New Zealand Hiking and Sightseeing - Part 1

New Zealand (South Island) 16D14N hiking and sightseeing trip from 2-17 March 2025 ... a self-plan, self-drive, self-cook trip with team members of 4 ladies and 3 guys:

KC Leong - organizer, trip main planner, trails navigator;

Josephine Lee - main driver, assistant Treasurer;

Alvin Lau - co-driver, navigator;

Rose Cheong - chief cook;

Felicia Hew - Treasurer, social media updates;

Vandy Yap - co-trails navigator;

ChongYF - gadget and technical support. 

(ladies assist in buying groceries and cooking).

Do CLICK HERE for photos taken by yours truly, KC Leong, using a Nikon mirrorless camera.

At Queenstown ... (left) Felicia Hew, Rose Cheong, Josephine Lee, ChongYF, Vandy Yap, Alvin Lau, KC Leong.

Per Pax Costing

Spending for transport (car rental and petrol), accommodation and food = RM4,850;

Flight to/fro Queenstown via Singapore Airline = RM4,700;

Expenditure for the 16-day trip = RM9,550.

Rental Vehicle 

For self-drive: Kia Carnival (that can take 7 persons comfortably with space for luggage, extra bags and grocery that packed to the brim);

Accommodation

Haka House in New Zealand (or Hostelling International hostels).

Trying out the famous Fergburger - yes, delicious!

The Scenery

The scenery in South Island is stunningly beautiful featuring rugged mountain and lakes, clear blue sky. We will share with you a post-event updates with improved itinerary. You just form a team and experience the pleasant journey, and enjoy the trip – it is do-able.

Our hostel with the Skyline Gondola Peak Station in the background

Fergburger

The Crown Jewel of Queenstown - we have the opportunity to try one of the best burgers of New Zealand. Average price is NZ$20 (or RM50) per burger. A lot of people queuing whole day to buy the prized burgers. We shared the burger on Day 1 evening. We liked it and decided to eat one each on the final evening before returning to Kuala Lumpur.

At the mid-hill of hiking up Skyline Gondola hill-station via Tiki Trail

Summary of itinerary

1. Queenstown (2 nights, from 3 March 2025);

2. Wakana (2N);

3. Franz Josef (1N);

4. Aorari / Mount Cook (2N);

5. Lake Tekapo (1N);

6. Christchurch (2N; second day bad weather the whole day, 12 March 2025);

7. Dunedin (2N);

8. Te Anau (1N);

9. Queenstown (1N). 

At the Skyline Gondola Peak Station with the scenic view of Queenstown

After the hike, walk around at the Queenstown Park

This is how we pack our luggage to the brim; the box contains grocery where we will shift from one hostel to another

Visiting Shotover Jet (en route to Wanaka)

Visiting Arrowtown Chinese Settlement (en route to Wanaka)

Wine tasting at Gibbston Valley (en route to Wanaka)

Roys Track Viewpoint hike (overlooking Lake Wanaka; 6 hours round-trip hike without any shades or clouds)

Roys Track Viewpoint hike - at lookout point

Roys Track Viewpoint hike - overlooking Lake Wanaka

Roys Track Viewpoint hike - a scenic view overlooking Lake Wanaka

Roys Track Viewpoint hike - taking a breather at a mid-hill station (Rose and Josephine)

The Lone Tree of Wanaka during low tide - this tree is not submerged in the water all the time; hence, it can survive. 

Happy moment when dinner is cooked (at Queenstown) with Rose Cheong (R2) as Chief Cook and assisted by the ladies

Happy moment when dinner is cooked - at Wanaka

Do Click here to view Part 2.

Do Click here to view Part 4 (final photos).

Posted by KC Leong

SACF "Camel Drinking Water" Outline Hike

Location: Carpark C and Peak Garden areas;

Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2025;

From WikiLoc:

Distance: 7.2km;

Elevation gain: 633m;

Highest point: 213m;

Round trip: about 4 hours (with 30 min of refreshment break at Peak Garden)

Trail Lead and Outline Created By: ah Lek 哥;

Team Lead: KC Leong.

Click Here for WikiLoc trail map.  

Photo courtesy of 小強, Carrin Kan, Lina Loh

Click or tap on the images below for bigger display (actual file size).

Setia Alam Community Forest

At Peak Garden

SACF "Camel Drinking Water" Outline Hike

I was chatting with Ah Lek gor while taking a breather this morning in the SACF hike. With a few other hikers, we chatted that this is Version 1 of the Camel Outline, and can be improved upon. Ah Lek gor suggested that I draw the outline with the trail map, then he will figure it out.

So I told him that I have analyzed the SACF trail map, but I just could not draw an outline based on existing trails. 😀

In the above map, the faint white lines are the existing trails in SACF.

A funny story - When we were ready to leave this station to return to carpark, Lina hurriedly asked me to take a photo with them. So I sat down, someone swiftly took the photo. I did not even realise that the bare-top guy (from another group) was still within the frame of the photo 😀. And then I was also a bit 'keng cheong' when leaving, I took his bamboo stick by mistake; then he said that was his... 😀

By KC Leong

T-REX Outline Hike at Bukit Kiara

T-REX Outline Hike on Sat 15 Feb 2025 (anti-clockwise direction):

Distance: 12km;

Elevation gain: 666 meters; (another Apps recorded 720 meters)

Total duration: 5 hr 20 min;

Arriving at Starbucks: 2 hr 25 min (with 30 min refreshment break);

Starbucks to carpark: 2 hr 20 min. 

Trail Lead: Vince Khor;

Team Lead: KC Leong.

CLICK HERE for WikiLoc T-REX trail map. Tap on waypoint icon for location photos.

Kudos and appreciation to the person or team that first created this T-REX outline shape.

Click on the photo below for a bigger display (original file size).

Group photo before the start of the T-REX hike (photo by Tony)

Photo at Starbucks (photo by Fernny Chan)

The outline of a T-REX created by GPS Apps based on the hike

T-Rex Trails Analysis (anti-clockwise direction):

1. At 2K Loop, it is used to draw the hind leg of T-REX outline, but the same loop is used to draw the tail of Unicorn outline;

2. At guardhouse located at cross-road junction - this is the part that draw the hind leg (but look slim);

3. At Simpang 5, route uses Yellow Flowers Trail to Starbucks;

4. From Starbucks, route goes down via Steepest Slope to Starbucks (SSS); passing by the Lone Durian Tree. At the junction T (a small sandy clearing), it is on top of the Penchala Link tunnel;

5. At D (Deforestation), the entire forest (marked in black line) is being cleared for construction;

6. At Met 2, not far ahead is the Look-up Point (overlooking Sri Bintang hills);

7. We returned via the Skirting trails (running parallel with the main trail to Ayuria, marked in blue dots).

Posted by KC Leong

CNY Chor 4 Loh Sang Hike

Gong Xi Fa Cai 🙏 ... CNY chor 4 loh sang hike on Sat 1 Feb 2025 at Bukit Kiara ... special thanks to George Siew for sponsoring the nice yee sang; Datuk Steven for sponsoring the firecrackers.

Do CLICK HERE for photos taken by yours truly, KC Leong.

Special thanks also to the following hiker friends:

(1) KK Lim and Joyce Lee who provided the CNY red banners / calligraphy;

(2) Tong SH and Rose Cheong - to direct and choreograph the loh sang procedure; with Ivy Wong for assisting in the decoration of food and Starbucks Corner, and also other hiker friends who assisted in the effort; 

(3) Chong YF who brought portable gas stove to boil water for making hot drinks;

(4) Michael and TanJH who helped to clear up the debris of firecrackers (and restored the clearing to its original natural environment);

(5) hiker friends who contributed the fruits and food;

(6) finally, thanks for joining in this joyous loh sang hike.

The Year of the Wood Snake pose 

Coffee corner

A joyous moment taking the group photo

The fun of loh yang

A lot of other food contributed by the team members

Michael and Tan - who help to clear up the debris and restore the natural environment 

Do Click Here for the previous loh sang hike at Starbucks clearing, Bukit Kiara.

Posted by KC Leong

Unicorn Trail of Bukit Kiara

Hiking Unicorn Trail of Bukit Kiara on Saturday, 25 Jan 2025 led by Vince Khor and Felicia Hew. At the same time, also celebrating January birthday for Evelyn, Kelly Hoh and Rachel Thang.

Distance: 9km; Elevation gain: 430m; Total duration: 4 hr 30min (including 1 hour of birthday celebration at Starbucks). Kudos to the creator (person or group) who created this Unicorn outline trail map.

Do CLICK HERE to view the complete photo album by yours truly, KC Leong.

Unicorn Outline Trail (click on photo for bigger display)

At Starbucks, Bukit Kiara

January birthday girls: (L) Evelyn, Rachel Thang, Kelly Hoh

Betong Silipat Camping and Hiking

5D4N Self-drive Betong Silipat_Larnmork_Rock Village Camping & Hiking trip from 10 Jan 2025 (Friday) to 14 Jan (Tuesday). 

12 Team members travelled in 4 vehicles - packed to the brim - together with all the camping gears ... team members:

KC Leong (Team Lead), Amy T, ChanHN, Goh Wei Lee, Iris Lee, Jen Nee, Josephine Lee, Mei Chew, Ng Lay Keong, Rose Cheong, Wey Tyng, Tong San Hee.

Do CLICK HERE to view 210 photos taken by yours truly, KC Leong.

Gunung Silipat

Activities from 10-14 January 2025:

Day 1 - Cross-over to Betong, Thailand; drive to Silipat Campsite; dinner at guesthouse;

Day 2 - Hike Gunung Silipat (gloomy weather, no sunrise); drizzle; transfer to Moon Lake Resort; dinner at resort;

Punapa Guesthouse or Campsite from the peak of Silipat

Our camping tents at Punapa Guesthouse / Campsite

A group photo with Ms Joy, owner of Punapa Guesthouse/ Campsite

Yours truly, KC Leong

At Moon Lake Resort

At Moon Lake Resort

At Moon Lake Resort

Day 3 - Skywalk Ayerweng (drizzle since 4am; no sunrise); transfer to Winter Flower Garden (drizzle), Betong Hotspring; transfer to Larnmork Campsite (drizzle the whole evening; strong wind from 10pm until next morning 6am); own cook dinner and next day breakfast.

Skywalk Ayerweng

Skywalk Ayerweng

Skywalk Ayerweng

At the old platform of Ayerweng

Winter Flowers Garden

Winter Flowers Garden

Winter Flowers Garden

Betong Hot Spring

Betong Hot Spring

Larnmork Campsite

Larnmork Campsite

Day 4 - gloomy weather, no sunrise; cross border return to Kedah, Rock Village Campsite (fine weather); dinner at resort. 

Day 5 - Break camp at 10am; return to Kuala Lumpur arriving at 6pm.

A-hut of Rock Village, Kedah

Rock Village, Kedah

Sunset view of Rock Village

Having BBQ dinner

All tents illuminated in front of A-huts

Many boulders with unique formation at Rock Village

Posted by KC Leong.