The most affordable option to travel around New Zealand. Independent travel to New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand are quite far away. Therefore, if you decide to travel to this continent, you should reserve time. Why does Australia attract tourists so much? Unforgettable adventures, marsupials that live only here, fantastic landscapes and much more await travelers in the Southern Hemisphere.

Below we look at 50 places and events that you definitely need to pay attention to. So what's worth doing in these places?

Amazing Australia

Swim in Lake Mackenzie, which is located on Fraser Island in Australia. The water in the freshwater lake is so pure that it is unsuitable for living in. various fish and plants.

Take the ferry and explore the picturesque Milford Sound fjord in New Zealand.

Swim in a rocky pool built right on the ocean.

Take a trip along the Great Ocean Road (Victoria, Australia) and see the 12 Apostles - a group of limestone rocks.

Traveling New Zealand

Explore New Zealand - visit the Franz Josef Glacier.

It's worth taking a boat ride in Waitomo Cave (New Zealand), and millions of fireflies will litter your way.

Try to grab a drink at the Opera Bar before the show starts at the Sydney Opera House.

Not enough adrenaline? Attend the races in Queenstown, New Zealand. Skydiving, bungee jumping, skiing - choose any entertainment.

Don't miss out on wine tasting in the Barossa Valley (Adelaide, Australia).

Bird's-eye

The Sky Tower (Auckland), which reaches 328 meters in height, has an observation deck. It offers a 360-degree panoramic view, and there are 3 restaurants, one of which rotates.

Who hasn't dreamed of climbing the famous Sydney Bridge?

There is nothing more beautiful than watching the sunrise from the massive cliff of Uluru in Northern Australia.

Try a wine tasting on Waiheke Island, a 35-minute ferry ride from Auckland.

Take a trip to the remote outback town of Lily Dale (Australia). There are horse races held there every weekend.

You can look at sea ​​creatures off the coast of Queensland, along the Great Barrier Reef.

Departure to the city of Rotorua - this is one of the most active geothermal regions in the world. There are geysers, steaming springs, boiling mud pools and volcanic craters.

In Tasmania, visit the Museum of Old and New Art, which displays the collections of renowned art collector David Walsh.

You are sure to be overwhelmed by these works of art while shopping in the colorful streets of Melbourne.

You can go skiing in New Zealand, where there are many ski resorts, for example, Treble-Cone.

To see the beautiful cliffs, just walk from Bondi to Bronte in the Sydney suburbs.

Watch the first leg of the World Surfing Tour on Australia's Gold Coast.

Those interested can go on a kayaking trip around the bay in New Zealand, which is home to more than 140 tropical islands.

Find amazing gifts in Sydney at flea markets such as The Rocks, Glebe and Paddington.

You can cycle around the beaches of Rottnest Island off the coast of Perth on the west coast of Australia.

In January, Melbourne hosts the Australian Open, one of the four Grand Slam tournaments.

Try whiskey at Lark Distillery in Tasmania.

Natural spa

A swim in Lake Ainsworth (Australia) will feel like going to the spa. The lake is surrounded by tea plantations, there is a sufficient amount of essential oils, which have a beneficial effect on hair and skin.

Find out why Lake Hillier is pink. The lake acquired this color because of sand and white salt, and not because of algae.

Visit the tiny Hobbit dwellings in Hobbiton - the film set. This is one of the main filming locations for The Lord of the Rings.

Tourists can improve their bowling skills by visiting the Bowling Club Park near Sydney.

Those interested can go hiking to the Blue Mountains through the eucalyptus forest (New South Wales). The mountains appear blue due to the evaporation of essential oils.

Climbing to the top of the reef at Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, gives you panoramic views of the ocean.

Explore Australia's stunning caves along the Margaret River.

White beaches with clean sand can be found at any resort. Mauri Beach, which is located in New Zealand, is famous for its fine black sand.

Visit Flower Drum - a famous Chinese restaurant in Melbourne.

Visit Tongariro National Park in New Zealand. There are beautiful lakes, active sinkholes and a volcanic landscape.

Take a ride on a speedboat that cuts through the waters of New Zealand, making its way past the rocks at a speed of 80 km/h.

The Australian Golf Championships are taking place in Queensland.

It's worth crossing the continent railway by train "Gan" in three days. The train runs from Darwin to Adelaide.

In Sydney, if you're lucky, you can catch a rugby match.

If you decide to take up surfing seriously, then you should start on the coast of Raglan (New Zealand). After all, the ocean here is calm.

Tour the forests, beaches and marshes of Fraser Island in a 4WD vehicle.

You can see the dance of the Haka warriors with your own eyes in the Tamaki Maori village in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Gambling awaits at the Perth Casino.

Best waves to surf in Byron Bay, Australia.

Mysterious sea life

Visit Sydney's Sea Life Aquarium, which houses over 13,000 individual fish and other sea creatures and features a glass tunnel through a shark tank.

It's worth stopping and smelling the flowers at the Christchurch Botanic Garden, which was founded in 1863 to celebrate the marriage of Prince Albert and Princess Alexandra of Denmark.

Why should you visit Australia?

You can pet a koala at any Australian zoo.

Visit Nimbin - a self-proclaimed drug town, although in reality it is just a small town inhabited by hippies.

It's worth trying the famous Fergburger in Queenstown, which is often touted as the best burger in the world.

On the first day you will explore the city. Our CEO will show you the most iconic places of the city. You will visit observation platforms where you can simultaneously see the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Take a walk through the underwater tunnel at the large zoological center Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World.

Well, let's continue our travel season in 2015 a trip to the Land of the White Cloud. Yes, just three weeks after the miracle, we set off from Melbourne to New Zealand on her North Island.

It's already our fifth independent trip to the fabulous Land of Kiwi, but every time is like the first, we like everything here. Everything seen still appears in new rainbow colors, and the new sinks deeply into the soul.

By tradition, we will try to keep travel notes (all in this one note below) - summary about what happened to us and where we were carried and carried on our next journey.

If you have time, energy and a sufficiently “fast” Internet during the trip, then perhaps there will be separate stories about this or that seen and experienced here.

For this we bow. Happy Easter everyone! Happiness, health and prosperity to everyone!

The early rise, Nikita himself was surprised. Quickly get ready with little eyes in a huddle, a low bow and mega-thank you to Mitya for timely delivery of us to the airport (luxury service no less!), check-in and flight with Air New Zealand to our beloved dream country - to New Zealand.

After 3.5 hours we landed safely in Auckland, quick airport formalities, we picked up the car we had rented in advance and now we are already rustling our wheels across the expanses of New Zealand. It's warm, sunny and cool here!

Check-in at the hotel. The mouse is sleeping sweetly in the car, we don’t wake him up - we’re going to the observation deck at Mount Victoria.

From there we ceremoniously say hello to wonderful New Zealand, the North Island and Auckland.

From here you have very beautiful views of the center of Auckland and the neighboring islands.

Having made sure that we are definitely here in Kiwi Country (and not just in a dream), happy as elephants, we settle a couple more household matters and finally check into the hotel. Dinner. Hot chocolate and general family fun.

By the way, NZ (Nikita Zaitsev) came to NZ (New Zealand). As a secret to the whole world, it was here in the Land of the White Cloud that one nimble kiwi bird brought him - our little mouse - to us as a gift in October 2013, for which we thank her very, very much!

In touch.

Your restless travelers Nata, Tyoma and Nikita

We overslept... It was so sweet. Nikita woke up. We jumped up, got ready quickly and - the graph paper workers - 5 minutes before the ferry departed, they rushed to the pier, bought tickets, boarded the ferry and 20 minutes later they were already on Rangitoto Island.

Rangitoto Island- this is a natural highlight right under the nose of Auckland. It is a kind of protected area - rare species of plants grow here.

Below in the photo: Views of Rangitoto Island from Mount Victoria, Devonport.

This is where we climbed to the top of the volcano today.

Rangitoto Island itself was born just 600 years ago and is the latest and youngest volcanic island here in the Hauraki Gulf.

That is why the landscape of Rangitoto Island is quite specific - there are a lot of “volcanic” stones all around, and in some places their mounds look as if a huge bulldozer had gone through there and raked it all into a heap.

On Rangitoto Island can be reached by ferry - either from the central pier from Auckland or from Devonport. Our hotel is located near Devonport, so we got to the island from there. Ticket price is $30 per adult round trip, the ride takes 20 minutes one way.

There are several excellent treks on the island, the most popular of which is the climb to the top of the Rangitoto Island volcano. The height is small - only 259 meters. From there, the observation deck offers wonderful panoramic views of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf, it is very beautiful there.

Hiking routes are well prepared, you can get lost in forest thickets difficult. People climb the volcano even in flip-flops, but if you stomp your feet along the Coastal Track, it’s still better to wear hiking shoes with thick soles. And in general, on the trails there are a lot of those same volcanic stones - large and small, and they are quite sharp.

Well, from the organizational moments - there are no cafes, no shops, nothing, not even trash cans on Rangitoto Island. Therefore, you need to take food and drink with you for the day and take the garbage back from the island yourself.

We are very happy and satisfied, like elephants, that we visited there, spent the whole day, tramped 15 km with our feet, and at the same time saw only a quarter of the island (it is quite big).

The weather today turned out to be wonderful - warm, sunny with fluffy white clouds. People even swam in the bays and sunbathed.

There are beautiful views all around - as it should be in wonderful New Zealand. In general, everything is cocoa beans!

Our Nikita tramped with us again and again in the sling without making a single sound, the first time he ate a whole banana (until today he only ate half in one sitting) - apparently fresh air I had a great appetite.

Tonight here in New Zealand (and several states in Australia) they are changing time to winter, hooray! You can sleep for an hour longer.

Your restless travelers Nata, Tyoma and Nikita

P.S. Today is exactly 5 years since we moved to Melbourne. How quickly time flies!

Today was spent moving by car Auckland to New Plymouth– sa. 370 km in 4 hours, of which Nikita slept soundly for three hours, made one stop “to stretch his bones” and have a snack.

Auckland saw us off with rain, New Plymouth greeted us with sunny weather. And yes, people swim here. Even Tyoma was surprised today.

Because although it is sunny, the water in the Tasman Sea is still far from warm. And yet, there are a lot of “New Zealand walruses” on the beaches here, including children.

On first impression, I really liked New Plymouth. A city on the seashore with numerous beaches (and black sand too), a long promenade and a bunch of cafes with sea views. Very cozy!

After checking into the hotel in the evening before sunset, we walked along the Coastal Walk track, chatted with one local friendly guy, looked at the local way of life - the life style here is excellent, no one is in a hurry, dinner in cafes, right by the beach on the grass on ottomans vacationers, live music right there. It's very relaxing here!

For this we bow. To be continued.

Your restless travelers Nata, Tyoma and Nikita

Your restless travelers Nata, Tyoma and Nikita

Super calm day. The weather “whispers”, so much so that even the silhouette volcano Taranaki not visible on the horizon. In general, here in New Plymouth (on the expanses of the local coast in general), rain is a frequent occurrence, because the clouds rest against the volcano, get stuck in this way, accumulate and “cry” then that they cannot pass further.

Basically, it’s warm today, somewhere above +20C. But the strong wind (it’s scary to imagine what it’s like up there in the mountains now...) and drizzling rain make you slink into something warm, windproof and waterproof.

Stamping your feet today somewhere in the mountains or along rough terrain in the foothills (and I really wanted to...) does not make sense due to the weather conditions. Therefore, we are lazy and lazy. True, not all of us.

Papa Tyoma was sitting at his textbooks early this morning and by 12 he had completed the next one. homework, which must be submitted by Wednesday. And at this time Nikita and I were doing exactly what the cold-eaters usually do - eating, buzzing, sleeping...

After lunch, we went to stretch our legs – there are a bunch of different walking routes in the area of ​​both New Plymouth itself and its neighboring towns.

Selected Opunake Walkway- this is a kind of walking track along the coast of the Tasman Sea, with beaches, coves and paths along the cliff shore and in the green thickets.

Very similar to ours Surf Coast Walk in the state of Victoria (Australia), which stretches along the Great Ocean Road.

Opunake Walkway I liked it, although we didn’t finish it to the very end because of the rain. Nevertheless, it was interesting to compare the local coastal route with our Australian one.

Here in New Zealand, the Opunake Walkway has black sand beaches and dark grey-brown cliffs. And because of the sky densely covered with gray clouds, the water in the sea also seemed dark gray, although in sunny weather everything here definitely looks azure and picturesque.

In general, we had a great walk, stretching our limbs after yesterday's crawls in the mountains. We stopped by the playground on the way, Nikita made it to the swings again, his pants were full of happiness. It’s so touching to watch how happy the baby is from such simple fun.

At five we were already “home”, because of the strong wind and rain, I wanted to crawl under a warm blanket and watch a movie, while devouring something tasty. Let's do so.

And what’s funny is that for the first time in our travel experience we’ve encountered an overnight stay, where there are a lot of “complimentary” things - you can even wash and dry your clothes for free, including washing powder.

As the owners told us about this, they say, please, welcome, use it, I’ll immediately run to wash myself, otherwise, after the famous walking tracks we’ve completed, hiking clothes “smacks of pedestrian workaholism,” and we have even bigger plans for this trip.

For this we bow. The story continues.

Your restless travelers Nata, Tyoma and Nikita

Oh well... It rained all night. In the morning we left New Plymouth, and if yesterday the silhouette of the Taranaki volcano was not visible on the horizon, today even the horizon itself was not visible.

Everything is covered in clouds, low dense clouds and visibility, God willing, 200-300 meters. And the rain...

By the time we got to Ohakune (200 km by car), the clouds had not passed. The rain stopped pouring for a while, but at the entrance to Ohakune it began to rain again, and the closer to evening it became, the heavier it became...

Well, really... So we haven’t traveled to our beloved New Zealand yet. Before this, on the previous four trips we were lucky with the weather. This time - hmm... Everywhere you look, there is rain in the forecast.

Where to go. It’s good that the house is cozy, we sit in it and “cozy up” as a family. Movies, yum-many and buzzy.

Today the little mouse is 9 months old. I can’t even believe it’s so big already. Today we wanted to show him the Ruapehu volcano - what is it... It is useless to go to the volcano itself in such rain, moreover, there is not even a hint of its silhouette, and it should be visible directly from the streets of the city of Ohakune. Selyavi...

Today was somewhat reminiscent of our vacation in Tasmania in somewhere nowhere on Lake Pedder, where apart from the hotel complex there was nothing - no settlement, no TV in the room, not even cellular communications. Only pure wild nature. And the silence ringing in my ears. Beauty!

For this we bow. To be continued.

Your restless travelers Nata, Tyoma and Nikita

Well... And in the village... it’s raining... Yes, yes, it’s just continuous rain over both islands. And on Monday they generally promise snow and hail in some places.

In general, the morning of the evening was wiser - we postpone the Tongariro, Ngaruhoe and Ruapehu volcanoes for our next trips here. This time it’s really useless to crawl there - in such bad weather... and wait for the “window” too.

We packed our things, called the owner of the house we rented, she understood everything, we canceled the further overnight stay for free and even, imagine, she apologized for the bad weather in New Zealand.

We quickly sorted out our new overnight stays and darted back to Auckland - this was the closest place to us today where it did NOT rain until the evening.

When we approached Auckland, we again saw a “normal” sky - albeit overcast and with heavy clouds, but not that gray cotton mass, wet and “roaring” with rain, that lies low on the ground like a blanket everywhere below Auckland. We didn’t see the silhouette of the Ruapehu volcano, so everything was hopelessly covered with a veil right down to the ground.

Well, to hell with it. Don't get upset now. The holidays in New Zealand continue, but here, in addition to hiking, there is a lot of interesting things to do. In general, today we switched from “hiking” mode to “sightseeing” mode.

We arrived in Auckland, stopping here and there along the way to eat and drink coffee. We settled in a house, drank tea – lemon-ginger-honey tea – mmmm, here in New Zealand it’s especially tasty!

We took a walk in the Auckland Botanic Gardens and - well, we can’t live without mountains and volcanoes... well, no way... - we climbed at sunset and walked along the edge of the old Mangere Domain volcano.

We already walked along it on our very first trip here, so we decided to give it a try. In general, in my previous posts about Auckland I already said that these same “pimples” - i.e. the old low volcanoes here in Auckland are awesome!

It's great to walk and play sports there. Many locals do this - they come here to run, it’s a great workout. And these “pimples” are a dime a dozen here, you don’t need to travel far from home.

After Mangere it’s dinner, the buzzies and my boys are already sleeping soundly. And now I got to the Internet. That's how we live.

For this we bow. Your restless travelers Nata, Tyoma and Nikita

It’s only the eighth day of traveling around New Zealand, but it feels like we’ve been living here for a long time.

Today was mega-cosy, simple and uncomplicated, but very comfortable. There is no rush, everything is measured and enjoyable. And it’s as if this is our current life - here in Auckland.

In principle, we even see ourselves living here in this beautiful city. There is something so attractive about it for us - these “pimples” - volcanoes are everywhere, the hilly terrain, the bay, islets, beaches, the islands themselves and the proximity to everything - mountains, volcanoes, forests, lakes, sea-ocean... Only There is one small fly in the ointment, Auckland is a “powder keg”, the area is volcanic, it can explode at any moment...

So, in the morning we woke up in Auckland, or rather in its suburb in Manukau - it was drizzling. We decided to stay “within the city limits” - while we were leisurely taking our morning exercise, the rain had calmed down and... incredibly, but true - the sun was shining almost until sunset today, although the sky was cloudy, its blueness was still visible. We haven't seen her since Tuesday. And even +25C warmed us.

If we had known in advance, we would have gone on a hike somewhere, but what is what is - we accept everything as it is. We spent the day in an interesting museum in Auckland – MOTAT (museum of transport and technology).

It’s very interesting there, we recommend it! Especially for families with children – small and large. In the vastness of this large museum complex there is a lot of little things to see - and you can climb into a lot of things, twist them, turn them around - and there are cars, steam locomotives, and airplanes... you name it!

This is the fourth major museum here in New Zealand that we have visited during our trips here. And we must pay tribute - they are all very interesting with large exhibition collections.

After the museum I was drawn to nature. Feet beg to stomp over rough terrain. We went to the park alone to take a walk along the coast. But alas, it started to drizzle, and when we returned to the house, it had already turned into downpour.

On the way, we stopped at the Countdown supermarket (we buy groceries here) - a cool chain of stores here in New Zealand. They are larger than the Australian Coles and Woolworths, they reminded us very much of the St. Petersburg O’Key, it even became a bit of a hangover.

For this we bow. To be continued.

Your restless travelers Nata, Tyoma and Nikita

Today Tyoma's dad had a day off - he went fishing. Yes, yes, on his last business trip here in Auckland, he met the owner of a company, the guys became friends and agreed that next time we are in these parts, please welcome us to go fishing on his own boat.

We monitored the weather all week, it’s incredible but true - today, on Saturday, it was warm and sunny all day - just like order.

The guys ended up catching some fish, and rode around the bay here in Auckland, and talked a lot, because both of them had a lot in common in their lifestyle.

Tyoma promised to write a story about this event - I take him at his word.

Nikita and I were also invited on board the mini-yacht, but we decided not to get in the way of an adult male company of fishermen; we spent time in the house - sleeping, eating, buzzing, and walking.

Papa Tyoma returned satisfied at lunchtime, bringing with him fish that he caught with his own hands - we are having fish soup for dinner today. Wow!

After a quick snack for lunch, we rushed to Port Waikatoa and there we had a nice walk along the black sand Sunset Beach, waited for sunset there and headed back to Auckland at dusk.

A wonderful relaxing day. Yum.

For this we bow. To be continued.

Your restless travelers Nata, Tyoma and Nikita

That's it, the last day of our New Zealand vacation. “Pure” time for more walking and having fun – four hours. “Clean” - this means WITHOUT taking into account the check-out from the house (while we woke up, had breakfast, got ready...), to go wash the rented car (we also managed to drive on gravel roads here in New Zealand) and to get to the airport, return the car and check in for the flight.

We decided not to go too far from the city center, and we had a wonderful walk around it. Or rather, along the embankment, looking at the yachts, the Auckland Bridge and the bay with a bunch of sailboats. Lastly, coffee and a tasty treat and it’s time to get ready for the road.

We are deeply attached to Auckland; we like this city. You don't miss Melbourne as much as you miss Auckland.

At the airport, while boarding a flight, a funny encounter occurred - we ran into a couple with a small baby. Word for word, it turned out that our boys - Nikita and Pierre - were born on the same day - July 8, 2014. Only one in Auckland, the other in Melbourne.

The daddies were so happy that they immediately became friends and then during the flight they stood in the aisle with their babies in their arms and talked about life.

We arrived home late in the evening (thank you very much to Mitya for your help!!!). The mouse slept sweetly and soundly, they didn’t wake him up, so he changed his sleepy clothes and also managed to feed him milk. They didn’t take things apart, they just plopped down without hind legs in bed. Sleep!

Upon arrival, in addition to migration control, you will also have to go through quarantine. In New Zealand Special attention They pay attention to biosecurity so that those entering do not bring any nasty stuff with them. Be prepared to fill out a health card indicating all the products you are taking with you. If there are any, then make sure they are in thermal packaging. Otherwise, they will be thrown away, just like that uneaten apple or that pack of nuts that you took with you on the plane. Hiking equipment and trekking boots will also get the same treatment - they are checked especially meticulously, so wash and clean them thoroughly before the trip.

New Zealand customs officers at the control smile, joke and do not put pressure on tourists, hurrying them up. They may even give you some advice or tell you about your favorite places. But they will never look at you as a potential threat.

When to go?

New Zealand looks stunning at any time of the year, so there's no better time to visit. The seasons here are reversed - when it's summer here, it's winter here, and vice versa. I remember how we celebrated Christmas at +25 degrees and how we ran along the beach in Santa suits over our shorts, trying to pull each other into the water. It was very strange to celebrate New Year no snow.

In October, when I arrived, for a long time I couldn’t get used to the rapid change in “mood” of the New Zealand weather. It’s quite cool in the morning, the sun comes out in the afternoon, which makes it hot to walk around in a sweater, and in the evening it gets cold, and you start to think that you shouldn’t have left your jacket at home. At night, hurricanes blow in with howling winds and heavy rain, so you hide under a warm blanket with a heating pad. The room is drafty, but there is no central heating at all.

Local residents, despite +15 degrees outside, can wear shorts and T-shirts. You're walking through the city in a warm jacket, and a lady in flip-flops and light summer a dress that flutters in the cold wind. At the same time, sunscreen should be used even in winter. The New Zealand sun is very treacherous, due to the huge ozone hole over the country, it is very easy to get sunburned and get skin cancer.

Auckland

The only million-plus city in all of New Zealand, and not the capital, Auckland stands on 53 volcanoes between the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Here, skyscrapers coexist with perfect green lawns, locals are in no hurry, and the weather changes every 10 minutes. This is a “melting pot” - people come here from all over the world, from America to Asia, you notice this as soon as you get to the center.

Auckland is called the city of sails. In a bay near the business center all year round There are snow-white yachts, sailboats and boats, and sailing trips are popular not only among tourists, but also among locals.

“It’s a melting pot – people come here from all over the world, from America to Asia.”

Travelers are better off not lingering here: apart from the 220-meter Sky Tower and the Auckland Bridge, from where extreme sports enthusiasts like to jump, there is little interesting. And it’s better to postpone such entertainment until the South Island, where just the views alone make your head spin.

In Auckland, enjoy nature within the confines of the “big city”. Take a walk along the 16-kilometer Coast to Coast Trail and consider yourself to have seen it all. It starts from The Auckland waterfront and leads through major attractions such as old park The Domain, Auckland's highest volcano Mount Eden, from where you can see the entire city, One Tree Hill Park with shady alleys, a planetarium and sheep walking along the hills.

The main street is Queen Street. Here are branded stores, cafes, business centers and theaters. We loved going to stand-up night on Thursdays at The Classic Comedy Club (321 Queen St), be sure to look at the cafe beforehand Giapo (12 Gore St), where home-made ice cream is made and whipped cream is melted with a special miniature “flamethrower”.

Auckland has a developed café and restaurant culture. In this sense, it is second only to Wellington, where virtually no one cooks at home. Families eat out for dinner a couple of times each week. No one is also embarrassed to order take-away food - you often meet people on benches in parks during lunch break office workers who eat fish and chips. This English dish is New Zealand's most popular food. But New Zealand cuisine itself does not exist as such - it is a gastronomic mix based on the traditions of immigrants from Europe, Asia and Polynesia.

“It was very strange to celebrate New Year without snow”

But New Zealanders consider coffee, or rather flat white, their invention (although Australians will claim the opposite). Try the traditional "flat white" at Best Ugly Bagels (3A York Street) or in Chuffed (43 High Street), and in a chain bakery Hollywood Bakery (430 Queen Street) You can also have breakfast, for example, in the morning a fresh muffin is included free of charge with your coffee.

If you appreciate fine cuisine, head to one of the restaurants in the Britomart area. Try the macarons at Milse (27 Tyler Street), and in the Michelin Ostro (52 Tyler St) taste the dishes of the most famous chef in the country. For atmosphere and views, head to Wynyard Quarter and have a glass of New Zealand wine overlooking the harbor in The Conservatory (1-17 Jellicoe St). Our favorite place is the bar-restaurant The Crew Club (149 Quay Street) with a huge terrace where people in business suits gather after work and enjoy cocktails.

Young people flock to the area in the evenings Ponsonby, home to trendy bars and restaurants. The funniest parties take place here, regardless of the day of the week. Dance until the morning Ponsonby Social Club (152 Ponsonby Road) And Revelry (106 Ponsonby Road), listen to live music in Grand Central (126 Ponsonby Road) or drink cocktails among the hippest residents in SPQR (150 Ponsonby Road) .

In addition, Auckland has many beaches. The most popular - urban Mission Bay - is located near the Aquarium Sea Life (23 Tamaki Drive). People gather here to play beach volleyball, eat at a restaurant overlooking the bay, stroll along the Promenade, or go paddleboarding. You can get here from the center by bicycle along the bike path along the embankment. Locals prefer to spend their free time with family outdoors, so the beaches and parks can get crowded in the evenings and weekends.

Another famous beach is wild Piha beach with black volcanic sand, located 40 minutes drive from the center. It attracts surfers all year round; the waves here consistently reach two meters. Be sure to climb Lion Rock at sunset, which divides the beach into two parts. And on the way back, see two beautiful waterfalls: Kitekite Falls and Fairy Falls.

How to save money

Stay with New Zealanders via Couchsurfing, don’t be shy, they are very welcoming and love to help.

Bars and clubs in Auckland are expensive, but many have happy hours. Grab a $3 beer at the bar Provedor (131 Quay Street) and pizza for $5 at Underpass (1 Lower Hobson Street) .

Quit smoking, a pack of cigarettes costs $20, and fines for smoking in public places are exorbitant - according to the government's plan, there will be no smokers left in New Zealand in 2025.

Free wi-fi is available in every McDonald's, and throughout the city there are pink wi-fi booths distributing the Internet. Enough for Instagram photos.

Sign up for a free tour from Auckland Free Walking Tour .

Have lunch at the markets. The most popular are the food court at the intersection of Albert Street and Customs street and the farmer's market at Britomart. Pay attention to night markets on Sundays at six different venues.

Visit free Art Gallery (corner of Kitchener and Wellesley) .

At the tea shop T2 (87-93 Queen Street) taste (as many as you like!) different types of tea.

How to get around the country

The best way to travel around the country is by car, bus or air. Domestic airlines Air New Zealand offer cheap flights, and even small towns have their own single-runway airports. However, I believe that the best option see New Zealand - drive around it yourself on four wheels.

Renting a car is as easy as shelling pears, just use the services of special companies. We always ordered a car from Jucy. Due to the popularity of road trips, cars have changed, and travelers have access to both economical options (a compact car with low fuel consumption) and hatchbacks with a kitchenette and sleeping area, minivans or full-fledged trailers. IN recent cases The issue of overnight accommodation disappears; in other cases, it is better to take a tent and sleeping bags with you. There are plenty of campsites and wild places to spend the night, just try not to get into the territory of someone's farm: at first it may seem that these green fields are no one's, because there is not a soul in the area, but if you come closer and notice a thin stretched wire, it means that the land belongs to someone.

Travel tips

Shop in supermarkets and cook at bbq sites in parks, they are everywhere.

Don’t forget your navigator; when you rent a car, it’s included in the price, but it’s better to double-check.

Please note that driving in New Zealand is on the right, and maximum speed- 100 km/h.

The journey from point A to point B may take longer than it seems, due to serpentines and hilly/mountainous terrain.

Day 1. Auckland - Raglan - New Plymont

In December, my friend and I decided to take a little roadtrip across the country, trying to take in as many places as possible. We'd been living in Auckland for three months, so the places we chose in the North Island were a little different from the ones that the guidebooks primarily recommend - most of these must-sees we saw when we left the city for the weekend. If you want the most New Zealand adventure, pay attention to the Waitomo caves, where flickering fireflies live, the track around the Tongariro volcano, which became Peter Jackson's Mordor, the Bay of Islands, which is best explored on board a rented yacht, the sand dunes of Te Pake, where you can go sandboarding .

Visit Rotorua, where the Maori tribes live, and in the volcanic multi-colored valley there are geysers and the smell of eggs, and the Coromandel Peninsula, where “The Chronicles of Narnia” was filmed in Cathedral Bay and music concerts are held. And don’t forget the Hobbiton movie set, which was left after the filming and became a place of pilgrimage for all fans of Tolkien’s trilogy. Complete our roadtrip with these places, just keep in mind that in order to visit everywhere, you should budget at least a week for your trip to the North Island. And it will turn out to be a gallop. Two are better.

But let's get back to our roadtrip. We started our journey from Auckland. Three days on the North Island meant getting to Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, where we would board a plane to Queenstown on the South Island.

Having picked up the car that we had booked a month ago, we went surfing to the town of Raglan. Initially, I wanted to drive along Highway 45, nicknamed the Surfing highway, where for 105 km there is an excellent beach and surfing spot around every corner, but I had to reconsider this plan and choose a place closer so as not to spend a day on the road.

The distance from Auckland to Raglan is 160 km, but the whole journey took us a little over 4 hours: along the way we turned to attractions, which were indicated by brown signs marking all the tourist places, and even those that are not on the maps.

It turned out that Raglan is a city of surfers. Best paddleboarding destination Manu Bay is 15 minutes' drive away, with its black sand beach and turquoise ocean. There is a Raglan Surfing School nearby, where we rented boards and wetsuits. Perhaps the only negative was the huge boulders in the water, which you hit with your feet when you fall off the surf.

From Raglan we headed towards New Plymont to start our journey along the Forgotten World highway from there the next day. However, we again saw a brown sign in the area of ​​​​the town of Piopio, indicating one of the locations of “The Hobbit”. The place is called Hairy Feet, where they offer tours around the large rock that appeared in the scene with Bilbo and the trolls. A little further we came across the beautiful Waitangaru Falls, the path to which lay through a real tropical jungle.

Day 2. Stratford - Napier Highway

Highway No. 43, now called Forgotten World highway, used to connect two cities - Taranaki and King Country, along which a railway was built at the beginning of the 20th century. Now it is a lost world where ghosts of the past live. The highway is 150 km long, but the travel time doubles due to the gravel road, and in some places the lack of one at all. And yes, there is not a single gas station along the way.

The maps indicate over 30 attractions, which are essentially forgotten villages, tunnels and abandoned stations. And the railroad now carries carriages that look like golf carts, sending tourists back a century.

However, the main must see is the only republic in the country, Wongamomona, whose residents rebelled against the local council and declared themselves independent. Here is a century-old hotel, built on the site of a burned-out predecessor, where at the reception you can obtain citizenship of the republic, and in the pub on the ground floor have a glass, and then drive with impunity, because the police have long been forgotten here too.

Returning to the real world, or rather, having reached the end of the road, we went east to the city of Napier, which is 250 km and almost 4 hours away. The path passed along the largest lake in the country, Lake Taupo. This is where we once jumped with a parachute. New Zealanders themselves like to relax on the lakeshore on weekends, and there are many campsites in the area. We couldn’t stop, because we were in a hurry to arrive in Napier before sunset and wander through its Art Deco streets.

Day 3. Napier - Wellington

In Napier, in a place called Hawke's Bay, they are the first in the world to celebrate the new day and the sunrise. We, of course, slept through everything.

In Wellington around noon, the navigator predicted a 5 hour drive. Along the way we came across small provincial towns, vineyard fields and... everything. Quite the same type of landscape, which got boring after a couple of hours of driving.

“In a place called Hawke’s Bay, they are the first in the world to greet the new day and the sunrise. We, of course, slept through everything.”

Before reaching Wellington, we dropped into Adrenalin forrest (Okowai Rd, Aotea, Porirua) , where in a grove near the road he settled rope park with six levels from 3 to 30 m in height. On the same day we managed to drop by Makara beach: A place where there are huge windmills on the hills that you can walk to.

In the New Zealand capital, first of all, you should see the beehive-shaped Parliament building, take the funicular tram up to the Botanical Gardens, listen to live music on the Wellington Waterfront, and treat yourself to lunch at one of the take aways or check out one of the restaurants on the lively Cuba street. and in the evening climb Mount Victoria, from where the best panorama of the city opens. And it's still here Weta studio (Corner Camperdown Rd & Weka St) , which provided visual effects not only for The Lord of the Rings, but also for King Kong, Avatar, The Avengers, X-Men and Man of Steel. It’s worth a visit, if not for a tour, then at least in the souvenir shop.

Day 4-5. Wellington - Queenstown

We flew to Queenstown on a small propeller plane and enjoyed the views of the South Island all the way: white and blue mountains and blue lakes. Happened better than any observation deck. The city lies on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and is surrounded by mountains on all sides, making it look like small fjord towns in Scandinavia. I remember how my breath caught when I saw the tiny houses and snowy peaks. Just like in a movie, I thought, only in “The Lord of the Rings” the picture went through dozens of filters, but here it’s all real, as it is, without embellishment.

We stayed in a hostel Nomads Queenstown(5-11 Church St). After spending the night in the car, the eight-bed room seemed like a royal mansion. The lake is one minute away, there is a food hall in the building on the ground floor Devil burger (5/11 Church St), on the contrary - cheap Asian fast food Al Tai(8 Church St). The city is small, you can get around it in one hour, so it’s more comfortable to get around on foot - you walk through parks and quiet streets.

On the first day, in order to once again look at the whole city from above, we climbed the Queenstown Hill hike leading to one of the hills. We had lunch at Fergburger (42 Shotover St), where they make burgers, the fame of which has spread throughout the world. The line for the restaurant starts on the street around the corner! The burgers are huge and juicy, you can eat one of these for the whole day, there is a large selection. We took ferburgers with cheese and falafel and had a picnic in the Botanical Garden. By the way, you can have breakfast at a nearby bakery Fergbaker(40 Shotover St), where they make delicious pies, desserts and chocolate. In the evening, for cheap drinks and snacks, go to Loco Cantina (48 Shotover St) .

Queenstown is called the "adventure capital". People come here for adrenaline and the fulfillment of their extreme dreams. Try skydiving and bungee jumping. The last must do, since New Zealand is the birthplace of bungee jumping; here, in the vicinity of Queenstown on Kawarau Bridge, the first bungee jumping in the world was performed. Those who wish can repeat this jump (height 43 m) or go to the highest platform Nevis - 134 m and 8.5 seconds of free fall with a rope tied to their feet will be remembered forever.

“In The Lord of the Rings, the picture went through dozens of filters, but here it’s all real, as it is.”

That's it for the list extreme entertainment does not end, it seems as if New Zealanders are coming up with new ways to titillate on the fly. Stop by the office Queenstown Adventures (Corner Shotover and Camp Streets) and buy a discounted combo offer if you decide to try everything.

As a lover of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, I couldn't help but take us on a themed tour of the filming locations. The ticket opens the door to the world of Middle-earth, where the landscapes before your eyes turn into the familiar movie locations of the River Anduin (this is Lake Wanaka), Lothlórien (a grove just outside Queenstown) and Isengard (a field outside the village of Glenorchy). And in a place called Paradise they also filmed “The Wolverine” and “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.” And, by the way, in Queenstown itself the chance of meeting a person who had a hand in Jackson’s trilogy is 100%, because every resident considered it their civic duty to help film the story of the hobbits. Talk to the locals - they will have stories and inside stories about the shooting, you can learn many secrets.

Day 6. Milford Sound

INDEPENDENT TRIP TO NEW ZEALAND.
(February 2014)
(Purely Subjective opinion, based on personal impressions).

I was lucky enough to visit different parts of our beautiful planet. And it seemed that there was practically nothing to surprise me (at least very much).
However, what we saw in New Zealand not only pleased us, but really hooked us, and quite strongly.
Thanks to the Universe for this.

The most difficult thing to do to get to these Jurassic lands is to decide on an almost 30-hour flight.
Moscow – Hong Kong – 11 o’clock. Hong Kong - Auckland - 12 hours, Auckland - Queenstown - 2 hours. Including connections, the entire flight took just under 40 hours.
The 8-hour layover in Hong Kong allowed us to walk a little and relax.
I note that it took much longer to get back, having specifically chosen long connections in Auckland (to explore the city) and Hong Kong (to hang out and do some shopping).
Having read the rules for entry into New Zealand on the Internet and read the forums, we wrote down in the declaration medications for personal use, alcohol (although they complied with the rules) and caviar in sealed jars. No fruits, vegetables or products in unsealed packaging can be imported. Fine from 400 NZ$.
The belongings of all tourists arriving in New Zealand (NZ) are checked carefully, but without any hassles or gloomy faces. Everyone is friendly and welcoming.
International and domestic flights to/from/through NZ are also notable for the fact that traditional safety instructions for passengers, shown on individual monitors, are based on the blockbuster “The Lord of the Rings”, with a large dose of humor and irony.

Queenstown.

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In the town itself, with a population of about 22,000 people, there are a large number of tourist offices offering a variety of services for organizing auto, motorcycle, bicycle, air and walking tours.
IN summer season, this includes rafting, kayaking, skydiving, rock climbing, bungee (there is also the highest in the world), zip tracking, fishing, high-speed jet boat riding and much more.
The city, however, like the entire island, is imprisoned active image life.
Here, cars passing by, especially on weekends, are loaded with bicycles, boats, ATVs and motorcycles, and on trailers there must be either a sea boat or a yacht. It is not uncommon to have a camper (home on wheels) with a couple of bicycles attached to the front, a kayak on the roof, and a small car, such as an Opel Corsa or Citroen C1, on the back for shopping trips.
Movement!
With a main focus on a healthy, active lifestyle. And this, you know, is not just pleasing, but literally addictive, fascinating with its diversity, high quality of services provided and unusual novelty.
Well, in the evening you can, as they say here, go out, i.e. walk, as many people do here, through the numerous bars, cafes and restaurants.
They start the evening, usually with steak or lamb.
Well, then, if desired, beer (more on that a little later), wine or something stronger.
People smoothly flow from one establishment to another.
No more massacres, injuries and stupid showdowns like: “What are you doing? - what about you!?
But in every restaurant, any employee can come up to you and ask how you are doing and whether you like the dishes served. Just a few friendly words, a smile and good wishes.
At first I was a little worried. However, after explanations from our local friends, it became clear that this is the custom here.
And this is not a requirement from management to staff, it is a way of life...
On the embankment, free artists give mini performances; on weekends, in open areas, groups perform free concerts.
Access to the city stadium is free.
Security is at such a level that cars are not locked, and a lonely girl returning home late in the evening can not only walk calmly, but even walk and frivolously sway her hips and sleep at the same time. And also calm...
It is noteworthy that this very security is provided not by special forces and a bunch of police, but by society itself, through a high level of culture, mutual respect and goodwill.
And widespread cleanliness.
Walking early morning around the city and hoping to see heaps of garbage, after merry night revels, we were extremely “disappointed” with what we saw - almost as clean as always.
The two janitors we met on the way back to the hotel looked at us as if they were apologizing for the lack of garbage in their plastic bags.
A little later, we saw how one of them, crawling out of the bushes and holding a cigarette in his tongs, joyfully called to his partner, proudly showing him the found artifact, confirming that we are also civilized, even though we live on the outskirts of the planet.
Like in our forest, if you try really hard, you can still find at least one pale little crest.
One friend who lived here for a long time told me how he lost a wallet with a bunch of money and several bank cards. With each subsequent day, the hope of returning, at least an empty wallet, melted away at the same speed as an iceberg caught in the Gulf Stream. Time passed, the piece of ice melted, completely dissolving in the ocean of time.
The person recovered from the stress and almost forgot about the loss.
Suddenly, one fine evening, THREE months (!) later, a middle-aged woman rang at the door of the apartment he was renting (!), at first she tried to hand him some kind of wallet (he no longer remembered the size or shape , no color), and then she spent a long time explaining to him (with apologies) why she had been looking for him for so long and finally found him and was glad to return him his money.
Completely safe.
Moreover, it turned out that she found him much later than he lost him! Those. he was lying around (poor thing), no one wanted, somewhere under a bench or in the bushes, and then, having walked around like a cat in March, he returned back to his master’s house. True, unlike the cat, who was diligently burying the musk on the roof, he did not lose a single gram of weight, i.e. not a cent.
We were also “lucky” once. Having finished dinner, we went to the bar, paid and left, happily forgetting the smartphone on the table at which we were sitting.
And what about us, we are under a light fly, we go and relax, we produce calories from the steak, and distribute them to different parts of the body. They caught up with him, handed him over, smiled, and wished him a good rest.

After two days of adaptation in Queenstown, we rented a car (Toyota Camry).
The goal is to travel around the South Island clockwise, stopping at interesting places.
Driving in NZ is on the left. An international driver's license or certified translation from a local lawyer is required.
The roads are mostly one lane in each direction, with occasional additional overtaking lanes. The quality of the road surface is excellent. The signs are informative and logical. Speed ​​on the highway is up to 100 km/h.
The routes are winding and require constant attention; in the mountains there are serpentines.
Traffic density, even on weekends, is low.
We didn’t take a navigator, but having bought a local SIM card, we used a smartphone. And even then, mainly in cities.
Route:
- Queenstown to Haast, 3 hours/209 km
- Haast to Hokitika, 3.5 hours/278 km with a motel stop in Greymouth (36 km from Hokitika).
- Greymouth to Motueka, 5 hours/334 km
- Motueka to Kaikoura 3.5 hours/290 km
- Kaikoura to Mt Cook/Lake Tekapo 3 hours/230 km to Christchurch + 2.5 hours/181 km
- Mt Cook to Queenstown 3 hours/257 km.
(the indicated time assumes non-stop traffic).
All of the above settlements, although called cities, are, by our standards, large (and not very large) villages. Their main distinguishing feature is low-rise construction, practically deserted streets in the evenings, good infrastructure, the ubiquitous presence of information offices for tourists, with free and more detailed - paid maps, safety and friendliness of the local population.

Let's rush!

Yeah! Right now! I’ll just stop confusing the light and windshield wiper control knobs.
They are located here not like in left-hand drive cars, but vice versa. I get used to it, basically quickly, but I still slow down sometimes. For us, it’s certainly fun when, instead of a turn signal, the washer and windshield wipers turn on. But for those around me, probably not so much...

We thought that now, as soon as we press the trigger, well, with a couple or three stops, we’ll finish it in about 4 hours. And then we’ll take a walk and relax….
The thought is apparently rather weak, either in size or in content.
We drove for more than 7 hours... And not because the road was difficult, but because literally every 5 minutes, the landscapes changed dramatically and we constantly braked, jumped out of the car and, like crazy maniacs, silently and greedily clicked the camera shutters. At such moments, we resembled hungry fugitives - convicts who accidentally attacked a clearing with berries.

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In the evening we arrived at the motel.
In the morning, looking out the window, we saw how an elderly lady, who was staying with her husband in the room located below us, having finished wiping the fogged windows on her car with a rag, smoothly moved to the neighbor's. Maybe they are traveling in the same company?
It turned out that no, because... the next car was ours, and then someone else’s….
We are already slightly swollen.
And this Wonderful Lady, apparently, simply has a heightened sense of care for everything around her. There is something to learn from the Lady, from the Island....

From Haast our route lay in Hokitika, and a little further (at 36 km) in Greymouth.

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Now our road ran along the ocean. And again, unusual landscapes, endless and deserted sand and pebble shores, turning into inaccessible rocks. Powerful surf and this bewitching and alluring smell of the sea. And try not to stop after the road sign “The next 5 km are penguins”! We knew that now, in the summer, there were no penguins there. And still they stopped, jumped out of the car and took pictures of everything.
On this section of the motor rally, you can go trekking on Fox Glacier http://www.foxguides.co.nz/our-trips/fox-trot-half-day-walk
We arrived in Greymouth after lunch, checking into a guesthouse called Noah's Ark.
All rooms in this mini-hotel are stylized to resemble different animals. The entire decor of the rooms, from curtains to chairs. Original and cute.
A good-natured golden retriever, parading around the territory of the guest house, jumps up and happily waves his tail when asked to go for a walk. Not without reason. It turns out, as they explained to us at the reception, anyone can take a leash from them and go for a walk with this wonderful dog even for the whole day.
In Greymouth, you can ride or bike to the Elizabeth Track, which leads to the gold mines. Go to the Gold Mining Museum.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/west-coast/greymouth/point-elizabeth-walkway/
We also had a track...
To Monteith Brewery: 60 Herbert St Greymouth 7805 Tel. 03-768 4149.
The duration of our trek was 300 meters one way and took about 10 minutes.
But gatherings and tastings are a little more.
There are not many people, most of them arrive in their cars, with families and children.
Excellent beer, sold on tap and in packs of 6 bottles, right in the large hall of the plant, where there are tables and chairs for visitors. There are 9 varieties in total, of which 3 varieties are cider (4.5%) and 2 varieties are ale (up to 5%). You won't be able to get drunk here, even if you want to. All drinks are light.
And beer is Brewed here, and not, as is often the case here, produced by mixing technical alcohol with some strange concentrates.
For those interested, excursions around the plant are immediately organized.
Very soulful, fun and TASTY!

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The road passes through Paparoa National Park.
Passes, serpentine roads, lakes, forests, endless spaces, magnificent views. As everywhere else, there are many viewing platforms.

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A resort town, on the ocean and on the edge of the Abel Tasman National Park, as always and everywhere, with a full range of outdoor activities.
We stayed here for 5 days. Mostly we went trekking in the mountains, along the ocean, swam (water temperature no more than 18oC), and in the evening we just relaxed.
By the way, Motueka has its own brewery with wonderful beer and cider.
Well, as everywhere else, excellent and large selection of wine.
In NZ, cheap places called “fish and chips” are very popular, where they prepare fresh seafood that you can eat right there or take away with you. They also have meat dishes and hamburgers.
Often, we would take several packages of fish or shrimp and chips for dinner.
The woman behind the counter, handing out another order, used a marker to draw funny faces on the packaging.
Just to cheer people up...
We really liked it.
What can you see in this wonderful region.
Many things. Including Golden Bay, Wharariki Beach, Drift Wood Shelter, caves and springs in the mountains.
A stunningly beautiful “Coast Track” along the ocean, passing along a mountain path, which every 20 - 30 minutes leads to small lagoons with golden sand. This trek starts in the resort town of Marahau, which is about 30 minutes drive from Motueka,
runs along the edge of the Abel Tasman National Park and ends in the resort town of Anchorage. Many go in the opposite direction.
The duration of the trek at a good pace is 4 hours. If you are not in a hurry, then 3 days, with the opportunity to stay in tents, on beaches in specially designated places.

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Our next destination is Kaikoura.

Kaikoura is located on the east coast of the island.
The nature is already different, there are fewer and fewer vineyards as you move south. Cooler.
Along the road that runs along the ocean there are rookeries of fur seals, which are not at all afraid of people and will allow you to approach within a distance of 3–5 meters. Very curious, cute and touching. We spent about 40 minutes in their company.
Main activitis in Kaikoura:
Swimming in wetsuits with dolphins or fur seals.
Whale Watching Cruise (http://www.whalewatch.co.nz/).
And the tracks, of course. Well, planes, helicopters, parachutes...
The place is magnificent and deserves at least a 2-day stay.

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In fact, on the road to Queenstown, 20 km from Lake Tekapo (87 km²), there is another lake - Pukaki (178.7 km² - the largest of the three) and a little further on another one - Ohay (54 km2).
The town of LakeTekapo and the lake itself are inscribed on the NZ Heritage List.
(http://www.tekapotourism.co.nz/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aoraki_/_Mount_Cook)
On the shore of the lake stands the Church of the Good Shepherd (1935)
There are hot springs in the form of a cascade of pools.
http://www.tekaposprings.co.nz/tekapo-springs-hot-pools
The observatory, on a nearby peak, with a magnificent panorama.
And, of course, a wonderful range of entertainment, the most popular of which is:
glacier-trip, http://www.glacierexplorers.co.nz/glacier/glacier-trip/
The name of Lake Tekapo is translated from the Maori language as “night mat”.
Lake Rukaki, in the Maori language means “crumpled water”.
In Russian - Pukaki, I’m afraid to even spell it out into syllables. Everything works out, something is wrong...
Lake Ohay contains the largest population of sockeye salmon.
All three lakes are magnificent in their beauty. With a great perspective to photograph and the snowy peaks of Mt Cook in the background.
It's truly breathtaking! Super!

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From the lakes, having traveled 257 km, we return to Queenstown.
We rent the car to a rental office. The process is quick and easy.
To the hotel, to the shower, to the outside.
We discuss what we saw and share our impressions.
Well, what else can you surprise us with in NZ!? Probably nothing...

However, the next day, we are recommended to take an 8-hour trek along the lake coast. Getting from the city to the start of the trek is about 15 km.
- How to get there? The car was handed over. - They look at me with surprise and a slight bit of pity, apparently not only for the inappropriateness, but also for the obvious stupidity of the question.
- Keep the keys to my jeep. When you return, you will park the car near your hotel. We'll pick it up later.
- What about the power of attorney? – I blink my eyes stupidly.
- Do not worry! Just take the keys and don't break the rules.
- And if all the same, if suddenly...
- Well, why are you worrying!? Our police officers are GOOD... Well, call me if anything...
I'm in stupor! And not at all from beer.
And from the attitude to life and to problems.
Apparently, this is one of the facets of culture shock...
As a result, I drove even without documents for the car (I forgot to ask about them).
Perhaps these two expressions: “Don’t worry!” and “Why are you worrying!” are the main ones
in the worldview of the local population and reflect their constant relaxed, joyful and good-natured state.
And after all, almost everyone is sober, and if they drink, they are quiet, not aggressive and in their minds.
At the same time, there is no optionality, unbridledness, tardiness or trepalism.
You become infected with this condition, like a flu virus, unnoticed and very quickly.
I would like it to happen forever and everywhere.

And the track turned out to be simply wonderful! And even more impressive than the Coast Track along the ocean. Although already there, it blew the roof off for once.

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To Milford Sound from Queenstown
http://milfordsoundselect.com/about/the-boat
Milford Sound fiord, in the Maori language - Piopiotahi, within the Te Wahipounamu National Park:
- the habitat of the deity Atua,
- nominee in the 2009 competition, “New Seven Wonders of the World”,
- since 1990, on the list of World Heritage Sites.
In my post-nano-Irish opinion:
- naturally – the gateway to the land of goblins,
- an open portal to a 6-dimensional, mysterious world,
- alien landscape projected from space,
- a transshipment base between “Hell and Heaven”….

What is so interesting to see here?
While in the mountainous part of China several years ago, we really wanted to visit the Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve, which houses a cascade of famous colored lakes. Did not have enough time. Getting to them is not easy.
Here in NZ we saw something similar.

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A cascade of lakes with amazingly clear, turquoise-colored water.
Relict trees at the bottom, overgrown with moss and as if preserved in a sterile solution.
A mountain river cascades like a powerful waterfall into a narrow and deep gorge, consisting of green rocks - jade and bowenite, which gives the steep cliffs a greenish-blue hue.
Unusual, ornate holes made in the rock by powerful streams of water during a flood.