New Zealand North Island Adventure day 8: Tauranga -> Paeroa -> Auvkkand - The last day of the riad trip! Started walking the waterfront of Tauranga with Hairy Mackary and Friends sculptures, The Kahui Matsriki mairi wood sculptures. Stopped at Katikari advertised as the Avocado Capital of New Zealand and a Muraltown, Paeria with the giant Lemon &Partia Fuzzy Bottle sculpture, also named as a Antique Town. There’re not so many nature attractions on the way that I stopped at the not so popular Owharoa Falls and Maketu Waterfall. Finally concluded the day (and the trip) at Auckland Lookout of Moubt Eden. Would fly back to Australia tomorrow. #tauranganz #katikari #paeroa #muraltown #avocadocapitalnz #lemonandpaeroa #sculpture #streetart #auckland #aucklandlookout #mountedenauckland #newzealand #roadtrip (at Auckland) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqNi9RxPdlU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand North Island Adventure day 7: Turangi -> Rotorua -> Tauranga - It’s another big day! As a late starter, I would stroll around town centre and have brunch before I depart for real attractions. The Tunneller Statue seems to be the icon for Turangi. It was dead quiet when I checked out probably as the laziest guest even it was quite vibrant in the evening last night. I assumed all backpacker youngsters, families and retirees had headed to the Tongariro National Park which Turangi serves as the gateway for. I don’t have enough time to go deep but just visited Te Ponanga Saddle Lookout and Tokaanu Historic Wharf nearby. Highlight of the day is Wai-o-Taou Thernal Wonderland in Rotorua. Highlights of the highlight are Artist’s Palette, Champagne Pool, and Green Pool. There’re many boiling mix pools in the area. It was a pity that I didn’tsp enough research if the Tsupo Volcano area before my departure that I didn't allocate long enough stats here to enjoy the hot springs but it definitely worth a second in-depth experience in the next visit. I missed the famous Pohutu Geyser near Rotorya City as it closed early at 4PM :/ Have to become an early bird in extensive travels. Visited Hatupatu Scenic Pount with many Black-Billed Gulls, Sulphur Point, and Kuirau Park Mud Pools near the city before sunset and then drove to Tauranga to stay for the night. Basically you can smell the distinct sulphuric odour everywhere in the area. #thermalpool #waiotapu #waiotaputhermalwonderland #artistspalette #champagnepool #rotoruanz #tauranganz #turangi #mudpool #sulphursprings #newzealand #roadtrip (at Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, North Island, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqK7El4P0wb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand North Island Adventure day 6: Hastings -> Turangi - Since State Highway 6 (Thermal Explorer Hwy) is closed between Eskdale (near Napier) and Taupo, I had to take the long winding way (the reverse section of 50% of my day 5 from Wellington to Hastings plus 50% of my day 3 from Taupo to Wellington) to complete the route get back to Auckland. The locals said it was reopened between 7AM to 7PM but NZ Transport Agency said it was completely closed in their website that I dare not take the risk. Terrified by the everywhere roadwork, wingding sections and completely dark night drives, I couldn’t detour much unless forced by roadwork that I merely stopped at main towns and handy lookouts without need for hiking: Hastings with Māori Wood Statues, Dannebitkd with Salvation Army Figure, Palmerston North City, Stormy Point Lookout, and finally arrived at Turangi merely to get some takeaway from the local Hong Kong Chinese Takeaways for dinner. The lodge is nice as a whole apartment with all equipment just at 2/3 the price of what you get for a 15sqm room in Auckland or Wellington city centre. #turangi #palmerstonnorth #dannevirkenz #hastingsnz #northislandnz #newzealand #roadtrip (at Turangi Town Centre) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqITbBlv9Xw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand North Island Adventure day 5: Wellington -> Hastings -> Napier - This route is not as popular as I expected, probably because it’s relatively isolated from other tourists attractions and moreover, the shortcut road to Taupo is closed that all traffic has to take a long winding way via Wellington area in and out. I didn’t do enough homework when I booked the hotels but it was too late to change by the time I departed. It’s not bad to visit township anyway that I still drove a long way here and then drive back tomorrow as it would not be possible to take another road northward getting back to Auckland. Stopped at Upper Hutt, Two Lakes Lookout, Remutaja Crossing Lookout, Greytown, and Latitude 40 Degree South Marker when it continued to rain. There was finally some sunlight by the time I arrived at Hastings in late afternoon. Lucky enough to visit Bluff Hill Lookout, Perfume Point with colourful giant chairs, and Ahuriri Estuary Boardwalk before it got dark. #napiernz #hastingsnz #hawesbaynz #newzealand #roadtrip (at Napier, Hawkes Bay) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqFvRA4PsHR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand North Island Adventure day 4: Wellington - It was a rainy, windy and casual day. I didn’t touch the car at all. Walked the historic Cuba St after Yum Cha brunch. Visited the Fear Factory where I didn’t get feared at all, probably I have been scared too much in my life so far. Then walked the waterfront from City-to-Sea bridge down to the Wellington sculpture where the visitors must stand there to fill the mussing “ I”, further towards Mount Victoria bus the boat sheds and hiked up to Mount Victoria Lookout. It started to rain heavily by the time I reached the summit at about 4PM. Could only head back to the hotel and took a rest giving up the idea of a short drive to Happy Valley for more lookouts. #wellington #cubastreetwellington #wellingtonwaterfront #mountvictoria #newzealand #fearfactory (at Wellington, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqDHsynPbaK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand North Island Adventure day 3: Taupo -> Wellington - Explored the town next to Lake Taupo. Couldn’t do the Huka Waterfall Track due to time and energy limits. Stopped at Lake Taupo Full Moon Lookout near Motutere, Gumboot Sculpture at Taihape, Foxton and arrived Wellington early enough to get dinner. It’s very windy here. Would stay 2 days to navigate around by foot or short drives. #taupo #laketaupo #taihape #gumbootsculpture #streetart #foxton #northislandnz #newzealand #roadtrip (at Wellington, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqAkz-gvljI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand North Island Adventure day 2: Auckland -> Taupo - Started from brunch at Chinatown and Burswood suburb of Auckland, stopped at Hamilton, Mega Cow at Morrinsville, Hobbinton Movie Set Tourist Farm at Matamata, Corrugated Dog and Sheep Buildings at Tirau, The Pine Man at Tokoroa, and finally arrived at Taupo after dinner. #auckland #taupo #chinatown #northislandnz #newzealand #roadtrip (at Taupo, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp9-OATPRrG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand North Island Adventure day 1: Auckland - Stayed at the airport hotel last night and started the day picking up the rental car at noontime. By the time I started to plan the trip when all flights had been booked, I realised I wouldn’t have time for day trips to the islands or the northland that Auckland city would the northwest place I would stay. Siena the day hiking to One Hill Tree in Epsom. Had an relatively early check-in in the hotel and then hit some time to navigate the city and walked through Queen St during its vibrant hours in the daytime. It’s Saturday today that quite some nightlife is going on here too. #auckland #onetreehill #northislandnz #newzealand (at Auckland CBD) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp7SRC_ves0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand South Island Adventure day 12: Kaikoura -> Christchurch - Spent half of the day hiking in Kairoura peninsula, visited Point Kean Lookout, Kairoura Seal Colony, Kairoura Lookout with a birdview of the town, and finally had mussels for lunch which I missed the opening hours of The Mussel Pot when I stopped at Havelock yesterday. Stopped at town Cheviot and Kaiapoi on my way back to Christchurch, and had a big dinner in the Teochew Restaurant in Christchurch city. Would fly to Auckland tomorrow to continue the adventure in the north island tomorrow. #kairoura #kairourapenninsula #cheviot #kaiapoi #newzealand #roadtrip #coastaltown

New Zealand South Island Adventure day 11: Nelson -> Havelock -> Picton -> Blenheim -> Kaikoura - Started at Nelson with visits to Parkers Cove, Tahunanui Beach, Paddy’s Knob Lookout, Fireshire Rock, and then headed to the town centre for the weekly farmers market on Wednesdays and bought 2 bags of fruits. Nelson is also a coastal town built on hills that it has a lot of steep and winding roads but the town centre is relatively flat on the plateau. Had lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant and it turns out to be a good pick. There’re a lot of roadwork, detour, and alternate one lane traffic control along the way from Nelson to Havelock that it took much much longer than expected. Transited from Havelock to Picton through the scenic winding Queen Charlotte Drive. I could have taken the ferry from Picton to Wellington to access the North Island but I found it too difficult to book a ticket in the last minute. As it was getting dark that I couldn’t explore much there. Just a brief visit to Picton Harbour Lookout and then Headed straightaway to Blenheim for dinner. It was a long drive to Kaikoura after dinner. Tomorrow would be the last leg to get back to Christchurch. #nelsonnz #havelock #picton #blenheim #kairoura #marlborough #newzealand #roadtrip #coastaltown (at Kaikoura, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpzxh_OvzO-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand South Island Adventure day 10 : Takaka -> Pohara -> Collingwood -> Puponga -> Motueka -> Nelson - It had been another big day to explore golden bay. Started with a detour to Pohara Beach and then headed northwest to visit Collingwood where I captured a retiree playing accordion at the recreation area of the waterfront. The long haul including 5KM unsealed road to Wharariki Beach rewarded the most famous view for the day - Windows 10 Lock Screen. Do you recognise it? Cape Farewell next to it also looks fabulous. On the way returning to Takaka, stopped at Te Waikoroupupu Springs for rest with a casual walk. Drove through the long winding Takaka Hill way again before its closure at 8PM and stopped at Motueka for dinner. Finally arrived at Nelson for the night when it got dark. #goldenbay #tasman #abeltasman #takaka #pohara #collingwood #puponga #whararikibeach #capefarewell #tewaikoropupusprings #motueka #nelson (at Nelson, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpxIGz-vfnh/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand South Island Adventure day 9: Charleston -> Westport -> Murchison -> Takaka - It’s another rainy day :/ Headed to Westport for brunch before going further north to Golden Bay. Stopped at Upper Bullet Gorge Lookout, Buller Gorge Swing Bridge, the largest town Murchison in between to top up fuel, Hope Saddle Lookout, and the turned northwest through Motueka Valley to Rikawa. It’s another long winding drive from Riwaka to Takaka through Takaka Hill. Stopped at Hawkes Lookout in between and finally arrived at Takaka at 7:30PM when the winding way took much longer than expected. Takaka Town Centre is actually larger than expected and I was surprised to find a Thai Restaurant there. At least I don’t have to handle lactose intolerance in this long haul trip. #goldenbay #tasman #takaka #murchison #westport #motuekavalley #northernwestcoast #hopesaddlelookout #hawkeslookout #newzealand #roadtrip (at Takaka, Golden Bay) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpuiOD8P8z3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand South Island Adventure day 8: Franz Josef -> Hokitika -> Charleston - The glacier is visible from the town centre of Franz Josef. As I drove northward, it entered into the agriculture region from the glacier country and the south west coast wildness that more towns are on the way. Stopped at the historic Ross Goldfields, the popular hub Hokitika, the largest town in the west coast Greymouth and its birdview lookout, Strongman Mine Memorial, Pancake Rocks and Blowholes and finally arrived at Charleston early enough to get some healthy food at dusk. It has been raining all day that the views are not so great. Finally got time and facilities for laundry and that’s the reason I chose the small town on the highway over Westport for tonight’s stay. #franzjosefglacier #hokitika #greymouth #westcoast #buller #northernwestcoast #newzealand #roadtrip (at Charleston, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpsB1rgPDji/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand South Island Adventure day 7: Wanaka -> Franz Josef - Had farmstay last night. It was scary to drive through the winding gravel way in dark after dinner but the view turns out to be pretty good in the morning. Got back to Wanaka for brunch and then drove through the wild Mt Aspiring National Park to West Coast. Had numerous stops for sightseeing on the way that I can only name a few: Lake Hawea Lookout, Lake Wanaka Lookout, Blue Pools, Thunder Creek Falls, Knights Point Lookout, Bruce Bay Lookout. Arrived at Fox Glacier at 8PM and noticed a local pub was still offering dinner. Decided to get steak to recharge before heading to the final destination Franz Josef feeling lucky it was at least pies, pastry or some cookies. It was only 23KM from Fox Glacier to Franz Josef but it turned out to be the most winding drive in the trip so far. It was good that I was just recharged with steak after a whole day’s long haul drive but then it got dark after dinner. I don’t have time to stay in the glacier country for the hiking and snow landing activities. Hope I can still visit next time. #glaciercountry #foxglacier #franzjosefglacier #franzjosef #westcoast #mtaspiringnationalpark #newzealand #roadtrip (at Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cppa5VIP8qO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand South Island Adventure day 6: Lake Tekapo -> Wanaka - Navigated Lake Tekapo until finishing lunch before taking the highway southward again to Wanaka. Captured another Salmon sculpture at High Country Salmon and the black stilt sculpture when stopping for fuel in Twizel. Stopped in the middle at Linda’s Pass Summit Lookout to appreciate high country mountain views. Arrived at Wanaka in the late afternoon and navigated the puzzling world and the Wanaka tree. Didn’t think I would have the time and energy for Roy’s Peak but still stopped at the start point if the track just to get scared by the numbers. Couldn’t explore Wanaka further as I need to reserve time and energy for the rest of the road trip. that I stopped at Glendhu Bay Lookout before heading to the town centre to get my last decent dinner before West Coast. #laketekapo #teizel #wanaka #highcountrysalmon #southcanterbury #mackenzie #otago #newzealand #roadtrip https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpm2ZCFPHDB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand South Island Adventure day 5: Queenstown -> Lake Tekapo - It has been a big day: Roaring Meg Lookout, 45th Parallel South Marker, Quadruple Fruit Sculpture in Cromwell, Cromwell Heritage Precinct, E Junction Lookout in Cromwell, Merino Sheep Sculpture in Omarama, Aoraki/Mt Cook Glacier, Lake Pukaki Lookout, and finally arrived in Lake Tekapo with minimal light pollution to appreciate night sky. It’s a pity that I didn’t get enough time for stargazing and night sky photography. #roaringmeglookout #45thparallel #cromwellnz #heritageprecinct #omarama #aoraki #mtcook #lakepukaki #punatahuvisitorcentre #laketekapo #nightsky #newzealand #roadtrip (at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpkQ0bgvnI3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

New Zealand South Island Adventure day 4: Queenstown - Couldn’t hike much today as I still had the pains from hiking in Dunedin. Took a short walk around Queenstown Harbour and Gardens. Drove to the town Glenorchy and visited Bennett Bluff Lookout on the way. It’s too buggy to drive the unsealed road to paradise where the movie Lord of the Ring was made that I decided to stop 28KM to it. Visited Arrowtown at dusk. There is a Chinese gold miners settlement historic site there from 0about 170~180 years ago. Had Japanese Goku Shabu Shabu for dinner anticipating I may have to accept any food I can get from a rural town general store in the next a few days heading to the West Coast. #queenstown #glenorchynz #paradisenz #arrowtown #chinesesettlement #newzealand #roadtrip (at Queenstown, New Zealand) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cphq1YzvUlQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=