Here we are again, at the start of another big adventure! This time, we’ve swapped our original, complicated plans for a US trip for the relaxed and easy option of a four-week road trip around New Zealand. It’s been 25 years since we were last here with the kids, and I’m so excited to be back. Our first day was meant to be a gentle arrival with a stroll through some gardens and a visit to the harbour. Auckland, however, had a different plan for us, greeting us with a high wind alert and scudding rain that blew all our carefully laid plans right out the wndow!
As usual, our holiday really began the night before, with our traditional stay at the Rydges Hotel at Sydney Airport. We’ve been incredibly lucky on previous stays, and this time was no exception – I was tickled to find we’d been upgraded to a runway view room yet again! My tip? Book the cheapest room and just keep your fingers crossed! We settled in for our customary kick-off dinner at the hotel’s “Smithies” bar, which was already buzzing with people when we arrived. An hour later, the place was packed to the rafters.
The alarm went off at an oh-so-early 5:20 am, but the beauty of staying at the airport is simply rolling your luggage 100 metres across the road to the check-in hall. It’s so much better than wrestling with early morning Sydney traffic. I’d already checked us in online, so all we had to do was use the Qantas kiosk and send our bags on their way. Or so we thought…. We somehow managed to pick the one dodgy bag-drop lane. ( Naturally!) Our poor bags went on a rollercoaster ride… in, out, in, out… before the scanner gods finally gave them the nod and they disappeared into the system. With that little drama over, we headed for the Qantas lounge, which is always choc a bloc in the mornings, for brekky and coffee .
After the long walk to Gate 37, we were a bit disconcerted to find that we’d arrived before our plane had! Our flight, QF3, which continues on to New York, eventually trundled to the gate, and after a 30-minute delay, we were finally on board. Settling into my seat, I scrolled through the movie list, and my choice was inevitable. What better way to prepare for our return to New Zealand than by watching The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring? One of my all-time favourites! It felt like the perfect re-introduction to Middle Earth. Lunch was a tasty pesto tortellini, which was served just as the hobbits arrived in Bree. Unfortunately, in a classic travel moment, I managed to tip a large forkful of it right into my lap! The plane began its descent just as the Fellowship reached Lothlorien, so I’ll have to save the rest for the flight home.
After our recent international trips, arriving in New Zealand was an absolute pleasure. We had completed the arrivals card online, which made immigration a breeze. Our bags appeared promptly, customs was quick, and we didn’t even have to queue at the Thrifty rental car desk. We were off and running in record time!
The only spanner in the works was that our new eSims weren’t cooperating, leaving Google Maps useless. Luckily, I had my trusty TomTom app ready to go. The drive into the city was a straight run with minimal traffic – a Sunday perk, I suppose – and we pulled into the SO/ Hotel Auckland right on 4 pm.
The SO/ Hotel is a very cool, funky place with striking lights in the lobby and high-tech elevators. Our room is spacious and smart, with a view of the harbour… through the rain-streaked windows! That view confirmed what we already suspected: the wild wind and persistent rain had completely defeated our plans to visit the Wintergarden or stroll along the harbour to the Silo Park Night Markets.
Instead, our first half hour was spent wrestling with technology. I was reaching the hair-tearing-out stage with the eSims, but then Neil, thank goodness, found the solution. Such a relief! It really makes you realise how dependent we are on the internet for travel these days. With our phones finally working, we abandoned all thoughts of our original plans and opted for dinner nearby. We found The Brit Pub just a two-minute walk away, a very convenient option given the weather. It was perfect – they had a wide selection of local wines and beers, so Neil was happy to find a new craft beer to try. It happened to be curry night, and we both chose the Lamb Korma. It was absolutely delicious, though bordering on my limit for spiciness!
Despite the weather, it feels wonderful to be here at last. Tomorrow, we’re hoping for a break in the wind so we can get out and finally start exploring Auckland properly!