Explore New Zealand: 8-Day Trip Itinerary and Accommodation Guide

It’s all about the breathtaking scenery that couldn’t be fully captured on social media and a travel log by someone who goes by the name J.

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D1: Embarked on an adventure from Shanghai to Guangzhou, then to Christchurch, 🏠A380
D2: Landed in Christchurch, grabbed a local SIM card, and picked up our rental car. Settled into 🏠Christchurch Motel for the night.
D3: Explored the charming streets of Christchurch, then hit the road in the afternoon, driving to Fox town.

Stayed at 🏠Fox Town Bella Vista Motel.
D4: (Thanks to the perfect weather) Hiked the stunning Fox Glacier in the morning, followed by a bonus trek to the serene Madsen Lake. Continued the journey to Wanaka in the afternoon, 🏠Marsden Lake Resort Otago.
D5: Spent the day wandering around the picturesque town of Wanaka, 🏠Edgewater.

D6: Started early with a thrilling bungee jump at Kawarau Bridge in Queenstown, followed by an exhilarating jet boat ride with Shootoverjet. In the afternoon, took a half-day tour of the quaint Glenorchy town, and returned to Queenstown in the evening, 🏠Oaks Queenstown Shores Resort.
D7: Experienced the adrenaline rush of Nzone 15,000ft skydiving, visited the Deer Park, and enjoyed the Skyline with three rounds of Luge in the afternoon.

Relaxed at 🏠Oaks Queenstown Shores Resort (the only day without changing hotels, a welcome break).
D8: Headed to Mt. Cook for a 3-hour hike on the Cook Glacier, 🏠Hermitage.
D9: Enjoyed a scenic tour of Pukaki Lake and savored some delicious glacier water salmon 🍣, 🏠Braemar Station The Middle Cottage (New Zealanders truly have a simple and unadorned way of naming things).

D10: Spent the day exploring Tekapo, gazing at the starry night sky, 🏠Mackenzie Suite Apartments (also the only accommodation that felt neither cost-effective nor comfortable during this trip).
D11: Wandered around the charming Timaru town, then made our way back to Christchurch, and finally, Christchurch—Guangzhou—Shanghai, 🏠A380.

This itinerary perfectly matched my imagination as an ISFJ person, blending wild adventures with moments of relaxation, all at a comfortable pace that started intense and gradually eased off.
Thank you for the good luck and beautiful weather, thank you for the company and understanding, and a big thank you to a brave self.