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1. Early Morning at Kiwi Park
A strange sound woke us up early in the morning.
We had every intention of sleeping in, but the noise just wouldn’t stop.
So instead of relying on an alarm, we ended up having a surprisingly refreshing start to the day.
The reason we were moving so quickly in the morning?
One word: discounts 😂
We were heading to Kiwi Park to take advantage of the early-bird admission.
Nothing motivates travelers quite like saving a few dollars.
This was also the day we had to return our rental car, so we planned to make the most of every minute before handing it back.
2. Meeting New Zealand’s National Bird: The Kiwi
The kiwi is New Zealand’s national bird and one of the country’s most iconic animals.
Because it’s an endangered species, spotting one in the wild is incredibly rare.
Visitors can only see them during designated viewing times, so we joined the first session of the day and spent about 20 minutes watching them.
https://kiwibird.co.nz/Kiwis are surprisingly small and adorable.
They’re related to giant flightless birds that once lived in this part of the world, yet somehow ended up looking like fluffy little creatures with long beaks.
Since kiwis have very poor eyesight and are sensitive to light, they’re kept in a dark enclosure that feels almost like a blackout room.
Photography isn’t allowed, so we had no choice but to enjoy the moment with our own eyes.
Honestly, that made the experience feel even more special.
They were awkward, funny, and incredibly cute.
One thing that surprised me was their weight.
Despite looking much smaller, a kiwi actually weighs about three times more than the blue penguins we saw in Dunedin.
If a kiwi and a penguin ever got into a fight, I think the kiwi might actually win 😂
After seeing the kiwis, we explored the rest of the park.
The other animals were nice to see, but after meeting New Zealand’s most famous bird, everything else felt like a bonus.
There was supposedly a gecko hiding somewhere too, but after searching for over ten minutes and finding absolutely nothing, I gave up.
3. Returning the Rental Car and Enjoying Korean Food
Next stop: Queenstown Airport.
It was finally time to return our rental car and switch to public transportation.
Before leaving, we bought a Bee Card for the local buses.
One thing I really appreciated about New Zealand was how relaxed and friendly everyone seemed.
You can buy a Bee Card directly on the bus, and nobody gets impatient while you’re sorting things out.
The drivers are kind, the locals are patient, and the atmosphere is surprisingly stress-free.
Even better, one card can be shared between two people, which helped us save a little money.
After returning the car, we headed straight for something we’d been craving for days.
Korean food.
We visited Doorae Korean Restaurant and ordered kimchi stew and spicy stir-fried pork.
Everything tasted incredible.
In fact, it was so good that we barely took any photos before finishing our meal.
We even considered ordering another bowl of rice until we saw the price.
Five dollars for a bowl of rice suddenly made us reconsider 😂
4. Souvenir Shopping and Cookie Time
After lunch, we walked to Pak’nSave to buy gifts for friends and family.
Without a car, everything felt a little more difficult.
But after spending our honeymoon hiking trails, walking beaches, and climbing sand dunes, we felt much fitter than when we first arrived.
We picked up chocolates, snacks, wine, flat peaches, and a few things for dinner.
Looking back, one of my favorite supermarket finds was a bag of dried fruit that tasted like a mix between apricot and peach.
I still wish I knew exactly what it was because I’d buy it again in a heartbeat.
Later, we wandered through Queenstown looking for souvenirs.
To be honest, New Zealand isn’t really a shopping destination.
There aren’t many luxury brands or fashion stores that stand out.
Most of the souvenirs seemed to be honey, plush toys, and sheep-themed gifts.
Eventually, we stumbled across something much more exciting.
Cookie Time.
There was a promotion running that evening: buy one cookie and get another free.
Naturally, we couldn’t resist.
The store was packed, and after trying the cookies, it was easy to see why.
They were crispy on the outside, filled with unique creams on the inside, and dangerously addictive.
We even ordered a cookie-and-ice-cream sandwich.
Later, when I looked through my wife’s camera roll, I discovered an entire photoshoot dedicated to that sandwich 😂
5. A Relaxing Evening Before Skydiving
As the evening settled in, we spent some time walking along the waterfront.
People sat by the lake, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
It felt very different from life back home, where work often fills every spare moment.
One of the things I loved most about New Zealand was how easy it was to slow down and simply enjoy the present.
The scenery certainly helped.
But sharing it all with my wife made it even more meaningful.
Back at our accommodation, we cooked a simple but satisfying dinner using the groceries we’d bought earlier.
Steak, fried rice, wine, and an incredible view outside the window.
Honestly, that’s hard to beat.
Even at 8 or 9 PM, the scenery outside still looked stunning.
We finished the evening with flat peaches, a cold beer, and some quiet conversation.
Tomorrow would be one of the most exciting days of the entire trip.
Skydiving Day.
So we called it a night and got some rest for the adventure ahead. 🪂✨🇳🇿❤️