New Zealand Travel Blog

 

Welcome to our New Zealand Travel Blog DownsideUP

This blog is dedicated to inform and inspire you on all things to do with New Zealand..

Actually we write posts on anything that’s of interest in the South Pacific (our home) DownsideUP was started in 2008, to help people just like you, with planning the perfect NZ Self Driving experience.  

Kathleen and Lynn's South Island Road Trip
Kathleen
By
Kathleen Mahn

When you have seen most of the world, and you have been traveling in every possible way there is, you think you have seen what there is to see, but believe us, you can still be amazed. Our names are Kathleen Mahn and Lynn Kristensen from Germany and Denmark. We are doing a one semester internship at First Light Travel in New Zealand. We are both really keen travellers that love to explore new places and cultures and right now we got the opportunity to work and study within the travel industry in New Zealand.

Kathleen
By
Kathleen Mahn

Winter - What to do in Queenstown
Anne Baumscheiper
By
Anne Baumscheiper
Being a German girl Anne is used to getting out and about during her northern winter months so she was curious to see what the famed winter resort town of Queenstown had to offer in and around the surrounding area's. So to find out have a read of her blog, Winter - What to do in Queenstown?  
Anne Baumscheiper
By
Anne Baumscheiper

New Zealand Adventure Travel – What Not to Miss
Brent Narbey
By
Brent Narbey
World famous for adventure, New Zealand is a Mecca for lovers of excitement. Get your adrenaline pumping with our suggestions for some very unique kiwi adventures. Look beyond New Zealand’s trademark bungy jumping and high-speed jet boat rides. Have you ever thought of Heli-hiking on an ancient glacier? Or perhaps you can picture yourself soaking in an isolated natural hot spring, hidden amidst great mountains?
Brent Narbey
By
Brent Narbey

New Zealands Best Beaches: Coromandel
Suzie
By
Suzie Thorp
A favourite holiday destination for Kiwis and international tourists, the sun-kissed Coromandel region on New Zealand’s North Island, is full to the brim with some of New Zealand's best beaches – the only problem you’ll have is deciding which of these pristine places of paradise you want to visit.
Suzie
By
Suzie Thorp

The Lord of the Rings
Elizabeth Marshall
By
Elizabeth Marshall
Middle-earth, home of Hobbits, Trolls, and Orcs, may have been the creation of JR Tolkien’s brilliant mind, but believe us when we tell you that the idyllic paradise, brought to life by director Sir Peter Jackson in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, really does exist in New Zealand - the perfect place for the ultimate lord of the rings New Zealand vacation.
Elizabeth Marshall
By
Elizabeth Marshall

New Zealand Great Walks – Choosing the right track for you
Brent Narbey
By
Brent Narbey

New Zealand's Great Walks – Choosing the Right Track for You

We all know one of the ultimate reasons to visit New Zealand is for the jaw-dropping scenery. Luckily for you, our Department of Conservation has designated nine New Zealand Great Walks spread throughout the country, each showcasing a different set of iconic New Zealand landscapes, flora, and fauna. These experiences are outlined below – take your pick, from vertigo-inducing alpine splendor to tranquil forests and glittering sandy shores. First, you’ll need to decide whether to freedom walk or take a guided tour.

Brent Narbey
By
Brent Narbey

A Road with a View: Suggested routes for a self drive holiday in New Zealand
Alex
By
Alex Bayes
A self drive holiday in New Zealand is just as much about the journey as it is the destination, thanks largely to the sheer beauty of our scenic highways. It’s hard to beat the feeling of hitting the open road with a full tank of gas and a few days of leisure time up your sleeve. Kiwis love a good road trip, and it's easy to see why - across New Zealand, you'll find incredible routes on smooth highways that traverse grand and varied countryside.
Alex
By
Alex Bayes

Riding the Breeze in New Zealands top Sailing Destinations
Steve Taylor
By
Steve Taylor
There’s no better feeling than sailing on crystal-clear water, the wind in your hair and a backdrop of spectacular coastline unfolding before you. The sails are full, dolphins are surfing the bow wake, and rays of sunlight dance on an emerald-blue sea. After navigating the entrance to a crescent-shaped, white sand cove, you spend the afternoon dining on freshly caught fish and cooling off in the azure waters. This is what a sailing vacation in New Zealand is all about check out New Zealands top Sailing Destinations.  
Steve Taylor
By
Steve Taylor

A World of its Own - Great Barrier Island
Elizabeth Marshall
By
Elizabeth Marshall
Come and visit an island paradise where the crowds are no-where to be seen, beaches are glistening with pristine white sand and the sea, a constant sparkling blue surfer’s dream. Wander the tracks through regenerating native bush towards natural hot pools, soaking up the rugged surroundings before tackling a climb up to stay in an overnight hut with spectacular panoramic views.
Elizabeth Marshall
By
Elizabeth Marshall

New Zealand's Best Beaches in Northland
Brent Narbey
By
Brent Narbey
With a sub-tropical climate, kilometres of white sandy beaches and crystal clear-waters at every turn, Northland, at the top of New Zealand’s North Island, is the proud home of some of New Zealand's best beaches.
Brent Narbey
By
Brent Narbey

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