A trip to New Zealand is always one of our
wishlists.But,it had become a pleasant experience when the dream came sooner
than we had expected.Yes,we wouldn’t lie... there was a lot of preparations made months and months before the actual
trip.Wouldn’t you agree with us...that half of the fun is PLANNING for a trip
itself?? Imagine the fun of hunting for the
cheap flights fare...,browsing over blogs,websites for tips and things to do
............ Plan and plot out a route to take and
activities to do along the way..
Before that I am happy to see one of my shutterstock images of New Zealand featured in one of the US review....Milesway-8 of the Craziest Places to Take an Adventure Trip
Before that I am happy to see one of my shutterstock images of New Zealand featured in one of the US review....Milesway-8 of the Craziest Places to Take an Adventure Trip
Our previous oversea trips
(well..,ours were just handful..) were
via travel agents.So,this was our first D.I.Y trip.Why D.I.Y then?The only answer was.. money is
tight right now and we couldn’t afford the
trip FOR 6 OF US via agent . So we started to consider designing our tour ourselves so we can spend
less on a great trip. A million thanks to CikNy who finally managed to drag her family to join
us..This doubled the joy of the trip..
Our 2 families (10 enthusiastic
travellers..wink!) went to South Island, New Zealand from 3-10 Dec 2015.We had
stopover at Sydney (half day on 2nd
Dec & 2 days on 11th & 12th Dec).Here is the
overview of the trip to NZ, for those of you who are planning a trip
there...Hope it will help
We spent 8 nights in motorhomes and 1 night in a motel in Christchurch.We rented out a six berthed motorhome from MAUI (pronounced as Mawi World! )
A
summary of our final itinerary is as follows:- Please click the links for the related entries..
http://www.shutterstock.com/g/Casa+nayafana?rid=3696461
Pre-Journey
A Dream Come True – a teaser on our oncoming trip to NZ
Preparation – tips and tricks,what-to-expect on this DIY trip.The
infos gathered from a lot of readings,researches & enquiries.
The
Journey Began
Sydney-Transit 12 Hours – on how we spent our 12 hours transit at
Sydney Airport
Arrival
at Land of Long White Clouds
 |
| Airport Lodge Motel |
Christchurch
to Lake Tekapo
Christchurch---Rakaia Gorge--MtSomers---Mount Sunday---Lake Tekapo – Journey to Edoras ,the city built by Rohan's second King, Brego son of Eorl the Young in Lord of The Ring film
Lake Tekapo to Wanaka
Lake Tekapo-Lake Pukaki-Mount Cook –
our first night at campsite,Lake Tekapo.Admiring the
turquoise coloured Lake Pukaki on our way to Mount Cook, the highest mountain
in NZ
 |
| Church of Good Sheppard,Lake Tekapo |
 |
| Lake Pukaki |
Bushtrekking at Hooker Valley,scenic
drive through Lindiss Pass (yellow-brownish grass
on mountain slopes that looks like very short and soft fur from afar) ..ended
our day at Lake Wanaka campsite.
 |
Hooker Valley Track  |
Wanaka
to Moke Lake
Puzzling World of Wanaka-Lake Dunstan-Cromwel – having fun at Wanaka wonderful world
of madness and then had best fruit ice cream at Cromwel
 |
| Puzzling World of Wanaka |
Kawarau Gorge Mining Centre-Roaring Meg-AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge – watching other
people doing Bungy Jumping from Kawarau Bridge.Our kids tried the Zipride!..
 | ||
Bungy Jumping
|
Glenorchy & Moke Lake – enjoying Glenorchy’s spectacular landscapes
used as location for film The Lord of the Rings trilogy
and the Narnia movies.Headed
to magnificient ,scenic Moke Lake campsite -beside a small lake,surrounded by
mountains.
 |
| Moke Lake |
Moke
Lake to Milford Sound Lodge
Queenstown - dubbed the Adventure Capital of the
World, this city has a lot to offer!We had our gondola and luge rides
here.Hooray!
 |
| Skylift |
 |
| Luge |
Te Anau-Eglinton River-Mackay Creek-Mirror Lake-Homer Tunnel-MilfordSound Lodge –
unforgettable scary drive through dark Homer Tunnel before reaching Milford Sound Lodge!
unforgettable scary drive through dark Homer Tunnel before reaching Milford Sound Lodge!
 |
| Homer Tunnel |
Milford
Sound Lodge to Dunedin Holiday Park & Motel
 |
| Cruising on Milford Sound |
 |
| Waterfall Splash! |
Milford Sound-Homer Tunnel-Route Burton Trek-Deer Flat-TeAnau-Lakefront-Lumsden-Baclutha-Gore-Dunedin – long,long drive to
Dunedin campsite..But the road trip was scenic..
 |
| Route Burton Trek |
Dunedin
to Timaru
Otago Peninsula-Cadbury World-Dunedin Railway Station-Otago University –
No trails of penguins at Otago Peninsula... Dunedin tour by visiting Cadbury
World,beautiful railway station and oldest university in NZ...
Baldwin Street-Moeraki Boulders-Oamaru – climbing the
steepest street in the world...admiring the unusually huge mineralized rocks along a stretch of Koekohe Beach and wandering around Oamaru town (a
trip to Victorian Era).
 |
| Baldwin Street |
 |
Moeraki Boulders |
Timaru to
Christchurch
Christchurch Tramride - Punting on Avon – hop on hop off tramride..touring around Christchurch (rebuilding
phase post earthquake)..punting on Avon River in Edwardian style..phew!
 |
| Punting on Avon |
Last day in NZ
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve,Christchurch – saying goodbye to wallabies and other NZ wildlife
creatures..
Arrival at Sydney
 |
| Sydney Harbour Bridge |
 |
| The Rocks |
 |
| Sydney Opera House |
 |
| Ferry to Manly Beach |
 |
| Manly Beach |
 |
| La Perouse Beach |
Last day in Sydney..before departing to Home Sweet Home – La Perouse
Beach,again..and visit to University of Sydney
Where We Stayed?
AIRPORT LODGE MOTEL-2nd DEC 2015
105 Roydvale Avenue
Christchurch , 8053, New Zealand
Christchurch , 8053, New Zealand
2-rooms apartment NZD 205.22
Inclusive VAT 15 % NZD 30.78
2 Lakeside Drive, Lake Tekapo,
South Canterbury, New Zealand
Rate-4
adults + 2 children NZD84
197 Outlet Rd, Wanaka 9343, New Zealand
Rate-Adult NZD15
Child NZD 8
Power
NZD 5
50 Stanley Street
Queenstown
9300
Rate
Adult NZD10
Child NZD5
State Highway 94, Piopiotahi ,Milford Sound
PO 140 TE ANAU,NZ
Rate
Adult NZD25
Child NZD13
41 Victoria Road,St Kilda,Dunedin
Rate
Adults-NZD26-NZD40
varies on days / season?
For us,4 adults + 2
children NZD98
54A SELWYN ST, WAIMATAITAI,
TIMARU 7910, NEW ZEALAND
Rate
NZD 43 for 2 adults
Extra adult NZD18/pax
Child NZD10
219
Johns Road
Northwood / Belfast
Christchurch
Northwood / Belfast
Christchurch
4 adults + 2 children NZD68
ACTIVITIES THAT WE DID / ATTRACTIONS IN NZ
ACTIVITIES THAT WE DID / ATTRACTIONS IN NZ
Sightseeings & scenic drive-a lot & it's FOC!
 |
| Hooker River |
 |
| Tram |
 |
| Punting |
We considered this trip as a sweet memorable journey,not destination...Everything that we planned had been made easier by Allah swt,with minor hiccups..Most importantly,we had our loved ones to accompany during the journey...and the ibrah from this musafir,would hopefully made us better human beings.
Wassalam..
SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO OF CASANAYAFANAhttps://www.shutterstock.com/g/Casa+nayafana
Wassalam..
SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO OF CASANAYAFANAhttps://www.shutterstock.com/g/Casa+nayafana
