Chelsea's blog: 13 Days New Zealand Trip 10.05.2008

Trip to South New Zealand : towards end of Autumn (10.05.2008 to 22.05.2008).
Our journey from Christchurch to Kaikoura, Greymouth, Fox Glacier, Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, Arrowtown, Aoraki and Christchurch.
This is our first experience to travel free and easy....really really awesome !!
Total expenses for 5 persons:-
Car rent for 12days and insurance: NZ781.00
Accommodation for 12days : NZ1961.50
Petrol for 12days : NZ590.00
Pool money for 12days F&B : NZ3500.00

Upon reaching Christchurch, we rent a car and drive the way up to Kaikoura before it's too late..
The day in New Zealand is very short......it gets dark very early.....and 4hours ahead Malaysian time. Most of the shops & offices close at 8pm...so everyday we must get our room/motels before 8pm or else ..... You couldn't find shopping mall anywhere but in Christchurch you can find more shop to shops. While driving along the highway, only sheep's can be seen.

Day 2: Christchurch, on the way to Kaikoura

Day 2: Christchurch, on the way to Kaikoura, drop by to 1 of the wine house....

Day 2: Christchurch, on the way to Kaikoura, drop by 1 of the wine house....Entrance to Pegasus Bay

Day 2: Christchurch, on the way to Kaikoura, drop by 1 of the wine house ....inside Pegasus Bay

Day 2: Christchurch, on the way to Kaikoura, drop by 1 of the wine house....Pegasus Bay

Day 2: Christchurch on the way to Kaikoura, drop by 1 of the wine house....Pegasus Bay

Day 2: Christchurch on the way to Kaikoura, we bought 1 bottle of wine....Pegasus Bay

Day 3: Kaikoura, Willow Motels at NZ135.00 per night

Day 3: Kaikoura, Whale Watch office...estimated at NZ130 per person. Our trip to watch the whale has to be canceled due to bad weathers.......disappointed....

Day 3: Kaikoura, so we drive along the beach side to enjoy the view

Day 3: Kaikoura, we are very lucky to see the New Zealand fur seal and seagulls......becareful they are all wilds....one of them chase me when i try to get closer to them.

Day 3: Kaikoura, we are very lucky to see the New Zealand fur seal and seagulls......

Day 3: Kaikoura beach.....all stones and not sand

Day 3: Kaikoura beach

Day 3: Kaikoura, drive up the hill to get nicer view...

Day 3: Kaikoura, drive up the hill to get nicer view....

Day 3: Kaikoura, drive up the hill to get better view....

Day 3: Kaikoura, drive up the hill to get better view...

Day 3: On the way to Greymouth

Day 3: Shops along Greymouth

Day 3: Houses along Greymouth

Day 3: We had our lunch here.....

Day 3: Greymouth.....Gables Motor Lodge at NZ185.00 per night

Day 4: Visit to Shantytown at NZ18.00 per person in group - Railway track

Day 4: Steam train departs from the Railway Station regularly throughout the day, for a 20minutes bush ride.....stopping for short while at the top of the track for a photo and to have closer look at the engine

Day 4: This the Gold Miner who taught us how to do gold panning

Day 4: Shantytown

Day4 : Shantytown - New South Wales Bank

Day 4: Haha ....toilet !!

Day 4: Shantytown

Day 4: Shantytown - Water Wheel

Day 4: Fox Glacier.....Hike around 2hours plus here

Day 4: Fox Glacier

Day 5: On the way to Lake Matheson

Day 5: Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson Motels at NZ170.00 per night

Day 5: Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson

Day 5: Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson........walk through the bridge

Day 5: Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson: sunrise photo taken by our fren....they went up here very early in the morning, waiting for sunrise.......while we still on the bed sleeping........hehe

Day 5: Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson: sunrise photo taken by my fren....they went up here very early in the morning, waiting for sunrise.......

Day 5: Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson..hike up to Reflection Island

Day 5: Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson..hike up to Reflection Island...that's the reflection of Mount Cook

Day 5: Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson....hike up to Reflection Island

Day 5: Franz Joseph Glacier.....hike up to see Sentinent Rock Walk

Day 5: On the way to Wanaka....

Day 6: Wanaka, Alpine Motels at NZ130.00 per night

Day 6: Wanaka, early morning car frozen......every morning we have to bath the car with hot water.....

Day 6: Lessons - if you plan for free & easy trip.....no big luggage please......example....this is not all yet, we transfer 1 luggage to another car & hand carry bag....wah.....

Day 6: Restaurant beside Alpine Motel, Wanaka

Day 6: Alpine Motel at Wanaka - NZ130.00 per night

Day 6: Lake Wanaka - Golden retrievers enjoy swimming in the lake....

Day 6: Lake Wanaka - Golden Retrievers enjoy swimming in the lake....

Day 6: Lake Wanaka - is also renowned as a land of rest and relaxation since early Maori gathered on the lake's edge, recovering from their long journeys to gather pounamu (greenstone).

Day 6: Lake Wanaka

Day 6: Lake Wanaka - houses around lake

Day 6: Lake Wanaka - Roy's Bay yatch parking

Day 6: Lake Wanaka - apple trees along the road side

Day 6: On the way to Queenstown

Day 6: On the way to Queenstown, approximately around 2.6hours from Wanaka...stop at one off the apple farms.....we are not allow to go in coz spraying seasons ( no idea what the spraying season is ??)

Day 6: This is the Sarita apple farm -photo taken outside the farm..

Day 6: Apple sold outside the farm : NZ19.00 per pack.... very crispy ...yummy

Day 6: On the way to Queenstown..we stop at Cromwell for lunch.

Day 6: on the way to Queenstown...stop at Roaring Meg Gorge

Day 6: On the way to Queenstown...continue journey to Kawarau River......

Day 6: On the way to Queenstown...continue journey to Kawarau River......Kawarau Bungy Jump, NZ160.00 per person....none of us dare to jump.......

Day 6: On the way to Queenstown...continue journey to Kawarau River......Kawarau Bungy Jump

Day 7: Queenstown: Take TSS Earnslaw Steamship Cruises to Walter Peak High Country Farm.
It's also known as the ' Lady of the lake'. Launched in 1912, she has been transporting goods for local run-holders and conveying passengers on beautiful Lake Wakatipu for over 90 years.
NZ55.80 per person for the cruise to Walter Peak.

Day 7: Queenstown: Step aboard - u will see the stokers fuelling the fireboxes and hear the sound of the steam engines working.

Day 7: Queenstown: You can order foods or drink here........

Day 7: Queenstown: Steam coming out .....

Day 7: Queenstown:

Day 7: Queenstown: to the front of the cruise......

Day 7: Passing through Beautiful Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak.

Day 7: Queenstown: Colonel's Homestead, Walter Peak, photo taken on top of cruise

Day 7: Queenstown: Colonel's Homestead, Walter Peak

Day 7: Queenstown: Walter Peak High Country Farm

Day 7: Queenstown: while touring on foot to the farm....u get the change to feed the animals...

Day 7: Queenstown: Stroll around the Colonel's Homestead gardens with its mature trees, rolling lawn and colourful flowerbeds. Gingko trees ...forgotten how old is the tree ???

Day 7: Queenstown: Around the Colonel's Homestead

Day 7: Queenstown: See the Sheep Shearing and also watch the sheep dogs in action.

Day 7: Queenstown: Around the Colonel's Homestead

Day 7: Queenstown: Around the Colonel's Homestead...
Enjoy a morning or afternoon tea when you join the Walter Peak Farm Exercusions.... Freshly bake scones and pikelets topped with jam and cream are favourites of everyone.

Day 7: Queenstown, photo taken at Skyline Gondola (this is the scenic Gondola)

Day 7: Queenstown, photo taken at Skyline Gondola

Day 7: Queenstown: It's 800metres Skyline Luge Ride at NZ8 per ride, at the top of the Skyline Gondola.....surrounded by Queenstown most spectacular views.

Day 8: On the way to Milford Sound - take about 5hours journey from Queenstown.
The Maori were the first to attribute the creation of fiords to a "Titanic Mason". Milford is best known of the fiord, and the only one that can be reached by road. The fiord is approximately 16km from the head to the open sea.

Day 8: On the way to Milford Sound....see the mist

Day 8: On the way to Milford Sound

Day 8: Milford Sound...take cruise to Fiordland at NZ61.20 per person around 2hours. Coffee and soup provided.

Day 8: Milford Sound - take cruise to Fiordland

Day 8: Milford Sound - in Maori legend the fiord were created not by rivers of ice, but by Tu Te Raki Whanoa, a godly figure who came weilding a magical adze and uttering incantations.

Day 8: On the way to Fiordland

Day 8: Fiordland

Day 8: On the way to Te Anau....up and down the mountain....
After taking cruise to Fiordland, we drove back to Te Anau - take about 1 hour plus from Milford Sound.

Day 8: On the way to Te Anau

Day 9: Te Anau - Lake Side Motel NZ200 / night
Photo taken just outside our Motel - facing the lake...it's so colourful

Day 9: Te Anau - Lake Side Motel : Berry trees

Day 9: Te Anau - Lake Side Motel

Day 9: Te Anau - Lake Side Motel : so cool......

Day 9: Take about 2hours journey from Te Anau to Arrowtown - road side flower

Day 9: on the way to Arrowtown

Day 9: Arrowtown

Day 9: History : The fascinating little of Arrowtown literally sprung up overnight with the discovery of gold in the Arrow River in 1862. Thousands of miners from around the globe flocked to the area and the river became famed as one of the world's reichest of alluvial gold.

Day 9: Arrowtown

Day 9: Arrowtown : not much things we can do at night, so we drove back to Queenstown to shop and have fun again ( around 17km only)

Day 10: On the way to Mount Cook......grape trees along the road side...Around 3hours journey from Arrowtown..

Day 10: At the heart of the South Island's backbone, the Southern Alps, is New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki Mount Cook (3754m), spectacular centre-piece of Mount Cook National Park, a World Heritage Area.

Day 10: Hooker Valley at Aoraki Mt. Cook: We hike & walk around for 2.5 hours to get better view...

Day 10: Hooker Valley at Aoraki Mt. Cook

Day 11: Aoraki Mt. Cook Hermitage Hotel. Nestled beneath towering peaks of the Southern Alps and just 55km off the Christchurch - Queenstown State Highway, The Hermitage is the gateway to the spectecular alpine wonderland of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, a World Heritage Park. We had our breakfast here / given NZ10 per person upon booking the motel
NZ256.20 per nite

Day 11: Sunrise taken outside Aoraki Mt. Cook Hermitage Motel..i couldn't sleep so i wait for sunrise...i walk out from our motels without wearing shoe to take photo- my leg almost frozen...can u imagine the cool....

Day 11: Sunrise taken outside Aoraki Mt. Cook Hermitage Motel

Day 11: Aoraki Mt. Cook Hermitage Motel - Every motels with Mt.Cook view

Day 11: Aoraki Mt. Cook Hermitage Motel

Day 11: Blue Lake & Tasman Glacier at Aoraki Mt. Cook
We walk & hike around for around 1.5 hours to view the Blue Lake
and Tasman Glacier

Day 11: Blue Lake (green pond) at Aoraki Mt. Cook

Day 11: Blue Lake at Aoraki Mt. Cook

Day 11: Rest area at Tasman Glacier

Day 11: Clean & Beautiful washroom at Tasman Glacier

Day 11: Tasman Glacier at Aoraki Mt. Cook

Day 11: On the way to Christchurch: Around 5hours journey to reach there...

Day 11: On the way to Christchurch

Day 11: On the way to Christchurch :Lake Tekapo - Beautiful old lady feeding the ducks

Day 11: On the way to Christchurch :Lake Tekapo - look at the scenery

Day 11: On the way to Christchurch :Lake Tekapo - Famous Church of the Good Shepherd

Day 11: On the way to Christchurch :Lake Tekapo - Church of the Good Shepherd

Day 11: On the shores of Lake Tekapo is the Church of the Good Shepherd, built in 1935 to the glory of God as a memorial to the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country.

Day 11: On the way to Christchurch :Lake Tekapo

Day 11: On the way to Christchurch :Lake Tekapo - very relaxing place

Day 11: Church - On the way to Christchurch

Day 11: On the way to Christchurch

Day 11: Shop - On the way to Christchurch

Day 11: Houses - On the way to Christchurch

Day 12: Christchurch - Tram drivers will guide you with an entertaining & informative 30-minutes tour of the city sight at NZ14.00 per person.
We plan to take Tram ride but cannot make it coz we shop until forget everything..

Day 12: Christchurch - Town Area

Day 12: Christchurch - Tram at Town Area

Day 12: Christchurch - Town Area

Day 12: Christchurch - Phone Booth at Town Area
Clean & neat....no sticker around....

Day 12: Christchurch - Town Area

Day 12: Christchurch - Town Area
Early afternoon there are many store around selling fast food & accessories

Day 12: Christchurch - Guess what ?? u can pay parking fees using credit card....

Day 12: Christchurch -Cathedral Square is the "soul of the city" in the very heart of Christchurch. Built in 1850's, the Cathedral is a monument to the early settlers.

Day 12: Christchurch - Beautiful Cathedral Square

Day 12: Christchurch - Town Area

Day 12: Christchurch - Talking Seat at Town area

Day 12: Christchurch - Place to rest at Town Area

Day 12: Christchurch - Punting on the Avon
The Edwardian punter glides you past the leafy banks of the inner city, giving an informative & entertaining guide to the Avon River. Operating everyday, except Christmas Day.