New Zealand (South Island) – Sydney (layover) + Christchurch

<<Fulfilled in April, 2023>>

Second post of my NZ trip! In this post, I will share the detailed itinerary along with some photos from the trip. I’m not a professional photographer; most of my photos were taken with an iPhone and edited using the Photos App on a Mac. Fortunately, I was blessed with almost perfect weather during the trip. So, here we go!

Day 1: Layover in Sydney

The flight from Taipei to Christchurch with a layover in Auckland, which is the fastest option, was completely sold out when I started booking my ticket. Therefore, I had to choose a layover in Sydney. However, the 8-hour layover provided an opportunity to briefly visit Sydney’s iconic Opera House.

Transportation: AirportLink

(Link): https://airportlink.com.au/trip-information/price/ – Domestic Airport Station to Circular Quay – Time: ~20 minutes – The train itself was very spacious and comfortable

Reference price: AUD 20 ($ 13.2) for a one-way trip; prices vary between peak and off-peak times

Attractions (Sydney Harbour, Harbour Bridge, Opera House)

• near Circular Quay in walking distance:
  • Sydney Harbour
  • Harbour Bridge
    • There is an option to climb up the bridge for the view of the harbour, but is very expensive (https://www.bridgeclimb.com/climbs-prices/prices)
  • Opera House
  • Royal Botanic Garden

Other highlights that we have missed (Taronga Zoo, Fish Market)

• Taronga Zoo: Take the Sydney Ferries from Circular Quay Wharf to Taronga Zoo Wharf (https://transportnsw.info/), takes about 12 minutes, but needs to walk for 15 minutes to the entrance, or you could take a bus; tickets cost AUD $45.9 for adults (https://taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo)

(Link): https://taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo – How to get there: Take the Sydney Ferries from Circular Quay Wharf to Taronga Zoo Wharf (https://transportnsw.info/) – Time: About 12 minutes, but needs to walk for 15 minutes to the entrance, or you could take a bus

Price: AUD 45.9 ($ 30.4)

• Sydney Fish Market
• The Rocks Market

Day 2: First Day in NZ – Christchurch

Collect rental car

Ezi Car Rental (Link): https://www.ezicarrental.co.nz/ – NZ-based car rental company – Opening hours: 07:00-02:00+1

Reference price: NZD 1,889 ($ 1,140) for a Toyota RAV4 for 11 days

The Toyota RAV4 we rented was new. It is open until 2 AM, which was fortunate because we nearly missed the deadline, because we arrived at midnight, and one of our pieces of luggage did not transfer from Sydney.

Accommodation

Hotel Give (Link): https://www.booking.com/Share-6O0QsGu – Classic Quadruple Room – Shared bathroom

Reference price: NZD 119 ($ 71.6)

I booked through Booking.com, as I always do because it displays the true price upfront, avoiding the addition of numerous extra costs just before the credit card page. It’s a hybrid of a hotel and hostel, offering a private room with a shared bathroom. The shared bathroom maintains exceptional cleanliness, surpassing even typical hotel standards. It is situated in the heart of the city, adjacent to the Christchurch Botanic Garden, placing all the main attractions within easy walking distance.

Attractions

The following is grouped into blocks that can be visited together.

Block 1 – (on foot)

• Christchurch Botanic Gardens
• Christchurch Art Gallery
• Christchurch Cathedral
• New Regent Street
• Cardboard Cathedral
• Bridge of Remembrance
• Riverside Market

Block 2 – (by car)

• Sign of Takahe
• Sign of the Kiwi Cafe
• Sign of the Bellbird
• Governor’s Bay
• If you still got time (which I didn’t), you could keep driving to visit:
  • That Damn Square
  • Ōnawe Peninsula
  • The Giant’s House
  • Akaroa Reserve (Whale watching)
• Final destination before return to Christchurch City: New Brighton Pier (for sunset)

In my opinion, Riverside Market is the most fun to visit and also excellent for Instagram posts. The view of Governor’s Bay is breathtaking, but it cannot compare to what we will see during the rest of the trip.