South Island, New Zealand - Queenstown to Picton

On 27.01, we arrived in Queenstown around noon and picked up our rental car at the airport. After being in different places almost every other day, I will try to summarize the sights and places briefly.

As mentioned, we arrived in Queenstown at about 30 degrees Celsius and bright sunshine. We were expecting different weather conditions. Thomas went straight to Wakatipu Lake for a swim, and we went shopping at Pak'nSave for the next few days and strolled through the city. Queenstown is not particularly big, and most things are within walking distance. There are nice restaurants and bars, and many adrenaline-pumping activities are offered. For dinner, we took fish and chips (from Erik's Fish & Chips) to the lakeside (Queenstown Beach). It was quite lively there on Saturday evening.

The next morning, we hiked up to the Queenstown Skyline and then continued to Manapouri. The town itself doesn't really have much to offer, but we spent two nights there to take a day trip to Milford Sound on Monday morning. It is a fjord, and you drive through a national park to get there. We booked the fjord cruise with the first ship at 9 am (it's almost 50% cheaper to take the first trip with the provider Jucy). Although we had to leave at 6 am for that, it was the right decision. On the way through the national park, it was still foggy in some places, and the sun slowly rose, causing the fog to gradually disappear. During the fjord cruise, we could see seals, dolphins, and waterfalls up close. On the return trip, we had bright sunshine. We spent the afternoon in Te Anau, a small town located directly on the lake with some restaurants and shops.

The next day, we returned to Queenstown. We visited Queenstown Gardens and walked around the city a bit.

On 31.01, we drove to Wanaka for 2 nights. Among other things, we visited a winery, a lavender farm, and the Puzzling World (see photos). Unfortunately, the weather got worse, and we had strong storms and a completely rainy day.

The following day, we explored the area in the morning and then drove to Twizel. The town is located in the highlands and doesn't have much to offer itself, but it is a good starting point to explore Mt. Cook National Park, which we did the next day.

On the way there, you drive along Lake Pukaki, an ice-blue, beautiful glacier lake. Arriving at the top end of the road, we hiked two trails starting from Mt. Cook Village. Overall, we spent about 4 hours in the national park. The nature is incredible, and the trail was not too strenuous. Otherwise, you can undertake various hikes, for example to glacier lakes, explore the area by mountain bike, or go climbing. In general, you should be prepared for colder or bad weather. We were lucky, it was cold, but the clouds cleared up as the day went on, and we had bright sunshine (Thomas got a nice sunburn here).

The next day, we continued for 2 nights to Christchurch. The city is very beautiful and has a lot to offer. However, you should be prepared to see many abandoned, earthquake-prone buildings. The earthquake of 2011 left its mark, and not everything has been rebuilt yet. The botanical garden and the new shopping street are very nice, and from time to time, you can still see beautiful old buildings. There is a lot of graffiti and art spread throughout the city. For dinner, we went to The Little High Eatery twice (https://www.littlehigh.co.nz). There are many different stalls offering delicious food. Everyone can get what they feel like eating and then sit together at one of the tables. On Sunday morning, we visited the Opawa Farmers Market. A nice little market located next to a school, definitely worth a short visit. They have fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, coffee, cakes, etc.

Then we continued to Hanmer Springs. The town is known for its thermal pools/rock pools. That was the only thing worth the trip for us. Otherwise, the town is more like a small holiday resort with some restaurants, cafes, and bars. Our recommendation is the Powerhouse Café ;)

The next morning, we continued to Picton. The town has a harbor from which ferries to Wellington on the North Island depart. Unfortunately, the weather was not particularly good, and it was the national Waitangi Day holiday. Some shops, restaurants, and wineries (there are many in the area) are closed on this day. So we didn't do much in the area besides strolling around in the afternoon.

On 07.02, we crossed to the North Island by ferry at around 11 am. Fortunately, the weather was better again on that day.

Our conclusion: The nature on the South Island is amazing. It's perfect for outdoor and nature enthusiasts. It's even more beautiful if the weather cooperates. Throughout New Zealand, you can always expect changeable weather. The cities have their charm, and you can often find nice restaurants with good food. Most lakes and rivers are crystal clear and inviting for swimming. It's best to travel by car or camper. The landscape constantly changes, and you can't get enough of it. Let's see how we like the other half of the island :).