New Zealand - Day 9: Queenstown

QUEENSTOWN

There is so much to do in Queenstown! Even staying 2 days is not enough at all! Next up, ski!

Winter Ski

To purchase your passes, rent equipments or clothes, and arrange for shuttle (or drive up yourself), you can go to the Snow Centre.

Location:
The Station Building
Duke Street, Queenstown, New Zealand

Tel: +64 3 450 1970

Website:
http://www.nzski.com/

Admission: Refer the website




For rental of equipments and clothes, you can go to a cheaper shop. However, if you rent equipments from another shop, you need to carry them with you up the mountain instead of renting them on the mountain. So, depends on whether you're up for it, the equipments are quite heavy.

Location:
39 Camp Street  Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Tel: +64 3 442 4187

Website:
http://www.snowrental.co.nz/






The Remarkables

Near Queenstown, there are 2 mountains you can go to, Coronet Peak or The Remarkables. For a newbie like me, I chose The Remarkables because it has a higher percentage of area for beginners. Anyway, I can't very much choose which is better to ski while I've never done it before.

More info here http://www.nzski.com/theremarkables/about.jsp

The facilities are great. The one I love most is they have elevated certain parts of the hill so that you don't need to carry your skis up the hill after each ski down.

Fergburger

A must-try burger when you're in Queenstown. Fergburger is an oversized burger!

Location:
42 Shotover Street  Queenstown Town Centre 9300, New Zealand
Tel: +64 3 441 1232

Website:
http://www.fergburger.com/

Fergburger with cheddar (NZD12)

This is good! The beef patty is still juicy with loads of vegetables and cheese. Love it!

Locally made mulled wine (NZD7.50)

During a cold weather, this is a very good wine. It's a hot wine and taste a little like ginger tea but I don't think it is ginger. Good stuff!












Fishbone Bar & Grill 

A seafood restaurant.

Location:
7 Beach Street  Queenstown Town Centre 9300, New Zealand
Tel: +64 3 442 6768

Website:
http://www.fishbonequeenstown.co.nz/

Hours: Daily 17:00 - 22:00








We came here to try out some oyster because they have oysters live from their tank! When we were there, Bluff Oysters were not in season. So we had to try the other 2 types that they have, Tio Point and Waiheke oysters.

Looks appetising eh? But I'm a little disappointed again. It's better than the those I tried at Auckland but they are still not fresh enough with a little fishy taste. Not so much of "sweetness" of oysters apparent. (-_-)

Limited Edition Fast Foods

Here are some fast foods that is only available at limited time and in New Zealand only.

McDonald's Serious Lamb Burger

This is good! It has bacon, egg and vegetables. The lamb patty is nice but some people may still dislike the "mutton" smell which to me, it just very light.

KFC's Double Down

The chicken meat replaces the bread with bacon and cheese. It comes in 3 flavours of chicken meat - Zinger, Original and Grilled. This is delicious! The chicken meat is tender and delicious.







Accomodation: Mantra Marina Queenstown

When you come to Queenstown, it's best to stay at Frankton Road facing Lake Wakatipu. The view is beautiful and serene.


Picture soure: Mantra Marina website

Location:
875 Frankton Road  Frankton, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Tel: +64 3 450 9096

Website:
http://www.queenstownmarinaapartments.co.nz/

Price range:
~NZD70 per person (includes free unlimited internet usage)



Sunrise



Sunset

New Zealand - Day 8: Queenstown

QUEENSTOWN

A lot more information here http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/
The town

Enjoy yourself with a walk around town and by the Lake Wakatipu.



Cookie time for cookies lover

TSS Earnslaw Lake Cruise

A 1912 Edwardian vintage twin screw steamer still cruising Lake Wakatipu. Check out some package deals here http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/Main/TSSEarnslaw/

Walter Peak High Country Farm

The cruise make a stop at the country farm at another end of Lake Wakatipu. If you're interested, check it on the website above for a different package at different prices.

For a fee, they also serve BBQ buffet lunch before the farm tour.

The farm tour consists introduction of the place and a few activities and shows.


Sheep feeding




Sheep sheering

 

Wool spinning

Sheep dog in action

Skyline Gondola

Taking the gondola (a.k.a. cable car) 450 metres up Bob's Peak for the view of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.

Location:

Brecon St, Queenstown, New Zealand

Tel: +64 3 441 0101

Website:
http://www.skyline.co.nz/queenstown/

Hours: Daily 09:00 - late

Admission: Check out their website for return trips and package deals.

Skyline Luge

From the peak's main building, take another chairlift up for the luge ride! It's a very fun and thrilling ride! You will want to pay for more ride. Take at least 2 rides to experience both the scenic and advanture track.

Note to friends: Even if you have taken the ride at Sentosa, Singapore, do take this one. It's SO much more fun!

At the end of the day, we stumble upon an amazing view at the bottom of the hill. Setting sunlight and bright moonlight shining upon the opposite mountains.

Who would miss such beautiful view? ^_^

New Zealand - Day 7: West Coast, Wanaka, Arrowtown

WEST COAST

Coastal drive

On the way from Glacier Country towards Wanaka, you will passby a few falls and scenic viewing spots. If you have the time, just stopby!

Thunder Creek Falls

Passing through Mount Aspiring National Park, there is a 28 metre high waterfall that tumbles into Haast River.

WANAKA

Lake Wanaka

Wanaka is a very nice place to sit down, relax and have some lunch accompanying by a serene view of the lake.

Check out more at http://www.lakewanaka.co.nz/new-zealand/



Crystal clear water

Kai Whakapai Cafe & Bar

A Kiwi food place to be facing the lake. Enjoying some good weather and view.

Location:
Cnr Helwick & Ardmore Streets  Wanaka 9305, New Zealand
Tel: +64 3 443 7795

Hours: Daily 07:00 - late







Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World

One of the famous and unique attraction of Wanaka. A place that plays with your mind. (^_^)v

Location:
84/188 Wanaka-Luggate Highway  Wanaka 9382, New Zealand
Tel: +64 3 443 7489

Website:
http://www.puzzlingworld.co.nz/

Hours: Daily 08:30 - 17:00

Admission: The great maze for NZD12 and illusion room for NZD12. A combo price is NZD15 for both.


ARROWTOWN

Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town in the Otago region. Now, remains only a little of the historicly designed buildings. There is also a Lake District Museum to let you understand about their life during old mining days ( http://www.museumqueenstown.com/ ).

For more, http://www.arrowtown.com/

New Zealand - Day 6: Franz Josef, Fox Glacier

GLACIER COUNTRY

Both Franz Josef and Fox Glacier are known as the Glacier Country of New Zealand, about 20km away from each other. Both glaciers allow visitors except when it's unsafe to walk on. You may read more at http://www.glaciercountry.co.nz/.

FRANZ JOSEF

I was turned down from purchasing the glacier walk tickets for Franz Josef as the glacier was not safe at the time I wanted to purchase the tickets. It seems like Franz Josef glacier is prettier (from far) as we went for a thrilling adventure here!

If you want to do the glacier walk at Franz Josef, check it out here http://www.franzjosefglacier.com/

Skydive Franz

They have been voted the best skydiving experience in New Zealand. Checking in at the town, we were requested to sign a declaration form.

Location:
Main Road, next to the Glacier Guides  Franz Josef 7886, New Zealand
Tel: +64 3 752 0714

Website:
http://www.skydivefranz.co.nz/

Fees: Check out the website above! ^^

This was really a great experience for me being a superwoman with bird's eye view of tallest mountain, Mount Cook, the west coast, the Tasman Sea and Franz Josef glacier, a great combination of iced mountain, ocean, river, land ^^. My first and hopefully not the last experience!

Fox Glacier

Moving down to Fox Glacier, we did the glacier walk here. Some people say that it's easier to walk on Fox glacier than Franz Josef glacier. I don't know but you really need to consider your fitness condition for the route that you wish to do.

You can also do similar things at either Franz Josef or Fox Glacier.


Picture source: Fox glacier



Location:

44 Main Road, State Highway 6, Fox Glacier, 7859, New Zealand

Tel: 800 111 600

Website:
http://www.foxguides.co.nz/


Admission: From NZD49 per person, depending on the trip you're taking.


Our guide, Lizi, from Argentina

The current glacier has very much shorten due to the ice melting more than it's covered. So, there will be many lose stone and rocks. Follow the guide and walk in a line.



Boots and crampons provided

You will be provided with backpack, waterproof jacket, boots, thick socks, and crampons for the ice walking. For all day walk, they will also provide mitten and hat.



Follow the guide up the ice



Going down between the ice



The melted ice water carved the ice




Going through





View up



Go up in a line, go down in a line

 

The walk ended with a beautiful sunset



You will get a certificate for your effort!

Lake Matheson

Take a stroll down to Lake Matheson during sunset or sunrise for a nice photographic view of the lake and Mount Cook which will take at least 40 minutes to 1 hour.

Accomodation: Lake Matheson Motel



Picture source: Lake Matheson Motel


Location:
Corner Cook Flat Rd & Pekanga Drive
Fox Glacier
(400m from Fox Glacier's township)

Tel: +64 3 751 0830

Website:
http://www.lakematheson.co.nz/

Price range: ~NZD40-45 per person (includes free limited internet usage)