New Zealand Day 3

a grocery run to the Jones Garden. Beautiful rose garden in the back of the store.

At AJ Hackett Bungy Auckland - the very first bungy jump site

Queenstown skyline, a steep cable car ride to the top

The best views in the region are found here, spread out in a spectacular 220-degree panorama, with breath taking views of Coronet Peak, The Remarkables mountain range and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks. 

For an adrenalin rush catch the chairlift to ride the unique Luge, a non-motorised cart for a 800m blast of downhill fun ~

A breath taking view

Stop by Arrow Town

Stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel with a spectacular sea view

New Zealand Day 2

Enjoying the 6am sun rise at our hotel room terrace at the Peppers Blue Water Resort

Good Shepherd Church

A different perspective of Lake Tekapo

In front of the Good Shepherd church

At Aoraki Mount Cook - Home of the highest mountains and longest glaciers.

hike up to Kea Point

Rainbow on our way back

Stargazing - can see the milky way with naked eyes, it is a dome!

New Zealand Day 1

Our first stop in NZ is the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch. The Hagglund Ride experience is fun and authentic.

Lake Tekapo

We stayed at the Peppers Blue Water Resort, it's clean and beautiful. This is the cafeteria area where we enjoy our daily breakfast.

Private Kitchen - Gitone

Going to private kitchen is exciting, because it gives customer a chance to sample new food outside the traditional restaurant experience.  However, it is also risky to try private kitchen without friends' recommendation as it can be costly and disappointing. Sometimes, even with friends' recommendations, private kitchen's quality consistency could vary.

The restaurant has a subtle ancient Chinese persona, very zen and tranquil. 

I have been to Gitone several times, and it never disappointed. Gitone is a place that operates in threefolds: a gallery for art display, work art shop, and private fine dining place. The owner, Terrence Lee, is a renowned Hong Kong painter and ceramic artist. Gitone provides ceramic workshops during the day. It is not a bad idea to spend a day in Gitone with your friends to learn ceramic art and then have dinner afterwards. Given the owner's artistic background, the displaying of each dish is a piece of art itself. The plates they use are hand made from the workshops, so each plate is unique.

The workshop is pretty spacious, and you can carry your art work home :)

The food is delicious. They are not only beautifully display, but also savory. Gitone serves Asian fusion that includes many traditional Cantonese delicacies, such as abalone, bird's nest soup and sea cucumber etc. 

Sliced Abalone garnished with sea urchin in chinese wine. serves only dry ice.

Fresh Lobster sauteed in black truffle sauce.

Fillet of East Star Garoupa with crispy dried scallop and fresh garden greens. This dish is heavenly, the fish is steamed perfectly.  It truly represents the essence of Cantonese cuisines.

Dim Sum trinity platters - big prawn roll, pan fried jumbo scallop and steamed veggie dumpling.

Dessert trinity platters - fresh watermelon with aloe vera juicy ice, guava & lime pudding and red bean pancake glazed with cointreau liqueurs

These pictures are only the highlights of our set dinner. There are three sets of meun, HKD 488, HKD 688 and HKD 888. If you would like to experience this artistic and luscious journey, please remember to make your reservation at least one day ahead. And 50% deposit is required. This part is a bit troublesome, because my wire transfer didn't go through, so I ended up paying an extra visit to the restaurant to pay cash. But the owner is very friendly. I still highly recommended Gitone :)

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Restaurant Info

G/F, GB27-28, Lei King Wan, 45 Tai Hong Street, San Wan Ho, Hong Kong

It is nearby the Grand Promenade in San Wan Ho.