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New Zealand Travelogue — Queenstown, Milford Sound & Road Trip

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New Zealand travelogue — Why this country made me cry

I had high expectations for New Zealand. But when we actually stood there—Max and I, in the middle of the Hooker Valley Track with Mount Cook in front of us—this country simply blew me away. The scale, the colors, the silence. New Zealand is like another world, and I don't mean that as a platitude.

In three weeks we explored the South and North Islands: We drove through fjords, slept under the clearest starry sky in the world, I did my first bungee jump (yes, really!), and we ate the best burger of our lives in Queenstown. Here's my complete travelogue — with everything you need to know for your own trip.

Our route — 3 weeks between volcanoes and fjords

Week 1 — North Island: Auckland → Mount Taranaki (the Rail Cart Experience at sunset was MAGICAL) → Rotorua (geothermal area, it smells of sulfur, but the hot springs are heavenly) → Lake Taupo → Wellington

Week 2 — South Island South: Queenstown → Milford Sound (a day trip is a must!) → Te Anau → Wanaka (the more relaxed Queenstown)

Week 3 — South Island Central: Mount Cook / Hooker Valley Track → Lake Pukaki (this turquoise color is NOT digitally enhanced!) → Lake Tekapo (starry skies!) → Christchurch → Kaikoura (whale watching)

Mount Cook — The most beautiful hiking trail I have ever hiked

The Hooker Valley Track is 10 kilometers long, flat, well-maintained — and yet one of the most impressive hiking trails in the world. You walk through a glacial valley, cross three suspension bridges, and at the end stand directly in front of the glacier tongue of New Zealand's highest mountain.

My tip: Be at the trailhead by 7 a.m. From 10 a.m. onwards, the tour buses arrive from Queenstown and it gets crowded. We practically had the track to ourselves and I took more photos than I've ever taken on a single hike.

Lake Pukaki, 30 minutes south, has a turquoise color that looks like it's been filtered on Instagram—but it isn't. The glacial flour in the water creates this unreal color. I sat there for an hour on a rock, just gazing.

Queenstown — Adrenaline, burgers and the best sunsets

Queenstown is tiny, but it packs more adventure into a day than most big cities do in a month. Max talked me into bungee jumping—134 meters above the Nevis River. I stood on the platform and my whole body screamed "NO!" But I jumped. And for three seconds, my mind was completely blank. Afterward, I couldn't stop grinning for three hours.

The restaurant highlight: Fergburger In the city center. It sounds touristy (and it is), but the burgers really are as good as everyone says. Order the "Sweet Bambi"—a venison burger with plum sauce. Follow it with a flat white at the Vudu Café. New Zealand has a surprisingly good coffee culture—better than most major European cities.

Culinary tip Queenstown: Josh Emett's "Rata" is a fine-dining experience—New Zealand lamb, venison, and seafood at a level I've rarely encountered in Europe. Reservations are essential.

Starry sky — Seeing the Milky Way with the naked eye

The Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve is the largest dark sky reserve on Earth. At Lake Tekapo, I saw the Milky Way so clearly for the first time that I could discern its structure with the naked eye. Max photographed the stars with his Sony camera—I simply looked up and felt small. In the best possible way.

Bring a warm jacket — even in November it gets quite cold at night (5-8°C). The Church of the Good Shepherd by the lake is THE photo spot, but very crowded at night. Drive 5 km further to Cowan's Hill Viewpoint — same sky, not a soul in sight.

Practical tips — costs, travel & best time to travel

Best time to travel

November to March. I was there in November — perfect spring weather, moderate tourist numbers, flowers everywhere. The lupins at Lake Tekapo bloom in purple and pink; it's absolutely photogenic.

Cost for 3 weeks (per person)

Position Cost
Flight (via Singapore Airlines) 1.100 €
Rental car (21 days) 770 €
Accommodation (mix camping + hotel) 900 €
Food & Restaurants 650 €
Activities 500 €
Total per person ~3.920 €

FAQ — Your questions about New Zealand

Is New Zealand safe for women to travel alone?

Yes, New Zealand is one of the safest travel destinations in the world. I never felt unsafe at any point. The Kiwis (that's what New Zealanders call themselves) are incredibly friendly and helpful.

Do I need a visa?

No — as a German you do not need a visa for up to 90 days, but you do need an NZeTA (23 NZD online) and the IVL tourism levy (35 NZD).

What is the best time to travel?

November to March (southern summer). November is my favorite — fewer tourists than in December/January, beautiful spring weather, cheaper prices.

My conclusion — New Zealand changes your perspective

New Zealand is expensive, far away, and the journey takes forever. But it's worth every hour on the plane and every euro. This country has done something to me—the silence, the vastness, the beauty. After visiting over 60 countries, I can say: New Zealand belongs in my top three.

Are you planning your own trip? Write to me on Instagram @janetsworld3 — I answer every message and am happy to share my favorite spots!

About the author

Janet Dannehl is one of Germany's most influential travel influencers with over 2.3 million Instagram followers. For over eight years, she has been traveling the world and sharing her adventures with a community that values her honest recommendations. janetsworld3.de/collaboration Brands and tourism boards can submit cooperation requests.

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Australia East Coast — Cairns to Sydney Road Trip

Australia East Coast — Cairns to Sydney Road Trip

There are trips that change you. Australia's East Coast was one of them. The colors, the scents, the hospitality. In this travelogue: culinary highlights, photo spots, and practical tips.

The diversity amazed me. Whether it's the beach, hiking, or culinary delights — Australia's east coast has it all.

Arrival and first impressions

Easy arrival, flights cost between €100 and €500 depending on the season. A rental car is recommended for flexibility.

My boutique hotel: charming, personal, fantastic breakfast.

Culinary Highlights

Food = understanding culture. Australia's East Coast offers a compelling culinary experience. Local cuisine: fresh ingredients, time-honored recipes, passion.

Best restaurant found through word of mouth. No website, handwritten menu, fantastic.

Photo spots

Golden hour for the best photos. Visit popular spots outside of peak hours.

Practical tips

Travel time

Spring or autumn are ideal.

budget

Position €/day
Accommodation 60-120
Eat 25-45
transport 25-40
Activities 10-30
In total 120-235

FAQ

Safe for single women?

Yes.

How many days?

5-10 is ideal.

Card or cash?

Mix. Have €50-100 available locally.

About the author: Janet Dannehl is one of Germany's most influential travel influencers with over 2.3 million followers. She specializes in lifestyle, culinary topics, and visual stories from her travels. Cooperation requests here.

What impressed me most about this trip was the blend of culture, nature, and culinary experiences. Every day brought new surprises—from spontaneous encounters with locals to breathtaking viewpoints not mentioned in any guidebook. It's precisely these unplanned moments that make traveling so special for me.

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Australia's East Coast — Cairns, Great Barrier Reef & Sydney

2018/19 Recap:

Continuing the Journey Alone ☀️☀️

Jessi and I both received different job offers, so our paths diverged. Sad, but true 😢😀
I had found an au pair job where I earned $350 a week looking after three children aged 7, 5, and 2. Additionally, I could live and eat with the family for free. In the afternoons and on weekends, I mostly helped out on the farm to earn some extra cash. Usually, I was paid $600 - $700 a week. 🤑 I'll admit, I was pretty nervous! 😨 Solo travel all of a sudden? Can it really work out? 😰 Anyone who knows me knows I can be a bit scatterbrained at times 😳. Sometimes it's good, but when it comes to finding my way back to the right place, it could be challenging. My sense of direction is not the best, to be honest. And believe me, I thought it would get better during my travels. No, it didn't. You can't even imagine the bizarre places I've ended up sometimes. THANK YOU, THANK YOU for Google Maps – otherwise, my dear ones – you probably would never see me again 😀 So..., let's continue with the story... Jessi got a job in Sydney, so she didn't need our car anymore, and I could drive Apollo (our car) to my job as an au pair and farm worker in the Outback. And here's where the first point comes in. Outback? Totally dangerous! So many people have died there. Thirsty. Accidents. Driving this route alone? Who doesn't know these horror stories? My host mother offered to pick me up, but in the end, I decided to drive alone. For whatever reason... I can tell you one thing: It was incredibly beautiful! 🥰 Along the way, I saw so many animals, and hundreds of eagles were circling above me 🦅. Once, a flock of sheep blocked my path ⤵️😀.
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On the next image, you'll see in the upper right corner, in beautiful, ultra-poor quality, an emu crossing the road. Unfortunately, I had a really bad phone camera during my travels in Australia, so I can't offer you anything else – just consider it as retro/vintage or whatever. Actually, my journey to the Outback took 7 hours and 19 minutes. With all the animal stops and admiration, it took at least twice as long 😄. 
 
 
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When I finally arrived shortly before evening, the host family was already expecting me. 😊 Over the next few days, I looked after the incredibly lovely children of my host parents! I've heard so many bad things about au pair work in Australia from some backpacker stories. However, I must say that I absolutely loved it! My host family was really super nice! 🙂 And I also loved the farm work on weekends. You can't believe how much fun it was for me 🤩! The family had around 450 cattle, plus 2 pigs, a goat, 3 dogs, chickens, and more. During my time there, one pig died (most likely from a snake bite – as the nest was completely disturbed 😢).
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I helped with the cattle work, assisting in moving the cattle slowly for kilometers into the yards. You're full of adrenaline when you stand in front of such a huge bull and try to drive it forward. Did you know? When a bull becomes aggressive, it runs straight toward you and doesn't stop! 😃 😃

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One day, I visited the neighbor who had a sheep farm. It was incredibly interesting to learn about his daily life and see how the sheep were sheared. This only happens 1 - 2 times a year, so I was glad to experience it once. Overall, the work looked quite strenuous. I mean, a sheep weighs quite a bit. Did you know that sheep spend most of their time eating? 🐑
 
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Overall, I learned a lot and gained incredible experiences: I rode a motorcycle for the first time, learned to shoot with various guns, drove through the Outback on a quad, and so much more... It was such an exciting time, and I wouldn't want to miss a second of it! 😊
 
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Did you know that kangaroos are a real nuisance for most farmers? They're just everywhere. In a report, I once read that there are twice as many kangaroos in Australia as there are residents. Unfortunately, kangaroos cause a lot of damage to the fields. As you can see in the bottom right image, there's a kangaroo accidently caught on a fence, or at least what's left of it... ☹️ Kangaroos try to jump over the fences, but sometimes they get stuck in the wire. They're then so tightly trapped with their legs that they can't free themselves. A cruel sight ☹️! 

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Repairing fences was also part of my duties in the Outback. The weather was very hot, usually around 45 degrees Celsius. Your mouth dries up just from breathing. So, cold water was an absolute delight for me! Fortunately, there are tablets for dehydration! The flies in the Outback are particularly annoying! They stick to your whole body. I would have gone crazy without music in my ears 😃🪰🪰🪰. buzzzzz buzzzzz buzzzzz 🤯😬

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After about a month, it was time to say goodbye. 😢 But I was also a bit excited to finally be around people again. With loud music blaring, I headed towards civilization 🙂. The road was sandy, and the sun beat down on the car. There were occasional grooves on the ground, so I had to drive a bit slower. And then it happened. So fast. And unexpected. When I hit the brake to slow down, the car swayed to the right. Then to the left. Then to the right again. Then back to the left. I lost all control of my vehicle. It felt like an eternity. In that moment, I knew exactly what was happening. "Janet, you're going to have an accident. And you can't do anything about it." So, I let fate decide.
 POOF. POOF. I was dead straight. My whole body was tense. It took a while for me to realize that my car was on its side. The music was still blaring in the background. I'll never forget this song. Tim Benzko. "Ich Laufe." Well, in any case, after struggling to turn off that stupid music, I had a little panic attack. CRAP. What if the car starts burning? Or if it explodes? 💥 I have to get out of here 😨!!! Yep. That's what happens when you watch too much TV 📺❌. After finally managing that, I unbuckled myself from the seat belt – which wasn't easy when you're lying on your side in the car. Then I tried to open the door above me to climb out of the car. Unfortunately, the other door had become one with the ground 😃. After somewhat clumsily getting out of the car, I moved a few safety meters away from it (explosion risk and all 😋). My body felt heavy. I can't describe it. I was full of adrenaline. There was blood running down my shin, and I thought – now I'm going to die. But believe it or not. Apart from a tiny scratch, I was perfectly fine. No injuries at all. You know how it is when you cut yourself and the blood just flows, but it doesn't hurt at all & it's not serious at all. Yeah, it was kind of like that with me. So, it could have been worse 😀. After checking that everything was okay with me & cursing and spreading more panic, I finally pulled out my phone. And YAY. Almost forgot. There's no network in the boonies. Great 😠! The nearest house was extremely far away, and there was no one around. My host family goes to town about once a month 🚘. Well, hope started to emerge. But... For some reason.... For some reason, I always have such luck, I got reception for about half a minute. Practically impossible in that place. I just shouted into the phone: "Accident. Accident." After about an hour, my host father arrived and took care of me. Thank goodness 🙏.
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Our beautiful Apollo... There he lay. Half-dead... I was so angry. And sad. And ohhh.... Everything at once... Well, long story short: The car was taken to the workshop, in the nearest village. They wanted 1000 euros for the repair there. So I said goodbye to my hard-earned money 🙋🏼‍♀️💸. A night in the village where the workshop was located cost about 200 dollars 🤑. Exorbitantly expensive and unaffordable for me at the time 😵! I tried my luck and went from shop to shop looking for a job 👀. Nobody... 😔 Nothing... 😞 The people there were just happy they could keep their stores running at all. But my search paid off anyway. I met Debbi. A wonderful person 😊! She supported me so much during this time 🙏. I was allowed to sleep in her vacation apartment, which saved me a lot of money 🐷!
I was also mega happy that our car was at least repairable... 😍 Hahahha, wrong thought... I drove about 30 minutes towards the beach – full of anticipation... and POOF. Our beloved car died for good... 😢 I stopped right in the middle of the road and had to be towed. Engine failure. I still haven't received a cent from the "unnecessary 1000 euros repair"... & so I paid everything completely in vain... So much savings... I was so angry 😡. Really angry 😤. In the end, I had to leave our Apollo there & move on by bus. You wouldn't believe how many things I had to leave in this car... I couldn't carry everything... 💔


New Castle☀️

So I drove to New Castle. There I met great people, so I could almost forget the whole nightmare 😌! I stayed there for a while because I started a job at a café ☕️. Plus, I could sleep for free in the hostel, in exchange I just had to clean for 1-2 hours a day. In New Castle, I had found a perfect way to quickly refill my cash 💰💰💰.

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A better remedy for sorrow than the sea does not exist! 🥰


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Coffs Harbour☀️

After some time, I left Newcastle again and drove to Coffs Harbour 🚍. There, I worked in a cool bar 🍸. Additionally, I once again slept for free in a hostel, in exchange for providing a shuttle service. The coolest thing about the hostel was that I could go stand-up paddling for free, and the lake was only 5 minutes away. Here, I saw brightly blue crabs & hundreds of stingrays 😍. Did you know that stingrays can jump? I have a video on my Instagram profile where you can see it! There, they were hopping about 1 meter high just before sunset! Really crazy! 😦 

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Once again, I must emphasize how AMAZING the beaches in Australia are!!! 😍☀️🏖


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Brisbane☀️

Then the time finally came, and my then-boyfriend and my best friend came to visit me. After such a long time, you really get homesick occasionally... That's why I was really, really excited! We explored Brisbane together (beautiful city!!!) & chatted endlessly. I had a lot to tell... 😀! In Brisbane, we visited, among other things, the world-famous Australian Zoo. Steve Irwin (the "Crocodile Hunter") was buried on this site. I thought he was sooo cool. When I was a kid, I watched his show a lot... Unfortunately, he died during his filming from the effects of a stingray barb. ☹️ Also really nice to see in Brisbane: the botanical garden, the Story Bridge & South Bank!
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Mooloolaba☀️

Mooloolaba is a small town in the southeast of Queensland and belongs to the Sunshine Coast. If you love walking along the harbor or sunbathing on a beautiful beach in the sun, this is the place for you! The place is very quiet, but you can also find some bars with great live music! 🎶
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Townvsville City☀️

Townsville is a coastal town in northeastern Queensland. There is a great waterfront promenade here! In the evenings, we always hung out at the sports field and played basketball with some cool people! 🏀

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Magnetic Island☀️

An absolute dream! My absolute highlights here were: snorkeling along the spectacular reefs, our hike ("Forts Walk"), and 
spotting the rock wallabies & koalas. Also, you shouldn't miss the sunset! 🌅

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Mission beach☀️

Oh, I loved jogging along the beach at Mission Beach. The beach was deserted! 😍🙏 I actually only went to Mission Beach because the hostel promised me a farm job, which unfortunately I had to wait for way too long... In the end, I moved on again... Unfortunately, not everything always goes according to plan, but despite everything, I enjoyed the time! ❤️ 

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What's better: Traveling alone or together? ☀️☀️

There are pros and cons to both options! Clearly... But one thing I've learned: I was never really alone on my solo travels. I met thousands of people and definitely much more than on my trips with another person. Strange, isn't it? When you have another person with you, it's usually natural to sit down with them somewhere at a table for two, plan activities together, and chat with each other. But if you're alone, firstly: Other people are more likely to approach you and talk to you. Secondly: You're more likely to approach other people or just sit down at larger tables. At first, I was a bit hesitant, but I realized how easy it is to connect with other backpackers! And if you're not brave enough to approach others, I promise you - it won't be long before someone talks to you 😋 Because we backpackers all have one big thing in common: We love traveling!

Next Stop: Cuba - Caribbean 🏝






Hello

Australia's West Coast & Outback — Melbourne to Adelaide

Off to Australia in 2018 ☀️☀️

Australia. Australia has always been a dream for me. As a child, I used to watch animal documentaries on Animal Planet 📺. 
"When I grow up, I'll become a wildlife researcher 😌!"
Well, that didn't quite work out 😄. But still, I managed to make it to the other end of the world & experience incredible adventures on my journeys.
Many people know that it's not so easy to just take a trip to Australia. If you're lucky, you might get maybe 3 weeks of vacation in a row 😒. That sucks, right? But that's somehow life & you just have to accept it. NO. I don't have to! A dream should eventually come true & why not make the most of it 🤔? After considering 1000 different options, and watching 1000 YouTube videos of various travelers, I finally decided to do a Work & Travel. Well, in any case, this decision was one of the best and has completely turned my life upside down to this day. 🙃

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As I told you in my Thailand blog post, initially, I traveled around with my travel buddy (and now good friend) Jessi 🥰. Our first stop was Melbourne. One thing I really don't miss is jet lag ☠️! This time we had real trouble falling asleep in the evening, but you should always make the best of it. So, we immediately bought a bottle of champagne & a few beers. Of course, we didn't drink it in the hostel room. Or did we? 😂 


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Melbourne☀️

Melbourne is one of the largest cities in Australia and is the capital of the state of Victoria. We stayed in the suburb of St. Kilda and visited the St. Kilda Botanical Garden & some sights, like Luna Park. But the absolute coolest thing was that at the end of St. Kilda Pier, we could see penguins among the rocks 🐧! How cute is that??? 🤩
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Apollo – Our Ride 🚙🔥.

After just one week, we decided to buy a car 🙌. We got our Apollo for an incredibly good price, only paying 4200 dollars (around 2600 euros at the time). We were a bit lucky because the sellers were backpackers who had to fly to Thailand the next day. 🍀 An absolutely great car... It had everything a backpacker could wish for. There was a rooftop tent on top, we had plenty of space for all our stuff, lots of camping gear, and if we were ever too lazy to set up the tent, there was even the option to sleep in the car. I still mourn our beautiful Apollo... 😢 More on that later... 😪
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Road trip😎☀️

We didn't waste any time & got our car ready to go. The registration of the car went quickly & smoothly. Then we drove along the Great Ocean Road. One of my favorite routes in Australia and highly recommended!! ❤️ At the 12 Apostles, we almost got blown away, it was so windy 😄 & in the parking lot, we saw a fox 🦊 That was cool!
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Apollo Bay😎☀️

This place is an absolute must-see! 😍 I've never seen such baby-blue water before!!! 🤩💦 In Apollo Bay, we found friends and even started our first job as cleaners. Our task was to do the laundry, iron, and clean the rooms. What a tough job! Believe me! Anyone who has never worked as a proper cleaner can hardly imagine it. After just 4 days, my fingernails were split about 4 times. Everything hurt. My back... My hands... Terrible! 😩 As if that wasn't enough, we also had a really peculiar boss. He liked to hold someone's hand when he wanted to show something. Okay?? And he even wanted to happily hop around the place. We'll never forget the shrill voice when he called out "It’s Tea – Time" at break time. Well, it was time to go. 😁 Definitely. But one thing we learned: Cleaners really deserve respect (and tips 😅)! 

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Except for a fallen tree on the road, we never really had any problems on our journey. Oops, I almost forgot 😳. When we started driving and had only been on the road for about an hour, a kangaroo suddenly jumped out of the bushes – right onto the car! 😢 "That's a great start," I thought at that time. My heart was pounding like crazy 😧. Luckily, I wasn't driving too fast (about 50 km/h) & the cute kangaroo survived the impact. At first, it lay briefly on the ground, but when we got out, it hopped off into the wild. 🦘 You can probably imagine now how scared I was that another one might jump out of the bushes. And yes... my fears were confirmed. It wasn't the only kangaroo that crossed our paths. 
Good to know: Kangaroos are really everywhere & they like to hop across the roads! Some backpackers told me that they didn't see a single one on their travels. How is that possible? I still wonder... 😄 Probably they were too often trapped in the spell of the big cities. Oh, when you're in Apollo Bay – don't forget to visit the Eucalyptus Forest!! There you can see looooots of koalas 🐨. At lunchtime, one was hanging about 2 meters above us in a tree. 🌳 Unbelievable...

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Towards Adelaide 🚙🚙

On the way to Adelaide, we saw beautiful, deserted beaches 🏖. The sand looked like powdered sugar at times, and sometimes it was pitch black. The sea was once again baby-blue. That's exactly how I always imagined the beaches in Australia! And believe me – I've been disappointed before! Almost everything looks more enchanting on Google images than in reality. But one thing I can say: In Australia & New Zealand, it's even more beautiful in reality! 🥰 🥰
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Also great was our trip to Admirals Arch. There we could see sea lions in the wild. Absolutely awesome!! 😍🦭

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We continued on to Warrnambool, where we rode along the beach for the first time. We were able to park our car here at a hostel in the garden & only had to pay half. 🤑 On another day, we visited the Grampians National Park (highly recommended!) & went for a beautiful hike. 🥾❤️

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If you love waterfalls, don't forget to visit the McKenzie Falls & Fish Falls! 😉

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The Last Stop 🐧 🐧

Another highlight was the Hot Springs in Mornington Peninsula ♨! The hot springs are located right in the middle of nature 🌿& one pool was even up on the mountain, with an insanely great view! As we continued on to Phillip Island, we saw a penguin parade for the first time 🐧. In total, 1904 little penguins waddled from the sea to their nests. It was super cute 😍. The penguins walk in a line and occasionally one falls over. You can imagine it a bit like the old Domino blocks. 😄
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My Conclusion:

 
On our road trip, we saw a lot of nature. Looking back, it was a really good decision to buy the car right at the beginning. We were much more mobile with it & felt a bit more independent as a result. Plus, we could blast music and cruise through the streets while admiring the scenery 🌿. The best part was that we could stay wherever we wanted 🏕. During our road trip, we met some great people & got our first job experiences (W&T Jobs: https://janetsworld3.de/2019/06/14/worktravel-jobs/ ). Plus, a great friendship developed with Jessi, for which I am very grateful. When you spend days on end with one person, 24/7, you get to know that person in a hundred different ways & one thing I can tell you, we sometimes really got on each other's nerves -
 

Next Blogpost : Australia Part 2

 
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