New Zealand Self Drive (Part 6 - North Island - Rotorua, Auckland)

Continue from New Zealand Self Drive (Part 5)

 

Day 17: Rotorua 
We are visiting Wai-O-Tapu, the Thermal Wonderland today. Entrance fee is NZ$22.50/pax. This thermal area is a Scenic Reserve administered by te Department of Conservation and has the largest area of surface thermal activity of any hydrothermal system in the Taupo Volcanic Zone.

We arrive early today in order not to miss the eruption of Lady Knox Geyser. Despite the drizzle, all the visitors including us are out in the rain, waiting patiently for the performance of the geyser. 
 At 10.15am daily, the Lady Knox Geyser erupts.

The walks in the wonderland varies from 30 mins to 75mins, in 3 different paths.

The Artist's Palette

The Champagne Pool

Bubbling Mud Pool 

We are visiting the Mitai Maori Village in the evening. It is an authentic and interactive Maori cultural experience. Each person costs us NZ$72.50.

Hangi Meal The authentic hangi meal is cooked in the earth oven known as 'the hangi pit'. Our menu includes a hot selection of succulent New Zealand Lamb & Chicken, Potatoes (Rewai), Sweet Potato (Kumara) and stuffing (a combination of Bread, Mixed Herbs, Corn, Carrots & Peas). While side dishes include scalloped potatoes baked with a cheese topping and freshly baked Garlic Bread.

 War Canoe/Waka Hand carved by the Mitai family, the waka (ancient war canoe) paddles by, leaving the spellbound. See warriors by night in traditional dress traveling down the Wai-O-Whiro Stream as was done many years ago.

 Cultural Performance The cultural performance is real, raw and earthy. It is a fascinating performance full of emotion and power.In the tranquil natural bush setting, the performers take us back in time when the ancient Maori customs and traditions were part of everyday life. Through songs and dances plus tales and legends told, we learn a great deal about our fascinating past.

Day 18: Rotorua- Auckland

Befor leaving Rotorua, we visit the Zorb Rotorua. Zorbonauts can experience rolling downhill inside a 3.2m, inflatable plastic orb.

Auckland, City of Sails

Our final destination in NZ. Auckland in Maori is known as Tamaki Makau Rau, the city of 100 lovers. It earned this name because it was a place desired by all and conquered by many.

The Auckland Harbour Bridge is an eight-lane box truss motorway bridge over the Waitemata Harbour. The bridge is the second-longest road bridge in New Zealand, and the longest in the North Island. 

The Sky Tower 

328 metres tall and the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere. NZ$15 entrance to the Sky Tower observation deck.

The glass floor panels that allow us to stand and look straight down to the street at 192 metres above. 

Day 19: Auckland - KL

We are very relax and lazy in the last day of our trip. We just wander around the city and visit the Victoria's Park Market for last minute shopping. We buy some tit-bits and souvenirs there. Then we drive to Auckland International to return the car and fly back home filled with sweet memories!!

-The End-

and we'll be back in year 2011 again!!

New Zealand Self Drive (Part 5 - North Island - Wellington, Napier, Taupo, Rotorua)

Continue from New Zealand Self Drive (Part 4)
 

Day 14: Picton - Wellington

We arrive Wellington in the evening. North Island is very different from South Island from the scenery, buildings, people and "feel". Wellington is just another a city to me, surrounded with buildings, busy streets and people and most importantly we need to pay for the parking here.

Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand. It is often called Windy Wellington because it is the windiest city in New Zealand. The urban area is situated on the southwestern tip of the country's North Island, and lies between Cook Strait Rimutaka Range and the It is home to 386,000 residents, with an additional 3,700 residents living in the surrounding rural areas.

Our itinerary for the night is just strolling around the city nearby our hostel and hunting for dinner. Some of the buildings are Harbour City Shopping Centre, National Library, Parliament Buildings, Executive Office Building @ the Beehive, Original Government Buildings, Museum of Wellington, City and Sea, Civic Square, City Gallery of Wellington and etc.

Day 15: Wellington - Napier

Driving around central Wellington can be frustrating, because of the many narrow one-way streets, but it's an easy place to get around on foot. Early in the morning, we being our journey at Kelburn Cable Car terminus in Cable Car Lane. Taking the cable car, which is NZ$1.80 one way, to get up high to see the city's layout and to the Wellington Botanic Garden.

 After passing a Henry Moore bronze, we reach the Lady Norwood Rose Garden. l

 Te Papa Tongarewa-Museum of New Zealand

We leave Wellington after lunch to Napier and Hawke's Bay.
Napier is a popular tourist city, with a unique concentration of 1930s Art Deco architecture.
Criterion Hotel is typical of the Spanish Mission style. The Daily Telegraph Building is another Napier classic, used today as a real-estate office. ASB Bank has The Maori theme on the lintels.

Day 16: Napier - Taupo -  Rotorua
On the way from Napier to Taupo.

Huka Falls / Lake Taupo

Craters of the Moon - thermal activity, mud pools, steam vents and lunar landscapes. Entrance NZ$5.

Sceneries that you can't find it elsewhere.

Aratiatia Dam & Rapids

Arrival in Rotorua. At the entrance of Te Puia (New Zealand's Maori Cultural Centre). We did not visit Te Puia, because we plan to go to Wai-O-Tapu tomorrow morning.
Photo below is at Mc Donald's Rotorua, very unique design.

More activies in Rotorua and Auckland in Part 6.

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!!