[vixxann]

Regarding holiday - I am right in thinking you have to tell airport immigration where you are staying for your first night ? (I'm sure I've read that somewhere!)

If so - is it ok to hire a motorhome and go off same day you arrive? Do you need to pre-book at a certain campsite and tell them thats where you are?

[marcia]

They do ask for an address but you can always give them a mobile number or the address of a friend already in NZ?!

Regarding picking up the camper and going straight off - wouldn't advise it at all - imagine how tired you will be after the flights, in a strange place no bearings - do you really think it would be wise to be in control of a vehicle on the roads in those circumstances? remember reading when the rugby tour was on about someone getting killed on the road who did just that! :no

My advice for what its worth is to book into a motel (Bk pioneer is a good one in AKL) for the first night!

Good luck and enjoy!

[nippa&pippa]

Regarding picking up the camper and going straight off - wouldn't advise it at all - imagine how tired you will be after the flights, in a strange place no bearings - do you really think it would be wise to be in control of a vehicle on the roads in those circumstances? remember reading when the rugby tour was on about someone getting killed on the road who did just that! :no


I know goverment was thinking about having law stopping people use campervan as soon after they arrive NZ, i am not sure if in progress or scraped?
My sister mentioned last year that there was a young man from wales, uk drove campervan from airport as soon as he got off the plane and managed to killed a local man on enroute in north island. Do anyone know this? what had happened to this young man since?

[StevieD]

Yeah best not to do that Vicky, there is a motel near to the airport, just think what it is like after 25 hours on a plane, last thing on your mind driving! I know it would be mine...

[jubjub]

Here is the story... very sad. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=8CC286F8-39E4-11DA-8E1B-A5B353C55561

With regards to a destination, I suppose a campervan booking would do? It shows you have intentions of holidaying, you wont be the first to arrive without a booking or fixed abode, look at all the backpackers etc...

I would book just one night, somewhere, even if its only an hour drive from Auckland, if you dont want to stay in Auckland itself. We have done long haul flights, thinking "yeah three hour drive no prob!" but we gave up after an hour and went to a nearer motel than planned and hit the road proper the next day.

[nippa&pippa]

Here is the story... very sad. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/story.cfm?storyid=8CC286F8-39E4-11DA-8E1B-A5B353C55561



Thanks Sal!

[sarahw]

I'm with everyone else on this - you will in no way be fit to drive straight after getting off that flight - definitely book in somewhere to have a nice shower & a good night's sleep before hiring your campervan. My parents, on their first trip, thought they were going to drive from Akl to Bay of Islands - I had to fly up to Auckers & pick up their hire car & drive them up there & miss my flight from Akl to BOI as I was not about to let them loose on the roads after that flight, especially after reading the article about the rugby fans! Within about 20 minutes of us setting off they were both spark out until we arrived in BOI some 4 hours later!

[ellenmelon]

please dont drive..
i lost my nanna and poppa 10 years ago this year on account of an overtired truck driver and it broke my family's heart.

also, believe me when i say that you will be begging for a horizontal surface when you first arrive!! that peace of mind knowing that you dont have to be anywhere for a bit will be great as well..you can just relax :)

[vixxann]

what a terrible story.

Guess you are all right folks - and if we book just one night nearby it will get around the immigration first night thing anyway.

Can anyone advice of any good motels then? Are there any near the airport or with free transfers? and then how do we go on getting to the campervan depot next day? are they all around a certain location we could get a motel near? (Just not looking forward to getting lots of taxis with the five of us and our luggage!)

[Sam B]

We stayed at the Jet Inn about 1 km from airport, they have a shuttle bus. Not the cheapest though, more mid-range price. I have never been more glad to lie in a horizontal position in my life. I could not have driven 1 metre.

[Carey]

Rather dreading the flight with 3 kids and wondering if there is any space to lie down on the floor, or even if that is allowed. Seem to recall (albeit 18 yrs ago) that I stretched out as others did , on the floor and slept. Would kids be allowed to do this? Travelling Air New Zealand. Are there showers in Hong Kong airport? If so, a good idea to take towels in hand luggage?
Carey

[Carey]

We almost booked this one :http://www.airportgoldstar.co.nz/airportgoldstar.html. Seemed reasonable adn pool is open.

[veronica]

nope, no lying on the floor any more. aviation rules

[vixxann]

We almost booked this one :http://www.airportgoldstar.co.nz/airportgoldstar.html. Seemed reasonable adn pool is open.

Carey - that does look quite nice for one so near the airport and it would be nice to have the pool to keep us occupied (trying to keep kids awake until as near to bedtime as possible on first day!)

Will show OH and see what he reckons! :D

[Trigirl]

carey - there are showers in HK airport. you need to go into departures for them so you'll need to get boarding passes fro the AirNZ staff. we had a very short time on the ground when flying AirNZ so couldn't manage it - but if you do they provide towels so no need to carry them.

[Tia Maria]

Carey,

We booked the middle 4 seats (obviously you'd have to find 1 extra!), but it meant we could lift all the arm rests up and the 2 children could lie down in the middle. At ages 4 & 2 there was more than enough room for them to top and tail. (This was Singapore Airlines and they didn't seem to mind)

If you can find out your plane model number you could check out seat configurations in advance. I think a group of 3 seats would be enough to allow 2 smaller children to lie down, with 1 adult acting as a 'pillow'.

Either that or its fly Business Class!

Cheers

Tia

[Sam B]

The kids lay across the seats and used me as a pillow, but I sat like that for 6 hours and I was petrified I was getting a DVT! I was torn between really wanting the kids to sleep, it took them AGES to fall asleep, was equivalent of 4am when they finally fell asleep, and being desperate to move. I always said that I could never justify the expense of business class, but I would have sold my house to upgrade by halfway through the journey.

I would definitely have a proper stopover next time. I was surprised how hard I found the flight. The kids were fine though - they said they enjoyed it!!!!

[Carey]

Vicki,
Have PM'd you re. first night versus pickng up camper van from airport.
As a TA do you have any knowledge of this new Early Years Professional Status in Uk?
Hope your plans are developing and we'll wave to you as we apss in our respective vans!
Cheers,
Carey

[vixxann]

As a TA do you have any knowledge of this new Early Years Professional Status in Uk?


Carey - sent you PM about vans, trip etc
Sorry - don't know anything about Early Years status - wish I could help but :no

[marcia]

Another good motel is the BK pioneer - we tried to book it but it was full but I know Diny has used it more than once and friends of ours who are over here at the moment used it and said it was good! :nice1