The fun part about Queenstown is that it’s so close to many exciting activities that cater to all ages and adventure level. On our fourth day, the heavens finally granted us a perfect, cool and sunny day which meant we’re finally heading to Dart River Valley! (Yay!)

We left Queenstown at 7:50 AM through a scenic drive going to Glenorchy. The view was spectacular, for the ray of sunlight emphasized the snow sprinkled mountain peaks and the flourishing greens that stand out against the dark water of Lake Wakatipu. After the 45-minute drive to Dart River Adventures base in Glenorchy, we put on our rain coat and life vest for our high-speed jet boating tour.

I just came back from my 9-day trip in New Zealand and it was awesome! Though this vacation was short, this was the longest trip I had this year. It was a battle between going back to Europe for the fourth time or going Oceania for something different. We took the latter option and New Zealand didn’t disappoint. For friends and family asking if I was in NZ for #TheWanForAnne, no I wasn’t there for Erwan Heussaff and Anne Curtis’ wedding (how I wish! Lol).

Enjoying the sun and the view of Lake Wakatipu and snow-capped peaks in Queenstown, New Zealand

Kidding aside, going to New Zealand was a long journey. It took us three plane rides (Manila – Bangkok – Auckland – Queenstown) and more than 24 hours of travel time to finally get to Queenstown. We left Manila at 1:00 PM on November 2 and arrived in Queenstown at 7:40 PM on November 3. The sun was just about to set when we landed and it was one of the most beautiful airport locations I’ve been to, probably one of the best in the world. Queenstown Airport is surrounded by vast, snow-capped mountain ranges all year round. Yes, it was spring when we arrived, but the weather was full-on winter!

New Zealand is known for its nature attractions and preserved natural resources so if you’re the outdoor type of person, this country is your perfect haven. Lush greens and forests, towering peaks, gushing waterfalls, and still lakes – there’s always a nature trip endeavor for every adventure-seeker.