New Zealand - South Island Tour Photos

I love New Zealand with its beautiful and serene sceneries: the brilliant sunny days, remarkable turquoise blue and pristine lakes, cobalt-blue sky, vast basin of golden tussock grass, valleys of emerald green, clean countryside, incredibly clear starry nights ... I was spellbound and absorbed in the breathtaking scenery that make my holidays a fascinating journey with lasting impression.

For the 10D9N tour of South Island from 18 to 27 March 2012, I snapped almost 3,000 photos. Not able to post so many photos at one go, I have created a summary of photo album to highlight the places that we have visited.

I truly enjoyed myself visiting the scenic places of south island.

Please click here to view the photo album (200 photos). Stay tuned for more photos ...

In photo album, click Slideshow (at top left corner); hit F11 key to adjust the optimal displays.

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ITINERARY

Day-1 (18 March 2012, Sunday)
Flight: 8:20 a.m. from LCCT with Air AsiaX. Duration 10 hours; New Zealand time is 5 hours ahead of Kuala Lumpur.
Arrive Christchurch; on arrival at Christchurch airport, meet by coach driver and transfer to check-in hotel at 1:30 a.m.
Accommodation: The Elms Hotel

Day-2 (19 March, Monday) CHRISTCHURGE - MOUNT COOK - OMARAMA
Depart to Mount Cook via Ashburton and Tekapo, sights at Church of Good Shepherd at Tekapo; continue to Omarama.
Accommodation: Heritage Gateway Hotel

  Lake Tekapo - it  is the combination of the turquoise lake, cobolt-blue sky and the clear air, which is reputed to be the clearest air in the southern hemisphere.

 Eleven holidaymakers in this tour group; Coach Captain, Kevin, is fifth from right. He is a friendly, jovial, helpful and committed person. Organizer is Yvonne Lin (4th from right).

  Yours truly (KC Leong) ... at the breathtaking view of Lake Tekapo

  The exquisite Church of the Good Shepherd ... the surrounding mountains and turquoise lake make a spectacular backdrop for the Church

  Omarama ... the signature landmark with the sculpture of a sheep

Day-3 (20 March, Tuesday) OMARAMA - DUNEDIN

Helicopter ride at Twizel; depart to Dunedin, sights en route via Oamaru and Moeraki Boulders; visit Olveston House.

Accommodation: Victoria Hotel

Helicopter ride for a breathtaking view of the peaks of Mount Cook

The Moeraki Boulders ... hundreds of marble-like boulders are strewn along the windswept beach like giant turtle eggs. Formed around 60 million years ago on the south of Oamaru town that is now famous for a geological wonder on its windswept sands. It is sunny here but cold !

Day-4 (21 March, Wednesday) DUNEDIN - TE ANAU

Depart for city tour include visiting The Octagon, Baldwin Street, railway station; visit Larnach Castle.

Accommodation: The Village Inn

  Larnach Castle – New Zealand’s only castle with its exciting, sometimes scandalous and tragic history, magnificent carved ceiling, New Zealand antiques and breathtaking views, Larnach Castle offers us a vision of the past and present.

It is windy and cold up here

  Baldwin Street - the steepest street in the world ... Yours truly (KC) with Kevin

Complete with certificate of achievement specifying the mode of arriving at the peak. It is being signed by the Mayor of Dunedin ... I like this one: one can also get a certificate by "Looked at it from the bottom" ... :-)

  Botany Garden of Dunedin

  The facade of Dunedin Railway Station – said to be New Zealand’s most photographed building. Dunedin is often said to be the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian heritage city in the southern hemisphere.

Day-5 (22 March, Thursday) TE ANAU - MILFORD SOUND - QUEENSTOWN

Coach to Milford; report to Southern Discoveries Milford Terminal; depart for Milford Sound scenic cruise; coach transfer to Queenstown; Skyline gondola ride, buffet dinner at Skyline Restaurant

Accommodation: Goldridge Resort

  Collecting pure mountain stream for drinking ... en route to Milford Sound

  Milford Sound cruise ... passing by one of the majestic waterfalls.

Dramatic, magical, sensational, epic – Milford Sound thoroughly deserves all the tributes that are consistently bestowed upon it.

An aerial view of Queenstown from the restaurant

  Dining at the posh Skyline Restaurant at the peak of a hill at Queenstown

Day-6 (23 March, Friday) QUEENSTOWN

Visit Arrowtown and view bungy jump site and jet boat site; visit winery; free-and-easy at Queenstown.

Accommodation: Goldridge Resort

  Fantastic view ... Looking out the window of Goldridge Hotel that we stay

  Jet boat manoeuvring at high speed along the river with military precision

 Arrowtown area

 Bungy jump near to Arrowtown

Standby ...

Take that plunge without fear

ahhh...
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This is how a jumper dismounts from the jump

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Kevin and KC

Vineyards and winery visit

The cellar is just beneath the hillslope; temperature is kept at a constant of 14 degree Celsius

 At the lakeside of Queenstown

Street musician - a lone pianist playing in the cool evening at the pier of Queenstown

Posted by KC Leong