April 7, 2026 — Arrived in Christchurch via Auckland, where I met up with friends Alfred, Kat, Michael, and Jessie before we set off toward Hokitika. New Zealand feels like California’s grander, more dramatic cousin — sweeping mountain backdrops, open skies, and sheep grazing contentedly along the roadside.
April 8, 2026 — We settled into the Beachfront Hotel in Hokitika, wandered through town, then pointed the car south toward Queenstown. The rain came and went, but even under grey skies the scenery was hard to ignore.
April 9, 2026 — We woke up at the Bayroad Motel, tucked away in the middle of nowhere — which turned out to be the perfect setting for a proper homemade breakfast, courtesy of retired chef Michael and his wife Jessie. Well-fed and in good spirits, we hit the road under the best conditions yet: the sun had finally made an appearance. Alfred’s thoughtful planning kept us stopping often along the way south to Queenstown — soaking in the views, stretching our legs, and racking up serious steps in the process.
