New Zealand Self Drive (Part 4 - South Island - Cromwell, Wanaka, Franz Josef, Greymouth, Christchurch, Kaikoura, Picton)

Continue from New Zealand Self Drive (Part 3)

Day 10: Queenstown - Cromwell - Franz Josef

Leaving Queenstown, we continue our drive up north to Cromwell. It is located in the valley of the Upper Clutha, deep in the heart of the dry interior of Central Otago. Its a landscape of bare brown hills, tussock and briar, purple thyme and tors of schist, with broad basins and fertile valleys. This is also the country's fastest growing wine region.

 A very windy place..

 Gold Fields Mining Centre

It was the discovery of golf in the 1860's that began the settlement of the Otago Province of New Zealand. Originaly known as Gees Flat, the Goldfields Mining Centre was where the gold rush struck it rich in Cromwell. Now protected as a historic reserve, Goldfields remains much as it was it was in the days when miners from around the world lived and worked here. It is an authentic example of a fully functioning goldfield preserved as the region's main demonstration site. Entrance is NZ$15/pax.

 I am very lucky to get some gold dust that they allow me to bring home!!

 Continue on to Wanaka to visit the Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World.

Entrance to the Illusion Room is NZ$7. We did not go The Great Maze, which is two storey high and1.5km of passages.

The clock tower is falling down!!!

 We are very tired and arrive at Franz Josef  in the night. Our originally plan is to join the glacier tour in Fox Glacier, but the it is not a pleasant and easy drive from Fox Glacier to Franz Josef. So we change our plan.

Day 11: Franz Josef - Greymouth via

State Highway 6 - The Coast Road

    We are very anxious as we have not book our glacier tour yet as we reach here late last night and the office is closed. We end up joining the Franz Josef Half Day Glacier Guide which starts at 8.45am. This is NZ$90 per person. The duration is about 4.5 hours including 1.5 hours ice time. 

Although very tiring and exhauting, this is definitely a very incredible and unforgetable experience for us. I look forward to visit this glacier again and will go for heli-hike instead. Hehe!!

After this, we make our move to Greymouth. Overnight at YHA Greymouth Kainga-ra. Greymouth is the largest town on the west coast.

Day 12: Greymouth - Christchurch via 

Arthur's Pass 

There is not so much of activities that we interest us at Greymouth. Therefore, we depart early adn rather spend more time in Christchurch.

And here we are at Christchurch again!!

Christchurch Botanic Gardens

Established 1863, Free entrance.

Aerial view of the Botanic Gardens

The Conservatories

 Central Rose Garden, The New Zealand Garden, Rock Garden and Herbaceous Border

Statue of Captain James Cook and Queen Victoria Square

Day 13: Christchurch - Kaikoura

We wake up at 4.30am to check on our Hot Air Baloon tour, but to our disappointment again, it is canceled due to bad weather. We travel north to the Kaikoura, which is famous of all year around whales watching and also the base for wildlife experiences of all kinds - it's also a great place to eat crayfish. Our accomodation at Maui YHA. 

 Views of Kaikoura

 The Seal Colony

 Visit the World of Lavender.

Day 14: Kaikoura - Picton

 Our main purpose to drop by Kaikoura is for whale and dolphin watching. The tour is NZ$130 per pax. The whale watching part is not too exciting because we can only see a very small part of the whale on the sea surface. We have to wait for a while just to witness the turning of the tail. However, the chasing after the dolphins is very interesting.

 We then drive to Picton Harbour to drop our rental car and take the Interislander Ferry at 14:25 to Wellington. The ferry fare is similar to flight, it's NZ$60 per person per way, about 3 hours ride.

That's the end of our South Island trip and we are continuing our journey to the North Island!!