Day 4:
Good morning!
Woke to the view Lake Hawea!
Enjoying the fresh morning air for a while before checking out our hotel.
Bye Hotel Hawea!
Journey starts again!
After driving for about 15-20min, here we are at the Wanaka town!
Before we start exploring the town, let's get our caffeine fixed first!
Thanks to Simin's sharp eyes if not we would have missed this cute coffee van!
Operating Hours: 7am - 2pm (Monday to Saturday)
Closed (Sunday)
The menu.
Good spot for coffee and photo! Haha!
First business of the day, Beacon Point of Lake Wanaka!
We will be going around the lake to take different angle of the Lake Wanaka.
Address: Wānaka 9305, New Zealand
And we went over to Lakeland Wanaka.
These 4 ducky kinda represent us? Haha!
Lakeland Wanaka is actually a location for you to take the jet boat or kayak but there isn't any when we were there.
No jet boat never mind, the small jetty is a good spot for photo taking and it look even better with any boat!
I love how that lady and her dog just sat down there and enjoy the view!
Opposite the lake is a small town with shops and restaurants.
Let's head over to have a look!
Many shops and most restaurant are still not open yet so after a short exploring, we decided to go to our next destination first and maybe come back again for lunch later.
Next, we went over to the Wanaka Lavender Farm!
Operating Hours: 10am - 5pm (Monday to Sunday, June to August)
9am - 5pm (Monday to Sunday, September to May)
Website: https://www.wanakalavenderfarm.com
There are alpacas welcoming us from afar!
Once we walk in, the ticketing counter is also the cashier counter in the gift store.
The ticket is 7NZD (=SGD$5.80) for adult and after paying, we will receive a sticker to stick on our clothes.
I can't remember if the animal food is included in the tickets or did we purchase it because I'm not paying attention! Haha!
It is actually still not the blooming season; therefore, the ticket is cheaper, and the farm is empty.
Not blooming season so it's not very purple-ish yet but the farm somehow still has very faint lavender scents!
Awww! The miniature horse is so cute!
And we saw the sheep!
Time to feed the sheep!
After some snacks, time to pose for the camera!
And here comes the Alpaca!
So cute!
I went to the Alpaca farm in Korea in March now I met the New Zealand Alpaca!
Ok, enough selfie with the Alpaca, time to feed them!
I bet this farm will be very pretty when it's the Lavender blooming season!
Done exploring the farm, back to the cafe that is located next to the gift shop.
Trying out the Lavender Honey and it's yummy!
Quite different from the normal honey due to the Lavender taste.
I bought a few of the Lavender lip balm from the gift shop as gift to my friends! Smell so good!
We then ordered a pot of Lavender tea to share before we head off for lunch.
Tea break!
We decided to just head to Hook for lunch which is just 5mins drive away from the Lavender farm instead of going back to the Wanaka town.
Very unique place! Look at the floor, it's all sand!
The menu.
So actually, you can rent a rod and try to catch your own fish and get the kitchen to either cook it or eat it like Sashimi! Now I know why the restaurant is name Hook, Lake to Plate.
To be honest, from the rustic outer look for the restaurant, I did not expect to see such beautiful view inside!
And so, this is the lake for people to fish.
Who will know a restaurant could be a good spot for photo too?
After exploring the place, our food is here!
Food all are great here!
Back to Lake Wanaka again and yes, it's another view of the lake.
This tree looks the same as the tree at the Lakeland Wanaka, isn't it? Haha! But I can confirm with you it's a different location.
Look how clear the water is!
So, we are actually looking for this tree, call 'That Wanaka Tree'!
If you were to ask me what so special about this tree, honestly, I do not know too. It looks just any other tree. But maybe it will look more special when it's high tide, where the tree will be stand alone in the lake.
And if you ask me, is it worth coming to see this tree? Hm... nope, unless you know when the high tide is.
Took a quick photo with that tree and off we go!
Oh ya, again thanks to a stranger for helping us to take picture for us!
Off to the next destination!
Reached Crown Range Road Scenic Lookout after about 30mins drive.
Address: Roaring Meg 9384, New Zealand
Usually, there are many scenic lookout along the way, depending on your route so you can just stop by for a short 10-15mins pit rest while enjoying the view.
And after another 20mins drive, here we are at Queenstown!
Before checking our hotel, we went to Kmart thinking that it is a Korean mart but it's not. Haha! But it's quite big with many things can be found in there.
Operating Hours: 8am - 12pm (Monday to Sunday)
Website: https://www.kmart.co.nz
We then went over to Woolsworths supermarket to grab some drinks and tomorrow's breakfast!
Look what unique drink I found but nope we didn't get it.
Operating Hours: 7am - 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
One last scenic view before checking in our hotel!
This is the Lake Wakatipu Viewpoint, where you can have a panoramic view of the Lake Wakatipu.
Time to check in our hotel call the BreakFree The Point Queenstown, which is just nearby the Lake Wakaipu Viewpoint.
Tada! Living room and kitchen at the upper level.
The balcony with the view of Lake Wakatipu!
Let's head down to see the room.
Bedroom 1.
The view outside bedroom 1.
Bedroom 2.
The bathroom with washing machine and dryer!
Saw this in our room! Wow! If you know what this is, I assume you are not young anymore just like us! Haha!
After settling down and rest a little, head off to Queenstown mall to hunt for dinner!
Address: Queenstown 9300, New Zealand
Time for Asian food again!
Saw this Japanese restaurant call Tanoshi Cow Lane, and we start to crave for Asian food again!
Operating Hours: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 9.30pm (Monday to Sunday)
Website: https://www.tanoshi.co.nz
Full house!
The menu.
This edamame can never go wrong!
The food here are legit! The Asian tummy is very happy now!
We are still early for our reservation at the ice bar, so we went around the Queenstown mall to explore.
Many restaurants and bars here!
It's our time to go into the Below Zero Ice Bar!
Operating Hours: 3pm - 10pm (Wednesday to Sunday)
Closed (Monday & Tuesday)
Website: https://www.belowzeroicebar.co.nz
The entry fee.
Everyone will be given a pair of not socks but gloves! Trust me you will need it.
And in case your jacket is not warm enough for below zero degree, not to worry, you can borrow jacket from them.
Not a very big space, therefore it explains why reservations is needed, we will go in batch by batch.
People there busy drinking, we are busy taking photos! Haha!
Time to get some drinks.
Menu for cocktails.
Menu for mocktails.
Even the cup is also carved from ice! Now you know why I say we will need the glove?
Erm... Simin?
Not easy to take nice picture inside because of the dim lighting but of course we found our way, which is wait for the lights to turn to white lighting! Haha!
We had fun playing this! (not sure what is this call)
Teresa and Simin didn't have enough so we went to The Winery.
Operating Hours: 2.15pm - 9.30pm (Monday to Sunday)
Website: https://www.thewinery.co.nz
Lots of wine and gin can be found here.
They decided to go for Gin tasting because they are not sure which one they want
Day 5:
Good morning!
After breakfast and off we go!
Guess where we are now?
We are here for Onsen!
It's not any other Onsen, but Onsen in private room with a view!
Operating Hours: 9am - 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
Website/Reservation: https://www.onsen.co.nz
Waiting at the lobby while they prepare our room.
And yes! This is the view!
The room comes with refreshment.
Time to enjoy our Onsen and the beautiful view!
Cheers! It's girls' hours!
Refreshment comes with a cup of drinks and a cup of ice cream! They will ask you for your choice when you check in.
After our Onsen, we drive to the Shotover Bridge which is not far from the Onsen resort.
Address: Otago 9371, New Zealand
Can you spot the different?
Wanted to have lunch at Mora but it's full and we didn't make any reservation in advance.
Went to 11th Avenue by Franks, there is table available but then the menu didn't attract us, so we decided to find another restaurant.
Next, we went to Hayes and decided to have lunch here.
Operating Hours: 9am - 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
Website: https://www.thehayes.co.nz
Finally, my first cup of coffee!
Food was not bad.
After lunch, off to the next destination.
Here we are at the Chard Farm Winery!
Operating Hours: 11am - 5pm (Monday to Sunday)
Website: https://www.chardfarm.co.nz
Rules in the wine tasting room, No fighting!
Both of them went for the wine tasting while me and Weihao wait for them.
Wine tasting is 20NZD (=SGD16.50) per person if I'm not wrong?
(Obviously I'm not paying attention since I don't drink)
The wine list and price.
The book that keeps me entertained while waiting for them.
Laugh out loud!
Done and let's go!
And guess where next?
Yes, another winery!
We are at the Kinross winery now.
Oh ya, they have cottages here for guest to stay too!
Operating Hours: Unknown
Website: https://kinross.nz
And yes, there is wine tasting here too so, the two of them went for it again.
Wine list and price.
Well... enough of wine, time for some scenery!
We are here at the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge after about a 7mins drive from Kinross (5 mins from Chard Farm).
Beautiful view!
Many people came here to do bungee jump because this bridge is the world first commercial bungy jump site! We are a group of old people, none of us dare to do it so we can only take picture of people jumping! Haha!
Watch the video to see someone doing the bungy jump!
The toilet sign is so cute.
Back to Woolworths Queenstown to get ingredients for our dinner tonight!
Operating Hours: 7am - 10pm (Monday to Sunday)
Getting some seafood!
And we went over to Kim's Asian food to get a few ingredients too.
Operating Hours: 9am - 8pm (Monday to Sunday)
Website: https://www.kims.co.nz
Next, we drove to Queenstown Mall.
We are here at Queenstown Mall for this Lobster Tank!
We are here not for the lobster or seafood but for the hotpot rental! Yesterday while exploring this place, we happen to see that this Lobster Tank rents out induction stove and pot for just 10NZD (=SGD8.30) per day and we decided that we NEED to eat hotpot! Haha!
Anyway, they are a seafood restaurant so in case you are not interested in the hot pot rental, you can dine in the restaurant but according to google map review, the service is not very good.
Operating Hours: 12pm - 9.30pm (Monday to Sunday)
They have Hai Di Lao soup base here too!
Got some meat for our hotpot too.
I'm so excited for dinner already!
Back to our hotel to prepare for dinner!
Dinner time!
The meal feels like home!
Our water heater is not working, so we called the hotel staff for help and they brought us to an empty room to use the bathroom.
This room is very big and seems like it's good for 6-8 people!
Today's star gazing outside our balcony!
Few hours later, all the stars are gone, and a bright moon came to say hi!
Look at the moon reflection on the lake, so beautiful!
Anyway, time to say good night!
Day 6:
Good morning!
Having the same DIY breakfast again but with my black coffee today!
Checked out our hotel and continue our road trip!
Look at these sheep resting under the tree! So cute!
Guess where are we going?
Big hint in the picture!
Yes, winery! We are at the Cloudy Bay Shed. Although, we knew that the Cellar Door is close today, but we still decided to come in and have a look because the scenery inside is so surreal and it's along the way to our next destination!
Operating Hours: 11am - 5pm (Wednesday to Friday & Sunday)
Closed (Monday, Tuesday & Saturday)
Look at this view! Isn't it so beautiful?!
No wine? Never mind, we can still enjoy the beautiful view for a moment!
Continued our journey and after about 50mins drive, we reached the Lindis Pass Viewpoint.
Address: Lindis Pass 9383, New Zealand
Quick stop over for some photos since it's also along the way.
The sky makes a nice backdrop!
Took a few pictures and off to the next destination!
And after about another 45mins drive, we reached the Clay Cliffs!
Of course, welfie is a must.
Haha! The car that went through a lot with us deserve a welfie with us too!
And it's lunch time!
After 30mins drive, we are here at High Country Salmon for obviously salmon.
Operating Hours: 8am - 5pm (Tuesday & Wednesday)
8am - 5pm, 6.30pm - 10pm (Thursday to Monday)
Website: https://www.highcountrysalmon.co.nz
Once we enter, it's the restaurant but since it's full right now, we went to the salmon farm to have a look first.
And seagulls.
There is a feeding pond for people to buy some fish food to feed the salmon.
Back to the restaurant to order our food.
Let's dig in!
Salmon sashimi is fresh (obviously, right? Haha), most of the people here come here for this.
I don't eat sashimi, but good thing is they sell other cooked food.
Cooked salmon is good too so those who don't eat sashimi but wants to try their salmon, you can get this.
Not forgetting my coffee too!
Forgot to take welfie just now, so after lunch, we walk back to the salmon farm to take a picture! Haha!
Off we go!
Look who is finally taking over the wheel!
Last scenic view before we check in our Airbnb, the Lake Pukaki Viewpoint!
Trying to act artistic? Haha!
Ok, time to check in our BIG Airbnb!
Tada!
The living room and look at the view!
Kitchen & dining area and a different view!
Bedroom 1.
Bedroom 2.
Bathroom 1.
Bedroom 3.
Bathroom 2.
Walkin wardrobe.
Utility room.
Outdoor dining area with BBQ pit!
After checking in our Airbnb, we went straight to Four Square Supermarket which is just 5mins drive away, to grab some drinks and ingredient for today's dinner.
Operating Hours: 7.30am - 8pm (Monday to Saturday)
8am - 8pm (Sunday)
Our heart bleeds when we see the price of the egg!
It's like 4 times the price of Singapore!
Tada! Ingredient for today's dinner!
Chilli and garlic here are not cheap, so we bought only one each! Haha!
Can you feel our desperate in having spicy food?
Haha! This is how we chill our drinks because it's colder outside than the fridge!
Me enjoying the view outside our Airbnb (with my Coke)...
Time to prepare for our dinner!
I might be a bad cook, but I can still contribution a super simple dish for today's dinner!
Sun is setting!
Dinner time!
The sky above our Airbnb is crazily amazing!
Teresa and Simin enjoying their red wine from Chard Farm while we chit chat, play game for the rest of the night!
Anyway, time to say good night!
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