Like with other longish trips, I try to ask a travel buddy or two to share their thoughts. I sent Gimpy a list of questions so she could share her impressions about New Zealand with us! (Some edits made for correctness)
If you’re interested in reading through the whole trip from beginning to end, please click here.
Top 3 Highlights
Highlight #1: The Area around Twizel
One of my favourite spots on the South Island is our stay in the Twizel area. I remember looking at the map on our drive towards Lake Tepako and as we make one turn, I look up from my phone and see the crazy blue colour of the lake. That same night we venture to Lake Pukaki to look at stars and take night photos. I remember trying to play with the settings on my camera and while looking back at the pictures I took I ask the Minion, ‘Hey, what are these colours in this picture?” The Minion takes a look and tells me ‘I think we might have a glimpse of the Southern Lights…” – I still remember that giddy feeling to this day!
Highlight #2: The Day of “Rest Stops”
Most of my highlights come from driving in New Zealand. The landscape is just so stunning and there are no ‘wrong turns’ because it always leads us to breathtaking scenery. On our drive from Twizel to Queenstown, we didn’t have too many plans for our stay in Queenstown. So we took our time driving there. In the morning we buy coffee in a cute little cafe and of course, with coffee being a diuretic, I have to use the washroom shortly after. We stop by a cute market (I think there is also a sign that says ‘fresh fruit ice cream’ and I’m sold) abd end up having a wine tasting and some bbq meat there! We venture to a few more ‘washroom stops’ on the way to Queenstown, because one washroom stop lead to more wine tastings and the cycle continues…
Highlight #3: Te Anau
My final highlight of the trip is our stay in Te Anau. It is a very small town and we stay at a hostel but have our own cabin. The cabin doesn’t have wifi so it really forced us to enjoy what is around us. I remember coming home from Milford Sound one evening and downing my instant noodles with spam and egg for dinner and retreating back to our cabin. Our cabin overlooks the mountains and just the beautiful and serene nature that we are a part of. Minion and I each bring a chair out, have a glass of wine in one hand (I also have some chocolate) and a book in another and enjoy the views until it gets dark. Once dark, it allowed us to see the pretty stars that surrounded us.
Favorite Meal
While Minion (Suzy) and I cooked some delicious meals, one meal that sort of stood out to me was when staying near Hobbiton. We stay in a cute cottage on a farm in Matamata and this cottage has a cute patio that overlooks some farm animals and onto a beautiful landscaped backyard. I remember getting take-out that night and surprisingly for $12 I get butter chicken with rice and fish (minus chips)! This is such a steal in New Zealand! I’m not sure if it’s because of hunger that night, the great company or beautiful backdrop for dinner but what a memorable meal! I also have to add that a very delicious yogurt bowl with fruit supplied by our AirBNB host the next morning as another part of the memory!
If I could change the itinerary…
After experiencing both the North Island and South Island, I realize I really enjoy the nature aspect of New Zealand and didn’t really enjoy the big cities. I find the landscape more breathtaking in the South Island than the North and if I could do it again I would like to spend a few more days in the South Island and then fly directly home from there rather than spending a couple nights in Auckland like we did.
What surprised me?
I am very surprised at the amount of wines and ciders available at all supermarkets. Not only am I surprised by the quantity of beverages, but also the price of wines! You can get a bottle of wine for $8! While eating out is expensive, they sure make quenching your thirst very affordable!
One memorable story from this trip
Perhaps it’s due to a late night the night before or maybe just a packed day, but the first full day in Twizel was very tiring! We did a hike at the Hooker Valley Track and then rush over to have lavender ice cream (delicious!) at a lavender farm. Then having a salmon dip, buying wine at the local market and cooking some delicious pasta. This led to a very early end to an evening in.
Did I pack appropriately?
It is enjoyable having a carry-on luggage that I can roll around instead of having a backpack. What luxury! I say I packed well for this trip. There are some hot days and some very cold days (glacier hike!) which I had to pack for. The only thing I would suggest is to ensure the luggage you bring to New Zealand will fit into the trunk of the car you rent!
Regrets?
This is not really a regret but might have been a lowlight of the trip. It had rained really hard weeks leading up to our trip and when we arrived in Te Anau, we realized that the road to Milford sound is closed. It meant we weren’t able to drive our own car on the road to Milford sound. Instead we had to last minute book a bus to go on our cruise. While we were able to secure some spots on a bus, I wish we were able to do the drive to Milford sound because the views are stunning and I wish had more time to enjoy them.
Advice for people considering similar trips/destinations?
I highly recommend for anyone to rent a car in New Zealand. I drove on the other side of the road for the first time in my life. And I think this is the best place to do this. Outside of the city, the country is so easy to drive. While Google Maps is great to use for navigation, one should look at alternatives to your destination. There are alot of ‘older’ roads that have now been replaced by smoother less direct roads. There may be a few roads that are…bumpy, narrow, full of cyclists, next to cliffs or only have enough room for one way traffic (but really is supposed to be for two cars to drive through at the same time…)
Final thoughts?
New Zealand is a beautiful country and one that I feel comfortable just like at home. I felt very at ease with the people and never felt in danger. The country is clean and similar to home as well. It’s unfortunate that this breathtaking country is so far away. I’m not sure I will make my way back merely just because of its distance. There are a few more spots I want to hit if I have a chance to do a layover. So for now, I will say goodbye to New Zealand. Until next time…