What an exciting year. With a super impromptu decision made, a trip to New Zealand was planned for Spring 2018. Or so we though, Spring. We had planned to do a road trip this time with the 3 of us with a campervan! Because of time constrain, we were only able to do 2 weeks in the South Island of New Zealand. Before the trip, we only booked our airtickets and the campervan, OH and our wireless device! We decided this will be a spontaneous trip and we would plan everyday as the days goes by during the trip!
I’ll try to include our destinations and spendings in the post!
The girls took a flight on the 29th of August to Brisbane from Singapore to meet me. (Because I’m a burden and needed a hand with packing as well).
Singapore to Brisbane $714.80 (2way) Brisbane to Christchurch $545.80 (2way) ReadyWIFI $168 (18days, 2 zones, Australia and New Zealand)
Took them around in Brisbane and we stopped by Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Mount Coot-tha.
What dat koala doing
Mount Coot-tha
We set off early on a Friday morning for our 5am flight and arrived in Christchurch pass 10am (Christchurch time)
We rented our campervan from Lucky Campervan. You have to catch a shuttle van from the airport to their office to collect the campervan. When we went, because it was the off-peak season, we had to give them a call to tell them we have arrived at the airport. During peak seasons the shuttle will come every 30min. Best to check your booking confirmation before you arrive! While waiting for the shuttle to come, we took a few New Zealand map and started planning our journey!
Our fourth member on the trip! Teddy!
We had rented the Lucky Rover. It sleeps 4, and is self contained! It because a little squeezy for us before we have 3 hardcase luggage and that took up alot of space. Do note that the Lucky Rover only has a portable toilet, the kind you have to take out and use in the open. It’s not inside the vehicle!
Lucky Rover 13days approx $1170.82 Includes full insurance coverage. We added in our package the GPS and snow chains as well. Utensils are provided too!
Once getting our car and all the crash course on how to turn on the gas, refill water etc, we were finally ready to set off at 1pm(ish)! Our first stop was to the grocery store. We went to New World and spent about $200 for approximately 3 days of food. This includes breakfast lunch and dinner. We also bought the essentials like toilet roll and washing detergent. The prices of stuff in New Zealand is slightly more expensive than Singapore so that should be taken into account when budgeting. Because we have a fridge, I decided to buy a variety of meat so we can cook for the next few days without having to keep making stops at grocery shops.
Day 1 Christchurch – Lake Tekapo Approximately 230km, 4-5 hour drive
We set off for the road at about 3pm and it quickly got dark! It also started raining and there was road works! Our GPS took us a weird route to the highway and we were stuck at the turn for 15min because there was just too much traffic for me to cut across the incoming lane of the highway to the other lane! In the end I went with the incoming traffic and took a U-turn at the next right turn I saw. This was about a half an hour detour! I think a good thing to note when planning a driving route in New Zealand is to take into account the mountains that you’ll be driving through. That will definitely slow you down. We had accounted for a 3-4 hour drive but because it was day 1, I was slightly unfamiliar with the road conditions and the campervan. On the road to Lake Tekapo, we decided to book our campsite for the night. Because it was our first night, we decided to go for a powered campsite.
Lake Tekapo Holiday Park – powered site, NZD75(for 3) a night
It was unexpectedly cold when we arrived at 9pm. The Holiday Park allowed for after hours drive-in and then payment the next day(subject to availabilities). We quickly took the details of our site and drove right in. It was about 7 degrees and we were freezing cold. Whipped up a quick bowl of spaghetti for the three of us and we just brushed out teeth beside our campervan because we were too cold to walk around in the dark to explore the campsite. We hardly slept that night because it was just too cold. Woke up at 7am the next morning to ducks outside our campervan. Most campsites have a 10am check out rule so we got ready, had toast for breakfast and drove off.
Because the campsite was right beside the lake, after checking-out, we drove down to have a look. Our next stop was Mount Cook!
Day 2 Lake Tekapo – Mount Cook Approximately 104km, 1.25hr
The journey from Lake Tekapo to Mount Cook should take less than 2hours, if you don’t stop at every lookout on the way. Because we were freezing the night before, we decided to drive further to Twizel where there were shops selling camping gears etc. We bought a tiny heater, and a sleeping bag for myself. We also stocked up on more heat packs and food. The lady in the store told us that it should get warmer as it was the first day of spring. Fingers crossed!
Lake Pukaki, enroute to Mount Cook
Again, because we were freezing so much the night before, we all agreed on getting a powered site for the rest of our nights, unless it warmed up. We missed the turn to the holiday park and found ourselves at the entrance of the Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View Walk. We decided to keep that for tomorrow as we were hungry (It was 3pm) and we wanted to get to our campsite before dark.
Glentanner Holiday Park Mount Cook Powered Site NZD75 (for 3) a night
Arrived before dark! Horray! We had time to take a hot shower as well, which turned out funny because only my cubicle had hot water so I rushed my shower because the girls were shivering in their cubicle which somehow didn’t have hot water coming out. Ended up they both had a relaxing hot shower while I stood outside shivering after my rushed shower.
I brought along with me my precious bottle of salted caramel Bundaberg rum. Curry chicken for dinner! The campsite has a open kitchen with rice cookers and every utensils you need EXCEPT a peeler LOL. the girls were very excited about it because I’ve been cooking rice from a pot and its always too watery for their liking.
The next morning we took the drive out to do a walk.
At another lookout in Mount Cook, except I’m looking down onto our campervan, which I’ve already started calling my baby.
Day 3 Mount Cook – Queenstown Approximately 200km, 3hours
We stopped at a rest stop before the turn off to Twizel to have lunch. It was slightly warmer, before it started raining. Thus the fog on the picture. I made pork ribs and noodle soup.
It took us slightly longer than calculated to arrive at Queenstown as it started raining on the way. We also kept forgetting that it gets dark really early (530-6pm) during this time of the year and that slowed us down a little.
Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park Powered Site NZD80(for 3) per night
We definitely did not enjoy this holiday park. It was crowded. Too crowded for our liking. But it was also conveniently locating in the heart of Queenstown. We arrived at 8pm but took a walk down in city centre to see if we could get a cheap outdoor stove. I was complaining that the cooking area in the campervan was too small. We didn’t see anything (cheap) so we got some more goodies from the asian market and headed back up to the campsite. Weirdly enough, the holiday park’s kitchen locks at 11pm. So we rushed out dinner.
Chicken rice. Got the chicken rice paste to cook the rice. Oh and more rum.
Breakfast the next morning. Work up to a cold 0 degree morning. No, I don’t think it’s getting warmer. Our plan was to drive to Te Anau to stay for the night and then head to Milford Sound the following day.
Breakfast took an hour to cook because we were using a faulty electric stove. -.- Before our journey, we drove to The Warehouse (which is like a kmart) to get a new pot, some outdoor lights and a tent for myself. I justified that I could sleep outdoor in the tent when its warmer and when its not, it can be used as a storage for our luggage to create more space inside the campervan.
Day 4 Queenstown to Te Anau Approximately 190km, 2hrs 17min
We stopped by a honey shop to get honey.
Te Anau Lakeview Kiwi Holiday Park & Motels NZD70 (for 3) per night
Arrived in time to make spaghetti for lunch! The holiday park has a shared kitchen and a really really warm toilet!
That night, after my shower, i warmed myself up in the toilet and put on 5 layers of clothes before going to bed. First night in my tent! It was actually really warm!
Morning view from the tent.
Our plan for the day was to drive to Milford Sound, spend the night there and then do the Milford Sound cruise the next day before driving back to Queenstown. We booked our cruise at the counter of our holiday park and got a 25% discount.
We stopped by the lake before setting off.
Breakfast made easy. Indo Mee and yogurt with apples.
Day 5 Te Anau – Milford Sound Approximately 98.3km, 1hr 30min
Do make sure that before doing the drive to Milford Sound to fill up the tank. There’s no petrol stops on the way there or back, or any grocery stores. We stocked up on our food before setting off as well. Milford Sound has ALOT of sandflies. If you do get bothered by them, make sure you pack along a bottle of repellant too! Seems like lemongrass will repel them the best!
There’s plenty of stopping points on the way to Milford Sound. Our first stop was Mirror Lakes.
Quick stop for lunch at a turn off.
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Monkey Creek Do keep in mind as you drive closer to Milford Sound there will be plenty of no stop zones. Remember to follow the rules and take necessary breaks as these zones can be really long. When I started noticing those zones, I would stop at every safe stopping zones just to give the car and myself a break as I wasn’t sure how far the next safe stopping zone will be. Better safe than sorry. Once you get into the Milford Sound region as well you’ll lose reception.
Kea spotting at Monkey Creek. Zen Teddy.
The Homer Tunnel!
Final stopping for the campervan before we drove straight to The Chasm. Once you emerge from the other side of the tunnel, it is quite a steep drive downhill up till The Chasm. I was applying the brake too much that by the time we got to The Chasm that we started to smell smoke. (Inexperienced me). We panicked a little because we weren’t sure if it was fine to keep driving and there wasn’t any phone service available for us to call anyone. Anyways, everything was fine.
The Chasm
Milford Sound Lodge NZD90 (for 3) per night We booked this the night before leaving Te Anau because we were there wasn’t going to be any phone service / internet available for us on the road to do any bookings.
Nothing much to do for the rest of the day because we arrived at about 5pm. The reception has free rental of board games so we rented Monopoly!
The never-ending game. I won in the end. heh.
The kitchen was started to get crowded and we didn’t want to wait to cook with the crowd / smell like smoke (because half the time people will burn their food) so we took shelter in our campervan and cooked ourselves a pot of “buddae jiggae”.
Made pancakes for the girls in the morning before our cruise.
Day 6 JUCY Cruise Milford Sound NZD55 Per person (Discounted because we booked with our holiday park in Te Anau)
I think our cruise was the 11am one.
They were selling Pita Pit on board. We had that for lunch.
Time to head back to Queenstown!
Milford Sound – Queenstown Approximately 288km, 4.5 – 5hours
Little lookout out of Milford Sound Lodge. Its pass a bridge and we just parked at the side and walked back to the bridge.
Stopped at Devil’s Staircase before heading into Queenstown!
Queenstown top 10 holiday park Powered Site NZD78 (for 3) per night By this time, we were still feeling cold at night so we just decided to go for a powered site every night and not freedom camp.
Made mee rebus for dinner. Forgot the potato starch so it was just super watery
Nightfall in Queenstown! We were finally adapting to the camping lifestyle and managed to have dinner before 10pm so I finally had time to take some night shots.
I slept outside again that night. I woke up with a frozen tent.
I tried to make an english breakfast.
After checking out, we set off to Skyline Luge Queenstown.
Day 7 Skyline Luge Queenstown 3 Luge + Gondola NZD57 per adult
Honestly, one is never enough!!!
After the luge rides, we headed to shotover river for our shotover jet ride!
KJet Queenstown NZD135 per adult we booked online so we got 10% off
Screenshot from the video package we bought because I haven’t went through any footages from my gopro. They provide you with not just life jackets but also a raincoat so your clothes won’t actually get wet. However if you’re sitting at the side, water MIGHT splash into your ears. heh.
That evening we took the drive from Queenstown to Wanaka.
Queenstown – Wanaka Approx 68km, 2hours
Forgot the name of this lookout.
Lake Outlet Holiday Park Powered Site – NZD70 (for 3) per night Note, the holiday park is right beside the lake and you have to drive a gravel road for about 5-10min before you reach the front office of the holiday park. It’s a little scary to drive in in the dark which was what we did.
The holiday park is very flexible with choosing your site and you can pick any site you want.
It was too dark that night and the area around the common kitchen and toilets were too crowded so we picked a spot up on a flat ground and made dinner. Laksa!
But that spot also meant a perfect view like that.
Day 8 Breakfast with a view. Simple toast.
We bought all of their flavoured milk to try. Just cause.
Lake Wanaka.
That Wanaka Tree
Didn’t cook lunch that day. We went to a cafe across the lake.
Wanaka – Franz Josef Approximately 286km, 4.5-5hr
Another lake on the way to Franz Josef
Stopped by the blue pools and did a walk in.
Toilet break!
I made duck for dinner that night
Campsite at night
Campsite by day
We had breakfast before the girls set off for their horse riding adventures. For me, a trip to the hot spring
The girls dropped me off at the hot pool for my relaxing time while they drove to their horse riding place.
While waiting for the girls to come back to pick me up, i had a little snack. Next stop, Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk. Round trip approximately 1.5hr.
After our walked, we all decided that we should split the drive and drive straight to Nelson for the next 3 nights instead of stopping at Greymouth.
Franz Josef – Nelson Approximately 459km, 6-7hours drive
Refuel when you can! Petrol stations are hard to find along the way and if driving at night, most of them will be closed.
We spent a total of 3 nights in Nelson.
Tahuna Beach Kiwi Holiday Park & Motel Powered site NZD69 (for 3) per night Cabin NZD170 (for 3 but sleeps 5) for 2 nights
We wanted to sleep in a cabin so that we could pack our luggage and check our supplies. Also after 8 days we just wanted to sleep in warmth and comfort for once.
Day 9 Nelson
Day 10 Kaiteriteri Kayak Abel Tasman NZD145 per person, half day kayak. Includes picnic lunch + Snacks. You do about 2 hours of kayaking and 2hours of hiking back to the meeting point to catch the ferry back
Found an interesting transparent rock at the quarry!
Dinner that night
Day 11 Nelson – Kaikoura Approximately 243km, 3.5-4hours
We stopped by the beach for lunch. Tandoori Chicken!
Lunch with seagulls
Route to our accomodation.
Encountered many road works
We decided to splurg for the next 2 nights. Wacky Stays NZD538 (for 3), 2 nights
We booked the old train carriage.
Dinner that night. We had it while watching titanic. The accommodation has a huge collection of old DVDs to rent and we picked Titanic, forgetting that we were going to go on a boat the next day to snorkel with dolphins!
Kaikoura Dolphin Encounter NZD175 per person, half day All gears provided We set off early as we booked the 8am tour. Pictures and videos are still in my gopro but to cut it short, i puked alot but we saw many dolphins! Money made worth!
you can feed the animals at the accomodation during their daily feeding time!
Simple dinner that night because I was too sea sick.
Day 12 Kaikoura – Hanmer Springs Approximately 130km, 2hr
Hanmer Springs was our last stop before our drive back to Christchurch. The girls wanted to go to the hotspring there so after a quick lunch at our campsite, we walked over to Hanmer’s Spring Thermal Pool for a relaxing evening.
Hanmer Springs TOP 10 Holiday Park Powered Site NZD70 (for 3) per night Hanmer Springs Thermal Pool and Spa NZD25 per adult, unlimited time
Last dinner at a holiday park. After cooking we packed up our leftover foods and unwanted items and put it at the free corner. Most holiday park’s kitchen will have a shelf or corner that has free items. You can contribute to them or take them!
Day 13 Hanmer Springs – Christchurch Approximately 134km, 1.5-2hr
In the morning we quietly packed up our belongings and started our drive to Christchurch to return our campervan. Along the way we stopped by the Salvation Army to drop out other stuff that we didn’t want to bring home with us. We booked Jucy Snooze for the night because it was conveniently located near the airport and Lucky rental returns. Our flight was 6am the next morning so convenience was key.
Jucy Snooze- Jucy Pods, NZD35 per night
After returning out car, we spent the afternoon in Jucy playing pool and packing. There was a japanese place next to Jucy Snooze so we walked over for dinner.
You get a little pod to sleep in. There’s lockers under the beds that fits up to a large luggage. (I think 30 inch)
Boohoo and that concludes our trip. I’m very exhausted typing out this post as it took me two days. Hopefully all the info here are useful for anyone wanting to plan their trip.
In total I think we spent about 3k per person. This includes flights, accomodations, petrol(Petrol is expensive, about 2.50NZD/L), groceries, miscellaneous camping gears and personal spendings. Maybe when I’m more available I’ll update our excel accounts sheet and put it up here!
YY Travels 