Real Journeys: Milford Sound

I have to admit...I was glad I took a tour for Milford Sound with Real Journeys. Much as I love driving, I was positively tired. And it was great trying out different options - cruise, bus, car etc. Going on a tour means they have sieved through the scenic spots along the way...so you don't have to stop for things ain't worth your time.

As part of the package, you also get an experienced tour guide, who could explain to us how the magnificent wonders of nature were formed. Interesting trees and floras were also pointed out to us. Honestly, we have passed by them so many times on our own and have failed to notice them. Oops.

The road to Milford Sound isn't particularly difficult to drive. Travellers can also choose to drive to the dock and join the cruise instead. However, parking can be a chore and I doubt most cars have a glass-roof that let you admire the tall mountains. :D

Real Journeys provides different Milford Sound packages. For us, we picked the Milford Sound Nature Cruises because we wanted a smaller boat and a longer ride. A smaller boat means we can go closer to the rocks/ shore and we really wanted more time to soak in the beauty of Milford Sound.

Because the water at Milford Sound is quite calm, the journey on water is smooth. Even on the small vessel, none of the passengers got sea-sick. The nature cruises do not have a big kitchen, hence there is no option for a buffet lunch. (For those of you interested in having the buffet lunch, please check out the Scenic Cruises here).

Nonetheless, you could top up and get yourself the bento or the picnic set. Alternatively, you could also grab some food at pit-stops. Much to the envy of many, we got the bento. :P It came with sushi, miso soup and rice. Mmmm! And...it is tasty enough to satisfy your oriental craving! Personally, I think the picnic set is quite yummy too! Life really felt great, with a jaw-dropping view as the backdrop.

True to its hype, Milford Sound is truly a sight to behold. None of my photos can rightly do its justice, you really have to see and be there for yourself to immerse in God's creation. There were layers of tall, rocky mountains, I swore I would have gotten lost if I had been the navigators. We also had a guide on board and we were told that Milford Sound is beautiful in all weathers.

We had sunshine throughout. Our Milford was not shrouded in a mystery mist, but was grand and ready to leave every passenger dazzled. Through our guide, we squint and caught sight of tiny lighthouse in the horizons. We even spotted seals camouflaged on the rocks. And these are moments where a tiny boat comes in handy...cos we could approach them and catch them close-up.

And here's my favourite moment! For me a trip can never be complete, if you can't bring a bit of nature home. Rumours say be splashed by the waterfall and you will go home 10 years younger. Let me know if I look my teens now. Hehe. Unfortunately, for me I didn't have the best spot. And when I did, the boat was moving away.

Since you are my readers, let me leave you some tip so that you can get the best view on the trip.

1. Sit on the left-side of the bus. The best view are always on the left!
2. Have picnic pack indoors. Mind you, the wind on deck is no joke. If don't want your food to fly (unless you are having the bento), have them indoors.
3. Hog the front of the deck (L2) midway of the trip. Most passengers would have given up on the wind/ coldness and huddle to the back or indoors for a hot drink. This is your moment, cos that is when we will reach the seals, lighthouse and waterfall. 
4. Bring a wind-breaker. To secure your best spot, you will and must need this!

Real Journeys office is located near the harbour at Queenstown, so it is quite easy to find them. Unlike other tour agencies, complimentary transport is transported to and fro your accommodation, so you don't have to worry about driving to town in the wee mornings and late evenings.

Just so you know, there are also overnight stays at Milford Sound with Real Journeys! It is always booked out months in advance, so this is something up your alley, you better act fast. You get to do sea-sports and will have the opportunity to catch golden hue cast upon the mountains. Now, aint you glad you hear from me early! 

Real Journeys: Steaming through TSS Earnslaw

Queenstown is known to be the adventure town, but do you known apart from bungy jumps and nevis swings, you can take a steamship - TSS Earnslaw down Lake Wakatipu and enjoy the splendid view along the way.

Today, TSS Earnslaw is the only hand fired steamship in operation in the southern hemisphere. This famous ship has been featured in many movies such as  Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. TSS Earnslaw has carried many famous visitors, including Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip and President Bill Clinton. It is really our honour to be one of the guests on the steamship.

One of the most exciting part of the cruise-ride, apart from taking in the nice breeze and view, was exploring the ship. This fine lady was not at all shy from showing her guests her inner body parts. You can catch a glimpse of her engines from the upper deck if you are not too keen to pull yourself away from the bar and music.

But if you are an engine geek like me, head on the lower deck. Because there you can have a close-up and feel the heat of the engine. Also, psss, there is a tiny gallery out at the bow of the ship. Not many people actually venture into the lower deck, so you can actually get quite a good seat :P Have also attached a video for you guys to appreciate the mechanism better.

To make your deal more value for money, we would suggest upgrading package such that it includes a meal at Walter Peak. For us, we took up a Gourmet BBQ Dinner since you have the day to try out other activities. This deal comes with a free-sheep shearing show and you will also get to roam the farm. :D

First of all, I have to proclaim that Walter Peak is gorgeous. In fact, the Captain had to sound the horn to tell me to leave. Oops. It is slightly more curated than other scenary in New Zealand. But this place is picturesque without the need for any filter. The place is so vast, you don't even need to fight with the tourists for photo spots.

Dinner was also fantastic. I was expected food in touristy area to be mediocre at best. The buffet at Colonel's Homestead pleasantly surprised me with the food variety and quality. Because it was a buffet, you could also eat till your heart's content. The Hubby and I have not been eating a lot of cooked vegetables during the trip, so we were pleasantly surprised to find vegetables cooked in the oriental fashion.

I was also particularly satisfied with the BBQ meats because restaurants outside don't really cook it in that manner. For its value, the food quality was also exceptional. The prawns were really fresh, even I had a few. And you can enjoy this meal with a million-dollar lake view by the window! I was for sure the envy of many back at home. :P

Personally, one of the highlights for me was also the sheep sheering/ sheep dog show. In most farms, you rarely get to see the sheep dogs at work. So this was truly an eye-opener for me. The show was very informative and I got to learnt so much about the dogs and the sheep. (Definitely not to be missed!)

Generally, you have sufficient time to (i) take photos, (ii) attend the farm show, (iii) have a fulfilling dinner. But part of me really wanted to stay longer because it was so beautiful and I definitely won't mind more poster-like photos. Hehe. If you are also considering going for the ride, you might want to consider the later timing to catch the sunset. Do feel free to drop me an email if you have any queries or need more information.

Gibbston Valley: A taste of Otago

One of the must-do activity NZ is to visit the wineries. For us we went to Gibbston Valley because it was one of the only few wineries with a cave. From other feedback, it was observed that the food and drinks sold here was the most affordable and reasonable as compared to other wineries.

Within the winery, there was also a cheese company. We loved the cheese so much that we bought a bunch of them home. We had lunch first before doing the cave and winery tour which included wine tasting.

If you are like me, who flushes at the drop of alcohol, you might consider doing the tours and wine tasting first. We spent at least half an hour trying to flush the colour out of my face before we set off on the road. For our lunch, we took ala-carte.

We had a very heavy breakfast at the Remarkables Market, so we only ordered 2 mains, a sharing side and a drink. This summed up to to NZ$50-70ish which was surprisingly reasonable and does not shortchange you in terms of the food quality. I heard that usually you might end up spending until NZ$200-ish (without alcohol) at other wineries.

The tour took about 45-minutes max and you get to sample 5 wine. During this tour, I learnt a lot on the making of the wine by our friendly guide - CoCo. As you would need to do slight walking to locations within the winery, there is little time to take photos during the tour. Would suggest that you take them after the tour instead.

The wine cave is a little dark so the photos inside didn't show out as nicely on phones. During the cave tour, you will also get to sample some wine during the tour. We tried the (i) Pinot Gris, (ii) Riesling, (iii) Chardonnay, (iv) Pinot Noir (China Terrace) and (v) Pinot Noir (Schoolhouse). If you taste something you like, you can even send a bottle or 2 back home. :D

Special treat: On route to Gibbston Valley, you will pass The Pillars of the Kings from LOTR. I would have to admit the drive isn't the easiest and if the weather is bad, you might have to a void this altogether. But it is worth the ascend cos the view is breathtaking.