There’s no doubt in most people’s mind for the majority that have seen or heard of the movie Lord of the Rings, almost always associate New Zealand with this movie. After all, Who can forget those spectacular battle scenes on middle earth and of course Hobbiton. We had initially set our sights in exploring the North Island of New Zealand, where the majority of the locations were filmed, but instead decided to change gears as we wanted to be more adventurous and experience the raw, natural beauty of New Zealand. We chose Queenstown as the starting point of our New Zealand road trip. Excitement seeped in as we were flying through the mountains and lakes of their majestic mountains. We can now check off such a surreal experience of flying through those amazing mountains.
Since we had already planned our trip to Australia (check out our blog here — Sydney — Melbourne), checking off New Zealand from our bucket list was an absolute must, as it was only a short 3 hour flight from Melbourne and Sydney. Although we had only 1 week planned to explore the southern Island, the many highlights we visited of Milford Sound, Catlins, and a luge ride in Queenstown, all truly lived up to their expectations and many unforgettable memories.
Te Anau
Te Anau is roughly over a 2 hour drive from Queenstown Airport, and often used as the starting base to exploring the Fiordland National Park and Milford Sound area, as a variety of lodging, accommodations and restaurants are available. Its popular, Lake Te Anau covers 344 km² is the largest lake in the Southern Island of New Zealand and the second largest in New Zealand. A small town, noted to have only about 2000 people. The most popular tourist attraction, aside from their various hiking trails, is the glow worm grotto. We had a great time enjoying such a beautiful and serene spot. As you head out to explore Milford Sound, make sure to fill up the tank in this town, as the nearest gas station is a good hour away.
Eglinton Valley
Eglinton Valley was definitely one of our favourite spots to stop over and take some fun family shots and also a popular spot for other tourists. With such a wide open area, beautiful golden tussocks and the most stunning cascading mountain views in the background, arguably one of our favourite spots in New Zealand. The surrounding areas also also known to be one of the film locations of Lord of the Rings, in particular the Misty Mountains in the Fellowship of the Rings. There are many various walking trails for you to explore but will need a good day to do so.
Milford Sound
A trip to Southern New Zealand wouldn’t be complete without visiting the majestic Milford Sound! Dubbed the “8th Wonder of the World”, it truly is a must see when you’re in the south island. Our highlight of our trip, but the most unforgettable part was literally driving through those mountains. The drive itself could be pretty strenuous, especially if the weather is not on your side. If your not an experienced driver, make sure to let passing cars through as a courtesy. We stayed the night at the beautiful Milford Sound Lodge, which is only minutes to Milford Sound. We have much to say about our amazing experiences there, so come and see our detailed review about this special place. If you have the time, you can explore the area further by taking a day trip on a cruise or go canoeing/kayaking through the fjords.
The Catlins
The Catlins area is located close to the most southern tip of New Zealand, and has been one of the most scenic drives we’ve encountered with many wide open rolling hills, beaches, abundance of nature walks, waterfalls and breathtaking views that you can marvel in.
We also decided to stay at one of the coolest AirBnb’s in the area! If you’re interested, please come and check out our detailed review of what my daughters call “The Castle on the Hill”. 🙂
Purakanunui Falls
Enjoy the peaceful, tranquil and beautiful nature walk to the falls, which is short enough for the children to enjoy. The walk itself takes roughly up to 10 minutes from the car park and a fairly straightforward path to follow. The forest itself may be slightly damp, from the unpredictable rainfalls of New Zealand, and I highly recommend to bring comfortable walking shoes. At one point, we truly felt that we were in the jungles of the Amazons, as we marveled in the many native trees and of course highlighted by a beautiful falls. The Purakanuni Falls is a 3 tiered, cascading waterfall. The falls itself is not high but still captivating and such a serene experience to take in.
Cathedral Caves & Waipati Beach
We went off the beaten tracks to explore,the Cathedral Caves of New Zealand, which is considered to be one of the longest known sea caves in the world. In order to reach the caves, you will have to hike 20 to 25 minutes through the forested area, and eventually reach Waipati Beach. Please note the times you are able to enter, as access to the caves is restricted only during low tide and no access before 7:30am and after 8:30pm. There is also a small entrance fee to pay, $5 for adults and $1 for children.
A total of 12 sea caves can be visited throughout the beach but depending on the tide levels, you may have to walk through a feet of water to visit each and everyone and may be good idea to bring waterproof shoes or sandals. We had a great time exploring such a vast beach area. Just ensure you plan enough time for your hike back, as you will have to exit the premises by 8:30pm.
Lindis Pass
A Bird’s Eye View Cottage in Timaru
Out of all the places we stayed in New Zealand, this “Bird’s Eye View Cottage” was hands down the best stay of them all! This is truly one of a kind place in the world!…a treasure I might add! It was so special that we had to write a separate review about it! 🙂
Queenstown & Wanaka
Wanaka is a small resort town located just 1 hour north of Queenstown. A popular town for tourists and locals to visit anytime of the year. Depending on the season, various activities are available within the vicinity, from skiing/snowobarding in the winter to fishing/hunting in the summer. Set on the south slopes of Mount Aspiring National Park, a World Heritage site, famous for, its growing economy, flocked with a variety of food, bars, cafes, and shops. Many tourists eagerly grab a photo of the infamous lone Wanaka tree, of which during high tide is surrounded by the lake. The Wanaka tree is not easily spotted, as there are no signs directing you to the tree, so you will have to do a little research to locate it. There is ample of parking near by and a great place to have a picnic, a playground for the kids to enjoy, and to soak in the sunset.
One of our most unforgettable experience of our trips was the ever thrilling luge ride, located right in Queenstown. This attraction is quite popular with large tour bus groups, therefore, I would recommend booking tickets in advance. Check their website for prices.
Family packages include a Gondola + Luge + Dinner Buffet, or a combination of the 2. As advertised on their website – “once is never enough” – the hype truly lives up to their motto! With such an epic backdrop of Lake Wanaka, you will definitely want to go another round or 2, if your time permits. For those with younger children, tandem package rides are also offered with your little ones in tow, they too can enjoy the experience. Gift shops, restaurants, and other eateries are available at the top. There is also an observatory deck for a selfie opportunity with Lake Wanaka. Such a sight to behold!
Needless to say, this has been one EPIC trip! If you want to see our entire Australia / New Zealand adventure, CLICK HERE to watch a short film of our highlights. We hope you enjoy!