New Zealand Travel Blog

Downside Up New Zealand 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.  

Waimangu Valley Eco Tour
David Mckenzie
By
David Mckenzie
December is the first official month of summer in New Zealand, so it’s a great time to plan a road trip around the North Island, or to lock in a holiday itinerary.
David Mckenzie
By
David Mckenzie

Full Moon Bathing
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne
Let's hijack the wonderful Forest Gump quote, 'New Zealand's like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get'. Never a truer word has been spoken about these shaky isles, as every twist and turn of a country road dishes up something fresh, particularly on the Mainland - (the South Island for the uninitiated).
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne

Biking the Karangahake Gorge
David Mckenzie
By
David Mckenzie
November is the final month of spring in New Zealand, and by the end of the month, it feels like summer has arrived to practically all parts of the North Island. Temperatures are warm, sunshine hours are long, and rainfall is relatively low for most parts of the island.
David Mckenzie
By
David Mckenzie

Hahei Beach on the Coromandel
David Mckenzie
By
David Mckenzie
October welcomes spring temperatures pretty much everywhere across the North Island, with relatively little rainfall and longer daylight and sunshine hours to boot. It’s still not too hot, though, so it’s a great time for getting out and about in the great outdoors for hiking, cycling, and other activities. 
David Mckenzie
By
David Mckenzie

Kayaking in the Bay of Islands
David Mckenzie
By
David Mckenzie
January is a beautiful time of year to visit the North Island of New Zealand. With the peak summer holiday season in full flow, you can expect lots of high temperatures, long days, plenty of sunshine, and less rainfall than at other times of year.
David Mckenzie
By
David Mckenzie

Waitaki Lake Dam
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne
In the words of 'old mate', the usually reticent high country scribe Claver Esmond, 'Kurow is where the (Waitaki) river strangles enough, as if plying open a portal, with access to another chapter, as the Waitaki story refreshes'. Esmond claims to have traveled this area extensively as a kid and says the simple memories still endure.
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne

Clay Cliffs in the Waitaki Valley - Location: 10km (6 miles) out of Omarama. Turn off the State Highway 83 onto Quailburn Road and then onto the unsealed Henburn Road.
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne
When we talk of contrasts, the Waitaki river valley has them in bucket loads. You can attack this routeway, from either end..the Pacific Coast just north of Oamaru, or from Omarama on the inland Queenstown to Christchurch highway.
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne

Steampunk Museum in Oamaru
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne
What is there to do in Oamaru? In short, plenty. The big 'O', is exactly that, a kaleidoscope of colour, character and surprises!
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne

Lake Ruataniwha - a Twizel Winter
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne
The Mackenzie Country township of Twizel (pronounced Twyzyl) virtually sprang up overnight. The name comes from the word Twizla, meaning fork in the river and was built in 1968 to house construction teams working on the Upper Waitaki hydro electric scheme.
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne

Author John Dunne isnt too shy to get his kit off in the Great NZ Outdoors
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne
New Zealand boasts more than 15 official sun and naturist clubs with probably just as many associate operations. While the climate as you head further south in the country may dim the enthusiasm for naturists, there're still ardent followers prepared to brave the elements.
John Dunne - broadcaster, writer, skibum, sailor
By
John Dunne

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