Hi Mint, Yours and All,
NZ is really beautiful and missing it now. I have written my detailed trip here as want to keep it for memories too. hehe alrite, hope its not lengthy, enjoy reading.
Any qs, feel free to ask me since my mind is still fresh.
Day 1 – Depart from SIN-AKL-CHC
Day 2 – CHC
Begin our trip with 12hrs flight on Air New Zealand. At AKL airport, we took a shuttle bus (5mins) from international to domestic airport. From there, board a domestic plane to CHC.
Reached CHC at 3pm. Teddy from Anzed car rental picked us up from CHC airport. Reached Achillies Motel within 5mins by car. Nice, spacious, decent motel. As Pam & Cam knew that we were there for honeymoon, they welcomed us with a complimentary small bottle of champagne & a wedding card. So sweet of them.
From our motel, it is a 10mins walk to the Cathedral square. Weather was very cold. Tour around Botanic Gardens, Avon River, Arts Centre n did some shopping. We went to a food court there, reasonable price. Also went to a Japanese takeaway to grab some teriyaki sushi, yummy! It’s just opposite the food court.
<font color="ff0000">*Accommodation: Achillies Motel – NZ$75 ensuite</font>
Day 3 – CHC via Scenic Route 72 – Lake Tekapo
Drove up from CHC to Cashmere Hill & Lyttelton Port. It was breathtaking. Lots of steep uphill roads therefore we need to drive slowly around the bends. We went back to CHC via a tunnel called Tunnel Road.
Back to CHC again. We have a quick lunch at the food court again. Yummy. Haha I went for a hair trim at 1 of the hair salons, cheap cheap only NZ$10. Cos I simply cant stand my messy hair being blew by strong winds. Hehe
Begin our Scenic Route 72. On our way, saw lots of sheeps crossing the roads with a sheep dog chasing behind them. Passby Rakaia Gore n Mt. Hutt along the way. Stop by Rakaia Gore, it was beautiful with crystal clear waters. Went to Lily farm at Mt. Somers too. We stopped at Farlie for dinner, had nice fish and chips at the restaurant before proceeding to Lake Tekapo.
Lake Tekapo is beautiful….Blue turquoise lake….It was very cold that evening though I had an ice cream after dinner. Managed to catch the sunset with golden mountains, awesome!
We stayed at Tailor-made backpackers. Our ensuite room is so new and modern. Cool. Quiet and nice environment with lovely garden. At about 11pm, we drove to the lake and went star gazing. It was beautiful.
<font color="ff0000">*Accommodation: Tailor-Made Backpackers – NZ$60 ensuite</font>
Day 4 – Lake Tekapo – Mt Cook – Twizel
Saw a Japanese couple holding their wedding ceremony at Church of the Good Shepherd. It was so sweet and memorable to get married just besides the beautiful lake tekapo.
Start Mt John tracking via the forest instead of the lake. Took us 1hr + to reach the top. However we didn’t continue up to the observation point
Drove via Salmon Farm route to Mt. Cook. Canal Pukaki to Tekapo is pretty! NZ seems to have lots of beautiful lakes.
Despite it was drizzing in Mt. Cook, we went for the Hooker Valley Track. You must not miss it. Catch the ice blocks and glaciers. It was an experience. Strong wind was howling which nearly blew us off and we were walking on sharp edging rocks and stone. After we crossed the 2nd swinging bridge, we u-turn back. It was scary as the 2nd bridge was swinging left and right vigorously, as if going to fall apart and we had to hold tight to the railing. We were glad to reach the starting point after our 2 hours track. Complete track required 4hrs.
Feel shagged after the Mt john & Mt cook tracks. We have dinner at Twizel, yummy fish & chips with strawberry milkshake. High Country Holiday Lodge was so-so. The layout was so odd and room was small.
<font color="ff0000">*Accommodation: High Country Holiday Lodge – NZ$66 ensuite</font>
Day 5 – Twizel via Omarama – Oamaru – Dunedin
Drove pass Lake Benmore, Lake Aviemore, Waitaki Dam, Maori Rock Drawing and Shag Point.
Stop by Moeraki Boulders. Wondering how the rocks are formed by the beach. Saw a wedding couple taking their outdoor photoshoot in their lovely wedding suit n gown.
Began our Penguin and wild animal tour (NZ$55 per person) at 3pm. Pickup location at our Ramsay Lodge, Dunedin. We could see overview of Dunedin, beautiful blue seas before reaching at Tairoa Head on Otago Peninsula. One of the attractions here is the Albatross, one of the largest seabirds.
We were divided into 2 groups led by the guide at Penguin Reserve. Watch out for the endangered Yellow Eyed Penguin (Hoiho meaning Noise shouter), Hooker Sea Lions
and Fur seals. Saw 2 cute yellow eyed penguins blocking our path. Hehe. Not forgetting the climbing up and down the steep hills. Really pay $ to torture my legs. Urgh but worth it. Haha
By the time the tour ended n it was 10.30pm when we reached Ramsay. Went to a 24-hr supermarket to grab some cup noodles n food as restaurants were closed. We have a good night stay at Ramsay. A really beautiful, clean and spacious house.
<font color="ff0000">*Accommodation: Ramsay Lodge – NZ$60 ensuite</font>
Day 6 – Dunedin via Southern Scenic Route – Invercargill via Lumsden – Te Anau
Have you seen the steepest street in the world? Yes it is at Baldwin Street in Dunedin. It is really steep, like 90 degree angle. Tour around Dunedin city, very historical. Have yummy pasta for lunch at The Courtyard Café before proceeding to Dunedin railway station.
Began our Southern Scenic route. It was a long long journey, lots of driving on gravel roads. In fact, Inland scenic route 72 is better in my own opinion. Nugget point (take note have to drive uphill gravel roads), Purakaunui falls, porpoise bay, curio bay, Florence hill and slope point (most southernly point in South island) are along the catlins coasts. Feel that the coasts are of quite similar to Australia.
Have a sumptuous chinese dinner at Invercargill. It was a 5 to 6 course menu.
Finally reached Te Anau at almost 9pm. The sky was still bright. Have a walk around the peaceful and calm lake.
Te Anau frontlake is spacious and quiet with own kitchen facilities.
<font color="ff0000">*Accommodation: Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers – NZ$64 ensuite</font>
Day 7 – Te Anau – Milford Sound – Te Anau – Queenstown
Remember to pump full petrol before to Milford sound. Since journey from Te Anau to Milford takes 1hr 45mins, we departed at 8am sharp to board our Friendship cruise at 10am. Weather was bad, it was raining quite heavy along our drive. The drive to milford sound is not that dangerous. Just that after the Hommer Tunnel, pls. slow down along the winding bends.
Board our Friendship cruise by Real Journey (NZ$48). It was misty and fogging around Milford sound. It was fun to see big giant waterfalls which made us drenched, have to run inside the cruise n hide. The waterfall is heavily than the rain. Haha
It was a pity that the rain only stop after the cruise ended. Passed by Mirror lakes but not as peaceful as in the morning.
Had spaghettic for lunch at Te Anau. Buy all your chocolates there. Its so cheap at Te Anau supermarket! Cheapest I could find in south island.
It was so sunny in Queenstown, the UV rays was very strong. Remember to apply sunblock lotion. There was a rugby tournament going on. Queenstown is very happening and lively, favourite spot for tourists n you can go jet-boating, rafting take a bungi jump or a helicopter ride, dine on the old ferry as it cruises the lake or at the top of the chairlift over- looking the Remarkable mountains and Lake Wakatipu.
Had Ramen for dinner at a Japanese restaurant. Yummy. Highly recommended.
Shopping closed til late. Went back after 10.30pm. Bought souvenirs, manuka body wash & lotion.
Aspen Lodge is new n clean, just renovated. It was still under renovation outside our lodge. Overall, quiet lodge.
<font color="ff0000">*Accommodation: Aspen Lodge – NZ$75 ensuite</font>
Day 8– Queenstown
Suppose to go for Shotover combo (shotover jet, helicopter ride, luge, movie, gondola ride), but it was cancelled due to raining. What a disappointment. We longed for a helicopter ride but too bad.
Still, we went for Shotover Jet by Kjet. Wow it was fun and shiok man especially when the boat spinned 360 degrees and we were all drenched. It was a 60mins ride which costs NZ$84 per person. From our jetboat, we managed to spot Rainbow over The Remarkables!
Entry to Deer Park Heights costs NZ$20 per car. We were able to self feed animal up there, just paid NZ$1 for 1 big tin of food. We were surrounded by goats and horses, looking at us with their hungry eyes. Haha! Great 360 degree panaroma views of Queenstown!!!
Ride the Gondola skyline at NZ$18 per person. Saw those daring guys screaming haha Bungy Jump! It was beautiful up at the Gondola with great views over the remarkables and lake wakatipu.
Hungry and went back for dinner at the same Japanese restaurant before turning for the night.
<font color="ff0000">*Accommodation: Aspen Lodge – NZ$75 ensuite</font>
Day 9– Queenstown via Crown Range – Wanaka via Hasst Pass – Fox Glacier
Left Queenstown. Drove to Wanaka via Crown Range. Crown Range is not difficult just that bit winding n we drove slowly around the bends (no barriers).
Had delicious Bacon and egg breakfast at lake Wanaka before proceed to Puzzling world and its maze (NZ$10 per person). We did the difficult maze challenge. Haha though the maze was frustrating initially, we ran here n there sweating like mad but was fun. Haha.
Don’t miss out the beautiful Lake Hawea as well. Drove pass through gateway of Hasst. A lot of ppl mentioned Hasst roads are difficult but its not as winding as crown range and milford sound, quite an alrite drive (depends on individual experience drivers).
Drop by Salmon farm café (near Lake Paringa) but too bad all their salmon sold out despite they opened til 7pm. Also, have a glimpse at Knight’s Point view.
Overall, find west coast is not as great as southern lakes and central south island (queenstown, lake tekapo, mt cook). So my advise is to have a longer stay at central south island.
Fox glacier is really a very small n tiny town. Most restaurants are mainly bars, nothing much to eat. Therefore went supermarket to buy some cup noodles n food.
Ivory towers lodge is quiet n nice but one thing you can to walk pass the lounge n a few rooms to reach our ensuite room. Abit inconvenience as we have to drag our luggage in.
<font color="ff0000">*Accommodation: Ivory Towers $70 ensuite</font>
Day 10– Fox Glacier – Franz Josef - Hokitika
We did the Lake Matheson 1hr 30mins circuit walk around the lake. We treated ourselves to a sumptuous breakfast at Lake Matheson café after the walk.
Took a glimpse of Fox Glacier n snowcapped mountain at Peak Viewpoint before beginning our 1hr Fox glacier walk to its ice terminal. Beware and keep your eyes and ears open! Along the way, we heard n saw falling rocks. U can see lots of ice blocks along the glacier river. We even carried those huge ice blocks. Haha
Also, did a 20mins Sentinel Rock walk to have an overview of Franz Josef. Both fox and franz glacier are very similar.
Hokitika is a very quiet town. We had a great dinner at Priya Indian Restaurant before having a stroll at Hokitika beach. The curry is really great and spicy. Bought souvenirs n maori beef bone pendant there.
Blue Spur is the best lodge I have ever stayed throughout. Very quiet and peaceful, u can hear bird’s singing…. It is situated up on a hill if I m not wrong.
<font color="ff0000">*Accommodation: Blue Spur Lodge – NZ$70 ensuite</font>
Day 11 – Hokitika – Greymouth – Punhakaiki – Hanmer Springs
Nothing much at Greymouth, considering it is a big and busy town. Passby the scenic train which departed for Christchurch.
Next stop – Punakaiki Pancakes. Its strangely how these are formed…hmmm..
Drove to Hanmer springs via Lewis pass.
YHA is clean n decent. Quiet.
<font color="ff0000">*Accommodation: YHA Hanmer Springs – NZ$66 ensuite</font>
Day 12 – Hanmer Springs - CHC
Hanmer springs thermal reserve was great after so many days of walking n driving, its time to soak in the water n relax. We booked a private thermal pool just for both of us for ½ hrs (NZ$17 per person). After ½ hr, we went to the sulphur, thermal and cold pool to enjoy further.
Finally, our last stop at CHC. For dinner, we went to Riverview buffet restaurant for buffet. NZ$22 per person. Serving international food. Did some last min shopping n strolled back to motel.
<font color="ff0000">*Accommodation: Achillies Motel – NZ$75 ensuite</font>
Day 13 – CHC – AKL - SIN
