All About The Third Week Of Our New Zealand Road Trip Before Corona
Our last vacation before Corona is so long ago. We were in November/Decemver 2019 for 4 weeks in New Zealand traveling around the south island and living in a camper van. The first two weeks I already shared with you with one blog post for every week (first week / second week). Since I wrote diary on that vacation, I have given you an insight into my diary entries.
Due to the numerous beautiful pictures it’s quite hard to choose the right pics therefore it takes so much time to complete the blog post for a whole week. I hope you understand, that this kind of blog-post takes more time than usually. But today I finally managed to finish the third week of our New Zealand road trip and I’m super happy to share it with you. I think there's something interesting for everyone. From natural spectacles up to huge beaches, wildlife and city strolls. But check it out by yourself. If you are a nature lover, you will adore most of these places.
ENJOY!!!
01.12.2019
Early bird, getting up 05:30 am
Driving back to Lake Wanaka to take some pictures of the Wanaka tree in a beautiful light
A little bit later experiencing the most beautiful sunrise ever. Unfortunately direction to the city
Breakfast with the view to the Wanka Lake
Afterwards driving to Queenstown
Passing some nice old houses and taking some pics of that houses
Visiting the supermarket in Queenstown to get some sweets for today’s coffee party of the 1st Advent
Tired because of yesterday's hiking tour and the early bird today
Driving directly to our next camping site, which is located 40 min from Queenstown
Moke Lake Camp Site. A small remote camp site between green hills and located at a lake
An iron men contest is taking place on the other side of the lake
After lunch we fall asleep and taking a nap
Later we check out the area
Quite windy and freezy outside
Lighting candles due to the 1st Advent and to get the van a little more comfortable and warmer
Staying inside the van and chilling the whole evening with eating sweets, reading books and playing cards
Cooking one-pot -pasta for dinner
Only 3 degrees at night. Coldest night ever.
02.12.2019
Before breakfast off to Glenochory
Glenochory is located at the northern end of the big Lake Wakatipu. The same lake where Queenstown is located just at the other end of the lake
To arrive Glenochory it takes another 45 minuets from our camp site
But the distance is worth the effort. Cause the place is surrounded by magnificent snow-capped mountains
The spectacular scenery of Glenorchy offers fantastic locations for film productions and is featured in many scenes in „Lord of the Rings“ trilogy and Hobbits
Visiting Gelonorchy because of its historic buildings like the old boatshed near the wharf
Checking out the area, looks like a postcard.
Taking pictures before before the wind is picking up and getting too crowded with tourists
Enjoying breakfast at one of the numerous beautiful places with a view of the lake.
Having a splending sunny day
Back to Queenstown
Beautiful town at the other end of the Lake Wakatipu
A lot of historic old buildings
Residential houses are built on the hillside
Nice outside shopping area
Having a shopping tour, need a rain-jacket for the next destination Milford Sound
After purchasing the rain jacket it’s time for Ice cream at Mrs Ferg Gelateria. Best in town!!!
Lat evening continuing direction Milford Sound
Today’s camp site before entering Fjordland is Mossburn Country Site
Enjoying the relaxed farm atmosphere with hand-reached Alpakas
Best place to stop between Queenstown and Te Anau
03.12.2019
After breakfast getting off to the Fjordland National Park and the famous Milford Sound
Really bad weather forecast for today
Rroads to Fjordland are close due to the heavy rain
But we keep going and we are on the way to Te Anau, hoping the roads will open again
Right before Te Anau starting to rain
But luckily the road which leads into Fjordland has been reopened
The more we drive into the Fjordland National Park the more it rains
The mountains open the locks, waterfalls everywhere
Shortly before Milford Sound the mountains getting higher and we have a 360 degree view of one waterfall next to the other
Amazing natural spectacle
At Milford Sound finding only a really expensive (20€) parking place
It rains like hell
But we tried to get to the pier where various ships dock, who take tourists out to the Milford Sound.
Even with the yesterday purchased rain jacket after 10 min we are completely socked wet
At the pier many tourists
Due to the rain less enjoyable
We went back to our Van
On one hand just Milford Sound wasn’t so thrilling, but the drive into was an incredible experience.
Because of the heavy rain we can do nothing
Only having such at the parking place
Driving back out of the National Park
Same spectacle, only the waterfalls becoming bigger
Long ride to the east coast
To get back to the sunny days
Arriving late and spending the night at the Dolamore Park Scenic Reserve
04.12.2019
Off to the southern east coast
Destination Nugget Point Lighthouse
Unfortunately is the place too busy during the day
Looking for a quieter place
Driving 3 kms north of Owaka and from there about 8 kms down a gravel road
Finding the Cannibal Bay with its white sand and blue/green water
Contrary to its name it’s a peaceful and quiet locations linked by a coastal track
Enjoying a long walk along the huge white sandy beach
At the far end of Cannibal Bay a track commencing to Surat Bay over the sand dunes.
Both Cannibal and Surat bay have beautiful views to the ocean
Discovering a shipwrecked at the Surat bay
On the way back meeting some sea lions which is common that they take sunbath on the beach
Great place for sea lion watching
At sunset we drive back to Nugget Point
On the way back we having an awesome sunset view to the Cannibal Bay
Arriving at Nugget Point hoping for less people
We were rewarded, a wonderful colored view to the horizon without other visitors.
Placing ourselves on a slope where we have a great view of the nuggets and the lighthouse.
Slowly the blue hour begins
Dani setting up his photo gear
Me spreading out a blanket and a opening a bottle of whit wine
Experiencing the daily evening spectacle of nature, when the sky opens up and its stars appear
At 11:00 pm getting to our camping ground
05.12.2019
This morning we take it easy and we take our time having a extensive breakfast
Later driving along the green coast of Otago to the Tunnel Beach near Dunedin
For thousands years, the sea sculpted a dramatic scene into the sandstone cliffs
The track down to the beach is very steep
Walking down 20 minutes, where finding the dramatic beach carved into the cliffs.
One side of the cove jutting out into the sea, complete with a giant sea arch
The turquoise water looks like as belongs to a tropical island. But from the cliff top getting down to the beach seems to be impossible. Just until you discover the hand-dug tunnel a little further down, with 72 steps leading down to the sandy beach
Once down at the bay discovering again a sun-bathing sea seal and exploring some "fossil-filled" caves
Looking forward to visit Dunedin
Dunedin is a highlight of the South Island
Home of the University of Otago.
In Dunedin first checking out the historic railway station building
Walking through the street of the victorian city full of gothic-style architecture and heritage attractions
Checking out trendy vintage stores and buying some vinyls
Having lunch in in one of Dunedin’s best Cafès called „Vanguard“
Walking Dunedin’s Street Art Trail
Visiting the Baldwin Street, Dunedin’s steepest residential street in the world
Off to today#s cam site, the Moeraki Boulders Kiwi Holiday Park
Arriving at the camp site visiting the Meoraki Boulders beach
Having a long hot shower
06.12.2019
Next destination Oamaru
Large town with its rich history and proud heritage, enriched by the passionate and perhaps quirky locals
Exploring most complete Victorian streetscapes and19th century architectures
Finding a lot of vintage shops, galleries, traditional crafts, bakeries and teahouses.
Visiting the Whitestone Cheese Factory and having a cheese tasting
Heading off into the center of the island direction Lake Tekapo
Getting to hour next camp site Fishermen’s Bend Campground
Experienced the heaviest thunderstorm for many years
Luckily we are safe in our Van
07.12.2019
The morning after the thunderstorm is very sunny and warm
Checking out the marvelous situated camp ground at a romantic lake
After a morning walk back on the road to the Lake Tekapo
Arriving at the Lake Tekapo
Wondering about the color of the Lake Tekapo. It really looks like on all photos and postcards.
Getting its intense milky-turquoise color from fine rock dust, which is grounded up by glacial movements
Exploring the small village with its 320 inhabitants, a supermarket, souvenir shop, gas station and an old stone church called "Church of the Good Shepherd".
Parking our van right on the lakeshore at the foot of Mount John's
Walking up the Mount John where up on the peak an observatory and Café is located
Since Lake Tekapo is known for its clear nights and lack of light pollution, it is excellent for stargazing
On the half way surprised by heavy rain
Going back to the Van
That second time getting soaking wet
Sun is coming out again
The color box explodes because of all the lupines in purple, pink, yellow, white and orange at the lake’s shore. Also the Highway is lined with these beautiful flowers and forcing us to stop
Taking pictures
All the colors in interaction with the quickly changing seasons that make the 710-metre high glacial lake so special.
Driving to the Patterson Ponds Camping Ground
It’s a large camping area beside Tekapo river and Tekapo Canal. The park is a very pretty place with a huge open sky
Would be amazing to watch the stars at night.
But it's very stormy and rainy
This was our third week of our New Zealand trip. I hope you enjoyed reading it to find out how we spend the time. In order that you can better follow our route we took, I have created as always a list of the most important places we have visited. So you can explore every place again on Google Maps. It might be helpful if you also plan to travel to New Zealand.
You can be curious about the fourth and last week. Our next day started quite exciting. So stay tuned and have a nice Tuesday.
Love,
Katy!
Pics by Daniell Bohnhof
Test by me Look2 Ocean