This trip ideally should be done (and more enjoyed) in 10 days. But because my dear partner didn’t want to take longer days off so we had to pack in everything during the easter weekend (2011) and a bit over to make up 8days and 7 nites journey. It was quite a grueling road trip but we could still enjoy and love it. So, we are including here places that tourists go for your information albeit we didn’t make some………..
DAY 1, Momona airport – Dunedin
I loved the autumn colorings! The atmosphere felt different. We were just settling in our hotel and taking pics of CBD and the statue (see pic). Places close early too. So we gave these places (Dunedin Chinese Garden, Cadbury World, Olveston and Otago museum) a miss.
DAY 2, Otago peninsula and driving to Te Anau
We went to Royal Albatross Centre. This is the only mainland breeding colony of Royal albatross. not your ordinary bird because it is quite intimidating with a huge one can have as big as a 3 meter wingspan. They had various tours such as to see penguin place, seal and wildlife cruise. Time constraint only allowed us to see seal on the beach from afar…………..
Larnach Castle If you like botanical garden, you would like this castle. The lunch meal was pretty good.
We arrived in Te Anau after 4 hours driving from the castle, after checked in the hotel, we went straight to Lake Te Anau to go on a tour of Te Anau Glowworm Caves. They had the 2pm, 5.45pm and 7pm tours but we were told and proven that dusk (5.45pm) tour was the best because we could enjoy the sunset from the boat that brought us across to the cave’s entrance. This place really wow-ed us, the walking inside the cave, the waterfall-like and the darkness were all so surreal…… A must to go….
Day 3, we still stayed in Te Anau. We went on Milfourd Sound scenic cruise.
We skirted Lake Te Anau to the forested Eglinton Valley and the Mirror Lakes before crossing the ‘Divide’ and entering the Cleddau Valley via the Homer Tunnel. Enjoy some of the most stunning scenery to be found anywhere in the world – towering snow-capped peaks, magnificent rainforest and spectacular waterfalls.
On arrival at Milford, we board a catamaran for a one and a half hour cruise of Milford Sound (we chose all-you-can eat lunch while cruising) viewing the spectacular waterfalls including the Stirling and Bowen Falls and famous Mitre Peak.
An optional scenic flight may be taken for the return journey to Queenstown (arranged through your coach driver on the day of travel if you are travelling by coach).
View from Eglinton Valley
Milfourd Sound Waterfall
Day 4 Queenstown
This is THE destination which has been labelled by some travelers as similar to Switzerland (in Europe). To quote one website: It is the Southern Hemisphere’s premier four season lake and alpine resort. Surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown’s stunning scenery is inspiring and revitalising.
Queenstown provides huge range of activities. Fortunately, we followed a friend’s advise to stay longer here than in Christchurch (2 months after we had booked everything, earthquake happened in Chch and the infamous CBD and its cathedrals were closed/off-limit. will talk about that later).
One Landmark that shouldn’t be missed is Skyline Queenstown. It was a memorable experience from the word Start going up hill riding the gondola, enjoying the view of the mountains and lake Wakatipu, paragliders, the thrilling of going downhill with luge which is a gravity fuelled fun ride ( Part toboggan and part go-kart). and big finishing with 30 minutes of Kiwi Haka show (captivating and engaging) and all-you-can-eat dinner at the skyline restaurant (advance bookings advised as this restaurant is very popular).
Day 5 Miss and Hit in a day
We tried to fit in 4 activities that day.
First in the morning, we thought we could do Lord of the rings tour at Glenorchy. We went ourselves to the ‘location’ without the tour though. But soon it lost its appeal without the commentary guidance provided by the tour. The landscapes looked all the same………… but for those movie fanatics, do engage with a guided tour (usually 4WD) which provides
journey through rural Glenorchy into the beautiful Paradise valley , amazing scenery, short walks, photo opportunities with our LOTR and Wolverine movie props, native flora and fauna, entertaining commentary from our friendly guides and a complimentary refreshment in Glenorchy.
The movie locations covered include: Isengard, Lothlorien Forest, The Ithlien Camp, Amon Hen and The Misty Mountains from the ‘Lord of the Rings’ Trilogy. Also locations used in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Water Horse, Willow and more.
So without the guided tour, it was a big and only MISS for us. Move on………….
Then we went to have shotover jet ride (gorge road, Arthurs points). Now, there are many jet boat rides in the world (river’s, sea’s) but this must be one of the best because of the unique landscape, through narrow canyons (gorges). check http://www.book.com.nz for combo package (gondola skyline+shotover+rafting, etc………….) wish i knew about this deal beforehand.
Life-size Diorama at Lakes District Museum
Next stop was Arrowtown for lunch, small town with 2 streets for village center, fully packed with visitors. A former gold-mining town which was surprisingly charming with its rich history shown through original buildings, gold panning experience and its captivating Lakes District Museum.
We returned back to the center of Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu that is to enjoy mid afternoon cruise on TSS Earnslaw Vintage Steamship Cruise. Sedately enjoying the tranquil lake, we cruised across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm on the western shores . Disembarking the vessel, we had a walking tour of the farmyard to the holding pens, where we could feed the sheep, illama and deer, and even get up close to the Scottish Highland Cattle. Then strolled through the lakeside gardens to the charming Colonel’s Homestead for a traditional high country afternoon tea of scones and pikelets.
Afterwards the farmer led us over to the shearing shed where we watched the farm dogs rounding up sheep from the hill paddocks, and saw the farmer shear a sheep. Now we know the difference between merino wool or not…………….
Finished for the day? not yet, after dinner we went to industrial size freezer Minus 5Degrees Bar and had the infamous Aggy’s shack’s fish and chips for late supper.
Day 6, Lake Tekapo
We went to Lake Tekapo via Wanaka so we could visit Stuart Landsborough’s Puzzling World. It was a very good rest from Queenstown activities. The weather was colder as Lake Tekapo is closed to Mt John where people go for skiing tour and stargazing (Mt. John’s observatory). Not-to-be- missed visit to Church of Good Shepherd, probably the only building on the shore of Lake Tekapo as far as we could see. We went early at dawn to catch the sunrise, it was freezing but the view of the mountain, the church, the lake were just…..Majestic!!
Church of Good Shepherd, shore of Lake Tekapo
Akaroa
Day 7, Akaroa
This is only 75 km from Christchurch. It is boasting a historic village with its colonial architecture, French and English history, and to see Hector’s dolphins and other special wildlife cruise (closed for the season). Usually Akaroa is included in a cruise tour. We agree that it should be savored by way of a cruise……… the road is winding and exhausting……. it’s not worth it if only for overnite stay. We only managed to visit the museum but had to miss (the recommended) Little River Art Gallery.
Day 8, Christchurch’s Airport
As mentioned before, we arranged to spend in Queenstown (more than the original 1 nite stay) instead of Christchurch due to Queenstown’s many activities. We went through Christchurch’s town center and quite disheartened to see it like a war zone with 2 meter fence all around the infamous town center (probably a 2-5km radius from the center) and many uniformed soldiers. We could imagine the damages and couldn’t help sympathizing with the locals.
On a spur of the moment, we decided to go to Airforce Museum which was a delight and at no cost.
Then we went to International Antarctic Center (closed to Airport) which was really good. It delivered the promise ,”an interactive, fun and exciting experience of Antarctica.” It was really educating (was not aware before that Antarctic is that closed to NZ), the experience of Antarctic’s weather (wind, cold and all) felt like real thing compared to being inside the big freezer and topped up by the Hagglund ride for Antarctic’s terrain experience.
So we finished our NZ journey with a big smile and a plan already forming to come again. If the autumn had provided us with wonderful colour, next time a change of colour as in winter will give different experience. Nevertheless the original landscape of NZ is beautiful, so the seasonal/themed nuance only enhances it.
love it, it’s 5/5 and beyond…….
travelconnex 