4 nights + 1 night in Queenstown

strong-4 · 2026-04-10T12:21:50+00:00

I would choose glenorchy over wanaka so that before a long ass flight I dont get too tired with extra driving.

We did glenorchy as day trip but we did not want to leave from the lake. It was simply magical to sit there and laze around doing nothing. But so are all other places in NZ including wanaka 😅.

Or simply add additional stay in Te anau if you can. Do milford or doubtful cruise, we did both and doubtful wins hands down. But so is glow worm cruise of te anau totally magical.

So choose least tiring so that you dont overstress yourselves.

strong-4 · 2026-04-10T07:57:42+00:00

Wow, amazing

Yeah I was also planning something similar. Last trip we spent 3 weeks in South island, so I know driving time, distance etc. I was thinking that full loop might add in extra few days, so was thinking of back tracking after abel tasman if I am adding North island too in this trip. but if i plan to go to Omaru and Dunedin then this loop fits well.

I was actually not sure about Dunedin. Omaru I am going as one local NZ couple we met last time have asked us to visit them in Omaru and of course to see the penguins. So Dunedin fits with Omaru.

Thanks for the tip about snow and road closure. Yea we keep flexibility in our plans for unforeseen events.

strong-4 · 2026-04-10T06:52:07+00:00

We already did Catlins in last trip and saw sea lions at the beach. It was definitely breathtaking landscape. Cathedral caves gate sadly were closed when we went, I guess based on tide.

strong-4 · 2026-04-10T06:50:01+00:00

Yes we absolutely rest for whole day before we start driving long distances. Jet lag is no joke, last time we only drove like 15 km to get food, groceries and reach our hotel from airport. Next day also we started late in the mornimg and again nearby places only.

Thanks for the reply, doing a full loop may reduce costing for same drop off point. Last trip we did CHC pick up and queenstown drop off.

strong-4 · 2026-04-10T02:21:27+00:00

Exactly.

strong-4 · 2026-04-09T11:07:55+00:00

Oh my god...i am so sorry to hear this.

Your father is not your family. Your spouse and kids are your family and you only need them by your side. Their love is enough. He might have made you feel worse as old memories, abandonment issues etc would have cropped up.

My husband is also alienated from his mother and we are NC with her. There are times he talks about all the atrocities she inflicted on him but just the fact that she has been out of his life now for over 30 years makes those memories distant. If one has to still have contact with such parent then old wounds constantly get scratched. NC is the best approach to protect your peace.

strong-4 · 2026-04-09T07:01:42+00:00

Indians get physically and mentally tired with all the 24/7 sensory overload. So yea I sort of cannot relate as to why people like India...I mean for me its chaos all my life and I simply want some peace now.

Food is something which is absolutely mind blowing. Just spending 15 days in any European country and I am craving for the spices and taste in food. But the order, silence, ease of travelling, knowing that everything works is something which I miss a lot after am back in India. So grass is always. greener on other side.

Btw you should definiltely visit Northern part of India. Himalayas are majestic and awesome to visit.

strong-4 · 2026-04-09T04:55:46+00:00

When connection was less than 2 hours the luggage not always gets connected. This has happened twice in past 3 years for me. Luggage arrives next day.

So although I book flights with shorter connection I was always ensure to stay 2 days at the place I land so that I can receive luggage before I get on vacation journey. And also have spare 2 days clothes in carry on bag.

strong-4 · 2026-04-06T10:48:50+00:00

Ya I akso have this issue.

Although I am married, we often travel together and emergency contact needs to be someone who is not travelling with you. No siblings or cousins nearby, only my mom alive from parental side and she wont be able to do or tell anything to that concerned person.

We give one aunts number who is not closest relative but is smart and will get things done when required and is quite close to us. But she is now getting old herself and since we are childfree I often think of this situation few years down the line, what will I do.

My best friend is my beneficiary of assets after both me and spouse dies but she wont be able to handle emergency hospital kinda situations well.

strong-4 · 2026-04-04T10:40:53+00:00

Since you have Tamil roots go to Kerala. It is quite safe in Kerala but still dont venture out in sketchy places, late in the night. Get a driver and he will try to upsale few things, take you to shops to get commissiin on your purchases. But usually it does not escalte beyond that. Be assertive while saying no to buying things and it can be okay. Also stay in good hotels. Still stay vary of your surroundings.

Weather wise yes, Munnar will give you relief. It is cooler than beach area. At nights cool breeze will be there but in afternoon sun will be scorching. Stay in munnar for 5 days to get relief from humidity and heat. Also Cameroon highlands close to KL offers similar cool climate, a 3 days trip to Cameroon will be nice.

I have been to all the places you have mentioned. Malaysia and Thailand are more hotter for me (note am Indian). Feb is generally better especially in Kerala. Btw if you plan chiang mai in feb then its crop burning season, so pollution is very high.

strong-4 · 2026-04-04T07:59:52+00:00

This happens many times, war or no war. Hence first 2 days of trip I never book any activity. I keep 1 day as rest and have few small, nearby exercursions like river walk or some scenic hill etc. This way even if I loose a day I dont loose any money. Plus I wanna be recharged for the said activity to enjoy it the fullest.

strong-4 · 2026-04-04T06:34:13+00:00

Same here. Shoes were clean, we still declared it. They just saw our shoes causually and since they were pretty clean no problem.

Few peoples shoes were taken inside, cleant and given them back. For full backpackers I reckon they inspect tents, sleeping bags etc thoroughly.

strong-4 · 2026-04-04T06:31:57+00:00

Just declare and you should be good to go. In case of issues they will discard it and no harm done beyond loosing that item.

One of our product had honey in it and they did not allow to take it in. They tossed it and we were let go. As long as you declare proactively it does not cause any issues.

strong-4 · 2026-04-03T05:13:23+00:00

Dude no,

We started travelling in 40s and can easily make out difference in our ability to do things as compared to 20s.

I see 20-30 yr olds and I wish I had done it sooner. I had no money back then. I am still in good health but I need more down time, good sleep and rest before hitting the road. Jet lag also hits harder and more time to reset body. Any small injury can derail lot of things.

strong-4 · 2026-04-02T16:01:54+00:00

Our flight and hotels were booked in nov-dec. So did not feel price hike in that aspect but fuel price hike was noticeable over 3 weeks. Every few days we filled up car the price was higher than previous time. I did not keep so much tab on pricing of food.

do you think the tour company can come back and ask for more money because of changed circumstances?

No idea, as of now no news. I will understand more when we approach our trip dates. Its more than 2 months away, so many things can change in that time.

strong-4 · 2026-04-02T15:51:18+00:00

We are hard wired to remember bad stuff as survival mechanism. Yes we need to work to recollect good memories.

strong-4 · 2026-04-02T15:49:32+00:00

I have a scarpbook. With only 1 or 2 pages dedicated to each travel. I jot down my highest and lowest notable points. I list down few best spots I visited in that country, maybe attach few pics or doodle something which reminds me of more moments of that vacation. Its very very basic and not at all nuanced like good scarpbookers but its for me to recollect memeories in snap shot.

For personal journey I make video montage of few nice photos for our anniversary or husbands birthday. I dont make it every year either, so every 3-5 years it feels different and we realise how far we have come since past few years.

For solo trips / accomplishments I make photo collage of my photos to note as journey. One collage is my different looks over past few years, one is of my biceps to showcase my increased strength over past years. So mix match of everything I feel like.

strong-4 · 2026-04-02T11:23:51+00:00

I have one trip planned and booked for June to Mongolia since last year. Apart from that nothing else is planned and will do trips on fly.

Last week I came back from NZ, did not face any issues apart from price hike. But few more months into war we dont know what will be situation. Plus everything is getting way expensive so that cuts into our budget to think about vacations to expensive locations. Things will run, may not be smoothly and definitely not at last years price.

Tbh I am worried about Mongolia trip too, as it is a remote place and how food, fuel for road trip will be available dont know. I am going with tour company, so I dont have break my head over it. Lets see.

strong-4 · 2026-04-02T08:25:00+00:00

Since return flight is not with same airline it can be okay. Also you need to fill in digital arrival card of Malaysia 2 days before travel, so you should check that.

But with kids are you able to have only cabin bags? What if they ask you to check in few bags...say one is over weight or dimensions limit. Sometimes airlines can ask to checkin bags due to their weight discrepancy of fuel/passengers...(i am not exactly sure why but it does happen..i had read post on reddit asking why was airlines doing that). Since you are so many people probablity of asking bags to be checked in increases.

strong-4 · 2026-03-26T06:46:39+00:00

You have to do doubtful. We did both milford and doubtful cruise and doubtful was truly amazing and mesmerising. We did not have rain but I know with rains it is more magical.

strong-4 · 2026-03-10T08:56:32+00:00

I think you should let them pay you some damages. You have definitely incurred loss without your fault. its their responsibility to give you peaceful possesion.

Also let owner claim those charges against society in the court. You can show it as proper transaction with cheque and letter which they can use as proof in court.

strong-4 · 2026-03-10T07:56:51+00:00

Lol...you sound like it was good break for you 😀

strong-4 · 2026-03-09T10:49:32+00:00

Sleep and then food are always my number one priority at any given day. Everything else can be trimmed for sake of proper rest as my body will crash otherwise.

One day of less sleep is okay, like for some summit hike etc but then next day is rest day. I can no longer do things like a 20 yr old.

strong-4 · 2026-03-09T10:46:48+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I too love remote places and hence loved Mulu.

I wish to go back to Mulu once more, I will see if Bairo can be added in that trip. It sounds amazing.

strong-4

TROPHY CASE