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NZ 2023
  • Katie Burke
  • Katie Burke

NZ 2023

A 16-day adventure by Katie Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 2, 2023
    Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler
    1

    Arrival in NZ

    September 2, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Our flight into Queenstown was put into a holding pattern before landing, meaning we had to do a few laps over the spectacular landscape to wait our turn to land. No complaints from us! We then picked up our hire car and made our way to Wanaka and the beautiful holiday home of our friends Mark and Cath who have so generously allowed us to stay. Here's a view I don't think you could ever get bored with...Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler

    Day 1

    September 3, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    We spent our first full day just enjoying our beautiful accommodation and Wanaka. The weather was spectacular. After morning coffee and a stroll around the town, I did some backyard yoga (nothing special 😁). After a light lunch on the deck we then took a bike ride around the east side of the lake. Darn, no photos taken - enjoying ourselves too much). We enjoyed a twilight stroll along the lake front before dinner at a cosy ale house and saw these huge eels!Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler

    Day 2 - Cardrona

    September 4, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    We took a half day trip up to Cardrona for some hardcore skiing and snowboarding... (kidding!) Steve's recovering heel injury meant that we engaged in summer hardcore spectating, and with the winter games on at the moment there was plenty to watch. We enjoyed a late lunch in the historic Cardrona pub seated by a log fire. Bliss!Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler

    Day 3 - Arrowtown & Queenstown

    September 5, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    After a leisurely morning coffee at a very cool Wanaka cafe with lots of plant based options, we took a drive to historic Arrowtown, strolled the quaint streets and then made our way to Queenstown. Steve's main objective here was to get a Fergburger (he romanticises this place after fabulous burgers in the past) and we waited with the hordes for our giant burgers. Top buttons undone, we then headed up the gondola and enjoyed multiple rides on the luge, enjoying the breathtaking views. Steve definitely took corners a little faster on our way home, his driving ego bolstered by how fast he managed the luge!Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler

    Day 4 - chillin'

    September 6, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Today the weather wasn't superb and we were feeling like a day of nothing, so that's exactly what we did! We read, watched a film, did some yoga (yes, both of us!) and enjoyed watching the weather from the comfort of the living space.Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler
    2

    Day 5 - ebiking Wanaka

    September 7, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    We were greeted this morning by clear skies, perfect for our planned bike ride along the west side of the lake. Today we used ebikes for the first time and I am a convert! The track we rode was steep and rocky... Not a problem! I cruised up those hills like a pro thanks to the power of electricity. Loved it! At our stopping point we found a very cool shelter built out of driftwood. The day was finished off with dinner out and some live music at a cool little bar.Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler
    22

    Day 6 - Matukituki valley

    September 8, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Another specular day with clear blue skies and no wind: perfect for a "hike" (as much as one can hike on a healing broken foot). Steve managed approximately 4kms return. Quite the feat. It was a gentle amble up the west Matukituki valley, and while much slower than we usually walk, I really loved the slower pace and opportunity to walk mindfully. Maybe all hikes should be this gentle?Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler

    Day 7 - soaking up the sun

    September 9, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 8 °C

    Yet another glorious day, but it looks like wet weather from tomorrow so we took the opportunity to soak up the sun, spending the morning at the water's edge doing a crossword. After lunch we took another bike ride along the east side of the lake, had a chat with a kite surfer (brrrrrrrr!) and learned how hard it is to ride an ebike up a hill after the battery runs out. Dinner was at a local food truck venue where we spent over an hour chatting to a couple from the States on their honeymoon. Not many pics, but geez it was a good day!Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler
    11

    Day 8 - leisurely Sunday

    September 10, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 14 °C

    After a late and lazy start to the day (it's a Sunday, late starts are the law) we did a short drive around surrounding areas, including Lake Hawea (super windy). We then headed to a local winery "Nanny Goat wines" and enjoyed sampling a range of their wines (mainly Pinot noir which this region is famous for, but we ended up purchasing a Sauvignon blanc - what is wrong with us?!) As expected, the weather turned rainy in the afternoon so we had a lazy afternoon and evening back at the house in Wanaka watching the weather again, reading and watching a movie. Every Sunday should be this leisurely!Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler

    Day 9 - Cromwell

    September 11, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Steve booked himself a massage in Cromwell (about 45 minutes drive away because everything is exorbitantly expensive here in Wanaka) which gave us a chance to explore the area. It's amazing to see how the town centre was demolished and shifted to create a new dam in the early 90s. We took the long way home and had late lunch at a gorgeous gastro pub in Arrowtown. In the afternoon Steve mowed the lawn at our friends' house while I enjoyed the local wetlands that have been made accessible with a new boardwalk. Such a beautiful place.Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler
    1

    Day 10 - bike ride along the Clutha

    September 12, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    We were greeted by a much colder (9 degrees) and very windy day... The perfect day for a half day bike ride, right?! Undeterred and rugged up to the hilt, we set off around 11am and enjoyed our favourite day yet. Bedside the beautiful scenery, vivid turquoise river, mountainous landscape and amazing Patisserie along the way at Albert Town, we both felt very alive in the face of the elements. We warmed up at the end of our ride about 3pm at a pub with a view of the lake and mountains (me with a steaming glass of mulled wine - mmmmmmm).Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler
    12

    Day 11 - Aoraki

    September 13, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C

    We departed Wanaka today with a tinge of sadness and loads of gratitude for the last 1.5 weeks in such a beautiful place and made our way to Aoraki (Mt Cook). This mountain can be moody and last time we came she remained shrouded in clouds and eluded us, so what a treat to have the most spectacular clear skies and crystal clear view. Steve managed over 5km today but his foot is punishing him for it tonight. Never mind, the view from our room will console us...Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler

    Day 12 - Clouds, wind and rain

    September 14, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 5 °C

    There's very little to share of our adventures today and the comparative pic from our room showing the difference between yesterday and today should explain why. We woke to pure white, unable to see most of the mountains, so thick was the cloud. Then came the wind and rain and hail. But don't get me wrong, it was a great day and we loved sitting at our window marvelling at the weather for hours. After lunch we visited the Edmond Hillary centre and took a little drive around the Mt Cook village. Feeling very rested, ready for the last leg of our trip tomorrow to Timaru.Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler
    12

    Day 13 - Tasman Glacier

    September 15, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    The day started with cloudy skies that cleared beautifully just in time for spectacular views at Tasman glacier. It's quite confronting to see how it's retreating over the years. We then headed from Aoraki to Timaru, driving past the spectacular blue Lake Pukaki. Photos never do these majestic views justice.Read more

  • Katie BurkeNZ 2023Traveler
    2

    Day 14 - Timaru & Oamaru

    September 16, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    We arrived the previous afternoon at the house of our lovely long-time friends in Timaru. We met 25 years ago when pregnant with our first children and even though our friends only lived in Hervey Bay for a single year we've stayed in touch ever since. It was a lovely leisurely evening and day just catching up, taking their gorgeous puppies for a walk and then lunch in historic Oamaru. Feeling a tad sad knowing this is our last full day before flying home.Read more

    Trip end
    September 17, 2023
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