NEW ZEALAND – Travel + Lifestyle + Architecture Blog

Random Shots:Queenstown,New Zealand

Published on November 4, 2018November 6, 2022 by iamjosemanuelLeave a comment

Queenstown, the scenic South Island holiday spot, is probably the most popular destination in New Zealand among international visitors. Queenstown was once a gold mining town. But today, the city is a favoured destination for high-octane outdoor activities and mountain climbing. Although the place is hyped by its outdoor-ish image, Queenstown will still be fully enjoyed by vacationers who prefer laid back strolls and a lazy trip of sightseeing and dining experience. Count us in on that! Here are some of the snapshots and must sees for the lazy vacationers like me.

Queenstown sits on the shores of the South Island’s Lake Wakatipu, set against the dramatic Southern Alps. Imagine the view, guys! With such background, uhmm… perfect jud mag model model. loljoke. Pose anywhere you like because every corner of this town is seriously photogenic and is entrance free!

Queenstown is also a heaven for foodies. Must try is the ever famous Fergburger. Giant Angus Beef Patty in a seriously hefty set of bun with everything in it. This burger has become a NZ culture in itself. A Staple must try in Queenstown, that lines can already be seen even at an early 8 A.M. And since Queenstown is a holiday spot that never run out of tourists, fergburger closes at 5 A.M. For the employees, rest is only for the weak. lol. Fergburger is priced at 18 Dollars (700 Pesos) but it could seriously feed 2 hungry pax or 4 Annilou’s (A friend with small appetite). Typical complete meal in NZ by the way is between 10 to 18 Dollars for a sandwich/burger and 15 to 22 Dollars for a rice or Middle Eastern meal. Coffee is usually at 6 Dollars up.

Puhoi Chocolate drink is also a must try! just around 4 Dollars (P 160) a bottle. Don’t be bothered by the cold, Patagonia Ice cream is also a must try.

The highlight of this trip really is my first Snow experience. Lol! As a boy from the sun-burnt city of General Santos, getting up close and personal with snow is a seriously big deal! So yeah, me and Richmon went up the Coronet Peak where the Remarkables Ski field is located. The highest point of the peak is at 1,649-metre.

The 45 -mins. bus ride from Queenstown costs 20 Dollars (800 Pesos) RT. There is a specific bus solely serving this route every hour during the day. Just ask around sa mall where to fine the Remarkables office. QT town centre is pretty small, you definitely won’t miss a thing.

Photos by Richmon. Entirely shot using #Oppo.

Entrance to the ski field is free of charge.
Ski experience starts at 130 Dollars(5,500 Pesos) with gears and coaching.
Lockers are available for 10 Dollars (400 Pesos).
Drinking water is free,as to everywhere in New Zealand. Tap water is very safe to drink,by the way.
Wearing sunblock is a must due to direct exposure to the sun (even if it’s cold up there).
Don’t forget to bring a Shaded Eyewear as the entire peak is almost entirely covered with white and it is seriously glaring.
Dress appropriately. Layer is a must. Plus a non-slip closed footwear. Snow covered ground is slippery.
A Legit food hall is available. usual prices are at 12 to 16 Dollars( 500 to 700 Pesos) per meal.
Bring Milk, ube and others to enjoy your own halo-halo up there. Loljk. Do not eat the snow.
Start a snowball fight if you like.

Queenstown is served by its own International Airport. However, we opted to land in Christchurch and drove our way to QT via Lake Tekapo. That’s 7-8 hours of scenic ride. Our road trip was hosted by Richmon’s brother, Eric, who is based in Christchurch.

Lol! Full blog of this to follow! Watch out. =)

Christchurch blog here. https://iamjosemanuel.com/2018/11/02/random-shotschristchurchnew-zealand/

Visa Application link here. https://iamjosemanuel.com/2018/04/22/new-zealand-tourist-visa-for-filipinos-2018-online-application-guide-with-photos/

Random Shots:Christchurch,New Zealand

Published on November 2, 2018November 29, 2018 by iamjosemanuel1 Comment

New Zealand is mainly divided by two large islands; the Te Ika-a-Maui of the North, named after the sacred fish of Maui, and the Te Waipounamu of the South, which means “rivers of green stone”. Popular NZ destinations like Auckland and Wellington is located in the North Island, while Christchurch and Queenstown is located in the South.

For this New Zealand trip, we spent most of our days in the South where my companion’s family resides. From Auckland, we flew 2 hours by Air New Zealand to Christchurch. We also did a road trip to Queenstown via Tekapo, which was the highlight of this vacation. I shall have a separate post on that. For now, here are some snapshots around the lovely city. Big shoutout and Thanks to Richmon’s brother, Eric, for hosting and touring us around.

We popularly see September, October, November as Fall/Autumn months as it happens across Europe, Korea,Japan and the Americas. It is different, however, on the lands down-under, as these months are Springtime. This is the perfect time to visit as the weather is expectedly favourable and colours are popping out everywhere. In addition, you still get to experience snow on the higher grounds (such as in Queenstown during our trip).

The Botanical Garden in Christchurch is a must see. The Museum is also located inside the garden compound. And it’s free of charge.

The City also boasts its Architecture. Streets are lined with contemporary buildings, using current materials and methods of construction. There are no high rises though; mostly low to mid-rise. Must sees are the The Cardboard Cathedral (a transitional Anglican Diocese of Christchurch with colorful facade) and the Hoyst Cinema Building. Check out the interiors as well.

The Cardboard Catherdral Facade

stunning interiors of Hoyts Cinema

Enthusiasts of architecture will definitely enjoy a stroll around the city centre, which is fairly walkable, with patches of greens and tree-lined parks and a charming- well cared stream the flows across the park. Wall murals and are also a thing around Christchurch.

Model model around the streets is also tolerated in Christchurch. Lol.

Drop by Rockpool bar at Hereford St. for some tummy fillers that will never disappoint. Their BBQ Ribs and Smoked Salmon Pasta are to die for.

Queenstown blog is up next. Stay tuned. =)

Going to NZ? Check out this EASY TOURIST VISA Application guide here link. https://iamjosemanuel.com/2018/04/22/new-zealand-tourist-visa-for-filipinos-2018-online-application-guide-with-photos/

Auckland Photos are also shared here. https://iamjosemanuel.com/2018/10/30/random-snapshots-aucklandnew-zealand/

Random Snapshots: Auckland,New Zealand

Published on October 30, 2018November 29, 2018 by iamjosemanuel1 Comment

Dreamy, surreal, unspoilt scenery. After visiting New Zealand, a whole new level of appreciation for a foreign land had been set.

Dream-like ocean views, lush green valleys, snow capped surrounding mountains, our short trip to New Zealand offered us a glimpse of good things that the country offers. The country enjoys peace, progress, opportunities and abundance. No wonder a lot of our Filipino friends opted to relocate there. Nasabi ko din actually sa sarili ko, ” I want to live here”.

Arriving in Auckland, me and Richmon opted to see in the capital city muna, before we headed to the south island where his family lives. In Auckland, we were hosted by Richmon’s relatives, Ate Mary Ann and Kuya Mario Molera, who’s been living in NZ already since the 1990’s.

Having only two nights to spend definitely wasn’t enough to see all the nearby spots. With out limited time, we opted to see the natural sceneries of the west coast, instead of driving to the popular Rotorua and Hobbiton down south. Together with our lovely hosts, we did a road trip west of Henderson to the surreal ocean views facing the Australian-Tasman Sea.

Here are some snapshots of our DIY west coast day tour plus a glimpse of Auckland downtown. All thanks to Kuya Mario and Ate Mary Ann! =)

aucklandjosemanuel2 — Auckland International Airport gave the Middle Earth feels as these giant 16′ Dwarven statues greet you at the arrival lounge.

aucklandjosemanuel6 — Arataki Visitors’ Centre

Arataki Visitors’ Centre

The Highlight of this day tour was definitely seeing flocks of migratory Gannet birds nesting on their natural habitat by the cliffs of Muriwai. Surreal experience to! I did not expect seeing this at all. Kuya Mario did not mention. It was a surprise!

aucklandjosemanuel21 — Gannet Bird Sanctuary at Muriwai Cliffs

Here are some random shots and binge eating moments around Auckland City.

aucklandjosemanuel20 — The Auckland Crew

And this concludes our two nights stay in Auckland. Christchurch and Queenstown are up next. Stay tuned.

We flew to Auckland, NZ with AirasiaX Via Kuala Lumpur; smooth nine hours travel time, with a quick – 90 minutes lay over in Gold Coast, Australia. Airport Transit Visa to Australia shall only apply if your lay over exceeds 4 hours. So for this trip, no need!

How we secured our NZ Tourist Visa? Check my detailed blog on the link below . below https://iamjosemanuel.com/2018/04/22/new-zealand-tourist-visa-for-filipinos-2018-online-application-guide-with-photos/

New Zealand Tourist Visa for Filipinos 2018 – DIY Online Application Guide with Photos

Published on April 22, 2018November 6, 2022 by iamjosemanuel19 Comments

WAIVED NA PO ANG TOURIST VISA FEE FOR NEW ZEALAND!

True! Hindi po ito fake news. Before, it was mandatory to pay NZ$ 165. As of June 2017, A resolution has already been approved, stating that the Citizens of the Philippines do not have to pay anymore the fee or immigration levy for TOURIST/VISITOR VISA application, when coming to New Zealand for fewer than 60 days (Reference: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa/).

However, point out ko lang po clearly, NZ is NOT VISA FREE. It is only the big amount of fee that was taken out. We still have to submit necessary requirements to the NZ Embassy for the issuance of visa prior to our trip.

Traditional method of submitting paper requirements is still being implemented today. However, NZ Immigration already formulated a “Passport Handling-Online Application” method, which has taken visa application to the next level of easiness. With this method, applicants are only required to completely fill up a form on their website and then submit online the scanned copies of usual visa requirements. For this convenience,however,applicants shall pay a fee of less than 1,000 Pesos for the “Passport Handling”, which shall be discussed later. This is relatively a small amount compared to the big chunk of levy that has already been relieved from us. Passport handling fees may also be bank transferred na. This has made the application process more convenient, especially for us living far away from Manila/Cebu where embassy offices are located.
This guide blog focuses solely on Visitors (Tourist) Visa via Online Application. For other types of Visa, refer to https://www.immigration.govt.nz.

So without further ado (Char), here is a step by step guide on how I completed my application.

STEP 1 : Gather the visa requirements,

Photo – passport sized (900 x 1200 pixels minimum), light colored background(except white, ideally light gray), JPEG Format straight from file. Bilhin nyo yung file ng picture sa studio. scanned from printed photo is not allowed; file size between 500KB and 3MB
Valid Passport – scan pages with personal information; PDF Format
Government issued Identification Card – either driver’s license, PRC, SSS, GSIS, TIN, Philhealth; PDF Format
Proof of Employment – letter of approved leave from employer ideally with salary and other details ; PDF Format
Evidence of Fund – Bank Certificate with ADB; Bank Statements; Updated Passbook; PDF Format
Evidence of Onward Travel – Airline confirmed booking(meaning, ticket reservation from a reputable travel agency); PDF Format ; pwede rin Airline ticket mismo if you already have one, but not advised.
Cover Letter – letter of intention. You may also put here your proposed day to day itinerary ; PDF Format
Other Financial Document – Credit card billing statement, ITR; ; PDF Format
For Self Employed – business permit, SEC or DTI registration. Annual ITR for the employed; PDF Format
Record of Previous Travels – Scanned copy of your past and current passport with all stamps
Copy of other Valid First World Visas (If available) – USA, Schengen, Japan or others; PDF Format

Re bank funds, some successful applicants mentioned “100 USD per day x # days stay x 2” maintaining balance. I guess we should prepare the same na din (or more) to prove our capacity to visit their country.

Step 2 : Go to https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/apply-for-a-visa

Select appropriate visa options. it will look something like this.

Click on the RealMe Link at the bottom to start application

Step 3: Create a RealMe Account which serves as your application form. This is where you will be uploading all your infos and scanned documents.

Provide usual infos, username and password. This step will also ask for an email verification.

After Email verification, your RealMe account will now look something like this. Click the “Visitor Visa” Highlighted in RED.

Step 4: Fill up RealMe Form in order that is given.

Fill up all the “Identity and Contact” requirements. one after the other. Save infos from time to time.

This may be intimidating, but just say No to all these entries, unless you seriously have a condition to declare.

The interface still asks for this stage even if you declared “single” early on. Samok ha!

This is the part where you upload your JPEG and PDF files

The good thing about this interface is that it prompts you for detected errors such as this. Cool! Very first world!

Step 5: Submit online your completed RealMe Form. In 24 hours, you will receive an email confirmation and instructions on where to submit your passport. This is not yet your approval.

Step 6: Payment of Passport Handling Fee thru Bank.

While it is most common for applicants to submit their passports personally, NZ offers an option to pay through Banco de Oro, which is very favourable for people away from Manila. Passport handling will be catered by VFS Global, which is NZ embassy’s partner agency. Details can be found at http://www.vfsglobal.com/NewZealand/Philippines/how-to-apply.html

Instructions on Bank Transfer Payments are detailed on this website.

For my application, I paid the 570 Handling fee plus 380 Courier Fee for them to return my passport after assessment. I did not avail the SMS assistance anymore, since the updates on my application can be monitored on my RealMe Account

Print the bank form and show to the bank during payment.

Step 7: Submit Passport to VFS Office for Assessment and Verification

Photocopy Bank Deposit Slip/ Transfer Slip and submit this to VFS together with your valid passport, the printed and signed bank form, a printed copy of “thank you” page and the Email Confirmation. Applicants from the province may send their documents ti VFS via any preferred courier.

Step 8: Result

Once the result is released, VFS will send your passport back to your given address. Courier fee for the return is part of the prior payment.

NZ Visitor Visa issuance is indeed fast. I got my approval 4 days after submission of passport to VFS.

Points to remember:

As per website, results are released 20 days after the submission. However, most of the recent applicants got their results within 3 to 4 days!

Since this is an online application, no need to print and submit paper requirements. Unless your uploads are not clear, then they may ask for those.

You can apply as early as 6 months before the trip.

Grant on duration of stay varies. Wala talagang template for this. But definitely, your stay will not exceed 59 days at a time.

For online application, No more sticker on your passport. The approval certificate that will be emailed to you shall serve its purpose.

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So there, hopefully this blog will be of help by the time you apply for your own. Though I am fully aware that this guide will not guarantee approval for everybody. Kaya sabayan nyo nalang din ng Novena for 14 days with miryenda cream bread and mayonnaise.

This guide,however, is focused purely on tourism/holiday visit. For other types of application, see https://www.immigration.govt.nz for details.

Re Waived visa fee, there is no information on until when this waived fee will last. So while we are enjoying the current privilege, might as well consider visiting this green country very soon.

Lastly, if you are unsure of your documents, or if you find the D.I.Y. online application too complicated, please get in touch na lang with a reputable travel agency to process your papers. Life is short, wag na pa stress!