Auckland to Tokyo

Just a quick update on the journey.

After all the fun of the Hobbiton Movie Set tour we drove back to Auckland and checked in at the Auckland Airport Novotel, right outside of International Departures as we had an early flight.

At 05:30 the alarms went off - we thought it prudent to set three -  and we got checked out of the hotel and in for the flight. Auckland Airport is great, lots of good concessions and reasonably prided and interesting food, but does involve a lot of queuing to get through passport, but after 45 minutes were in the departure lounge for our 08:00 boarding. We had a great time in New Zealand,  but it is now time for the next installment of our big adventure.

The Air New Zealand flight was about 11 hours, I finished my Game of Thrones marathon and watched The Monuments Men and Edge Of Tomorrow. There were dozens of Japanese students sar near us and it was funny watching them on landing with their arms in the air, whooping and squeeling as if it was a roller-coaster, finally clapping as we taxied in.

At Narita we were through passport and customs quite efficiently,  but just missed our connecting bus so had 90 minutes to kill. We browsed the shopping area and grabbed a cream cheese bagel and then went outside to the bus stop. Wow, it is hot (35C at 7pm) and very humid.

After about an hour on the coach we arrived at The Grand Pacific Le Diaba and were shown to our room on the 24th floor. Fantastic views of Tokyo over the bay.

Just over the way is a shopping centre with loads of activity, there is even a replica Statue of  Liberty.

Overlooking the plaza is a building that plays music and lights in the windows flash in time.

After a browse around the shopping complex we had a couple of drinks in a bar and went back to the hotel and crashed just after 22:00, it had been a long day.

Hobbiton!

We are going on a very big adventure. Awake quite early we pack the cases and have a breakfast of fruit salad and toast. We check out of the Arista and load up the car and are in our way to Hobbiton about an hours drive away.

The rain is lashing down as we get near to our destination, proper cats and dogs stuff. As we arrive at Hobbiton though the rain stops and the sun breaks through, a good omen. We purchase tickets, an eye-watering NZD75.00 each and are on the 11:00 tour so kill time in the Cafe with a drink and a very nich cheese scone to share.

We are soon boarding the bus to the movie set and after a few minutes are there. On the set are about 40 different Hobbit holes of all shapes and sizes used for the filming, some are quite small and used in forced perspective shots while others admit a fully grown human. We pose for loads of photographs, especially outside Bag End and Samwises' house.

It was rather cold, but the bright sunshine makes it look idyllic.

The it is off to the rather muddy party field and party tree, before finushing off at the Green Dragon with a complimentary glass of ale for me and cider for Victoria. We share a mousetrap (cheese and ham on sour dough, sans ham for us), before boarding the coach back to base camp and a browse if the souvenir shop for a few trinkets.

As we left the Green Dragon it started raining again, looks like we were very lucky with our time-slot.

At about £75.00 for an hour and a halfs entertainment, it is very expensive for what it is, but I would not have missed it.

Back in the car we decide to hit the coast and drive over the fantastic winding pass over the highlands to Tauranga on Hwy29. We stop for a photo opportunity at Mount Maunganui but the wind is owling a gale. We get on Hwy2 back towards Auckland and the wind and rain is now coming in very strong.

There is some beautiful scenery along the route.

We stop at Paeroa for a taste of some L&P - world famous in New Zealand - and a light bite before resuming our journey. Not before it was my turn to stick my head through an amusing sign!

Arriving back at Auckland Airport we drop off the car at Apex and then check into the Novotel. We share a beer and a cocktail and a game of Carcassonne in the bar before retiring to the room for a light supper, more Carcassone and to polish off that bottle of red we purchased in Auckland on Saturday.

Setting the alarm for 05:30 we crash out. Off to Tokyo tomorrow.

Auckland

We arrived in town quite early, but the Sebel Suites had the rooms ready for an early check in, so we dropped the luggage and headed out of the door and were right on the harbour front. A lovely bright sunny day, but at 6C a lot colder than we have gotten used to.

Feeling a bit peckish we visited the Sierra Coffee Shop on the harbour where Victoria had a savoury muffin and I kept up my perchance for Banana Loaf. Suitably refreshed we were off into town exploring the sights and shops before taking a look at the Sky Tower.

Feeling a bit groggy from the over night flight we gave this a miss but may give it a go when we are back in town on Thursday if time permits.

Auckland is a beautiful place and in places is reminiscent of stepping back 30 or so years at home, I really like it.

Mid-afternoon we went back to the Sebel Suites for a couple of hours kip and then it was out to pick up some tickets for the ferry to Devenport on the other side if the harbour. It only takes the ferry about 10 minutes to make the crossing.

Devenport is a beautiful sea-side village. Unfortunately, the New Zealand Navy Museum under North Head shut at 17:00 just as we got there, but we looked at the external exhibits and enjoyed the views from the jetty.

Next we were off up the extinct volcano, North Head and were soon exploring the gun positions that dominate the entrance to the harbour before a leisurely stroll back down and picking up the ferry back to Auckland.

We has a bite of tea in our suite, and then had to change rooms as the heating had failed in ours. It was only eight o'clock but struggling to keep our eyes open we crashed out in bed.

of course an early night means you are up early, so I updated the blog and checked some emails before we che ked out at eleven and met up with Wayne.

Victoria, Wayne and myself had brunch at the Soul Resturant on the harbour front before strolling around the viaduct area and then Wayne gave us a tour of the Battlefront headquarters.

Saying our goodbyes to Wayne, Victoria and I had another hat drink at the Sierra Cafe before picking up the car and joining Highway 1 for the two and a half hour drive to Waitomo.

Annaheim to Auckland

It is our last day in California. We have a bit of a lie in then start packing the suitcases for our trip and then it is over the road to Downtown Disney for a bite of breakfast - cheese and egg sandwiches from the Earl of Sandwich - then it is back to the Fairfield to load up the car and check out.

I had planned to visit Brookhurst Hobbies so that is our first stop and then it is on to Hwy5 and we pull in to the Citadel Outlet Village where we do a little shopping. I say a little, one pair of Vans, some Keihls, three pairs of Calvin Klein knickers and a Levis top. I am rewarded with a lovely lunch at Ruby's Diner. Victoria had a Vegwich while I had a Mushroom and Swiss Cheese veggie burger.

       

We then suffer the Los Angeles traffic but arrive at the Hertz depot in plenty of time, the flat tyre indicator now joined by a oil change warning light! We catch the courtesy bus to the terminal and get checked in with a good three hours to spare.

T2 at LAX has terrible facilities. East Midlands Airport at home puts it to shame, We passed the time though and eventually boarded our flight to New Zealand and were took off by 10:30 a little late as a couple of no-shows had to have their baggage removed.

As it was a red-eye I managed to get some kip, but spent a lot of time catching up on Series 4 of Game of Throne, six episodes in all., I will finish the rest on the flight to Tokyp next week. I woke briefly as we crossed the equator, as the flight was very bumpy at the time, I am quite glad I caught that.

We arrived at New Zealand at about 06:00 local time and were soon through immigration, but were in the queue for bio-security over an hour. Eventually, we were through and boarded the shuttle bus to Apexwhere we picked up another Ford Focus. After three false starts with the GPS we had ordered as an add-on we were credited for that and picked up a map.

It did not take long to find the Siebel Suites where we are staying and the room was ready for a an early check in so we dropped the bags and headed in to town.