My best friend come out the idea of all of us (housemates) to go for a holiday. Never would I thought she would come up with a crazy idea, and perhaps we are the craziest for agreeing. Originally we wanted to have a local gateaway, but then we remember one of us had been living and working in New Zealand; thus the idea of holidaying there was born.
Well...here we are, arriving at Auckland Airport
Somehow this kinda reminds me of Bali.
Auckland
We stayed overnight before catching our next flight to the south islands. Nothing Much to see at the night, Auckland barely have aight life!
We woke up early to explore the city. We stopped few hobbies and games-related shops (and they awakens the inner children in us - but our wallets begin to cry) hahaha.
A must visit place (to me), the Toi o Tamaki Art Gallery!
I've never been to other art gallery apart the ones in Malaysia and they're really different than the ones in Malaysia. The building itself is more modern with a blend of classic.
While at Auckland I did few live social media update. Then I received a dm from my former colleague at Inspidea, Eric. Eric immediately went to find me and we meet up at Tealive, just an hour before we need to head to the airport to fly to Christchurch.
Thank you very much for meeting me up, Eric :)
Christchurch
By right we are supposed to stay 3 days in Christchurch but due to blunder, we booked 3 days at Queenstown instead. Because of that we need to rush and enjoy the city part of Christchurch. Of all the day it was raining. People there said we were lucky to come on rainy day since it's hardly rain in Christchurch....I don't need any more rains...we already have too much in Malaysia 😭
Container Mall (originally called Re:START) was a temporary mall built from shipping containers in Christchurch Central City, New Zealand. It had been a response to the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, which destroyed most buildings in City Mall (Cashel and High Streets), and resulted in the central city being cordoned off from public access while buildings were being demolished. Initially considered a short-term response to the lack of permanent buildings, Re:START was popular with locals and tourists alike.
Honestly, whenever my European friends mentioned tram, this come to my mind...
One of us really wanted to enjoy urban nature so we head to Christchurch Botanic Garden. However because it's still winter, no flowers bloom (duh).
Te Mara Huaota o Waipapa is the Maori name, gifted by Ngāi Tahu, for the Gardens. It translates as the Botanical Gardens of Waipapa, Waipapa being the name of the area along the Ōtākaro–Avon River where the Gardens are located.
Lake Tekapo
We stayed overnight at Lake Tekapo to observe its famous stargazing, and indeed we were not disappointed! We were able to see the stars, multiple shooting stars, and even milky way. However none of the were capturable by cameras :(
The cabin in the morning, I didn't realized Lake Pukaki's view is breathtaking in the day as we arrived on late night when it was pitch black.
The church where we all gather to stargazing. It's not as creepy as it look at night haha.
Stopping by the gift shop. Oh Sushi are just everywhere at NZ, even at remote areas.
Lake Tekapo is the second-largest of three roughly parallel lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand (the others are Lake Pukaki and Lake Ohau). It covers an area of 83 square kilometres (32 sq mi), and is at an altitude of 710 metres (2,330 ft) above sea level.
Lake Pukaki
An unplanned stop. We were driving to our next destination (Glentanner) when we saw many people stopped at this one, lone establishment. Turn out this is the famous Lake Pukaki and the establishment is the famous Mt. Cook Alpine Salmon Shop.
Tahr monument and the history behinds it.
Lake Pukaki is the largest of three roughly parallel alpine lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin on New Zealand's South Island. The others are Lakes Tekapo and Ohau. All three lakes were formed when the terminal moraines of receding glaciers blocked their respective valleys, forming moraine-dammed lakes.
I was very hungry and the only option they have is salmon sashimi. Side note: My brother and Bryan been trying for years to have me try sashimi - and it's rather ironic because I was the one introduced them Japanese cuisine.
Eventually I got myself the sashimi - and I tell you, it's a life changing experience - I had become obsessed with salmon sashimi and there's no turning back for me.
Glentanner
We finally reached Glentanner for overnight. Apparently we we'll be staying in a cabin with just beds. We need to go to the center building for other facilities including bathroom.
There was strong wind and somehow the sound of the wind sounds ghoulish and I become scared. I guess this is how ghost stories got conjured in the rural areas.
Glentanner Park is the gateway to New Zealand's tallest mountain, Aoraki Mount Cook.
As the only fully-equipped campground and campervan park in the area, we provide boutique and budget accommodation to suit every need.
Also being an information centre and activity hub, we offer flight-seeing helicopter flights that depart daily from reception (weather permitting), as well as booking information on numerous other Mount Cook Activities.
Located just 18km from Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, it's the perfect base from which to explore what this incredible region has to offer.
Mount Cook
After we settled ourselves at Glentanner, we immediately heads to Mount Cook for short hiking. We originally wanted to hike to Hooker Lake (the location of Lake Town from The Hobbit film series) but the day become darker faster than we expected. So we just view the lake from the viewer post instead.
And Mew is feeling the nature, the breeze, the sky, and ever glowing mooooon.
After a long budget dinners throughout the journey, we decided to finally pampered ourselves with a more cozy dinner restaurant at the Alpine Center.
Aoraki / Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Its height, as of 2014, is listed as 3,724 metres (12,218 feet). It lies in the Southern Alps, the mountain range which runs the length of the South Island. A popular tourist destination, it is also a favourite challenge for mountain climbers. Aoraki / Mount Cook consists of three summits, from South to North the Low Peak (3,593 m or 11,788 ft), Middle Peak (3,717 m or 12,195 ft) and High Peak. The summits lie slightly south and east of the main divide of the Southern Alps, with the Tasman Glacier to the east and the Hooker Glacier to the southwest
Wanaka Lake
To be honest, I didn't know anything of the "Lone Tree of Wanaka" until my friend point it out. I just took photos of it before truly understand the significant of this landscape.
Known as the “lone tree of lake Wanaka”, it is said to be one of the most photographed trees in all New Zealand. However, you still need to have the inside scoop to find it, as there are no signs directing people to the solitary tree. It’s just enough off of the beaten path to not be bothered by too many tourists unless they’ve done their research.
Puzzling World
The next stop is probably the best one for puzzle and illusion and magic enthusiast like me.
In 1972 Stuart and Jan Landsborough sold their house to buy seven acres of barren land to build a maze in a town of just 800 people, but within six weeks, 12,000 wooden planks and a lot of hard graft later, ‘The Maze’ opened on the outskirts of Wanaka just in time for the 1973/74 summer holidays. In its first year, they welcomed 17,600 people.
Years later, the Puzzle Centre was established (with just one table and five puzzles) and over-bridges were added to the maze – the first in the world to go “3-D”. Taking his ‘Super Maze’ concept global Stuart then designed twenty-five similar mazes for Japan, USA, Australia and Auckland between 1985 and 1988.
More innovations followed when the first Illusion Rooms were added before the famous Roman Toilets were built and in 1999 came the iconic Leaning Tower of Wanaka and a third extension to the Puzzle centre was welcomed.
In 2004 Stuart retired and handed the reins over to his daughter Heidi and son-in-law Duncan Spear who have continued the theme of continual innovations. In 2012 they opened The Sculptillusion Gallery.
Bryan were so confident that me and him can beat the maze just by ourselves so we separate with the rest of the gang. It doesn't look that hard (boy I was so wrong).
In the end both teams beat the maze at same time and they hardly even try ha...ha...ha...
So this is how Sarah feel when she try to solve The Labyrinth huh?
Jones Family Farm @ Cromwell
Another unplanned stop. We were driving to Arrowtown when one of us craving for ice cream. We were googling which stall to stop and my friend suggested Jones's.
For five farming generations, the Jones family has grown fresh produce, plants, and flowers for the greater Cromwell and local surrounding Cromwell. They also provide holiday working jobs such as hand picking the fruits and managing the store. I meet few Malaysian and they shared their experiences working labor in the farm.
One of Jones' specialty is ice cream made fresh from fruits picked directly from their farm.
And we were lucky no only to be able to experience it but also to see how it was done~
Arrowtown
Arrowtown is charming and quirky – a delightful gold rush village nestled below the beautiful peaks that surround the sparkling Arrow River. One of the streams is the location where Boromir died in The Lord of the Rings first film, The Fellowship of the Rings.
Finally! Snow! Snow!! We finally have have a mini snowball fight in Arrowtown village XD
Afterwards we headed to the Arrowtown, main town center for some shopping.
The famous The Remarkable Sweet Shop. They carry a comprehensive range of the highest quality confectionery. All the British favourites including hard boiled sweets, gummies, gifts and novelties with trusted brands like Haribo, Ross's of Edinburgh, Tilley's, Maxons, Stockley's, Pascall, Golden Casket and more.
Glenorchy
As we closed by Queenstown we stopped by Glenorchy to view several shooting locations of The Lord of the Rings such as Isengard, the Ithilien Camp, Lothlorien & Fanghorn forest.
While exploring Glenorchy, a friendly dog approached us to play fetch. The thing is, I'm scared of dogs! This is the closest I had with a dog and my nervousness is obvious lol.
Glenorchy is a small settlement at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu in the South Island region of Otago, New Zealand. It is approximately 45 km (28 mi) by road or boat from Queenstown, the nearest large town. There are two pubs, a café and a range of small shops in the town catering mainly to tourists but also to the small resident population. There is also a small airstrip which caters to small planes.
Queenstown
We finally arrived to our last destination. We been driving for 3 days from Christchurch. Funny story, I was the only one didn't drive during the trip; that's because when we went to rent a car at Christchurch, we found out my driving license had expired 3 months ago! 😱
There's plenty of street musicians and they play interesting (never seen) instruments (to me at least, I'm not so familiar with non-Asian musical instruments). Because now is September, Halloween month, there's several interesting looking horror attractions - but unfortunately none of my friends are interested and I don't think I want to go alone 😂
Queenstown (Māori: Tāhuna) is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It has an urban population of 15,850 (June 2018), making it the 27th-largest urban area in New Zealand. In 2016, Queenstown overtook Oamaru to become the second-largest urban area in Otago, behind Dunedin.
Gotta love the photobombing guy 🤣
Under my friend's recommendation, I tried the New Zealand famous brand, Cookie Time!
Cookie Time Ltd is a New Zealand company based in Christchurch, which has been manufacturing snack foods since 1983. It is fronted by a mascot known as the Cookie Muncher. Their factory, with a shop for members of the public to buy cookies and other products, is located a 789 Main South Road, in the settlement of Templeton, 4 km from Hornby on the outskirts of Christchurch, and 14 km from the city centre.
It still amaze me to see the seance natural view side by side with the urban city.
On the last day we discovered the open flea market. Omg flea market is my weakness haha
Every Saturday, the Creative Queenstown Arts & Crafts Market enjoys the waterfront setting of Earnslaw Park. It's an opportunity to meet local artists displaying their wares accompanied by live music and memorable views. From Nov 1st to 30 April, the market is open from 9.00am to 4.30pm. From May 1st to 31 Oct it’s open from 10.00am to 3.30pm.
Lovely buskers singing in the morning.
This had been one incredible journey. While this not the first time I went to non-Asian country, I don't remember any of the visits and also this is the first time I actually went overseas without my family. I have great time with my housemates.
Last shot of us (candid shot by Bryan) before we departed back to Malaysia.
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