NZ (22 Dec): Auckland

Weather: Sunny

Skipped breakfast and went for the buffet lunch (from 11.30am) at the Observatory, Sky Tower – NZD42/pax. The range was reasonably sufficient but we didn’t think the quality was worth boasting. In fact, we were glad we didn’t choose to do dinner as they served the same type of food but for NZD20/pax more. I wouldn’t recommend dining at the Observatory unless you are desperately dying to get an Auckland city view ;p

Sky Tower

Observatory

Dessert station

Savoury station

Starters/salads station

View from the Obtservatory

Bread served to all tables. Very tasty when warm!

Food..

Foood...

Fooood....

Foooood.....

Desserts.. forgettable

Ice-creams/sorbet

Did some last minute shopping – manuka and kiwi shortbread for colleagues. Sorry friends, there really wasn’t anything unique that I could buy as souvenirs for you all. In any case, I’ve more or less stopped buying souvenirs for friends – very stressful! Hahaa!!

Concluding the trip:
1. Most kiwi service staff was unfriendly, if not rude. Many just gave you a straight face, and were not sincere when they greet people. For this reason, my hubby said he doesn’t like NZ hahah!

2. NZ F&B was very expensive (more so than in Australia)! The cheapest and most decent meal one could get by would be Subway 6-inch “Sub of the Day” which cost NZD3.90. However, only the major cities offered “Sub of the Day”. Any other meal (whether western or asian cuisine) including fastfood cost minimum NZD10! Even a whole roast chicken in the supermarket easily cost an average NZD14!... See More

3. I’ve driven more windy mountainous roads in NZ than in Australia. Driving along their lakes was like driving along Australia's Great Ocean Road.

4. There were more road kills in South Island (mainly rabbits) than in the North Island (kiwis or possums).

5. Though Queenstown was buzzling mainly due to the varied range of activities offered, Auckland would be the best place for one to do shopping. Again, they weren't exactly cheaper than in Singapore.

NZ (21 Dec): Auckland

Weather: Sunny

We board the free shuttle to the factory outlet (20min drive away) and once again, returned empty-handed hahaha!! Frankly, there wasn’t anything particularly cheap that one couldn’t find in Singapore, so it wasn’t really worth carrying them all the way back ;p

Back in the city centre, we took the free City Circuit bus to the Sky City Tower, and made a reservation for buffet lunch on its Observatory. It was a treat for ourselves before we go back Singapore haha!!

Free City Circuit bus

Some Korean pancake stall we found in some alley haaha! Errr... taste like think yet soft roti prata.. filling - cheese, beef and can't remember what else ha! ;p

NZ (20 Dec): Christchurch-Auckland

Weather: Sunny & windy

We asked for late check-out and were given till 11.30am. After breakfast, we drove to Dress Smart, a factory outlet in Hornsby on the suburb of Christchurch. Unfortunately, we went away empty-handed.

Breakfast @ Hotel SO: Bagel with eggs, cheese and salmon. I love it!

Crispy bacon, bread and eggs

After we checked out, we returned the car at Apex Christchurch (near airport) and were given free shuttle to the airport terminal. Then we flew to our last destination, Auckland on Jetstar – NZD99/pax.

From the Auckland airport, one could purchase Airbus ticket (NZD23 return) which would bring passengers to city centre. The bus driver gave short commentaries when it reached city centre, as well as inform passengers the various stops to drop-off depending on where the passengers were going. We dropped off at Stop no. 5, at the end of Queen St and just walked 5min to our accommodation.

Accommodation:
Mercure Hotel (Customs St) – NZD79/night through wotif “Secret Deal”. Location was great! The harbour was just behind the hotel, the Westfield Shopping Centre (can give it a miss) was a stone’s throw away while the buzzling Queen St was round the corner. The Sky Tower was about 10min leisure walk from the hotel. The (free) City Circuit bus stop was on the next street (besides Britomart), while the (free) shuttle to Dress Smart (yes, another factory outlet in Auckland) was right in front of the hotel’s doorstep. Note that Mercure Hotel was the 2nd last stop for the Dress Smart shuttle bus and it could be full when it came by. Unfortunately, the Dress Smart shuttle ran only four return trips per day. The nearest supermarket called Countdown (24hrs) would need a little more walking – about 15-20min walk away.

We were in room 1107 which had street view. Room was spacious but furnishing looked a bit tired (slightly better than Kingsgate in Queenstown though). There was a guest lounge on the 1st floor of the hotel where guests could enjoy complimentary coffee/tea 24hrs a day. Hotel internet was not cheap – NZD10 for 2 hours, whereas the internet cafés around the area usually offered only NZD2 or NZD3 for an hour.

Exterior view

Room

King bed (actually combination of 2 super singles)

Bathroom

View from our room

Dinner:
Japanese food again ;p @ Daikoku, just across the street where Britomart was – we ordered Tonkontsu Ramen while hubby ordered the Spicy Ramen and Curry Don combo (thinking the ramen and rice portion would be small). The portion of the ramen was humongous! I was surprised I could finish it + half the curry rice. Jia lart, I’d definitely put on weight when I return home!! The food was quite delicious but we were thirsty after that ;( Anyway, those dishes cost NZD27.

Inside the restauant; open kitchen

Spicy ramen

Curry don