Live Your Best Lives
I really like Tourism New Zealand's slogan: "100% Pure New Zealand." It's so accurate. Throughout my trip to New Zealand's North and South Islands, I felt a sense of pure purity.
New Zealand is located in the Southern Hemisphere, so its seasons are opposite to ours in the Northern Hemisphere. Autumn generally begins in April. Mid to late April is very suitable for photography.
New Zealand is located in the Southern Hemisphere, so its seasons are exactly the opposite of ours in the Northern Hemisphere.
Autumn generally begins in April, reaching its peak in late April, making it a perfect time for photography. July and August usher in winter, and the snowy scenery is also captivating, making it a great destination for skiers. November marks the season of spring blossoms, with the lupine flowers of the South Island being particularly stunning and romantic.
New Zealand is mainly composed of two large islands, the North and South Islands, as well as Stewart Island near the south and some small islands nearby. There is a very famous strait between the two islands: Cook Strait.
The following five aspects mainly share the pre-trip strategy of New Zealand. It is recommended to save it~
Here's a quick itinerary overview:
D1: Meet at Shanghai Pudong International Airport
D2: Shanghai to Auckland (MU779, 00:15-15:45)
D3: Auckland - Waitomo Glowworm Caves - Hobbiton Village - Rotorua
Day 4: Rotorua - Champagne Pools - Auckland - Christchurch (flight NZ559, 17:00-18:25)
D5: Christchurch - Lake Tekapo
D6: Lake Tekapo - Lake Pukaki - Wanaka Town
D7: Wanaka Town - Queenstown
D8: Full day free time in Queenstown
D9: Queenstown - Arrowtown - Glenorchy - Queenstown
D10: Queenstown - Dunedin - Oamaru
D11: Oamaru - Christchurch - Auckland (flight JQ236, 13:55-15:15) - Shanghai (flight MU780, 21:00-5:55 (+1))
D12: Disband at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (landing at 5:55 AM)
Temperature: The average temperature in New Zealand in April is around 9-15℃, which is equivalent to late autumn here. In terms of clothing, you should mainly wear spring and autumn clothes, and bring warm clothes such as jackets, fleece jackets, and light down jackets.
Time difference: New Zealand time is 4 hours ahead of Beijing time, and 5 hours ahead during daylight saving time (usually from the last Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April). For example, if it is 12:00 noon Beijing time during daylight saving time, it is 5:00 pm New Zealand time.
Language: The official languages are English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language. Most residents can speak English. The official language of New Zealand is English.
Currency: New Zealand Dollar (NZD). Current denominations include 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 NZD notes, as well as 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 cents, and 1 and 2 NZD coins. One NZD is equivalent to 4.32 RMB. It's recommended to carry around 500 NZD in cash, not more. (You can exchange NZD in advance at the Bank of China.)
Credit cards: You can pay by credit card almost everywhere in New Zealand, but some hotels, restaurants and taxis will charge an additional fee when paying with a credit card. VISA and MasterCard are the main accepted cards in New Zealand.
Internet: Local hotels generally provide Wi-Fi and other Internet facilities, while a few hotels only provide paid Internet services.
Telephone: You can directly search for "New Zealand phone card" on the Internet and purchase a phone card with good sales in advance. There are data cards and those that include calls. You can purchase as needed.
Electricity: Local outlets are 8-shaped, 240V, 50Hz. (Chinese three-prong plugs can be used directly, so you can bring a three-prong plug strip and no need for a converter.)
Camera body: SLR or mirrorless camera body is preferred, brand and model are not limited.
Lens: Medium-telephoto lenses and wide-angle lenses were used frequently during this trip.
Medium-to-long focal length lenses are often used when shooting lake scenes and snow-capped mountains. It is recommended to carry lenses with similar focal lengths such as 70-200mm and 100-400mm.
A wide-angle lens can capture impactful landscapes and is also essential for slow-motion photography of starry skies, flowing water, and other scenes. It's recommended to bring a large-aperture wide-angle lens with a similar focal length, such as a 14-24mm or 16-35mm lens.
Filters: A polarizing filter can effectively reduce reflections from glass and water. A neutral density filter is essential for daytime slow shutter speed photography. I recommend an ND64 filter that matches the aperture of your wide-angle lens. Any brand is recommended.
Tripod & shutter release cable: a must-have for shooting starry sky, night scene, flowing water, etc., and also an essential tool for shooting various synthetic techniques.
Storage media: This trip will definitely fill up your memory card, so it's recommended to bring at least 256GB of storage capacity. The recommended storage capacity for a single card is between 64GB and 128GB.
Drone: If recommended, bring it. You can fly it in many places in New Zealand (except in major cities and some scenic spots where the use of drones is expressly prohibited). You don’t need too many spare batteries, 2-3 will be enough. If you have more, it will be more troublesome to pass security checks.
Valid ID: ID card, original passport valid for at least 6 months from the end of your trip, international credit card, cash, etc. (It is recommended to scan or take a photo of important documents and upload them to your email for future reference).
Clothing: April in New Zealand is colder than in China, with shorter daylight hours. Dress primarily for spring and autumn, and bring warm clothing such as a windbreaker, fleece jacket, or lightweight down jacket. Also recommended are a hat, sunglasses, and a mask. If you have ample luggage space, bring an extra pair of shoes.
Toiletries: Due to local customs and environmental concerns, New Zealand hotels do not provide disposable items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, and slippers. Please bring your own. Some New Zealand hotels do not have kettles; hot water can be filled at the restaurant bar. Hair dryers are not provided in every hotel; ladies are advised to bring their own.
Essential Medicines: New Zealand's customs inspections are stricter than those in other countries. The following items are prohibited upon entry: any dry food, fruit, tea, nuts, and other food items, as well as outdoor camping supplies like hiking poles and sleeping bags. Also, limit your baggage to 50 cigarettes. If you need to bring daily medications, please include the English instructions (you can take a photo of them using Youdao Dictionary, translate them, and then print them out). It's recommended to only bring essential medications for chronic illnesses. Other daily medications, such as cold medicine, anti-inflammatory drugs, fever reducers, and gastrointestinal medications, are readily available at local supermarkets in New Zealand.
Electronic equipment: mobile phones, headphones, mobile power supplies, cameras, lenses, light sources, conversion sockets, wiring boards, laptops, mobile hard drives, data cables, memory cards, chargers, etc. (Bring your own as needed)
Recommended apps: China-TravelNote, NetEase Youdao Dictionary, Google Maps, Minimalist Exchange Rate, and Yahoo Weather.
Other suggestions: gel pen, thermos cup, toiletries, skin care products, sunscreen, rain gear, eye mask, earplugs, U-shaped pillow, airline slippers, mask, tissue, hand sanitizer, plastic bags, etc. (bring your own as needed)
I've made a simple translation for your reference. Generally, you'll be given your ID card after boarding. If you make a mistake filling it out, it's okay; you can always request another one or pick it up after landing.
Our flight landed in Auckland in the afternoon, so it was daytime there. As the plane slowly descended, we could see the coastline of New Zealand's North Island through the window.
Our photography trip took us across New Zealand's North and South Islands, starting with the North Island. We selected three key locations on the North Island: the Waitomo Glowworm Caves, the Hobbit Village, and the Wai-O-Tapu Geothermal Park.
The first place we visited was the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. This is the blue glowworm larvae. Unlike the common glowworms we see, they prefer to live on stalactites in caves. Like spiders, they spin silk, using their own light to attract other insects, which they then reel in to feed on. The brighter the glow, the hungrier it is.
The China-TravelNote photography group applied for a filming permit. These photos were all taken by me in the cave this year. The shooting method is somewhat similar to photographing the starry sky, which requires a long exposure.
Those who have seen "The Lord of the Rings" must be familiar with it. The filming location of "The Shire" has a very rich variety of small scenes, which is suitable for checking in and taking photos.
Smoke is rising from every corner of the park at all times. The most distinctive one is the hot spring called "Champagne Pool", which is 65 meters wide and has a very bright orange circle on the edge.
Let’s experience the magic of this geothermal park through a short video.
After a day and a half of exploring the North Island, we headed to the South Island, officially beginning our autumn photography tour of New Zealand. Most of New Zealand's natural scenery and autumn colors are concentrated in the South Island, where, due to its higher latitude, the autumn colors are more vibrant.
First arriving in the South Island, we headed to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens to capture the autumn colors. The park was quiet in the morning, with the occasional local jog or child stroll.
Leaving Christchurch, we headed straight for Lake Tekapo. This glacially-dammed lake is one of the world's best stargazing spots and the largest dark sky reserve. We were also very lucky to witness a rainbow sunset over Lake Tekapo.
Located right on the shores of Lake Tekapo, it's a great spot for stargazing. When we first arrived at Lake Tekapo, the sky was overcast and dark, but at sunset, a sun shower appeared, and a rainbow appeared, right above the Good Shepherd.
The scenery along the way was breathtaking, and I truly felt the "100% pure New Zealand" slogan lived up to its reputation. Of course, after I shared these photos on my social media, many people joked that I was in Xinjiang. Indeed, it did resemble Xinjiang, and Xinjiang's natural scenery, needless to say, is truly world-class.
The most famous thing about Lake Wanaka is the Wanaka tree, which is known as the "lonely tree". Actually, I don't feel lonely at all. Every day, tourists come to take pictures around it.
This is a paradise for extreme sports, and the scenery is also very charming. This photo was taken when we took the Skyline Gondola to the top of the mountain, where you can take a bird's-eye view of the entire Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.
What impressed me most about Queenstown was the burger, which was the best burger I have ever had. It is worthy of being called "the most delicious burger on the planet".
This gold rush town is charming in autumn. We were lucky enough to catch the annual Arrowtown Golden Autumn Festival. There were cultural performances, a classic car parade, and more, making it a lively occasion.
The people who come to participate in the Arrowtown Golden Autumn Festival Classic Car Show are all old men and women, and their elegance will never go out of style.
A small town on the way from Queenstown to the West Coast, it served as the filming location for the movie "Only Yun Knows." The town is adjacent to a dam, so weather permitting, morning mist is commonplace every day. This drone shot was taken.
When filming the movie "Only Yun Knows," the crew rented an entire restaurant in the area. It was named "YUN'S CHOPSTICKS" in the movie, and we found the restaurant, but it's barely visible anymore.
The Moeraki Boulders, located on New Zealand's east coast, are the final photography location on this itinerary. The formation of these circular boulders remains a mystery. High tide at sunset creates a large splash, perfect for capturing slow-motion shots with a shimmering or foggy effect.
Finally, let’s end with a group photo of our photography group. The mountains remain green, the water flows on, and we’ll see you again!
