We went to a beech forest and walked around 30 minutes
Amazing!! An ancient forest unchanged for 80 million years
We stood here to take a photo and the guide told us not to because the moss grows on the tree trunks
Lord of the Rings chair 🙂
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We went to Glenorchy as part of our tour and had lunch before taking off
We really just wanted to have Fish and Chips 🙂
When in the UK, Australia and New Zealand – Fish and Chips all you want! Mom even brought her Malt vinegar in her luggage to make sure she has it with her Fish and Chips. Codfish and chips at The Lodge Glenorchy . Funny thing was she ordered Ginger Ale and she made a mistake twice of pouring the Ginger Ale instead of the Malt Vinegar!!! haha
Just 45 minutes from Queenstown, Glenorchy is nestled on the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu & is the gateway to hiking trails and Middle-earth magic.
This rustic town is a true outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Set against a background of native beech forest and towering mountain ranges, Glenorchy’s surrounds are nothing short of awe-inspiring. Lake Wakatipu and the Dart River offer opportunities for jet boating and kayaking, and some of New Zealand’s best hiking trails can be accessed from here. Horse trekking in the area is also highly recommended.
Braided Streams in Glenorchy and a view from the helicopter tour
When glacial ice melts, the water moves away from the glacial snout in fast flowing streams and rivers. The water transports vast quantities of sediment and larger debris. If the sediment load is very large in relation to the velocity of the stream, the more coarse material may start to block the stream, choking it and forcing it to constantly change it’s course. The stream starts to diverge, splitting into numerous segments which split and join repeatedly. The small islands formed within the stream are called eyots.
Braided streams are typically shallow and wide, surrounded by poorly sorted rock debris. ( http://www.geography-site.co.uk)
I love sheep sceneries – I was trying so hard to take them even when the bus was moving – very hard! :-O 
Glenorchy’s spectacular landscapes have become a prime location for film scouts, depicting many scenes from The Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as featuring in the Narnia movies. Twenty kilometres away from Glenorchy, as bucolic farmland gives way to beech forests, lies Paradise. Some say it was christened for its natural charms, others for the paradise ducks that live in the area. Nobody can say for sure how it got its name, but the one thing people agree on is its breathtaking beauty. “This is the Middle-earth I had always pictured,” Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf) said of Paradise. ( http://www.newzealand.com)
Taylor Swift was just in Glenorchy a few months ago to shoot. Lord of the Rings was also filmed in Glenorchy and many others including commercials of Swiss chocolates 
Arrived at our next destination and super love it! From the helicopter, we saw it 🙂 It’s nice to stay 5 days to a week here and just relax and do all the activities. We only stayed 3 days. In June, it is winter time and the activities change to winter activities which include skiing 🙂
I could just stand here and just stare!
Beautiful Queenstown!
A very quaint town – with shops and restaurants
Small streets
Our driver said that this is the best bank to exchange your money
There is a Fear Factory 🙂
A catholic church by the mountains
A nice art gallery by the lake
Plenty restaurants
Smiggle 🙂
Starbucks!
And plenty of activities!!!
Lake Wakatipu
15,000 years ago during the last ice age, a huge glacier moving from the north west carved out what is now Lake Wakatipu. The lake is relatively thin, but the mountains run straight into the lake, forming a deep canyon, 399m at its deepest point.
Lake Wakatipu is the second largest lake in the Southern Lakes District, covering 290 square km. At its widest point Lake Wakatipu is five kilometers wide, and the total length is 84km ( http://www.queenstown.nz.com) #lakewakatipu #newzealand #queenstown #queenstownnz
Our first meal in Queenstown was Italian which was recommended by the concierge
Mushroom and Italian sausage Pizza
Steamed Littleneck clams with bacon, parsley, garlic butter and sourdough crostini
Prime NZ beef tartare with Aioli anchovy, capers, shallots and crispy potato
Pan seared duck breast and confit leg with cauliflower, lentils and raisins, natural au jus
Three cheese ravioli
Chargrilled Angus rib eye with slow cooked beef shin and red cabbage, crispy polenta and jus
Super yum Tiramisu!
Click below to go to their website
Italian Dining in Queenstown
Adventure is out there and it’s time to get ready for a fun-filled summer with Rustan’s. Sunny days are here to stay and Rustan’s Children’s Department has the perfect collections for the little ones this season.
Kick off the summer fun with Rustan’s Little Wanderer Fashion show which will feature the Summer Collections of Rustan’s Children’s Fashion brands. Be inspired by the latest styles from Rustanette, Rustan Jr., Kiddos, Neck and Neck, Baby Club, Little Me and Silver Jeans. Happening at 3PM on April 9 at Rustan’s Makati, April 10 at Rustan’s Alabang and April 15 at Rustan’s Cebu, exciting activities and food booths await children of all ages on these special dates.
Make sure that children travel in style. The Neck and Neck Spring Summer 2016 Urban Jungle collection offers a variety of outfits ranging from loose white tops and khaki shorts to tropical-inspired dresses and shirts to bring out each kid’s stylish little globetrotter.
Girls and boys will definitely find something fun to wear for out-of-town trips and outdoor activities with the family! Quirky printed casual pieces from KIDDOS and Silver Jeans make for awesome choices. Find tees in various colors of blue, orange and red and pairs of shorts or pants to match their adventure-ready ensemble.
Whether it is brunch with mom, garden picnic with the family or visiting famous tourist attractions, pastel hues, soft lace fabrics and floral printed dresses from Rustanette for the little princesses and dapper pieces of separates, bowties, and light colored tops from Rustan Jr. are sure to make travel snapshots picture-perfect.
Gear up your newborns and toddlers for their most stylish summer yet. Baby Club has a wide array of apparel from dainty dresses to printed pants that allow moms to easily pick an outfit that will make babies look and feel comfy cute. Also discover Little Me’s Summer Collection, which has the most adorable selections of unique pieces in light tones and colored stripes for infants.
The perfect outfits for the little ones for perfect summer getaways are all available at Rustan’s. Enjoy this season with the best fashion picks and weekly summer deals for kids from Rustan’s Children’s Department.
The best fashions also bring forth the best deals. From April 28 to May 8, all NBA Baby Items are available for purchase up to 30% off. Meanwhile, infant-wear from Mimijumi, Cluebebe, Petit Creations and selected Baby Club items will be available at 10% off.
Mark your calendars because it’s Toy-week at Rustan’s from May 9 to 22, 2016. Selected brands from the Toy section will be offered on special deals to customers during this special period.
Find the perfect footwear for the cutest tiny tots from the newest collections like Feiyue’s SS16 Collection, which will be at 30% off, and Jelly Nelly, offered at 50% off on May 23 to June 2. Selected bags from Beatrix NY and Built NY are at 20% on the same week. Neck and Neck is also joining in the fun! Spend a minimum of 3500 pesos single-receipt purchase from Neck and Neck’s SS16 collection from May 1 to 31 and get a free water bottle.
Celebrate summer with fun and exciting activities that will make every kid look forward to getaways with mom, dad and the entire family. Every kid is sure to bring out the little wanderer within using stylish wear, cool toys and the latest offerings this season of the sun, only at Rustan’s.
To know more about the latest collections available in the stores, you may visit Rustan’s in Makati, Shangri-la, Gateway, Alabang and Cebu. You may also visit http://www.facebook.com/rustansph for more details.
Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa @sofitelqueenstown
Our home in Queenstown for 3 nights #sofitelqueenstownhotelandspa #queenstown #queenstownnz #newzealand #H2HNewZealand2016
French antique chic sits aside sophisticated design @sofitelqueenstown – black and yellow at the lobby
Buffet Breakfast by the lobby cafe which is included with the room
The location is very central so it is perfect!
On the side is the staircase towards the gondola
Click below to go to their website
Located in the heart of Queenstown, Sofitel Queenstown is a unique luxury experience. Book direct for the best rates.es.
“I loved being part of the Kurt Geiger spring/summer campaign. I’ve always been a fan of this iconic brand not only for being a perfect red carpet look, but also, now, for every day running from the gym to work and everything in between! Rebecca’s vision for this collection brilliantly works for women who do it all.”
“As a someone who is constantly in transit, finding the perfect bag that is stylish and has everything you need, is key! I love how the sporty, energetic vibe of the collection is combined with chic style. “
Kurt Geiger is exclusively available in Rustan’s Makati.
Beautiful scenery before landing in Queenstown
We were supposed to take the helicopter @overthetophelicopters tomorrow but due to weather constraints we had to move it to the day we arrived in Queenstown. 
Our pilots 🙂
Beautiful scenery from the moment we took off till we arrived back
Hi Dad and Mom!! Tito Manny and Tita Ina!! 🙂 We flew together and side by side at times 🙂
Braided Streams
When glacial ice melts, the water moves away from the glacial snout in fast flowing streams and rivers. The water transports vast quantities of sediment and larger debris. If the sediment load is very large in relation to the velocity of the stream, the more coarse material may start to block the stream, choking it and forcing it to constantly change it’s course. The stream starts to diverge, splitting into numerous segments which split and join repeatedly. The small islands formed within the stream are called eyots.
Braided streams are typically shallow and wide, surrounded by poorly sorted rock debris. ( http://www.geography-site.co.uk) #braidedstreams #glacier
Milford Sound
In 1770 Captain James Cook sailed past MILFORD SOUND in South Island, New Zealand, mapping this northern most fiord as a bay. Fifty three years later a sealer, Jono Grono and his crew, caught in a storm, thought they were to be tossed to their peril on the rocks of this charted bay when they were blown into the undiscovered fiord. It was named Milford Haven after Grono’s birthplace in Wales.
New Zealand’s climate is dominated by two main geographical features, the
mountains and the sea. From the west the saturated weather pattern off the
Tasman Sea rises up to cross the massive Southern Alps of New Zealand and dumps all its moisture in Fiordland.
This huge rainfall gives this region its unique character – rain forest, lakes,
rivers, and waterfalls. Fiords carved by the glaciers dominate the scenery until
reaching the wild and windswept west coast.
The versatility of the helicopter is admirably suited to this diverse terrain ensuring enhanced visibility and greater safety in this incredible landscape.
Glaciers stay ice all throughout the year. They are disappearing slowly thru the years.
We landed by a glacier. Though we couldn’t go to the glacier and stand on them as suggested by the pilot since it might have some soft areas or it might just fall #glacier #newzealand #H2HNewZealand2016 #overthetophelicopters @overthetophelicopters
What a view! We had this place and the surrounding area all to ourselves for around 30 minutes! Absolutely breathtaking!
We made sure to take home some Rocks near the glacier. Nice souvenirs and pasalubong but the problem is its heavy! haha!! 
Click below to go to the helicopter website
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