Oceania : Part 9 - Queenstown to Franz Josef

I am going to Jogjakarta and Surabaya in Indonesia this August during Eid Mubarak, and it is going to be one of the costliest trip I am going to spend on. I am emailing an agent from a Mount Bromo Agency and he told me the cost escalates plus the traffic is not going to be pleasant... Oh dear. But fret no. I am going to take it as an interesting experience, although I am living in a Muslim country, but this will be different, because I am going as a visitor to another Muslim country. Travelling on a budget is not easy.

Back to my posts in New Zealand.

090910 : Started our journey from Queenstown towards Franz Josef. We stopped at Arrowtown where I read that some scenes from the Lord of the Rings were filmed here. We visited a jade shop and saw how jades were made. Sounds very tourist, right? 

Arrowtown River. Found out that a scene was recorded here. Something about the riders riding through. 

The first Chinese settlements in New Zealand were in Arrowtown for the mining. The Chinese settlers were small people. I stood by the door, and noticed my head were just touching the door.

Driving in New Zealand is scenic.

We stopped at Wanaka for lunch. That is because we wanted to see the Puzzling World of Wanaka. We did not go inside the Puzzling World because of the fee. We just snapped photos at the hall, where they showcased some puzzles and we attempted at solving them. Then, I realised I am not very smart after all. :-)

Back on the road, we stopped at a pottery! Yay! Finally saw some work being done. Birdhouses were being made.

More scenic stops along the way. New Zealand is so gorgeous that any random snaps at any stops produce stunning photos. 

Stopped at Blue Pools to see the famous clear waters where fishes that swam look like they were floating.

Crossed over Haast Pass. Haast was an explorer and he found this unknown place in New Zealand, and decided to name any name-less place after him. There were 3 towns that were named after him. We stopped right after the bridge, and walked down to see Haast Pass. See the almost-white water. Wow!

The sunset at Tasman Sea. Tasman Sea is the sea that separates Australia from New Zealand. Reached Franz Josef by 7.20pm.