drc13’s New Zealand 2014 Trip Report
If you’ve ever read one of my trip reports before you probably already know that this is going to be a lengthy read with a bunch of photos scattered in between. Consider yourself warned!
I’ve tried to include some tips that I picked up along the way, if you are planning a similar trip or think I have missed anything I’d be more than happy to answer any questions.
My transportation and accommodation was a Jucy Condo Campervan. The cost of hire was dirt cheap to begin with (hunt down 10-15% off coupon codes before booking) plus the bonus of “ski4free” which included up to 6 days of lift tickets at Treble Cone for free.
The biggest selling point in my case was complete flexibility of my itinerary as I could essentially drive and sleep wherever I wanted. As it turns out whilst not “too good to be true” it was far from perfect and I will do things differently next time (more on this later)
Waiting for this trip was made harder when an early dump of snow hit NZ while Australia sat warm and bone dry. This quickly flipped as just before I left snowmageddon smashed into the Australian alps whilst NZ had a rather depressing forecast. My board bag went from 3 boards down to 1 rockhopper.
Christchurch was my starting point with the plan to make my way down to the Queenstown area.
This ended up being roughly the area I covered on the South Island.
Day 1: Sydney > Christchurch
So the day had come, it was school holidays and time to fly out to Christchurch. A window seat turned out to be a good call as you are struck by a very impressive mountain range down the west coast of NZ. Just as you’ve peeled your face off the glass the land flattens out and not long later you are crossing the east coast as you circle back to the airport. It blew my mind at the time that you could cross the width of the country in such a short time.
After picking up and getting acquainted with my gaudy bright green and purple Jucy Condo I was on my way to Northlands Shopping Mall. I needed a data sim card for my phone and ended up with a 3GB for $30 deal from Telecom which did the job nicely. I asked the sales guy where would be a great place to head for one night in Christchurch. To my surprise he kind of struggled and I ended up with a “maybe around the casino area” (I figured he just must have had a social life comparable to mine). I asked the lady at the holiday park the same question and she also struggled basically saying there wasn’t much to choose from.
As it was getting late I decided I’d be best off aiming the van towards the CBD area. I soon realised why it had been such a tricky question as due to the earthquake Christchurch had become a bit of a ghost town. This became even more apparent as I tried to use tripadvisors GPS coordinates to find a few well reviewed restaurants only to be greeted by a security fence and a pile of rubble at each of them.
Starving and cold I finally decided to leave the CBD and head back towards the holiday park and fortunately came across a nice authentic Korean restaurant on the way. After dinner I headed back to the park and spent the next couple of hours cursing at how tricky it was to getting the van/bedding setup in the cold and dark. I eventually settled in for a pretty uncomfortable night.
NZ nailing the first impression
Big Saturday Night in Christchurch
Finally found some Bibimbap for dinner
Day 2: Christchurch > Akaroa
The next morning started with exploring some more of Christchurch. With the aid of the sunlight I now got a much better idea of the destruction that the earthquake had caused. More of a demolition zone than city, it was eery and sad. I ended it on a high note by visiting a nice little collection of shops/cafes called RE:start where everything is built in brightly coloured shipping containers.
I ended up having a lovely breakfast in one of the shipping container cafes before hitting the road in the direction of Akaroa on the east coast.
It was a hilly and windy road which would have been great fun in anything but a boxy gutless campervan. The views along the way of lush green hills with the water in the distance was really pretty.
After parking the van I went for a walk around Akaroa which is a small French/British coastal settlement. It was quite bustling during the day but the crowds quickly died off once the sun and temperatures dropped.
Dinner choices in winter were limited so I settled on small pub where I dragged the average age down significantly. Some of the oldies were intrigued when I ordered the beef cheeks off the specials menu but after hearing my rave reviews ended up being adventurous and giving it a shot themselves. Fortunately I got a thumbs up on the way out!
Christchurch Cathedral in the process of being demolished
The “CBD”
Cardboard Cathedral
Re:start shopping centre built out of shipping containers
Windy roads to Akaroa with beautiful views
Room with a view
Getting to know some of Akaroa’s locals
Day 3: Akaroa > Lake Tekapo
Today I had a fairly long drive to Lake Tekapo. Against my better judgement I decided to give ice skating at Tekapo Springs a shot. I was pretty awful at it so I’ll leave the ice rink and sparkly lycra to Jez! 
A quick change into some boardies and I hit the hot springs. Being a Japanese Onsen connoisseur the springs were a bit let down and in the wind and rain pretty bloody cold!
The main draw card of Lake Tekapo for me was the Stargazing tour I had booked as this area is an international dark sky region. Unfortunately upon checking in due to the cloudy weather the tour had been cancelled.
I headed to a Japanese restaurant for dinner and seeing as the servings were so small I didn’t feel too guilty about grabbing a cinnamon scroll and ice cream for dessert on the way home before calling it a night.
I was eyeing off one of those stability frames
Tekapo Springs
Day 4: Lake Tekapo > Aoraki/Mt Cook
I took in the sun rise over Lake Tekapo before hitting the road in the direction of Aoraki/Mt Cook. This drive was simply amazing. There were views as far as the eye could see, Lake Pukaki a stunning green/blue colour, snow topped mountains and Aoraki/Mt Cook looming in the distance.
Aoraki is only a small town with a total of three places to eat at. I ended up grabbing a meal at the Mountaineers pub to fuel up before a hike. As it turned out it was one of the best pies I’ve ever had!
After lunch I was off to the Hooker Valley Track not really knowing what to expect. This was a truly awe inspiring walk through valleys, over mountains and streams to the final destination of a glacier. I didn’t know it at the time but it would be my favourite walk of the trip despite it being very cold and windy. I highly recommend it for anyone in the area.
On a high from an enjoyable 3hr walk I decided to try to fit in three more shorter walks before I ran out of sunlight. As I got to the furthest point out the weather changed quickly with winds and rain before turning to snow. It made for a tough old clamber up slippery rocks and in the end I couldn’t see much due to the cloud.
Drenched and tired I felt I’d earnt dinner and dessert for the night and in turn completed ⅔ of the dining options in town.
After dinner I headed back to the White Horse Campground which is a very basic unpowered site right at the bottom of the Hooker Valley Track. Despite the cold I spent an hour stargazing with a couple who were camping next to me. I’ve never seen a sky like it, soo many stars/planets/shooting stars and the milky way covering the length of the sky all visible with the naked eye. This amazing view was topped off with the soundtrack of the mountain and glaciers rumbling in the background. It made up for missing the stargazing tour in Tekapo.
By now I was starting to freeze from the feet up so called it a night after a great day.
Forest, Lakes and Mountains. NZ has it all!
In really strong crosswinds, I have to admit to holding on tightly to the side of the rope bridge as I crossed it
The glacier itself was anticlimactic but a very memorable walk
Fergburger!
Day 5: Aoraki/Mt Cook > Queenstown
I wake up to a winter wonderland. Everything is covered in a layer of white and it’s beautiful. I head straight to the start of the Kea track and get to set first tracks in the snow all the way up. This walk is equally as spectacular as the Hooker Valley Track once again surrounded by huge mountains and rewarded at the end with a glacial lake all to myself. After chilling out in nature for an hour or so I decide to walk back to the car park only to find my neighbors from the night before quite distressed with a broken down van. I offer to help them out and drive them back to town but fortunately they manage to get a hold of the national parks who send down a couple of guys with a spare battery. With this all sorted out I say a sad goodbye to the Aoraki region and begin my drive to Queenstown.
I stop at Omarama for lunch and petrol which is starting to add up quickly at $2.40/L.
After asking how big the lunch would be before ordering the lady decides she liked me so gives me double of everything!
With a very full stomach I hit the road and only a couple of minutes later I start to wonder if that will be my last meal. Out of nowhere a blizzard hits and the steep windy road quickly turns white and the campervan fancies itself as a drift machine. The next 100km turns into an exhausting, slow and scary drive with the slightest braking or downshift resulting in the rear end of the van stepping out and fishtailing down the hill. More than once I thought I was going off the edge of a cliff or into oncoming traffic.
A few hours later I make it to Queenstown which is a big contrast from Aoraki which I have come from. I explore the town before settling on the obvious dinner choice of Fergburger (Little Lamby) quickly followed by Fergbaker (Apple Pie)
Nice waking up to this
Kea Track
Quite the reward at the end
View on the way down wasn’t too shabby
Day 6: Queenstown > Te Anau
Up early the next morning to catch a glimpse of Queenstown in the light. As the sun rises over the harbour the view is quite “remarkable” The Crowne Plaza temperature gauge says -12c and I believe it as I’m cold to the bone! Cars sliding down the ice covered roads provide an interesting sideshow.
Not completely satisfied with Fergburger the night before I figure I should give them another shot for breakfast with a Morning Horn. I then hit the road for Te Anau hoping to carry on the active theme and do a hike I’d read about in the Milford area. I also have a full day of kayaking booked in Milford Sound the following day which I have been looking forward to for a while.
I drive for a few hours though flat farmland which is surprisingly covered in snow. Upon arriving I check in at the Department of Conservation to let them know I’ll be on the tracks only to find out the roads to Milford are all closed due to snowfalls. From there I head to check up on my kayak tour the next day to find out that they have also cancelled the tour and didn’t think to let me know before I drove down! They then strongly encouraged me to spend the extra $$ and lock in the Doubtful Sound boat cruise the next day. Although this didn’t sound anywhere near as fun as kayaking I was in a bit of a flap so handed over the money and booked it in but had a really bad feeling about it.
Not content with my lack of activity I decided to head to the Kepler track and walk to Moturau Hut which was rated at 3hrs (it was 2hrs before sunset) The track ended up being pretty disappointing in comparison to the epic walks I had been on earlier mostly wet beech forest and I had to run the last 7km to beat the sun but made it back safely.
Lots of Te Anau is closed over winter so I settled for a indian dinner from the local servo and had a early night hoping for a more successful day tomorrow.
A Remarkable morning in Queenstown
Queenstown Slip ‘n Slide
Wet forest walk on the Kepler track
Pretty beach to myself at Moturau Hut
Day 7: Doubtful Sound > Queenstown
I wish I had something more positive to report but the Doubtful sound cruise which I wasn’t that excited about turned out to be worse than expected and one of the most boring days of my life.
After being out and about in some amazing scenery the past few days being stuck on a boat for the day was never going to be my cup of tea. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t playing along and it was foggy and poured rain the entire day. You literally couldn’t see a thing so we spent the entire day cruising around with nearly all of the passengers looking bored to death of catching up on some very expensive sleep.
I’m still really filthy about how this all went down. If the kayak place had contacted me when it was cancelled before I drove down I would have had two days to explore elsewhere. The fact that they then took us on a cruise where they knew we wouldn’t be able to see a thing was really disappointing the day shouldn’t have gone ahead.
I counted down the minutes until we got back to port and ran to the van and hammered back in the direction of Queenstown as quickly as possible. Lamb shanks at Speights for dinner followed by an epic lemon meringue at Fergbaker at least finished the 48hrs on a high!
Pretty much the only photo where you can see anything in Doubtful Sound
I think this demonstrates the good times that were had by all 
Highlight of past 48hrs
Day 8: Queenstown
I woke up today looking to get the holiday back on track. I had decided to give Queenstown’s Ben Lomond track a shot. I put all of my gear on as I had been warned it’s really wild and exposed up there in winter and caught the Queenstown Gondola up to the starting point.
From the get go it’s a pretty steep track but the views were already rewarding so I was really getting into it. At the 1.5hr point the track turned to ice. As luck would have it I’d unpacked the backpack the day before for the cruise and had forgotten to put my yaktrax (ice traction for shoes) in my bag. Eventually I worked out that no matter how much I swore they wouldn’t teleport from the van to me. I tested a few different tracks, falling a number of times as the winds picked up and snow started to fall I decided I’d have to turn back. Despite not finishing it was still a great walk. Being out there on my own with the weather closing in felt very Lord of the Rings.
On Ozgirls and Mizu’s recommendation I decided to hit up Cows Pizza for lunch. As expected I was seated in a booth with randoms. I had gone in hoping for something along the lines of female swedish backpackers but ended up with Aussie guys from Penrith… Can’t win them all but the pizza was nice.
With a full belly it was time to start organising my first snowboarding session of the season. I headed up to Coronet Peak for some night boarding. Upon arriving all but one lift broke down and heavy cloud came in making visibility nil. I sat around for a while before calling it off planning to give it another shot at the tail end of the trip.
I was still full from lunch so settled on a blueberry pie from Fergbaker for dessert.
Looking down on Queenstown
Promising start to Ben Lomond Track
My nemesis, ice on the track
Really wild area
This track was sketchy in strong side winds!
Cow Pizza
Day 9: Queenstown > Wanaka
Today I was off to Wanaka which I’d been looking forward to. I coaxed the van over the Crown Range making the decision along the way that due to some already sketchy moments and its ability to gulp down gold laced petrol that the shuttle to Treble Cone might be the better option.
I arrive in Wanaka just after the shuttle has left so the decision is made for me and I prepare myself for the dreaded Treble Cone drive. The drive was actually great fun I really enjoyed it, although there were a couple of moments where I decided I should really be concentrating more on the road than the scenery as there would be no second chances.
The drive went as smoothly as you could expect in the van and I over confidently pulled into my black ice covered parking spot nearly sliding straight off the mountain.
It’s hard to explain just how pretty the views are from the mountain really impressive stuff and it makes our surroundings back here look really dull. After a couple of warm up laps I made my way over the the Saddle area and realised that I was one of only a handful of snowboarders there it was really dominated by skiers. The steep chutes and moguls tested out me out being my first time on a board in a year.
The snow quality was nice enough but I would imagine Treble Cone’s steep open terrain would be epic on a powder day. Satisfied after a good day of boarding I head back to Wanaka and after deciding I’d had enough of sleeping in the van booked myself into a hotel for the week.
I’m not particularly fussy about where I sleep on holidays but have to admit having my own room/storage/running water was nice. After a hot shower and catching up on all the latest in airport security and highway patrols (that’s all that was on the TV 24/7) I headed out for dinner and had a surprisingly good meal at the Water Bar.
I also got a taste of “happy hour” which seems to be really big in NZ. The place was packed with Cardrona workers until 6.30pm then the place suddenly empties out. Little did I know at the time that over the week I’d start scheduling myself around these happy hours sampling ciders along the way.
Treble Cone
Fun drive up the mountain
Stopping for a photo
Quickly converted my room into a Chinese Laundry
Dinner Presented a lot better than I was expecting from a bar menu
Day 10: Wanaka
I wake up this morning feeling refreshed after what felt like sleeping on warm fluffy clouds! I make my way to Treble Cone and snowboard until lunch. I need a walking fix so head to the Diamond Lake Summit Track on the way home. It actually turned out to be another pretty steep walk and after nearly falling off again on an icy section my legs were pretty shot by the time I made it to the top. The views from the top were worth it though on one side the Lake Wanaka Area the other the mountain ranges.
Based on reviews I squeeze myself into a booking at The Spice Room Indian restaurant and have a lovely Venison Curry with a Naan basket, it was a tasty meal.
Summit of Diamond Lake Track
Looking back to the mountain range
Day 11: Wanaka
Today was one of the big ticket walks in the area the Rob Roy Glacier track. It’s a fair drive to get out there as you continue past Treble Cone into Mt Aspiring National Park before you hit 30 km of unsealed farm roads. I was pretty sure I was going to be mechanically deaf from the sound of plates and cutlery clashing around in the “kitchen” but the actual drive itself was good fun and very pretty. I encountered free roaming farm animals and had to cross 9 fords (water crossings) each way half expecting to be washed into the river each time.
Eventually I got started on this impressive walk. A mixture of huge mountains, waterfalls, forest and glaciers. I stopped for lunch (my trusty hiking staple of a tin of tuna with a avocado) and realised how small I felt surrounded by this impressive landscape with the now familiar mountain/glacier soundtrack.
Dinner was an easy decision as it was Tuesday Ribs Night at the water bar which meant 1kg of ribs for $15! I wasn’t disappointed the ribs were very tasty close to hurricanes standard just way cheaper.
Stared down by a Deer probably hoping it wasn’t soon in a curry
Grass fed free range approved steaks
Had to cross 9 of these fords each way
Felt very small sitting amongst the glaciers at lunch
1KG ribs night 
Day 12: Wanaka
The weather was starting to close in today and with rain on the forecast I hit up Treble Cone again before it was too late. Whilst still a fun morning it was starting to get pretty choppy up top and very bare down low. After making it back to Wanaka I decided to walk the Mt Iron Loop Track which was conveniently located within 5mins from town and offered some nice views into the locals backyards.
I’d pre booked dinner at the number 1 rated place in town Francesca’s where they could fit me in at the bar. I don’t have issues dining by myself but have to say to start with this was a little awkward. The bar staff were quite chatty but I was kind of in the middle of everything and felt out of place as I waited for my meal. Fortunately I was soon joined by another single traveller and the conversation flowed making for a more relaxed night. As for the food, Wow! I’ve had a lot of Italian meals but this was very impressive. They were famous for their polenta fries which I wouldn’t usually order but I’m glad I did. The beef ragu gnocchi was one of the best I’ve had. I was pretty tempted to order another main purely based on taste.
Mirrored lake on the way back from TC
Proud of myself after my very weary legs got me to the top of Mt Iron
Best gnocchi I’ve had
Day 13: Wanaka/Cardrona
I wake up today to hear the mountain conditions are very ordinary. After some quick googling I come up with a plan for the day. In the morning I walk the Lake Wanaka Outlet track. Straight from there I head out to Cardrona to give horse riding a crack. I’m a bit nervous as I haven’t had any luck at all with any of my previous “tours” on the trip. After correctly assessing my experience level at zero my perfect horse match is apparently Andy and I’m chosen to lead the pack! This turned out to be really fun. We wound our way up and around the Cardona area and farmlands even crossing a few streams on the way. Once the confidence levels were up we get into a trot and even an accidental canter which quickly put my man bits in their place. We rode to the famous Cardrona Pub where we were shouted a drink before riding back to the ranch as the sun set. It was great to be able to tick a tour off as successful and I look forward having another crack at it again.
Lake Wanaka Outlet Track
I’m on a horse!
Day 14: Wanaka > Queenstown
Sadly Treble Cone is closed today due to lack of snow. I bid a fond farewell to Wanaka a town which I’ve really enjoyed being in. I drive over the crown range stopping off along the way at a very wet Arrowtown. After a quick look around I make my way back to Queenstown where it’s still pretty wet and miserable but I do some of the walk around the lake.
I check in at the snow office to find out night boarding is cancelled for the next couple of nights so unfortunately I never got to give coronet peak a go, something to pencil in for next time. The girl from Francesca’s messages and wants to catch up for dinner and with the help of some mulled cider, a nice dinner at pub on wharf and a cracking ice cream from Patagonia it was a good night.
Farewell to the Crown Range
Tiny chinese settlement in Arrowtown. Probably still more comfy than the campervan!
Day 15: Queenstown/Glenorchy
The weather still isn’t playing along but I’ve been looking forward to Glenorchy as it’s apparently stunning and has some nice walks. Unfortunately I can’t actually see much of the scenic drive and upon arriving in Glenorchy the rain worsens so I call off the track I had planned and head back towards Queenstown. I end up doing the Bobs Cove/12 Mile Delta track which was ok but obviously would have been better without all the low cloud.
I grab dinner and cheapish drinks at 1876 back in Queenstown.
Bobs Cove/12 Mile Delta Track
Day 16: Queenstown/Sydney
Sadly this is my last day in NZ and ever sadder it’s still raining! I grab myself a hot chocolate and a couple of Fergbaker pies (braised venison and roast pork with apple) to finish NZ off on a food high before boarding my plane and heading home!
Home sweet home
Conclusion
I had a fantastic first time to NZ even if the snow and weather didn’t always play along. I enjoy being active and outdoors but hadn’t specifically targeted hiking so I can now add that to my list of things to do.
The food was great and after hearing how expensive it could be was pleasantly surprised by the affordable options.
NZ South Island lacks in cultural experiences vs somewhere like Japan but I was completely blown away by the beauty of the landscapes and I caught myself saying wow out loud more than once.
Next time I would strongly consider a diesel 4WD and sacrifice some flexibility by booking budget accommodation if driving there in winter.
The campervan was convenient but not comfortable to drive or sleep in. What I saved in accommodation I probably spent in petrol. If I really wanted to campervan again I’d probably consider stepping up to a proper winnebago style setup
I didn’t have much luck with my booked tours and had based specific trips around them. Next time I would call ahead and nag them in an attempt to find out if it’s actually worth driving all the way there only to find something to cancelled.
I can highly recommend a trip across the ditch and I know I’ll be back there fairly soon. It’s affordable, simple to plan and stunning in places.
Hopefully this trip report has shown that there are still plenty of amazing experiences to be had even if your feet aren’t constantly strapped into a snowboard!
Another epic TR from DRC
So many comments i am going to do them in bullet form!
* Wow that stark pic of the Christchurch CBD is probably the most depressing shot I have seen. I had heard how bad it was but that pic really brought it home.
* But even pre earthquake I remember the Casino area being the ‘place to be’
* Oh before I forget - love the quality/colour of your images. What is your camera?
* the ice skating! the stability frames!!!
* No obligatory Lake Tekapo church shot?
* I can’t believe the price of petrol!!!! (what is the reasoning for this anyone know? I thought we had the crazy tax!)
* do you have a pic of the bed set up in the van?
* I have to ask - Did you like Cow Pizza more than Fergburger? (contentious question - haha)
* Queenstown slip and slide - i have no words!!!
* Doubtful Sound cruise - :-(
* Lemon Meringue pie 
* love the photo names “real wild area”
* how many people did you hotel room sleep??
* can i ask where you were showering before this? No judgement just curious.
* Love the fan heater on your gear!
* is that pork belly?
* polenta fries rock!!!
* beef ragu looked pretty awesome too!
* You’re on a horse!
* Bobs Cove water!!!!!
Nice TR, DRC!!!!! 
Another epic TR from DRC
Thanks Kim really glad you enjoyed it and I love all the comments/questions you have about it!
* Wow that stark pic of the Christchurch CBD is probably the most depressing shot I have seen. I had heard how bad it was but that pic really brought it home.
Yeah it’s not good, There are definitely signs of rebuilding and trying to take a step forward (such as the Re:start mall) but it is still overwhelmingly a demolition site.
Here’s another angle
* Oh before I forget - love the quality/colour of your images. What is your camera?
Thanks! I was happy with how they turned out as well. I got by with my LG G2 phone which has a 13mp camera built in. To be more technical it’s running a modded G3 firmware with a tweaked camera app. I still would have loved a DSLR which would have produced some phenomenal results in the right hands but for pure convenience the phone did the job.
* the ice skating! the stability frames!!!
Haha it was a crack up. You’ll be happy to know I had a helmet on as I stubbornly staggered around without a frame.
* No obligatory Lake Tekapo church shot?
My timing was bad as the sun was rising directly behind the church and a bus load of tourists had just arrived making a clear shot impossible. But seeing as it is obligatory! 
I was more excited by the dog next to it 
* I can’t believe the price of petrol!!!! (what is the reasoning for this anyone know? I thought we had the crazy tax!)
Yeah this is something I wish I’d known before heading over as at $130 a tank it made a big difference to the budget! Interestingly diesel prices were the same as back here i.e $1.5/L so way more economical when you add the increased range as well.
* do you have a pic of the bed set up in the van?
For some reason I didn’t take a good photo of the van setup inside.
This is all I took which doesn’t really show anything (photo is from where I was lying towards the rear of the van.
The problem with the bed was I had to set it up and pack it away every single day which was a pain with a big snowboard bag in the way. I had intended on sleeping in the top bed and using the bottom for storage but even I had trouble getting up and down as you essentially needed to do a muscle up! Once up there it was a struggle to roll over without your shoulders hitting the roof. It was also cold at night and not very well padded meaning your hips and shoulders were pretty sore in the morning. Being a bit of a clean freak I struggled as the floor/bed area naturally got grittier as time went by.
As you know I’m not particularly picky about how fancy my sleeping arrangement is and I could easily do it again but I’d say my “Hotel Octavia” setup I use around these parts was comfier and warmer!
* I have to ask - Did you like Cow Pizza more than Fergburger? (contentious question - haha)
Haha are you trying to start a war?! I’ll answer honestly even if it is controversial. I wasn’t that impressed by Fergburger! Sure they were nice but I’ve had better burgers elsewhere. It’s great having such variety and choice and I’d love to make it through more of the menu (FYI my favourite after trying a few was probably the simple ferg with blue cheese) but they lost major points as it they just never seemed hot enough which is what I was craving in a very cold Queenstown. I was impressed by Fergbaker though decent value for great baked goods/sweets!
As for Cow pizza, once again not the best pizza I’ve had but it was hot and went down very well on the day (it was just what I felt like) I may be a bit biased though as I’ve always preferred pizza over burgers but in this case Cow gets the win over Fergburger!
So the Ferg Fans don’t rage too hard here’s a peace offering in the form of a photo 
* Queenstown slip and slide - i have no words!!!
Haha it was shocking, could have ended much worse though!
* Doubtful Sound cruise - :-(
Agreed, closest I’ve been to leaving a bad tripadvisor review..
* Lemon Meringue pie
It was soo nice, not too sweet or artificial and a thick crunchy biscuit base, the only dessert I had twice!
Apple pie was also a beauty
* love the photo names “real wild area”
Haha doh you’ve actually caught me out there on that one I was meant to change it to some LOTR reference after my draft but it slipped through!
* how many people did you hotel room sleep??
The room had a double bed + a bunk. Good value for $95 a night, I’d happily stay there again.
* can i ask where you were showering before this? No judgement just curious.
Although I had planned on doing a bit of free out in the wild camping I soon discovered having power for the little fan heater was more important so most of the time (other than the night at White Horse) I was on a powered site in a holiday park (on average $30/night) Meaning I could use the parks showering facilities.
* Love the fan heater on your gear!
Haha as mentioned above that fan heater and I became attached at the hip. Looking back at the photo probably not the best idea to leave it on top of a synthetic blanket
* is that pork belly?
Sure was, nice crispy crackling, on top of asian greens, mash and sweet potato with an oven baked apple topping it (interesting twist on apple sauce) I was trying to keep my vege intake up when I could so the side of greens was an additional purchase.
* polenta fries rock!!!
If they are all like these ones I agree! They must have been triple cooked such a nice crunch on the outside. Crusted in parmesan and the aioli dipping sauce was beautiful.
* beef ragu looked pretty awesome too!
Could have eaten triple the amount it was top notch cooking.
* You’re on a horse!
And I loved it! Still waiting for old spice to contact me for their next commercial!
* Bobs Cove water!!!!!
Amazing isn’t it!
Nice TR, DRC!!!!!
Cheers mate glad you enjoyed, thanks for your advice during the planning stage
Epic trip report is epic, makes any holiday i do sound like im lazy slob
eg recent week at falls went like this
wake, eat cereal, get dressed, snowboard till lunch, eat megorengs and drink beer, snowboard again for a little bit, shower, drink more beer, eat pizza, more beer, bed repeat x8
eg recent week at falls went like this
wake, eat cereal, get dressed, snowboard till lunch, eat megorengs and drink beer, snowboard again for a little bit, shower, drink more beer, eat pizza, more beer, bed repeat x8
Nothing wrong with that!
My weekend warrior trip usually go with
Arrive in Jindy 11pm .. sleep, alarm goes over, ski all day, eat, sleep, ski all day, drive back to Sydney, arrive at midnight if lucky.
Occasionally dinner out on Saturday night! but rarely last after 10pm!
Epic trip report is epic, makes any holiday i do sound like im lazy slob
eg recent week at falls went like thiswake, eat cereal, get dressed, snowboard till lunch, eat megorengs and drink beer, snowboard again for a little bit, shower, drink more beer, eat pizza, more beer, bed repeat x8
Haha thanks mate glad you enjoyed it.
It goes both ways, sometimes I wish I could be more relaxed and laid back when on “holidays” but I don’t seem to have a pause button and always try to cram as much in as possible. I often come back pretty worn out but glad that I’ve made the most of the experience.
Loved some of the photos that came out of your recent falls trip and look forward to picking your brains when I start planning a future Hokkaido trip.