🇳🇿 New Zealand 8D7N Winter Itinerary

🗓️ June 13-20, 2025 ❄️ Season: Southern Hemisphere Winter ✈️ From: Melbourne, Australia ✈️ To: South Island (Christchurch → Tekapo → Mt. Cook → Queenstown → Wanaka) 🚌 Transport: InterCity Bus + Day Tour Shuttles 🏨 Stay: 1N Christchurch, 2N Tekapo, 4N Queenstown 📌 Key Notes: 1️⃣ Route Planning: Sent our must-visit spots to ChatGPT to optimize the itinerary Flights + Hotels + Bus Tickets booked early. 2️⃣ Why Not Drive? Winter roads = snow + black ice + thick fog (visibility <100m!). Risky for new drivers (even with Aussie licenses). Friends drove cautiously but bus was safer for us. 3️⃣ Activity Bookings: Winter = low season—booked activities 1 week ahead (except Onsen Hot Pools—sold out 20 days prior! 😱). 💰 Costs (Per Person): ✈️ Transport: ¥3,353.42 (flights, taxis, buses) 🏨 Accommodation: ¥3,395.52 (7 nights) 🍽️ Food: ¥1,623.98 🎢 Activities: ¥1,910.72 (SIM card, Mt. Cook hike, Shotover Jet, Skyline+Luge) 🛂 Visa: ¥1,937.66 💸 TOTAL: ¥12,221.30 📝 More Details: Queenstown activities + food recs coming in next posts! 🔥 Skipped driving? Smart choice—safety first in NZ winters! ❄️ #StudyAbroadLife 📚 #NewZealand #NZTravel ✈️ #SouthIslandAdventure 🏔️ #WinterGetaway ⛄ #BudgetTravel 💸 #NoCarNeeded 🚌