We started the journey on 16th Nov 2009 from Jakarta to Auckland- transit at Kuala Lumpur - Flight by MAS
17th Nov 2009, 12.10pm arrived Auckland International airport. We were welcomed by the cold Auckland. It was 18 degree Celcius although we were almost in summer. Kiwis said the highest temperature is 18. So cold....
Advised by the information center lady, we decided to take shuttle bus to the hostel. Price was about NZD 32 for two persons.
Taa..ta....we got Ponsonby Backpacker. We booked the room for 2 nights. NZD 54 per night
18th Nov, headed to Rangitoto Island, kind of volcanic island. We were guided to see the volcanic soil and some ex-calderas...nice view, a lot of wind there. Stopped at Devon port before back to Auckland. Many beautiful houses there...must be very expensive with those sea view :)
We continued the day with city tour, sky tower, cathedral....shopping center
19th Nov, ran to Sky Tower for Rotorua. We initially wanted to go to Waitomo. But we were too late for the bus. Didn't want to spend any day in Auckland, we decided to go to Rotorua. It is a nice town. Very quite but people are friendly. I like Rotorua.
20th Nov, We went to Sheeps Farm, Kiwi bird park (I was disappointed with this one, nothing's good)
21st Nov, Wai-O-tapu and Waimangu. We went there to see the sulfuric eruption. Nice hot place. I put off my sweater to feel the warm steam.
22nd Nov, Taupo here we come. Taupo is smaller than Rotorua. It's even quiter. But I like it. We can explore the town only on .....foot hahahahaha.....We got nice hostel with friendly receptionist. Blueberry with Tyco. The room faced the Taupo lake.
23rd Nov, started to explore Taupo. Huka Falls, Wairakei Terrace. We planned to go to honey hive...but had no time. We needed to pack for Wellington today.
We reached Wellington on 8.30pm. And....looking for accommodation. Where is it? We forgot...sigh...it's 8.30pm, we didn't know where to stay? We tried to find internet cafe since the nitification was saved in email. Traa...da.....the hostel is out of the city, it's 25 km away from Wellington...Oopsss we needed to find another one downtown.
Finally, we stayed in a hotel with NZD 120/night hahahaha....
24th Nov, 10am checked out...come on, we have to find cheaper accommodation. We found Wellywood Backpacker. NZD 56/night.
City tour for today. Cable car, Wellington botanical Garden, beehive parliament house, Cathedral.
We worked out very hard tod. Walked to Victoria looked out, down to Oriental bay, skirting the Cuba mall, have a nice meal in Indian restaurant. Please keep in mind, it's very difficult to find nice meal in NZ. Nice meal served only in big city.
25th Nov, early morning left Wellington for Picton in South Island...whoooohoooo we took ferry for three hours. Beautiful view at cook strait. We stayed at Picton Lodge, only few metres from the harbour and I site. Picton is a new town, kind of transit town. Nice sunny place here. We walked to Bob's bay in the afternoon and spent time there before the small typhoon came to greet us.
26th Nov, attended the morning mass at a small church. It was only 7 parishioners included we both. 8 with the priest. The priest could recognize us immediately. Asian hahahaha
We would go to Nelson today. Bye...bye Picton
Nelson is a nice city...(every part of NZ is nice hahaha) We stayed in Almond house. Nice place, friendly receptionist Ruth. I even cooked there. Ruth told me how to use the electric stove.
27th Nov, Abel Tasman National Park. Kayaking and walking for the whole day. Phew...we were picked up at 7am. Really attractive journey with high cost of course. We reached the national park by water taxi. Funny way to go.
28th Nov, sadly needed to leave Nelson for Fox Glacier...wow...can't hardly wait to see ice.
It was a hard trip though. It was the first working day for the driver, he was cheated by a young man who pretended not to bring the money and would pay after the nearest ATM machine but at last he ran from the bus. There was trouble with the transmission of the bus so that we needed to stop at Pukekura for help. A nice guy lent us his van to bring us to Franz and Fox.
We reached Fox in the evening around 10pm. Stayed at Fox Inn. NZD 50/night. The room was not nice.
29th Nov, time to walk on ice...We joined the half day tour on Fox Glacier. Very interesting part. We climbed up the ice mountain, couldn't take the pic with my DSLR as the steps were slippery and steep.
30th Nov,....oh no...time to go home was getting closer....we continued the trip to Queenstown.It is a tourist destination. Beautiful busy city. We spent a lot of time at the lake side Wakatipu, and tried the gondola to see the whole Queenstown.
1st Dec, must to do in Kiwi....Milford sound ecotour.....mouthwatering views....mirror lake, hommer tunnel, milford sound itself,,,, all are adoreable
2nd Dec, oh no.....it's getting closer to go home. We headed to Dunedin today.
Dunedin is a bit dirty compare to another part of NZ. It's student paradise.
3th Dec, World steepest street. Dunedin Botanical Garden. We also went to several second hand books, bought some books there. Interesting.
Today's tour was albatross and penguin yii..ha....
4th Dec, To the Larnache Castle. The only one castle in NZ built by an Australian for his first wife. Nice tour with the private guide. We met a cute girl called Sheena in the ballroom of the castle. She was dancing when we entered the room, and kept dancing when I took her pic....so lovely. Otago museum and Chinese Garden were the next before we were picked up for the airport to Auckland.5th Dec...Auckland International Backpacker sucks.....but anyway, we were ready to leave on a plane for Jakarta.....bye New Zealand...if only we have chance to visit you next time.
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