7 Days Driving New Zealand's South Island | Fly a Plane, Jet Boat & Autumn Road Trip

First time driving on the right? First time on a jet boat? First time at the controls of a plane? That's exactly the kind of trip this was. Seven days across New Zealand's South Island — autumn colours, snow-capped peaks, alpine passes, and a handful of firsts that made my heart beat a little faster. 📍 Destinations & highlights covered: → Christchurch to Lake Tekapo – first right-hand drive experience, Church of the Good Shepherd, autumn light → Mount Cook National Park – Hooker Valley Track, Lake Pukaki, Tasman Glacier views → Twizel to Queenstown via Crown Range – winding mountain roads, Kawarau Gorge fruit stall (since 1887!) → Queenstown – jet boat lesson with Andre, sunrise hot air balloon → Wanaka – that famous tree, autumn colours, peaceful forest walks, learning to fly a plane (my top recommendation!) → Dunedin – Otago Peninsula (Sandfly Bay), Larnach Castle forest, Baldwin Street, Scottish architecture → Oamaru to Kaikōura – Katiki Point lighthouse, fur seal colony, snow-capped peaks meeting the Pacific Ocean What makes this trip special? It's not just the iconic views – it's the quiet detours: a 19th-century fruit stall in the middle of nowhere, petting alpacas and mules at a family‑friendly coffee shop near Timaru, and the realisation that the best moments on a road trip often happen between destinations. No rush. No agenda. Just the open road and a willingness to be surprised. Music ‪@LofiPeach-NoCopyrightMusic‬ ​⁠ - Chill Melon ‪@LofiPeach-NoCopyrightMusic‬ ​⁠ - Cherry Cream Cola ‪@bgmpresident‬ ​⁠ - walking in spring ‪@moodplaylist.mp3‬ ​⁠ - paws-itive vibes ​⁠‪@LofiPeach-NoCopyrightMusic‬Pandan Pancakes ‪@VelvetNight-t2z‬ ​⁠ - Alone Peacefull ‪@LofiPeach-NoCopyrightMusic‬ ​⁠ - Summer Peach ​⁠‪@LofiPeach-NoCopyrightMusic‬ ​⁠ - Banana Honey Melt Sub count: 1,026