Flights are booked - Jan 7th to Jan 24th. Contiki place is held for us. The only part that is not confirmed yet is our couple of extra days in Auckland sight-seeing after the tour has finished up. We'll see what happens with that.
The most important part is THAT WE GOT IN!!
Now comes the boring part; actually PAYING for it (boo!) and saving up for the optional extras. And since we're definitely going now, let me share some of the optionals with you. Optionals are the bits that you can choose to do on your free days in the cities. You can pick and choose between a selection, so I'll just pop in some of the ones I'm considering down the bottom.
(I'm so excited, I may just pee. Sorry, but it had to be said.)
Oh, and you've already seen the actual tour itinerary, yes? If not, go look at it. Look. Here. Now.
Ahem. Optionals. Before I go off track again. Stay with me, I need your help. Find out what I need you to do, oh faithful reader, after the bullet points end.
- Carino Day Sailing:
NZ$79
Catamaran sailing in the beautiful Bay of Islands.
Island hop, swim, snorkel, bar-b-q lunch, search for dolphins. 10am - 1630pm. www.sailingdolphins.co.nz - Taiamai Tours:
NZ$49
Authentic Maori cultural experience with a difference!
Travel by traditional waka to a deserted island to be greeted and entertained by
a local tribe. 2 hours. www.taiamaitours.co.nz - Black Water Rafting: NZ$85
Following a cave
system underground whilst sitting in a tyre inner tube (rubber ring). Some
walking, some floating, some glowworm spotting. 3 ? hour tour. www.blackwaterrafting.co.nz
- The 'Zorb' Adventure Hill:
NZ$45
Become a zorbonaut as you travel in a large transparent
ball down a hillside, either on your own, with a friend (or two) or with a
bucket of water. www.zorb.com
- Rainbow Springs: NZ$19.50
Beautiful
walk through native bush, aviaries and trout filled streams. Chance to see Kiwi
and Tuatara. www.rainbowsprings.co.nz
- Huka Jet: NZ$75
40 minute jet boat ride on
the Waikato River to Huka Falls. Includes 360 degree turns. www.hukajet.com
- Rock'N'Ropes: NZ$65
Adventure 'confidence' course
with series of trapezes, high wires, tight ropes etc. Allow 3 hours. www.rocknropes.co.nz
- Glacier Hike: NZ$80
4 hour trek to the
terminal face of the glacier and then climb up onto the glacier itself. All
boots, picks, crampons provided. Reasonable level of fitness required. www.foxguides.co.nz
- Aj Hackett Bungy - Kawarau Bridge:
NZ$135
The original bungy jump in Queenstown and often
referred to as 'the home of bungy'. 43m (142ft) jump incl. T shirt. www.AJHackett.com
- Shotover Canyon Swing:
NZ$159
Freefall from platform, 109m (360ft) above the
Shotover River, then break into a cable controlled swing. www.canyonswing.co.nz
- Shotover Jet: NZ$95
40
minute jet boat ride on the Shotover River. An icon adventure product in NZ with
360's and fast corners etc. www.shotoverjet.co.nz
- Moonlight Stables Horse Riding:
NZ$89
1 ? hour guided horse trek through Doonholme Farmland
in the Wakatipu Basin. Any level of rider welcome but will only go as fast as
the slowest member. www.moonlightcountry.co.nz
I realise that there are heaps listed here, but I will have to pick the ones that I
can afford and the ones that I really MUST DO while I'm in New Zealand.
Why do I need your help?
Because I need a MUST DO list; I need you to choose for me. So far? I'm thinking the Bungy Jump, Canyon Swing, Glacier Hike, Blackwater Cave Rafting, and White Water Rafting. And the Zorb thing. Rolling down a hill in an inflatable ball sounds like a blast! Or a death wish. No wait, the death wish is the Canyon Swinging. Crap!
It's your turn! Comment me, baby.
7 down; 23 to go!
I vote for the Zorb! That sounds like such fun!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you guys got it. I kept checking your blog for the update!
schhhwwweeeet! Congratulations! I know this is somehting you wanted desparately so I am glad to see you got it.
ReplyDeleteBD
OMG ALY!! YOU MUST DO THE ZORB!!! ^_^ DO IT! DO IT DO IT DO IT!! :D
ReplyDeleteannd, the bungy, and the canyon swing, and the blackwater rafting under cave thingy. And personally, I'd do the Carino day sailing. :)
sounds like a whole lot of fun!! ^_^
YOu can Zorb in Qld - near the Gold Coast so check and see if you can do it in NSW. MUST do - Shotover Jet in Queenstown! Black water rafting sounds fun if it is warm. MUST do the Skyline Gondola and have a meal up there - the buffet - in particular the desserts were to die for when I was there. I'd do the glacier hike too. We touched a glacier but it woudl be so cool to walk on it.
ReplyDeleteHave a ball - glad you got in!
You MUST do the Zorb. Ask Skinflutesymphony! And then I will have a photo of a another friend in THE ZORB!
ReplyDeletePlus this:
Black Water Rafting: NZ$85
Following a cave system underground whilst sitting in a tyre inner tube (rubber ring). Some walking, some floating, some glowworm spotting. 3 ? hour tour. www.blackwaterrafting.co.nz
plus this:
Moonlight Stables Horse Riding: NZ$89
1 ? hour guided horse trek through Doonholme Farmland in the Wakatipu Basin. Any level of rider welcome but will only go as fast as the slowest member. www.moonlightcountry.co.nz
Erm. But that is what I would do. Yay. I am so happy for you! Donuts on a Sunday soon and we can plan it more!
omg yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you got in!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAs for what to do? Man they ALL sound awesome. These are making my trip to Mexico seem lame!
I personally would skip the bungee jump and the fast boat thing, but would try the zorb and the cave/innertube thing. I think?
Ummmm, do you want a friendly and witty american female to join you?
ReplyDeleteBecause I'm sure that could totally be arranged.
YAY!!!!!! That is great news!
ReplyDeleteI have no preference for the optionals (I think I did almost every single one when I went on my Contiki), but CONGRATULATIONS! slash I am super jealous. And also super excited.
ReplyDeleteBut... does this mean you won't be updating in January??? ;)
sweet! I'm considering blowing a significant portion of money on a fancy trip to NZ too... I'm probably too late to get into hotels and flights and get my passport sorted by the time I have holidays, but I'm thinking about going in... april.. or march or something.. before it gets too cold, anyway. SO. you'll have to take lots of pictures and tell me all about it over coffee or something when you get back.
ReplyDeletewe should do that.
That sounds like a fantastic trip. NZ is on my list of places that I want to visit.
ReplyDelete