pancake Rocks which (as the name suggests) appear to be layered pancakes.

When you get to Greymouth, you can continue on the SH6 down to the Franz Josef Glacier or hop on the Trans Scenic Railway which crosses the Southern Alps on the way to Christchurch.

2) Te Anau to Milford Sound Highway

Milford Sound

This is often described as one of the greatest drives in the world. After driving the two hours from Te Anau to Milford Sound, you’ll understand why. The road cuts through thick rainforest, passes mirror lakes and towering, moss-covered mountains, and runs along sheer cliff faces. They measure rain in meters in this area of New Zealand, so don’t be surprised if it rains for a week. The drive is equally impressive after a rain as from the heights of the mountains come some truly amazing waterfalls.

One of the most impressive parts of the drive is the section right before you enter the 1200 meter long Homer Tunnel. As you sit at what must be the world’s most remote traffic light, you realize you’re in a massive glacier carved amphitheater with towering, sheer rock cliffs on either side of you.

3) Wanaka to Queenstown via the Cardrona Pass

View over Queenstown

This drive is in the Southern Lakes region of the South Island – it’s New Zealand’s playground with skiing, white-water rafting, bungy jumping, and other adventure sports all on offer. The drive from Wanaka to Queenstown over the Cardrona Pass is one of the South Island’s best.

Leaving Wanaka, the road slowly climbs before passing through picturesque Cardrona which is home to the most photographed pub in New Zealand. The Cardrona Hotel is featured on a Speights advert with dozens of sheep outside the front door. As you leave Cardrona the road becomes steeper, twists and turns and soon you’re granted a stunning view with Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, and The Remarkables mountain range in the distance.

Take some pictures before conquering the road which seems to drop off the side of the mountain. And go slow if you sampled a Speights at the Cardrona Hotel.

4) Christchurch to Marlborough Wine Country

Kaikoura Sunset

The drive from Christchurch to Marlborough isn’t one that would probably get picked by most as one of the best drives in New Zealand, yet I’m convinced it should be. Leaving the “Garden City” of Christchurch, you’ll pass through flat Canturbury countryside with some great views of the Southern Alps which split the South Island in half. The road eventually makes its way to the Pacific Ocean and skirts the coast into Kaikoura. Pull over a have a look around the rocks and you stand a great chance of seeing some New Zealand fur seals.

Stay the night in Kaikoura before going on a whale watching tour where you’re almost guaranteed to see gigantic Sperm Whales. Continue on then along the coast before entering the arid and Napa Valley like region of Marlborough where you can sample some of the world’s best Souvignon Blancs.

5) Thames to Coromandel Road

Coromandel Sunset

The only North Island drive on this list is an excellent one that should be part of your New Zealand travel plans. The Coromandel Region of New Zealand is a chilled-out, relaxed place with mountains, sandy beaches, green rolling hills, and picturesque bays. The drive from the small town of Thames to the smaller village of Coromandel is an epic one.

The narrow roads twists and turns along the coastline of the Hauraki Gulf – an inlet off the Pacific. This drive is most impressive either at sunset or in December when the pohutukawas (New Zealand Christmas tree) are in full bloom. This road eventually climbs and you’re granted some superb views of the island-dotted Coromandel Harbor.

With such amazing scenery tucked into a country so small, New Zealand is ideal for a driving based visit. Rent a car or a campervan and set off to explore New Zealand’s many hidden treasures.

Have you driven around NZ? Leave your favorite New Zealand drive in the comments section below.

Technorati Tags: Backpacking New Zealand, Best Drives, Travel Tips