On the day of PSLE results release, we departed for NZ on SQ in the evening. It was a holiday planned a year ago and one that the whole family was looking forward to. It took us almost 14 hours to arrive at Queenstown, with 8hrs on SQ from Singapore to Sydney, then 2hrs transit in Sydney and flew another 3 hrs on Virgin Air to Queenstown airport.
It was a 'wow' experience for us. Even before we landed, while we flew over the South islands, we could see snow cap mountains all around and below us. The sight was breath taking. The moment the plane landed, and doors opened, we walked down a flight of stairs to gigantic mountains towering above us-the beauty of NZ.
First day upon on arrival was tiring for us as there's a time difference of 5 hrs, NZ is ahead of Singapore. We toured around our apartment a little, taking pictures at a lake and the range of mountains called 'The Remarkables" - snow cap, sharp peaks. We had dinner at a local popular burger restaurant. While the whites drank beer, chatted loudly and laughed their merry, we sat a corner table, eating fries, chicken wings, pizza and a beef burger. The air was cool, not too cold on our first day.
Next day first thing in the morning, Daddy picked up our car for the next 10 days of our time in NZ from Omega, a comfortable Hyundai hatch back. Kids were also delighted at what kind of car we would have on holidays, testing the recline seats at the back. We had our usual milk, bread with nutella breakfast and set off for the day's adventure.
We drove about an hour to Glenorchy, hike a little around Moke Lake. It was our first hike of the trip so we took it easy. We didn't go very far, as kids were already complaining. A slow and gentle climb with view of mountains and a little river.
Day 3, we left Frankton (airport) and drove 2 hrs to Te Anau where we would spend the next 3 nights. It was a quiet and fairly small town. The cottage was pretty, a house on its own with a front porch garden and large backyard with picnic tables and chairs and a hammock to lie in. The parents slept in the basement on a king sized bed while the kids each had a room. It was a luxurious house. We enjoyed playing games at the living room with large open windows, and listening to the call of pretty birds on the trees by the house.
We traveled to Milford sound for a cruise the next day. It was another 2 hrs drive from Te Anau. We went with Southern Discoveries cruise. It was a pleasant 3 hours cruise, along the fords, starring up at mountain peaks, and had a splash with 2 waterfalls. Daddy braved one waterfall with full raincoat gear on. It was definitely more than a mere gush of water. We saw seals lying sleepily on the rocks, a couple of penquins hopping about and swimming in the water and some rabbits at the sides of the mountains. Animals always intriqued us, even adults. Thank God for the beautiful sunny weather we had for the cruise. Skies were clear for mountain peaks pictures.
After a cozy night sleep in the cottage, we drove down Milford sound road again, as we planned to hike up a mountain. The walk was gentle up hill climb, cool and shady with many trees first half of the hike, and another half was fairly hot with low lying shrubs and rocks and no shade. The view at Key Summit was spectacular! The best of the trip. We felt so up closed to the mountains on every side. It was a 360 degrees view of the mountains surrounding us. We stayed up there for a bit, had some sandwiches and just lay back and enjoyed the view. The descend was a quick one, took us another 40 mins to come to ground level.
We were on our final leg of the holiday as drove to Arrow town where we would spend 5nights at another house - the best, voted by all of us. The house was modern and clean, but the plus was the space outside the house. There were swings on trees, a large trampoline where the kids jumped on at every opportunity, a soccer pitch with more than few balls to kick about, and a very friendly puppy who loved to eat sticks. Every morning and evenings, the kids would spend their time playing outside - the pleasure of space, no words can describe.
We didn't spend much time in Queenstown , mainly just went on the Luge. The tracks were nicer, with more exhilarating slopes and exciting curves. There was also not a big crowd which helped make the rides smoother. We took some really nice shots of Queenstown hill from the sky ride.
At a nearby town, Wanaka, we did horse riding at Backcountry saddle. It was a barn run by all women. We went on a 2hr ride up and down some slopes, crossed small streams. It was quite a hot day, so we were all thirsty and a little uncomfortable. My hips ached from the riding especially when she made us do trotting, bounced my bums up and down made it unbearable. I thought I wouldnt be able to walk once I descend from the horse back. It was probably the last time for us two older folks on horse backs. Kids had a better ride.
At lake Wanaka, we also did kayaking. Weather was breezy and hot, I paired with nathan, and went on the adventure. Another thing we did was Go-Karting at Cromwell. I was probably the slowest one by far and the helmet was too big for me, the whole ride was uncomfortable, quite a waste of money, really. Think the boys and girl had more fun.
The one thing daddy had been telling and warning us was the climb up "Roy's peak" It was surely a slow uphill climb all the way. The only consolation for the kids was the sheep found along the way. Nathan liked to run up some slopes and see how near he could get to one of them, usually about 30m or so. We stopped less than mid way up, and had a little picnic on a huge rock, overlooking the lake and near some sheep. Nothing we could do to better prepare us for the climb, strangely, us who are so used to hot weather, it was the heat and sun that exhausted us. Might have been easier if the weather was cooler and shadier.
The highlight for me was jet boat on river Clutha. It was nice as the boat man was very friendly and entertaining. I was dizzied by the 360 degree turn. But the whole 2 hr ride was really fun, zooming next to trees and vegetation, looking at the pretty scenery, 100 yr old bridge, saw where the water divided between rivers from the land and rivers from the mountains - the muddy-clear water colour difference was astonishing. When you enjoyed something, times passed really quickly.
Our finale was on the day of departure. We rented e-bikes near Queenstown and went on a 2 hr ride next to Lake ? We had another round of pictures of "the Remarkables'. It was a clear and hot day for us. Girl had 2 falls but she was brave enough to continue and complete the ride. We picked up several pine cones along the way, which we thought were acorns until we returned home and girl questioned our find. Without the e-bikes, the two older ones wouldnt have been able to manage the slopes! Boy did a brave climb up a rock next to the waters, him and rocks, hmm ...
The holiday was an expensive one and we tried some adventures we hadn't back home like horse riding and jet boat. We could do luge, go-cart, kayake or even rent an e-bike in Singapore, but the nice cool weather and clean fresh mountain air and especially the beautiful scenery and snow peak mountains were incomparable anywhere else. Thank God for a safe and enjoyable holiday.