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Playtime in New Zealand

  • mhkollme
  • Feb 18
  • 12 min read

After seven short days in Sydney after Thailand, it was already time for Paige and I to leave again. This time, during our session break, we journeyed to New Zealand with a few of our friends. Over ten days, we visited Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, and Milford Sound. It was an incredible trip filled with a ridiculous amount of ice cream and laughter, and one I will cherish forever.



WANAKA – FEB 7-9


Day 1


Paige, Faith, Rohan, and I flew into Queenstown on the 7th and met up with Ellis. On the plane, Paige and I sat next to this guy named Erik from Sweden, and by the end of the flight we had invited him to come to Wanaka with us. He told us he had no plans for NZ, so we thought we’d invite him to come along. He said yes (yay), and the six of us headed for Wanaka in our Toyota Prado, which we named Big Red. We went to the grocery store for dinner and enjoyed some cold pasta (without forks, but we tried) and grapes in the parking lot. Rohan gifted us with delicious chocolate chip cookies before we started the hour's drive to Wanaka.


We arrived late at Mt Aspiring Holiday Park, where we met Bailey, one of my friends from Camp Illahee who lives in New Zealand. Mt Aspiring was very nice, there were four of us in each room with one queen bed and a bunk bed, and there was a public kitchen and bathroom. Erik, ditching his previous accommodations in Queenstown, slept comfortably in the car (I think).


Day 2

The next morning, we were woken up by the boys and all went into town for breakfast. We went to Curbside Coffee & Bagels which was delicious, and I got the breakfast bagel. We walked around town a bit, and there were a lot of cute shops and little restaurants/ cafes. We swam in the Lake Wanaka, right by the infamous Wanaka Tree, and then met up with Nelson. Nelson is one of my friends who worked for Moondance with me last summer and who is currently living in Wanaka. He took us to a spot by the river where we could cliff jump and swim. It was about 20 minutes from where we were staying and was near the Motatapu Track. Ellis, Paige, Rohan, and I tried swimming up the river and were successful in our efforts, but it took some strength. Just ask Rohan. Once we were done swimming, Nelson took us to his favorite restaurant, Big Fig. You could make your own bowl and the ingredients were so fresh. It was amazing and I highly recommend it.


After lunch, we decided to go to the Blue Pools, which was about an hour's drive away. To get to the blue pools you have to walk a mile on a trail and then cross a bridge that takes you to the pools. Fortunately for us, the bridge was closed due to construction, forcing us to swim across the river to get to the pools. The water was absolutely freezing but we decided to swim anyway. Paige fell in with her shirt on, Erik managed to keep his phone dry while swimming to the rocks, and Faith was fighting the cold water and the sandflies. Ellis made me take a video of him swimming in the pools with his off-brand Go-Pro and for the life of him could not get on top of the rock, and it was by far one of the funniest moments on the trip. The whole situation was hilarious, all of us could not stop laughing and it was so much fun. We even saw a rainbow. Once we had enough of the cold, we listened to Coldplay as we drove back to town. Erik, Ellis, and I decided we were going to hike Roys Peak the next morning, so we went to the grocery store to buy supplies. We wanted to watch the sunrise at the top, so we planned on getting up at 2:30 a.m. and hiking by 3:00 a.m. The hike was 4,212 feet of elevation and 9.9 miles there and back, and we were very excited. The rest of the group settled on doing Diamond Lake Trail, which looked awesome. After our grocery store run, we got burgers at Ya Mas for dinner. After dinner, we went to bed to prepare for our big day tomorrow.


Day 3

Only a few short hours later, Erik, Ellis, and I were up and getting ready to conquer Roys Peak. We made sandwiches and headed to the trailhead at 3:00 a.m. It was only five minutes from Mt Aspiring Holiday Park which was very nice, especially because Ellis left his shoes in his room and we had to go back and get them. We were super excited and energized thanks to the Crazy Frog Soundtrack and the Black Eyed Peas, and I was really happy that we decided to commit to the hike. Over the summer I did an alpine start and climbed Desolation Peak in Washington State which was awesome, so I was excited to do it again. To my surprise, there were a lot of other hikers on the trail, but it did not feel too busy or crowded. The hike was steep the entire time, but our good trail conversations made the time go by quickly. The Milky Way was crystal clear which was beautiful and peaceful. I love hiking in the dark because it’s so serene, and we could not see how steep it was which helped us keep going. The whole way up was well marked, but the last fifteen minutes to the summit were a little sketchy. The trail quickly became narrow, I needed to use both hands to get up certain parts, it was very windy, and I felt a lot closer to the edge. But we went up slowly and stayed together so it ended up being just fine. We started at 3:30 a.m. and got to the top at 5:53 a.m. We were told we needed three hours but zipped up the mountain, getting there well before sunrise. We waited in the cold and eventually, the sun came up. We had a 360 degree view of the mountains, the town, and the lake. The sky was pink and orange, and the light hitting the mountains made them glow. We were all proud of ourselves and happy that we did it, and I felt at home. I felt so lucky to spend this moment with two friends who were previously strangers, and it was a top moment of the trip. After about an hour and a half at the top, we headed back down. It was a painful two hours, but well worth it.



Once we got back to Mt Aspiring, Erik took a nap while Ellis and I played cards and waited for the rest of the group to get back from their hike. We met them in town and went back to the bagel shop. We stopped in the store, Roam, where Paige and Rohan got sweatshirts and a hat. We met up with Nelson again and he took us to a nice spot by the lake on Beacon Point Road.


After the lake, we went to Patagonia Chocolates for ice cream, which was delicious. We ate dinner at The Paddle & Pint and I got fish tacos. Nelson works at Kai Whakapai Eatery & Craft Beer Bar, so we all went there after for beer and played more card games. It was the perfect end to a perfect day.


Tips for Wanaka

- Bring bug spray – the sandflies are everywhere and are aggressive

- We were told we needed to start Roys Peak at 3:30 a.m., but we would have been good to start at 4:00 a.m. or even 4:15 a.m. Adjust your starting time based on how fast you hike, because we went too early and had to wait a while at the top which was very, very cold. Also, bring additional layers for the top, and I would recommend having a headlamp so you can use your hands if needed. I had a headlamp, but it ran out of battery, so make sure to check the batteries too.

- The spot Nelson took us by the lake (Beacon Point Drive) was perfect for reading, journaling, etc because there were grassy spots to lay on. If you want to swim, I would go to the lake downtown because it is not as rocky

- If you can, rent a car. Driving on the other side of the road seems intimidating, but it is not that bad. The roads can be windy so go slow and be careful. It gave us so much freedom throughout the trip

- If you want to get a drink, bring your passport. They would not take our driver’s license and we needed to get our passport


Restaurants

- Curbside Coffee & Bagels

- Big Fig

- Kai Whakapai Eatery & Craft Beer Bar

- The Paddle & Pint

- Patagonia Chocolates

- Ya Mas


Stores/Accommodation

- Roam Clothing & Design

- Mt Aspiring Holiday Park


Hikes



QUEENSTOWN – FEB 9-12


Day 4

Sadly, it was time to leave Wanaka. We got up and went back to Kai Whakapai Eatery & Craft Beer Bar for breakfast, which was AMAZING. After our meal, we said goodbye to Nelson and Bailey and headed to Queenstown. It was so much fun for them to show us around and catch up. In Queenstown, we stayed at the Hippo Lodge Backpackers Hostel, which was nice but was on a huge hill we had to climb up every day. Also, it says on Hostel World that there is parking, but they have very limited parking, so we had to pay for parking in town. Overall, parking in Queenstown is chaotic so just be aware. Paige and I had to take our exam for our online class in the hostel while the others walked around town. We met up with them after our exam and drove an hour to Lake Alta. Ellis drove us basically up the whole mountain (beware of windy roads), and then we did the short hike to the lake in 30 minutes. It was foggy but very pretty, and a few of us dipped in the lake which was freezing cold but awesome. After we hiked down, we ran into some of our other friends from the U.S. and caught up with them before going back home and going to sleep.


Day 5

The next morning, we got up and hiked Bob’s Cove. It was about 30 minutes from Queenstown, was beautiful, and was mostly flat around the lake. We stopped so Ellis could get his famous Hobbit photo where the oliphaunts were seen and swam in the lake for a while. We were greeted by Lenny, Apples, and Peaches, wiener dogs who lived right by the lake, and they were so cute. After Bob’s Cove, we went to Cookie Time Cookie Bar, which has the best cookies ever according to Paige. They have a happy hour, buy one cookie get one free from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., but we were early so everyone got milkshakes. Afterward, we went to another happy hour, and then Erik and I got the infamous Fergburger, which was good but honestly was not the best burger I had ever had. Still great though. We went to The Local Bar, played card games, and prepared to sing karaoke until we were told they were not taking any more people. Ellis and I were pretty disappointed after we spent a good ten minutes finding a song, but we still had a great time.


QUEENSTOWN TIPS

- It is hard to find parking, but all public parking is free from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.

- Fergburger is worth visiting, the line is always long but it goes by really fast.


Restaurants

- The Local Bar

- Fergburger

- Cookie Time Cookie Bar


Accommodation

- Hippo Lodge Backpackers Hostel


Hikes




TE ANAU/ MILFORD SOUND – FEB 12-14


Day 6

The next morning, we got breakfast sandwiches at Fergburger and then made our way to Te Anau. Once we got there, we did the Kepler Track to Brod Bay Trail, which was a flat 3.3-mile shaded trail through mossy trees. It was so green, and I really enjoyed it. We swam at the lake and stayed there til the sunset. For dinner, we had a huge family dinner of tacos that we made in the hostel. We stayed at Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers, which was perfect.


Day 7

The next morning we left at 8:15 a.m. and headed to Milford Sound. It took us about two hours to get there, but the drive was absolutely stunning. We booked a cruise through TripAdvisor and it did not disappoint. We were originally going to only drive to Milford Sound and not do a cruise, but the receptionist at our hostel told us that it was pointless to go if we didn't do it. This was great advice because you can only see the main part of Milford Sound by boat, so we were glad we ended up doing the tour. It lasted two hours and came with complimentary coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, and we all got our money’s worth. Especially Paige. After the cruise, we drove an hour to the Key Summit Trailhead, made PB&J’s, and started the hike. It was probably one of the best hikes I have ever done. It was five miles and the elevation gain was only 1,381 feet, but we were so high up and surrounded by towering mountains. The trail was shaded under pretty trees and then it opened up to a clear 360-degree view of the mountains. It was a surprise and was breathtaking. We sat at the top for a while and made some friends before heading down and driving home. The drive home was arguably even prettier than the drive there- the sun was setting and left a golden hue on the mountains and the yellow grass. We were playing throwback music and singing “Stereo Hearts” at the top of our lungs, and everything was perfect. Once we were home, we made another family dinner of pasta and chicken, ate a tub full of chocolate ice cream, and enjoyed each other’s company.


TE ANAU/ MILFORD SOUND TIPS

- Get gas in Te Anau before going to Milford Sound because there are no gas stations on the way

- The hostel kitchen was nice, so I encourage doing a big family dinner

- We heard that Te Anau was a “drop-in” spot, but it is beautiful and worth the stop. It was also a good way to split the drive to Milford Sound.

- Book the cruise, but I recommend doing a hike after you can see more of the area. The drive is so worth it.


Accommodation

- Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers


Hikes/ Cruise




QUEENSTOWN – FEB 14-16


Day 8

I woke up and went on a lovely run in Te Anau. Paige found a trail earlier by the water which was so pretty and it was the best run ever. We all hung out at the hostel journaling and reading before we headed back to Queenstown. We left around noon, drove to Fergbutcher so Faith could get a burger, cheered Rohan on while he bungee jumped, and visited Arrowtown. We got back to Queenstown in time to say bye to Erik and wished him good luck on the rest of his travels. He was such a wonderful addition to the trip, and it was a heartfelt goodbye. After we said goodbye, we went and watched the sunset and ended up back at Patagonia Chocolates. Rohan, Ellis, and I sat outside and shared riddles before going to bed.


Day 9

Today was our last full day in New Zealand. There was a Saturday morning market we went to that had pretty jewelry and art. We went to Fergburger for breakfast and then said goodbye to the boys who were leaving that day. Later that afternoon, Paige and I did the Queenstown Hill Walking Trail, which was a nice hike that had pretty views. I recommend it, especially if you do not have a car. After that, we explored the Queenstown Gardens, swam in the lake, and went back to Cookie Time Cookie Bar. Paige and I got Soki Sushi Train for dinner, which was delicious, and then the three of us played card games in the grass. We somehow ended up back at Patagonia Chocolates before calling it a night.


Day 10

I said goodbye to NZ by going on a nice run on the Queenstown Gardens Trail. It was a sad goodbye, but I was grateful for the amazing time I had there and will be back eventually.


LAST TIPS

- Try to get the window seat on the plane, the view is incredible

- I already mentioned this but RENT A CAR, it is so nice having the freedom and flexibility to explore. Having a small group worked well since we were doing a lot of moving.


Restaurants

- Fergbutcher

- Patagonia Chocolates

- Cookie Time Cookie Bar

- Soki Sushi Train


Hikes


Accommodation

- Nomads Queenstown


Overall, this trip was absolutely amazing, and I would not change a single thing. New Zealand was insanely beautiful, and I will be returning at some point in my life. The route we took, the way we split up the days and the number of days in each place worked out really well. It made it feel like we were seeing a lot of NZ without spending hours in the car or moving too much. As a group, we got along so well and there were so many laughs. It’s hard to believe none of us knew each other very well before the trip because by the end we were six peas in a pod. Everything about this trip was a dream and is one that will stay with me forever.



- Ellie 2/18/25

 
 
 

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