question for KiwiIan

[mare s.]

we are on Princess cruise in March 2007 ending in Auckland. We will probably have a 7:45 pm flight home. What can we see/do after disembarking ship and before flight? Is there anywhere to store luggage? Is it easy to find private guides? Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

[SheilaNC]

There is a place downtown to store luggage...I forget the exact location, but you should be able to do a search and find it. Ships dock reasonably close to downtown and there is a good public bus system, so you can maximize the brief time you have. You might even be able to store luggage in a hotel and book an airport shuttle ahead of time to pick you up there. We did that on a land trip sevedal years ago.

[KiwiIan]

we are on Princess cruise in March 2007 ending in Auckland. We will probably have a 7:45 pm flight home. What can we see/do after disembarking ship and before flight? Is there anywhere to store luggage? Is it easy to find private guides? Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

Sorry for the slow reply, been laid up with Flu, now recovered. Plenty of time to take in a city sights tour between getting of the ship in the morning [whats your ETD] and getting to the airport [check in time will be 5.45pm latest and its a 30 minute drive to the airport. Though if you find a tour guide they can add this transfer into your itinerary. As to how to find a guide, then googles a good start [plus theres some adds at the top of this thread page which offer these services as well i notice]. Things to see:

 

SKY CITY tower for a great view of the area.

Devonport [across the harbour] again great views back to the city.

The Museum in the Domain Park, also has a good Maori Show.

Kelly Tarltons underwater world.

Try a race trip on an actual Americas Cup Boat, or a more gentle sail.

One Tree Hill and Cornwall park.

Victoria park Markets.

Fish and Chips on the beach at Mission Bay, looking across to Rangitoto, NZ's most recent island, eruption 600 years ago.

 

Hope that helps, let me know if you need any more info.

 

Regards

Ian

[mare s.]

Thanks for the suggestions...glad you're feeling better KiwiIan....We're now considering staying overnight in Auckland and taking flight back the next day, so we won't feel so rushed. There certainly will be enough to see, I think!

[MVPinBoynton]

Good planning Ian! If you have to get the flu, at least you do it when it isn't tourist season. :D Sorry you were sick, but glad you have recovered.

[KiwiIan]

Good planning Ian! If you have to get the flu, at least you do it when it isn't tourist season. :D Sorry you were sick, but glad you have recovered.

Hi Mike, thanks for the kind thoughts. In fact the planning was pretty bad, i got the worst of the flu on the 21st, which would you believe it was my 50th birthday, so all the secret plans ny wife had set up went to custard. No special breakfast out, no drinks with all our mates, no romantic meal for two and no fancy hotel stay, instead i was in bed and feeling BAD! Thats life.

 

Any how, yesterday [ a week later] we took a day trip down to Christchurch on a new direct flight [i won a tickey so bought my wife one] and we had a good time sightseeing in Akaroa, the only french settled town in NZ. Bloody cold though at minus three celcius.

 

Been pointing a few folks on CC to your reviews and from their feed back they are very impressed. Regards Ian [tauranga]

[KiwiIan]

Thanks for the suggestions...glad you're feeling better KiwiIan....We're now considering staying overnight in Auckland and taking flight back the next day, so we won't feel so rushed. There certainly will be enough to see, I think!

Good move, more relaxed, more time to see the sights. Suggest you think about booking dinner in the revolving restaurant at the top of Sky City tower, thats a great way to end the trip. Though not the best restaurant in town [but still good] the view and location is amazing. Then of course you can head of back to the casino to win back the cost of the cruise [still to blackjack, thats the only way to beat the house]. Bookings essential. Google Sky City Auckland or i can provide details. Regards Ian.

[mare s.]

Thanks again Ian....now we're thinking of staying two nights in Auckland! When we started thinking about what we wanted to see and do, we decided that it would be a shame to travel all the way to NZ and not spend as much time as possible. So, if we can get a good price on a hotel and work out the air, we're going to do it. Thanks to the time differential, we can leave on Saturday and return home on Saturday! Great suggestion for dinner....we'll be sure to do that.

[KiwiIan]

Thanks again Ian....now we're thinking of staying two nights in Auckland! When we started thinking about what we wanted to see and do, we decided that it would be a shame to travel all the way to NZ and not spend as much time as possible. So, if we can get a good price on a hotel and work out the air, we're going to do it. Thanks to the time differential, we can leave on Saturday and return home on Saturday! Great suggestion for dinner....we'll be sure to do that.

Theres actually 2 hotels located at Sky City, so if you want to reduce walking theres an option. Other wise there are plenty of good hotels close to the city and ship berth. If you want to leave it till a late booking we use a site called http://www.wotif.co.nz [or maybe .com] who offer last minute hotel deals. Let me know if you need any further help. Have you checked out MPV in Boynton's NZ cruise review [can be found on the Aust/NZ ports of call thread]. Regards Ian

[MVPinBoynton]

Ian,

How quickly you forget! It is MVP not MPV. :eek:

 

Mare,

You can click on the link to the reviews in my signature in this thread or right here www.thepreismans.com. Ian's suggestion about the Sky Tower Restaurant are right on. You can't find a better setting. It is special.

[mare s.]

Mike...I read your reviews and drooled over the pictures! Can't wait for our trip. Here are a couple more questions....is it easier to go to glow worm caves out of Tauranga or out of Auckland? Anybody know anything about the Hyatt Regency Auckland (there are great prices on the United airlines website) How much time should we allow at airport in Auckland when we depart for check-in, customs clearance, etc. We'll probably be taking a tour of some kind that afternoon and not sure whether to book 7:45 pm or 9:45 pm flight. Thanks for everyone's great tips!

[MVPinBoynton]

Mare S.,

I am glad you enjoyed the review. You will have an awesome time "Down Under". It is a wonderful place.

 

We stayed at the Carlton and were very pleased with it. We didn't have time to go to the glow worm cave. Wanted to, but will have to wait till next time. I believe it is closer to Tauranga, but I wouldn't spend your Tauranga time at the caves, since there is so much to do around there. Had we not been with friends in Aukland, we would have gone there while we were in Aukland even though it was a bit further. You might also want to combine it with a tour that includes some of the other things in the area that you wouldn't have time for while at Tauranga. That is Ian's specialty rather than mine. I just know how to pick great tour operators that have enhanced our trips. In other words, I have been very lucky. :D

[KiwiIan]

Ian,

How quickly you forget! It is MVP not MPV. :eek:

 

Mare,

You can click on the link to the reviews in my signature in this thread or right here www.thepreismans.com. Ian's suggestion about the Sky Tower Restaurant are right on. You can't find a better setting. It is special.

Appologies Mike, was using my ailing memory to remember the name or possibly it was just my bad fast typing. Anyhow, they have found your post and web site which was the main point. Xtra busy here, new office, new staff, new vehicles, maybe 24 by Xmas so its certainly hectic. Regards Ian

[KiwiIan]

Mike...I read your reviews and drooled over the pictures! Can't wait for our trip. Here are a couple more questions....is it easier to go to glow worm caves out of Tauranga or out of Auckland? Anybody know anything about the Hyatt Regency Auckland (there are great prices on the United airlines website) How much time should we allow at airport in Auckland when we depart for check-in, customs clearance, etc. We'll probably be taking a tour of some kind that afternoon and not sure whether to book 7:45 pm or 9:45 pm flight. Thanks for everyone's great tips!

Hi, Waitomo AND Rotorua are possible in one day from Tauranga but its quite a long drive, about 350km all up, so an early start is needed. You could do the main Rotorua site at Te Puia, enjoy the cultural show at 12.15 and then head of to Waitomo, about 90 minutes away. Tour the caves at 3pm, leave at 4 and be back at the ship by 6 or 6.15 pm, depending upon the ships ETD it may work. Regards Ian.

[blackbird71]

Ian,

 

I will be visiting you beautiful country in Dec 2007. And I will be doing a pre-cruise stay in Auckland (the longest Celebrity offers). Couple questions for you.

 

1) While in Auckland, if you had only one restaurant and one New Zealand dish you wanted a visitor to have, what woud those be?

 

2) LOL buying a NZ wool sweater sounds like something I must do, any suggestions / warning....

 

3) It will be a long time before Celebrity comes out with their port excursions, for your city Tauranga, what are must sees. I will be in your city from 7am to 10pm, so I could do not only a ship tour but a local tour.

 

Thanks for all your help...

[KiwiIan]

Ian,

 

I will be visiting you beautiful country in Dec 2007. And I will be doing a pre-cruise stay in Auckland (the longest Celebrity offers). Couple questions for you.

 

1) While in Auckland, if you had only one restaurant and one New Zealand dish you wanted a visitor to have, what woud those be?

 

2) LOL buying a NZ wool sweater sounds like something I must do, any suggestions / warning....

 

3) It will be a long time before Celebrity comes out with their port excursions, for your city Tauranga, what are must sees. I will be in your city from 7am to 10pm, so I could do not only a ship tour but a local tour.

 

Thanks for all your help...

Hi Blackbird

 

hard to answer your first question.

 

Restaurant? Well if its location then i would have to say the revolving restaurant at the top of the Sky tower, over a meal you will have time to do two full circuits and have a great view of the Auckland skyline. Bookings are usually for 6.30 or 8.30 pm so best to try and start the meal at dusk and then enjoy the city coming alive as the sun goes down and the lights come up. Its probably not the very best of restaurants food wise but pretty good.

 

Which Dish? Even harder, personaly i like all food but i think its down to your own preference. NZ does not really have a signatuire dish, but i think we are very good for sea food, scallops especially. Snapper or Orange Ruffy are two of the best sea fish. You can not be served Trout in a NZ restaurant [its illegal to do so] but you can at some places ask the chef to cook one you have caught yourself. NZ food is such a dynamic and eclectic fusion of styles, it really is best to find a good restaurant and then ask the chef what he suggests, the special of the day is always a good starter.

 

NZ sweater? Just make sure its made in NZ [some are sold as NZ designed but can be made overseas] Merino wool with a possum mix added is probably the best option. Again its down to personal taste, most larger cities have good shops specialising in such cloths.

 

What to do in a day in Tauranga? Even if the ship is shown as being in from 7am to 10pm dont count on this being the case, often the times change closer to the date. To get the best from the time we would suggest finding a local operator who could combine the best things in Rotorua [the main reason the ships stops in Tauranga] as well as some local content. If you are active then to finsih of with a walk around The Mount is a great end to the day, stopping of for a cool beer or chardonay at the Mount Ocean Sports Club which is about 100 meters from the ships bow. Check out the cruise review by MPVinBoynton for stuff to do. It would need a lot of space here to cover all the options and Mikes comments in his review will be a great source of information.

 

Regards Ian [tauranga]

[blackbird71]

Thanks and I have noted your suggestions. :)

[KiwiIan]

Thanks and I have noted your suggestions. :)

Ok, let me know if you need any more info. Sometimes though, its the unexpected and unplanned experiences on a trip that you really remember, so sometimes too much planning could limit these sorts of opportunities. Sure you will have a great trip though.

 

Regards Ian [Tauranga]