May 17, 2015, 9:58 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

Last edit by: crankychick

Oz Fest 12
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
May 22 - May 24, 2015

Registration and Payment:

Logistical and Attendee Information:

Consolidated List of Links Referenced:

Thursday, May 21, 2015:

Elliott Stables

Friday, May 22, 2015:

Saturday, May 23, 2015:

Sunday, May 24, 2015:

Additional Information:

Bay of Islands Information
Duty Free:
- Duty Free Stores NZ - john the 'frequent buyers club' for a 20% discount on booze and 5% on others.
- JR Duty Free
Bottle Stores:
- Super Liquor
Dinner in Auckland CBD Sun night
- Dinner at Euro (Auckland CBD) on Sun 24th May at 8pm for 20 FTers

OzFest #12" – "Bay Of Islands" New Zealand - Memorial Day Weekend, May 22-25, 2015

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Apr 9, 2015, 9:56 pm

#331

BOB W

Join Date: Jun 2004

Location: Anchorage, AK

Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G

Posts: 8,259

Confirming agenda:

Thursday, May 21 2015:
Dinner - Yes
Hotel - Admiral's View

Friday, May 22, 2015:
1:00 pm - Bus to Bay of Islands. Yes.
7:00 pm'ish Official DO Kick-Off Dinner & Drinks in Paihia or Russell: Yup.

Saturday, May 23, 2015:
Cape Reinga Tour - Approx $145 NZD pp includes lunch (either Fish & Chips or Vegetarian Salad) - Yes but what is this veggie c---p? Unless it is wine (x1)
Group Dinner in Paihia - Yes (x1)

Sunday, May 24, 2015:
8:45 am Check in: Dolphin Cruise to Hole in Rock - Cool trip!!! (x1)
3:00 pm: Travel back to Auckland via bus. Yes, x 1, with drop off at Hilton Wharf or close if possible

Apr 9, 2015, 10:47 pm

#332

kpc

Join Date: Dec 2001

Location: Sydney

Programs: QF Plat, VA Gold, HH Diam, PC Plat, SPG Gold

Posts: 2,082

crankychick, flight and bus information look correct for the 2 of us.

Confirming agenda:

Thursday, May 21 2015:
Dinner - no

Friday, May 22, 2015:
1:00 pm - Bus to Bay of Islands. Yes x2

. AKL airport pick up please.
7:00 pm'ish Official DO Kick-Off Dinner & Drinks in Paihia or Russell: Sounds good, we'll be there (wherever it is).

Saturday, May 23, 2015:
Cape Reinga Tour - Approx $145 NZD pp includes lunch (Fish & Chips ) - YES (x2)

Group Dinner in Paihia - Yes (x2)

Sunday, May 24, 2015:
8:45 am Check in: Dolphin Cruise to Hole in Rock - YES (x2)
3:00 pm: Travel back to Auckland via bus. Yes, x 2, with drop off at Akl CBD

Apr 9, 2015, 11:29 pm

#333

monitor

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Oct 1999

Location: So Fla & NYC

Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond

Posts: 23,766

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozstamps

...I blame that "frantic" person from New York myself.

...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozstamps

...I still blame frantic.

...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itsalongwaydown

Blaming 'frantic' is probably still a good idea....

Blaming frantic is my department. I'm the only one who can blame her for everything.

And let me remind both of you that you have someone of your own to blame.

Apr 10, 2015, 12:32 am

#334

BOB W

Join Date: Jun 2004

Location: Anchorage, AK

Programs: Lifetime AS 1MM & MVPG, AS MVPG100K, AA, DL, HH-G

Posts: 8,259

Quote:

Originally Posted by monitor

Blaming frantic is my department. I'm the only one who can blame her for everything.

And let me remind both of you that you have someone of your own to blame.

My experience with these discussions leads me to believe it is always monitor's fault.

frantic made me say that

Apr 10, 2015, 3:58 am

#335

ozstamps

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Original Poster

Join Date: Jun 2000

Location: Sunny SYDNEY!

Programs: UA Million Miler. (1.9M) Virgin Platinum. HH Diamond + SPG Gold

Posts: 32,330

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOB W

frantic made me say that

Careful - her left hook is reportedly pretty savage.

Apr 10, 2015, 4:03 am

#336

ozstamps

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Original Poster

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Posts: 32,330

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozstamps

The only way I can see us getting back to oz Sunday night if we do not leave Paihia untl 3pm, is the 9pm flight to BNE a few other folks are on, that arrives late evening and then 6 hours later grab the 1st domestic to SYD.

BNE allegedly operates 24/7, although there seems to be almost nothing landing or taking off between midnight and 5 or 6 am, except one Etihad flight at 2am - 3am or so it seems.

So are ANY of the lounges open in the early hours there? 5 or 6 hours is too short to bother with a hotel and doing computer work in a lounge is not the end of the world if there is a lounge and a bit of comfort. As we arrive in It'l terminal I guess we can stay air-side for hours if we choose if something is open?

Anyone who knows the BNE airport routine able to chime in on this? Anything open in the wee hours -- the Emirates lounge will be, I am sure, but no access to that. We are Etihad Gold, but doubt that will excite the EK Door Matrons too much.

Apr 10, 2015, 4:37 am

#337

serfty

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Oztamps, you won't get access to airside at BNE International with such an itinerary and therefore any lounges there. Your only option would be a domestic lounge (QF or VA) whenever that may open.

Maybe consider an early (AM Monday) flight out of AKL; stay at a nearby hotel ... if it's just a bed/shower, the Ibis is often relatively inexpensive.

Last edited by serfty; Apr 10, 2015 at 3:34 pm Reason: Clarified ...

Apr 10, 2015, 5:23 am

#338

Pooch

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Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: Sydney

Posts: 440

Quote:

Originally Posted by monitor

Blaming frantic is my department. I'm the only one who can blame her for everything.

And let me remind both of you that you have someone of your own to blame.

I WAS going to say ozstamps was carrying the whole 'downunda' thing a bit far - reading from the bottom up 📖 😭

Apr 10, 2015, 5:25 am

#339

ozstamps

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Posts: 32,330

Quote:

Originally Posted by serfty

Your only option would be a domestic lounge (QF or VA) whenever that may open.

Maybe consider an early flight out of AKL

1. As you know Ross, Virgin lounges close at time of last flight of the night

2. As posted earlier the only earlier flight to SYD on Sunday is a 7.05pm on AirNZ/Virgin and that is it, sadly.

Glen

Apr 10, 2015, 5:38 am

#340

Awesom Andy

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: SYD

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Posts: 1,799

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozstamps

1. As you know Ross, Virgin lounges close at time of last flight of the night

2. As posted earlier the only earlier flight to SYD on Sunday is a 7.05pm on AirNZ/Virgin and that is it, sadly.

Glen

I'm sure serfty is referring to the early Monday morning flight. Stay in the Ibis for the Sun night and hop onto a flight at first light.

Apr 10, 2015, 3:36 pm

#341

serfty

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Awesom Andy

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozstamps

1. As you know Ross, Virgin lounges close at time of last flight of the night

2. As posted earlier the only earlier flight to SYD on Sunday is a 7.05pm on AirNZ/Virgin and that is it, sadly.

Glen

I'm sure serfty is referring to the early Monday morning flight. Stay in the Ibis for the Sun night and hop onto a flight at first light.

Absolutely - I thought that would have been apparent - anyway I have clarified.

Those 6am flights from AKL to East Coast Oz arrive around 8am ....

Apr 10, 2015, 3:52 pm

#342

monitor

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Our return has us on one of those early AM AKL-BNE flights to which serfty referred. Do we need to clear Oz Border Control as pax in transit?

Apr 10, 2015, 5:17 pm

#343

penegal

Join Date: May 2009

Location: Democratic People's Republic of Victoria

Programs: First Time Flyer

Posts: 833

Quote:

Originally Posted by monitor

Our return has us on one of those early AM AKL-BNE flights to which serfty referred. Do we need to clear Oz Border Control as pax in transit?

In Sydney?

No, look for the signs for Transit or connecting passengers. There is a security checkpoint before you go up some escalators onto the departure concourse. You will pass through an X-Ray point and also need to have liquids, aerosols and gels less than 100mL / grams.

...So pack any Kiwi wine in your checked luggage

Apr 10, 2015, 5:22 pm

#344

Pooch

In memoriam

Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: Sydney

Posts: 440

Quote:

Originally Posted by penegal

Ditto for BNE. just follow the signs to the lounge and reeeelax ...

Apr 11, 2015, 12:52 pm

#345

pfbloom

Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: BOS/BTV

Programs: Delta Plat, former AA EXP, AS Gold, SPG Gold, IHG Plat.

Posts: 659

Moving myself to Platinum status; flights booked and arriving AKL afternoon of May 21. So, confirming....

Thursday, May 21 2015: Pre-DO Dinner in AKL: Yes

Friday, May 22, 2015: 1:00pm - Bus to Paihia: Yes (x1)
7:00pm DO Kick-Off Dinner & Drinks: Yes

Saturday, May 23, 2015: Cape Reinga Tour: Yes - sounds good!
Group Dinner in Paihia: Yes (x1)

Sunday, May 24, 2015: 8:45 am Dolphin Cruise: Yes
3:00 pm: Bus back to Auckland: Yes (x1)

I'm spending Monday touring Auckland: suggestions welcome!