In the morning, we visited the Riverside Market. The indoor is full of food stalls. Shopping is outside. The tram still operates here. Look at all the fruits and vegetables. Our next destination was the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora is just across the road. It is a beautiful building. …
New Zealand Self-Drive 2024 Day 10
The snow has fully melted, and we will be heading to Christchurch today. Making sure we had a full tank before setting off on our journey. Along the way, we saw several police cars enforcing speed limits. They are normally stationed at the end of a bend. It is usually too late by the time …
New Zealand Self-Drive 2024 Day 9
In the morning, we had breakfast facing the snow-covered lake. Nice………. Our destination was Mount Cook. We stopped here for a break and the famous raw salmon. We bought the 500g version, which cost us 50NZD. And we had it outdoors. Finally, we arrived at Mount Cook. We planned to take the Hooker Valley Track. …
New Zealand Self-Drive 2024 Day 8
Everyone chipped in to prepare breakfast. Breakfast is ready!!! Yummy!!! As we moved off, we passed by the Arrowtown War Memorial Park. Our first destination was to feed the Goats at Arrowbelle, but the rain was so heavy that the goat were also in hiding. As we drove further up the mountain, the landscape became …
New Zealand Self-Drive 2024 Day 7
After a quick breakfast, we started our journey towards Milford Sound. It will be a 4-5 hour drive. Lots of Cattle and Sheep to view along the way. We stopped at Te Anau Lion Lookout for a break. The view here was beautiful. As we drove closer to Milford Sound, we started to see small …
New Zealand Self-Drive 2024 Day 6
Today, we will be taking the flight to Christchurch. The flight took about an hour plus. Hello Christchurch. Heading our way to collect our luggage. For this leg of the journey, we took Ezi Car rental again. Our first meal in Christchurch was at Carl’s Junior. But it was not as tasty as back home. …
New Zealand Self-Drive 2024 Day 5
What better way to start the day than with a hearty breakfast? Our first destination for the day was the Waihi Goldmine Lookout. You will see this giant truck at the entrance of the mine. From the top, we got a bird’s-eye view of the mine. The magnificent Owharoa Falls was next. A 50-meter walk …
New Zealand Self-Drive 2024 Day 4
At around 7.30 a.m., we reported to Rotorua Rafting for our White Water rafting. The course took us through some rough waters and 3 drops in the process. The last drop was 7 meters high, which is the highest drop commercially approved. It was a hell of an experience. After the rafting, we had lunch …
New Zealand Self-Drive 2024 Day 3
The 2 girls prepared a hearty and delicious breakfast. We cleaned up the place and checked out of the Airbnb after breakfast. Our first destination for the day was to witness the release of water from the Aratiatia Dam. The release of water created a rush of water towards the downstream. Our next destination was …
New Zealand Self-Drive 2024 Day 1 & 2
Welcome to my New Zealand Self-Drive 2024! Since I started traveling, New Zealand has always been on my bucket list. This year is the perfect time to explore the awe-inspiring landscapes of New Zealand on my terms. Imagine navigating winding coastal roads, stopping at hidden beaches, and discovering local cafes at my own pace. A …