Just took me forever to figure out how to upload that darn picture of my bags, so I'm going to need to figure out how to do the pictures thing much better. I don't like all that clunkiness (THANK YOU GOOGLE BLOGGER FOR MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT!)
Ok, I'm recovered now. 💀
Quick - an unappologetic plug for Shelley Ryder - the awesomest Travel Planner I could have hoped for. She has been patient, listened to what I was wanting, made all kinds of changes & rearrangements, and was 100% beautiful and enthusiastic about the trip for me. Excellent work keeping me excited & minimizing my anxiety. I KNOW that's what she gets paid for.... but a Beautiful Young Lady throughout. Just remember - there are a lot of optional deviations from the plan that are listed, but cost extra. So I will be considering those based on time & cost.
https://www.newzealandcoachtours.co.nz
She's got my Itenerary posted online, but since I can't share it without showing you all what obscenities I was cursing myself with over the pricing.... I'm copying.... And some of it is *Not* what She planned. So you see..... Shelley planned 7/13 - 7/19, but Natasha Pearce and I worked out the rest. And to be REALLY FAIR... Natasha gets all the credit.
Ok.... so here's the plan....
7/8 - Park in cheap commuting lot & get shuttle to BWI
9:30 am Air Canada AC7503 - BWI to Toronto
1:15 pm Air Canada AC0113 - Toronto to Vancouver
8:05 pm Air NZ NZ0023 - Vancouver to Auckland - 5am arrival 7/10
Arrival 7/10 - Natasha picks me up & I beg for a bed to pass out in - or I will be so wired that I will ask for more coffee and jump into the Ocean if Tash can get me close enough.... of course... winter.... highs in 50F's (that's like 10C - and we'll be in METRIC LAND! It's like Christmas! Thank God! Sanity & people who measure in base 10s!!!!)
7/11 - Tash has work in the morning so she will leave me to her wee ones. I promise to do whatever they say. AUCKLAND
7/12 - HOBBITON!!! OMG -- Yes.... it takes a couple of hours each way.... but this is soooo freaking Tolkein Disney World down here! I'm sorry .... my girls.... No.... That doesn't mean we're going to Disney..... Oh shoot.... they will never forgive me this, me thinks. Well.....
7/13 - Tasha takes me back to AKL so I can fly down to the South Island CHRISTCHURCH
Air New Zealand Flight 535
Sat, Jul 13-Confirmation #IBDSTH-No Updates
Auckland AKL
11:00 AM
Christchurch CHC
12:25 PM
- Arrive in Christ Church and private transfer to Hotel
- Receive Tour Pack with Atlas (YAY! Paper Maps!!!) and Itinerary printed (C28922 - rsv#)
- Go to Hotel - Ashley Hotel Christchurch
- Recommended optional Gondola Tour of Volcano??!!!! - Heck Yeah! -
- Heathcote Valley - collapsed rim of an extinct volcano - which exploded six million years ago
- nature walks, Time Tunnel
- Shuttle Bus available to get to Gondola
- Recommended optional Activity - Quake City - 299 Durham Street North, corner Armagh Street, Christchurch 8013
- 4 September 2010 and 22 February 2011 earthquakes
7/14 - TranzAlpine Scenic Train: Christchurch to Arthur's Pass Return
- 8:15 am departure
- 4:25pm return train - Arrival in Christchurch @ 6:30pm
- Canterbury Plains, gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River, 5 hours to explore Arthur's Pass village
- So..... lots of hiking opportunities. I'll be taking my backpack, journal, & reading. Lovely day to explore!
- Back at Ashley Hotel for the evening
7/15 --Christchurch to Mount Cook with GreatSights
- 7:00 am (ack!!) pick up from hotel
- Arrive at Mount Cook National Park (Hermitage complex) at 12:50
- Lake Tekapo, Church of the Good Shepherd, Southern Alps towards Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, home to New Zealand's tallest mountain,
- Suggested Activity: Tasman Valley 4WD Tour
- Suggested Activity: Big Sky Stargazing - So this one is a *definite* as long as the weather is clear.... and being Winter.... it should be..... sooooo excited for Southern Constellations!
- Hermitage Hotel Room Mount Cook View
7/16 - Mount Cook to Wanaka with GreatSights and Yello Taxis
- Pick up at 2:25 pm transport to Tarras & transfer to Wanaka (5:40 arrival)
- Wanaka Hotel
7/17 - Go Wild Waterfall Climb
- 10:00 am pickup Wanaka i-Site (103 Ardmore Street) - 3 hrs round trip
- Need a water bottle.... dangit.... haven't packed that
- Camera, sun protection (sun glasses, hat, sun block), sturdy shoes, something to swim in, small back pack, comfortable trekking clothes suitable for the weather on the day. - not sure about the swimming thing considering the time.... wait.... That *must* be summer recommendations.
- Provided: Transport to/from Wanaka town centre, guide and training, food/water, helmets, harness, gloves, via ferrata lanyard and safety equipment.
- 2:40 pm - Transportation to Queenstown - Blue Peaks Lodge
7/18 - Return to Wellington
- Air NZ Queenstown to Wellington - Reservation# IBDSTH
- tour Te Papa Museum of NZ
- Hotel - Bay Plaza Wellington
- Natasha Pearce arrives either this evening or next morning
7/19 - WETA Workshop Day! Yaahhhhzzzz!!!! - Lord of the Rings tour
7/20 - Returning to Auckland via Ruapehu - Tash mentioned staying the night here either on 19th or 20th - I'm in her hands at this point!
7/21 - Again -- continue to do what Tash says 😃 - Any Beach time would be welcome -- not for swimming, but for exploring the geology of the region. So much interesting geology in New Zealand!
7/22 - Last Day! So sad to say good-by to NZ and Tash! Will need to be inducted as an honorary Kiwi.
- 8pm return Flight - Air New Zealand Flight NZ 0024 - Auckland to Vancouver
- 10:30pm Air Canada Flight AC 0126 - Vancouver to Toronto
- 7/23 - 7:30 am Air Canada Flight AC7502 - Toronto to BWI arrival 8:55am
- Get my Car from the Long Term Parking Cheap - see if I can get the shuttle to them
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