Day 1:
After working hard at work for the past few months, time for a holiday!
Boarding pass ready!
Bye to my luggage for now!
Changi airport is definitely one of the airports that you can still do some shopping even after midnight!
Guess where am I heading to?
Tada! Still early for my flight so I went over to the SATS lounge to get something to eat before the flight.
Yeah not very crowded!
Cooking my own laksa.
If you didn't know, the laksa in the lounge is the best food but of course there are sandwiches too but since I'm travelling to a country with no Singapore delights, I need to fix the craving first.
After a yummy meal, rest and relax till boarding time.
Last toilet break before boarding the plane!
And yes, I'm traveling alone for now!
Wondering why? Haha because my friend is taking direct flight to New Zealand, but the cost is way too high, so I booked a different (and cheaper) flight which require me to do a stopover in Melbourne.
Let's go!
Urghhhh! I hate middle seat! But well... whatever now.
Luckily, I went for a toilet break before boarding so I do not need to disturb others.
(Yes, I can sleep all the way without going to the toilet for the whole journey)
Good night for now!
First, I was walking towards to the immigration counter and one male officer saw me and ask what passport I am holding, so I showed him. He then brought me straight to a counter without the need to queue. Don't ask me why because I also do not know, the officer didn't mention too.
So, I went to the counter, the lady officer asked me why I didn't fill in the address for my stay in Australia and I told her I'm here for a stop over, I will be flying off to New Zealand in the evening on the same day. She was so rude and told me in a very annoyed tone that I should write my email then!
At this point of time I'm very confuse, because I have never written that on an arrival card at a stop over country before. But since she says it's a MUST to write, and as a Singaporean, efficiency is key, so I ask her to lend me her pen which is on the desk. And guess what's her reply? She answer 'NO! I'm not going to lend you my pen, I'm scare of covid'! To be honest, I'm not expecting nice service from immigration officer but I'm not expecting those rude remark from professional officer! So, I make her wait till I manage to dig my pen our from my bag.
Before you think it's racist act, no! Because the lady officer is obviously not local, and I could already know which Asia country is she originally from by her accent!
Anyway, that's just a small hiccup and it just a journey that different people might encounter if you often travel to different countries.
Hello Melbourne again!
Booked an Uber there from airport, cost AUD26.24 (=SGD$23.20).
From the Uber app, it shows that I'm supposed to meet the driver at Uber Zone B.
So, Uber Zone B is located at this sheltered pick-up point that says rideshare. You just need to cross the road once you walk out of the airport.
Zone B and C are located here.
Reached DFO and the journey is about 10mins.
If you have more time, you can visit the one at South Wharf which is bigger.
Operating Hours: 10am - 6pm (Monday to Sunday)
Website: https://www.essendon.dfo.com.au
Initially wanted to put my luggage in the locker but seeing the price, I decided to just wheel it around with me since I only have one luggage with me.
AUD10 (=SGD$8.50) for the large locker.
Not a very big DFO outlet but I guess it's enough for me to kill time!
Maybe it's because it's not at the main city area, therefore it is actually quite empty.
Those who loves Lindt chocolate.
For those who like sports brand, there is quite a few brands here.
The Cosmetics Company Store I feel the price is not cheap.
Lunch time!
Continue shopping!
After few hours of shopping, I only manage to get myself a pair of sneakers and a few apparels for my parents from Asics because not all brands are cheap."
Time to head off to airport!
Back to Melbourne airport.
Oops! Can't do self-check-in using the kiosk because I didn't have a "return" flight.
Flew Scoot from Singapore to Melbourne and now I'm flying Air New Zealand to Christchurch!
Every time I come across with airport like this and shops that close so early, I will start to miss my Changi airport!
Sun is setting but it's not boarding time yet.
Ok, at least there is this shop here open for me to kill some time.
Time to board the plane!
Oh yeah! I got the whole row by myself!
After 3.5hr, reached Christchurch airport! Finally, I step foot in New Zealand!
First time exploring this country and I'm very excited!
It's already midnight when I reach Christchurch airport and I'm going to walk to my hotel.
Novotel hotel is just right next to the airport BUT since I'm staying just for the night, I'm not going to spend so much for a bed to sleep only.
Let's continue to walk to my budget hotel. Cross over the short stay car park and walk about 15 mins.
Basically, the road is empty! No car no human.
Look where am I? Orchard road! Am I back in Singapore now?
Pass by another hotel call Sudima hotel, price was slightly cheaper than Novotel hotel but still, I'm not paying that much for a bed just for me to sleep. Anyway, it's almost 1am now!
Here I'm at my hotel, Lylo hotel!
It's my very first time staying in a capsule hotel! Booked a night for $40.82 from Agoda.
Website: https://www.lylo.com/christchurch/
Checked in! Luckily there is staff that walk pass by to open the door for me if not I seriously might freeze myself outside and still do not know how to get the door open. And since the staff already helped me to open the door, he did the check in for me too.
(If there is no staff, then you need to do self-check in at the kiosk)
There is small locker below the bed for you to lock your valuable item.
Put down my luggage and straight to the toilet to shower!
Haha, I have already prepacked my clean sleeping clothes in my hand carry baggage, so no time wasted.
Toilet is clean!
Shower room is clean too!
I have not eaten anything after my coffee and croissant at DFO today, so I went to their recreation room to see if there is anything I can buy.
Very big and clean recreation room!
There is a very well-equipped kitchen here.
There is vender machine, but they only sell snacks, drinks and surprisingly Indomie.
There is 24hr Mcdonald's just opposite the hotel but I'm already in fresh clothes and it's too cold to step out of the hotel so I will just settle with this vender machine.
Really hungry but too tired to cook instant noodle (still need to wash and clean up) so I just grab a pack of chips and a can of coke.
There is only a guy working on his laptop at this timing and I just sat down here, enjoying my chip and phone.
Good night!
Day 2:
Good morning!
Heehee! Came to this place call Everything Dog, to see if there are any good quality dog treats for me to bring back for my dog!
Operating Hours: 7am - 6pm (Monday to Friday)
7am - 2pm (Saturday & Sunday)
Not many varieties to choose from and price is similar to price in Singapore, but I still get one pack for my dog!
Done with shopping for my dog and time for breakfast!
Breakfast time!
Friend had arrived Christchurch and they are on the way to pick up the rental car, so I still have time for a quick breakfast.
Operating Hours: 24hrs
Why... why give me back so many coins?!
Those who are complaining about how expensive food is in Singapore, you have yet to visit New Zealand! This meal cost me around SGD$16+!
Got myself a bagel burger that Singapore don't have.
Checked out hotel, friend picked me up and breakfast time for them, so we went to the Spitfire Square to hunt for food.
Remember the aircraft I pass by yesterday? It's the display of this restaurant but too bad it's not open yet.
Picked this Burgerfuel among all the restaurants because it's the one of the few that is open.
Operating Hours: 10am - 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
Very expensive (as expected) meal! Burger was alright but I like the sweet potato fries!
Went to the supermarket next door to grab some water and snacks to prepare our journey!
Operating Hours: 7am - 9pm (Monday to Sunday)
Big supermarket with everything we need.
Operating Hours: 7am - 5pm (Monday to Sunday)
Coincidently we wear boots from the same brand!
Off we go!
What a nice view along the way!
Look at those snow!
The view is so surreal!
After almost an hour card ride, here we are at the first stop, the Castle Hill.
Operating Hours: 8.30am - 4.30pm (Monday to Sunday)
Nobody beside us!
Look at the snow on the ground, I guess it was snowing not long ago?
One welfie before we head off to the next destination!
Off we go!
The view is so beautiful along the way even without any filter!
Hello sheep!
Here we are at the next destination, the Arthur's Pass!
Operating Hours: 24hr
No filter at all!
Seems a little dry?
From here we can see that it is indeed snowing before we arrived.
We are not planning to walk the track, so we took picture of the Devils Punchbowl falls from afar!
Along the way, we went over to the Otira Viaduct lookout to have a look.
Took a quick look and off we go again!
Gonna drive quite a distant to our Airbnb so we gonna start the journey before it gets too dark.
Here we are at the Hokitika town, and we will be staying here for a night.
Before heading to our Airbnb, gonna hunt for dinner first!
Should we get pizza?
Or Chinese food?
We saw this Thai restaurant and it was rated 4.8 stars on google map, so we decided to give it a try and see how true the rating is!
It's only the first day and we start to crave for Asian food...
Operating Hours: 11.30am to 2.30pm, 4.30pm to 9pm (Tuesday to Sunday)
Closed on Monday
Chef looks like Thai so we put some high hope in the food.
The menu.
Thai milk tea that will never go wrong but why must they put whip cream?
Satay that doesn't look and taste like the satay we know.
It's kind of weirdly sweet.
Prawn toast is still acceptable.
Chili with basil and pork, too salty to eat even eaten with rice.
Tom Yum soup is also taste sweet and not spicy.
Pad Thai is also sweet?
Hm... The food here doesn't taste Thai enough. All the dishes are either too sweet or too salty! Definitely not a 4.8 stars restaurant!
As an Asian, this restaurant doesn't pass all the four Asian taste bud here.
Next, we went to New World Supermarket to grab some drinks and breakfast for tomorrow.
Operating Hours: 8am - 9pm (Monday to Sunday)
Erm... ok...
Wine > Water for them.
So many choices for cheese!
Finally checking in our Airbnb for tonight!
Here's the big living room.
Kitchen area.
Bedroom 1.
Bedroom 2.
Bedroom 3.
Bathroom 1.
Bathroom 2.
Utility room.
Very nice of the host to let us have one of the hand painted stone.
Bought only one apple because one doesn't know to cut an apple, one doesn't know how to peel the apple skin, one doesn't like to eat apple so, leave me, the only one who eats the apple like this without cutting or peeling skin.
Anyway, good night!
Day 3:
Good morning!
Our breakfast in charge busy in the kitchen!
Breakfast time!
Checked out our Airbnb and off we go!
But coffee first at Stone oven!
Operating Hours: 6am - 4.45pm (Monday to Sunday)
We decided to buy take away so we can save time on the long journey.
First scenery of the day, the Hokitka Beach sign.
Took a quick picture with the sign and continue our journey!
While on our road trip, pass by this little beautiful town and the lake opposite and we decided to stop by to have a look.
Since this place is not within our planned itinerary, to be honest we do not know the exact name of the lake until we see a sign that says Lake Kaniere.
Address: Lake Kaniere 7881, New Zealand
The smoke makes the town looks very mysterious!
Here we are at our next destination, Hokitika Gorge!
Address: Kokatahi 7881, New Zealand
Hello! Is this kiwi?
Luckily, it's just a short walk.
First stop: The viewing platform.
Continue to the next stop.
Next stop point: The Swing Bridge.
Look at the colour of the river and sky without using any filter!
The other side of the bridge.
BTS of a nice picture!
Nobody coming so we can take our own sweet time to take as many pictures as we want.
A little bird came to join our photo session!
Thanks to a stranger for helping us to take picture.
After a few shots, we have to continue our journey if not the nice stranger and her friends can't walk over to the bridge because of the limitation of people on the bridge.
So beautiful!
Initially we didn't want to walk down because of all the rocks, but Simin went down first and says the view is very beautiful, so we all decided to walk down.
Love the view! And again, no filter!
One last welfie with the beautiful view before we head off to the next destination!
Haha I'm trying to capture the cow eating grass at the open grass, but they are too far away.
We stop by a random and empty road just to take some jump shots and with the cow behind us! Haha!
Erm... Teresa?
Now we see them!
Time to feed our car!
So how do people enter without opening the door?
After driving quite a distance but didn't manage to find a place to have our lunch, we finally found one cafe, On the Spot Pukeko Store and Cafe.
Operating Hours: 8am - 4pm (Monday to Friday)
8.30am - 4pm (Saturday)
9am - 3pm (Sunday)
But guess what? We are too late for their lunch! Kitchen is close for lunch but luckily, there is some pastry for us.
Now we know where there is no one here. Haha.
Got ourselves finger food and a chicken pie to try because nothing else looks good.
Leason learn, we should prepare some food or snacks if we will be driver long distance, in case there isn't any restaurant around.
Hot tea for a cold weather before we continue our journey again!
Guess where next?
Yes, the Glacier View.
Address: West Coast 7886, New Zealand
To be honest, we are a little confuse after we see this view!
Where is the Glacier? Why is the river so dry?
Although the river looks very dry, we still gonna take welfie with it! Haha!
Last welfie and off we go!
Finally, we saw a restaurant and since we didn't have a proper lunch, we decided to have a very early dinner at this Betsey Jane Eatery & Bar!
Operating Hours: 4pm - 9pm (Monday to Sunday)
Very cozy place!
The menu.
In love with this drink!
This Baked Brie is a must try! I never had anything like this before!
All the food here are great!
Heading to our next accommodation which will take about 3.5hrs to reach
Checked in our hotel, Hawea Hotel for the night!
Website: https://haweahotel.nz
Living room with king size bed at level 1.
1 double bed and 1 single bed at level 2.
Bathroom is clean and big.
Actually, we are staying at the hotel with a view of Lake Hawea but it's too dark to see anything now so time to say good night! Will show the view tomorrow morning!
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