30 December 2024 -New Zealand- South Island -Queenstown to Auckland -North Island

We woke to another grey day but it was not raining so we had a good breakfast and cleaned up ready to leave for the airport.

There was a lot of traffic and we crept slowly toward the airport having our last proper look at Lake Wakatipu. We have had a great time in the last 6 days and enjoyed our stay. We dropped the car off at the airport and went to check in. However, our flights were suspended which we could not understand. Air New Zealand said it must be Booking.com who was at fault and that we would have to contact them. I managed to find a number and called them and they say it was not their end and so Air New Zealand’s fault. We were at a standoff until we realised that the date of the flight booking was 30 November not 30th December. How that error was made I do not know.

We therefore were lucky to get on the next available flight an hour later than scheduled. The Air New Zealand man was helpful and told me to go and get a beer!! We checked in and had a good coffee and then a beer.

The flight was a good short one to Auckland and I used my kindle which my kids had bought to read. We arrived at the Domestic terminal and had to get a bus to the International Terminal where the Novotel is based right in the airport. We chose this as Jules if flying home tomorrow. Our hotel room is on the 10th floor and the picture of the day is our view overlooking the runway and terminal and the sea beyond.

We had dinner in the hotel which was good and reflected on what a great holiday we had had and how lucky we had been with the weather and activities we had undertaken. It has been a sort of once in a lifetime holiday. We would both come back bit only if we had a reason to come down this far again. It has been a great experience and we have loved New Zealand.

Jules leaves for home tomorrow and I am hopefully meeting the first of my crew Mark Goodwin and returning to Stormbird. I am not sure how tidy she will be inside but we shall see. It will be good to see her again but I will be sorry to say goodbye to Jules. It has been a great and wonderful month together.    

Need/Opportunity Year Two

I am in need of more crew from April to September so if of interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

In year two I will be going from New Zealand to Sydney and hen up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025.

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com