Regarding the recent flooding in the South Island, tourists with travel plans in the near future do not need to panic. The latest information we have is as follows: 1. The water levels in the high-water areas of Lake Wakatipu and Lake Wanaka in Queenstown have reached their peak, and the weather has cleared up. This week is expected to be mostly sunny, with no more rain predicted, so the flood risk has been alleviated. Businesses along the shores of Lake Wanaka have resumed operations. The famous Wanaka Tree will remain partially submerged for a while longer due to the still-high water levels. Queenstown is experiencing clear weather, and recent photos show that while the water levels are high, the risk of flooding has diminished. 2. The South Island highways, which were previously closed, have started to reopen. State Highway 72 has resumed traffic, although there is heavy congestion, so travelers should allow extra time if using this route. 3. There is still flooding at the Rangitata Bridge section of State Highway 1, but once the water recedes, traffic will be able to resume. There is also flooding at the intersection of State Highway 1 and State Highway 79. The Timaru District Council has stated on social media that there is no risk of the recently reopened bridges on State Highway 72 being closed again. 4. The goal is to reopen State Highway 6 on the West Coast before Christmas, but this is entirely dependent on the weather conditions. If the weather remains favorable, the road repair progress will be normal, but if there is another heavy rain, it will affect the repair schedule. Therefore, travelers planning to visit the West Coast of the South Island around Christmas and New Year's need to closely monitor the road repair progress. The New Zealand Transport Agency's update on December 10th at 4pm: SH6 - The past two days have been sunny, and road repair progress has been smooth. The agency has been working to clear the landslide section between Fox and Franz Josef towns, aiming to reopen the Hokitika - Makarora section before Christmas. The Whataroa - Harihari section, which has suffered the most damage, is still closed due to multiple landslides, and the agency is striving to reopen it before Christmas ?
New Zealand Q&A
41. Do not expect too much comfort in the itinerary above, as the people here are not into that kind of thing. They are all doing business in a practical way. 42. Even for waterproof shoes, if possible, prepare two pairs. 43. The wool sweaters here are said to be extremely warm, but they are made of real materials and can be a bit scratchy to wear. 44. The public security is good, so you can basically rest assured. 45. There are very few people on the road, so don't hesitate to ask for help when needed, and try to lend a hand when someone else needs help. 46. The public restrooms all have toilet paper. Remember to flush it down the toilet after use. For female hygiene products and used tissue, just throw them in the trash can. 47. When taking photos, in addition to a wide-angle lens, remember to bring a telephoto lens and a tripod. You can't predict the scenery around the next corner, or whether you will be able to see the aurora. 48. A selfie stick and a GoPro make a great combination. When climbing a mountain, it's very convenient to have one hand free for taking photos when it's too cold, and the GoPro can also be mounted on the car to shoot video. 49. The sun can be very bright, so remember to wear sunglasses, especially when driving. 50. The weather is changeable, and the weather forecast is constantly changing. Local websites will be more accurate, so wear multiple layers of clothing and be prepared to adjust at any time ?
Iceland Q&A