In this article, we will introduce you to an aspect of travelling that is aimed at transforming a seemingly tiring day into a more relaxing experience.
The journey for this route will begin in Queenstown and continue up to the North Island, Wellington, Auckland, etc., by plane from Queenstown Airport.
Going to the airport can always be draining and an unpleasant experience, but we will show you how we turn it into a more relaxing one.
Dear Travellers,
With our plane ticket booked on the evening of our last day in Queenstown, we were left with a whole afternoon of wandering around in the city.
Queenstown has a lot of things to do and a lot of places to relax in; however, before a flight, things can feel a little different and tiring, anticipating for the plane flight ahead.
Checking out of the hotel and exploring the town.
Beach St,
Queenstown
This plan will work best for a departure time later in the afternoon or evening, arriving in the North Island at night.
We had kept the city center mostly unexplored for the last day to minimize travel time by car and aimed for a leisurely walk in the city and some possible light shopping after we checked out.
Sitting too long in a car or in a plane can be very taxing, especially if you are travelling with the elderly or even for younger people in their late thirties and above with office syndrome. The goal for the day is to minimize such an experience.
We maximize our time at our Airbnb and load our stuff into the rental car, which is scheduled to be returned at the airport an hour or two before our departure time. As it is a domestic flight, it does not take too long to clear the process and security at the airport.
We first parked our car near the city, as it is cheaper than the fare charged at parking spots in the city center. The two hours afterwards were simply spent walking around some shops and souvenir stores, ending with having a late lunch in one of the establishments in the city.
Note: You can choose to have an earlier lunch or simply snack along the way.
The Onsen hack
This is now the main part of this hack, which worked out very well for us.
Important: the place we went to, which we also recommend you do as well, requires an early booking sometimes months in advance during peak season, so planning ahead is required!
We had booked our place at the famous Onsen Hot Pools and Day Spa, around a 20-minute drive from the town center, for a relaxing one hour of onsen with a magnificent view of Queenstown. (not sponsored!)
160 Arthurs Point Road,
Arthurs Point,
Queenstown ,
9371
Some pros and cons for The Onsen Hot Pools and Day Spa:
+The wearing of a swimsuit is necessary
+Private room
+Breathtaking view
-Hard to book
-Pricey
Going to the onsen, spa, massages or similar activities will allow us to enjoy some leisure time and free our minds in the hot pool, relax our muscles, and start anew with the freshness you get similar to coming out of a long shower after taking a good nap.
Book your slot around three hours in advance of your departure, one hour for the onsen spa, another hour for driving to the airport, returning the car, and the final hour for loading your baggage and clearing the airport security.
Instead of maximizing your day in Queenstown, going sightseeing, heavy shopping, or driving hours somewhere for some experience, which may sound like a good idea in your head at first, can turn a short plane ride into a nightmare and turn a good experience into a questioning of your choices. From our experience, we recommend that you keep it light on that day.
*In the case that you missed your chance to secure a time slot in the onsen reservation, consider going somewhere else similar or opt for a spa or a massage somewhere instead!
Rest up first and book a cheaper hotel to sleep in upon landing!
First impression matters, and you do not want to experience a place for the first time with a fatigued body and a tired mind. Condition affects the impression.
This is why we recommend a flight that will arrive later in the night be booked instead of earlier ones.
The option will also benefit your travel budget, as there is no need to book a fancy stay just to sleep the night. Let the wasteful feeling urge you to stay at a place a little below your average standard, where you may also be surprised at the quality of the stay at such a price. Choose a place near the airport and spend the night there, where car hire will also be located, as that is possibly the best way to move around New Zealand.
Open your eyes up the next morning, well-rested and ready to explore the next destination with a good mind condition.
We hope you can better enjoy your travel in New Zealand with our recommendation.
May you have a great trip,
Travel Tegami