Honeymoon Itinerary
Hi,
Here's what we're planning for our RTW trip in November & December. What do you think? I've tried to get a good combo of 'organised days' and 'lazy days'. The timescales might look a bit odd, but I should explain that we're moving to Auckland next year and will be spending a lot of time checking out suburbs and meeting various agencies. I also wanted to time it so that I get my 30th Birthday TWICE when we go to the Cooks. Here we go, sorry it's a bit long: Itinerary Day 1 17.50 Arrive at Hong Kong International. Purchase Octopus Card ($200 each) Transfer to Peninsula Hotel (approx 45mins) 19.00 Check-in at Peninsula (2 nights) Arrange late check out * Evening at leisure * Day 2 07.30 Breakfast 08.30 Leave hotel and take Star Ferry to Central (every 6-8 mins) $2.20 Upper Deck 09.00 Central – Silvermine Bay (Mui Wo) First Ferry Pier 6 1hr Fast Ferry $21 10.00 On arrival at Mui Wo, take No 2 Bus to Po Lin Monastery (every 20 mins) $25.00 approx 45 mins 11.00 Po Lin Monastery & Giant Buddha 12.00 Walk to Tea Garden for lunch at ‘Tea Garden Restaurant’ 14.00 Walk back to Po Lin and catch the No 21 bus to Tai O Fishing Village at 14.15 (20 mins $13.00) 14.35 Leisurely stroll around the Fishing Village 16.45 Catch No 11 Bus to Tung Chung MTR station (50 mins $18.00) 17.35 Catch MTR to Kowloon and change trains at Lai King for Tsim Sha Tsui (45mins $18.00) 18.30 Arrive back at hotel 20.00 Dinner at ‘Felix’ (window table requested) Day 3 07.30 Breakfast 08.30 Walk down to Star Ferry and catch ferry to Central (every 6-8 mins) $2.20 Upper Deck 09.00 Catch No 15 Bus (Peak Tram Shuttle) every 10-15 mins $3.20 Peak Tram every 10 mins $30 rtn Peak Trail Nature Walk (45 mins) 11.00 Catch the shuttle bus back to Central and catch Bus No 70 from Exchange Square to Aberdeen (New World First Bus every 10-15 mins) $5 40 mins 12.00 Walk around Aberdeen Harbour 13.30 Catch No 70 Bus back to Central and then the Star Ferry to the hotel 14.30 Afternoon Tea at the Hotel (reserved) 16.00 Freshen up at hotel and get ready to check out at 16.45. 17.00 Transfer to airport Day 4 07.10 Arrive at Sydney International Airport 08.00 Take KST Airport Shuttle to hotel ($14 rtn) 08.30 Check into Sydney Intercontinental (5 nights) Spend day walking around Circular Quay, The Rocks, Opera House etc. Buy hamper from David Jones and have picnic lunch in Botanical Gardens. Day 5 08.00 Breakfast 09.00 Go down to Circular Quay and buy Day Tripper ticket ($15) Catch 09.15 ferry to Taronga Zoo (every half hour) 09.30 Walk up to the Zoo. Koala Encounters at 11.00 12.30 Catch ferry back to Circular Quay for lunch 14.00 Catch ferry to Manly (every half hour) 16.45 Catch ferry back to Circular Quay Day 6 Buy Bondi Explorer Ticket from Circular Quay ($36) Stop at Watson’s Bay for lunch at Doyle’s Day 7 Lazy day, shopping etc Dinner at Aria restaurant ? Day 8 07.30 Breakfast in hotel 08.30 Walk from hotel to Central Train Station 09.02 Catch train to Katoomba (off peak rtn $14 next train 10.02) 11.01 Arrive in Katoomba Scenic World (3km from train station) Skyway $16 Flyway $8 Railway $8 16.24 Catch train back to Central Day 9 06.30 Breakfast in hotel 07.15 Check out of hotel and take shuttle to Airport 09.50 Arrive Christchurch 14.50 15.30 Take taxi to hotel (20 mins $25) 16.00 Check in to Heritage Hotel (3 Nights) Spend the afternoon/evening exploring Christchurch Day 10 07.00 Breakfast 08.20 Pick up from Hotel – Alpine Safari Tour Day 11 07.00 Catch train to Kaikoura (packed breakfast) Arrives at 09.54 11.00 Kaikoura Helicopters Grand Whale Flight 40 mins $215 15.28 Catch train back to Christchurch - Arrives 18.21 Day 12 09.00 Breakfast & pack bags 10.30 Take taxi to hotel (20 mins $25) 12.50 Arrive Auckland 14.10 13.30 Take shuttle bus to Devonport $45 for 2 people 14.30 Check into The Garden Room (10 Nights) Auckland Days 12-21 Foo Fighters 8pm Auckland – Wellington Day Trip Stage Coach Flyer - Star Pass $9 available from driver Dinner at the Sky Tower Day 22 12.30 Take shuttle to the airport 16.15 Arrive Rarotonga the day before at 21.05 Day 21 (again) 22.00 Check into Pacific Resort (2 nights) Day 22 Lazy Day Day 23 14.00 Transfer from Hotel to Airport 15.30 Arrive Aitutaki 16.20 16.45 Meet Pacific Resort Rep for transfer to Resort 17.15 Check into Pacific Resort (3 nights) Day 24 Lagoon Cruise? Day 25 Lazy Day Day 26 * Late check out organised till 18.00 * 17.30 Check out and transfer to airport Travel back to Edinburgh arriving 2 days later (via LAX) Milliemoo |
Sorry, the format went a bit mad!
Milliemoo |
Sounds like a nice trip - and with an ending on Aitutaki (sigh).
Ken |
Hi Ken,
Thanks for your help re: the Cooks. After Air NZ changed their flight times back and forth we've stuck with the 2 nights on Raro and 3 on Aitutaki. We've splurged on the 2 bed Beachfront villa at the Pacific Resort on Raro, but we've just the standard bungalow on Aitutaki (although we're hoping for an upgrade with it being our honeymoon). This is 2-3 years planning and I can believe we're going in 8 weeks time! Milliemoo |
It will take you all day to get from Auckland to Wellington unless you fly, so I would schedule more time if you really want to go there. It's a lovely little city.
Lee Ann |
Hi Lee Ann,
Yes, we're flying to Welly. It's only and hour and from what I can make out, it doesn't take long to get to the harbour from the airport. Quite reasonable as well... I think the flights cost about $160 each. Milliemoo |
Regarding the walk from theIntercontinental to Central Railway in Sydney - it is quite long and uninteresting - you might prefer to catch a City Circle train from Circular Quay or a bus.
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Thanks Pru,
I thought it was only a 10/15 min walk, but will certainly look into buses as you advise. Thanks Milliemoo |
Hi Milliemoo,
I'd strongly recommend you DON'T eat at Doyle's at Watson's Bay. Unfortunately, it's in a drop-dead gorgeous location but serves "tourist trap, awful" food. I'm a local and I can't tell you how much it pains me to say that, because it's so easy to get it right; old Mr & Mrs. Doyle would be shocked at what's being served up there these days. By all means, take the ferry (or a water taxi - that's good fun) to Watsons Bay. Then, consider Pier at Rose Bay (just collected a big accolade from the NYT food writer) or come back to the wharves at Wooloomooloo and have lunch at any one of the restaurants there. I'm not sure, but think the ferry might stop at Rose Bay en route to/from Watsons Bay. Another interesting spot that not many people think of is the restaurant at Sydney Theatre Company - Pier 4, I think. Great food and a different aspect of the Harbour. In an old bond store - great atmosphere. I'll look up the name of it and post for you, along with the restaurants along the Wooloomooloo wharves. Arria's a great choice for dinner. |
Thanks Bokhara,
I really appreciate your views. I've just had a look and the Bondi Explorer Bus stops at Rose Bay, so I think we'll give Peir a try. Is it easy to find? Any good suggestions for somewhere to stop later in the afternoon for a snack/coffee ? Thanks Milliemoo |
Hi Milliemoo (is your name Melissa? My niece is Melissa & she's been known as Milliemoo since she was a dot)
If you're interested in art, you could go to the Art Gallery of NSW, have a look around (free entry) and coffee in the cafe there. Fab views & good selection of "nibbles". Just near the Intercontinental is the Sir Stamford (on Macquarie street) Charming "English country house" style hotel that has lovely afternoon tea. Or, you could go around to the Rocks area. There are some charming little cafes & bakeries, many of which have courtyards at the back of the "shopfront". The MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) is in the old Maritime Services Building, facing the Opera House, and has a good cafe. For something different - probably more "drinks" than afternoon tea ... the new Hilton Hotel's bar on the 4th floor is very chic and has a great roof area. Very nice for drinks at dusk. It's on George street, opposite the Queen Victoria Building and has stunning views over it and the Town Hall - some of the last remaining heritage buildings in that area of town. Take your camera. Good backdrop for some happy snaps. The martinis are ok too ;) The restaurant at the Sydney Theatre Company is called "The Wharf". Google Sydney Theatre Company & you'll see some pics. Also a bistro, but I haven't been to that. |
Wow thanks for all the tips!
I'm afraid I stole my name from my cat (www.milliemoo.com). Can you recommend any good places for breakfast near the Intercontinental, or is there plenty to choose from? Milliemoo |
For breakfast, you could do a lot worse than the Hotel's Intercontinental Lounge - top floor.
Or just walk along the Quay towards the Opera House. Zillions of choices. |
definitely fly to Wellington - it's a loooooooong way. I can't believe they call it a day trip? am I missing something? it will take more than a day just to get there from Auckland.
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Hi Flygirl,
I've booked flights for Wellington and we arrive 1st thing and get back to Auckland at about 8pm. Sorry didn't mean to confuse anyone. I didn't think people would think that we were considering driving all that way for a day. Milliemoo |
whew! I somehow imagine you both on a bus, all day and night, slowly going insane... are we there yet? LOL
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LOL
I guess we'd see some scenery en route! I wish I could work out how to edit a post, they I could play around with the format a wee bit. It went all weird when I posted it. Milliemoo |
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