New Zealand |
Part 1: South Island (Queenstown)

Queenstown

Queenstown Botanical Gardens

These peaceful grounds make a great walking path that is not too far from downtown Queenstown. We crossed a few different facilities, none of which were in use at the moment. Towards the end of the path, there is a memorial dedicated to the first European settlers in the area. The rose gardens were in bloom with shades of reds, whites, and pinks and slight fragrances drifting through the air.  For someone who has the equipment and skills, you could play a round of disc golf on their free lakeside course. Overall, I would add this onto your Queenstown itinerary if you want something to do that is more relaxed. 

milford sound

Considered New Zealand's most stunning attraction, this water body is well worth the drive from Queenstown. It is a windy 4.5 hour journey going up and down narrow, hilly roads. Honestly, the views on the drive were very scenic and reminiscent of driving in Hawai'i. Along the way, there are many viewpoints from which you can see glacier peaks or fields of vibrant purple lupin flowers. You can either choose to drive there and back on your own and take a boat tour or book a full day trip that includes a bus transfer. We chose to drive on our own as it gave us more flexibility on when we wanted to leave. Whichever option you choose, make sure to book it well ahead of time as it is an extremely popular tourist attraction. We stopped halfway in Te Anau which had a cafe, small gift shop, gas station, and restroom. Many of the other drivers were also stopping in the same spot as it was the last break area before Milford Sound. Once you get near, there are 2 main parking areas. The closer one is smaller and likely to fill up fast. Rather than waiting to get a spot, we parked in the farther area which was only an additional 10-15 minute walk down a shaded paved path. Once you get to the dock, there is a small building that houses all of the boating companies. We had booked with this one which has 4 sailings daily and was rated very highly. The boat was a double decker catamaran with an indoor section on the lower deck. This one had a complimentary tea/coffee station in the indoor area. Some of the other tours offered lunch, so if you would like that option then make sure you search for it. For the first part of the boat journey where we went from the dock towards the Tasman Sea, the wind blows onto you which can make the ride feel slightly choppy. The second part is much smoother, as the wind is coming from behind you. Our boat guide narrated many interesting facts about the fjords. The best part was towards the end where they take you right next to a waterfall. The whole ride took about 1.5 hours from start to finish. There are not many places to get food nearby so we packed hummus tempeh sandwiches for lunch after the tour. 

Lake Wakatipu

The bustling part of Queenstown is centered around Lake Wakatipu so unless you decide to stay far from the main area you will likely see it. There are chances to boat in the lake, though we did not have time to do so. On our second night, we were lucky to see the most beautiful sunset of our trip with the mountains framing the glowing ball of red as it disappeared into the horizon. Having the lake in the middle of Queenstown makes the city feel like a beachtown and gives it a more relaxing vacation vibe. 

Arrowtown

This little town is about a 30 minute drive north of Queenstown, so you could make it a half day trip. We chose to see it as we were driving from Queenstown to Mt Cook. The main attractions are a street that is modeled to look like an old gold mining settlement, and a set of outdoor relics telling the tale of the Chinese who came there to work during the New Zealand gold rush. I personally felt like the entire town seemed very touristy, but if you happen to be driving past it, it is worth a stop. We also went on Christmas Day so nearly all of the stores were closed. On a different day, there were a good number of boutiques to browse through. 

Wanaka

#thatwanakatree

Wanaka is about an hour drive north of Queenstown, also in the direction of Mt Cook. The town center area surrounds Lake Wanaka. There were more hotels than I had imagined, and a lot of people who were staying there were either going to Queenstown from Mt Cook or vice versa. The main attraction here is a tree that appears to be floating in the lake. It is about a 15 minute walk from the downtown area. You will know that you are getting close when you see a sudden swarm of tourists in an otherwise empty shoreline. 

Omarama

Clay Cliffs

We ended up staying in Omarama because the other accommodations nearer Mt Cook were either booked out or exorbitantly expensive. Since we got there in the early evening and still had daylight, we sought out the one attraction this mini town has to offer: Clay Cliffs. This martian-like rock formation is a 15-20 minute drive from Omarama. You will come across a gate that asks for a donation. We forgot to take New Zealand cash with us, so whoever got our US dollar, I hope it was helpful. After the gate, keep driving for another 5 minutes or so on a rocky, narrow strip of dirt until you come across a parking area. From there, you will see a trail that meanders into the rocky area. This was an unexpected yet very unique outing that I would recommend if you are looking for things to do in Omarama. 

Mount Cook

This hike was easily my favorite thing that we did on our trip. We left Omarama early to avoid any crowds at Mt Cook since it can get popular later in the day. The drive there crosses Lake Pukaki which had water that was so crystal clear blue it looked like a painting. Eventually, you will come to a parking lot that has three sections to divide traffic. While there are many walking routes to take, the most popular one is a 7 mile out-and-back trail that ends in Hooker Lake and crosses three suspension bridges. The day we went was lightly misting so we wore rainjackets. Since we did not go to the top of the mountain, the weather was similar to what we were already experiencing. As we hiked back, the clouds lifted to reveal the snow that had built up on top of the mountains. We even saw and heard a mini avalanche in the distance! After you finish the hike, you can stop by the visitor center for water, food, and a cleaner restroom.