New Zealand

Overview 

Top places to visit: Wānaka, Milford Sound, Queenstown 

Top things to do: Hiking, wineries, golfing 

New Zealand had been at the top of my bucket list for quite some time and we jumped on the opportunity to visit when cheap airline flights popped up. We went during their transition from summer to autumn and the weather was perfect, 60 degrees most days. We packed a lot in during our stay there starting in Wānaka and moving to Lake Tekapo, Mt. Cook, Milford Sound, Queenstown and a morning in Auckland before flying out. 

Wānaka 

Wānaka is a cute little town, known for its lakefront, that has everything you need within 15 minutes. 

Top things to do: Visit the Wānaka tree, hike Roys peak, visit wineries, spend time at the lake 

Activities

• Hiking Roy's Peak. This is a must if you are in Wānaka. It’s a steady incline from the start with a clear path. Recommend starting early, we started at 7am and got the last spot in the parking lot. If it’s clear skies, the top has an incredible panorama view of the lakes and mountains. Unfortunately we had a decent amount of cloud coverage, I would recommend checking the visibility the night before. It took us 5 hours to complete with beautiful views as you go up and down, passing by cows and sheep on the trail. If hiking during the day, bring lots of water, it gets hot!  Recommend Doughbin for a pastry and coffee after. The total distance is just over 10 miles.

• Wānaka tree - Notable but touristy. Easy to get to and recommend since it’s a short walk from the lake front.

Food/Beverages

•  Locals recommend Kika, Muttonbird and Wanafusion. We ate at Tititea Steak House our first night and it was fine, I wouldn’t personally recommend it. 

• Doughbin for coffee and pastries

• Food Truck Park - Great for grabbing a quick bite. They have picnic benches you can eat at or do takeout. We grabbed a burrito from Burrito Craft and it hit the spot after a long day hiking. 

• Wineries

• Rippon Vineyard- Incredible views overlooking Lake Wānaka and island! Unfortunately you cannot have a glass on the property, it is tasting by reservation only. They do offer frequent tastings, free of charge, throughout the day so make sure to make a reservation.  

• Paddons Paddock Winery- Quaint family winery. They have a nice outdoor area with plenty of seating and will occasionally have live music playing outside. The food was fine, nothing remarkable. 

Places to stay

• There are plenty of places to stay in Wānaka. We stayed in an Airbnb on the east side of the town with lovely hosts and stunning property on lake Wānaka.  This is the link to their Airbnb, cannot recommend them enough! 

Mount Cook

With limited time, we were unable to spend a significant amount of time at Mt. Cook. The drive in along Lake Pukaki is stunning, we were stopping frequently to take in the sights. The water is a vivid teal blue! 

• Hooker Valley Hike-  This is an easy 6.8 mile walk/hike with incredible views throughout. You’ll find yourself going over multiple swing bridges throughout the hike. The hike is scenic but quite touristy. 
  

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is a small town close to Mount Cook that is good for passing through. 

Top things to do: Spend time around the lake, walk to The Church of the Good Shepherd 

Activities 

• Tekapo Springs Hot Pools- I would  pass if given the opportunity again. It costs a little over $20 USD for the warm pools and is very busy. The hottest warm pool was not hot enough for me and the sauna and cold plunge cost extra. There is no spa aesthetic if that is something you are looking for.  If you go, bring towels so you do not have to pay extra for using theirs.  

• Walk around The Church of the Good Shepherd 

Restaurants

• There are limited options in Lake Tekapo. 

• TLV- We at at TLV, which appeared to be the best in the area and had nice views overlooking the lake, however it was a touch expensive and under seasoned. 

• The Better Batter- This is an adorable food truck on the lake with large portions and lots of fries in the basket. There are picnic tables around the lake you can eat at. The fish is freshly battered and fried, just slightly oily. Get extra tartar sauce and lemon!

• Jack Rabbit Cafe- good coffee to fuel up with before a day of travel or hiking 

Lodging

There is not as much lodging as other cities in New Zealand. Recommend looking/booking ahead if planning on staying in Lake Tekapo. 

Te Anau

Te Anau is a nice spot to stop at on the way to or from Milford Sound. It has plenty of restaurants and a lovely path to walk along Lake Te Anau and take in the beautiful views. 

Lodging

Lodging can be hard to find, recommend booking ahead of time. 

Restaurants

Plenty of food options here. We went to Ditto, an Asian fusion restaurant and loved it! You can dine in or do takeout, which is what we opted to do and ate our meal down by the lake. Highly recommend!

Get gas before driving to Milford Sound!

Milford Sound 

This is a must do if you are in New Zealand! We did the first morning boat tour and it worked out perfectly. The roads have many twists and turns and have notably less traffic in the early morning. We did a 2 hour tour and it seemed to be just the right amount of time. It’s a bit of a walk down to the docks from where you park so give yourself plenty of time and bring your rain coat/layers just in case! 

Queenstown 

Queenstown is a popular city in the south island with a plethora of restaurants, sights and activities to do and see. 

Top things to do: Golf, explore the waterfront and restaurants, Onsen hot pools

Activities

• Queenstown Golf Club- If you enjoy golfing, I highly recommend booking a tee time here! It’s hard to keep your head down while golfing when you are surrounded by water and mountains on this golf course peninsula. 

• Gondola Skyline- While touristy, it offers great views of Queenstown and fun to look at where you have and plan to explore. There is a bar and restaurant at the top of the gondola with panoramic views. 

• Onsen Hot Pools- This is a lovely and relaxing experience. We did the Outdoor Onsen experience which was 60 minutes in the hot pool facing the mountains and river. Perfect after multiple days of travel!

• Walk around the waterfront and explore restaurants and shops. Of note, parking can be quite challenging to find. 

Restaurants

• The Boat Shed Cafe- Must do! While golfing with locals, they highly recommended this place for brunch and it did not disappoint. This was probably my favorite meal in New Zealand. The atmosphere was lively and cozy and the food was seasoned to perfection.  

• Finz - Good curry mussels

• Fergberg- Personally feel this is overrated. Skip the line and head somewhere else

Wineries/Breweries

• Amisfield - Beautiful winery and restaurant. We started with tasing in the cellar and had a glass of wine outside after. There is plenty of outdoor space to sit and enjoy a beverage. They have a quaint green house that also serves as a private table and would be perfect for a get together with 4-6 people. 

• Canyon Brewing- A nice casual spot to hang outside by the Shotover River offering brews, food and good views 

Auckland 

We only spent a morning in Auckland prior to our flight back home. The limited time we had, we walked around the city and enjoyed some breakfast items. Amano is a restaurant and bakery with a bohemian style, exposed beams and cozy feel. They make a great almond croissant. Le chef is a quaint breakfast spot with indoor and outdoor seating, in a charming  alley making you feel like you are in Europe. Eggs Benedict was great. 

Cheers!