NZ Day 6: Lake Wanaka to Franz Josef

After lunch, we continue our journey to Franz Josef.

It's an approximately 3.5hour drive, not inclusive of stopping for many scenic view point. :)

Our first stop, when we saw the blue lake. Amaze us.

But as we go further, the view gets nicer! :)

And further more, brought us to this.

Really amazing and calm view. As calm as the static lake which able to gives reflections of the snow capped mountains. :)

Continuing our journey.

We stop by Salmon Farm. But it's closed when we arrived. :(

After a long drive, we finally reach Franz Josef town.

Stop by 4 square to buy groceries.

Check in YHA Franz Josef (NZD73 for private room) and cook ourselves Salmon Spaghetti.

YHA Franz Josef offers free soup for dinner (we got vegetable soup) and also free bread for breakfast! :)

NZ Day 6: Lake Wanaka

Before we leave Lake Wanaka for Franz Josef, we stop by a few famous tourist spots.

Puzzling World Lake Wanaka.

Just had some shots outside. We didn't purchase an entrance fees.

Because Malaysia had a few of this already.

We then go to Transport & Toy Museum.

Hubby being a fan of automotive, we bought ticket to have a look what's inside. Cost NZD34 for 2.

It's divided to 4 areas, each with different theme.

Cars. This excites him but not really exciting for me.

And more cars.. lol.

After the short tour, we went back to Lake Wanaka for lunch.

I'm craving to have rice. So we had out lunch at Sasanoki Japanese Restaurant.

Bento lunch cost NZD16.

And teriyaki salmon rice cost NZD15.

Seriously, it's salmon everyday. :)

NZ Day 5: Arrowtown to Lake Wanaka

Continuing our journey from Queenstown to Lake Wanaka.

We stop by Arrowtown for a quick lunch.

Arrowtown is a quiet town with this one street of shops.

My fever is striking me and I started to feel so unwell. There's a pharmacy here. Bought Panadol. A box cost me NZD5. Oh.. should have brought it from home.

We stop by The Pub Company.

Thanks to the menu board which display mash potato as foods of the day.

Feeling so uncomfortable makes me feels like eating something soft.

I opt for Kids Meal. Sausage & Mash Potato. NZD10.

Hubby choose their menu of the day. The Pub Pie. NZD17.

At 2pm (NZD time), we were their last customer. They told us that they would just call it a day due to the very less number of customer on that day. And they can go for sunbathing too as the weather of the day is quite good.

Wao~ I was amaze. How relax Kiwi is. Less customer - call it a day and go for sunbathing! Envy!

Continuing our journey from Arrowtown to Lake Wanaka, we stop by a look out point.

Meet a group of Malaysian and they are friendly enough to offer to help us take some pictures :)

We then pass by Cardrona and stop by the famous Cardrona Hotel.

FAQ.

Not long after that, we arrived Lake Wanaka. A peaceful town :)

Calm lake.

Our stay for the night is YHA Lake Wanaka. Room with private toilet and lake view. NZD87/night.

The view from the room is amazing.

But fever struck me and I didn't manage to fully enjoy it :(

NZ Day 5: Queenstown & Gibbston Valley

There is not much choice for breakfast in Queenstown.

We settled at Chico's Bar due to the crowd this Bar had.

Macchiato NZD4

Pancakes NZD16.50.

This is the worse pancake I'd ever had. I'd only manage to finished up one piece and hubby helps me on another one piece. He then agreed that it doesn't taste good and allowed me to waste the last piece. I'm not sure is pancake really taste/ textured this way because it is not in my country.

Egg benedict NZD17. Hubby was very disappointed with this also.

We then had a brisk walk around Queenstown before depart to Lake Wanaka.

Jet boat. It is in my itinerary but due to my health condition on that time, we skip. So regret.

Bye Queenstown!

Friends that had been to NZ telling me that Queenstown was the best town in NZ. At the end of my South Island trip, I'm agree on this. Because Queenstown is the only town that is so happening and shops opens up until 10pm. At the other part of South Island, it is very quiet, peaceful and shops closed as early as 5pm.

On our way to Lake Wanaka, we stop by Gibbston Valley for tour wine.

Happy man.

Wine Cave tour. NZD15/ pax.

They brought us to their cave to show us how the keep the wine.

And we had 3 glass of wine tasting.

End of tour.

What? End of tour? I was quite disappointed as I thought the tour would show us how wine is processed and I thought there is something unique and special about the cave.

Aih.. it's OK. We continue our journey! :)

NZ Day 4: Milford Sound

Milford sound has been judged the world's top travel destination in an international survey (the 2008 Travelers' Choice Destinations Awards by TripAdvisor) and is acclaimed as New Zealand's most famous tourist destination. 

Having to know this, we had pre-book our one day Milford Sound tour with Jucy Cruise. By using YHA member card, we are entitled for 10% discount. Thus, our tour cost NZD109/ pax.

We departed as early as 8am from Queenstown.

2 hours later, we arrive Te Anau and have 30 minute break. We went to purchase the famous pie.

Miles Better Pies.

The bus almost left us, just because we are late by 1 minute. Non-friendly tour.

Our boarding pass to the cruise.

The cruise.

The view.

 I personally think Halong Bay has a more mesmerizing view compare to this. It just that Halong Bay doesn't have snow-capped mountain.

Alpaca! During toilet break on our way back to Queenstown.

Overall, I was not having too much fun for the tour. The long bus ride makes me uncomfortable and nausea.

We arrived Queenstown about 8pm and have our dinner at Fat Badgers.

The warm interior.

Seafood Pizza NZD28. Yums!

That's all for Day 4 :)

NZ: Fergbaker & Fergburger

Fergbaker. Was also introduced by a friend to try out the doughnut.

Take away as breakfast while heading to Milford Sound.

There are a few types of doughnut. Not having any idea which to pick, I randomly chosen Boston Cream Doughnut. Guess I pick the right thing. Yums!

We also had Fergburger, just right next door for dinner.

A very famous burger and deemed must try when in Queenstown.

I picked the Fergburger.. which consist of beef with cheese. $10.50.

Urm.. not up to my expectation. Not juicy enough for me.

Perhaps I put too high expectations after reading all the reviews from the net.

He tried the Codfish Burger. $13.50.

Purely fish and it's not fillet. Yums!

The burger is as large as his palm.

He can finished the whole thing though but not me. I able to finish 3/4 only.

Worth a try.