Notes on travel expenses in New Zealand
New Zealand may not come off as an affordable place to travel, but with some knowledge and care, it is possible to reduce unnecessary costs and spend your hard-earned money on the activities that you want to do. Luckily, by the end of this trip, I managed to keep my expenses below my original budget...
Notes on hostels in New Zealand
Given that New Zealand is a popular destination for backpackers, there is simply no shortage of hostels at most places. I can arrive in any town knowing that I will have a bed for the night, unless there is something going on in town. (Well, Christchurch is an exception, the post-earthquake situation is such that...
The story of how I travelled around New Zealand
“The journey is more important than the destination.” I’ve heard this quote a thousand times over but it wasn’t until this trip to New Zealand that I fully grasp the meaning behind this saying. I could have rented a car to travel the whole of New Zealand, instead of thinking how I can get to...
Queenstown – the town I call Paradise
If there’s one place in New Zealand I can’t stop raving about, that would be Queenstown. Yes, it is a resort town and everything is pricier, but that doesn’t negate the fact that it sits right in one of the most beautiful regions of NZ. Queenstown is built around an inlet on the edge of...
Working while travelling the organic way
Realising that our budget was soon running up, Ryan and I knew that we needed to find a way to cut cost and still continue travelling in New Zealand. Luckily, in New Zealand, the term ‘working-holiday’ is a common knowledge amongst most backpackers. Jobs for travellers in NZare aplenty, and for us, we decided to...
Spotting wildlife for free at The Catlins
New Zealand has an abundance of unique wildlife, but trying to spot them for free isn’t an easy task. But once you get off the beaten track, you might find yourself standing in front of the world’s rarest penguin or witness sea lions returning to the shore – all for free! The Catlins is an area...
Cruising the majestic Milford Sound
The word ‘majestic’ may just be an understatement for the sheer size of New Zealand’s most popular tourist attraction. Located in the south west region of New Zealand’s south island, Milford Sound is only one out of the 14 fiords in the region (imagine how big this region is!). A fiord (or Sound as they...
A day in the ice kingdom – Hiking the Franz Josef Glacier
Looking back, I had no idea where I got my sources from, but I remember vividly that hiking the Franz Josef Glacier was one of my must-dos when planning the trip to New Zealand. Despite its hefty price tag ($180 for a full day hike), it still remains as one of the most interesting experience...
Luminate Festival 2012
Attending the Luminate Festival 2012 may have been the craziest decision I have ever made in my New Zealand trip. “Crazy” not necessarily in a bad way, but here’s the background behind it: Meeting up with 2 friends that I met earlier at Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Wellington, I realised they were heading south to...
