Fri 26 Dec Newcastle 12.15 Heathrow 13.35
Fri 26 Dec Heathrow 18.40 Hong Kong 14.30 + 1 Day
Arrive Hong Kong, Transfer to Metropark Kowloon for 3 nights. During the 3 nights join the two excursions that are included in the Essential package (Hong Kong Island Tour and Harbour Night Cruise).
Tue 30 Dec Hong Kong 09.20 Sydney 21.35
Check out of the Metropark Kowloon and transfer to the airport. On arrival in Sydney you have 08 Days of your own arrangement (we stayed with family).
Wed 07 Jan Sydney 09.50 Ayers Rock 11.45
On arrival in Ayers Rock, join the APT Uluru, Liru Walk and Sound of Silence tour (RLS3) stopping at the Sails in the Desert resort. Transfer to Alice Springs (AAT or APT U21 arriving at 6.30pm).
Fri 09 Jan
This morning check out of the sails in the desert for your transfer back to Alice Springs. On arrival in Alice Springs you will be dropped at your hotel. *** Hotel owns arrangements 2 nights stay required (we stayed at the Crowne Plaza in Alice Springs). Book AAT Kings ½ day Alice Tour and Red Centre Dreaming Experience Dinner. We also booked a Hot Air Balloon ride over the mountains near Alice Springs - fabulous!
Sun 11 Jan Alice Springs 11.30 Brisbane 14.35
This morning check out of the hotel and transfer to Alice Springs airport. On arrival in Brisbane make your own way to the Sebel Suites Brisbane for 4 nights stay.
Thurs 15 Jan Brisbane 16.15 Christchurch 22.35
Check out of the Sebel Suites and transfer to airport. On Arrival in Christchurch, transfer to the Ibis Christchurch for 2 nights.
17 Jan pick up hire car in Christchurch and travel to Twizel, stay at Matuka Lodge in Ostler Room.
To see - Lake Tekapo, Church of the Good Shepherd, Drive to Mount Cook for views and Sir Edmund Hilary Alpine Centre (fantastic). We tried to get a glacier helicopter trip but the cloud cover was to great.
18 Jan travel to Dunedin, staying at Glenfield House, Armagh Room.
19 Jan - morning trip on the Taieri Gorge train before travelling to Queenstown.
19 Jan - travel to Queenstown, staying at Crowne Plaza (upgraded to lake view room and breakfast included).
20 Jan - trip with Real Journeys to Milford Sound and overnight in Te Anau at the Te Anau Lodge (an old Convent). Evening trip to Te Anau glowworm caves.
21 Jan - trip and overnight to Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys. Fantastic!!
22 Jan - return to Queenstown, overnight in Crowne Plaza (upgraded again). Evening trip on the Queenstown Gondola and Kiwi Haka Show
23 Jan - drive to Franz Josef via the Crown Pass and Lake Wanaka, staying at the Westwood Lodge (Coach House Suite). We voted this place as having the best en suite bathroom of the whole trip.
24 Jan - early morning helicopter trip over the glaciers and glacier landing. A trip of a lifetime, well worth the wait.
Travel on to Hokitika, staying overnight in Kapitea Lodge (on way stopped for a river boat trip to a glacier lake). Kapitea Lodge had a wonderful spa and superb views.
25 Jan - Train from Greymouth over Arthur's Pass to Christchurch.
Overnight at Hotel Grand Chancellor (Ibis was over booked).
Mon 26 Jan
This morning transfer to the train station for the train from Christchurch to Picton. On arrival in Picton, make your own way to the Beachcomber Inn for 1 night.
Tue 27 Jan
Check out of the Beachcomber Inn and make your way to the Ferry terminal. Catch the ferry as foot passenger to Wellington. On Arrival in Wellington collect a car from the Ferry Terminal Depot and make your way to the Waitomo Lodge Motel, Te Kuiti for 1 night.
Wed 28 Jan - o/h does the Black Abyss Cave tour (Blackwater Rafting), I do the Waitomo Glow Worm cave tour and the Ruakuri Caves tour (staggering cathedral caves)
After the caves we head to the Heritge Rotorua for 2 nights.
Thurs 29 Jan - a relaxing morning at the Polynesian Spa for massages and the famous geothermal hot water pools.
An afternoon at the Devils Gate mud park - awesome!
Evening at the Mitai Maori cultural show and hangi (food cooked in the ground).
Fri 30st Jan - head to Auckland and return car to car hire depot.
Friday 30 Jan – Saturday 31st Jan: 1 night Auckland Crowne Plaze.
Saturday 31st January Bus NL7324 8.30am Auckland – Paihia (Bay of Islands) arriving 12.40pm for 7 nights private sailing Itinerary (return yacht by 12.00 noon Saturday 7th February).
Chartered through Fairwind Yacht Charters, Opua. Spent an active week on a Lotus 10.6, Different Drummer. Lots of excitement and sailed throughout these wonderful islands.
Saturday 7th February Bus GS7641 4.30pm Paihia – Auckland arriving 8.10pm
7 Feb – 10 Feb (Tuesday) - Auckland at the Crowne Plaza.
My o/h had a great day sailing on a New Zealand racing yacht, we both enjoyed a lovely dinner in the rotating SkyCity Tower restaurant, and planned the 5 week extension of our holiday.
Keep tracking the blog to see the details of our 5 week extension in New Zealand.
17 March – 20 March Essential San Francisco (Travel) staying at Sheraton, Fisherman’s Wharf (includes shuttle bus transfers to/from airport).
This was brilliant - it included a luxury tour of San Francisco including the Golden Gate Bridge, and a walk and dinner around China Town.
We also booked ourselves a trip to Alcatraz, walked around the fascinating Fisherman's Wharf, and met up with our Canadian friends who live in San Francisco.
Fri 17 March San Francisco 16.15 Heathrow 10.25 + 1 day
Saturday 21 March Heathrow 12.45 Newcastle 14.00
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Travel, Holiday, Australia, Sydney, Uluru, Ayers Rock, Sails in the Desert, Alice Springs, Crowne Plaza, Brisbane, Sebel Suites, New Zealand, Blackwater Rafting, Real Journeys, Christchurch, Twizel, Matuka Lodge, Dunedin, Edmund Hilary, Mt Cook, Glenfield House, Taieri Gorge, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Franz Josef, Westwood Lodge, Glacier Helicopters, Kapitea Lodge, Picton, Rotorua, Polynesian Spa, Mitai, Devils Gate, Auckland, Bay of Islands, Fairwind Charters, San Francisco, Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Qantas, British Airways, Air New Zealand
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