Entering the peaceful scenery of New Zealand

        After my niece finished her junior high school entrance examination, my sister and my family of three boarded Air New Zealand and flew to the southern hemisphere, pressing the pause button for our busy life. My younger sister's whole family has been upgraded to deluxe economy class at an additional cost, while I will maintain the economy class and experience another flying perspective that is closer to the crowd. Before takeoff, we agreed to bring the meals and drinks provided by the luxury economy class to share with the economy class. Although this cross class logistics plan did not succeed in the end, it at least proved that family love will not change due to seat width. With this joyful contrast, we embarked on a ten day journey to New Zealand.

        Auckland, the warmth of the journey begins

        The plane landed in Auckland, North Island, and the air was so fresh that it was not very realistic. In order to adapt to the time difference, our itinerary was arranged quite leisurely. First, come to Mount Eden, a hill formed by a volcano that overlooks the entire city of Auckland. Continuing on to visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum, the magnificent building houses a collection of Pacific and Maori artifacts. It is heartwarming to see that the Maori and indigenous peoples of Taiwan belong to the Austronesian language family. It turns out that on the other side of the earth, one can also find a connection with their hometown.

        South Island appears, the scenery officially unfolds

        The next day, take a domestic flight to South Island. The first stop is Dunedin, a city with a Scottish flavor that is quiet and unique. There is a Baldwin Street near the city that has been certified by the Guinness World Records as the "steepest street in the world". Standing at the bottom of the street and looking up, the slope is truly astonishing. We took photos while walking, even though we had slowed down, we still felt a bit tired.

        Retro train crossing the canyon

        But another experience that Niding cannot miss is the Tayeri Canyon sightseeing train. Departing from the historic Dunedin station, traversing rugged canyons, towering bridges, and hand carved tunnels, showcasing magnificent engineering wonders and natural scenery. The most interesting thing is that the train also stops at the scenic area midway, allowing passengers to get off and take photos. I saw many people waiting by the railway, waiting for the train to slowly arrive, as if stepping into a movie scene and becoming unforgettable moments on the journey.

                Lake Diana and Miffy Fjord

        Leaving Dunedin, pulling a cart all the way to Lake Diana, strolling by the lake in the evening, watching the sky gradually change, it makes people feel relaxed. For dinner, each person will enjoy half a lobster, which is full and fresh in meat, bringing a sense of happiness directly.

        On the third day, head to one of the most anticipated attractions of this trip, "Miffy Fjord", passing through the Eglington Valley, Mirror Lake, and the endless beech forest along the way. Fortunately, on the way, we also saw a large number of high-altitude eagles, even experienced team leaders were rare.

        Arriving at the fjord pier, we boarded a yacht and delved deep into it, admiring the waterfall cascading down from the mountain wall and the clouds drifting slowly in the valley, creating a picturesque scenery resembling a fairyland. The fjord extends all the way to the Tasman Sea, showcasing the majestic power of nature. The only small regret is not seeing the legendary fur seal, perhaps they happened to be on vacation that day.

        Queenstown and world-class Hamburg

        The first thing to do when you arrive in Queenstown is not to see the scenery, but to eat hamburgers! I thought the legendary Fergburger would have to wait in line for a long time, but I didn't expect to buy it smoothly in less than ten minutes. The thick hamburger meat emits a rich carbon aroma, and the bread crust is crispy and retains a Q-degree, truly living up to its reputation.

        The Slow Life of Arrow Town, Cable Car, and Winery

        The next day, come to Arrow Town, also known as the "Lord of the Rings Town", take a stroll around, have a cup of coffee, and then take the cable car to the observation deck to overlook the beautiful scenery of Queenstown. At this moment, the cloudy and rainy sky slowly clears up, and the scenery becomes even more charming. Later, I went to the winery and tasted 4 kinds of red Baijiu. Although I didn't know much about wine, I was still attracted by the vast and beautiful landscape around me, so I couldn't help taking more photos.

        The Starry Sky Under Mount Cook

                In the evening, we arrived at Mount Cook National Park and stayed at the famous Hermit Hotel. The restaurant is directly facing Mount Cook, the highest peak in New Zealand, and is very close to the mountaintop, with an excellent geographical location. After dinner, we walked outdoors. We were originally worried about the bad weather, but unexpectedly, the sky covered by clouds gradually cleared up, and a sky full of stars appeared, making people unconsciously stop and quietly appreciate the brilliant starry sky in front of us.

        The next morning, I challenged myself to the Kea Point Track hiking trail, which took about 1.5 hours back and forth. Although I was affected by low clouds and did not reach my intended destination, the scenery along the way was still unforgettable.

        The next attraction is Lake Titicapo, with a clear surface emitting Tiffany blue light. Unfortunately, the "Good Shepherd's Church" is undergoing renovations and cannot be visited inside. After a brief stop, we can head to Christchurch, the largest city on the South Island.

        Flight cancellations are also a part of travel

        When preparing to take a flight back to the North Island from Christchurch, I received news at the boarding gate that the flight had been cancelled due to thick fog. The whole group instantly entered a large standby mode, and the originally planned itinerary for the North Island was also cancelled. Although there is some helplessness at the moment, thinking about it, it is also an unforgettable memory.

        Firefly hole, the most dreamlike ending of the journey

        Finally returned to Auckland and arrived at the Huaiotapu Geothermal World. The colorful geothermal lake is shrouded in smoke, and the most famous Champagne Pool has an iconic orange red edge due to the mineral deposits by the pool, forming a strong contrast with the emerald green pool water, known as the God's Canvas. There is also a mysterious dark green pond formed by volcanic geothermal activity. But the real highlight is the Waitomo Firefly Cave in the afternoon. Riding a small boat, admiring the magical and spectacular underground caves, stalactites with thousands of years of history, looking up is filled with blue light spots, like a starry sky hanging upside down in the cave. At that moment, no one spoke, and the whole world was left with only the sound of water, because no amount of adjectives could compare to the shock seen with one's own eyes.

                New Zealand: A place where people learn to slow down

        New Zealand is truly a country where there are more sheep than people, and flocks of sheep can be seen everywhere grazing on the grasslands. There is no hustle and bustle of the city here, but rather a leisurely pace of life that makes people unconsciously want to slow down and enjoy the present moment. Looking back on this journey to the North and South Islands, from fjords, snow capped mountains, lakes to geothermal wonders, every scene is unforgettable, but the most precious is every moment spent with family during the journey.

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