10 Days in New Zealand’s South Island | Ultimate Road Trip

10 Days in New Zealand’s South Island | Ultimate Road Trip

Hey everyone, we will be exploring New Zealand’s South Island for 10 days We’re traveling with family, so the route will be easygoing Our journey starts in Queenstown, let’s begin! We’re going to take a shuttle bus to our hire car A hire car is probably the best way to travel in this region We went with Best Car Rentals (I’ve linked them below) The entire process was smooth and they have good rates We’ll be staying in an Airbnb a couple minutes from the city centre This place is perched up on a hill The view is amazing As we’ll mostly be self-catering, a fully functional kitchen is very important There are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in total Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 We’re going to start the trip strong with the legendary Fergburger This place is almost a rite of passage when visiting Queenstown Despite being open for decades, they still have long queues There are a lot of interesting burger options We had to wait about 25 minutes to order I got the classic Fergburger with cheddar 100% worth the hype and wait, one of the best burgers I’ve had The fries are really good too, I especially love the wasabi mayo Let’s check out the city centre It’s super windy today! Queenstown sits on the shores of Lake Wakatipu giving it incredible lake and mountain views There are also tiny food carts dotted along the harbour’s edge What a backdrop The weather has changed drastically overnight You can barely see the mountains at the back The activity planned for this morning is actually perfect for a rainy day This is their classic cedar-lined hot pool But today I booked their tri-bathing pool Which starts with a steam shower to open up your pores and relax your muscles They recommend a 20 minute hot pool soak Followed by a 1-2 minute cold plunge Then you repeat the cycle one more time Each bathing session comes with a drink and a snack of your choice The pools are perched high above the Shotover River It feels moody and atmospheric with the morning mist Surprisingly, the weather is slowly clearing up Arrowtown is a charming former gold-rush town known for its history and autumn colours Its historic buidlings have been preserved Giving this town an old-world charm There’s something about an old sweets shop that I love Ice-cream for breakfast? This is a souvenir shop What a cute post office, it’s pink! Let’s send some postcards A post office this charming makes me want to use their services The stamps are round instead of square Hope my recipients enjoy them! This is a great little place for lunch or a coffee break We already had brunch at home so we’re here for a little pick-me-up I got a cafe latte as usual, thank you Bob for my first coffee on Ko-fi! I also ordered a sticky toffee pudding Can’t go wrong with this The town’s public library Even the Return Book slot is charming The local pub This town was founded during the 1860s gold rush It has reinvented itself through tourism, farming and heritage preservation The town is only 20 minutes away from Queenstown But it has a more laidback atmosphere This is one of my favourite shops here It’s a cinema, bar and a bookstore combined What a cozy interior Tickets for the gondola ride cost $66 NZD per person It goes all the way up to Bob’s peak where you get a panoramic view of the city Since it’s on every list of Queenstown ‘must-dos’, we decided to check it out This is the steepest cable car in the Southern Hemisphere The 450 metres ascent offers rapidly unfolding views of Lake Wakatipu You can take a further chairlift up and luge back down The views are stunning But honestly, I wouldn’t come up here just for the views unless you’re also doing the luge Or unless you’re interested in trying out its restaurant (don’t know how good it is though) You can get similar views for free if you don’t mind hiking up alternative viewpoints Let me show you one we found by chance, you don’t even have to hike to it! This isn’t a tourist destination, but someone marked it as ‘Banquito para mates’ on Google maps It translates to ‘a little bench for mate’? (Correct me if I’m wrong 😅) Does seem like a good spot for mate or any hot drink & best of all its peaceful and quiet We’re going to stop at a few spots on the way to Wanaka Apparently this is a great place for bungee jumping, zip lining and catapulting Looks so fun! Next stop: Cromwell This is a recreated town, showcasing Cromwell at its gold rush peak during the 1860s When plans for the Clyde Dam were made, the old town centre would have been flooded To save part of its history, locals moved several buildings to this area Creating the Cromwell Heritage Precinct They’ve also recreated some of the interiors of the buildings to reflect the 1860s It’s like stepping into a time capsule This is the interior of a newspaper printing office The town’s historic motor garage I can imagine how the streets were once filled with these An old bakehouse Really impressed that this whole place is free to enter This brick building has been converted into a souvenir shop A painting of this shop, so cute They have a beautiful selection of curated local wares, wines and produce This is their sister store – a cafe Perfect place for a coffee break All of their cakes look so good But I had to get their world-famous cinnamon scroll Served warm with a chunk of butter It’s crunchy on the outside but soft and pillowy on the inside Just look at the texture It’s absolutely delicious There’s also this little shop hidden in the backalleys that I really enjoyed It’s a tiny gift shop (you’re not allowed to take photos inside) But within the area, there are tiny fairy doors if you look closely A porcelain one here What’s this behind the flowers? I spot a little red one & there’s one hidden among the bricks! This is another 3 bed, 2 bath Airbnb The kitchen is well-equipped to cook most meals The place is fairly clean and well maintained & the bedrooms are bright and comfortable Each room has a double bed It’s spacious enough to accomodate a family of 5 It has a nice outdoor area too We’re going to fit in one more stop today as the weather might not be the best tomorrow It’s a secluded waterfall 1 hour away from Wanaka The journey is incredibly photogenic There’s also a lot of animals along the way To get to the waterfall, you do have to drive down an unsealed road It’s this bit that slows you down if you don’t have a 4WD A field of cows with the backdrop of snow mountains… This scenery is quintessentially New Zealand We’re coming up to the tricky bit now You’d have to drive through a few fords A 4WD is definitely ideal for the roads here, but we’re also managing with our SUV Cars that are lower to the ground will definitely struggle The alternative is to park up when it’s too deep to cross, and walk to the waterfall What an adventure After crossing 7 fords, we finally made it to Wishbone falls! It already looks impressive from afar It takes about 10 minutes to walk to the waterfall base The alpine landscape of tussocks and rocky mountains feels like a dream The falls are most powerful after heavy rain or snowmelt In dry season, they can shrink to a gentle trickle Thankfully, the falls are in full flow today The name comes from the fact it splits into 2 streams, forming a wishbone shape This is one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve been to With its alpine origins, the water is icy cold Perfect for a dip in the summer We’re eating out tonight This is a good place for reasonably priced food The portions here are great too! I got a pineapple fried rice We’ve been cooking at home for dinner so decided to give ourselves a break Every dish was decent so this place was a good shout This is the iconic ‘That Wānaka Tree’, New Zealand’s most photographed tree Even early in the morning, there’s already a crowd We’re all a little tired and feeling the jet lag today So we’re keeping today’s itinerary pretty chill It’s an easy 10 minutes walk to Diamond Lake Which isn’t too impressive up close A further 30 minute hike will bring you to the summit for more impressive views The name comes from the fact that it sparkles like a diamond under sunlight From here, you can continue your hike to the Rocky Mountains But we’re going to head to our next spot Besides Lake Wanaka, there’s also Lake Hawea & it’s looking a beautiful turquoise blue A stick library for dogs 🥺 Grocery shopping for tonight’s dinner The rotisserie chicken is always a great option for something quick and easy This is our day 4 done! We’re driving through Lindis Pass Which is known for its golden tussock hills There’s a view point you can stop by for photos As the drive can be quite long, I like to break it up by planning little stops in between I had this place marked down initially to stretch our legs So I wasn’t expecting to walk into a large field of lupins It’s currently early December so its peak lupin season & they usually fluorish around riverbanks Pit stop for lunch This place sits between Twizel and Wānaka, making it popular with tourists My brother ordered a slow-cooked lamb open sandwich, which he said was delicious I thought the quiche was just okay, but it did the job and filled us up These clay cliffs were formed over 2 million years ago, older than any human settlement in NZ! They were carved out by ancient glaciers, rivers, and erosion over the years Even today, their shapes continue to slowly change If it weren’t for the greenery, this place would look like a different planet It feels like I’m on Mars This is amazing Let’s head back to Earth I was told you have to try NZ’s glacier salmon where salmon are farmed in icy glacial water rather than the ocean Cold water means slower growth, which gives the salmon a firmer texture Glacial water is also naturally low in parasites, which adds to the salmon’s quality You’ll find every cut of salmon you can imagine here It’s more cost effective for us to get a huge slice to cook than to eat at the shop & we’re going to try the premium belly sashimi too The salmon costed us 84 NZD, and the sashimi was 30 NZD (for 100g) This is one of the largest Airbnbs I’ve stayed in It honestly did not look this spacious on the listing There’s a huge garden with a BBQ area (a rainbow!) and there’s even a second living room The kitchen is very well-equipped, you can cook almost anything and even bake I paid around 515 NZD per night, which is great value for money Bedroom 2 Bedroom 3 Bedroom 4 Cooked half our salmon for dinner! We only seasoned with salt and pepper, but it was so creamy and buttery The sashimi melts in your mouth too I really enjoyed our glacier salmon exploring lake pukaki, mt cook, lake tekapo
day 6 It’s currently 5:30am and the sun is slowly rising We decided to start the day early to catch the morning golden hour The skies are glowing a faint pink It feels ethereal It’s almost always a struggle for me to get up this early But there are never any regrets with sceneries like this I’m starting to see some lupins This spot is off the eastern arm of Lake Pukaki Waking up early was totally worth it My tip is to drive past Lake Pukaki Power Station and keep an eye out for scenic spots This is another spot we found by the road side Someone already parked up and was making a cup of coffee What a romantic way to live life Let’s make our way closer to Mt Cook Even the roads are so scenic here What a stunning lookout point Mt Cook hides behind a blanket of clouds today ☁️ We are getting pretty hungry & this is the only cafe close by that’s open They serve drinks and mostly cabinet food The views from the cafe is gorgeous We each got a pie or a pastry, it may not look amazing… but the vegetable cream pie I had was surprisingly delicious Overall a satisfying breakfast Right across from the café, there’s a field full of sheep Along Mt Cook road, there’s multiple marked stop off points for photos So we’re just pulling over when a spot looks good which meant stopping a lot because everywhere was so beautiful The closer we get to Mt Cook, the more dramatic the landscape The mountains itself are turning darker and darker Spotted a mama duck with her babies So cute! This is one of the most popular and scenic walks in New Zealand The paths are well-maintained and mostly flat, making it an easy hike Currently, the track is open up to the second bridge as they are doing maintenance The full track is estimated to reopen Autmun 2026 So we’re just going to stop here and grab a coffee! This appears to be an old mountaineers club turned into a cafe The old fittings are still there The whole place is decorated with mountaineering equipment and lined with a gallery of historic mountaineering photographs They wore suits back then to climb Mt Cook I love her outfit and hat It’s the perfect weather for a hot chocolate This is a shorter hike compared to the Hooker Vallery trail (~25 minutes) But it does have some steep climbs up We reached the Blue Lake that’s no longer blue This is because it now holds rainwater which appears green, rather than glacial water The Tasman Glacier has shrunk over the years and no longer feeds into the Blue Lake What was once part of the glacier has melted and turned into the Tasman Lake The glacier has now retreated all the way back (ice covered with dark debris) Let’s go get a closer look via the second path It’s so beautiful Sometimes you can see chunks of ice that has broken off the glacier We’re back home for a quick dinner as we want to catch the sunset at Lake Tekapo We thought premade pizza would be a good shout as it’s just 12 minutes in the oven It’s actually not bad! Paired with leftovers from last night The good thing about travelling here in December is that sunset is at 9pm You have so much daylight for activities After a brief rest, we’re back on the road & to our luck, Mt Cook is completely clear of clouds Right across Mt Cook viewpoint, I spotted a large field of lupins I’ve shared a link of the rough location But you may need to drive around, as the exact location may change slightly every year As beautiful as they are, lupins are invasive weeds in NZ They’re not native and can harm local plants and wildlife So despite their beauty, efforts are being made to control their spread It’s very likely that you’ve seen this church before as it’s one of the most famous and photographed churches in NZ set on the shores of the beautiful Lake Tekapo making it a great place to catch the sunset It’s peaceful to watch the skies change colour & shades of pink slowly envelop the surrounding landscape On clear nights, you can also see the milky way from here as it’s in the Dark Sky Reserve We had a beautiful start and a beautiful end to the day Pit stop at: Cardrona Hotel One of NZ’s oldest and most photographed hotel The interior has a timeless, rustic pub atmosphere There’s often a fire burning during the colder months There’s a guy named Jimmy Patterson that used to own this hotel from 1920-1960s He had an interesting rule on how much his patrons could drink Men travelling over the dangerous Crown Range were only allowed one drink while those travelling to Wanaka were allowed two He famously preferred not to serve women at all! The outdoor area The garden is filled with flowers The buildings next to the hotel are also historic and charming It’s worth checking out the gift shop for unique souvenirs If you’re not wanting a full meal at the Cardrona Hotel this is a good alternative We’re just going to get a couple of small bites as we had a big breakfast at home From this point, it’s another 3 hours to Te Anau, where we’ll be staying for 2 nights We’re staying in Te Anau as it’s the closest town to Milford Sounds The cottage is so lovely and the host even left us some gifts All the bedrooms have a large window with views of the trees outside It just feels so comfortable This is the smallest of the rooms The bathroom is sparkling clean The kitchen is small but well-equipped The cozy living room features a fireplace We whipped up a quick dinner before calling it a day We have a really early start tomorrow, so see you in the morning We have a cruised booked at 8:50am in Milford Sounds and we’re starting the drive at sunrise I read online that the drive can take 2-2.5 hours, but sometimes longer if there’s congestion We’re avoiding the congestion problem by starting the journey really early I’m giving us 3.5 hours to allow time for stops as well
Te Anau Downs Scenic Lookout I’m glad I accounted for it, as it’s some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve seen in my life The whole landscape is shrouded in mist making everything feel dream-like The water is incredibly blue We had every viewpoint to ourselves and got to enjoy the scenery completely undisturbed At this point we had to get a move on as I don’t want to be late for the cruise Apparently, this would have been even more impressive in the rain where you can see hundreds of waterfalls cascading down I can start to see some cars now, the roads have been completely empty till now It’s passing through this tunnel that causes congestion during peak time as it only allows one flow of traffic at a time As it’s still early we had no delays Another tip is to park at the free parking along Deepwater Basin Road If no one in your group has mobility issues, it’s an easy 15-20 minute walk to the harbour and you can save yourself the $10/hour parking at the public carpark Plus you get a sneak peak of the views to come It’s like a mirror! There are a lot of large ships on the dock But we’re going for the smaller boats run by Mitre Peak Cruises It’s a smaller group and they take care not to overbook, so there’s plenty of spaces There’s free hot drinks on board I really need a coffee No meals are included so we packed some snacks and breakfast for the journey The 2 hour cruise begins! Mitrepeak does the earliest departing cruise So you can avoid the crowds that come with the tour buses Being on a smaller boat means you can get really close to the stunning cliffs and waterfalls Like really really close This waterfall is actually really tall Boat for scale We’re right next to the cliffs, the captain is very skilled The other boat is stopping to look at something Turns out it was a pair of sleepy seals We’re coming up to Seal Rock A pod of dolpins started following the boat That was amazing, seeing the dolphins bow-riding the waves! We’re coming up to the iconic Bowen Falls This waterfall alone supplies all the water to the Milford Township Including the drinking water on the boat, is this why my coffee tasted so good? Fun fact: Ridley Scott’s Alien Covenant was filmed here Let’s head back home Mum is making soup for tonight I’m really grateful to have her meals on this trip This is cucumber with sesame oil and garlic We got a rotisserie chicken again It’s an early dinner We’re going to have apple pie for dessert The premade ones are actually quite good I wanted to check out an antique shop in Manapouri when I saw this car halfway Maybe because it was bright green but it really caught my attention Turns out it was a sign for a cute little bookshop Called the ‘Two Wee Bookshops’ We met a friendly shopkeeper named Phil, who told us that the owner is an author & had written 3 books about this ‘wee bookshop’ ‘The Bookseller At The End Of The World’ I already love the title So I have found the bookshops at the end of the world You know I just love whimsical finds like this Finding this completely by chance brought me so much joy There’s also a children’s section This place was the initial reason why I wanted to check out Manapouri An antique shop housed in an old church building There are so many interesting pieces in here Most items are well maintained Nothing felt ‘dusty’ Love the complaints button A fun shop to browse through if you like treasure hunting I love the dried orange and cinnamon decor on the Christmas tree Harry Potter glasses These clocks are beautiful It’s a 2 hour drive back to Queenstown Pit stop for lunch It’s a warm and cozy cafe This area is surrounded by mountains, so everywhere has a beautiful view The matcha latte here is good Also started the book and so far I’m enjoying it Fish tacos for lunch My brother got the beef brisket one The tacos shells were abit dry, I thought the whole meal was just okay But honestly, the real reason to stop here is the playground out front… Hands down most beautiful playground I’ve been in my life even on a gloomy day like this There’s also an outdoor gym that looks pretty cool And another playground section for smaller kids The kitchen So spacious and so many windows The dining room It has 3 beds/2 bath Bedroom 2 There’s a balcony out front It looks like the weather is clearing up There’s also a hot tub at the back! I think this Airbnb has the best view yet We decided to have Fergburger again because it was just that good 😋 Trying out new flavours – I got the ‘Codfather’, a cod fish burger The boys did some research and apparently Tropical Swine is the one It has grilled pineapple in it This is probably the best fish burger I’ve had but the Tropical Swine is much better With a view like this, I have to use the balcony This book is actually a memoir of Ruth, the owner of the Two Wee bookshop With short stories of the interesting people she’s met since opening her bookshop Couldn’t have asked for a better view to read a book Today’s our last full day in NZ Starting our day with breakfast at the Airbnb Yogurt with sprinkles? Trying to enjoy this beautiful Airbnb as much as possible Our itinerary is quite simple today A trip to Glenorchy and chill for the rest of the day at home This is the famous red shed in Glenorchy There are lot of scenic walks and viewpoints in this area I’ll include a link in the description on the many walks Found this cute ice cream truck that serves real fruit ice cream Today’s flavour is mixed berry The berries and the ice cream gets put in together The portion is very generous & it’s delicious! I wish I got my own and wasn’t sharing 😅 Make sure to check out the curiosity shop next door too They have a lot of cute and unique souvenirs Like these painted blocks Love these black and white cow ones We found this secluded spot on the way back New Zealand is so beautiful, it feels like there’s a hidden gem around every corner While I love planning each stop, allowing space for serendipity feels just as right There’s a secluded pool hidden at the base of this waterfall Maybe we’ll save that for next time Thank you for watching
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The ultimate 10-day road trip through New Zealand’s beautiful South Island

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⏳ Timestamps
(00:55) Day 1 | Arrival into Queenstown, Airbnb tour, Fergburger
(05:28) Day 2 | Onsen, Arrowtown, Skyline Gondola, bench viewpoint
(15:07) Day 3 | Queenstown to Wanaka: Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge, Cromwell Heritage Precinct, Wanaka Airbnb, Wishbone falls
(27:27) Day 4 | That Wanaka Tree, Diamond Lake, Lake Hawea
(31:10) Day 5 | Wanaka to Twizel: Lindis Pass, Ahuriri River, Omarama Clay Cliffs, High Country Salmon, Twizel Airbnb
(37:38) Day 6 | Lake Pukaki, Mt Cook, Lake Tekapo
(50:25) Day 7 | Cardrona Hotel, Te Anau Airbnb
(54:40) Day 8 | Milford Sounds
(01:04:52) Day 9 | Manapouri, best playground ever, Queenstown Airbnb and sunset
(01:13:13) Day 10 | Glenorchy, Lake Face Creek Falls

☕ If you’d like to buy me a coffee
https://ko-fi.com/ririregine

📅 Travel date: 26 November – 7 December 2025

🏠 Accommodation
Queenstown Airbnb 1 https://tinyurl.com/2r9sy9jd
Wanaka Airbnb https://tinyurl.com/4jwncztb
Twizel Airbnb https://tinyurl.com/2rf5h6ty
Te Anau Airbnb https://tinyurl.com/2nrj6bzc
Queenstown Airbnb 2 https://tinyurl.com/379z2nt2

🚗 Others
Car rental https://bestcarrentals.co.nz/
Mitrepeak cruise https://www.mitrepeak.com/, book through Bookme for cheaper rates https://www.bookme.co.nz/
Glenorchy walks https://www.queenstownnz.co.nz/stories/post/glenorchy-walks-hikes/

📍 Places mentioned
Fergburger https://maps.app.goo.gl/NxPXCRD6tadNN53ZA
Onsen Hot Pools and Day Spa https://maps.app.goo.gl/Jm9wDwAqZdiMaAZF7
Postmasters Kitchen + Bar https://maps.app.goo.gl/h16kiKn78X8WVmoU8
Skyline Queenstown https://maps.app.goo.gl/9dXeUxSExep7LXo49
Banquito para mates https://maps.app.goo.gl/xch7fYFhz73Gx6qi9
Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge https://maps.app.goo.gl/dqLT7NKYJzGFoC3s7
Cromwell Heritage Precinct https://maps.app.goo.gl/L3jKBg35nw3Z8efW9
The Store Room https://maps.app.goo.gl/gv9D7B5wo3qXYJrn8
Pinot Junction – Lakeside Cafe https://maps.app.goo.gl/gGUqfFwStNHSme1z8
Wishbone Falls https://maps.app.goo.gl/4vLD8xs4KgybNm4r9
Thai Taste Wanaka https://maps.app.goo.gl/u4S2rTWBYhmX95ui9
Diamond Lake Conservation Area https://maps.app.goo.gl/wgHXniurZ3os675K8
Lake Hawea Esplanade Reserve https://maps.app.goo.gl/DHQSywg9dCypL2xt6
Wedding Tree https://maps.app.goo.gl/76R8bHaDMyowwKk56
Lindis Pass Viewpoint https://maps.app.goo.gl/9siTmbnzKwDUzeau7
Ahuriri River Lookout https://maps.app.goo.gl/3iygAm1TaQnWPH9EA
The Wrinkly Rams https://maps.app.goo.gl/a9MpcATarpsi7BcP9
Clay Cliffs https://maps.app.goo.gl/hpeBcJMH8SkF3wZFA
High Country Salmon https://maps.app.goo.gl/mNv6d5wM13PW48GbA
Lake Pukaki Power Station https://maps.app.goo.gl/PXvfq6sjZc6d4rzKA (drive past this and keep looking out for pretty spots, changes every year!)
Tapataia Mahaka Peter’s Lookout https://maps.app.goo.gl/7r4X8hSqh6HrEbfT8
Hooker Valley track https://maps.app.goo.gl/6bawfogVjJS7nGmW9
The Old Mountaineers Cafe https://maps.app.goo.gl/S6ukgJRdVcFnvvzV9
Tasman Glacier View near the lake https://maps.app.goo.gl/ApL7rCD4i9vztSqk8
Mount Cook view https://maps.app.goo.gl/kTpjRpLTock9n8Qo6
Lupins Viewpoint (Pukaki Canal) https://maps.app.goo.gl/W18RgNWUTcMt8HgXA
The Church of the Good Shepherd https://maps.app.goo.gl/iCDyfvRe6pDSrT5N9
Cardrona Hotel https://maps.app.goo.gl/MkdSsi4LmUSRW5C88
Cardrona Valley General Store https://maps.app.goo.gl/KP6eaR4LPbKobm877
Te Anau Downs Scenic Lookout https://maps.app.goo.gl/uCJH4mxfqT9p2uwC8
Lake Gunn Viewpoint https://maps.app.goo.gl/zcDPLPvdRPUJcjLU9
Falls Creek https://maps.app.goo.gl/V8nXkXfw98HeoDRb8
Monkey creek https://maps.app.goo.gl/LKRZGdpe5MittrcA8
Milford Sound Free Parking https://maps.app.goo.gl/J9Mou6eoKKS4DWg97
Milford Sound Foreshore Walk https://maps.app.goo.gl/PYc9gGNm6aEcH7Ln8
Two Wee Bookshops https://maps.app.goo.gl/kRdiZBc1cjEGHTLdA
Time Traders https://maps.app.goo.gl/NpE8eYszHsxKq49o9
The Farmhouse https://maps.app.goo.gl/iu7XN3D5Vk3kfMMi8
Hanley Park Playground https://maps.app.goo.gl/9b6GmdUXKLAcvP739
Lake Face Creek Falls https://maps.app.goo.gl/fW5ybyFenZXKiCQy8
Real Fruit Ice Cream Glenorchy https://maps.app.goo.gl/mRtQXMNXGqy9K8EAA

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