Apparently some (misguided?) FTers want to visit the Land of the Long White Cloud in the middle of winter. Perhaps the attraction is the skiing or maybe it is seeing 30 grown men beat each other up and display their ball handling skills (aka Rugby Union), or maybe they just want a lot of miles?

In case you haven't guessed, winter is off-season for Auckland and late July is away from any school or public holidays so flight and accommodation availability should be okay.

What we do depends on numbers and your feedback, but as with any FT event it is a given there'll be food and drink involved.

Who's Coming?
CHC Kiwi - maybe
Fliar
flysurfer
gratn
QF009 + 1
serfty
simong


One week to go and an update on the itinerary. Most venues are now confirmed, just a couple to check out this weekend (its a hard life but someone has to do it!). It looks like nothing needs to be prepaid. Not all places accept individual billing so we'll need some cash for the places with one bill per table, plus bus/taxi and ferry fares.

Due to lack of interest, Vertigo is now canned. This gives us more time so I've pushed the start on Saturday to a later time.

Confirmed Itinerary
Friday 28 July
1830 Meet at cnr Quay & Queen Street for dinner at Soul in the Viaduct area.
Then drinks (many bars in this area).
Late Pie at the pie cart White Lady which is soon going.


Saturday 29 July
1040 Meet by ferry terminal (cnr Quay & Queen Street). Daypass for bus & ferry $10. Ferry leaves at 1100 sharp.
1200 Brunch in Devonport. Mecca Cafe
1345 Ferry back to city. Walk to Sky Tower.
Sky City - tower view over the city $21, casino and several bars.
1530 Walk to Britomart. Bus at 1600 to Mount Eden village.
1630 Walk up Mt Eden in time for sunset at 1731. Walk or bus back.
1900 Dinner and drinks. Pub dinner at Galbraith's which has its own microbrewery and is close to Mount Eden.
2200 Bledisloe Cup rugby (All Blacks vs Australia) on big screen.


Sunday 30 July
0925 Meet at Britomart for Link bus ($1.50 per ride) to Parnell.
0940 Breakfast at Mink Cafe (corner Parnell Road and Heather Street) followed by short walk through Domain.
1050 Auckland Museum (donation), then walk or bus to High Street in the city.
1330 Lunch in High Street. Venue TBC.


Suggested Itinerary - Options

Saturday pm - Sky Tower - tallest building in the southern hemisphere. Great views over the city. Those who want can climb to the crows nest at the very top or throw yourself off the building in an alternative to the Kiwi classic of bunjy jumping (cable descent). Those who don't want to do this could either watch or visit the casino right next door.
QF009 is keen to do the Vertigo climb to the Sky Tower crows nest. If anyone else wants to join him, or do the jump off the tower instead, please let us know soon. We need to allow more than 2 hours for this so depending on numbers I may rearrange our schedule. Note that you wont be able to drink beforehand, and should take it easy the night before.

Visit Mt Eden village before seeing the sunset from Mount Eden volcanic crater (jacket recommended).

Saturday night is the twice annual grudge match that is NZ vs Australia rugby Bledisloe Cup. Since it is being played in Brisbane there's a decent chance of great running action. We'll be able to watch this on a big screen at the dinner venue or somewhere nearby.

Sunday - late breakfast in Parnell. Then walk through the Domain to see Auckland Museum, with great exhibits on Maori in particular. Then walk or bus to High Street for late lunch.




A couple of notes. I'll provide some maps. Although it looks like a lot of walking the distances are mostly short (museum to High Street is the longest at about 30 minutes and downhill). If weather is bad most of it can be bussed. If people don't want to take buses then taxis are readily available - they can be flagged down anywhere and also I have some local numbers to call one. Itinerary is subject to change. I will update once venues are confirmed and email the latest itinerary on Thursday 27 July and bring with me print outs containing any last minute changes.

If anyone wants to skip stuff, please let me know so I don't have to waste time waiting or trying to track you down.

Count me in of course.

I would love to experience the rugby thingy, but unfortunately I will be grounded after end of June. Sorry to miss this chance!

If I'd bring my colleague to the DO, I'm sure he'd like to do the sky jumping all over again like he did in April. Pity that I can't go during that period as I'll have to be in HK taking care of business related stuff.

Well hope everyone that makes it will have a great time. Don't miss out having a cuppa while strolling through Devonport and be sure to take the fullers ferry there and back for a stunning view of the surrounding bay.

Hi Kiwi Flyer,

You're actually spending a weekend at home??

I'll have close look at coming over ..... put me as a maybe...

Put me down as a 'maybe'!

Is there any chance of doing an AKL (or NZ) do when it's NOT freezing there? *shudder*

I'd love to come, and thanks to NZ/LH ZKNRADE fares, it's actually pretty cheap too. I can fly MUC-xHKG-AKL-LAX-MUC in C for only EUR 1,300 more than the EUR 2,500 Z fare of my standard MUC-LAX-MUC shuttle. ^

It's all relative. Compared with MUC, winter in NZ is a mild experience

I'm sure it is... but not compared with MUC (or LAX) in July.

Anyway, what's to expect temperature-wise at your July do?

In July average 15C day and 8C night - no frost at all in central city.

Hm, yep, that's actually not so bad...

whoops sorry, I was involved in the original discussions and forgot to say here, yes count me in!

I'll be relocating down here from end of September to most likely end of November. Which is not the right timing as I'll miss all the fun in July as I'll be two months late.

Great idea! Count me as an almost certain.