New Zealand Hiking and Sightseeing - Part 4

This is the 4th and final posting of New Zealand (South Island) 16D14N hiking and sightseeing trip from 2-17 March 2025 ... This photo album contains photos for following activities:

(a) Moeraki Boulders Beach;

(b) The Octagon of Dunedin; visit Dunedin Railway Station;

(c) next morning, hike Sandfly Beach and Sandymount Hill Track with diverse scenery of beaches and sand dunes; we ate lunch by the beach just 30 meters from the sun-bathing sea lions (Google Maps: Sandfly Bay).

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

Moeraki Boulders Beach with the unique round boulders

(d) Balwin Street of Dunedin - World's Steepest Street;

(e) Dunedin Botanic Garden;

(f) Check-in to hostel at Te Anau;

(g) Drive to Milford Sound - Mirror Lakes (Milford Sound is 2 hours' drive from Te Anau).

(h) The Routeburn Track;

(i) Lake Marian waterfall;

Otago Daily Times building - on the way to the railway station of Dunedin

(j) Continue journey to Milford Sound cruise terminal (closed at 5pm; we arrived at 5:30pm; last cruise is at 3pm; NZ$160 per pax for cruise);

(k) Vibrant sunrise the next morning at Te Anau;

(l) Hiking Kepler Track at Te Anau (due to lack of time, we end the hike at Brod Bay).

Dunedin Railway Station

We then drove back to Queenstown, have Fergburger each for dinner (no cooking for the final evening); overnight at the same hostel. 

At 5am on 17 March 2025, we drove to Queenstown airport, returned the awesome Kia Carnival, and took the 7:00am flight back to Kuala Lumpur. 

With that, we completed the 16-day memorable hiking and sightseeing journey in South Island of New Zealand. 

Dunedin Railway Station

Hike Sandfly Beach and Sandymount Hill Track

Hike Sandfly Beach and Sandymount Hill Track

We have our lunch at the beach; time is around 1:30pm

Just 30 meters from the sun-bathing sea lions (Google Maps: Sandfly Bay).

Balwin Street of Dunedin - World's Steepest Street

Balwin Street of Dunedin - at the top of the World's Steepest Street

Dunedin Botanic Garden - having our tea with the the jagong that we boiled in the morning

Check-in to hostel at Te Anau - fronting Lake Te Anau

The hostel at Te Anau

Eglinton Valley

Mirror Lakes

The Routeburn Track

Lake Marian waterfall

Vibrant sunrise the next morning at Te Anau

Hiking Kepler Track at Te Anau

Due to lack of time, we end the hike at Brod Bay of Kepler Track

Do CLICK HERE to view Part 1

Do CLICK HERE to view Part 3.

Posted by KC Leong

New Zealand Hiking and Sightseeing - Part 3

New Zealand (South Island) 16D14N hiking and sightseeing trip from 2-17 March 2025 ... 

This photo album contains photos of following activities:

(a) The scenic Lake Pukaki (leaving Aoraki/Mount Cook to Lake Tekapo);

(b) The iconic Church of Lake Tekapo;

(c) Hike Mount John overlooking Lake Tekapo;

(d) Hostel dining area with a view to Lake Tekapo; and spectacular sunrise the next morning;

(e) Travel from Lake Tekapo to Christchurch;

(f) Visit Botanic Garden of Christchurch;

(g) Next day (12 March 2025) bad weather the whole day: not able to hike Bridle Path Trail next to the Gondola Lower Station; instead, taking shelter there;

(h) Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony (leaving from Christchurch to Dunedin).

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

The scenic Lake Pukaki Lookout

The scenic Lake Pukaki Viewpoint

The scenic Lake Pukaki Viewpoint

The scenic Lake Pukaki Viewpoint

Walk from hostel to the iconic Church of Lake Tekapo, about 500 meters away

The iconic Church of Lake Tekapo

The iconic Church of Lake Tekapo

Hike Mount John overlooking Lake Tekapo; University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory in the background

Hike Mount John overlooking Lake Tekapo ... Josephine Lee

Hostel dining area with a view to Lake Tekapo

Spectacular sunrise the next morning ... Vandy Yap

Spectacular sunrise the next morning at Lake Tekapo

Three Creeks, Vintage Garage Decor (travel from Lake Tekapo to Christchurch)

Fairlie Basin Lookout

Botanic Garden of Christchurch

Botanic Garden of Christchurch

Botanic Garden of Christchurch

Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony (leaving from Christchurch to Dunedin)

Do click here for Part 4.

Do click here for Part 2.

Posted by KC Leong

New Zealand Hiking and Sightseeing - Part 2

New Zealand (South Island) 16D14N hiking and sightseeing trip from 2-17 March 2025 ... 

This photo album contains photos for activities of: 

(a) travelling from Wanaka to Franz Josef; 

(b) from Franz Josef to Aoraki/Mount Cook passing by Omarama town; 

(c) hiking at Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park with scenic view and the snow-capped mountains in the background.

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

Visiting Puzling World (at Wanaka)

Scenic view point en route to Franz Josef; we were here for toilet break

Buying of grocery at 4-Square supermarket in Franz Josef

The Reflection Pond at Franz Josef

The hostel at Franz Josef

Omarama junction (from Franz Josef to Aorari/Mount Cook). I have been here in my maiden trip 13 years ago, overnight at the hotel behind the petrol station

The hostel at Aorari/Mount Cook with the snow-capped mountains in the background

Even when in the dorm, there is the view of the snow-capped mountains

The ladies are busy cooking dinner (Josephine Lee, Vandy Yap, Felicia Hew)

Getting ready to hike the mountains at Aorari/Mount Cook National Park

Hiking Sealy Tarns Trek

Sealy Tarns Viewpoint ... Josephine Lee

Sealy Tarns Viewpoint with a pond

Kea Point Trek

After completing Sealy Tarns and Kea Point treks, we return to our car eating our packed lunch, then continue to hike Hooker Valley Trek

Hooker Valley Trek - it was sunny; hence, umbrella would provide a larger shades below and cooling effect

The end point of Hooker Valley Trek for a round trip of 10km. We started the hike at 9am and completed by 5pm, spending a total of 8 hours for the three treks.

Do click here to view Part 3.

Do click here to view Part 1.

Posted by KC Leong