Day 1 to Day 4 - Christchurch & Dunedin

On 9th July 07, 7.50pm, my husband and myself boarded the plane to New Zealand(NZ). After 7 hours of flight time, i recieved a pleasant surprise from my friend, Serena. She actually informed SQ that we are on Honeymoon trip to NZ when she helped me to booked for my tickets.

SQ brought us a chocolate cake and two glasses of champagne for celebration. We also received a toy and a card from SQ. The cake is nice but it is too much for both of us to finish, so we gave to the cabin crew to share. It was indeed a nice surprise. Thanks Serena. We didnt take a photo for the cake but i still have the soft toy with me so i will post here for view.

After 2 more hours of flight time, I arrived at Christchurch Airport at 9.30am, NZ time on 10th July which is Day 2. NZ time is 4 hours faster than Singapore which means it is only 5.30am when we arrived.

We went to pick up our car so we can travel to the city. As it was not time for check in yet, we took a walk at the christchurch city. It was 6 degrees so we were wearing winter clothes on our back. The city was quiet and the surrounding is so peaceful. I believed you are not able to get that in Singapore. We walked around the city for quite a while before we went into a mall.

In the afternoon, we went to have a lunch at their so call food court. We ordered chinese food and it was not cheap. It cost NZ $6.90 for a plate of rice with 2 dishes. Faint. NZ $ is 1.2 of SGD $. So that plate of rice cost almost S$8.30. Expensive right for a "zai cai fan".

After that, we went shopping in the mall to see what we can get. In end, we bought some food for the nite as we are going to cook tonite at our stay in Dorsett House. As we were tired from walking and flight, we rest early in the nite to get ready for the next day.

Day 3

After our breakfast, we check out and began our journey in NZ. First stop is to Dunedin. Dunedin is about 363km away from Christchruch. Dunedin was built with the riches of the gold rush, consequently it has one of the best collections of Edwardian and Victorian architecture in the southern hemisphere. It is also place near to the Otago Peninsula and you will find the only castle in NZ known as Larnach Castle.

By the time we reached Dunedin, it almost 5pm and the sky had turned dark. There was nothing much we can do so we just checked in to our accommodation in Holiday Park. It a place where you can find backpackers, campervan and families staying there. You are able to cook there either in your own cabin or share facilities with other depending what you are paying for. As only two of us, we choose a cabin with bathroom attached and shared the kitchen with others. The price difference is not much with or without bathroom so we chose the one with it.

Day 4

We woke up early to go sight-seeing. We drive around the city. You may wonder why didnt we go to the museum? Nothing, just feel that nothing interesting and you also need to pay to visit. There are two museums, one need to pay, another no need.

First Stop was to the Baldwin Street. You may wonder what so special about this street. This street was the steepest street in the world. Although it is the steepest street, there are people staying there too. To determine it is very steep, both of us walk up to street. It is like climbing up a hill. So tiring. The gradient is 1:2.86. That is steep. There are people driving up when we were climbing. The sound given out by the car made you feel that the street is really steep.

Second stop was to Cadbury Factory in the heart of the city. As there was still time before the tour starts, we looked around at the Cadbury store and there were quizzes around for you to answer. All you need to do was to turn the board to get the answer. Entry Fee: NZ$16/adult

It was time to visit the chocolate factory. Once you stepped into the factory, chocolate smell surrounded in the air. It was such a nice aroma. There is a guide showing and explaining to us on the process and we are also given chocolate bars throughout the one hour trip. If you answer questions, you will have more chocolates. Unable to give more details about the visit, if not this blog will get even longer. It is an experience which you need to experience yourself. LOL.

This is the first time, i see how chocolates are made and it makes you all the more want to eat chocolates. After the visit, we took some photos and bought chocolates.

Next stop, we went to the only only castle in NZ, Larnach Castle. Entry fee: NZ$20/adult(wz drink) if visiting garden and castle. if garden only, NZ $10. The castle was so beautiful and it was surrounded by beautiful garden. Once we stepped inside of the castle, immediately, you were able to feel the victorian enivironment. So English.

The castle have 3 level and 1 basement (if i remembered correctly, must check the leaflet first). As this castle was century old, everything inside was really antique. Some of the furniture were surrounded with barrier to prevent people from going near it. We were able to read on the History of this castle. This Castle was built by Mr William Larnach in the 1870s. He was married thrice. His first two wives were sisters and both died of illness and he killed himself when he suspect his 3rd wife who was younger was having affair with his first son. Total he had 7 kids all by the first wife.

Although this castle no longer belong to the Larnach family, but some of the artifacts are donated by the current generation of the Larnach family. It is really a nice walk in the castle as this is the first time i go through a victorian house and so historical.

If i want to see more castles, must save money to travel to Germany as it is well known for it castles.

After the castle visit, we went to the Dunedin Botanics Garden which is free. There are rose garden, greenhouse, aviary, duck pond, rock garden and other big plants. We walk around the garden to feel the nature environment and even look at the birds locked in the aviary.

After that, it is almost 5plus and the sky turned dark again. The sky was so dark that it seems like 8pm in Singapore. We headed back to our place to rest for the day to proceed to next place the next Day. TE ANAU.