echo from Sarawak

 We planned the driving very ambitiously especially on the Christchurch/ Dunedin/ Invercargill sector, the 1st leg of our driving trip, we would like to cover many smaller townships and local attractions as what had been speculated in the Southern Scenic Route. Southern Scenic Route - Source: Wikipedia The domestic Jetstar from Auckland to Christchurch delayed on the 2nd day, coupled with the Whakaari/ White Island eruption the day before, and the usual Canterbury flash flood had held us back at least 3 hours.  Canterbury farmland We made various diversions on few Canterbury farmlands before headed on higher ground towards Dunedin. At least this was initially planned for, the Canterbury Plains, lowland terrain with lesser winding route, to warm up the 16 days typical NZ diverse landscape ahead! We reached Dunedin almost 10pm! Highway 01 on Canterbury Plains, south of Christchurch Heading south, from Dunedin Brighton, Dunedin Dunedin/ Invercargill stretch Invercargill was added...

This sounded more like an Amazing Race than a self-drive holiday; that was a comparable comment given by the Apex staff in Auckland when we returned the Rav4.  I would say that it was more like an exploratory trip! Partly, maybe I had used to travel in the past 10 years in our notorious Borneo Highways, driving alone most of the time, covering 2000km in a week!  South Island Loop - Christchurch/ Dunedin/ Invercargill/ Mt Cook North Island Loop - Christchurch/ Wellington/ Rotorua/ Auckland Here, we were with a comfortable Rav4 travelling in first class motorways most of the time; however, many roads were narrow, hilly and windy, with plenty of sharp corners, as NZ's geographical features were some of the most diverse in the world! Rav4, comfortably for 3 pax with luggage, for a 3000km journey! It was quite an experience; like driving North with the Pacific Ocean on your right from Kaikoura, waterfalls falling all over left & right out of the windows at Milford Sound, extrem...