GP

Hi
We will be arriving at Dunedin's Airport after flying in from SFO (via either Christchurch or Aukland)around 10am after leaving SFO at 9:30pm Any one out there willing to share how they felt the morning they arrived. We are in our early 50's. What I'm trying to get at is should I just plan for a dead day no activities,or could we enjoy a drive up the coast to the "boulders" and back. We are staying out on the Otago Peninsula.

Thanks
GP

wlzmatilida

Hi GP! (and fellow Bay Area resident!)

Soooo, let me get this straight...you're taking the non-stop on Air NZ from SFO - AKL and then getting on a domestic flight and departing Auckland for Dunedin? If that's the case, you're going to have a looonnng day!

I recommend aclimating to the current time right from the git go! After all those hours in airports, on a plane, by all means schedule some activity! Go for a nice long walk, then have a leisurely lunch, if you do need a nap, make it a short one, otherwise you'll be totally messed up for several days. If you can make it through the day, go to bed fairly early, get a good night's sleep and you should be up and ready to go the next day!

Hope this is helpful!

Regards,

Melodie
Certified Kiwi Specialist

kodi

I agree totally. I didn't plan too much the first day, but did take a long walk and enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine.
I don't think I'd drive up the coast, but rather stay head back into town and wander around. Or, since you are staying in the country, take a nice walk around the area.

Have a great time.

theheadysmiths

Biggest question is what time flight leaves SFO. Evening flight means you will eat a wonderful dinner and then have the opportunity to "sleep" until you wake up for a wonderful breakfast. Advise AGAINST staying up to watch the movies !

Leaving between 9-11 PM and 12 hours later arriving in NZ around 5 AM seems quite natural. I always take a sleeping pill and it overcomes the "quiet noises" around jet...

We had little jet-lag when we flew from LAX to Auckland then to Queenstown. In fact the first day we DID the bungy jump at Kawarau Bridge, walked around Queenstown, found lodging, then crashed.

jcasale

Since I NEVER sleep on airplanes, I have had a lot of chances to see what happens with jet lag. At most I allow myself about a 2hour nap on arrival if that is possible. But mostly I try to stay up and stay active until it's about the right time locally to go to bed. I am usually in pretty good shape then after a reasonable night's sleep.

mlgb

My experience from Los Angeles with a connection in Auckland to a city on the South Island. I actually do not feel that bad the next day. I try to get all caught up on my sleep before I leave, though. And try to sleep as much as possible on the plane. I then try to do enough on the arrival day to stay up till just past dinner time. My advice would be to enjoy Dunedin City (or something in the environs). If you happen to be golfers, the Chisholm Park golf course is a poor man's Pebble Beach. I wouldn't bother with the boulders, just because they are not really that interesting. PS, you will undoubtedly wake up WAAAAY too early the next day.