100 Mile Mountain Bike Race on New Zealand’s South Island

Twelve months ago, I hopped on a borrowed bike with essentially zero training and rode in the Rail Trail Classic 100 – a 100 mile (150 km) bike race across Central Otago on New Zealand’s South Island. Most cycle tourists in New Zealand tackle the Otago Rail Trail over the course of three or four [...]

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Friday Travel Photo: Approaching Storm on New Zealands South Island

New Zealand travel tip — never underestimate the beauty of an impending storm. NZ is known for its many climates and its ever-changing weather...

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15 Tips for Your First Experience Backpacking in New Zealand

The Land of the Long White Cloud is a destination well worn onto the backpacker trail. And for all the right reasons. An epic combination of stunning scenery, adventure sports, and friendly locals combine to make one hell of a place to travel to. Not only is New Zealand beautiful, New Zealand is easy to [...]

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5 Places to Experience Quad Biking While Backpacking Around the World

One of the most expensive aspects of backpacking comes from the experiences and activities you take in along the way. Backpacking in New Zealand is an excellent example. A trip here isn’t complete without a bungy jump, a jet-boating tour, a skydive, or one of the many other extreme sports on offer. Each one of [...]

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January Update, Links, & The Next Step

As I write this monthly update, I’m on a US Airways flight from DFW – LAX (with a surprising amount of leg room). My 2011 is off to a fantastic start. Fantastic, yet certainly chaotic. I’ve been balancing trips around the US to visit friends and family, with the day-to-day responsibilities of running a travel [...]

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20 of New Zealand’s Best Views

Since arriving to New Zealand just over ten months ago, I’ve published loads of destination specific New Zealand backpacking advice. I still have plenty of New Zealand experiences and advice to share  – yet often I find this is a country that is best described through a photo. It’s a great place for aspiring photographers. [...]

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Friday Travel Photo: Layer of Clouds

After a week long hiatus, today’s Friday Travel Photo brings you to a pull-off on the Queenstown to Glenorchy Road. On a clear day, it’s an epic 45 minute drive from busy Queenstown to the quaint little village of Glenorchy. The road twists, turns, and skirts along the shores of Lake Wakatipu with excellent views [...]

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New Zealand’s Top 5 Backpacking Destinations

New Zealand. The Land of the Long White Cloud. Aoteroa. Whatever you call it, NZ is a country that heaps of backpackers flock to each year. And for well deserved reasons. New Zealand is easy to travel around, offers up fascinating landscapes in a compact sized area (think glaciers, rainforests, and beaches within a twenty [...]

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Friday Travel Photo: Coromandel New Zealand Sunset

If you’re backpacking in New Zealand, you can expect to see some stunning sunsets and sunrises. Today’s Friday Travel Photo takes you to Coromandel on New Zealand’s North Island. This shot is looking west off of the peninsula towards Auckland (check out these Auckland budget travel tips). If you’re planning a trip to Cormandel, check [...]

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The Ledge Bungy in Queenstown, New Zealand (Travel Video)

A trip to New Zealand isn’t complete without a bungy jump – a topic that has been written about often on Backpackingmatt. I’ve reviewed my experiences at the Lake Taupo Bungy and on the Nevis Highwire Bungy. I put together a quick travel video which outlines the workup to my recent jump here in Queenstown. [...]

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