New Zealand remains one of the greatest and most spectacular countries in the world. With beautiful landscape, amazing food, strong indigenous community and adventurous activities, it is a traveller's dream destination. Always pretty pumped up about setting off on a roadtrip through New Zealand, tramping from the North to the South Island, and i can now officially cross that off my bucket list!
1. Lake Pukaki, South Island New Zealand, route from Queenstown to Lake Tekapo.
Average Cost
Accommodations below are based on Twin/Queen Beds. Hostel Dorm will cost around NZD20-30 a night and private room from NZD70 onwards. You can also choose to stay in a campervan/caravan depending on your mode of travel. Another good alternative will be Airbnb
Auckland - The Attic Backpacker NZD84
Rotorua - Airbnb "Fabulous View" by Judy NZD85
Tongariro National Park - Skotel Alpine Resort NZD70
Wellington - Airbnb "Sunny, cozy room" by Huanoa NZD70
Nelson - Tasman Bay Backpackers NZD74
Greymouth - Greymouth Seaside Top 10 Holiday Park NZD90
Queenstown - Airbnb "Room for..." by Jonathas NZD115
Lake Tekapo - Lake Tekapo Motels & Holiday Park NZD119
Christchurch - YMCA Christchurch NZD70
Foods, eating out in New Zealand is relatively expensive; a restaurant with table service can cost about NZD28-40, Chinese take-away cost about NZD12, fast food cost about NZD7-15 and sandwiches for about NZD8. For a sensible way to save money, you can choose to cook your own meal. Costing approximately NZD75 per week, you can get it from Countdown or New World.
Notes of Wisdom: If you plan to get a Traveler's SIM (500MB Internet Data), there is Spark (NZD19) or Vodafone (NZD23) with the similar perks. I would strongly recommend Spark for better coverage.
Travel doesnt always grant you the privilege of great light and perfect weather; you just have to make-shift. Be patience.
ONE NIGHT IN AUCKLAND
The big tourist city, i'm not overly fond of Auckland, maybe it's too fast to judge as i barely scraped the surface of Auckland with just one night. It reminded me a lot of Melbourne with the streets alike, but only that Auckland is much smaller without the City Tram. There are probably fun nightlife in Auckland, so i wouldn't strike off the city but wouldn't spend much time here either because there are many more exciting and beautiful places in New Zealand to explore! From Auckland to Rotorua, we detoured to Tauranga, and did a trail around the sacred mountain Mauao (Mt. Maunganui). The trail will bring you from north to the west side of Mauao, where it offers great view of open ocean and Matakana Island.
Places of interest: Auckland Street, Sky Tower, Otara Flea Market, Auckland Domain, Auckland Harbour, Tauranga Mauao Trail.
2. Lookout Point at Mount Eden, Auckland.
3. Rays over Mount Eden.
4. Campers at Tauranga.
5. Roadtrip on a convertible
1. Lake Pukaki, South Island New Zealand, route from Queenstown to Lake Tekapo.
Average Cost
Accommodations below are based on Twin/Queen Beds. Hostel Dorm will cost around NZD20-30 a night and private room from NZD70 onwards. You can also choose to stay in a campervan/caravan depending on your mode of travel. Another good alternative will be Airbnb
Auckland - The Attic Backpacker NZD84
Rotorua - Airbnb "Fabulous View" by Judy NZD85
Tongariro National Park - Skotel Alpine Resort NZD70
Wellington - Airbnb "Sunny, cozy room" by Huanoa NZD70
Nelson - Tasman Bay Backpackers NZD74
Greymouth - Greymouth Seaside Top 10 Holiday Park NZD90
Queenstown - Airbnb "Room for..." by Jonathas NZD115
Lake Tekapo - Lake Tekapo Motels & Holiday Park NZD119
Christchurch - YMCA Christchurch NZD70
Foods, eating out in New Zealand is relatively expensive; a restaurant with table service can cost about NZD28-40, Chinese take-away cost about NZD12, fast food cost about NZD7-15 and sandwiches for about NZD8. For a sensible way to save money, you can choose to cook your own meal. Costing approximately NZD75 per week, you can get it from Countdown or New World.
Notes of Wisdom: If you plan to get a Traveler's SIM (500MB Internet Data), there is Spark (NZD19) or Vodafone (NZD23) with the similar perks. I would strongly recommend Spark for better coverage.
Travel doesnt always grant you the privilege of great light and perfect weather; you just have to make-shift. Be patience.
ONE NIGHT IN AUCKLAND
The big tourist city, i'm not overly fond of Auckland, maybe it's too fast to judge as i barely scraped the surface of Auckland with just one night. It reminded me a lot of Melbourne with the streets alike, but only that Auckland is much smaller without the City Tram. There are probably fun nightlife in Auckland, so i wouldn't strike off the city but wouldn't spend much time here either because there are many more exciting and beautiful places in New Zealand to explore! From Auckland to Rotorua, we detoured to Tauranga, and did a trail around the sacred mountain Mauao (Mt. Maunganui). The trail will bring you from north to the west side of Mauao, where it offers great view of open ocean and Matakana Island.
Places of interest: Auckland Street, Sky Tower, Otara Flea Market, Auckland Domain, Auckland Harbour, Tauranga Mauao Trail.
2. Lookout Point at Mount Eden, Auckland.
3. Rays over Mount Eden.
4. Campers at Tauranga.
5. Roadtrip on a convertible