DAY 6 ANTARTICA @ CHRISTCHURCH

Actually i was thinking of taking a train from Christchurch to Arthur's pass but i find the cost too expensive, around $200 return. So we have one day free in Christchurch and as the city is closed for most part, i decided to book the Antartica at the airport. It was on special promotion too at $55 each from $65.

We went out after eating mmee with veg. We have to walk since there is no other means of getting to the pick up point for a free shuttle bus to Antartica. I know the centre of the city is blocked but i did not know they changed the block area.

We started in Bealey Avenue and walked along Manchester street and tried to get to Worcester street but it was blocked all around. So we have to walked and walked until after Cashew street one whole circle. Then we managed to reach there. Mom was tired after walking so far. Then when we reached Montreal street we walked up and i know it is somewhere around here.

Then I saw the shuttle bus waiting there. There is also a sign saying pick up point for Antartic Centre. We went up the bus and some children came after we went up. After a 45mins drive we arrived there.

We took the Hagglund ride when we reached there. It was quite rough. We take one time and went inside to find the penquins. We only see some penquins inside the enclosed area.

We also tried the snow and storm room where we had to wear extra clothing and put on slip over boots. We also went out after a few minutes as the storm is quite strong. There is snow coming down too. I should go back again for second time as there is nothing else to see.

There is also a 4D show and movie. It was ok but it was a bit kiddy for us. When we see the movie inside we almost fell asleep there.

There is a shop outside and a cafe. We eat our packed sandwiches because there is not much things that we liked to eat there.

Then we went back taking the bus. The driver is very good and he dropped us at the Bealey Avenue road. We only have to walk abit to our hotel. We asked him where we can find good food and he recommended us the Thai food and another Pub restaurant. When we walked back to the hotel we saw the Thai food, it is make of 2 containers. As the Thai food is nearer we decided to come back later to get the packed food for dinner.



Actually i remembered seeing the Thai food sign as it is opposite the bus stop that we dropped on the 1st or 2nd day. We went out to buy the Thai take out after resting a while. They have many kinds of fried meat with rice or noodles. We choose two with rice, pork and chicken. One dish is $11.90. After eating we decided to wash some clothes as the laundry here is very cheap. Only $2.00 for one wash or one dry.



I set the dryer to medium as i am afraid it will melt some of the plastic on my shirt. Later we discovered it is not dried. Therefore i suggested to use the heater to dried our clothes. I hang all my clothes on top of the heater. After few hours it is all dried.

We packed all our clothes and get ready to check out tomorrow early in the morning. We have no trouble sleeping as we were both tired from all the walking.

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DAY 5 BACK TO CHRISTCHURCH

Going back to Christchurch today taking another different bus from the one going to Queenstown. The route is a bit similiar. Newmans Coach Lines NM9556

Queenstown - Christchurch HA Lake Esplanade, Queenstown, Frankton, Lake Hayes, Cromwell, Tarras, Omarama, Lake Ohau Turn-off, Twizel, Tekapo, Fairlie, Geraldine, Ashburton, Rakaia, Hornby, Christchurch Airport, Rolleston Ave (opposite Christs College), Christchurch.

When we are on the bus, we always find sheeps and cows on the fields. The scenery is so beautiful and relaxing. I feel like staying here forever. I wonders if i can migrate here one day.

When we passed by Cromwell again i bought one packet of pine nuts and veg to cook mmee.

At around 10.30am we reach Omarama we went to Cafe n Gifts for some fast lunch. We had fish n soup. We shared the soup. The soup n 2 fish total $16.50.

Today the driver is very cheeky , it is a smaller van with a luggage trailer, which is very cute. It is quite full of people in the van. We stopped at one cafe to find water. In the end bought 2 muffins from the lady because she also never charged us for warm water. The muffins is $2 each.

When the driver saw me eating he says something i am not sure what like i am hungry bird like that. Then i told him i need to asked the lady for water. He then says so big still need the bottle.

By the time we reached Christchurch it is already 4.30pm. We checked back in n took our stored luggage from the owner and went inside to cook mmee for dinner.








On the 1st june we left Queenstown to go back to Christchurch, on the same bus that took us from Airport to Christchurch. We had breakfast or lunch at Cafe and Gifts which have fish and chips. We ordered two fish only and soup to shared. It was good. Cost $16.50. Later in the afternoon we bought muffins for snacks at one cafe.

For dinner we cooked mmee with brocolli again.

DAY 4 MILFORD SOUND @ QUEENSTOWN

Itinerary for Milford Sound from Great Sights.

Take an unforgettable journey into the heart of Milford Sound. You'll experience the world famous fiord - rich in dense rainforest, glacier carved valleys and beautiful waterfalls.


Journey across the Southern Alps and travel deep into the Homer Tunnel, a 1.2km tunnel drilled through solid rock. Uncover Eglinton Valley, a place of ancient alpine forest and gushing waterfalls, take photos of the stunning Mirror Lakes, then walk across The Chasm.


At the deep waters of Milford Sound, board your 1 3/4 hour Southern Discoveries Scenic Cruise. See the wonders of Mitre Peak, glacier-scarred rock walls and waterfalls that tumble through valleys and crash into the sea far below.


After your cruise return to Queenstown by coach. Alternatively book a scenic flight option (optional extra).

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I met David the driver outside the supermarket in the morning when i wanted to buy some more sandwiches as i ate one yesterday night. He bus was parked outside the supermarket. He came down and we chatted for a while. Then i hurriedly bought what i want and went back to the bus stop where the bus just drive up.

Today we are going to see the great Milford Sound. The driver is from Maori descent. I cannot hear what he said his name was. The bus have a glass top where you can see the view above. He will be bringing us to some other locations besides going to Milford Sound. We will stop at Te Anau. He pronounced Te Anau funny and I didn't get what he was talking most of the time.

• Te Anau

We stop here for a short break and eat breakfast, we ordered one leek and veg soup and shared. Mom said she cannot finished one bowl herself. So we always shared the soup. We also eat the tuna sandwiches mom make last night and tried the sushi i bought yesterday night in the supermarket and kept the sandwiches we bought in the supermarket this morning to eat in the boat. Actually we bought a few sandwiches, we had ham and salmon sandwiches.

• Eglinton Valley - ancient alpine beech forest, stunning waterfalls
• Mirror Lakes - we went down for a quick photo taking.
• Homer Tunnel - We went thru this tunnel but did not stop
• Fiordland National Park -
• Knobs Flat - We dropped by for a quick toilet stop and took some pictures. There is lots of flies flying around. We quickly went up the bus.
• Christie Falls -
• The Chasm (subject to road and weather conditions) - We have 15 mins to explore here but we did not walk all the way inside as mom is worried we might take too long.
• Southern Discoveries Scenic Cruise - At 2.30pm we reach the Discoveries center to take the cruise. The driver will wait for us at the center.

We boarded the ship and went up to check out the deck. There are 3 levels. The top deck is very cold and windy. We have to zipped up our jackets.

The 2nd level have a outside deck and the inside is heated. The below they have buffet for those who ordered their lunch there. We eat our packed lunch. As i know the buffet is expensive so i asked mom to prepared tuna sandwiches before going out the night before.

We saw many waterfalls in the Milford Sound running down the rocky mountains. I saw on the movie there how they built the Hommer tunnel which is very difficult. On the background there is the mountain called Mitre Peak which is very steep like knife and a challenge for mountaineers to try climbing.

I went to the captain corner and he told me to go outside the deck where something is going to happen. I called mom and we went outside where we reached and see the largest waterfall flowing down. When mom come down the stairs we quickly took some pictures and asked one girl to take one for us. We were getting wet. The waterfalls falls on our back. Mom jacket is wet. Mine is not so much as i ran faster to shelter. I helped her clean the wet jacket.

Then we went back inside for some warm air and go to the toilet. After that the boat went back to the cruise centre and the driver is there. We went express back to Queenstown. Mom is not feeling well after all the turning here and there of the road.

I cooked the chicken wings and ate with maggi mee and i saved some for her after i eat finished at the kitchen. She said she is ok after bathing and resting for a while. I said i will go out myself and do some grocery shopping since she is not well. I bought some bread, pizza bread, veg and one box of eggs. Then i went back to bath and go online with the free wifi.





        

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DAY 3 CHRISTCHURCH - MT COOK - QUEENSTOWN

Wake up early to take bus from Christchurch to Mt Cook to Queenstown. We will be staying two nights at the Absoloot Value Accomodations. We only brought one suitcase as we left two inside Bealey Motor Lodge for two nights until we get back here on the 1st June.

Today the tour bus driver is David. He is a nice fellow. We are the only passengers in the bus today with the driver and one lady who seems to be his colleague. I heard the driver said that when we reach Mt Cook more passengers will be joining us.

Leaving Christchurch in the morning we travel through diverse farmland to Lake Tekapo, on the way we pass by Ashburton and stopped at Geraldine for breakfast, there we had soup and beef pie then on to Fairlie and Lake Tekapo, we went down the bus to take some pictures beside the lake where we can see the solitary Church of the Good Shepherd and take in the sights of the spectacular Southern Alps mountain range. David helped us take some pictures at the church and Lake Tekapo.

We take advantage of our time here to enjoy the majestic scenery and take more pictures. Finally we took time to enjoy a lunch of satay pork with rice at the famous Hermitage Hotel in Aoraki /Mt Cook Village set within a National Park.  Following our lunch stop the tour continues south through the tawny tussock of the Mackenzie Country. We left Mt Cook behind and go towards Queenstown thru the village of Omarama,  and visit to the Jones Family Orchard near Cromwell. Our tour concludes this evening in world famous Queenstown.

When we reach the hotel we cook maggi mee at the kitchen downstairs. When mom see that there is internet there she asked me to go online and contact my sister and the family to let them know that we have arrived safely. It costs $2.00 for half an hour. After half an hour which i cannot do much i remembered that the motel have free wifi so i went and asked the receptionist for free wifi password. After that we went out for grocery shopping at the nearby supermarket.

We bought some sandwiches and one packet of marinated chicken drumsticks for tomorrow dinner. The sandwiches is supposed to be our breakfast or lunch on the boat. But i am feeling hungry so i ate mine. Then i go facebook and also use skype to called them. After that i fell asleep.


Highlights of today journey :-

Canterbury Plains
Geraldine
Lake Tekapo - a stunning glacial-fed lake
Church of the Good Shepherd
Lake Pukaki
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Mackenzie Country scenery









At Geraldine, Kiwi country cafe (according to the timetable) at 9.30am, we eat breakfast at the cafe. We ordered tomato soup to shared and one beef pie each.





The Hermitage Hotel at Mt Cook, satay pork with rice for lunch, $15.00 shared. The extra rice cost $5.00 we decided not to get extra rice. There is a lot of pork so we are full after finishing all the meat. We stayed there until 2.25pm.

For dinner we bought brocolli at the shop at Cromwell and cooked maggi mee. We saw many backpackers cooking in the small kitchen too. They cooked chicken which looks delicious. We decided to buy some chicken to cook too.

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