Award travel to SYD and AKL
Jul 18, 2013, 8:58 am
#31
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
It's a great area (plus with Cape Trib). I always wonder why it's off Americans' radar. And those Americans that make it to the area just stop at Cairns, which given what else is in the area, doesn't seem to me to be worth staying in.
Jul 18, 2013, 9:17 am
#32
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: IND
Programs: SPG Plat, DL DM, HHonors Diamond, Avis First, National EE, Marriott Gold
Posts: 434
Cool - ill give that a try! So you can book the domestic legs through VA as well? I'm having trouble finding anything in low.
When are you headed out there? We were originally thinking feb-march but it sounds like that's the wet season and there are "stingers" around. Is April-May better and how cold would SYD and New Zealand be then?
When are you headed out there? We were originally thinking feb-march but it sounds like that's the wet season and there are "stingers" around. Is April-May better and how cold would SYD and New Zealand be then?
Jul 18, 2013, 9:19 am
#33
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: IND
Programs: SPG Plat, DL DM, HHonors Diamond, Avis First, National EE, Marriott Gold
Posts: 434
?
Jul 18, 2013, 11:04 am
#34
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: SUX
Programs: BA Silver; HHonors Gold; SPG Gold; Points but dirt with everyone else
Posts: 8,050
Yeah, that's probably not going to happen anytime soon. I'm way behind on my NZ trip report from this year's trip, but that one's been started, so I need to finish it. I do recommend Wavelength for a snorkel trip out of PD. Small boat and with a marine biologist on board. Was a great day out for me. Other than that, I say book accommodation (lots of self-catering options in PD) and go. The front desk will help you figure out what's best and check the weather so that you snorkel on the day with the right tides, etc.
Jul 18, 2013, 10:50 pm
#35
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 245
Here is an example itinerary of what we were looking at (dates are a bit flexible)
Fly out from LAX 2/28
Arrive in CNS 3/2
Stop over in Cairns for 3 days
Fly to CHC on 3/6
Stay in NZ for 5 days
Open Jaw to SYD on 3/12 from some other airline
Check out Sydney for a day
Fly back 3/14 to LAX
I would like to get feedback from this great community as to whether or not this itinerary seems decent or not (and possible to get with low miles - the domestic trip will be tough :X ). Is 3 days enough in Queensland? 5 days enough for the lower island of NZ? Should we be worried about the season for snorkeling in Cairns (is the water choppy since its the wet season?) and will it be cold in NZ? Any extra recommendations on stuff to do?
Thanks!
Fly out from LAX 2/28
Arrive in CNS 3/2
Stop over in Cairns for 3 days
Fly to CHC on 3/6
Stay in NZ for 5 days
Open Jaw to SYD on 3/12 from some other airline
Check out Sydney for a day
Fly back 3/14 to LAX
I would like to get feedback from this great community as to whether or not this itinerary seems decent or not (and possible to get with low miles - the domestic trip will be tough :X ). Is 3 days enough in Queensland? 5 days enough for the lower island of NZ? Should we be worried about the season for snorkeling in Cairns (is the water choppy since its the wet season?) and will it be cold in NZ? Any extra recommendations on stuff to do?
Thanks!
Jul 24, 2013, 12:43 pm
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 245
Doing so allowed me to also stay a bit over a day in SYD as well. Otherwise, if I did the OJ from BNE to CNS with CHC as the final destination wouldn't I have to travel all the way home from there without stopping?