New Zealand Home Page
About My Trip to New Zealand
My New Zealand trip was wild! Flying in from Melbourne, things went smoothly until customs in Queenstown. Even though I declared everything, they pulled me aside for a bag search – apparently my stuff looked suspicious! An hour later, they finally waved me through.
Luckily, the Hilton Resort and Spa in Queenstown made up for the customs hassle. They upgraded my room to a room with a fireplace – perfect for relaxing after that crazy customs thing. The balcony overlooking Lake Wakatipu was amazing, and I loved starting my mornings with that view. I even got some exercise walking for miles on the path along the shoreline. Getting around was easy with the water taxi that stopped right at the hotel.
Queenstown itself was a blast. The gondola rides at Skyline Queenstown were incredible, and I found the perfect souvenirs in the gift shops. Downtown shopping was fun too – I scored a sweet rugby jersey and a unique jade kiwi! Dinner at Flame Bar and Grill was so good, I had to go back for a second round.
Next stop was Auckland, where I stayed at the Sky City Hotel. Right next to the Sky Tower, it was super convenient. My room was comfy, with a big shower and a desk to catch up on some work. The Sky Tower wasn’t included, but the views from the observation deck were worth the splurge – I could see the whole city!
Overall, New Zealand was a perfect mix of relaxation, sightseeing, and delicious food. Definitely a trip I won’t forget!
New Zealand Pages by Map
New Zealand
Disclaimer: Buzzin’ Around the World strives to provide accurate and up-to-date information based on our research at the time of publication. We respect all applicable laws and fair use principles. If you believe any information is incorrect or violates regulations, please contact us at buzzinaroundtheworld@gmail.com.
Affiliate Links and Reviews: We use affiliate links to generate income and may receive a commission at no additional cost to you when you use our links. We strive for honest and transparent reviews, even for products which we receive compensation.
Content Creation: Our content is based on our own travel experiences. All photos are our own unless otherwise stated. We sometimes utilize AI tools to assist with tasks like generating titles, summarizing content, and improving organization.
For more information: For more information, please click HERE to visit our private policy page. We can be reached at buzzinaroundtheworld@gmail.com.
Queenstown
I stayed at the Hilton Resort and Spa in Queenstown, New Zealand. My room got upgraded from a DoubleTree room to a Hilton room because I have Hilton Gold Status. The room had a fireplace, a workspace, a couch, a chair, two televisions, a bathroom with a rainfall shower, two sinks, and an oversized bathtub. It also had a balcony overlooking the Franklin Arm of Lake Wakatipu.
There was a great walking path that followed the shoreline of the Franklin Arm. I walked quite a few kilometers on the path. To get to the city center of Queenstown, there was a water taxi that stopped right at the hotel.
The hotel offered a variety of restaurants including the Me and Mee Chinese Restaurant, which was my favorite.
I flew into Queenstown from Melbourne, Australia on Air New Zealand. The flight was uneventful. Upon arrival in Queenstown, I went through customs and was questioned about my belongings. Even though I had declared everything, I was pulled aside for further inspection. My luggage was searched because the agent thought I was smuggling items. After an hour, I was cleared to enter New Zealand.
My hotel was the Hilton Resort and Spa. It was located 15 kilometers from downtown Queenstown. The easiest way to get around was by water taxi.
One of my favorite places to visit was Skyline Queenstown. It offered gondola rides, restaurants, and gift shops. The views from the gondola were amazing. Another fun activity was shopping downtown. I bought a rugby jersey and a kiwi made out of jade.
For dinner, I went to Flame Bar and Grill. It was so good that I ate there twice! Overall, Queenstown was a beautiful and exciting place to visit.
Auckland
After spending a few days in Queenstown, I flew to Auckland where I stayed at the Sky City Hotel. It was right next to the Sky Tower, which was super convenient. My room was a premium king, and it had a comfy bed, a desk to work at, and a big shower.
The Sky Tower wasn’t part of the hotel deal, which was a bit of a bummer, but the views from the observation deck were amazing. I could see the whole city! If you’re new to Auckland, I definitely recommend going up the Sky Tower.
Overall, I had a good stay at the Sky City Hotel.