10 Days Road Trip in New Zealand, Part 3 (SOUTH ISLAND)

By Liku Layuk Allo - November 13, 2019

PHEW! Finally, here we are, at the end of my NZ series. It took me almost A YEAR 😕😥😩to finish the whole writing process (it's crazy long, I know). But allow me to defend myself: sorting the overwhelming amount of photos, basically run down everything in order, is a no easy job… Well, anyhow, now, finally I can rest in peace.

This post is definitely the hardest one to finish; probably because the last five days was the best part of our journey. Indeed, we only spent five days, for God sake, road tripping though New Zealand’s South Island (that was suuuuperr short time), but experienced so much and seen so much, in my humble opinion. The majority of beautiful New Zealand landscape and photos you see in travel magazines are located in the South Island. If you’re craving gorgeous hikes, numerous lakes of different hues of blue, beautiful dreamy nature along the empty road, then you’ve come to the right place.

The thing is, once you begin to do your research, you may come to realize it’s a lot bigger than you anticipated. That always happens. I have to tell you: New Zealand’s South Island has too much to offer, that it’s quite difficult to decide where to go, where to stay and where to even spent a little longer. Now let’s start!

DAY 5 (Queenstown)

Queenstown City Tour

We arrived in Queenstown on early evening but it’s still bright and clear as an afternoon. Let me tell you: the aerial views of the final landing to Queenstown Airport, was incredibly stunning. I saw the snow-capped mountains, and as the clouds vanish, the plane reemerges to a serene view of more dramatic mountain backdrop. Between the mountains it bursts into a green-valley with a lake in the distance. So dreamy.

And I just know that it is regularly rated among the world's most scenic landings. I have to agree! It was so beautiful I can’t stop staring at the window in the last 15 minutes, recorded everything with my phone. You can check the video in my Instagram (@leelayukallo), right inside my NZ highlight.

We dropped our luggage at the hostel, and went out to grab dinner and enjoy the night. First thing I’ll notice upon arriving in Queenstown that there’s a lot more of a party and adventure vibe than the previous spots on this itinerary. Unlike the previous lonely roads and small towns, the night life and Queenstown itself was vibrant, the view of houses sitting along the mountains and the city lights were incredible. The city centre is really cozy and there are a lot of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. Talking about restaurant, there is no way we could miss the infamous Fergburger when we are in town. Queenstown can be very proud to have Fergburger as their burgers are amazing and super delicious. We were waiting in a long line before we can grab our own delicious, big, meaty, burger (with choices of pork, beef, lamb). They all come with a super yummy aioli and tomato relish, and also the fries are very good. Fergburger is very popular among both locals and tourists. Even we have to wait in the long queue, it is more than worth it (my saliva starts rolling again) and a visit to Queenstown is no actual visit if you haven’t been to Fergburger!

look at that beautiful, juicy, meat. 5 stars for sure!

We enjoyed the rest of the night walking around the town, check out some stores and bought ice cream and cookies at a grocery store, then went back to our hostel.

DAY 6 (Queenstown)

Lake Wakatipu, Skyline Queenstown Gondola,
Chillin' in Q-town

Lake Wakatipu, the main center of Q-town

Ah. Queenstown. How could I describe you. You are a truly beautiful city! I can’t believe that there is no other city that offers such great views no matter where you stand. Our hostel is located just in front of Lake Wakatipu, that circles around the town of Q-town. It is swarmed with birds and ducks greeting tourist. Queenstown lakeside park is a very nice place to relax or take a stroll. Drive around the lake and stop to take pictures. Paraglide over the lake or just take a boat out. The water is crystal clear and the the mountains are unbelievably beautiful. Or just simply walk around the lake, enjoy the atmosphere, sun, watching some street musicians along the way, walk down the wooden docks near the port.. It is simply a gorgeous place to sit and watch the world go by! Grab some lunch, sit down and relax and take in the crisp sunshine.

Going up with the famous Skyline Queenstown Gondola was part of our activities for the day. It is located within walking distance from downtown.

We took the red gondola on our way up to the peak of mountain to see some city view. The cable car is definitely steep, I don’t think it will be a great experience for people with fear of height, seriously. Anyway, it was a thrilling yet exciting experience, you can see the view of mountains and Q-town on your way along to the top.

We were in THIS. Didn't took pics up there, just video. Picture is from here

When you reached the top, there was a viewing deck that you could use to take photographs of the lake and mountains (but share it with other tourists). I hardly need to say anything - Beautiful view of Queenstown from the top, and also the view of people hanging around the deck doing some bungee jumping activities. You can also view the fabulously famous lunge rides from up there. Lunge ride is a highly recommended activity in the place, but we didn’t take one. Other than that, there is everything you need in such a touristy place - a jellybean shop, bar, souvenir shop and buffet restaurant.

the lunge rides

Queenstown is THE adventure capital of the world and there’s really plenty to do in and around Queenstown! It’s kind of unbelievable and makes Queenstown one of the best cities for me. It’s a ski town in the winter and a spot for bungee jumping, skydiving, and speed boating as well. If you have enough time, make sure you spend some times to enjoy any of these. There are lots of bars and breweries in town and hostels as well. You’ll find all operators of activities and adventurous stuff in the city centre whereas most of them are located on Shotover Street.

We spent the rest of the day going round the city, enjoying gelato, enjoy some street performances near the lake, and went back to our hotel.

lovely lake-view from our hotel room

our-goodbye to Q-town-dinner

DAY 7 (Te Anau)

It’s day 7 and we were leaving Queenstown with a heavy heart. Two days was a stupid decision to spend in Queenstown, a local told me that you need at least a week to explore it and sadly I had to agree… It was quickly became our favorite town ever, and we promised to ourselves to return to the town ASAP. Done with our amazing breakfast at St.Moritz Hotel, the girls waited at the lobby while the guys pick up our rented campervan. Yassss, the road trip with campervan was officially started. If you want to see the clear view of our campervan, again, just check out my NZ highlight at my Instagram, @leelayukallo.

We were heading to Te Anau, where it took approximately two hours, but we were not rushing. Driving from Queenstown to Te Anau is dangerous. Dangerous because the scenery is so spectacular, you’ll have trouble keeping your eyes on the road. And with epic photo opportunities literally around every bend, you’ll also be in danger of not making it to your destination on time. It was our first time visiting New Zealand and we were in awe of the diversity of the landscape. The drive is pretty along the lake edge but otherwise passes through farmland. The first part of your drive clings scenically to the edge of Lake Wakatipu. It is perfect for a mini road trip, but if want to be able to stop at scenic lookouts, ridiculously good looking farm gates, take a photo with an alpaca, you’re going to need to allow extra time.

The serene deep waters of Lake Te Anau make up the largest lake in the South Island and second largest in NZ. Te Anau township sits on the shores of Lake Te Anau, only a few minutes walk away from the lake. Here you'll find operators who can take you cruising or kayaking on the lake, just like any other lakes in NZ. The lake had only few visitors that day, very peaceful, serene and relaxing. Lake Te Anau indeed is a quiet little spot. Much quieter and more peaceful than Lake Wakatipu at Queenstown. Plenty of places to stay and quite a few options for food as well as a good supermarket. The lake The Anau has awesome view surrounded by snowclad mountain peaks. It was a very windy day when we came, I even needed to put on some extra jacket to cover the wind. If you prefer quite a gloomier, more melancholic, and more quiet place, Te Anau is the perfect place.

On the lake there were sea plane rides, boating trips available, but we were in a hurry to reach Milford Sound. It was already evening, and we shopped at Te Anau Supermarket for some groceries, had dinner at the town, and decided to move to Milford Sound and spent the rest of our night there because we are going to have early cruise tour in the next morning. Because it’s quite late at evening already, we didn’t see any scenic drive from Te Anau to Milford. It took another two hours to reach Milford Sound area, and we tried our best to search for a cheap rest area, because the common prices for a night at a parking lot in Milford Sound was quite crazy. After hours of debating and ehm, lost (it was really really dark on the road!), we finally managed to reach a free parking lot where we could stay and sleep for that night. First night in campervan, yeay.

DAY 8 (Milford Sound)

Early morning. It was a very cold morning. Brrr. We made breakfasts for everyone in the campervan (so fun!). No one is able to take a shower so we just grabbed our best winter attire and went out from our campervan to walk to the port where the ships are waiting. It was a rainy day, the walk to the harbor from the parking area takes approximately 15-20 minutes, and we were joined by hundred other visitors. There are a lot of boat providers in Milford Sound to choose of, and we chose Mitre Peak Cruises. You just need to google “Milford Sound cruises” and you can start from there.

happy breakfast everyone!

where we waited for the boat

No iconic New Zealand list is complete without a mention of Milford Sound. Vertical cliffs, rushing waterfalls, charming wildlife, and peaceful sounds are all part of the package. Whether you explore by foot, helicopter, boat or kayak, it’s impossible to have bad views. Even in the pouring rain (which is a frequent occurrence), Milford Sound never ceases to be amazing.

Milford Sound reminds me of the scene in the big river in The Lord of The Rings movie, you know, when they entered the area with two big statues as the gate? Nope? Never mind.

wanna poke the lazy seal above the rock

And it was cold and rainy day indeed for us. Passengers would mostly hang out inside the cabin and run out for pictures of waterfalls and wildlife. But despite the weather, we had a great experience. I will also mention - the advantage of Mitre Peak cruise is that the boat is smaller in size compared to other famous cruises, it also means less number of passengers on board hence it gives you more space to roam around freely and enjoy the sceneries all by yourself with literally no or little disturbance. We were so happy we didn't go on one of the bigger boats full of tour groups. Small boat which was good as it could get really up close to the stones, banks and waterfalls. The captain was informative along the way. We spotted dolphins, seals and penguins and the captain pulled the boat over for a better view and photographs. The waterfalls were amazing and we got close enough to get soaked :D. Free tea and coffee available on aboard. There were only 10-15 persons on our tour so plenty of room to wander around the vessel. The scenery is amazing especially on the coach with random stops. This place is world heritage listed for good reason, it is simply breathtaking, with Mother Nature at her very best..

we were even allowed to go to the captain's room

The tour was going on for approximately two hours, and we sailed back to the port. As we went back, we saw other boats too and enjoy the last sight of the cliffs.

We've done with Milford Sound, but we're not done with the excitement. We found the gorgeous tunnel on our way. The Homer Tunnel passes through the Darran mountain range, below the Homer Saddle, and into the Cleddau Valley, 945 metres above sea level. Both the tunnel and saddle are named after William Henry Homer, who discovered the saddle along with George Barber in 1889 while on a surveying expedition. At the time, Homer is said to have suggested that a tunnel under the mountains would be the best way to bring a road to Milford Sound. However, it took many decades before his idea became reality. It is a 1.2 km-long tunnel through solid rock. Before the tunnel opened in 1954 after 19 years of construction, there was no road access to Milford Sound. If you are driving yourself to and from Milford Sound, pay attention to all the road signs and traffic lights leading up to the tunnel. There are no lights inside the tunnel, so when it’s time to drive through, make sure you take your sunglasses off and turn your headlights on.

The Homer tunnel was quite daunting to drive through in the dark. A little claustrophobic but a well made tunnel. Definitely a memorable experience. Beautiful scenery and great photo opportunities everywhere. Make sure you pull over at the car park before the tunnel for some great snow-capped mountain views.

kea parrot

We were quite tired yet pumped up for our next destination. Off we go!

An hour from Milford, and we found something at the side of the road that caught our eyes.

From white lace to leopard print. From 32A to 36DD. You'll find it here.

The Cardrona Bra Fence was a tourist attraction in Central Otago, in New Zealand. At some point between 1998 and 1999, passers-by began to attach bras to a rural fence. The fence gradually became a well known site as the number of bras grew to hundreds. The fence is located on a public road reserve, adjacent to farm property in the Cardrona Valley area southwest of Wanaka, near to Cardrona. There are many beautiful lookout points on the popular tourist route from Queenstown to Wanaka and this is another spot to pull in for a photo (we sure did). The infamous fence was rebranded to "Bradrona" in 2015 to raise money for breast cancer and $30,000 has been raised by people leaving donations in a box at the site.

Our next schedule was to visit Fiordland National Park, and here's the funny yet unfortunate story. We followed our offline map and drive our campervan to the famous national park which is located near the Milford Sound according to the map, and we ended up lost. Yes, peeps. L-O-S-T.

We tried to follow the map and the environment looks 'weird' as we began to pass through a long; but very quiet, pasture area, with bridges over the river that seemed not convincing enough to be passed by our big campervan. Yet we still followed the route as the map says so. And the further we drive, the road felt more remote.. there were no other vehicles or cars in our direction. We actually stopped at a signpost before the road starts to get rockier and upward. And the board said "this area cannot be passed by a 4-wheeled car" but for some reason we continued on our way. It seems we were not focused at the time. Lol. Bravely, but with growing doubts, we continued to climb through the rocky road which was clearly a pathway into the forest.

After almost an hour of driving, we decided this wasn't right. We met a group of people passing by who looked like hikers, and they looked at our campervan with a confused expression. The path was increasingly difficult to walk on the further we drove, and as far as we can see there was no other view but trees. Finally we decided to turn around, because we were worried about the condition of our campervan' tires. And also because there was no signal that can help us access the exact location.

It was afternoon already, so with heavy heart we skipped Fiordland because it's getting darker. So unfortunate yet it was an experience. DO YOUR RESEARCH GUYS. Ask people whenever you're unsure about the direction you're going.

We decided to drive straight to Wanaka Lakeview Holiday Park, our campsite for the night. It is Wanaka's most central holiday park. The park has served the Wanaka area for many years by offering accommodation for travelers. Accommodation ranges from tent sites and powered sites to charge our campervan's electricity and energy, through to cabins and rooms. The area is big enough for campervans and lodges. Location is excellent, especially near to the icon of NZ, Lake Wanaka, and That Wanaka Tree. Kitchen and toilets/bathrooms were clean (We were so pleased to find a great hot water shower in the middle of cold night after a long day of exhaustion. Probably my most satisfying shower ever) and have adequate amenities such as kitchen. 30sec walk to the kitchen and bathroom.

DAY 9

Lake Wanaka, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Lake Pukaki,
Lake Tekapo

We spent our morning by the lake. It was quiet and peaceful with amazing view, just like most of the lakes we've seen in NZ. We spotted a couple doing their pre-wedding photo shoot here.The lonely tree/ or the famous "That Wanaka Tree" is definitely a place to visit. Lake Wanaka is right in front of the town of Wanaka. People say that it is definitely recommended to go to the lake to watch the sun go up in the morning. Definitely will try next time. We didn't spend much time here, due to today's busy itinerary. At least we saw the iconic tree already.

Today is the highlight of our South Island journey. We are going to Mount Cook, the masterpiece-must visit-destination of NZ. Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is a rugged land of ice and rock, with 19 peaks over 3,000 metres including New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook. The route from Queenstown to Mt. Cook I do reckon, is one of the most scenic and beautiful routes on South Island. We drove to Mt Cook from Wanaka and the drive in was magnificent. Must have stopped for 100 photos.

cows, sheeps, alpacas, everywhere

Once we nearly arrived in Mount Cook area, the road is becoming more and more beautiful. It was quite a crowded day when we arrived. We parked our campervan at the parking site and we decided to take the Hooker Valley track.

There are others track to choose, but Hooker Valley mentioned to be the easiest and one of the most beautiful track. It is long hike, it tooks us 4 hours return but you are rewarding with a view to die for. The trail is well marked and is relatively flat although there are some changes in elevation. What a walk - not very hard or challenging, great for all ages. The track is mostly flat and very well cared for. We enjoyed the variety of scenery and the bridges over the water were amazing features. Oh, the bridges... There are 3 hanging bridges, all very beautiful and fun, but scary as well! It was a very big and be careful, probably it's not a good walk for those who have a fear of heights. There was beauty everywhere.

The track is absolutely magnificent - we saw glaciers on the mountain, icebergs in the lake at the halfway/turn around point, rushing streams and spectacular views of Mount Cook... All I can think of that day is how lucky and blessed I am to be here, to enjoy all this beauty. I touched the water of the lake with my feet, I jumped at the savana.. I was very happy and caught up in the moment, I didn't even realize the sweats of walking because I enjoyed every minute of it. We had the most beautiful day - clear skies with mild to warm temperatures. It was a worthy-walk. One of my favorite destinations ever. We finished our trail and went back to our van to continue our journey.

Next destination, still in Mount Cook area, Lake Pukaki, is long and a beautiful colour against the backdrop of surrounding mountains and Mt Cook. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world to see. The contrast between the lake and snowy Mt. Cook in the background is indescribable. My heart almost stopped. The water was so so blue, it hurts.

medicine to my eyes

It was the bluest water of lake that I've ever seen in my entire life. The blueness of the waters is so beautiful, like I was stepped into a fairy tale. It was a very calm day there and I could just sit there and admire the view. What a great view of a magnificent lake with blue water surrounded by snow clad mountains. Seriously, one could sit hear for hours and enjoy the serene beauty of the place. The exceptional blue waters of the lake were stunningly visible and no less blue. Take a time to drive around until Mt. Cook area to see another angles of it, you won't regret! There is very little development around the lake, so it is pure, raw nature at it's best. It is turquoise in colour and stretches 65km up to the slops of Mt Cook. Just make sure the sun is shining. There are so many wonderful lakes we've seen along our NZ trip, but this was arguably my favorite lake.

We went to High Country Salmon restaurant for lunch while visiting Lake Tekapo. Located on the main highway between Twizel and Lake Tekapo, it was a nice place for stopover for any kind of salmon dishes. I think there's no better place to grab a fresh, raw salmon than this; just look at the clear water surrounding it. The salmon is absolutely delicious and you can feed the salmon fishes at the pond of the back of restaurant as well. As a salmon and sashimi lover, I ordered a a whole box of salmon sashimi and it only costs me 20 NZD (around IDR 200.000). While in Indonesia, I usually pay around IDR 60.00 for 2 SLICES of salmon sashimi. And the freshness rate, of course is un-comparable. Yum!! They also sell homemade ice cream and it was great.

YUM!

Done with the lunch, we're headed to the last visit of the day. Lake Tekapo.

We heard wonderful things about Lake Tekapo and once we arrived, we saw this lake with lovely turquoise color, incredibly mountain view in the background, and purple and pink lupine dot the surroundings.. There is lots of places to dine at a great supermarket and good walks. Lots of building going on in the town it was touristy. Honestly Lake Pukaki and Lake Tekapo looks quite similar, but I preferred Lake Pukaki as it was still raw, not as busy as the other and nicer views of mountains on the lake. Nevertheless, one just can't find any mediocre view in NZ.

Then we walked slowly towards the Church of Good Shepherd and found the area near the church to be the busiest place. The Church of the Good Shepherd is situated on the shores of Lake Tekapo amongst the natural beauty of the lake and the mountains. The Church of the Good Shepherd was built to the glory of God as a memorial to the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country. Bit crowded if you go during peak season as everyone wants to capture the church. You won't probably spend a lot of time out there, but this church is worth a visit. Not because of the building itself but for the views and surroundings. Problem is to find a slot where you won't have too many tourists around, especially if you are looking for a good photo. Actually nothing special, just a lovely old stone church on the lakeside. But it must be a decent visit when it's not too touristy. We spent sunset by the Church, took a lot of stunning pics, and headed to Tekapo town to have dinner in a cafe.

We continued our journey to Christchurch city (takes approximately 3 hours) and spent the night in the campervan, at a free-parking lot in the city.

DAY 10 ( Christchurch)

Castle Hill, Shopping Day, Dining Day

Good morning, Christchurch. Sadly, we are at the end of our amazing trip. This was the last day. I feel depressed just thinking about it. We woke up at the parking lot, washed our face and brushed our teeth in the toilet, and packed up our luggage. We cleaned up the campervan, try our best to not left any litter and things behind, because we have to bring the campervan back to the office by noon. It was quite a job, remembering the van has been our "home" for 5 days, so you can guess how messy it was. Lol.

Finished the duty, then we went to our first destination today: Castle Hill.

In the Waimakariri Basin, about an 80-minute drive towards the mountain from Christchurch, is a scattering of hundreds of weathered stones and rocks that erupt from hills. Officially called a karst landscape, these ancient rocks are smooth, sculpted, spectacular, and irresistibly photogenic. It's well known as a filming spot for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Another "nerdy"-related dream came true for me! Yeay.

The rocks arrangements are random yet so amazing that it makes you wonder why they exists in the middle of nowhere. Exploring the unique landscape was great fun. The big boulders are only 5-10 minutes from the parking lot but you can easily spend an hour walking around and through the boulders. Beautiful walk through unique rock formations. Great views! A paradise for boulder sport/rock climbing fans. The best part of the place is, not many tourists! Pretty much had the place to ourselves. Pictures do not do them justice, much larger in person. This is truly an amazing piece of nature, and one not to be missed. Well worth a stop for picturesque pictures, even if you aren't into bouldering/rock climbing.

We went back to Christchurch and decided to go straight to Mighty office to return our campervan back. We made sure there was nothing left in the van, cleaned it up, and refill the fuel. It didn't take much time and you can also make your own coffee, tea, or hot chocolate while waiting for the return process in the office. It was kinda sad to return back our "home" for 5 days. Thank you for the challenging, yet FUN days, dear campervan.

After that, the Mighty officer dropped us and our luggage off in the Jucy Snooze Hostel that we have booked for the last day.

JUCY Snooze Christchurch is located minutes from the international airport, making it ideal for resting before or after a long journey. We slept in the pods. The Pods are self-contained capsules. There are eight Pods per room and each comes with bed linen, storage net, charging stations and temperature control. All Pod rooms are located near the shared bathroom facilities and the common area. It is 20 minutes' drive from Christchurch CBD (Central Business District). It was a very private, comfortable, very close to the airport. Many eatery places are nearby. Count Down supermarket is just next door. The rooms, including the shared bathroom, was very clean. There is a also big kitchen with full facilities/utensils enable to do own cooking.

Jucy pics from tripadvisor.com

After checked in, we shopped at the Countdown supermarket. We bought many delicious NZ snacks, chocolates, a bottle of wine (and I personally bought a pack of my favorite Twinings Earl Grey tea) and other things (mostly snacks) for family and friends back home. The things with us Asians, you never expected of how much time it will take for shop. Our next itinerary, Christchurch Art Gallery, was unfortunately closed that day, so we decided to go to have early dinner.

If you come to New Zealand you’ll have to eat lamb! No excuse. A good place to get a really delicious shank of lamb is Pedro’s House of Lamb. The lamb is super delicious, the meat very tender and the seasoning just perfect. A whole shank with potatoes and gravy costs 40,- NZD and is more than enough to fill two until three hungry people.

my first time ever eating lamb

Done with Pedro, we decided that we want to have some fancy dessert before sleep. After reading some reviews on the internet, we chose Bloody Mary. It is a steakhouse, brasserie and bar, and it is complemented by a secluded whisky library and private dining hall. Great atmosphere and some great options for private or special occasion dining, with warm and serene lights. A lil' fancy for our last night in NZ won't hurt, right? We ordered steaks, a cake for sharing, and wine. The Baked Alaska (a cake with meringue and orange flavour) dessert was out of the world.

Even though the entire meal was faultless - the service is so so. The waiter lady (and also the way of an elderly couple who had dinner at the moment stared at us) was not really "friendly" to us, maybe because we were not dressed "fancy enough" for the place. So I guess the overall hospitality in NZ cafe/restaurant needs some improvement. Anyhow, the steak cooked beautifully, and she chose a wine based on my request (any wine with a touch of sweetness, surprise me), and it was the most perfect wine I've ever had. The wine relaxes me to the core. Really worth the price.

We left the hostel for airport at very early morning, headed back to Sydney for transit and.... Jakarta at last. Well for most of us, back to Makassar, of course. Back to our daily activities. So surreal. Yesterday, we were at the mountain and lakes, like we were on the other side of the world, in a dreamland.. and now I'm back at my hometown. It felt like a dream. A really nice dream.

And that's the wrap of our journey. Hope this review, tips, and guide helps you lucky folks travelling soon. If you have any question or suggestion about the trip, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or contact me through Instagram. I will be glad to help. Kia Ora!

End note :

I have to say that... it was (arguably) my favorite traveling experience ever. Not ticking all of the itinerary; of course, but all I wanted to do in NZ for so long has been ticked off. I can't even describe, neither express my joy and triumph towards this NZ journey. The driving from each place to another was just as awesome as each place we visited. The scenery was spectacular with different sights along each trip. From lakes to waterfalls, to mountain to farmland and oceans and beaches. It was all wonderful. There's nothing called a "perfect" holiday, for me, in that imperfection itself that we find ourselves, and we find perfection. Funny, how the universe connected us to each other. Far before Tirza, Mus, and me formed a "traveling group" since 2011, Rachmat and I has been high-school friends since 2007. And much longer before that, Era has been my childhood best friend since we were like toodlers. Edo, me and Tirza, were in junior high school together, yet we didn't really get along back then, except for Tirza and Edo who was friends in the law school again years after that. I introduced Mamat to Tirza and Mus, we established Wanderlust Project together, being hardly separated ever since. Then Tirza invited Edo to join our NZ trip, and I asked Era if she want to join. Now here we are, had one of the best time of our lives and promised that we will continually do so together.

I myself never thought that I can visit this country, but I dared myself to dream and I made it happen. And the most satisfying thing was the fact that I paid it all by myself. Especially when you spend it with your best friends. I'm very grateful for that. Lord thank you :')