Just a reminder those in the vans in Auckland need to get together and decide as a group what the plan is for the day. This is completely up to each group I am not involved and am not going to try to determine the best thing for each van to do.

All I did was find the two vans and pay for them in advance. For the 11 seater van is confirmed for 6 hours the cost is $948 NZ a van. Same price exactly as the 4 hour or 8 hours van just adjusted to 6 hours. With 11 people that is about $14.50 NZ per hour per person, or $11.50 US. So each person is 6 hours x $11.50 = $69 US per person. This is what I paid for if you go over that time frame then you would pay the difference at the rate of $14.50 NZ per hour. Probably can just pay the driver the difference directly. I will check my credit card and see if the exchange rate was better back when I paid for this and let you know.

CHECKED MY CREDIT CARD. IT WORKED OUT TO $66 PER PERSON. A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN I CALCULATED.


VAN number ONE

Karen and Mark
Ralph and Carol
Jim and Jan
Marcie and Tom
Joanna and Tony
Betty

VAN number TWO

Alan and Donna Hull
Steve and Liz
Edwin and Linda
Don and Michelle
Chuck and Valerie
Arlene Kase

Ngaire, I can't remember if we reimbursed you yet for this?

From Peggy some things she posted and I thought I would refresh everyones memory - great information.

Pat and Ray -- Kelly Tarlton's has a free van to transport you to their facility. It stops at the Sky City Hotel once an hour during the day (it's either on the hour or the half hour--can't remember for sure).

The other neat "free" transportation option in Auckland are the Circle City buses--you can ride completely around the downtown area in them. They're great if you want to go down to the harbor or shopping--or to a downtown restaurant. You can catch the Circle bus just across the street from the Sky City Tower/Hotel. They run every 15 minutes or so. Besides Kelly Tarlton's, the other thing we really enjoyed in Auckland was the Maritime Museum which is right on the harbor. If you're into that sort of thing--it's one of the best we've seen. We also enjoyed taking the ferry over to Devonshire--a really neat little island--lots of shops and an old Fort. You catch the ferry in the harbor area also--if you go, buy the combination ferry/tour ticket to get a complete tour of the island.

Karen, not reimbursed yet. I am going to send a confirmation to everyone for the dinner at the Orbit restaurant and I will look up what I actually paid for the vans and add that to each persons email. I did not want to be reimbursed at the time as I thought things might change so best to wait until about now to handle that.

Will be working on Lamb this weekend.

From what I have been reading, would any of these visits be fun? Mudbrick vinyard (or a visit to any winery!), Muriwai black sand beach Gannet Colony and of course Sheep World . Having never been to Auckland, I am up for anything!

We had a nice lunch at the winery. We liked Sheepworld the best, very interesting how they train the dogs, got to bottle feed a baby lamb and watch them shear the sheep. Also I think the Sky Tower is not to be missed for the best views and to watch they bungy jumpers. It's the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere.

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/marciematassa/skytower.jpg?t=1192285703[/img]

Marcie, we are staying at the Sky Tower hotel! Which winery did you go to? And is that YOU in that picture??

Yes, glad we're staying at S.T. hotel and that is certainly NOT me! I can't remember the winery we visited...it was en-route and near Sheepworld about 45 minutes outside of Auckland as I remember. Gorgeous scenery getting there.

Marcie, it looks JUST like you!! Mark is thinking about making the jump but he is scared!!! :)

Ngaire, what time and day is our group dinner in Auckland? Is it the first night we are there or the second?

LAMB
Orbit Restaurant
December 2, 2007
6:30pm for 2 hour dining

Only time I could get tables for that many people. It is perfect time to see the view though and we can go to the bar observation lounge after dinner if we want to stay longer and see the lights.

What time is our van tour, sorry to ask again as I should have written the info down :) (our van tour is the same day, right?)

I think same day Karen as we wanted time after van to come back and chill before dinner - I'd like to take ferry to Devonshire guess can do that the 12/1 after resting from flight -

I have van as same day as dinner. 6 hours, instead of 8 because of dinner.
I think I'm doing Devonshire on a tour I've already booked for the day before you all get there.
Didn't someone promise we wouldn't need a social calendar for this cruise? It seems like I do! <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" /> I remember nothing.

Joanna, we are up for the ferry with you!

We'll do Ferry too....haven't done this before.

Jan and I will be willing to do what ever van #1
would like to do.
Just tell us when and where to be. :nw:
Correct the van is 12/02/07 and dinner is
that evening in the tower.

Karen:
I think it is called Sky City Hotel

Carol and Ralph are up for what ever the group decides. We will be checking into the Sky City Hotel in the afternoon of 12/1 after driving up from 2 days in Rotorua. That afternoon we are going to an old friends home for dinner. Please leave a message on the time and location of the meet for the van. Sounds like a great group.

and the Sky City Hotel has a casino with a poker room!

Hi,
I think the ferry you are meaning is the one to Devonport.
Heres a link to the timetable.
http://www.fullers.co.nz/index.php/pi_pageid/18

Leaves from the ferry buildings downtown.Heres a shot from when Regal Princess was in town.

The ferry building is the old brick one.It is only about 12 minutes across the harbour.Devonport is a delightful old village with galleries and cafes.It gives great views back to the city.

Thanks David, knowing the schedule is very convenient! I am surprised that it runs so often.

It runs as a commuter service across the harbour.If you look at Marcies pic above,you can see the Devonport Wharf jutting out into the harbour just to the right of the jumper .
The other ferry is the one to Waiheke Island,where the Mud Brick cafe is.That is about 45 minutes on a fast cat.You can also see that in the distance on the above pic.

How far is this ferry terminal from the Sky City Hotel where we are staying at?
If I looked at this right it would be $9.00 per person to take the ferry to Devonshire and then return?
I think Jan and I would be interested in doing this too.
Would everyone be looking at the 1st when we arrive or the 3rd before we go to the ship?

Jim, the ferry terminal is pretty close to the hotel(about 8-10 blocks). You could walk it (it's all downhill) or you can jump on the Circle City bus across the street from the hotel and ride down there. Of course it's uphill on the way back to the hotel, so you definitely may want to consider taking the bus back. You'll really love Devenport--have some Tip Top ice cream at the little ice cream shop there.

David, thanks for ferry info. This'll be our third time in AKL, we've seen most of the sights but not Devonport.


We don't arrive in AKL until late afternoon Dec. 1, so we'll go to Devonport the next day.

Just a thought.......
If you go on the 3rd, you will get some great pics of Mariner as the ferry will sail beside her.

I think we're going on the 1st...the day we arrive in Auckland.

That is what I was thinking.
On the 3rd by the time we lounge around and take our time before we check out it will almost be time to go to the ship and board.
Speaking of the ship. Will it be docked close to where the ferry is located or is it in a different place?
Can we walk from the Sky City Hotel or do we need transportation?

Jim I thought Ngaire said we have Regent transportation from hotel to ship - unless I have it mixed up with something else - Karen do you remember??

All those on the Sky City Hotel package booked through me with Regent will get a transfer from the airport to the hotel and then from the hotel to the ship. Whether you are on Regent Air or your own air. IF YOU ARE DOING YOUR OWN AIR YOU MUST SEND ME YOUR AIR SCHEDULES so that Regent knows WHEN to pick you up. No air schedule no pick up.

You must also be coming in the day that everyone else comes in to use the complimentary hotel package on December 1. If you arrive earlier no pick up.

Some of you have sent me your air already and we would be contacting those missing about a month out for your air schedules.

Oh wow.
That is wonderful news.
Thanks Ngaire

This hotel package including all transfers is FANTASTIC! Thanks again Ngaire.

I was over at Devonport last week to meet friends who had had cruised down from Seattle on the Sun Princess.Here are a couple of shots.
We met them there at 10am.It was a bit early as some of the galleries and cafes were only just getting around to opening.

Looking up the main street from the wharf.
Mt Victoria is in the background.The view looking back to the city is great from up there.


Looking back from Devonport Wharf to where the cruise ships dock in the city.

Great pictures, David! It almost looks like Bermuda!

Sitting here in Palm Springs,(Indio)suffering through this wonderful 85 degree weather. Sure wish the golf game was as good.
Still no cabin assignment. Thought I would look at a new tent at a discount center. :D