Tales from the ice queen: July 2009

I had always wanted to do Skydiving and Bungy Jumping since 10 years ago but never really had the opportunity to do so until my recent trip to New Zealand in June. I knew I had to do it this time before I become too old for these thrilling stunts.

When doing Skydiving in NZ, it has to be in Queenstown where it has the most beautiful view of snow capped mountains and lakes. And when doing Bungy Jumping, nothing beats the world's first bungy site on the Kawarau Bridge hanging above ground level at 43 meters.

Now, having finally done both, I truly understand the meaning of 'Leap of faith'.

View of the world below - stunning & breath taking

View of the Kawarau Bridge before the leap

Took a 20-day road trip in both Northern & Southern islands
of New Zealand during the cold as we approached winter in June.

Took a ferry trip out from Paihia to do whale watching and to see 'Hole in the rock'

Hole in the rock

View of the Bay Of Islands

A tiny house and a light-house spotted on the mountain among the islands

A church and a seafood restaurant on Paihia, lovely looking buildings

Enjoyed the road trip tremendously, driving on good condition roads & neat rows of trees

And passing by several farms during the drive

Checking into the Scenic Circle Bay of Island Hotel in Paihia

Very comfortable & cosy and great breakfast too - highly recommended

Balcony leading to a small garden outside the room

On our way to Cape Reinga

Cape Reinga

Famous lighthouse on Cape Reinga

It is also the most Northern point of the country

Fish & Chips from the famous Fish Shop at Mangonui

Reaching Auckland

Auckland skyline

View of Auckland Tower from hotel room

Newmarket, Auckland's shopping district

Took a ferry from Auckland to Devoport on the North Shore

Skyline of Auckland at night

Approaching Rotorua (welcomed by the smell of sulphur), a place where geysers,
mud pits, boiling ponds and thermal pools are found (steam arising from the ground)

Novotel Rotorua Lakeside Hotel was where we stayed

Restaurants around the hotel

Checking into the hotel

Huge and comfortable room

Sumptuous breakfast at the Fat Dog Cafe & Bar in Rotorua

Lady Knox Geyser at Wai O Tapu Thermal Wonderland in Rotorua

Agrodome Sheep Show in Rotorua

Sheep sheering

Cow milking

Sheep dogs performing

Never knew there were so many species of sheeps.
Amused to see all of them eager to pose for the camera!

On the way to Taupo

Lake Taupo

Feeding the ducks and swans at the lake

Dixie Brown's was the most decent restaurant around Taupo where we had dinner & breakfast

Stayed at the Colonial Lodge Motel at Taupo

Huka Falls

Water flowing from Huka Falls forming the Aratiatia Rapids down to the Waikato River

On the way to Wellington

Checked into Holiday Inn Hotel in Wellington

Breakfast at the hotel

Modern and stylish looking room with kitchen facilities

Had breakfast at the Floridita Cafe & Restaurant. The Pacific Rose Apple Juice
from Camla Farm (not found in supermarkets) is one of the best thing I had ever drank.

Scramble eggs best done this way

Shopping district near Cuba Street

Old and traditional houses along Ascot Street, the oldest street in Wellington

Breath taking view from the top of Mount Victoria

Drove into the Interislander Cruise, which ferried us from
Wellington to Picton (from the Northern to the Southern Island)

Cruising through the beautiful Marlborough and Queen Charlotte Sounds

Reaching the port of Picton

Lunch at LeCafe, on the waterfront, along London Quay in Picton

Delicious fish soup

Very tasty huge green lip mussels

On the way to Christchurch

Checked into Holiday Inn City Center in Christchurch

Christchurch

Avon River by the Botanic Gardens with beautiful Autumn leaves

Had lunch at the beautiful restaurant in Mona Vale.

View from inside the restaurant.

A walk in Mona Vale, admiring the houses by the river

Few flowers left in the rose garden

Canterbury Museum, Art Center & Art Gallery

Spotted some interesting buildings opposite

Cathedral Square in Christchurch

American dinner at the Lone Star Cafe

Reached Oamaru (Otago) where the highlight is its Habourside and Tyne Historic Precint

Many old historic buildings (more than a century old), previously
government buildings, banks, aution houses etc. have been preserved and
now turned into art galleries, museums, libraries etc.

A seamstress workshop

Had one of the best pumpkin soup and moist carrot cake at this Malt Whisky Company

Moeraki Buolders where stone formations like these are swept onto the shore

On the way to Dunedin. Now, this is what I really call 'moving house'

Checked into the lovely Blue Stone on George Executive Motel. It has to be one of the best motel I've ever stayed! Its even better than commercialised 5-star hotels. The owners had put in tremendous efforts in carving out all necessities and niceties to address every single possible needs & wants of their guests. Like how the bathroom floor tiles and towel racks are electronically heated in winter and full kitchen and washer/dryer facilities inside each room. Two thumbs up for this motel and highly recommended!

Very cosy sitting area

Nice interior decoration and fittings at the check in counter

A table at a corner with note books for guest to write their comments about the motel
and also reviews of restaurants they've visited in Dunedin - that's really thoughtful!

Even the lift looks high-tech and one of a kind

Rather spacious room. Indeed luxurious for a motel

And the bath towels are the fluffiest I've seen!

Very huge patio with staircase leading down to our car

Dunedin railway station

Seafood platter for dinner at one of the best seafood restaurant along George street

Baldwin Street - World's steepest street

Took a chocolate factory tour at Cadbury World
(unfortunately, no photography was allowed inside the factory)

Larnach Castle built by a very rich man for his wives

Fantastic views from the castle grounds

Took a walk within the 'Octagon' (inner city heritage walks)

Italian dinner at the Zucchini Bros restaurant

On the way to Southland. Chances are, you will meet more sheeps than people in NZ.
NZ's population is only at 4 million compared to 16 million sheeps in the country.