27 Days of Wonders: New Zealand Adventure with a Singapore Stopover

Here at Luxtripper, we are passionate about turning our clients’ holiday dreams into an unforgettable reality. One such journey began when we were approached to curate a once in a lifetime bucket list adventure to New Zealand, with an exciting stopover in Singapore.

Spanning 27 days, the epic itinerary included return flights, handpicked hotels, private transfers, car hire, a campervan experience and even helicopter flights over majestic glaciers!

Our clients were so pleased with their post retirement holiday, they generously penned a detailed blog sharing their full itinerary and insights offering great tips and inspiration for other travellers.

We had heard great things about New Zealand, and newly retired, were at last able to commit enough time to justify the long flight to the other side of the world! In truth, the thought of the flight was off-putting, but Singapore Airlines was so much better than our usual short-haul European airlines and long-haul experiences with TUI and Virgin – the journey wasn’t that challenging after all, even in Economy. 

Once we had decided to go, we were determined to see and do as much as possible and Luxtripper (formerly Affordable Luxury Travel) was great in helping us build and book our itinerary which included: internal flight, visit to North and South Islands, hotel stays, car hire, a scenic trans-alpine train journey, a helicopter flight to two glaciers, Maui motorhome hire and a spectacular car ferry between the two islands. The tour was for a total of 27 days, which included a 4-day stopover in Singapore.

We witnessed incredible mountains and lakes, waterfalls and a volcano, seals and glow-worms, geysers and boiling mud pools and swam in thermal waters. 

The holiday included many firsts for us, not least to experience campervan life. To help you plan your trip of a lifetime, we hope this blog will give you the confidence to go ahead and book!

Endless Fun & Adventure Begins on the New Zealand Trip with Singapore Stopover

Day 1: Ready for the Trip

Arrived full of excitement and anticipation at Manchester Airport, where we parked our car and stayed overnight at the Radisson, the closest hotel to Terminal 2.

Day 2: The Trip Begins

At last, our departure day had arrived! After a hotel breakfast, we checked in our bags. As Singapore Airlines was our main carrier (although they had code-shared the Singapore to Auckland flight to Air NZ), this meant that all our flights entitled us to 30 kg each. However, we didn’t take that much (and were pleased we didn’t), as there were so many opportunities to do a quick clothes wash. The flight was amazing, with free wifi, good entertainment, great meals and free drinks (in Economy!!!); plus snacks and top-ups anytime you fancied!

Day 3: Singapore 4-Day Haul

We arrived in Singapore around 8 am, where we had chosen to stay for 3 nights. Changi Airport was absolutely amazing and put UK airports to shame! Everything went quickly and smoothly. As we arrived, our transfer driver was waiting with a name sign, and soon we were in his luxurious limo to be whisked off to our centrally located hotel: Paradox Hotel. 

Although we were too early to check in, we were able to drop our bags, use the facilities and shower/freshen up in the leisure facilities. Wow, Singapore was hot and humid. What a contrast to the early February weather in Manchester!

Day 4: Singapore Discovery

We had already wandered around our hotel vicinity upon arrival and quickly got our bearings. What an amazing city Singapore is! It’s astonishingly clean and modern (no litter at all), and everyone is friendly and helpful. All the signs have English translations. We opted to visit the Botanic Gardens, which have a well-deserved reputation, and we weren’t disappointed. We travelled there by metro and it was easy to navigate. 

Everything is paid for by credit card, so no need for currency. Entry to the gardens is free, but there is a charge for the Orchid Garden, which is well worth it. We also benefited from a Senior Discount, so do take ID if relevant! In the evening, we ate at Lau Pa Sat street food market – we had BBQ Satay, which was delicious. Street food is inexpensive, but alcohol is heavily taxed everywhere. We chose soft drinks.

Day 5: More Singapore

We visited Gardens by the Bay (recommended as one of the world’s top attractions), and wow, it’s stunning! There are several more of them – we opted to visit the Supertree Skywalk and the Cloud Forest and loved them both. They are quite spectacular. We were also advised that it’s worth returning at 8 pm for the (free) sound and light show, a mesmerising experience shared by thousands. Don’t miss these attractions!

Day 6: Final Day in Singapore & Off to NZ

Today is our final day in Singapore. We explored the centre more on foot in the morning, popped into Chinatown (Suitable for Chinese eats/shops, souvenirs, but nothing special), followed by R&R in beautiful sunshine by the hotel pool in the afternoon. 

Then it was off back to the airport for the next leg of our journey: the overnight flight to Auckland. Air NZ wasn’t quite up to the Air Singapore standards, but it was still very good, and we also managed to get some sleep in anticipation of our busy time ahead!

Day 7: Hello Auckland, NZ

We arrived at breakfast time in Auckland and completed immigration (see tips below). We had opted to fly straight to Queenstown (all part of the overall Air Singapore package with Air NZ), so we had to transfer to the domestic terminal. This is a 10-minute walk (a shuttle bus was advertised), but we were ready for a stretch! This two-hour flight gave us some great first views of NZ from the air! We booked an Uber (quick and cheap) to our hotel and were soon on our balcony admiring the spectacular view! After freshening up, we walked into town to get our bearings, as well as a much-needed meal!

Day 8: Queenstown Hill Experience

We had a kettle and fridge in the bedroom, so we were self-sufficient for breakfasts, having bought supplies the previous day. Full of enthusiasm, we set off to climb the path to the top of Queenstown Hill to experience the spectacular views over the city and the lake. It took about 4 hours (from the city centre) to climb, enjoy the scenery and return to the first pub we encountered for much-needed liquid refreshment!

Day 9: Boat Trip + Trying Fish at a Fish and Chip Shop

We took a boat trip around the lake, which was most enjoyable, and the commentary was informative. Once back on land, we walked around the peninsula where the town’s gardens make for gorgeous surroundings. The hotel had a refreshing pool and jacuzzi, which were a lovely treat each time we returned! That evening we took advice and walked a short distance out of town to a highly-recommended fish and chip shop (they’re everywhere in NZ and offer delicious fresh fish!).

Day 10: Pick Up SUV Car & Head to Arrowtown, Lake Wanaka

We packed up early and walked into town to pick up our hire car. By 10 am, we were back at the hotel, picked up the bags and set off exploring! Our SUV hooked up easily to Apple CarPlay, and we found navigating very straightforward (note: driving is on the left as in the UK). 

After an easy drive, we made our first stop in Arrowtown, a former gold mining settlement on the Arrow River. We walked along the banks and made a quick visit to the old gold diggers’ huts, then enjoyed a welcome coffee and pastry before continuing to Lake Wanaka, our overnight stop (Edgewater Hotel). 

We checked in and were amazed to have a superb apartment overlooking the lake, equipped with a modern kitchen and washing facilities, so we set off along the lake shores into town to buy supplies. That evening, we enjoyed a delicious steak and red wine on our balcony and realised how good NZ produce is (this was consistently the case: all fruit, veg, meat tastes so delicious. And the beer/wine are great too!)

Day 11: Drive to Franz Josef, South Island

Today was a longer drive to Franz Josef in the centre of the South Island. En route, we stopped multiple times to take in the stunning views of Lake Wanaka before reaching the Haast River, where we paused for a short walk to see the Roaring Billy Falls. 

Here, the river is an intense colour of aquamarine and the views are, once again, breathtaking! The road then ran alongside the coast, and we saw the Tasman Sea for the first time, making several stops to take short walks along the beach, which seemed so remote from our usual world! 

Finally, we arrived at our Villa in Franz Josef. Again, the accommodation came with a kitchen-diner, so we popped to a local supermarket for provisions.

Day 12: Unforgettable Helicopter Flight to Glaciers

Today was one of the highlights of our trip: a helicopter flight to the glaciers, with a landing on top. Wow, what an experience! 

Unbelievably, we flew in summer clothes, yet had a brief snowball fight on the glacier! Our photos from that day show spectacular views from the helicopter of the deep blue sky against the bright whites, blues and greys of the glacier. 

After landing and a coffee to calm down, we set off to nearby Lake Matheson, where a lakeside trail affords great views not only of the lake, with glimpses of the indigenous brown eels and rainforest flora and fauna, but also of the glacier as the backdrop. After a delicious meal and wine back at the villa, we slept well.

Day 13: Memorable Train Ride Through Mountains

It was our final day with the car, and we covered another highlight: the TranzAlpine Express from coast to coast (Greymouth to Christchurch). 

The drive to Greymouth, on the West Coast, was straightforward, and we pulled over to eat lunch and enjoy the beaches (this stretch was our only encounter with sandflies, but a speedy application of Deet sorted that out!). 

We arrived in good time to spend time wandering around and scratch the surface of the history of this mining town, which has seen more prosperous times. Greymouth’s main attractions are in the surrounding hills, underground mines, river canyons and coastline, but we had a train to catch! 

The car rental offices are immediately next door to the train station, so the car return was very straightforward. The train journey took about 4 hours and was truly awesome. It climbed slowly away from the coast, eventually cutting through the mountains, going through tunnels and over high bridges before snakily descending to the East coast and Christchurch. There is an open-sided carriage which is perfect for taking photos, but the main carriages have huge windows, allowing full enjoyment of the scenic views. Once in Christchurch, we took a short Uber ride to our ultra-modern, centrally-located hotel and soon walked out to a nearby Italian place for a yummy lasagne!

Day 14: Pick Up Motorhome & off to Campsite Kaikoura

A quick Uber to the Maui depot by the airport to pick up our motorhome. The paperwork was done in advance, and they showed us how everything worked: online videos had prepared us, and these really helped our confidence as first-timers. We had opted for the Value Pack, which removed all liability for any damage and provided a picnic table and chairs (we made good use of these as outside became our usual dining room). 

There is a large supermarket close to the depot, and everyone seems to head straight there to stock up on supplies. We were extremely impressed by NZ supermarkets: produce is fresh and of uniformly high quality, and we particularly liked the New World chain, which seems to be in most towns. We both found driving our automatic vehicle straightforward, and we were soon enjoying being out of the city once again. 

Our first campsite was on the coast at Kaikoura, two hours North of Christchurch. Once parked up, we wandered into town to explore and up to the pretty church which sits up a small hill. That evening, we used the campsite BBQ and then slept very well in our new home!

Day 15: Strolling Along The Beach + Head to Tasman   

Off we drove to meander further up the coast to our next stop in Tasman. We paused many times to watch seals playing on the rocks, and walked along the beach and enjoyed the views. The beauty of a motorhome is that you can stop where you please and make a coffee or sandwich — we loved this flexibility. The overnight in Tasman, West of Nelson, was the only occasion in our entire February holiday when it rained, but the following sunrise over the sea was awesome!

Day 16: Short Hike at Havelock + Arrive at Campsite in Linkwater

The morning soon brightened up as we drove to Nelson, where we walked around Queen’s Gardens and the town centre. The next stop was Havelock, where one of those brown signs prompted us to climb a short but steep path to be rewarded with fantastic views over the water and hills around. 

When we arrived at our campsite in Linkwater, the owner suggested an evening walk up the nearby stream where we would be richly rewarded with the sight of glow-worms by the water’s edge once darkness had fallen. It was a memorable experience and one which we highly recommend!

Day 17: Picton & Evans Bay Marina area

We had our breakfast on our picnic table in bright sunshine with just the sound of farm animals and the backdrop of the rolling fields and hills behind them – a commonplace event had become so magical! After a final walk through the meadows and feeding of the goats, we set off on our travels once more, this time heading for the ferry terminal at Picton. 

The short drive offered some wonderful views of Linkwater, then towards the Marlborough Sounds. Picton itself was extremely pretty and colonial in feel, yet a dynamic and busy transport hub as two ferry operators and cruise ships berth here. We had time for a small fish lunch before driving onto the ferry for Wellington and the North Island. Described as one of the most idyllic ferry crossings, we spent the whole afternoon on deck marvelling at the views. The only downside was that the Campervan car park in the centre of Wellington had changed the time restrictions meaning that we wouldn’t be able to stay 24 hours and visit Te Papa Museum as planned, so we headed to the Evans Bay Marina area, street parked our self-contained camper to park up in a free, designated space for the night.

Day 18: Head Northwards to Paraparaumu

Regrettably, we decided it would take too long to return to Wellington to visit the museum as it only opens at 10 am, so we hit the road northwards and were soon enjoying a sunny beach walk and coffee stop at Paraparaumu. Our campsite at Mangaweka was probably the most spectacular of the whole trip, with a wonderful pitch on the riverbank enjoying the views of the water and cliffs opposite, as well as the two bridges just downstream.

Day 19: Witness the Stunning Huka Falls

After another of those scenic breakfasts, taking in wonderful surroundings, we departed for one of the best stretches of our journey, taking in the Makatote Viaduct, a remarkable railway bridge over the river and then the volcanic Mount Ruapehu. Once set up at our Taupo campsite, we walked to the spa park where you can swim and luxuriate in thermal pools by the river: what an odd sensation! We followed the path along the river to view the stunning Huka Falls, where the river thunders through rocks, creating spectacular white water. What a day of amazing experiences!

Day 20: Orakei Korako Thermal Area

We left Taupo and headed straight to the nearby Orakei Korako thermal area (recommended as arguably NZ’s most spectacular, though less frequented site). 

Once you arrive, take a small boat across the lake to a steaming landscape of bubbling cauldrons of water, it’s quite unlike any landscape we’ve seen before. Visitors can walk around on duckboards to see the many fissures in the rock through which steam and boiling water escape. The smell of sulphur filled the air, but was not oppressively strong at all, and the well-defined, extensive walks spread over the hillside took us to a thermal cave and intriguingly bubbly mud pools. 

The whole experience at this site was very well organised, not crowded (we were there mid-morning) and is highly recommended! We then headed for our next campsite in Rotorua, one with a lovely, big pool and two jacuzzis, which we made good use of.

Day 21: Drive to the nearby Redwood Forest

This was the only place where we pitched for two nights, so today we didn’t need to pack up! Instead, we drove to the nearby Redwood forest at Whakarewarewa. This national park is extremely well organised, with lots of free parking and good signs clearly detailing the trails of varying length and difficulty. We opted to walk for a couple of hours and were rewarded with a trail through giant redwoods and glimpses of spectacular views over the nearby town and another geothermal site. 

Once back at base, we explored the local beach and then utilised the great campsite BBQ facilities. The local produce, as always, was the star of our feast!

Day 22: Okere Falls

The campsite manager had recommended a stop at nearby Okere Falls, where we were able to climb alongside a river and watch groups daring to take on the white waters in giant rafts. The site also has accessible caves used by Maori during times of war! Back underway, we headed for Tauranga. Before checking in at the site, we parked in town and climbed Mount Maunganui for some of the most spectacular views of the beaches and coast we had experienced. Well worth it! We rewarded ourselves with a delicious ice cream at Gelato’s once back on the promenade (highly recommended!). At our campsite, we swam in their fantastic pool and cooked on their BBQ.

Day 23: Tauranga Beach + Miranda Camping

We departed for our final campsite at Miranda. By now, the land was becoming flatter with noticeably fewer mountains. We had a lovely beach walk at Tauranga and then a longer break at Waikino to visit the ruins of the old gold mines. It was fascinating to find out about the history of this industry and sad to realise how much hardship and suffering there was. 

In the early afternoon, we arrived at the Tasman campsite in Miranda. Their swimming pool was so inviting that we quickly changed for a dip with a difference: it is thermally heated and they have to cool it down! It was like swimming in a very hot bath. That evening we enjoyed a delicious lamb BBQ and our last night in the campervan. We hadn’t been sure how we would take to life on the road, but we loved it and were very sorry that it had come to an end!

Day 24: Magnificent Stay at Central Auckland, NZ

We had an easy drive to Auckland in the morning. We decided to walk around the Botanic Gardens, which were nice but not on par with those in Singapore. 

After a final lunch from fridge leftovers, we headed to the Maui depot at the airport to return our campervan. Once done, we called an Uber and drove to our final hotel, The Rendezvous Heritage in central Auckland. We had booked a superior tower room and were thrilled with its views and size: it was a lovely suite. It felt a bit like when the contestants on “I’m a Celebrity” arrive at their hotel! Moreover, our room had a kitchen with a washing machine and dryer; they even provided powder, so we took advantage and washed and dried all of our clothes; never before have we returned from a holiday with everything freshly laundered. 

We headed to the nearby harbour where the hubbub of city workers, tourists and the chic yachting and sailing set happily ate and drank in myriad establishments. We enjoyed a look around, followed by a delicious pub meal.

Day 25:  Savouring lots of Seafood, Fish, & Steaks

We visited the NZ Maritime Museum in the morning, which we thoroughly enjoyed. For lunch, we walked to the fish market where stalls sell an impressive array of seafood. Then we headed back to the hotel to make the most of their spectacular rooftop pool! That evening was our final one, so we had reserved a table at Tony’s Steak House, one of Auckland’s best-reviewed restaurants. We weren’t disappointed: the staff and the food were outstanding; if passing through Auckland, do arrange a meal there!

Day 26: Stroll Around Auckland Harbour + Transfer to Airport

We walked around Auckland harbour again, where there was a great buzz and much activity both in and on the water. The port is host to a good number of international sailing and other festivals and ferries and sail experiences run daily (in fact, there are lots of things going on all the time).

We also watched an enormous cruise ship docking and were pleased that we had holidayed independently, rather than cooped up on a boat! After a final lunch and swim, it was time for our Uber to the airport. We had opted to fly back in one single journey (with two hours to change planes in Singapore). Although that sounded really daunting, it was far easier in reality. Our hold luggage was automatically transferred to our final aircraft, and the cabin crews were so welcoming and attentive in making passengers comfortable on the flights that we both managed to get some sleep!

Day 27: Return Home in Manchester, England

And so we arrived at 8 am back in Manchester. At least it wasn’t raining! We had a drive of a couple of hours and arrived home 27 hours after leaving the hotel in Auckland! Not bad.

Our tips:

• Our Barclaycard was accepted everywhere in Singapore and NZ although it’s quite common in NZ for a 1 to 3% fee to be charged. Virtually no need for cash.
• There are strict bio controls for everyone entering New Zealand. You may not import most food, so be aware!  Also, you must declare any camping equipment for possible inspection, including walking boots. We cleaned ours in advance, so there was no problem.
• Driving in NZ is on the left. The roads are in very good condition (much better than in the UK!) and the signage is excellent, especially where roads twist and a maximum speed is stated for safety! There is very little traffic except in city centres and when in the countryside vehicles often pull over to allow others to pass. Parking was usually easy to find and usually free and often you will find extra long spaces provided for campervans.
• When driving around NZ there are lots of brown road signs to places of interest. They are worth following, as we came across some superb viewpoints!
• Free camping is permitted in certain places and there is usually clear signage allowing/forbidding it. Do check the Maui “thl Roadtrip” app for full details.
• We self-booked the campsites we stayed on. They were all excellent, with very clean facilities, including good, hot showers, kitchens, free gas BBQ’s, washing facilities and sometimes a swimming pool. Most have a “dump station” to empty your self-contained campervan toilet and the grey water shower\sink and kitchen sink wastes as well as a hose top up the on-board water.
• We had decided not to do a similar holiday in Australia due to the prevalence of bugs/insects/snakes etc! New Zealand doesn’t suffer from the same wildlife problem; indeed, we only once encountered sandflies once and otherwise we were bug-free!
• If hiring a campervan do invest in durable\collapsible hold luggage which can be squeezed into tight spaces; rigid suitcases are not practical!
• When booking a campsite make it clear if you want a powered pitch where you can hook up to the mains (needed at least every other day to ensure battery charge, note that some in-van services e.g., video monitor, might not function unless plugged into a charger!), we also made sure to book hard-surface, gravelled or  grass sites and that these were all levelled for sleeping comfort.
• Many of the hotel rooms we stayed in had a small kitchen area with fridge and cooking facilities, some also provided a washing machine, powder and even a drier. We found it easy and convenient to keep on top of our washing and would pack far less next time!
• We travelled in February and had virtually no rain at all. Indeed, most days were warm (up to about 26°C) and sunny on both South and North Islands.
• When planning our travel itinerary, campervan living and overnight stays, the following sources of information were invaluable alongside seeking recent reviews posted online and webpages:

1. Maui campervan app called “thl Road Trip”: this is a brilliant help, giving campervan site locations, facilities, recent reviews of facilities and booking links as well as “How to” videos on camper life; there is also a great interactive map that shows all diesel, petrol, camper gas and “dump station” service locations for emptying campervan wastes and water refill (note that when opening the map on this site whilst still in the UK you will have to “drag” it over the world map to New Zealand to show the facilities and services there).
2. Facebook – New Zealand Travel Tips group (NZTT): a fascinating, informative site full of practical advice, reviews, suggestions and up to date information, excellently and knowledgeably administered with discounts negotiated at certain places. Notably, a particularly useful “search” function reveals all recent info. and posts on any topic.  (Other NZ fb sites can be good but paled in comparison, I know…..I visited so many!)
3. Tripadvisor – recent reviews of eating establishments.
4. Lonely Planet guide book – Best road trips New Zealand (Aotearoa)
5. NZ Tourism website
6. National Geographic New Zealand Adventure travel map – waterproof and tear resistant (it certainly was!)
7. The AA route planner webpage – a really handy way to calculate distances between stops and probable travel times, just enter start point (select the NZ location) and end point and the programme does all the hard work! Up to date information on roadworks and closures was helpful during the holiday.

List of Hotels, Self-Catering accommodation and campsites booked in Singapore and New Zealand:

Singapore Hotel

New Zealand Hotels and self-catering accommodation:

Campervan sites:

Summary

Once-in-a-lifetime Experience

This really was the holiday of a lifetime. We hope this blog will inspire and give you the confidence to just do it! We greatly enjoyed the independence and freedom of the itinerary, with the reassurance that Luxtripper (and their NZ partners) were on call to help/support us in case of emergency (thankfully, not needed!). It was also very pleasing that we were welcomed everywhere we arrived and checked in! 

Smooth Transfers

A few days’ stopover in Singapore and R&R on our first stop (Queenstown for us, but you could do the trip the other way round) are highly recommended. The hire car in NZ gave us confidence driving around and linked nicely to the train journey. We weren’t sure how we would take to the motorhome, but we absolutely loved it.

Freedom of Travel

The freedom to stop anywhere for a coffee or sandwich was wonderful, particularly in a country so full of dramatic views. We’re pleased we booked a top-of-the-range Maui vehicle and package, which gave us fully comprehensive insurance (without excess), a new vehicle with many extras. We were extremely impressed with the campsites (we chose and booked those in advance, having plotted our journey). The facilities were clean, modern and plentiful everywhere. They all provided great cooking/BBQ/wash-up facilities too. Self-catering was very easy, with such fresh and tasty produce available in every town. We always stocked up on fruit, veg and meat. There are also lots of places for takeaway snacks (the NZ folk love pastries, pies, sandwiches, fish and chips!). 

Excellent Sightseeing

Our highlights were many in number, because our experiences were so varied. Driving the length of a country, especially one as beautiful as New Zealand, offers you a stunning view around the corner all the time: of a lake, a mountain, a volcano, a glacier…. The helicopter flight and landing on the Franz Josef Glacier were very special, as were the TranzAlpine train journey and inter-island ferry. 

New Zealand really is a very special country. Many thanks to Luxtripper for making our dreams come true!