Isti's space

The final day of my trip had arrived, and we had a few hours of driving ahead from Tauranga to Auckland. With some time to spare we made a stop at the breathtaking Owharoa falls (easily my favorite waterfall in NZ). We also took a walk through the stunning Karangahake Gorge, soaking in its natural beauty one last time before the heading home.

When we arrived in Auckland, I organized my luggage and prepared for my flight. It had been an eventful two weeks, and I left with a light heart, knowing I had experienced so much of New Zealand’s beauty in such a short time.

Thanks for following along my journey – see you next time!

The highlight of the day was our visit to Hobbiton, the iconic movie set from The Lord of the Rings. Wandering through the charming hobbit holes and lush landscapes felt like stepping into Middle-earth, while the guide’s behind-the-scene stories brought the magic of the films to life. To top it all off, we ended the tour with a taste of specialty stout at the Dragon Inn, Hobbiton’s very own cozy pub.

In the afternoon we drove to Papamoa Beach, where we soaked up the sun and enjoyed the relaxing coastal atmosphere. As the day wound down we headed to Tauranga and settled in for the night at a B&B.

Our day began at Waitomo caves. While photography was not allowed, it was truly a unique experience. Drifting through the cave on a boat we found ourselves beneath the glowworms, they were shining like the starlit sky.

Next we made our way to Taupo, home to the largest lake in New Zealand. We walked along the lakeside before stopping for a meal. I had ordered a beef pho at the Vietnamese Joint, it was just so-so, not the best one I had lately.

Later we stopped at the Huka Falls, a spectacular sight. From there we drove to Kerosene Creek to take a dip in the thermal springs, the temperature of the water was just perfect, a must-visit.

Our next stop was the Waiotapu mud pool, it’s a really cool and relaxing spot. After taking in the sights, we continued our journey to Matamata, where we were spending the night at an Airbnb .

We spent most of the day on the road, making our way up North. The morning started off rainy, but thankfully the sun broke through later, making the drive more enjoyable.

We made a stop at Whanganui to explore the local Botanical garden. Then later on we grabbed lunch at Stratford. The doner kebab at a place called Sahara was a real star.

We took a detour to get a closer look at Mount Taranaki. Unfortunately, our timing wasn’t ideal –  the mountain was feeling a bit shy today, hiding behind the clouds.

Tonight we are staying at a cozy B&B place near the Waitomo Caves, which we plan to visit tomorrow morning.

After a full day of driving, I get the sense that the North island feels more urban than the South. We encountered heavier traffic and fewer dramatic landscapes in comparison.

We had an early start to catch the 7.30am ferry from Picton, requiring us to be in the line by 6.30. The three-and-a-half-hour journey to Wellington took us through stunning fjords, offering beautiful scenery along the way.

Once we arrived, we took a stroll through the city, passing by the impressive parliament buildings, the picturesque harbour and a mix of modern architecture.

After settling into our Airbnb for the day, we decided to have a nice lunch – after all, we were in the capital. I chose a steak at Boulcott Street Bistro and left as a happy customer.

In the afternoon, we took the cable car from the city up to the botanical garden where we enjoyed a relaxing walk surrounded by lush nature.

Kaikoura is known for its wildlife, attracting tourists from around the world who come to see whales, dolphins, seals and more. One highly recommended activity is swimming with dolphins, which we had planned to do. Unfortunately, it was fully booked, so instead we signed up for a kayaking trip.

It was a fun event with around 20 people. We spent an hour and a half paddling around the bay, taking in the beautiful surroundings. Along the way we spotted various seabirds including albatrosses, but the real highlight was seeing the seals up close as they were lying on the rocks.

The name Kaikoura comes from the Maori language and means ‘to eat crayfish’. Since we were already there I could not miss the chance to try at the famous Kaikoura seafood BBQ. The seafood was really fresh and flavourful – definitely a must try.

After finishing our meal we drove to Picton, where we would catch the ferry to the North Island the next day. Finally, I had some time to relax and take care of my laundry at our Airbnb.

The first stop of the day was the Franz Joseph glacier that was near the campsite where we stayed the previous night. Unfortunately we were not allowed to walk too close to the glaciers, but the view was still impressive. Some tourists opt for helicopter trips to take a closer look, but personally I prefer to experience nature in a more sustainable way.

We had a long drive during the day to reach Kaikoura on the East Coast, we spent around 7 hours on the road with only 3 stops along the way: Hokitika, Arthur’s Pass and Christchurch.

We spent some time at Hokitika Beach, where the shoreline had an almost post-apocalyptic feel, covered in driftwood and debris washed up by the sea.

Arthur’s Pass is a scenic mountain road surrounded by dramatic landscapes where we stopped to take pictures. Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island, with a population of around 400,000. We dropped by a lady’s home where Peter was previously house sitting. One thing I have noticed about New Zealanders – they are incredibly friendly and always curious to learn about their visitors.

Our day began with a visit to the Blue Pools, located just off Highway 6. A short walk from the car park led us to the river, but we found the bridge closed during our visit. Since we wanted to see the pools up close we followed others and crossed the chilly river in our swimming shorts. We were rewarded with the sight of the clear turquoise pools. Though tempting the water was far too cold to swim in it.

Continuing our journey north on Highway 6, we stopped at three stunning waterfall sites, each with its own unique character.

Our next stop was Haast, a small, remote village where we grabbed lunch at The Hard Antler. I had fish and chips, the fish was fresh and the meal delicious, though it was a bit pricey – on par with London prices.

Later we continued our journey along the highway until we reached the Fox glacier. The hike to the viewpoint and back was about 6km, but it was definitely worth it, although the glacier was slightly clouded when we visited.

Finally we visited lake Matheson that is famous for the reflection of the glaciers and it did not disappoint.

Finally I had a proper sleep in a tent – no surprise after a restless night and a six-hour hike. Our campsite is stunning, it is next to Lake Hawea with mountains in the background.

We started the day with a sauna session in the ‘Secret Sauna’ that belongs to the campsite and can be prebooked by guests. During our time there, we met a local who recommended visiting Queenstown and Glenorchy – so we decided to head there later during the day.

Wanaka: This was our first stop for the day. We found a farmer’s festival where we spent some time and chilled a bit at the lakeside. It was surprising that there are severe regulations on selling alcohol, there was only a single vendor selling beer, and even then we were not allowed to walk around with it.

Queenstown: A larger settlement nestled between the mountains, we took the cable car to the top for some amazing scenery.

Glenorchy: Our final stop before getting back to the campsite. It was nearly dark when we got here, but we could still see some spectacular Lord of the Rings film sites. After this drove back to Lake Hawea campsite where we spent one more night.

Last night was tough, with temperatures dropping close to freezing as we tried to sleep in the tent. Even wrapped in every layer we had it was far from comfortable and we could not get much sleep, and we knew the day ahead would be challenging. On the bright side we were rewarded with a breathtaking misty morning.

We decided to treat ourselves to a big breakfast before heading to the mountains. I definitely recommend the Vier project at Twizel, one of the best English breakfasts I have had recently.

One of my bucket list items for this trip was a hike around Mount cook. I have looked up a hike with 1,000-meter elevation gain that promised amazing views. My friend Peter decided to skip this as he had already done the hike earlier, so I embarked on the adventure alone.

The hike started with a forested path, followed by stairs that lasted through the first half of the trail. Afterwards the terrain became rockier until reaching the top. The hike ended at a mountain hut, where I rested a bit before heading back down. From the top, you could get a close-up view on Mount Cook and some glaciers – it was definitely worth making this trip.

After I got back to the car park, we drove for another 2-3 hours to reach Lake Hawea Holiday Park, where we were planning to spend the night.