[CityBlue]

Hello all,

I'm looking for a few suggestions of things to do or places to stay over christmas and new year for a couple of mid twenties year olds. We are based on the North shore in Auckland.

My wife and I are on our own in NZ and I know she is dreading christmas on our own as she is usually surrounded by young members of her family all tearing into presents and generally loving every single minute of it.

We can afford to eat out or go away somewhere but are not really sure where to go. Will anywhere be open?? Has anyone any reccommendations?

New year is going to be the same I think. We have been here 6 months and may receive an invite to a party but failing that I guess we need to think of something that beats sitting in on our own missing family in the UK.

Any help/suggestions/reccommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Aaron

[sizzlingbadger]

How about surprising her with a really romantic picnic on a beach somewhere ? :D

Or a really lovely secluded hideway break for a few days over Christmas, time to relax and chill out and not get too hung up on what family is doing :)

[CityBlue]

How about surprising her with a really romantic picnic on a beach somewhere ? :D

Or a really lovely secluded hideway break for a few days over Christmas, time to relax and chill out and not get too hung up on what family is doing :)

Yeah I thought of something like that but Its very weather dependant so I think I need a backup or two!

Thanks though - its on the list:clap :clap

[Smiler]

I understand exactly how you feel, I was all over the place for my 1st xmas here and dreading it........

So we went away. It was good to be somewhere neutral instead of moping round alone. We'd not been here long at that point and knew very few people.

We've not been here but it comes highly recommended if you can stretch to it. http://lawncottages.co.nz/home.htm.

Or there's this one if you want to get away from it all http://www.cottagebythesea.co.nz/ We have stayed there several times now and Nancy and Hugh adopted us for our 1st xmas in NZ. Nancy is from the US and found out I was home sick and totally understood my feelings. They invited us for christmas lunch and we spent the whole day with them and their family. It was wonderful. True Kiwi hospitality at its best :nice1

How about a special present for your OH or a little present trail around the garden. MY OH knew I would miss the opening pressies time with my family. So he gave me a special 'thank you for coming to NZ with me' pressie on christmas morning, a beautiful bracelet.

Whatever you choose to do, have a lovely time..... :nice1

[wcape]

i'm not sure if you are into the carols by candlelight thing, but auckland's council site has a few things happening in December.

http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/events/

hope you find something interesting :) Maybe you can start a few new zealand christmas traditions for the two of you...

[CityBlue]

I understand exactly how you feel, I was all over the place for my 1st xmas here and dreading it........

So we went away. It was good to be somewhere neutral instead of moping round alone. We'd not been here long at that point and knew very few people.

We've not been here but it comes highly recommended if you can stretch to it. http://lawncottages.co.nz/home.htm.

Or there's this one if you want to get away from it all http://www.cottagebythesea.co.nz/ We have stayed there several times now and Nancy and Hugh adopted us for our 1st xmas in NZ. Nancy is from the US and found out I was home sick and totally understood my feelings. They invited us for christmas lunch and we spent the whole day with them and their family. It was wonderful. True Kiwi hospitality at its best :nice1

How about a special present for your OH or a little present trail around the garden. MY OH knew I would miss the opening pressies time with my family. So he gave me a special 'thank you for coming to NZ with me' pressie on christmas morning, a beautiful bracelet.

Whatever you choose to do, have a lovely time..... :nice1


They look great - thanks for the links.

I'm going to speak to louise and see if she would like to go away or if she wants to be at home and doing something in/around auckland - I'd happily go away but she might like to be close to home to receive telephone calls etc - Although I know we can call everyone no matter where we are.

[CityBlue]

i'm not sure if you are into the carols by candlelight thing, but auckland's council site has a few things happening in December.

http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/events/

hope you find something interesting :) Maybe you can start a few new zealand christmas traditions for the two of you...

Thanks for the link - if we stay in auckland this could be on the cards

Thanks

[CityBlue]

We had a bit of a wobble this weekend as my wife is really dreading xmas this year. I dont know what to tell her. Its still minimum 6-7 months before we can even consider going back to the uk for a visit - but I think thats what she really needs - just to see family and friends and get a hug from them.

I could really do with more suggestions if anyone has any.

And for new year too - otherwise it will be a night in watching tv for these two mid twenty year olds - oh dear - old before our time :o

[Anita & Marco]

The only suggestion I have is to go out and about and enjoy the scenery.

We will be out on our bicycles for instance. But you just do what you enjoy most - whatever that is. And there is a lot of stuff to do in NZ. But please book ahead at that time of the year, wherever you go.

We are far too young to sit at home and are about twice your age (I guess).

Cheers
Anita

[Carey]

We were away from home last year, feeling pretty miz and to cap it all one of our children was really unwell on xmas day but before-hand we invited another family in who were also feeling lonely and they were delighted to come and join us. We all played silly games interspersed with phone calls home and having dreaded it and having expected to feel completely left out and home-sick it was fine! Low expectations sometimes work out better than you dare hope! You may be surprised.....