Milliemoo

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

Milliemoo

Sorry, the format went a bit mad!

Milliemoo

LordBalfor

Sounds like a nice trip - and with an ending on Aitutaki (sigh).

Ken

Milliemoo

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

ElendilPickle

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

Milliemoo

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

prue

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.

Milliemoo

Thanks Pru,

I thought it was only a 10/15 min walk, but will certainly look into buses as you advise.

Thanks

Milliemoo

Bokhara

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.

Milliemoo

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

Bokhara

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.

Milliemoo

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

Bokhara

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.

flygirl

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.

Milliemoo

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

flygirl

whew! I somehow imagine you both on a bus, all day and night, slowly going insane... are we there yet? LOL

Milliemoo

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