Day 1 (19 October 2026)
This was a very special holiday a long time in the making. The six of us - my sister Mona and her hubby HM, my dotter Lesley-Anne and her hubby Joel, my son Andre and I, had been planning a road trip in New Zealand's south island since March, and it felt the day would never come.
But the day finally rolled around and it was very much welcomed, especially as Singapore was hit by the haze. Blue skies, here we come!
We had to catch a connecting flight at Auckland airport and only had about 1.5 hours to make the transfer. We did not account for the mad rush - first, we had to collect our luggage, then it was a long walk from the international to the domestic terminal, then we had to clear immigration again. The wayfinding signs at the domestic terminal were unclear, to put it mildly, which resulted in a lot of running and heavy breathing.We honestly thought we wouldn't make it - stuck in the immigration queue hearing the last call for our flight over the loudspeaker, my children were already discussing contingency plans. And yet, somehow, with many prayers and even more running, we made it! 15 mins before takeoff and just as they were about to close the gate. Much too early in the trip (and in the day) for such drama, methinks 😅
Anyway, we made it to Christchurch! We landed in Christchurch when they were having a heatwave but for Singaporeans, 21 degrees celcius is heavenly.
First order of business, collect the car. We rented a Staria which is an MPV that comfortably seats six and can pack in six large suitcases. It also comes with large windows, perfect for looking out. The drivers on this trip are HM and Andre, whose pretty excited at a chance to drive.
Mountains!
Rivers!
Sorry, I'm very excited.
We checked into Drifters Inn which is a basic motel. From the last time I was in New Zealand in 2011, I found the motels to be affordable and very clean. That has not changed. Perhaps it's my experience with hotels in Europe, but this was far nicer than anything we stayed at in Italy and at a fraction of the price. In NZ, all the motels give milk and hot chocolate!
The air was crisp, the streets were clean and lined with green all around.
What instantly struck us was that it was so quiet. It's an unfamiliar sensation, coming from a country where we're assaulted by noise all around. We almost felt the need to whisper, so as not to break the peace. A loud voice felt jarring, as if it doesn't belong.
What was heard instead was birdsong. The most common birds we saw here are the blackbird, robin, thrush, sparrow. And I don't think it's my imagination but even the birds seem happier here. Unlike the birds at home which sometimes feel like they're constantly on alert and in scavenging mode, the ones here sing like they're just content to be alive. And why wouldn't they be? They live in a little slice of heaven.
After the walk, we headed out for dinner at Tease Robo Cafe.
It's an odd name for an eatery, probably because there's a robot waiter. But let me tell you, the name does not do justice to food which was sublime. We ordered a variety of mains to share and we did not know it then, but this was the best lamb we would have on the trip. It was cooked perfectly and so good that we ordered another portion.
After that, it was a quick trip to the supermarket before heading back to the motel. Just for laughs, we were tickled to find there's actually a brand of chips called Changi! Ode to the four of us who have either worked at Changi Airport or still are 😁
