A timelapse of driving our rental campervan from Lake Hāwea to Franz Josef in New Zealand.
Author: David
NZ: Lake Hāwea to Franz Josef
We traveled from Lake Hāwea to Franz Josef over Haast Pass.
Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:
Lake Hāwea:


One lane bridge:




Mountains:

Another one lane bridge:

Snowy mountain:


Spiker Cafe in Haast for lunch:



“Two Passing Bays Ahead”:


A stop at Ship Creek:


Some interesting rocks on the beach:


A dolphin:


Knight’s Point lookout:

Monument celebrating the highway connecting Westland with Otago:

Flax:

Snowy mountains:

Another long one lane bridge:

Maori Beach:

Yet another long one lane bridge:


Snowy mountains:

Arriving at Orange Sheep Campervan Park:


Our site:

NZ video: Queenstown to Lake Hāwea campervan travel timelapse
A timelapse of driving our rental campervan from Queenstown to Lake Hāwea in New Zealand.
NZ: Queenstown to Lake Hāwea
We traveled from Queenstown to Lake Hāwea.
Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:
Shockingly, another scenic drive in NZ:


We explored the Cromwell Heritage Precinct, which saved some historic buildings when the main street of Cromwell was submerged due to the construction of the Clyde dam:








Coffee and a slice at the Seed & Grain Store:

More exhibits:




Clutha River:

Cromwell stone fruit sculpture and sign:

45th Southern Parallel marker, halfway between the equator and the south pole:


Vines:

Interesting rocks:

We were going to stop at Wanaka Lavender Farm, but there wasn’t convenient parking, and most of the lavender wasn’t in bloom, so we skipped it:


Puzzling World is a cheesy tourist trap; we never intended to stop there, and didn’t:

We did stop at the Mount Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre, more our speed:





Of course, we had to take some pictures of That Wanaka Tree (along with several other people):




We had lunch at Scroggin in Wanaka:


A one lane bridge with a traffic light:

Arriving at our campground for the night, The Camp:



It was laundry time again, so we tried the laundry facilities at the campground, but most of the machines were out of order:

The showers were very basic too:

A cabin with a view:

Lake Hāwea:


Outdoor fireplace:

Dome:

Our site:

Since the campground laundry was unusable, we went back to Wanaka to do laundry at a laundromat. Which was a useful experience; we found that taking our laundry to a laundromat was easier than using a campground laundry, since we didn’t need to fuss with coins or small unreliable machines.
After laundry, we had dinner at Hello Ranger:

Then back to our site for the night:

NZ video: Arrowtown and Glenorchy campervan travel timelapse
A timelapse of driving our rental campervan from Queenstown to Arrowtown, Shotover, Glenorchy, and back to Queenstown in New Zealand.
NZ: Arrowtown, Shotover Jet, and Glenorchy
On a day trip from Queenstown, we enjoyed a scenic drive, explored Arrowtown and Glenorchy, plus experienced a Shotover Jet boat ride.
Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked:
But first, we stopped at Moinho Cafe for breakfast:

Followed by Woolworths for groceries; again it was nice to be able to load the groceries straight into the van.
Then we headed to Arrowtown:

We explored the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement historic village:









And downtown Arrowtown, a cute little town that embraces its history (and is very touristy):




Coffee break at Patagonia Chocolates:

Then on to Shotover Jet, where we did a jet boat ride on the Shotover river (fun fact; jet boats were invented in New Zealand):




Boarding the boat:

We got front row seats:


Edith Cavell Bridge, under which the jet boats travel:

Crossing the bridge:

Shotover River and a jet boat from the bridge:

Heading to Glenorchy:


Welcome to Glenorchy:

The iconic Glenorchy boatshed:


Glenorchy wharf:






We went to Mr Glen’s Taphouse & Tapas for dinner:



Back towards Queenstown:



A very scenic drive.
NZ: exploring Queenstown
We did a little exploring of downtown Queenstown, meeting up with Karan and her mum. We took a ferry from a dock near our campground to downtown, and back.
Here’s an interactive map of our walking route to the local ferry dock:
Part of our walking route in downtown Queenstown:
Walking along the lakefront:

Floating shops:

Aboard the ferry:

Tourist subs:

William Gilbert Rees, founder of Queenstown:

Downtown shops:


The famous Fergburger:

Steps up toward the gondola:




Snack:

Selfie:

Looking over Queenstown:

Mountains and paraglider:


Fergburger again, with a long line (we didn’t try it; no burger is worth waiting that long):




The TSS Earnslaw, a 1912 steamer:

Baja Mexico for lunch, we were curious what NZ’s interpretation of Mexican food would be like:



On the ferry back to our campsite:

Queenstown was smaller and less touristy than I expected. Still very touristy, but practically subtle compared to US touristy places.
NZ video: Milford Sound to Queenstown campervan travel timelapse
A timelapse of driving our rental campervan from Milford Sound to Queenstown in New Zealand.
NZ: Milford Sound to Queenstown
We traveled from Milford Sound to Queenstown.
Here’s an interactive map of our route, with some of the stops marked; a big loop, because there isn’t a more direct route:
A rainy morning lead to hundreds of waterfalls:



Waiting to go back through Homer Tunnel:








Hollyford River:

Morning snack at Alpine Centre Cafe in Te Anau:


Sheep:

Lunch at Route 6 Cafe in Lumsden:




Lake Wakatipu:


Arriving at Driftaway Queenstown, where we spent three nights (the longest stay of this trip):


Our waterfront site:

Power and water:


Other sites:


Jump pad:

Shower:

Laundry:

View out our front window:


NZ: Milford Sound overnight cruise
We did another overnight cruise, this time on Milford Sound, on the Fiordland Jewel.
They have a dedicated parking area:

Milford Sound selfie:

Check in counter:

Our boat arriving; much smaller than the previous cruise:

Waterfall selfie:

Milford Sound:



We splurged on the “governor suite king” cabin, alone on the top deck:


A nice bathroom… apart from the toilet getting stuck and flooding the room, dripping down to the saloon below! The captain did fix it very quickly, though:

View out the window of our cabin… which also had a faulty part, preventing one of the blinds from closing:


Snacks:


Seals:



Front deck:





















The boat anchored in a bay, then they offered kayak and boat excursions:

Helipad and hot tub:

Helm station:

Jenn took an icy dip — “it’s cold!”

Dinner:



Hot tub:

Misty morning:

Saloon:


Nice coffee machine; gotta have our flat white:

Breakfast menu:








Docking:


Milford Sound is certainly scenic, but much smaller than Doubtful Sound. The two were very different experiences, but if we had to choose one, we preferred the Doubtful Sound one. Milford Sound would be better experienced as a day trip.