For NZ trip, actually nothing much to do after dark, spend some time to cook will be enjoyable thing to do also. If you brain enough, some simple dishs can be cook within 30 min. R u sure u want to eat nasi goreng and canned food for 15 days?

Good... I think if u rent car, the counter got the ready membership... Also can save up to 6 cent/litre for Caltex... Can someone help me get one from over when travel to NZ... I missed to take one...

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Added on May 27, 2012, 5:25 pmAgreed with you... Once after 5pm, totally all going to turn dark and no much to walk around.... All shop close at 5pm or 6pm... Other than supermarket....

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Added on May 27, 2012, 5:28 pmAre you sure you really wanted to eat out... I more prefer you cook as eating out will be very expensive... A McD Chick Attack ( 2 McChicken, one small coke, one small fries) cost NZ 9.99... If you buy lamb or anything mostly cost NZ 24.90... or those seasonal and cooked chicken... sometime have offer 2 @ NZ30.... Very worth the whole chicken...

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Added on May 27, 2012, 5:29 pm

Where is this lake.... It so wonderful and beautiful....

This post has been edited by yiyibrowers: May 27 2012, 05:29 PM

I survived with canned food in Korea for 8 days

If not things to do, can go to bed at 8-9pm

But in New Zealand, it more strict in term of food... Best is no canned food and a NO to meat, eggs, nuts.... Others u must clearly stated is what type of food... canned food can purchase over there... No worries, price wouldn't be expensive... A baked bean is NZ$0.73.....

It is Tasman Lake @ Mount Cook National Park

It is a continuation from Post #499 and #503


And this is Milford Sound





This post has been edited by wufei: May 27 2012, 10:36 PM

Here is my Milford Sound

Nice

Beware that if you are driving, especially during winter, because of day short night long, u will need to catch the time to reach ur location before sun drop at around 530-6PM, or else u need to give 200% concentration on driving in extremely dark and quiet road

Personally feel that staying at mt cook for a day will do, or can choose to stay at Lake Tekapo is great choice too. *Mt Cook is boring *

I suggest at least stay at QT for 4 nights, even 5 or 6 nights if want to visit Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, and LOTR. *Must buy Helicopter Scenic Package! Awesome *

CHC is a town, with no scenic viewing like in QT. Driving around QT is superb, u will always stop aside and shot until camera smoked haha

There is a Public Toilet in QT was very interesting for me, lol, the toilet will automatically unlocked if you use more than 10min (if not mistaken) haha (google map -45.037433,168.649153)

Tired of writing now.. to be continue..

I think Mt Cook to Tekapo needs 2 hours. I would not say Mt Cook is boring. There are many walking trails to explore. Other than that the scenery is magnificent.
Wake up early and get a glance at the first light shine on Mt Cook.

Tekapo, should not miss this place. Its a paradise for stargazer. I never seen so many stars. The only comparable is the night scene from mt Kinabalu.

CHC nothing much. Dont waste time there.

I had tried it before that I back from Milford Sound to QT and that time was 5.45pm because the Milford Sound boat missed the group of 12ppls.... Some more my car run out of petrol... All surrounding are dark and we need speed and see the burning alert at Medium...

CHC got a shop selling Bread and Cheese, it is so delicious i don't know what's the street name already because i just simply walk along.
The stars at Akaroa is also superb, i first time "so near" to the space, i still can see some white color wave around the stars..


Run out of petrol? oh yeah, me too when i was at Mt Cook, forget to pump petrol, luckily Lake Tekapo is not far away


I like Milford Sound, actually not the place, but is the experience from QT to MS, i can see alot of wonderful scenic on the way to MS, stop over Mirrow Lake, and few stops before and after the tunnel, snow mountain is just stand beside u, drink the water from the mountain, fantastic experience! The dolphins and seal from MS, personally feel that Akaroa one is more beauty.

I started to love NZ after i come back to Msia.. Msia is more dirty i cant see any rubbish on floor at NZ!

mount cook is not boring at all. i tried the glacier boat.

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Added on May 28, 2012, 4:56 pmMilford sound was super deep inside and no petrol station all the way. me oso speed up from milford sound around 6.30pm

This post has been edited by puer22: May 28 2012, 04:56 PM

Me too... Like the scenic on the way to Milford sound. It was great with seeing those snow mountain and see the mirror lake... The water also clear. At there, all people can walk safely unlike Malaysia. I had stop after the tunnel to take the snow mountain and the experience of seeing the dolphin and seal.... We went to discovery center which waste money only.... Been "cheated" by the ticketing guy.... Nothing to see over there when no raining seasonal.. But manage to see the gold rock mountain....

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Added on May 29, 2012, 2:39 amWe thought it still opened petrol in small town but it don't lolz... So really speed up and worries all the way till reach QT town for petrol station lolz....

This post has been edited by yiyibrowers: May 29 2012, 02:39 AM

The Mirror Lake :D

I guess different opinions from different people. I felt that the drive across Arthur's Pass from Christchurch was well worth it. Not much to do in Greymouth and Hokitika, the glaciers were amazing as I mentioned but stargazing on the west coast eg. in Haast was something out of this world. I've never seen such clear, light and air pollution free skies in the rest of my trip in NZ. The Milky Way band was very clear.

I didn't get to go on the helicopter tour, the winds were too strong the day I wanted to fly and I was driving out of Queenstown on that day already.

Now I miss NZ... Too bad Air Asia doesn't fly there anymore

I agree, we had a delightful drive from Haast Pass - Fox Glacier ...

http://travel.nuraina.com/haast2foxglacier/

... and on to Christchurch via Arthur's Pass.

http://travel.nuraina.com/franzjosef2christchurch/

Anyway, go to Norway for more spectacular stuff than NZ.

http://m.naim.my/norway-oct-2011-collection-of-stories/

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This post has been edited by mat sputnik: May 29 2012, 08:58 PM

Nice Nice...

Well,

It depend on when u travel to this area, the best season will be late Winter, from July -Aug, whereby the mountain was cover by the snow top, without the snow cap on top , it look normal. those enhance the scenery alot, espcially on Arthur's Pass.

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Added on May 30, 2012, 5:46 pmOut of my eight day driving in South Island, 5 days was back to hostel after 7pm, this is in May (Spring), thus u can imagine in Winter time. Btw, i am a night rider, not that much problem for me, but you will miss the nice scene along the route.

This post has been edited by youngman28: May 30 2012, 05:46 PM

I had twice back to home at 5.30pm and the sky start to turn dark... got one day i went to waitomo and once i reach home, the sky turn dark... but really cant c the nice scenery.... My time also in May... Stayed there for 13days.... A wonderful stay with all the big big vegetables....

Hi guys, I'm planning a trip to NZ end of this year.. Which islands would be worth visiting for da first time, north island or south ?

Any comparison?