After three days exploring Wellington (recapped in Part 1), Hanadi and I were excited to see the South Island. Queenstown definitely delivered!

Queenstown

Day 4

The first thing we did was have dinner at the Caribe Latin Kitchen. Then, we took the scenic Skyline Gondola. In hindsight, it would have been better if we took it during the day so we could more fully appreciate the beautiful landscape. Afterwards, we decided to walk around and get acquainted with the stunning and cozy town. We ended the night taking some pictures around Steamer Wharf.

Day 5

Finally, the highlight of the trip, our all-day Milford Sound tour with Cheeky Kiwi. Milford Sound, a famous fjord, is an approximately four-hour drive from the heart of Queenstown. However, it flew by because our guide was warm and entertaining and took lots of stops along the way. This was the most expensive activity by far, but I would definitely recommend it.

Day 6

We started the day off with lunch at the Bathhouse. Then, we walked around Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown Gardens. I would have loved to bike the Queenstown Trail if I had the chance. Afterwards, we headed out to dinner at Bronze Elephant Thai, located in the food court at O’Connells mall. On our way back, we stopped at the Cookie Bar. It was a sweet way to end the trip 🙂

Takeaways

I am so glad that both of our hotels, Oaks Wellington and Melbourne Lodge, were within walking distance of the city. If I could plan this trip again, I would budget more for meals and shorten it by a day or two in order to save costs on lodging and food. Even though we focused on free and lower cost activities, everything still adds up.

I look forward to applying what I have learned about budgeting and travel during my abroad semester in Barcelona this fall. I’m excited to visit other European countries and share my experiences with y’all!