NEW ZEALAND South Island Autumn

South Island New Zealand April 2023

12D/9N

 

Itinerari

Day	Trip	Meals	Accom
8 April 2023	7.00 hrs Kch-KL 14 hrs KL- Singapore 1900 hrs Singapore- AKL	Ipoh Old Town (B) Plaza Premium KLIA(L) PretManger Singapore(D)
9 April 2023	0700 hrs arrived AKL 1200 hrs AKL- Christchurch( arrived CHC 1.30pm) 1500 hrs - Arrived at Hotel Give (Christchurch) 1900 hrs -  Attend Sunday Mass @ St Mary Pro Cathedral	High Little Eatery(D)	Hotel Give
10 April 2023	0800 hrs Road trip to Lake Tekapo 1300 hrs arrived at Tekapo, visit Good Sherperd Chruch And Dark Sky Project	Hotel Give (B)   BBQ at Lake Lodge(D)	Lake Edge Lodge,Tekapo
11 April 2023	Morning walk Mt John (Tekapo) Mt Cook Trip / Aoraki	Lodge (B) Aoraki Salmon(L) Lodge (D)	Lake Edge Lodge, Tekapo
12 April 2023	Raod Trip to Queenstown Stopped at Glenorchy, Jone Cromwell Apple Evening walk at Queenstown	Winnies, Queenstown(D)	Nomad, Queenstown
13 April 2023	Free & Easy Queenstown	Red Rock Pub (B) Fergburger(L) Madam Woo (D)	Nomad
14 April 2023	Milford Sound Trip	Captain Restaurant(D)	Nomad
15 April 2023	Morning Run at Queenstown Queenstown Skyline Gondola Walk Free n Easy Queenstown	Red Rock Pub (B) Eric Fish n Chips(L) Cookie Time Boardwalk(D) Thai Cuisine(D)	Nomad
16 April 2023	Road Trip to franz Josef Stopped at wanaka Lake, Mirror Lake	Wanaka(L) RainForest DIY (D)	Rainforest, FJ
17 April 2023	Jade carving at Franz Josef Evening Run at Rainforest	The Landing (L) Blue Ice Restaurant & Bar (D)	Rainforest, FJ
18 April 2023	Road Trip Franz Josef- Christchurch Stopped at Hokitika Castle Hill Christchurch Airport- AKL 2000hrs 0000 hrs AKL- Singapore	Hokitika(L)
19 April 2023	0630 hrs arrived at Singapore 1100 hrs Singapore-Kch	Singapore Noodle(B)

 

Day 1

After so much effort of planning the trip, finally, It’s time to revisit New Zealand post-pandemic. It was on Easter weekend, began with early flight from Kuching to KLIA. The flight ticket was booked a few months ago (November 2022 to be exact). Kuching -KL was on Malaysia Airlines, while the overseas flight was on New Zealand Air. From KL the flight was code shared with Singapore Airlines.

On New Zealand Air ( one ticket), I was on multiple transit. KL- Singapore- Auckland- Christchurch. For future trip, this journey could be shortened by using direct flight Singapore- Christchurch. This can reduce time and hassle of transit and recheck in at Auckland Airport. Auckland International- Domestic Airport are at different airport. Eventhough , a walking distance, Still this hassle could be eliminated.

Anyway, New Zealand is one of the best airlines that I have been. Economy seat with long leg area, reasonably good meals, great hospitality during check in ( especially in Christchurch) and Free of charge wifi the whole flight.

Kch-KL, Singapore-Kch (mix MAS + AirAsia) MYR 1000

Kul- Chc Return (NZ Air) MYR 5000

KLIA International Departure

I think few things important to mention, which not complete may denied your flight to enter New Zealand. Pre-departure preparation. After the pandemic,many travel restrictions has been instated. As we all know, New Zealand are among the last few countries that are late to open their border and have quite strict Covid policies. At one time was to aim for ZERO Covid Cases. It all happened during the previous Prime Minister Jacinta Arden, a great woman PM.

To enter NZ, mandatory to have NZ e travel authorization, which need to be apply few months before fly. I did mine in November 2022, Application on line, it was quite easy when all the documents, photos clear submitted properly.Some may have weeks/months to get approved, surprisingly I got my NZ eta approved in a few minutes. It costs around MYR120, ( NZD 40), if I remembered correctly. A travel insurance with Covid 19 coverage, I got for myself, under etiqa 360 tripcare for around MYR 250 for the whole trip.

Adding to the NZ eta requirement, the was another entry authorization that I need to apply, entry/transit to Singapore. It's much easiear, free of charge, Singapore ICA, all this reinstated after the Covid travel restriction. Singapore ICA, can be filled up 3 days prior to arrival in Singapore. I did this twice, as I enter/ transit in Singapore twice in this trip.

Nasi Lemak at Plaza Premium KLIA

Plaza Premium Lounge

Singapore Terminal 3

Butterfly Garden Changi Airport Singapore

Day 2

Arrived at Auckland the following morning 0630 hrs, fast immigration check. Transsfer to Domestic Terminal for check in to Chirstchurch.

 

Arrival at Auckland Airport

Connecting Flight To Christchurch

Arrived at Christchurch around 1pm, I had half a day to explore Christchurch. I took super shuttle NZ from Christchurch Airport to Hotel Give, located at city centre.

Glimpse of Christchurch around just oppossite the hotel. Christchurch Botanical Garden, Chirstchurch Museum and attended Easter Sunday Mass at St Mary Pro Cathedral, Christchurch. The famous Christchurch Cathedral was demolished and will be rebuilt, after the effect of severe earth quake in Christchurch.

Botanic Gardens

Super Shuttle stop at the airport

NZ super shuttle ticket was purchased early online for NZD 25.

Cenima / opposite Chc Museum

Christchurch city- on the way to the church

St Mary Cathedral, Manchester Road

inside St Mary Cathderal

Little HIgh Eatery

Dinner was at Little High Eatery, a modern and varieties of selection of food.

Day 3

Wake up fresh at Give Hotel and breakfast at the hotel. Today , we had a long on road journey from Christchurch  to Tekapo.

My trip around South Island is with Tour Group called Kiwi Experience, our tour guide was Mike ( English+Pinoy guy)

Kiwi Experience Tour ( 9 days) was purchased NZD 1910 ( around MYR 5000), includes accomodation- transport + 9 breakfasts.

Hotel Give Breakfast with tour mates

Tekapo Lake

Tekapo Lake random photo

Tekapo town

Tekapo

Dark Sky Project 

Tekapo is known to the the darkest place on earth. The best location for star gazing. In good weather, it is worth for star gazing and possibly Aurora Aurelius ( Southern light).

Small church and still used, by the Tekapo Lake.

Day 4

Good morning! started with hike around the lodge to Mt John before sunrise.

From Mount John Sunrise

not yet Lupine season

Around lake Tekapo is one of the best place to see a garden of Lupine during spring season.

Our Transport 

The Edge Lake Lodge

After breakfast, we had another long day . On the road to Mount Cook.

Aoraki ( on the way to Mt Cook)

Mt Cook Hiking

To Mt Cook

somewhere Mt Cook

Lunch Fresh Aoraki Salmon

Glacier

Kevin( Peru), Alvin( Sabah), Daria(German), Adriana(sabah), Me, Mona(Auckland)

Day 5

Today, we checkod out from Tekapo Lake Edge, and ot the road to Queenstown. It's a whole day journey. We stopped at few places including Jone Cromwell Apple farm and Glenorchy.

Glenorchy is a  beautiful places, where many box office Hollywood movies were filmed.

Jone Cromwell Apple

Rose Garden (its Autumn)

Random Pic near Glenorchy

Lake Wakatipu

Glenorchy

Glenorchy

Its Queenstown - evening. lake Wakatipu.

Queenstown

After a long road trip from Tekapo, the group had dinner at Winnies and followed by pub crawl Queenstown.

Dinner at Winnies

Day 6

Free and Easy day at Queenstown, for those who are not going for bungee jumping/nevus/sky dive and all the extreme activities.

by the lake Wakatipu

Just Queenstown

Lunch at Madam Woo (Asian cusine)

The Famous Fergburger

Red Rock Pub- where we had our 4 days breakfast

Free n easy Queenstown is very relaxing, enjoying the view, food and souvenirs shopping , all a walking distance from our centrally located Hotel (Nomads).

Would you be back to Queenstown..?  Definitely YES!!

Day 7

Today another long drive to MIlford Sound- 4hours drive from Queenstown. Crusing around Milford Sound. A beautiful lake. Unofficially, recognised at the eightth wonder of The World. It's a worthy trip, depsite long and winding road trip to the Milford sound (Phiohiothahi). The trip was purcahsed with Kiwi Experience Group cost NZD 185.

Boat cruise

Milford Sound

Milford Sound

waterfall

A whole day trip to MIlford Sound, the Boat cruise was around 1-2 hours. back to Queenstown and had a delicious dinner at The Captain restaurant.

Captain Restaurant

Day 8

Another quite free day at Queenstown. I started my day with jogging at Sunshine Bay before breakfast.

Wakatipu Lake

After breakfast, went on Cable Car- Queenstown Skyline.

walk to the skyline

Inside the Gondola

Overlooking Queenstown

Having Erik Fish n chips under the tree

Cookie Time Queenstown

Boardwalk- by the lake

by the lake - evening.

Day 9

Today, saying goodbye to Queenstown and heading to Franz Josef. The whole day journey and stopped at Wanaka Lake. taking the most instagrammable tree.

Wanaka Tree

Autumn Colour at Wanaka

pit stop at Mirror Lake

here we are!! 
Mirror Lake

Hope you can see the reflection
Mirror lake

Near Glenorchy

Day 10

Kea Birds
*rare sighting

Finally reached Rainforest Hotel, Franz Josef

Sleep tight at Rainforest, cold night.!!

Day 11

Started a day with breakfast, then heading for jade carving session. Putting the energy into the jade. LUnch at The landing Cafe. Around Franz Josef, a lot of helicopter bases for heli landing.

Hot afternoon at the Landing

Jade Carving

Helicopter station.. one of many

easy jog in the evening.

Blue Ice restaurant n bar

limo trip for our dinner..

inside the limo

Day 12

Packing and check out from rainforest resort.  Today is our last day, some may continue their trip to other destinations. Many ended our tour here. Pascal-back to Zurich, Daria to Munich, Monique to Amsterdam, Alex to Sydney , Kevin- continue the trip to Fiji, and many will be back to UK..

What a most remembered trip.. South Island New Zealand Autumn 2023.

Hokitika Town

Pit stop town

Hokitika

Castle Hill, last hike before back.

Finally, I am back to the Christchurch Airport around 5pm

waiting for Flight Christchurch- Auckland (8pm),

Auckland - Singapore (12 midnight)

Day 13

Landed in Singapore- Kch 0630 hrs (19 April 2023).. 1100 hrs Singapore- Kuching .