Category: Kia Ora – Christchurch & Queenstown

The next day, we didn’t want to risk it anymore and check-out extremely early to wait for our transport to Milford Sound tour. We actually started to wait for the taxi half hour in advance.

Here we go…

The bus was amazing! Comfortable seat and allowed great views from inside the bus. Blessing in disguise. If we were on the tour yesterday, then the view won’t be this great. Some more we found out, we were sent on a more expensive tour package than what we paid initially. How nice? Things really happened for a reason.

First stop, Te Anau for first stop.

The most expensive toilet trip ever! NZD1/entry -.-” Didn’t know there’s other toilet, so ended up here. Everyone rushed in this toilet after alighted from the bus. I didn’t fully utilize the facilities though hahaha… My friend did.

Took some photos while waiting for the bus to continue with the journey.

We stopped at Mirror Lakes. Nice!

Another toilet stop as this is the only fully functional toilet. There won’t be any along the way except the long drop toilet *LOL* Everyone rushed in for it as afraid that there won’t be any proper toilet anymore.

Indeed, there’s no stop for any toilet.

Left: Magnificent view!

Right: We went on a very short jungle trekking, the rainforest in NZ.

It’s similar to what we have back home.

Milford Sound, here we are…

On the cruise with our picnic lunch. Rather expensive for just these. NZD17 for it but luckily ours were already included in the booking with the other company. The one we were with did not include it in their package and it’s more expensive than what we booked.

Very strong wind and it was raining that day.

The highlights of the cruise. The seals and the waterfall. The whole trip was 12 hours+

So tired… We were so lucky to have the taxi sent us to our new accommodation, Hippo Lodge. Another blessing in disguise. If we went on the trip the day before, it would mean we would be lugging our luggage all the way up the staircase and hill! Instead, now we had taxi sent us straight to the door step.

I booked the room with ensuite. We were surprised with how good the whole thing was. It was NZD88/night. Too bad we only stayed here for a night. What’s more, it’s less than 12 hour! It’s so near to the town centre. Highly recommended.

The next morning, we had to go to the bus stop to go back to Christchurch. It was not easy with our belongings but at least better than the staircase. We decided to go along the road travelled by car instead of the staircase. I don’t think I will be able to get all my things down the tiny and steep staircase in one piece.

We almost missed our bus again despite going to the bus stop 45 minutes before the departure time as we didn’t know it was sub-contracted to another company instead of the one we booked with. -.-” Gosh… Again… We didn’t check the ticket properly.

Finally we arrived in Queenstown after 12 hours. It took us almost an hour to locate our living place (Pinewood Lodge, 48 Hamilton Road, Queenstown, 9300, New Zealand) hahaha… I forgot to print out the map and chosen the wrong drop off place.

It was a very distant walk. As far as I know, I was made understand that it’s quite near to the town centre but we found out it was so far away! We only realized there’s a shortcut on our last day staying there ;p

Booked Backpacker Twin room which I misunderstood as we had an ensuite but it turned out we had to share with another 4 people for all the facilities -.-” Oh well… What to do? We just had to live with it. At least it’s cleaner than what we had in YMCA. It wasn’t easy to find something for our budget too. Worst, everywhere was fully booked!

After we check-in, we decided to head out. It was already 9pm+ but it was still very bright. We just loiter around and reached our place at 11pm+.

The next morning, we prepared early to go join the Milford Sound tour. Guess what?!! Our bus didn’t show up! We got panic and quickly get the reception to help us contact the company. It turned out that they changed the pickup time to 7.10am instead of 7.40am! We were not informed about it. After several exchanges made in the phone, they finally agreed to arrange the trip for us the next day.

Our plans gone haywired. We were mentally and emotionally tired after that. However, it didn’t deter us to continue with our plan in which the plan for the next day was swapped to this day. That’s not just it, we were worry about our accommodation too since we were supposed to be moving to another accomodation the next day instead of going for a full day tour. We decided to check out our second accommodation in Queenstown and gave us a great heart attack! It was so hard to go there even though it was near to the city centre. We had to go up very steep hill and lots of stairs! -.-” So we decided to look for other accommodation since we were allowed to cancel the booking without charges 24 hours in advance. Too bad… Everywhere was fully booked! We just had to accept the fact that we would have to lug the heavy luggage all the way up by then after our 12-hour Mildford Sound trip. It’s gonna be exhausting!

We then headed to Skyline for the gondola ride. It cost us NZD26 for return ride. Luckily we went early, not many people. We got in fast and got to see a lot without the crowd. Blessings in disguise. I we were to go the next day, we’re pretty sure we would be coming here later in the morning instead of very early in the morning.

Up… Up… We went…

Left: Finally up there…
Right: The gondola for photo taking, it’s 1960’s design.

View from up there.

Camwhored of course!

Another ride to go further up. Not included in the ticket. When you’re up there, there’s quite a number of activities that you can do such as luge ride, mountain biking, bungy jump, helicopter ride, dining, paragliding and so on.

Another views from the top.

Left: Photo taken when we were on it and they photoshopped the backgroud. It’s expensive! We didn’t buy.
Right: When we go down, the queue was sooooo looooong! So many buses too! We met Skyline mascot and took a photo with them.

While were were up there, we got a call from the bus company telling us that they had arranged us on their partner’s bus and there’ll be a taxi come to pick us up from Pinewood. We breathed a sight of relief knowing that we didn’t have to get our luggage all the way up anymore after the trip. There’ll be taxi sending us back to our new accommodation right to the door step with our luggage. Things sure happened for a reason. God does take care of us.

Early in the morning, we prepared to check-out to go on the bus tour to Queenstown. We almost got left behind but luckily the driver came into the lobby to ask while we were checking out. We were supposed to wait outside early before the bus arrived but because of one hairdryer, my friend had to go back up to get it and the bus came that time and I was still at the counter waiting for her. When I saw the bus I thought it should be another one, shouldn’t be this. He was slightly early too. I didn’t realized it’s not Grayline’s bus, instead it’s another bus company, Great Sights, which was the partner of Grayline in Christchurch. -.-”

That’s the problem when you didn’t check your ticket properly and assume. Bad… It was a good thing too that we went down early or else we will be left behind because I booked the tour and my friend booked the accommodation, the driver won’t be able to locate anyone by then and drove off. This was our first heart attack for the trip. One lesson learnt!

Finally got on the bus safely. The journey starts…

We had our first stop at the visitor centre for toilet and tea break. It was about 45 minutes if not mistaken.

Amazing views along the way!

Never in my dream I will get to see such views with my own eyes. It’s always in photos or TV.

My friend was looking forward to go to Lake Tekapo as she was told that it’s a beautiful place. Didn’t even know what it’s all about ;p I went on this trip without doing much research, just book ticket, accommodation, and tour. Didn’t do any research on what to see or do here.

We’re here but it’s a very short stop. Only 15 minutes! We rushed through everything.

If not mistaken, there were two people who were left behind as they didn’t get back to the bus on time. The driver had warned us many many times to come back on time or being left behind. Good luck to those who got left behind and not having their luggage or things with them. They would also have to book another transport to their intended drop off location.

Left: The famous stone chapel at Lake Tekapo. It’s a polular place for weddings. Maybe one day when I found a loaded husband, I’ll have my wedding here too hahaha… I can only dream…

Right: Off we left the lake and was greeted with this view at the roadside. Amazing!

The journey will continue in the next post…