New Zealand road trip was awesome

I just came back from a 14-day road trip to the South Island of New Zealand and it was epic. It was one of the best trips I ever had and I had the opportunity to share this trip with my beautiful colleagues and friends. Certainly, the two weeks we spent together in this beautiful country allowed us to make great memories that will be remembered for life. I am truly grateful that I made this trip with them and that they themselves thoroughly enjoyed it.

Personally for me, it was my second time travelling to New Zealand. The first time was when I did my first ever road trip there. It was great. That sense of adventure that I felt when I first travelled there was still felt even when I revisited those places after more than a decade apart. New Zealand was probably the first country that made me open up my eyes to the wider world, that there is always something more to explore and discover.

I managed to strike a number of things that I want to do in my travel bucket list, things that I did not have the opportunity to do back then.

Skydived in Queenstown

Me and another friend of mine booked a 15,000 feet skydive in Queenstown, something that I failed to do on my first trip due to bad weather. We were supposed to do it on the second day of our arrival in Queenstown but was met with inclement weather as well, and had to rebook it to do it a day before our departure when we made a circuitous route around the South Island. Fortunately, the weather was good and we made the jumped. It was scary yet exhilarating. 15,000 feet was really high and we jumped off the plane where the clouds were hovering, having pelted with raindrops when we jumped. It was as scary as bungee jumping off the canyon which I did on my first trip, but I love the free-fall feeling. Such freedom, rarely felt, despite only lasting 30 seconds. I am glad that I get to experience skydive for the first time in my life.

Hiked up Roy’s Peak

Roy’s Peak is one of New Zealand most iconic hiking trails. It rewards you with a spectacular view of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding mountains. Prior to taking part in this hike, I read that this was not an easy hike as the ascent is steep and near continuous for 3 hours straight, up to an elevation of almost 1600 meters. And they were right. It was actually very difficult. The difficulty is not so much technical (like having to scale mountains or cliffs or use ropes or advance equipment), but rather physical, as the switchback trails are steep and unforgiving. But the view was heavenly. I was blessed with cloudy weather on the way up, and it cleared by the time we reached the top. I have always wanted to to scale Roy’s Peak and having done so (with considerable difficulty) it was a personal achievement for me.

Kayaked in Milford Sound

Getting to Milford Sound is not easy. My first trip to New Zealand, I didn’t get the opportunity to drive there as it is a 2-hour drive (4 hour return) from Te Anau. But this time, with my friends, we drove there specifically to Kayak in Milford Sound, the Kayak starts at 7am, meaning we had to leave Te Anau, at 5am, very early in the morning to make the 2-hour journey. But the drive and effort of waking up in the wee hours of the morning was worth it. It was as if you were transported to another planet, but breathtaking views of the mountains and waterfalls, all while kayaking in the water. It was such an intimate experience to enjoy the sights that Milford Sound had to offer on a kayak.

White water rafting in Queenstown

I never had a strong affinity to water. While I can swim, I am not a particularly good swimmer. While I enjoy kayaking, as you can choose to do a leisurely paddle or a competitive race in the water, white water rafting was something that I’d rather not do. But I went ahead and conquered my fears with my friends who were so eager in doing it (they even declared it was their favourite activity of the trip) I survived rafting down a churning river without falling off the raft and drifting downstream. Overall it was actually fun, but it was too intense for me at times. I am just glad that I have my friend around me to assure me that everything will be alright.

Saw a live kiwi in Franz Joseph

We visited a West Coast Conservation Center which serves as a visitor Center and education center for kiwi conservation. They had an enclosure that mimics the natural environment for kiwi and there were two live kiwis inside. We learned a lot about the kiwis from the guided tour we paid as part of the entry to the conservation center. It was definitely a great educational experience.

Hiked Hooker Valley at Mount Cook National Park

Another hiking trail that I always wanted to do and explore is the Hooke Valley at Mount Cook National Park. I love that place, as the drive to Mount Cook from Twizel is one of the most beautiful and to admire New Zealand’s highest peak in the distance while hiking the surrounding areas is just blissful. The hiking trail was pretty crowded as it is one of the more popular trails for travellers. Not too difficult or long that most people can enjoy, young or old.

I strike 6 things off my travel bucket list in one trip. I must say that was a pretty efficient and effective trip and it is a trip that I will remember for the rest of my life.