ON THE ROAD TO THE LAND OF KIWIS:
This will be a very long travel day with just two flights. DEN to SFO, then SFO to AKL. Good layover so the UAL lounge will be a welcome haven.
Tips for these long flights is stay hydrated, wear compression socks, get up move about as you can. We have good seats so will be a tad more comfortable than economy seats.
The pre-trip New Zealand forms were easily done online. This should make our arrival easy.
Our first 3 days in Auckland will be spend wandering about the waterfront. Here we will find a hotdog and the Two Dollar Things Plus Store (think Dollar Store) and walk the Kiwi Trail. We will be making a one day trip to Hobbiton and then on another day we will go to Tiritiri Matangi. The later will be a ferry ride to this island, I am describing it as a mini Galapagos, as there are many endemic critters there.
Then we will be joining an Adventures by Disney trip using our Disney Vacation Club Points. Just guessing we may find we know some folks on this trip.
After this portion of the trip we will spend a few days in Queenstown exploring there. I know a burger joint there.
I do have a few pubs scoped out for some of the own our own time.
The birds and critters I am sure I will find very interesting. A visit to the International Antarctic Centre will be interesting to me. Also the flamingo chicks should be hatching at the Auckland Zoo. Thanks so much for following along and feel free to share.
The Flight:
Silly us we were, we up and at um at 0400 and our flight was not till 1545 ish. Anyway, breakfast and off to the UAL Club in DEN. First flight was uneventful.
To the Club Room at SFO for a bite to eat and a drink. The flight from SFO to AKL (Auckland) was also uneventful, nice service and we might have gotten some sleep. We actually arrived a good bit early.
We had completed our Visa and entry forms online and as such we breezed through Passport Control and customs.
We decided to simply get a taxi to our hotel, being tired and not wanting to do a shared bus which would take several stops etc etc. The cost was just a few dollars more and after a long flight well worth the efficiency.
Arriving early, our room was not ready so we repacked and stowed our bags and went for a walkabout.
First, we checked out TUCK, a bakery/sandwich/pie shop attached to our hotel. It looks good and we will get our hotel breakfast there. On the corner is a Metro Convenience Store and is a good place for our snack, supplies, etc. We did get an ice cream bar, mango ice for me and Lynn had a Carmel with White Chocolate .
Then we were off to the waterfront to find landmarks for further exploration in the upcoming days. Located a bank with an ATM and got a little bit of cash. Credit cards are widely accepted but a bit cash is handy.
I had forgotten Sir Edmond Hillary is on the $5 New Zealand note. We happened to be in Tibet with his son, Peter Hillary, when this bill was released. He was rather proud of this and rightly fully so.
We located some of the Kiwis on the Kiwi Trail. ( we will follow that trail tomorrow), the main shopping district, location for our Tiritiri ferry dock, and the Maritime Museum, just so happens they have an Antarctica Exhibition.
Just a few blocks away from our hotel we discover a Brew Pub called Good George, a very welcoming and friendly staff, with excellent fish and chips and a nice cider. Lynn had their non alcoholic ginger beer.
A stop a the Metro store for items for dinner and then to the hotel. We had a short wait before the room was ready. We have a nice room on the 6th floor with a great city view. We are unpacked and fighting to keep our eyes open.
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