My self-drive NZ trip 03-14Nov 2010
Really spent wonderful times in this New Zealand trip. Breathtaking sceneries, clear blue skies, snow-capped mountains during the mid-spring season. Everything is so perfect!
Day 01
We drove straight to Lake Tekapo after collecting our rented car (we chose Omega rental car). The journey was smooth, not very scenic and took about 3hrs to reach our cottage. Paid NZ$190 for a 2br cottage. Not much of sight-seeing from the cottage, and the FourSquare supermarket at the town center is quite small, with limited varieties of food we can cook. Should have gone to the Christchurch supermarket first. We visited the famous Chapel, took a lot of pics, as the lake overlooks Mt Cook alps. Very very scenic!
Day 02
Drove up to Mt Cook after check out, took ard 1hr. It was raining that day, so we din really take many pics. Drove straight to Dunedin after lunch, which took 2.5hr and checked in at this motel lodge. This city is very properous, and can go for penguin viewing at the Otago Penisular. However it was raining, and too cold to travel in the evening. We walked to the city center and had Mac for lunch. Then came across a mega supermarket, whr mum bought many food
Day 03
We went to the Cadbury chocolate factory instead. Megan enjoyed herself very much, n we bought lots of chocolate bars as gifts. Drove to Te Anau ard 12pm, stopped by for light lunch before continuing to our motel which is situated by Lake Te Anau. Very very scenic too. However, our motel is the worst accommodation we had this trip, n had to stay 2 nights.. We drove to city center, bought pizza for dinner.
Day 04
Signed up for this Milford Sound day trip (costs NZ$150 per adult, includes lunch on cruise), where the bus picked up from the motel. Everywhere we went before reaching the Milford terminal are super scenic. Every pics are like postcard pics. Really worth going! Reached motel ard 5.
Day 05
Checked out motel n drove straight to Queenstown. Queenstown is quite a small town, with Franklin jus beside. Many adventurous activities we can do: Sky-diving, bungy jump, cycling, fishing, kayaking, etc. We went to Gibbston valley n joined the 1hr wine tour. The wine-tasting is alright, probably not to my liking. Drove to Cromwell to the fruit orchard. No orchard tour as there aren't enough fruits for the tour. Had a walk in the city center after dinner
Day 06
Spent almost the whole day at the gondola. We did para-gliding and luge twice. Very very worth it, as it's super fun! We love our apartment too, cos can do as many laundries as we wan.
Day 07
Checked out and drove to Fox Glacier. We stopped by Wanaka n explored the Puzzling world. Quite interesting place. Then continued our longest drive of this trip. Took us almost 4.5hrs of driving. We stopped by Fox Glacier, and went for a walking trail which lasts 1hr. After tat, checked into motel n rest.
Day 08
Checked out and drove to Westport. Stopped by Punakaiki pancakes and blowholes for a walk and sight-seeing. Quite worth the time as the formations of these rocks r really amazing. Checked into our best stay of this trip which oversees the ocean from the balcony. Super super scenic. It's a pity tat we can only stay a night.
Day 09
After check out, we drove to city center to walk ard before heading to Blenheim. Stopped by Nelson national park for a quick bite, n ended up feeding nearly-expired bread to the wild ducks. They r really very scary... Reached our B&B at Blenheim, n we went to city center for a walk. David n sis went to buy some wines fr nearby, n they r really gd.
Day 10
Decided to try out some of the wines near our B&B and we drove to Flamingham, Spy valley where Cloudy Bay & Isabel Estate hv the best dessert wines. Highly recommended. Ended up at Highfield for lunch to celebrate mom's birthday. Continued to drive to Christchurch, stopped by Kaikora for light shopping n a walk by the beach. Our motel at Christchurch is quite classy, very clean. Mom n sis went to the Casino nearby n won some money too :)
Day 11
Spent late morning at the city center, took a walk in the botanical garden nearby. Then we went to the Antartica center & spent our afternoon thr. Quite interesting place. Casino for mom and myself this time round, n we won too!
Accommodation:
Lake Tekapo cottages
Commodore motel
Edgewater Te Anau motel
Best Western Cranbury court
Glacier Gateway motel
Steepes Cottage highly recommended!!
St Leonard B&B
Bellagio motel suites
Day 01
We drove straight to Lake Tekapo after collecting our rented car (we chose Omega rental car). The journey was smooth, not very scenic and took about 3hrs to reach our cottage. Paid NZ$190 for a 2br cottage. Not much of sight-seeing from the cottage, and the FourSquare supermarket at the town center is quite small, with limited varieties of food we can cook. Should have gone to the Christchurch supermarket first. We visited the famous Chapel, took a lot of pics, as the lake overlooks Mt Cook alps. Very very scenic!
Day 02
Drove up to Mt Cook after check out, took ard 1hr. It was raining that day, so we din really take many pics. Drove straight to Dunedin after lunch, which took 2.5hr and checked in at this motel lodge. This city is very properous, and can go for penguin viewing at the Otago Penisular. However it was raining, and too cold to travel in the evening. We walked to the city center and had Mac for lunch. Then came across a mega supermarket, whr mum bought many food
Day 03
We went to the Cadbury chocolate factory instead. Megan enjoyed herself very much, n we bought lots of chocolate bars as gifts. Drove to Te Anau ard 12pm, stopped by for light lunch before continuing to our motel which is situated by Lake Te Anau. Very very scenic too. However, our motel is the worst accommodation we had this trip, n had to stay 2 nights.. We drove to city center, bought pizza for dinner.
Day 04
Signed up for this Milford Sound day trip (costs NZ$150 per adult, includes lunch on cruise), where the bus picked up from the motel. Everywhere we went before reaching the Milford terminal are super scenic. Every pics are like postcard pics. Really worth going! Reached motel ard 5.
Day 05
Checked out motel n drove straight to Queenstown. Queenstown is quite a small town, with Franklin jus beside. Many adventurous activities we can do: Sky-diving, bungy jump, cycling, fishing, kayaking, etc. We went to Gibbston valley n joined the 1hr wine tour. The wine-tasting is alright, probably not to my liking. Drove to Cromwell to the fruit orchard. No orchard tour as there aren't enough fruits for the tour. Had a walk in the city center after dinner
Day 06
Spent almost the whole day at the gondola. We did para-gliding and luge twice. Very very worth it, as it's super fun! We love our apartment too, cos can do as many laundries as we wan.
Day 07
Checked out and drove to Fox Glacier. We stopped by Wanaka n explored the Puzzling world. Quite interesting place. Then continued our longest drive of this trip. Took us almost 4.5hrs of driving. We stopped by Fox Glacier, and went for a walking trail which lasts 1hr. After tat, checked into motel n rest.
Day 08
Checked out and drove to Westport. Stopped by Punakaiki pancakes and blowholes for a walk and sight-seeing. Quite worth the time as the formations of these rocks r really amazing. Checked into our best stay of this trip which oversees the ocean from the balcony. Super super scenic. It's a pity tat we can only stay a night.
Day 09
After check out, we drove to city center to walk ard before heading to Blenheim. Stopped by Nelson national park for a quick bite, n ended up feeding nearly-expired bread to the wild ducks. They r really very scary... Reached our B&B at Blenheim, n we went to city center for a walk. David n sis went to buy some wines fr nearby, n they r really gd.
Day 10
Decided to try out some of the wines near our B&B and we drove to Flamingham, Spy valley where Cloudy Bay & Isabel Estate hv the best dessert wines. Highly recommended. Ended up at Highfield for lunch to celebrate mom's birthday. Continued to drive to Christchurch, stopped by Kaikora for light shopping n a walk by the beach. Our motel at Christchurch is quite classy, very clean. Mom n sis went to the Casino nearby n won some money too :)
Day 11
Spent late morning at the city center, took a walk in the botanical garden nearby. Then we went to the Antartica center & spent our afternoon thr. Quite interesting place. Casino for mom and myself this time round, n we won too!
Accommodation:
Lake Tekapo cottages
Commodore motel
Edgewater Te Anau motel
Best Western Cranbury court
Glacier Gateway motel
Steepes Cottage highly recommended!!
St Leonard B&B
Bellagio motel suites
