On Top of the World: Climbing Ben Lomond in Queenstown

When I first decided to come backpacking in New Zealand, I never expected to find a temporary home in the Land of the Long White Cloud. New Zealand seemingly has this effect on many – especially my current home of Queenstown. This bustling little resort town tucked into the Southern Alps seems to be home [...]

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Another Weekend in Paradise … Snowboarding in Queenstown

Most months throughout the year, the highlight of a trip to Queenstown is centered around hiking Great Walks like the Routeburn track, jumping off bridges, out of planes or barreling down rivers in New Zealand-invented jet boats. Come winter when the White Gold arrives, Queenstown goes from being a bustling summer resort to an alpine [...]

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Traveling For The Unexpected

When I first began backpacking almost three years ago, I very often explained my love of traveling and seeing the world by the following phrase: “I love experiencing the unknown.” I often find it’s the unknown – or certainly the unplanned – events in my travels that stand out the most. It’s these experiences and [...]

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Update, Links, and The Next Step

Spring has finally arrived in Queenstown. The days are getting longer, warmer, and it’s becoming very obvious that this would be an excellent place to spend the summer. Gone are the days of winter sports and I’ve been busy working with NZbyBike developing the preeminent marketing website for cycle tourism in New Zealand. Two weeks [...]

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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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September Update & Links

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 – [...]

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A Budget Travel Option in Queenstown – Frisbee Golf

It’s easy to come to Queenstown – the Adventure Capital of the World – and break your budget. Never mind the budget breaking activities like bungy jumping or skydiving, but Queenstown in general is a pretty bloody expensive place to travel to. Food, drink, accommodation – everything you need as a backpacker is significantly more [...]

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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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A Budget Option in Queenstown – Hiking to Queenstown Hill (Photo Essay)

Queenstown bills itself as the ‘Adventure Capital of the World.’ You can experience a number of heart-dropping activities here from jet-boating, to bungy jumping, to white water river sledging (yes, really). Needless to say, a trip to Queenstown, New Zealand, can very easily break your budget. Yet it doesn’t have to. There are many budget [...]

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