The 9 Days New Zealand South Island Self-drive Tour

EXPEDITION TO THE SOUTH

Date: 1st November 2007 10th November 2007
Departure Flight: SQ297 (SIN-NZ)
Arrival Flight: SQ298 (NZ-SIN)
Total Spending for this trip (2pax incl. flight) : approx SGD $8,000



Additional info:
Nov Daylight: From morning till 2130hr
Currency exchange: SGD$1.13 = NZ$1.00

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Going New Zealand was quite a last minute decision for the 2 of us and the i had less than a month to plan for this trip. However, thanks to all my friends and colleague's advice, the trip was pretty well-planned and no doubt, NZ is an extremely beautiful place whereby you must really visit.


My Itinerary

Day 1: Singapore ->New Zealand [Christchurch Airport]

The challenge started when we reach Christchurch Airport. "Oh boy, Where are we going and what should we do!!!



Yes..we arrived Christchurch Airport!!!




My 2.0litre rented car for my NZ trip



Found my way to the Christchurch motel



A nice place for a rest at Christchurch



Motel Kitchen...so clean



Summer time



Christchurch Botanic Garden



Beautiful Tulip in the garden



Hop on for a city tour



Nice tram for a photo



Christchurch Cathedral



Bridge of Remembrance



Nice place for fishing



No fishing on weekend and public holidays



Windy at the Jetty



So many fish can be found in this area



The Pier


Library at the Seaside


Day 2: Christchurch –> Dunedin

It was a long drive from Christchurch to Dunedin but the scenary was so beautiful that i have forgotten about my tiredness. I have some problem having my way to the motel at Dunedin but with some help from the passerby, we finally found our way.



Gondola at Christchurch



2 ticket for the Gondola please.....



Going up to the top




View of Lyttelton Harbour from Top



Let's take a picture of the Gondola



Finally found the Dunedin Motel



A big room for the two of us




Taking a walk at Baldwin street before dinner



That's the world steepest street



NZ popular Megamart for Grocery


Another Megamart beside 'PaknSave'



Cooking a Yummy dinner for the night


Day 3: Dunedin -> Te Anau

Its a must to visit the Chocolate factory at Dunedin as well as the Larnach Castle. Along the way to Larnach Castle, the view is really fantastic. Do remember to get a local map or check with your friendly Motel operator on where to go.



Dunedin street




Let's go for a Cadbury chocolate tour at Dunedin



A hill of golden bar chocolate..yummy!



An antique Ford at Cadbury factory



Me, chocolate and the Ford



Delicious new favor from Cadbury



Hohoho...not leaving the factory without buying chocolate



Nice view at the Hill top going towards Larnach Castle



So beautiful and how i wish i can stay longer in NZ



Taking a tour at the Lanach Castle



Remember to keep left....same driving side as Singapore




Nice racing car



Nice scenary everywhere in NZ



Sheep is everywhere in NZ



Many mountains along the way



Need to take some photo along the way



The mountain are so nice



My GPS with NZ map




A nice seaside along the way



Some photo-taking session



Reaching Te-Anau Motel in time



Shierly busy taking photos



I also wanna own this



Taking Senic flight to the Glacier



Information Counter for Real journey



Cruise to the Glowworm cave



Exploring the Glowworm cave



Back to Te-Anau after the Glowworm trip



Its dinner time at the Te-Anau restaurant



I' m so hungry



Yummy....tomato and herbs soup



Absolutely delicious from Shierly's look



Day 4: Te Anau ->Gore -> Milford Sound -> Queenstown

Something funny happened when i check my reservation at Te- Anau Real Journey counter as there was someone having the same surname and christian name in the booking list and hence resulting some confusion for the staff...hahahaha, anyway everything settled without much problem. Again, its another long drive from Te-Anau to Milford sound and its a wonderful driving experience for me with endless scenary along the way and countless of photos-taking session. Its a must try driving experience in New Zealand but don't exceed the speed limit as you might get booked by the police if you're unlucky.



What a beautiful river!



Brown trout at Gore



Mirror Lake



Lake Gunn



Driving into the cave soon. Take note of the traffic.



One way driving and drive with care.



Water from the Mountains



So cold and foggy



Wow...we experience snowing during summer
along the way to Milford Sound.



Snow mountain parrots 'Kea'



Real journey Cruise at Milford Sound



The waterfall



Patrick Pang meeting Patrick Pang on the Cruise



Sealion can be seens at Milford sound



Trying the cooling water from the river



The water is really cold



The Glacier



It was snowing again when we heading back



I'm so delighted



Along the way to Queenstown



Its time for my co-driver to take over



Mooooo...why you looking at me



Deer farm



Interesting way of advertising


The journey from Milford Sound to Queenstown takes a few hours of driving and there are many winding roads along the way to Queenstown. Once reaching Queenstown, you will get to see many activities and many people as well. Queenstown is really a beautiful and relaxing place to stay but do take note that things will be a bit costly here. I spent nearly 2 days in Queenstown. One day staying in a motel at Queenstown and the next day staying at a nearby town called Arrowtown.




Nice weather and nice scenary n Queenstown



Jet boat at Lake Wakatipu



So beautiful place to live in



Signboard at lake Wakatipu




I wanna go for a ride




Err...fishing anyone???



Yesssssss....masterrrr!!!



The Lord of the Ring shop at Queenstown



Refreshment time at Macdonald




Dear, wanna buy a house here?



Many activities in Queenstown


Spend some time in Queenstown and its a must to enjoy all sorts of activities in that place. Its one of the main tourist attraction in the South Island and you will love it for sure.



Day 5: Queenstown -> Arrowtown

My main activities in Queenstown is on Day 5 where i booked my Earnslaw Walter Peak Farm tour with Barbeque lunch included from the web at a special price and its a interesting trip not to be missed..especially the delicious food prepared for us. After our activities in Queenstown, we spent a night at Arrowtown.



Earnslaw Steam ship



The ticket for the boat and farm trip



Time to board the steam ship



BaBa... black sheep have you any wool?



Its feeding time for the sheep



Give it to me.....i'm hungry




Mehhhh.......what are you doing to me???




Look what you have done to em...Mehhhhh!!!




Many different type of wool



So soft.....can i bring it home?



So many different types of species




Time for a splendid lunch




Yummy lunch for the both of us




The water is so clear



Nice view of the Walter Peak Farm




Real journey office at Queenstown




A Motel at Arrowtown




Our dinner for the night




Day 6: Arrowtown -> Queenstown -> Cromwell

After much consideration and has been thinking for the whole night, i decided to head back to Queenstown for my final mission. I took up a Lake fishing trip in the next morning and it was a very good experience for me and my wife. We have never seen a live Salmon in Singapore and its the best chance for us in NZ. I managed to land a couple of Salmon and trout. Eventually, i took the fish to a Japanese restaurant at Queenstown for Sashimi. My wife and i had one of the best Sashimi in our live and we loved it very much indeed.

Gondola and gliding activities at the top




A visit to the Queenstown zoo




A living Dinosaur




The close encounter with a living dinosaur




Brown trout in the pond




My very first lake fishing experience




This is what i have caught




The best Sashimi i had




We are too late for Bungy junp



Come let's go viewing...its free entry




Reaching Cromwell




Found a rather inexpensive motel for a stay




Fresh Salmon for dinner




A fruits stall near Cromwell

Day 7: Cromwell -> Mt Cook -> Ashburton

Along the way to Cromwell, we passed by Gibbston Valley where there are many vineyard around this area. The next morning, head back to Gibbston as Shierly decided to have a visit to the Gibbston Valley vineyard where its opened for public and we have an interesting wine tasting session over there.

Gibbston Vineyard noticeboard



Gibbston Valley.....a nice place to visit




I wanna try this wine




Cheers for the wonderful trip in NZ!




A counter for you to buy what you want



Summer time at the vineyard



High Country Salmon farm...not to be missed



What a big Salmon!



Wanna buy some for dinner?



The water are really blue



Let's visit the Salmon farm



Its Salmon feeding time



Hungry big Salmon

Wasabi and soya sauce sold here




Fresh salmon...Which one do you like to have?




Snowy mountain and blue lake...really beautiful




Errr...excuse me, i need to go Mt cook




Reaching Mt cook National Park




You will never get bored driving in NZ




Give way please!




A flying Kea



Staying a night at Ashburton




Salt and pepper on the Salmon




Our dinner for the night at Ashburton

Day 8: Ashburton -> Kaikora -> Hanmer Spring

After a night at Ashburton, we head towards the direction to kaikora where we wanna visit the seaside and also going there for whale watching on a boat. However, the boat trip was cancelled as the sea was rough and it was not the right time for whale watching. In the end, i decided to watch the whales from the top and both me and my wife had our very first experience sitting on a small plane watching the whales and dolphins. After Kaikora, we headed to Hanmer Spring for a relaxing session at thermal pool. Along the way, i have forgotten to top up my fuel tank and it was a lesson learnt for me. After the thermal pool session at Hanmer Spring i went searching for a Petrol Kiosk but to no avail as the Petrol kiosk were closed at around 6pm. Hence, i have no choice but to find somewhere to stay and then top up my tank in the next morning.

A common view during summer time



Going to Kaikora



The wave at Kaikora beach




A windy and realxing place to have a pinic



Mooo....please slow down!!!




A visit to the lavender Garden at Kaikora




Nice pebbles beach at Kaikora




Kaikora town area




I'm going for the whale watching session by plane

Feeling excited

Wow...so many buttons



Yes, we are flying!!!




The humpback whale top view



Finally, i found my way to Hanmer Spring



The private Thermal pool


Day 9: Culverden -> Christchurch -> Singapore

Both of us stayed a night at a motel in Culverden and the price is inexpensive. Culverden is just a few kilometers away from Hanmer Spring. In the morning after topping up my tank, we headed back to Christchurch. As our tripped is well-planned, we had enough time for some last minute shopping. Sadly, we need to go back Singapore and back to our stressful job......how i wish i can stay here for a few more weeks.

The fuel price for my full tank

The motel in Culverden

The motel surrounding in the morning

The 9 days New Zealand trip is indeed a very wonderful and splendid time spent for the both of us and it has given us many wonderful and good memories during our stays. If i have another chance, i will definitely come back for a longer stay in this wonderland. New Zealand, a place not to be missed for all honeymooner!!!

Our mission accomplished