In the previous article, we talked about the possibility of planning a road trip in Melbourne and all of its high-level costs involved for a group of 4. It’s a part of a series where we explore planning out a complete itinerary for a trip.

The goal was to provide researching materials and references for everyone to have a head start in planning your own trip, or to explore new ways of traveling in a place you might already be familiar with.

If you haven’t already check that out: https://graytravelnotes.com/trips/lets-go-on-an-easy-road-trip-in-melbourne-this-september/

Today, let’s refine our itinerary by looking at what activities we can do, what to see and where to go to start filling the days up!

In and Around Melbourne

Sometimes we don’t always have to travel out and afar to see great things. There are also plenty of interesting attraction points worth checking out in and around Melbourne itself.

In the earlier itinerary, we would only have up to a maximum of 3 days that we’re spending in the city. But depending on your configuration, that might be longer or shorter or even extended days too.

If you’re just spending a night or two in the city, you might want to take into consideration of travel time needed for some of the locations below. Personally, I would just walk around the streets like a local to explore the urban areas and leaving a day just for Chinatown or South Melbourne Market for some shopping sprees!

However, if you decide to spend longer in the city, you may want to check these out and see what fits your liking.

1. See native Wildlife in Healesville Sanctuary

If you’re heading to Melbourne as a family (with your kids), Healesville Sanctuary is a must go for you. Not only does the location have lots of wildlife for you to explore and observe, but in certain areas you can also give them a good pat! I’m sure your kids would love it!

Spot native wildlife such as Kangaroos, dingoes, Koalas, Lyrebirds, Wombats, Tasmanian devils and Platypus. What’s really interesting about this location is that, it’s actually a Zoo but not really an entirely enclosed “caged-up” type of Zoo. Trust me, it’s worth a visit for a different Zoo experience!

Find out more about the Healesville Sanctuary here: https://www.zoo.org.au/healesville/ 

Did you know? Healesville Sanctuary was previously known as the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary, named after Dr Colin MacKenzie who had setup the Institute of Anatomical Research here in 1920.

2. Wilsons Promontory National Park

Hidden gem in Aussie to see wildlife, rugged mountains across the landscape. Make a wilderness retreat by camping or staying in cabins or lodges at Tidal River. You can also dive in the waters for an even more spectacular view of the marine life!

Tidal River Campground is hugely popular location and in fact, is the main location for accommodation in the National Park. With more than 400 camping sites, visitors and campers have plenty of options to choose from. But note, you must pre-book the campsite no matter when you visit the National Park. Due to the overwhelming number of visitors, it’s best to book your slot much in advance to secure a place.

Learn more about the National Park here: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/wilsons-promontory-national-park 

Did you know? The Tidal River Campground is fully equipped with Visitor Centre, a General Store for basic groceries and emergency supplies, as well as takeaway food! Family with young ones don’t have to worry much now. What’s more, there’s also an outdoor cinema to keep you entertained!

Interested in the Outdoor Cinema? Here’s a link for you: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/57445 

3. How about some water activities in Portsea

After the road trip, the family is pretty exhausted on the road. Perhaps, a little tiresome from the long drives too. So how about treating everyone to some water activities down at Portsea?

Visiting Portsea and things to do: https://bayplay.com.au 

Cool the heat off and enjoy deep diving into the sea to observe the marine lives, or perhaps ride on one of those powerful jetski and feel the sea breeze across your face?

No matter your choice, Portsea would definitely be a fantastic add-on to your itinerary for great water sports and an epic way to end the trip.

4. The Famous Melbourne Cricket Ground

If you’ve some extra free time during the day, you should definitely check out this Australia’s largest stadium! Built in 1853, MCG has had seen many glory days hosting major sport events including Australian Football League, World Cups and many others.

Also known as “The G” by the locals, the stadium also had the world’s highest attended league event, AFL Grand Final, hosted right there!

5. Experiencing Chinatown or South Melbourne Market

A great addition to your list if you’re keen on exploring the local grounds and have a feel of what’s available.

Melbourne’s Chinatown is quite a scene for being one of the most distinctive and well-known area in the city. If Asian delicacies or festivities is your cup of tea, you will find yourself completely immersed in this location and indulging in some of the best foods available there.

Otherwise, you can also choose the alternative – The South Melbourne Market, to experience the local daily grocery locale.

Note: I didn’t mention Phillip Island because it was mentioned in the earlier article in this series. Plus, it’s also a very popular location and not much is needed to introduce this place. A family-friendly and very chill island to relax your mind, it’s a perfect option to end your trip on the last day here.

6. Get on some Outdoor adventures and many Hiking Trails!

Last but not least, if you’re a very outdoorsy person, it’s very worthwhile to put aside at least a day to pick a short trail to hike near Melbourne. There are so many trails all around Australia and you’re never running out of options.

But of course, depending on the amount of time you have at hand, you may only get to go to the closer ones. And here’s a list of them for you to choose from!

Along The Great Ocean Road

Most of us are probably very familiar with the Great Ocean Road by now, and some of us may have been there a couple of times.

And perhaps you may also have already been to some of the more common (or even uncommon) attractions, but it’s always worth checking them out again as the seasons, occasion and company could change too.

1. Cape Otway Light Station Lookout

One of those fine locations right at the start of the Great Ocean Road, is the Cape Otway Lighthouse.

This location offers an extraordinary sunset view when visiting at the right time. If you’re planning to stop by here, you should definitely optimise your timing so that you would reach here during sunset hour.

2. Hopetoun Falls

Another cool location you can check out as you depart from Cape Otway Lighthouse is directly northwards into the woods. This route takes you deeper into the forest and with a little short hike, you will discover this hidden gem – A beautiful and tranquil waterfall that is quite popular on this stretch too.

3. Californian Redwoods

There’s more to this area too! Just right around the corner before you depart Hopetoun Falls, you may wish to hike a little more to get to this place. The majestic size of these trees put you in perspective and in complete awe when you tilt your head upwards trying to see the canopy of the trees.

Don’t jaw-drop for too long before anything foreign drops right from the top!

Did you know? As the name suggests, these trees aren’t native in Australia. It is said that the seeds or saplings were brought and planted here. Eventually, they grew over the decades and is now a wonder for travellers all over the world driving along the stretch of road.

4. Loch Ard Gorge

A great location further down the Great Ocean Road, is the Loch Arch Gorge. What’s awesome about this place is how it’s conveniently located right after you depart from the Redwoods.

Stops after stops, there’s so much to see and yet so little time! Be careful not to stop by too many locations before you run out of light.

Because there’s so much to see and do, we tend to fall into the trap of doing too much. Especially if this is your first time driving overseas, you may wish to space it out a little for the first few days.

Once you gain more confidence, drop by 1 or 2 more stops each day if you want to be sure to cover as many as you want.

5. Grotto

Next on the list but not the final one, is Grotto. I picked this location not only because it’s wonderful .

And alternatively, you can choose to go straight to the end of the Great Ocean Road to drop by the Childers Cove as your last stop on this road trip.

Explore: Magic Rocks is probably a very cool stop to do while on the road trip. However, on my last research of this location, it’s a little less accessible as it requires some trekking along slippery and uneven surfaces to reach. So be mindful if you’re heading there and take note of who you’re bringing along with you.

Planning the road trip on Google Map

There are many more things to see and do in Australia, the list above is just a beginning. But even so, the exhaustive list above would have ensured that every day you’re visiting a new location or attraction.

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So what does it look like when you plot all of them on Google? Is it achievable and are we doing any detours? How long is the entire journey then?

Here’s a snapshot view of what your road trip on the Great Ocean Road in Australia would look like if you did all the above suggested activities.

What do you think? Do you have better locations to recommend? Or did a particular location or activities caught your attention? Let me know down in the comments below!

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I managed to capture a near-perfect back view of everyone riding in a line! The ride was really awesome and it got even better when the weather decides to snow heavier.

Many of us had probably gone on a trip or two this year. With June, the biggest school holiday of the year, past behind us I hope you have had the chance to bring your whole family out for a good vacation.

But if you have not already done so, then you are in for a treat. And that’s also why you are here.

As the title says it all, we are going to Australia. Wait, you might say, I’ve already gone to Australia so many times! Why go again? Here’s why: It can be done as a short trip, it can be cheap and it’s very good for a family.

And Australia is big. You might have gone there several times, but never one the same. But the biggest problem and concerns for many right now is, the rising costs of flights. It’s beginning to look really crazy for certain places.

If you’re thinking about going to popular places like Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the likes, it’s going to cost you a lot more now. And even if you’ve already covered the same places in Australia, going again after a few years can still be a very rewarding experience, especially with your kids.

Drive your way around Australia

One of the best way to experience the true nature and outbacks of Australia is to drive through it. Imagine this:

Daddy’s on the wheel cruising through the long stretch of road, with mommy and the kids humming the songs away happily, just as the wind caresses your skin. The aroma of the coffee mommy’s brewing alleviates all your senses as you lazily bench on the picnic chair, with the kids in the foreground running and jumping around in nature. There simply can’t be a better picture than this.

What I plan for this trip is a simple family retreat that will take 10 days during the September school holidays. And I also plan to bring it all in at around SGD 2,200 to SGD 2,500 per pax for a group of 4.

Yes you heard that right. Alright, let’s get started!

Note: Below itinerary and costs outlaid is based on a group of 4 adults. Do adjust to your group size and age range accordingly.

Flying with Scoot to Melbourne in September

First off, air tickets. Yes I know there are many airlines to bring you to Australia. But if you want to keep it cheap, Scoot is the way to go. Not the most comfy, but the easiest on your pocket. Unless daddy has a deep one, in which case this might not work for you – most of my trips planning revolves around budgeted options.

Airline: Scoot and Jetstar

When: 02 Sep to 11 Sep

Price: SGD 600 to 700 per pax

September Weather in Melbourne

You know what’s even better than what you already know from above? It’s going to be pretty cooling and beautiful weather painted by the colours of the nature.

Month: September

Season: Spring

Temperature: 10.5˚C

With Summer always being the most popular season for any countries, it also meant that it’s crowded and hot. I can’t stand hot, can you? But yet a Summer trip is always very appealing to many because of the school holidays and wider range of activities available for the family.

Yet it doesn’t mean the other seasons aren’t as good. In fact, perhaps the Summer season overshadows the others. In particularly, I absolutely adore and love the Falls (Autumn) season.

And in Spring, weather tends to cool down a lot more from the Summer season. If you’ve lived in Singapore you would know how much we hate the heat. And guess what, smack right in the September school holidays is Spring in Australia!

Perfect time to cruise through the endless roads of Australia, feel the cooling breeze and gentle warmth from the Sun. It’s absolutely stunning.

Where are we going from Melbourne?

With 10 days, you can do plenty of things or just a few things leisurely. And I personally like leisure. But if you would like to pack more locations, go ahead. You might just know more places than I do!

Spend a night or two in the bustling city for a good rest, stock up some food for when you’re on the road, and check out a few popular attractions if you would like.

I would, since I haven’t been to this city yet. Maybe even grab a few souvenirs or gifts.

Mount Buller or Phillip Island

If you’re a skier, or intend to expose your kids to their first skiing lesson, Mount Buller is just close by Melbourne. Easy access and family-friendly. If it so pleases you as well, you might even want to stay a night over there and treat Mommy to a decent spa experience!

Note: Depending on the dates you’re traveling, do check out Mt Buller website to see if they are opened. As I understand it, they are indeed open in Spring but that could be mid-Spring too.

But if you’re not, why not go South and see the majestic colony of penguins? The Phillip Island also offers a superbly relaxing farm stay for the night!

There’s also plenty of things to see and do in this small island, where the entire family could do a short hiking trail, visit the local museums or even some water sports! What’s really cool is the direct availability of coastal and scenic routes you can explore in Phillip Island.

I was very much attracted to that idea and entertained that thought even. But beware, it’s quite expensive for a night.

The Great Ocean Road

For this trip, the main focus is the road tripping experience. Where else would give you one of the best experience to drive along the coast near our home?

Take a couple of days to cruise along this stretch, making multiple stop points to enjoy the scenery and hike a short distance to see waterfalls and such. The kids would absolutely love it!

The trick to making a road trip enjoyable and different from a city-hopping trip, is to take it slow. Real slow. And when you slow down your pace, your senses capture every moment and bits that you feel – the fresh air you breathe, the cooling soothing wind and the beautiful scenery you see.

There are too many things to see along the stretch of road and one does not try to ambitiously cover it all. There’s always another time to cover other locations. Pick a few, maybe 1 or 2 de-routes, and continue off your journey.

Tip: Don’t try to think of it as “I just want to pick and cover the best locations on this trip” cause that tend to set the bar higher and when it isn’t what it seems, it crashes your mood and satisfaction. All locations can be awesome and best in its own class. Just enjoy the journey and soak in the moment. You can’t go wrong with that.

Where are we staying throughout the road trip?

You will be either staying a night over at Mount Buller or Phillip Island and that’s going to set you up for a good SGD 700. It’s pretty expensive to stay in either place but hey, well worth the money for an unforgettable experience! (Especially the kids)

Once you start your GOR road trip, things get a lot easier, more accessible and cheaper as well in my opinion. If you aren’t looking for something fancy, most Airbnb offers very beautiful stays that are not only large enough for a family, but also giving you a very localised experience and ambience.

For example, Airbnb stays in Otway and Childers are easily affordable between SGD 200 to SGD 350 per night. But of course, the price can swing all the way to the right and cost you a lot more if you decide to pick fancier or luxurious choices (the same goes to hotels too).

My preference is always to go somewhere in between or just let your budget decide what you can get.

Type of vehicle and Rental rates?

At the start of the planning, it was designed to be a road trip. So our mode of transport is certainly going to be a rental car. But as you might have already guessed it, there are different rates to the type of vehicle you rent and from which provider.

In my opinion, globally established providers like Sixt and Hertz tend to be more expensive (obviously). If you already have an account with them and had been using it for awhile, it certainly makes sense to just go with that. But if renting a car is your first time and you’re absolutely find to navigate on your own, local providers are a great way to save some unnecessary costs.

Why do you say navigating on your own then? Well, local providers generally (not all, but most of them) aren’t always located near the airports or hotels. And that means you will have to walk and navigate your way to their location in order to grab the rental car. Usually, an airport pickup or collection does cost extra charges.

I’ve had a personal experience in New Zealand with renting from a local provider and it was amazingly good. For $40 per day rental, I get a decent Toyota Altis that carries all of our baggages with plenty of space left. The only downside was, we had to walk at least 2km from where we stay (in central) to reach their location.

But yes, local providers can sometimes save you near 2 times of what global providers would charge you. Other considerations are, what the local providers cover and provide, such as insurance and collision coverage, etc. Make sure you read carefully before booking.

Did you know? My experience taught me that global or local, it’s never safe to assume that one would not “overcharge or penalise ” you for any scratches, dents from stones, or any other matters. (because I got charged by Hertz for something I didn’t do too) So if this was your concern for comparison, save yourself that trouble and just go with the cheaper one. Cost wise, it probably evens out if you do get charged.

Now let’s talk about type of vehicle and which one to choose. We always imagine the perfect SUV to go with on a road trip. It makes sense. Or does it?

SUVs are great because of its comfort on a long drive. But comparatively, it doesn’t always hold as much as a sedan does. Likewise, both sedan and SUVs are generally larger than a hatchback vehicle, so navigating on tight off-roads or paths could prove tricky at times.

Having said that, it is indeed more practical to go for a sedan for the optimised car trunk to store all your luggages. It is, in my opinion, much better than SUV. Ultimately, preferences and price decides which one you lean towards. What type would you choose?

If you’re traveling in larger groups of 4 and above, I personally think that sedan is still ultimately better for you. The SUV just isn’t enough to hold all of your baggages with everyone sitting in it.

The hatchbacks are perfect for the couple though. It provides great manoeuvring while having enough space in the trunk and utilising passenger seats for additional storage.

4×4 or Jeeps are essentially a must when going off-road, winter periods and paths that are generally harder to manoeuvre. For those who had driven one before, you know why.

But for those who don’t, 4x4s are vehicles that can help you get unstuck in a tricky situation like deeper water levels, muds, sands, snow, and basically anything that your vehicle has a harder time gripping the ground.

4x4s are a life saviour when any of your other wheels are trapped by the environment, there’s always at least one wheel that has the power to push your vehicle out of that situation.

The latest addition to the type of vehicles you can choose from are the EVs. Personally, I think these are situational basis and also generally more expensive. For example, Sixt provides that option for you to choose from, but as you can see it does cost you more.

Hint: Take note and research beforehand if there are charging points along the route you’re taking. In Great Ocean Road, there is one over at Torquay Golf Club carpark by Chargefox. But that’s the only one I heard of, though a single recharge should get you through to the end anyways.

If you’ve planned a road trip before, you would know that there may be some “hidden costs” here and there. These are costs that you may not foresee. So what we do know, we should always buffer in a little more just so we’re covered. Some items that come to my mind are:

Levy fees & charges = $120 (est. $20 per day)

Petrol costs = $195 full tank ($3.00 per litre)

Once you factor all these in and assuming you took the general sedan option, we’re probably looking at around SGD 1,155 for approx. 9 days rental. Not too bad, not too bad.

Tip: Whichever provider you pick, ensure you don’t get charged based on mileage. The usual basic collision protection, unlimited mileage and insurance is good enough, in my opinion. The GPS isn’t necessary but a good to have. Some providers charge exorbitant price per day for these tools, so be mindful.

So what’s the total costs per pax for this entire trip?

Alright, now that you’re aware of the whole plan and it’s individual costs, it’s time to put them together for a clearer picture. The itinerary is made for 4 pax and the costs below are assumed for each pax.

Not bad, not too bad at all! I’m happy that we managed to bring our costs to right around the budget we’re aiming for, and that is around SGD 2,300 per pax for a 10 days road trip. Take that into days, that’s just SGD 230 per day – cheaper than a 1 night stay in a hotel!

Well yes, you have not factor in other costs and additional expenses indeed. However, that’s a cost that really depends on your lifestyle and can range drastically.

For example, friends of mine always only dine in restaurants that could easily cost you SGD 50 per meal upwards, while I famously love to self-cook and pack within Airbnbs or portable stoves – this doesn’t even cost me anywhere near SGD 20 per meal.

Likewise, many loves shopping and buying bags of gifts while I don’t. In any one of my trip, I could keep my (misc, not activities) expense well below SGD 500 for a 14 days trip but friends of mine could swipe thousands easily.

I can’t make that call for you. But what I can tell you is, the important parts of the trip alone doesn’t cost all that much. And can be even cheaper if you aren’t going to the Phillip Island or Mount Buller. Even for the cost to stay in CBD Melbourne, was also a fancier penthouse Airbnb.

Alright, there we have it! A road trip that costs around SGD 2,300 per pax to Australia that does not sacrifice any part of the experience and instead, increases every bit of it along the way with many moments worthy of a life-time memory.

NEXT UP: Refining the itinerary

Let’s begin refining the details of the trip and take a closer look at what activities to do and what to see during the trip. So stay tune for the next part!

And before we end this, let me know in the comments or email me your thoughts, if this is what you’re looking for or that it helps guide you in planning a trip of your own. I would love to hear from you!

Note: If you think you will have some extra days left or that you would like to cover more, there are certainly additional attractions to go to that you can slot in between the days. What this article intend to cover is the major bulk of the complications that require more planning than the odd days that are empty. More on this in the next follow-up article for this trip.

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On one of the excursion to catch Northern Lights, we were all out in the open wilderness. The wind howl and it was very chilly. You can imagine how good the food tasted when it’s simmering hot on such a night – Unfortunately, the sky and the Lights evaded us that day. But the wonderful experience etched in our minds and serve as good old memories in the days to come.

Ok before you go wondering, of course it’s the wifey who spotted the Finnish guy first. Clearly, the photo didn’t do much justice because half the time we’ve been trying to sneak around taking pictures of him. But hey, we had lots of fun and laughter while doing something this stupid, so what’s not to enjoy? Plus, come on guys, let’s just face it – he really does have the look and he actually dolls up for his work.

On one of the days when we’re wandering around the streets in Helsinki, we came across their local “Finnish market” (not sure if it’s really considered as that). You would be surprised at how much it felt like our own local markets, except that they are absolutely beautifully furnished and clean while ours are wet. But one particular stall took our attention immediately. The carefully stacked and neatly displayed trays upon trays of fresh vegetables were, jaw-droppingly vibrant in bright colours! It looks ridiculously fresh, delicious and just beautiful!

It was so much fun at the Pyha ski resort. On one of the ski slopes, I was taking pictures of the area with my phone when one of the skier was on his way up. Upon seeing me, he started waving at us and it was just so heart warming to know that the locals there are so friendly! That just made our day even better.

You’ve heard it on the news. Singapore is officially lifting up many of the covid restrictions and measures. And beginning this year, many other countries are also reopening their borders. Particularly, we’re looking at Australia and New Zealand.

Most of you must already be aware that New Zealand is opening in phases, and by May 1 2022 international travellers that do not require VISA are welcomed. And yes, that’s us!

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So if you’re already itching to visit these few countries, now is the time to start planning and you’ve just come to the right place. I’ve already assembled an itinerary for you that you can it apart and customise it however that fits your preferences.

Note: It is by no means a fix itinerary, but do note that some splits of the drive are longer than others. Thus, harder to alter those driving routes unless you’re routing through another pass.

Without further ado, let’s hop right into the itinerary shall we?

When and where are we going?

A lot of the attractions are based off South of New Zealand. And so is my itinerary. I’ve not explored the North yet, but truthfully, there’s just too many things to cover and do in the South. And I ain’t done with it yet!

Compared to my previous trip to New Zealand, this new itinerary is, in my opinion, much more optimised and well-routed.

Some locations may seem familiar to you and that’s because they are just too good to pass. Every time you go New Zealand, it almost always seems like you ain’t done with that same place yet, you know.

Starting right off Christchurch, we’re heading upwards through Arthur’s Pass and circling down on the West Coast of New Zealand.

Why? It’s a new route I’ve yet to go, and rather than going inland, coasting along the shores most certainly sounds more fun don’t you think?

Oh! And yes, we’re going right at the end of October and that means we’ve got a very pleasant weather to boot!

Dates: 16 Oct to 24 Oct

What’s the flight timing and the airline we’re flying with?

The next you’re probably going to ask is, what is the flight timing and which airline are we flying with?

It is none other than our beloved Singapore Airlines! In my opinion, it’s not too often to find decent prices with Singapore Airlines as there are competitions from Emirates, Qantas and other airlines that typically offered better prices.

The only airline that seems to always be much more expensive than even Singapore Airline, is none other than their own Air New Zealand. And I’ve absolutely no idea why. Do you know?

The flight timing, as seen in below screenshot on the day that I did this research, offers a near-perfect timing. Near-perfect because if it’s just a tad bit later for the departure, most of us could’ve saved 1 more day of Annual Leave right?

But the arrival time and the departure time on the last day is extremely good in my opinion. Not too early where nothing is opened or available, but not too late where most of the day is already gone.

Airline: Singapore Airlines

Flight Time: 19:50 to 10:30(+1) and 11:50 to 17:40

And what’s the theme of the Trip?

Oh this excites me! A LOT! It will be a road trip touring around South of New Zealand but what’s the next level of a road trip? A Motor Home trip.

Imagine not having to lock yourself at one location, but the absolute freedom to explore any time, anywhere as you deem fit? The Campervan-ing experience offers the best of both world – Freedom to explore and Roadtripping.

Tell me if that doesn’t excite you much. What elevates this experience even further is, how much New Zealand advocates and support this concept of exploring their homeland.

And if all of these doesn’t get you motivated to book your next trip immediately, then I’m sure the only concern left is pricing. What if I tell you that Campervan trips will almost certainly always cost you the same as booking AirBnB, if not cheaper?

Read on to find out how this entire itinerary works out and its pricing per person. Trust me, you’re going to love it.

Route we are taking and duration of each drive

So you saw the planned route in from above. Now you’re wondering, what are the splits and duration for each location.

Don’t worry, I’ve worked it all out for you below!

From Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass will take approx. 2.5hrs

From Arthur’s Pass to Franz Josef will take approx. 3.5hrs

From Franz Josef to Wanaka will take approx. 4hrs

From Wanaka to Queenstown will take approx. 2hrs

From Queenstown to Manapouri will take approx. 2.5hrs

From Manapouri to Milford Sound will take approx. 2hrs

From Manapouri to Mount Cook will take approx. 6hrs

From Mount Cook to Christchurch will take approx. 5.5hrs

It’s important to note that in this itinerary, there are a few splits that are considerably long drive of more than 4 hours. If you aren’t traveling solo, you should consider doing a driver-rotation so that none of you are exhausted by the end of the drive.

I mean, you still want to play and enjoy on-location after drive right?

Because of it’s sensitivity, I’ve briefly worked out the timing to ensure that within the day itself you can reach the destination and still have some time left to explore the area.

Important timing and splits to take note of

These are the 3 particular splits that are really long drives, so your departure timing becomes extremely crucial. 

Departing from Franz Josef to Wanaka at 10am latest after a chill breakfast

Arrive at Wanaka to replenish stocks, rest and lunch. You can then depart at 3pm onwards to Queenstown

If all goes well, you will reach Arrow Point in time for a beautiful sunset at 6 to 7pm

Depart from Queenstown to Manapouri at 10am latest and you will reach in time for lunch and rest

Depart from Manapouri to Milford Sound at 2pm latest to reach the top at 4pm. Enjoy the scenery and the drive, but start departing by 5/6pm to arrive back in town by 8pm.

Note: Later departure pass 7pm can get dangerously dark. If you aren’t familiar with overseas driving and night driving, I strongly recommend to ease into it first by having a day with a maximum of 30mins night driving.

Which town are we staying in and for how long?

The routes we took from above, should hint at where we’re staying over the night. But beyond just optimising the route for best use of the daylights, it’s also important to pick a location that fits the activities we want to do and of significant interest.

Here’s how we’re splitting our days of rest across all the locations.

17 Oct, 2D1N in Franz Josef

18 Oct to 19 Oct, 3D2N in Queenstown

19 Oct to 20 Oct, 2D1N in Te Anau / Manapouri

20 Oct to 23 Oct, 4D3N in Mount Cook

23 Oct to 24 Oct, 2D1N in Christchurch

Not too bad eh? The general idea is to spend more time on specific locations where we’re picking out more activities or intense ones like Hiking at Mount Cook. This way, not only do you get ample rest but also more time on-location to enjoy its beauty.

If you’ve seen our previous guides before, you would notice that there are a few similar locations in this itinerary. And that’s because they stand out as widely recognised travel destinations as well as offering greater variety of family-friendly activities.

Keen to take a look at our previous itinerary suggestion? Here’s the link to it.

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Franz Josef would be a new location for us. While it’s arguably within the proximity of Mount Cook, many would attest that it’s worth going and gives a different experience as well.

What’s more important is, the deliberate de-route from the usual path to Mount Cook takes us through Arthur’s Pass and driving along the coast instead. This also provides a completely fresh experience for the itinerary as compared to inland roads.

Where are we camping at with our campervan?

If you’re already familiar with camper vans, you would know that there are designated parks or lots for these vehicles. And yes, you aren’t supposed to just park anywhere.

The general misconception is, with a camper van I could stop and rest anywhere I want anytime I prefer. But that’s only half of the reality. I could be wrong, but as far as I’m aware the guideline of most laws ensure that as long as you and your vehicle do not pose any obstructions or dangers to other users, it isn’t an offence.

Having said that, it also seems like a blurred line saying that you can park anywhere as long as you don’t cause danger or obstruction, and you must park at designated lots. Anyone knows what are the clear definition and proper way of doing this?

Anyhow, to be on the safe side, I’ve picked a legal campsite for camper vans on each location. Again, it’s by no means definitive option so you’re free to pick whichever campsite you prefer.

Franz Josef: Franz Josef Top 10 Holiday Park

Queenstown: 4 Cemetery Road, Queenstown 9300, New Zealand

Manapouri: Manapouri NZMCA

Mount Cook: White Horse Hill Campsite, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park 227 Hooker Valley Road, Canterbury 7999, New Zealand

Christchurch: Spencer Beach Holiday Park

Note: There are also free campsites that do no charge. They often provide only minimal facilities though. More importantly, not every camper van can park at these free parking lots. Only Camper vans that are self-contained certified (CSC), like Maui, are allowed to use these free parking spaces.

Important: If you’re doing freedom camping, please use these places responsibly and respect the environment. Such freedom were given to us to provide unique and memorable experience, but misusing this privilege would only result in more regulation and lesser freedom in future.

See references here: https://www.wilderness.co.nz/blog/freedom-camping-in-nz-how-does-it-work 

What is the total cost of the trip and per person?

Last but not least, I’m sure most of you are curious how much it costs per person for this itinerary. And I’m glad you asked. Here’s a gentler breakdown of each categorised expenditures, but feel free to break it down further if you must.

It ain’t that bad huh? Oh, the camper van used in this calculation is for 4 pax vehicle (CSC). Naturally, if you’ll have to adjust the cost accordingly to the number of persons.

I would comfortably place the range of costs between $2,500 to $3,500 per person. It’s still a wider range because of activities and the urge to splurge a little on restaurants, but yet a workable assumption for accurate planning.

Final Thoughts

New Zealand is a very popular destination for many of us. When you visit a place so often, you may want to do things differently. And camping might just be one of them.

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But living in a camper van or tent is so very different from your standard itinerary with hotels and Airbnb. In fact, you may also hear or read about many horrors of camping out there.

The reality of having just the space of a van for 2 persons or more, can get really really shockingly bad experience – because we’re all so used to having spaces for everything. Having to clear your own waste, managing grey water, smells and all, really isn’t something for everyone.

So before you start planning a camper van trip, ask yourself if you and your group are people who are totally ok with such a travel style, and are they outdoorsy or pure city folks who needs everything within reach and get done by others.

Alright, that’s it! I hope you enjoyed this itinerary and if you really went ahead with one similar to this, let me know how it went! Leave your comments below and also let me hear your thoughts on where you wish to see us go next!

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If you’re beginning to plan and look for a holiday trip for 2 or your entire family, I think this would be perfect for you.

With everything that is going on with the world, one can’t help but feel that it’s all too much to handle. And it’s important to take time away to spend with your loved ones, embracing all the goodness in love and not taking any moments for granted.

So what would be good for a family or couple retreat then? In my opinion, I would most definitely pick winter as my first choice. And if you’re going to pick winter as well, then the best activity to do would be skiing! It never goes wrong.

Ever since we had our first ski experience at Pyha ski resort in Finland, we instantly fell in love with this sport. I mean, how can you not?

See our travel photos: We learned our first ski lesson at Finland’s Pyhä Ski resort!

So where are you suggesting we go for a ski retreat?

Of course, there are plenty of options around the world and in Asia. Many loved Japan’s powdery snow, but for me if you’ve followed my blog for awhile now you know I’m obsessed with Scandinavia.

Yes, I’m pointing you to Norway this time around. Why?

Flights from Singapore to Norway has always been relatively affordable with plenty of timing to choose from. Prices can go as low as SGD700 per pax during low season or reasonably at SGD1,000 during winter season as well.

I mean, it’s an almost 12 hours long flight (minus away the layovers of course) at just under 1 grand! Plus, you almost always layover at Dubai – and it’s really awesome but that’s a story for another day.

The specific ski resort in this itinerary is Norefjell Ski Resort, which is just 2 hours away from Oslo. That means, you don’t need to spend more time or costs to fly elsewhere and you’re right in the heart of convenience.

Find out more at: https://www.norefjell.com/en 

Oslo is the capital of Norway and a really gorgeous city to boot. Within the city, you have everything available and some more.

If you wanted to mix ski retreat with a little scenery visiting, you can! Check out my other itinerary and see if you can pick out some interesting places to visit.

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Norefjell Ski Resort? Why is it good and what gives?

Why Norefjell Ski Resort and not others? If you aren’t a professional Skier and just looking for some casual fun down the slopes, then you’re just like me. And people like us just want somewhere comfortable, not too crowded and easily accessible.

Sounds like something you’re looking for? Then Norefjell Ski Resort will suite you very well. But that doesn’t mean Norefjell Ski is for newbies or not as good as other Norwegian Ski Resort though.

It’s just that this resort is super convenient if you aren’t looking at traveling too far off course just for some ski time.

Located just 110km north-west from Oslo city centre, it’s so easy to get there! Plus, they do provide transport as well if you need it.

Secondly, you’re visiting one of the Norwegian Ski area that hosted the Alpine Ski competition for Oslo 1952 Winter Olympics!

Last but not least, Norefjell Ski Resort made many upgrades and developments over the years and had been voted Norway’s Leading Spa Resort in 2011! And yes, that means ladies, you get to really treat and pamper yourself to one of the finest spa treatment in the North.

Welcome to paradise!

For Skiers, there are nearly 30 slopes for you to pick from and enjoy!

Note: Although not all of them are opened all the time. Check their online statuses for more info – https://www.norefjell.com/en/skislopes.

How long is this trip and when?

Norefjell Ski Resort sells a ski package for 2 on a 7 nights retreat that, in my opinion, it’s really quite worth it. If you’re up for this, then we’re definitely looking at least 10 days long for this retreat.

Just nice for 2 weekends if you’re flying on Friday!

If that’s too long for you – cause let’s face it, I don’t think I can’t ski for 4 days straight too – then perhaps a good 3 days to enjoy all the facilities, skiing and just enjoying snow picturesque scenery while enjoy a hot cup of coffee, will sound like a perfect retreat for you.

The ideal months to look at is somewhere starting from December, with the winter peaking closer to March. It gets colder by then.

Naturally, if you head there during the peak season between December and January, it does get very busy. And lively!

Ok, and how much does it cost in total then?

For a short retreat, this would appear to be very costly. But for any ski enthusiasts, it probably isn’t. That’s of course, also assuming that you would rather stay within the vicinity than traveling to and fro.

There are very obvious ways to further reduce the cost, such as staying just downhill in nearby hotels or Airbnb, will significantly reduce that cost. However, the downside of it is just going through the trouble of traveling up and down to get into the Ski resort.

Plus, you will have to exit way before the closing time to catch any transport down. Otherwise, you will get stranded up there!

Regardless of your option, the costs stated below are more or less the range we’re looking at. The major difference is really going to be the Spa selection for the 3 days option.

Other interesting itineraries or suggestions?

What do you think, are you ready to start your adventures and retreats soon now that the world is opening up again? I sure am excited about it! In fact, this article was written based on the research of my next trip – And yes, I’m really thinking of a ski retreat!

Hey, if this article had helped you out in planning or inspires you to get on a flight to somewhere, share it out with others and help give it a shout. See ya around soon!

Also consider this: Where is Faroe Island and 5 must-see and do locations!

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