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:

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:

Welcome to Arrowtown

We explored the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement historic village:

Arrowtown Chinese Settlement

Arrowtown Chinese Settlement

Arrowtown Chinese Settlement

Arrowtown Chinese Settlement

Arrowtown Chinese Settlement

Arrowtown Chinese Settlement

Arrowtown Chinese Settlement

Arrowtown Chinese Settlement

Arrowtown Chinese Settlement

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

Arrowtown

Arrowtown

Arrowtown

Arrowtown

Coffee break at Patagonia Chocolates:

Coffee break

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):

Shotover Jet

Shotover Jet

Shotover Jet

Shotover Jet

Boarding the boat:

Shotover Jet

We got front row seats:

Shotover Jet

Shotover Jet

Edith Cavell Bridge, under which the jet boats travel:

Edith Cavell Bridge

Crossing the bridge:

Edith Cavell Bridge

Shotover River and a jet boat from the bridge:

Shotover River from bridge

Heading to Glenorchy:

Glenorchy-Queenstown Road

Glenorchy-Queenstown Road

Welcome to Glenorchy:

Welcome to Glenorchy

The iconic Glenorchy boatshed:

Iconic Glenorchy shed

Iconic Glenorchy shed

Glenorchy wharf:

Glenorchy wharf

Glenorchy wharf

Glenorchy wharf

Glenorchy wharf

Glenorchy wharf

Glenorchy wharf

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

Mr Glen's Taphouse & Tapas for dinner

Mr Glen's Taphouse & Tapas for dinner

Mr Glen's Taphouse & Tapas for dinner

Back towards Queenstown:

Back towards Queenstown

Back towards Queenstown

Back towards Queenstown

A very scenic drive.

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:

Waterfalls

Waterfalls

Waterfalls

Waiting to go back through Homer Tunnel:

Waterfalls

Waterfalls and tunnel

Tunnel

Tunnel

Tunnel

Tunnel

Tunnel

Waterfalls

Hollyford River:

Hollyford River

Morning snack at Alpine Centre Cafe in Te Anau:

Alpine Centre Cafe

Alpine Centre Cafe

Sheep:

Sheep

Lunch at Route 6 Cafe in Lumsden:

Route 6 Cafe

Route 6 Cafe

Route 6 Cafe

Mountains

Lake Wakatipu:

Lake Wakatipu

Lake Wakatipu

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

Driftaway Queenstown

Driftaway Queenstown

Our waterfront site:

Our site

Power and water:

Our site

Our site

Other sites:

Other sites

Other sites

Jump pad:

Jump pad

Shower:

Shower

Laundry:

Laundry

View out our front window:

View out our front window

Our site

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:

Parking

Milford Sound selfie:

Milford Sound selfie

Check in counter:

Check in counter

Our boat arriving; much smaller than the previous cruise:

Boat arriving

Waterfall selfie:

Waterfall selfie

Milford Sound:

Milford Sound

Waterfall

Waterfall

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

Our cabin

Our cabin

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:

Our cabin

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

View out the window of our cabin

Waterfall

Snacks:

Dinner

Waterfall

Seals:

Seals

Waterfall

Waterfall

Front deck:

Front deck

Waterfall

Waterfall

Waterfall

Waterfall

Waterfall

Boat

Milford Sound

Milford Sound

Waterfall

Seals

Seals

Milford Sound

Milford Sound

Waterfall

Waterfall

Waterfall

Waterfall

Waterfall

Milford Sound

Milford Sound

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

Kayaks and boat

Helipad and hot tub:

Helipad and hot tub

Helm station:

Helm station

Jenn took an icy dip — “it’s cold!”

Jenn took a dip

Dinner:

Dinner

Dinner

Dinner

Hot tub:

Hot tub

Misty morning:

Misty morning

Saloon:

Saloon

Saloon

Nice coffee machine; gotta have our flat white:

Coffee

Breakfast menu:

Breakfast menu

Breakfast

Breakfast

Misty morning

Milford Sound

Milford Sound

Waterfall

Waterfall

Docking:

Docking

Fiordland Jewel

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.

NZ: Te Anau to Milford Sound

We traveled from Te Anau to Milford Sound, for another overnight cruise.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, heading north, with some potential stops marked:

On the road:

On the road

Eglinton River:

Eglinton River

Earl Mountains:

Earl Mountains

The Milford Road:

The Milford Road

Mirror Lakes… not entirely a still day, but still scenic:

Mirror Lakes

Mirror Lakes

Mirror Lakes

Mirror Lakes

Mirror Lakes

Mirror Lakes

Mirror Lakes

Mirror Lakes

We got some coffee from Coffee Cat parked at Mirror Lakes:

Coffee Cat

Monkey Creek:

Monkey Creek

Milford Sound Highway

Glacier and waterfalls:

Glacier and waterfalls

Waiting to enter Homer Tunnel, a famous one-lane 1.2 km (0.75 miles) tunnel:

Homer Tunnel

While waiting, the cars were visited by some kea:

Kea on a car

Kea

Kea

Kea

Entering the tunnel:

Entering the tunnel

Tunnel

Tunnel

Tunnel

Looking back at the tunnel:

Looking back at the tunnel

Lots of waterfalls:

Lots of waterfalls

Misty:

Misty

More kea in a parking lot:

Kea

Kea

Kea

Kea

Tomorrow, the Milford Sound cruise.

NZ: Manapouri to Te Anau

After disembarking from the Doubtful Sound cruise, we traveled just half an hour north from Manapouri to Te Anau.

Here’s an interactive map of our route, with our stops marked:

Whitetail deer:

Whitetail deer

Te Anau Welcomes You:

Te Anau Welcomes You

We stopped at Sandfly Cafe in Te Anau for lunch:

Sandfly Cafe in Te Anau

Sandfly Cafe

Fiordland National Park visitor centre:

Fiordland National Park visitor centre

Fiordland National Park visitor centre

Fiordland National Park visitor centre

Fiordland National Park visitor centre

Fiordland National Park visitor centre

Fiordland National Park visitor centre

Fiordland National Park visitor centre

Fiordland National Park visitor centre

We stayed the night at Te Anau’s Tasman Holiday Park:

Tasman Holiday Parks

Map:

Map

Our site:

Our site

Our site

Our site

Time to do some laundry:

Laundry

Cabins:

Cabins

Other sites:

Other sites

Jump pad:

Jump pad

We walked a few blocks to downtown; here’s a takahē sculpture:

Takahe sculpture in downtown

We had dinner at Ristorante Pizzeria Paradiso:

Ristorante Pizzeria Paradiso

Ristorante Pizzeria Paradiso

Ristorante Pizzeria Paradiso

Ristorante Pizzeria Paradiso

An interesting take on a Hawaiian pizza:

An interesting take on a Hawaiian pizza

NZ: Doubtful Sound overnight cruise

We did an overnight cruise in Doubtful Sound of Fiordland National Park, aboard the Fiordland Navigator.

Just getting to the sound takes a couple of hours; first a catamaran to cross Lake Manapouri:

A catamaran to cross Lake Manapouri

A catamaran to cross Lake Manapouri

Lake Manapouri

Hydro power station:

Power station

Model of the power station:

Model of power station

Then a coach crossing:

Coach crossing

Waterfall:

Waterfall

Peek of the sound:

Peek of the sound

Boarding the Fiordland Navigator:

Boarding the Fiordland Navigator

Our room:

Our room

Our room

Our room

Not a bad view out our window:

View out our window

Heading out:

Heading out

Windy selfie:

Windy selfie

Doubtful Sound:

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Fiordland Navigator bell:

Fiordland Navigator bell

Masts:

Masts

Doubtful Sound

Birb:

Birb

Doubtful Sound

NZ fur seals basking on an island:

NZ fur seals basking on an island

Seals

Bar’s open:

Bar's open

Kayaks:

Kayaks

Almost glassy water:

Almost glassy water

Kayak and swimming:

Kayak and swimming

Buffet dinner:

Buffet dinner

Dessert:

Dessert

Dusk:

Dusk

Mooring ball:

Mooring ball

Morning:

Morning

Breakfast:

Breakfast

Breakfast

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Twisty:

Twisty

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Ship layout (we were in cabin 2 on the main deck):

Ship layout (we were in cabin 2 on the main deck)

Leaving the Fiordland Navigator:

Fiordland Navigator

Then back on the coach and catamaran.

A most memorable trip. So many waterfalls!