NZ 2023 - Kia Ora (Day 27 of 33)

Link to Day 27's video: https://youtu.be/FfFYgBqkj9c

What a way to end 2023!!! I have never spent the last day of any year better than today!

Woke up at 7am to weigh my luggage and thankfully, it weighs only 15kg, well under the 20kg check-in baggage I purchased! Immediately headed out for my final hike of New Zealand and of 2023! Not before a great breakfast at a local cafe first! It was a burger at Marmolada for NZD$22.50. Too small but whatever...

After eating, I headed up Queenstown Hill through a good mix of weather conditions. It was a much easier hike than Ben Lomond but it is still very fun! The sights are just as good as Ben Lomond though!

I got to do some actual bouldering stuff at the summit (although it was not meant for climbers like me). Also, the wind up there is crazy. My fingers felt like dropping off after the climbs!

The next part of my hike is merely to clock steps and distance, so not very fun. Then there was the 5km run by the wharf! Insane views! Compared to my other runs in NZ, this one was the best because of the breathtaking views!

Glad to be able to end my year with a good chunk of steak at a bar down by the wharf! The place is legit called Pub on Wharf and they serve this steak and beer for NZD$56.10, rather expensive I know, but it's literally right in the centre of town!

Also went to stock up on water and snacks (NZD$12.17) for tomorrow's trip back to Sydney because I know it's gonna be expensive to buy food at the airport!

Plot twist, this wasn’t even the end of the day. As I was washing my clothes, some old man in the hostel told me I’d be missing out on the most happening party of the year. So I changed my mind and headed back out to town.

Drank 3 pints of beer before joining the huge crowd by the waterfront and stage for the countdown to 2024! Whew, the weather real cold but it was a real vibe! Unbelievable!!! It was a crazy ass night as I struggle to find some strong WiFi in my semi-drunken state. Even sprinted at full speed back to the stage just to make it for the fireworks in time!

Unfortunately no fireworks pictures but there are tons of fireworks clips in my daily video!!! At this point in time, I'm just damn worried I'd oversleep and miss my flight tomorrow cause of the hangover...

Click <<< to return to Day 26 or >>> to move forward to Day 28.

NZ 2023 - Sunshine Bay (Day 26 of 33)

Link to Day 26's video: https://youtu.be/TVNkcmiTPhw

It is my 2nd last full day in New Zealand. So saddd!!! But anyways, today has been great. Really great. In the morning, I walked 13km to Five Mile Shopping Complex to purchase a luggage. The walk was mesmerising!!! The views of Queenstown is unbeatable, which is why it is my most favourite town of South Island!

Reached the shopping complex but had to find breakfast first because hungry as heck after walking for so long. Ate at Society Cafe with their big breakfast for NZD$33.59. Not bad!!! Then I officially started my shopping spree.

Since yesterday buy honey and cannot bring onto hand-carry, bobian need to buy luggage to check the honey in. Then since have luggage, it's time for alcohol too! Yay! Got 3 bottles of different kinds of alcohol that is made by the same company called Broken Heart. All 3 are locally made in Queenstown, and only Queenstown!

Then might as well buy gifts and souvenirs here also. Spent quite a while filling the luggage to the brim. Hehe. Then I had to take the bus back to the hostel because luggage too heavy to walk the 13km back. Then after a re-packing session in the hostel, I went out for a great long walk.

Chanced upon this hidden little gem by the roadside and decided to trace the river upstream to this clear opening. Really beautiful hidden gem, like discovering a new frontier! Took quite a few photos there! Then I headed back to the proper road to continue on!

Originally only wanted to walk a little bit and chill at the beach, but I couldn’t resist a proper trail. The trail was nice and beautiful, with pretty sights of the lake parallel to the trail! The whole part of that walk is called the Sunshine Bay walk, and I can see why!

Got to eat some amazing fish n chips too at this random shop called Chur Fish N Chips! Walked up Fernhill estate just to check this shop out. And wow, it is really good for NZD$26! The fish and the milkshake is the bombz!

Overall today was the most expensive day of my trip because of all the souvenirs and gifts, but it is also one of my happiest. :) Glad to be able to purchase things for my loved ones back in Singapore!

Click <<< to return to Day 25 or >>> to move forward to Day 27.

NZ 2023 - Intercity (Day 25 of 33)

Link to Day 25's video: https://youtu.be/SGLrKsfMM_k

It is my final Intercity Bus ride, and my longest one too. And bumpiest. Day started off with a nice breakfast in Invercargill's Auction House before heading over to Dunedin. Breakfast was NZD$31 and was actually quite a big portion! The bus ride to Dunedin was uneventful though.

Had a spare 40-minute before the bus arrives so I thought I'd take pictures of the empty streets here too!

At Dunedin, I had a 2-hour layover so I headed to a Pokemon card store to look for some cards. These stores in New Zealand have a "trash pile" that people throw their unwanted cards into. In this "trash pile", I combed through thousands of cards and actually found some that I could sell for high prices in Singapore! New Zealanders... But yeah 2 hours well spent with $0 actually spent. 

The bus ride to Queenstown was more eventful. I sorted out the cards for half the trip and bought Manuka honey (NZD$92) at the pit stop at the same random shop in the middle of nowhere that I first got the honey and coffee. These 4 honey is for me to bring home for friends and family. With this purchase, I now have to source for a luggage to check-in to the flight!

Then when the bumpy mountain roads arrived, I put everything away to focus on how not to puke. Motion-sickness really damn sian one. But of course, the views are amazing!!! Like no joke, it is Windows desktop material!!!

Reached Queenstown at 7pm and promptly headed out to find dinner. Stopped by a few gift shops to buy gifts. :) Then looked for dinner proper. Chanced upon a fancy restaurant and ordered steak and beer. But guess what? I waited more than 30 minutes and already finished the beer, but the food still hasn't arrive.

I stomped out of there just paying for the beer (NZD$15). Chanced upon a street cart called Smashburgers selling some aromatic steak burgers and whew, instant gratification for just NZD$22!!! It is one of the best things I've eaten in days! Ran to the supermarket after that to fetch water before ending my day. Whew crazy night!!!

Oh and I needed to buy more data again because I started using more data in recent days. GG sia...

Click <<< to return to Day 24 or >>> to move forward to Day 26.