It was always my dream go to New Zealand because it look likes Ireland which it totally felt in love during the summer 2015 and after I went to Iceland which it was amazing and so I really wanted to boat New Zealand it was definitely on my bucket list. Also during all the two year of the pandemic that I lived in Australia I never got the chance to go because the borders were closed all the time, finally this time I got the chance to go. Unfortunately it wasn’t as I expected because since the day after I landed in Wellington I started to feel sick it was quite bad for all the 18 day I was constantly taking medicine and resting in some hotel because I was to tired of the travelling but I managed to do a lot considering the condition that I was, I rented a car with the Mode rental company it was the cheapest price and for 14 days they give me a Toyota RAV4 a suv which it was nice for all the km that I did in total Wellington to Auckland 3800km basically all by myself.

DAY 1 – 01.01.23

( Night at: Nomad Capital Backpackers, Wellington )

( Punatahu Visitor Center, Pukaki )

I woke up kind of early well I haven’t sleep a lot after the NYE party and in the morning the shuttle took me to the airport at 9 am that at 11:00 am I had my flight with Fiji airways to Auckland where I landed at 15:10 pm I had to picked up my stuff changed terminal and checked in for the next flight at 6:40 pm which it was like an hour late and I landed in Wellington at 8:15 pm. I was very tired and from the airport I took a public bus to the city that took me directly to the hostel were I went straight to sleep I was very tired.

DAY 2 – 02.01.23

( Night at: Nomad Capital Backpackers, Wellington )

( Cuba street in Wellington )

I woke up at 9 am I got ready and I went to explore Wellington but first I made the NZ SIM card to have data around the island than I went for breakfast at Floridiatas which it was a very nice and cozy cafe and than I did a bit of shopping to get some winter clothes. Than I stopped by the supermarket to get something to eat and I went back to the hostel to chill and sleep a bit because I wasn’t feeling very well and than I chill all evening staying in the room and calling my mum telling her about the trip in Fiji and the future plan.

DAY 3 – 03.01.23

( Decks Reserve Car Park, Motueka )

( South Island, New Zealand )

Woke up at 8:30 am did the check out and I took the bus to the rental car which I picked up at 11 am and than I drove a bit around to get familiar with the car and than I went to take my backpack at the hostel and I went to the Bluebridge to take the ferry at 1:30 pm and luckily they have space for me and the car so I could jumped in. The ferry took longer than what I expected so I arrived in Picton at 5 pm and I drove a bit around when to Blenheim, got few things from k mart and than drove thru Havelock, Ray Vally Cottage, Cable Bay Relax than went to Motueka to sleep.

DAY 4 – 04.01.23

( Night at: Cedar Grove Motor Lodge, Nelson )

( fresh raspberries from the farm )

Woke up at 8 am I went to the supermarket to get some medicine because I wasn’t feeling well and at 10 am I left the caravan park, I stopped by Janie Seddon Shipwreck, Kaiteriteri Beach and than I arrived at Abel Tasman Nation Park where I did a walk around and I charged my phone and my camera than I stopped by few farm to get some fruits, went to visit Broadgreen Historical House in Nelson and than I went to the airport to pick up Carmel at 5:40 pm.

Her plane was in late so I clean the house and I got ready and once she arrived I took her to the place that she booked for the night we took a shower and we went out for dinner with her best friend that she was the one performing at the festival and two guys that r working with her.

We went at Lombardi’s Restaurant and than we went back to the hotel to sleep.

DAY 5 – 05.01.23

( Night at: Cedar Grove Motor Lodge, Nelson )

( Bay Dream Festival, Nelson )

We woke up quite late like 11 am and we got ready to go to the festival by walk which actually was quite closed to the Hotel to see her friend performing at 1 pm it was very nice I liked it the only pity thing is that was raining but luckily they had a stage inside as well. Unfortunately I was feeling very sick in the noon and by 6 pm we left the festival we went ti easy something well they eat I couldn’t and than we went to the bed like at 8 pm I was feeling very bad with fever and we watch Notting Hill and Carmel was very nice with me and she took care of me.

DAY 6 – 06.01.23

( Night at: Lake Ianthe Matahi Campsite, Ross )

( Franz Josef Glacier Walk )

I woke up at 8 am got ready did the check out with Carmel and I dropped her off at the airport that she took the flight to Auckland actually I stayed with her and her friends till was the time to embark. Than I start driving even if I was feeling very sick and I stopped at Cape Foulwind, Pancakes Rock Lookout and than I went for dinner at McDonald’s because after few days I was very starving and than I stopped at the camping to sleep because I was very tired and feeling quite sick from the drive.

DAY 7 – 07.01.23

( Night at: Albee Town Campground, Wanaka )

( Wanaka three )

I woke up early at 7:30 am got something to eat on the way and than I went to Okarito Lagoon Boat House than I did the walk to Franz Josef Glacier Walk but just the fist one and than I kept driving, later on I stopped at Lake Matheson. And than I spent the rest of the noon drive down to Wanaka where I arrived for the sunset or just a bit earlier to see the tree and than I went to find a Caravan Park to sleep over in the night.

DAY 8 – Sunday 08.01.23

( Night at: Harvest Park Studio, Cromwell )

( Wanaka Lavander Farm, New Zealand )

Woke up at 9 am feeling very sick I went in town Wanaka to the supermarket to buy some medicine and some food than I went to the Wanamaker tree again to take few more pic and than I made my way to the accomodation to chill because I didn’t feel good at all. On the way at stopped at the Wanaka Lanvander Farm and a bit later in a Cherry farm to buy some fresh cherries than I arrived in Cromwell where I went at the Junction Lookout to have lunch and enjoy the nice weather and than for a walk at the Heritage Precint. By 2 pm I was at the Harvest Park Studio ready for the check in once I get in the studio I did the loundry, shower and I took a nap than I did a bit of suffumigi and sleep.

DAY 9 -09.01.23

( Night at: Waikoniki Homestead, Peel Forest )

( Tekapo Lake )

I woke up at 8 am I did the check out and I went to Queenstown to check out the city and take few photos and than at 10:20 am I went to pick up Carmel at the airport and I started to drive which we ll have a long driving day. First stop at lake Pukaki which it was spectacular like the colours of the lake was insane than I drove till Tekapo lake which I had more expectations but anyway it was very nice and than we went to the Tekapo Flower fields. In between we stopped at the supermarket to get some medicine and some food before driving to our place that I booked for the night which it was very in the middle of nowhere but I quite like the experience it really was what I wanted from New Zealand, we did the check in and than we went down to the villa for dinner at The Village Inn and than we went back to sleep.

DAY 10 – 10.01.23

( Night at: Cheviot Motels cabins and Camp, Cheviot )

( Shamarra Alpaca Farm, Wainui )

We woke up at 8 we did the breakfast that was nice and than we went to visit a little church The Church Of the Holy Innocent and than I drove to Christchurch direct and we stopped there for lunch which it was a quick lunch in a random cafe. And after this quick stop I keep driving to the Shamarra Alpaca Farm and in that direction there was a really unbelievable scenario very beautiful and then I drove to our accomodation of the night at Cheviot. Since it was a small village there was nothing open for dinner near by so we just eat noodle and we went to sleep.

DAY 11 – Wednesday 11.01.23

( Night at: Nomad Capital Backpackers, Wellington )

( Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools )

We woke up at 8 am got ready and we went for breakfast at Number eight cafe and than I drove to the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools, we had few plans for today but the weather was very cloudy and rainy so we thought that going to the Therm was the best option, we got there around 1 pm and we stayed like two hours without realising that we had the boat in Picton at 7:15 pm to Wellington. We get out of the Thermal pool we went to the car and we realise that we were very in late, Carmel wanted to drive so I let her drive and I was calling the boat company many time since we realise that the boat was quite in late so we could probably make and after three hours drive we actually made it luckily and the boat probably left at 8:30 pm or something like that. Once we get on the boat we ordered some food and we went to the cabin to sleep which I was very tired but the sea was very wavy that we couldn’t almost sleep. We arrived in Wellington almost at 1 am and we sent straight to the Hostel.

DAY 12 – Thursday 12.01.23

( Night at: Nomad Capital Backpackers, Wellington )

( Cuba street in Wellington )

At 1:30 am we arrived at the hostel were we did the check in and we could sleep only for 3 hours because at 4:30 am I had to take Carmel to the airport stayed with her as much as I could and than at 6 am I parked the car at the Wilson Car Park and I went to sleep I stayed in the bed all day just woke up at lunch time that I went to the supermarket to buy some sushi and than went back to sleep I wasn’t feeling very well.

DAY 13 – Friday 13.01.2023

( Night at: The Homestead B&B, Cambridge )

( At the Homestead B&B in Cambridge )

I woke up very early at 5:30 am got ready did the check out and I drove all morning going up to Waitomo Caves which I stop here and there just to see the view in few lookout and at McDonald’s for lunch and than I got there at 2:30 pm just on time for the tour that I’ve booked at 3 pm. It was a very nice experience seen the Waitomo Caves and all the light inside, but it was a short tour it last like an hour and than I was very tired from all the drive so I decided to go at the place where I ll stay in the night to chill and sleep, but before I socialise with the alpaca, cow and sheep’s. It was lovely and the host they were very nice as well.

DAY – Saturday 14.01.22

( Night at: Rock Solid Backpackers Rotorua )

( Hobbiton Movie set, New Zealand )

I woke up early at 6:30 am I had breakfast and than I got ready to visit the Hobbiton movie set which it was only 20 minutes by drive and the tour started at 8:30 am I booked the first one of the day so there weren’t many ppl around and I could took nice pictures. Than I drove to Rotoura get some food at the groceries and went to eat at the Hatupatu Dr Car Park and Scenic Point than I went to the hostel to check in at 2 pm and I went straight to sleep till 7 pm and when I woke up I was quite worried about myself so I decided to go to the Hospital in the emergency department where I had to wait two hours and I wasn’t feeling well so I just got back to the hostel to sleep without seeing a doctor.

DAY 15 – Sunday 15.01.2023

( Night at: Flat Bush Holiday Accomodation, Auckland )

( Touranga view from Moturiki Island )

I woke up at 8:30 am did the check out and then I went to visit the Rachel Spring Whangapipiro and Government Gardens in Rotorua. After I drove up to Tauranga while I stopped to a supermarket to get some food and than I arrived at the Maunganui beach and walked around Moturiki Island, it was very lovely and a sunny weather I liked it a lot honestly but unfortunately I wasn’t feeling well as usual. Later on I drove up to Karangahake gorge and I wanted to go to Coromandel but I was running out of gas so I was looking for a gas station and at the same time I found a car accident so I waste a lot of time and I wasn’t really feeling driving that much so I just went to the accomodation in Flat Bush an area near Auckland that I choose it to be close to the car drop off the day after and I got there by 6 pm and I did the check in and went to sleep early.

DAY 16 – Monday 16.01.2023

( Night at: Newton Lodge, Auckland )

( Lively breakfast at: Flat Bush Holiday Accomodation, Auckland )

Woke up at 7:30 am by 8 am I had breakfast and it was a very good breakfast and than I drove to the Modo rental car which is just next to the airport to drop the car off before 11 am and once I dropped off the car I took the shuttle to the airport and from there a public bus to the hostel I took very long but at least I didn’t pay for it. Once I get at the hostel I order some sushi I had lunch and than I rest a little bit and in the noon I went to the pharmacy and than sleep again since I wasn’t feeling very well and than I went to sleep.

DAY 17 – Tuesday 17.01.2023

( Night at: Newton Lodge, Auckland )

( Auckland CBD, New Zealand )

I woke up at 7:30 am feeling very sick, I took few medicine and than I went back to sleep and by mid day I woke up again and I went to Subway to get something to eat and than I spent the noon in the room organising the photos and in the evening I order a poke bowl and than I try to go to sleep early.

DAY 18 – Wednesday 18.01.2023

( Flying with air New Zealand to Noumea )

I woke up at 6 am get ready and order and Uber to go to the airport and than I dropped off the bags I went to McDonald’s to have breakfast and than I got on the plane at 9:05 am and I landed in Noumea at 10:05 am.