Our New Zealand adventure continued, transitioning from the dramatic West Coast to the vibrant hubs of Queenstown, Dunedin, and finally, Auckland. This segment of our journey wove together breathtaking landscapes, unique wildlife encounters, and the warmth of local hospitality, even when faced with unexpected turns.
Saturday: Queenstown Arrival and a Purse Predicament
Saturday began early with breakfast at The Landing, offering good coffee and food. We took a short 20-minute walk to Peter’s Pond before driving to Queenstown. Upon arrival at our hotel, we discovered Virginia’s purse was not in the car. Thankfully, it was located at The Landing, albeit requiring a 4.5-hour drive back to retrieve it, which we decided to do later on the 27th. After checking in, we walked around the town center and had burgers for lunch, followed by grocery shopping. Much-needed laundry was accomplished. We returned to the town center for tastings at The Winery, where we also purchased a bottle for Christmas dinner, including the delicious Michael Syrah 2015. We acquired a Man O’ War Ironclad 2008. After finishing the laundry, we had dinner at Sherwood.
Sunday: Christmas in Queenstown and a Fiordland Flight
Christmas Day allowed us to sleep in. Breakfast consisted of eggs, sausage, and toast. We walked around downtown, up the coast, and through the Queenstown Gardens. We took the gondola up and then walked down the Tiki Trail, descending almost 1,500 feet. Back at our accommodation, we prepared a Christmas dinner of lamb and vegetables with bread and butter, accompanied by the Man O’ War Ironclad 2008 we had purchased.
Monday: Milford Sound Majesty and Queenstown Flavors
Monday began early with eggs, sausage, and toast for breakfast. We drove to True South near the Queenstown airport for a chartered flight to Milford Sound. Gareth, our pilot, was both pleasant and highly skilled. Upon arrival, we embarked on a two-hour cruise within the fiord, marveling at the stunning landscapes. We then flew back to Queenstown and headed downtown for lunch at Madam Woo, where we enjoyed a hawker roll with duck and hoisin, beef rendang, and nasi lemak with fried chicken. We purchased a new hoodie at Icebreaker before returning to the hotel for a nap. Dinner was at The Bunker, an exquisite seafood experience with excellent service.
Tuesday: A Long Drive to Dunedin and Gin Delights
Tuesday marked a substantial driving day, starting before 6 AM. Our route took us first to Franz Josef to retrieve Virginia’s purse from The Landing, where we also had lunch, and then continued on to Dunedin. The entire drive covered approximately 900km (560 miles). Upon checking into our hotel, we headed to ZanziBar for three rounds of gin drinks, including two Roku with lemon, ginger, and tonic, one Rifters Quartz with rhubarb bramble tonic, and two Rifters Pinot Noir barrel gins, one as a martini and one neat. We also enjoyed the Julian Temple Band, noting their good grooves despite the drummer’s less solo-oriented performance.
Wednesday: Dunedin Exploration and Unexpected Wellness
Wednesday began at a reasonable hour. Breakfast at Nova was a relaxing joy, enjoyed outside. We spent a considerable amount of time walking around Dunedin, exploring the city. Lunch was at Governor’s. We returned to the room for some administrative tasks, then grabbed coffee and tea from Nova. Virginia began to feel unwell, but a COVID test returned negative, providing a measure of relief. Dinner was takeaway from Anatolia Turkish, consisting of a chicken shish wrap, lamb kebab on rice, and baklava.
Thursday: Castle Gardens and Penguin Encounters
Thursday saw Virginia feeling somewhat unwell, but we decided to venture out. Breakfast was at The Perc in the Octagon. We got in the car and visited Larnach Castle, walking through its gardens and observing visitors. Our drive continued to Penguin Place, a reserve dedicated to the severely endangered yellow-eyed penguin. We joined a 90-minute tour, witnessing the important work they do, including their rehabilitation center for undernourished penguins and shelters for chicks, alongside their efforts to replant the coastal bush environment. It was a truly great and impactful experience. We then drove back along the coast to the hotel before heading out for dinner at No. 7 Balmac. The meal included a three-cheese soufflé with olive tapenade, chicken liver pate, venison saltimbocca, and a blackberry brioche pudding with lemon curd and cream. We returned to pack up.
Friday: Auckland Arrival and Waterfront Indulgences
Friday started early for check-out. We reached the airport after a minor detour to two gas stations to refuel the car. Bacon butties and coffee at the airport provided sustenance before we proceeded through security. The flight was easy, and we were fortunate to have three seats to ourselves. Upon arrival, we checked into the Hilton at the waterfront. We considered taking the ferry to Waiheke Island but decided against it due to the unexpectedly long line. Instead, we opted for The Shucker Brothers, where we enjoyed a variety of oysters (raw, tempura, grilled with bacon and cheese), ceviche, and crawfish sliders with champagne. We returned to our room to enjoy the weather from our balcony before dinner outside at Onemata. Our dishes included fried chicken and roast cauliflower with Sakarya Brut Rose NV, blue cod and kumara with Greywacke Pinot Gris 2019, and scampi risotto with Odyssey “Hera” Chardonnay 2021. We walked back to the hotel and to bed.
Saturday: Auckland’s Cafe Culture
Saturday began with breakfast at the hotel. We then walked to Koel Cafe and sat outside, enjoying long blacks.
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