Indivisibilities Wiki - User contributions [en]

Germany

2011-10-08T09:26:42Z

Elin: Created page with " == Inspiration == We can select the best looking bits of different itineraries and mash them together... [http://www.frommers.com/destinations/germany/0224020795.html Two week..."

== Inspiration ==

We can select the best looking bits of different itineraries and mash them together...

[http://www.frommers.com/destinations/germany/0224020795.html Two week itinerary in Germany]

[http://gogermany.about.com/od/citiesandregions/ig/Walking-Tour-Berlin/ Walking Tour of Berlin]

[http://gogermany.about.com/od/eventsandfestivals/u/oktoberfest_octoberfest.htm Oktoberfest Info]

In Germany, train travel is a realistic possibility!

If we could get an open-jaw plane ticket, that would be better (i.e. a ticket where you land in one place, but fly out of another)

Deutschland

2011-10-08T09:06:48Z

Elin:

[[Image:germany.jpg|right]]

== Germany ==

Let's go to Germany! The details:

*'''When?''' Don't know
*'''How long?''' Don't know
*'''Who's coming?''' Ummm..
*'''Where exactly?''' Well...
*'''Do you know anything?''' No.
*'''Then why do we want to go to Germany?''' Germany excels in many areas!

They are internationally recognised as leading the fashion and glamour world:

[[File:Lederhosen.jpg]]

They are world leaders in music, with bands such as Rammstein:

[[File:rammstein.jpg]]

And they have unsurpassed prowess in the area of cuisine:

[[File:Sauerkraut.jpg]]

As if all this wasn't enough, for our gentlemen readers there is also the enticement of the hot hot German wimmenz...

[[File:Valkyrie.jpg]]

Why WOULDN'T we want to go to Germany?

[[Germany|Eingebe]]

Deutschland

2011-10-08T09:06:26Z

Elin:

Deutschland

2011-10-02T16:26:50Z

Elin:

Deutschland

2011-10-02T16:24:26Z

Elin: /* Stuff for Mum To Do */

Elin: /* Work and homestay Options */

[[Image:NZdownunderersmall.PNG|350px|right]]

== New Zealand ==

=== Introduction ===

That's right. You heard me. I'm going to spend a year working and travelling in the awesome internationally recognised as 'New Zealand'

'''Recent Activity'''

*Rough budget plan made
*Elin is arranging payment for Matt-leg tour ticket
*Matt has booked the flights and tour ticket
*Elin's New Zealand blog can be found [http://elinnz.posterous.com/ here]
*Flight has been booked.

== To Do ==

{| border="0" cellpadding="2"
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Get work/holiday visa
|-
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Book Flight
|-
| [[Image:blank.gif]] || Get Travel Insurance
|-
| [[Image:blank.gif]] || Talk to NatWest
|-
| [[Image:blank.gif]] || Book initial accommodation in Auckland
|-
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Set up NZ Bank Account
|-
| [[Image:blank.gif]] || Transfer money to that bank account
|-
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Buy a giant backpack + sleeping bag
|-
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Buy a netbook for travelling computations
|-
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Make a [[packing list]]
|-
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Draw up a rough [[budget plan]]
|-
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Buy Matt-leg tour ticket
|-
| [[Image:blank.gif]] || Buy Mum-leg tour ticket
|}

== Flights ==

Hokai, so, flights are actually quite complicated. Here's a [[Flights | detailed page for flights]] and here's the summary:

Booking Reference: HJC5GH

'''OUTBOUND'''

*''Outbound Flight Status: '''Booked '''''

'''Outbound Flight'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
! From!! To !! Via !! Date and Time !! Landing At !! Flight No!! Terminal !! Carrier
|-
|London - LHR || Auckland - AKL || Hong Kong || Thursday 12th August 2010 21:05pm || 09:00am Sat 14th || NZ38
|| LHR Terminal 1 || AirNewZealand
|}

----
'''RETURN'''

*''Return Flight Status: '''Booked: But must be changed in September 2010'''''

'''Return flight'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="2"
! From!! To !! Date and Time !!Flight No!! Class !! Carrier
|-
|Auckland - AKL || ? Hong Kong ? || ? 10th August 2011 (time) - (time) || Flight ID || Class: Economy || AirNewZealand
|-
|? Hong Kong ? || London - LHR || ? 11th August 2011 (time) - (time) || Flight ID || Class: Economy || AirNewZealand
|}

.

== Auckland Accommodation ==

Two Main options:

Oaklands Lodge in Mt. Eden, short (cheap and regular) bus ride to centre, pleasant and quiet location.

[http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g255106-d296126-r33622083-Oaklands_Lodge_Backpacker_Hostel-Auckland_North_Island.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT Oaklands Lodge- Trip Advisor]

Auckland International YHA - excellent cooking facilities, nearer centre and probably have better travel centre.

Might win on convenience- can always book for 6 days then switch to Oaklands if it's no good.

Price-wise I think they are exactly the same - £10.45 a night for an 8-bed dorm.

Because of location and reviews '''Auckland International YHA''' wins...this round... also airbus from airport goes straight there which is handy. Important not to confuse with Auckland City YHA which is apparently crappola.

== Travel Insurance ==

*[http://www.globelink.co.uk/wizard/ GlobeLink]
*[http://www.worldnomads.com/allcountries.aspx?country=GBR&utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=&_wat_id=5dbef2ae3da44f48b539825c9b0f8253_1 World Nomads]

{| border="1"
|+ Travel Insurance Comparison
! Policy !! GlobeLinks !! World Nomad
|-
| Cover 1 || GL Thing || WN Thing
|-
|-
| Cover 2 || GL Thing 2 || WN Thing 2
|-
|-
|Cost || GL quote || WN quote
|}

== Rough Plan ==

*Arrive in Auckland, get over jet lag, deal with bank stuff and other stuff.
*Stay in Auckland for 2 weeks- try to get in Cape Reinga, the little islands, and Auckland itself.
*Homestay/farmstay your way round: First to Coromandel across to Rotorua, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay, Napier region then down to Wellington.
* Stay in Wellington for a week, then home/farmstay across to New Plymouth region, Taranaki and Waikato back up to Auckland, via Te Awamutu.
*[[Enter Matt]] stage left (Auckland -> Christchurch)
*Do same sort of thing for South Island as north - stop off in the key places for a week or so (Christchurch, Queenstown, Dunedin), Go north, round, south home/farmstaying along the way, back to Christchurch
*[[Enter Mum]] stage right (Christchurch -> Auckland)
*Get a job for 3 months or revisit highlights, hang out doing whatever. If some people were awesome at the beginning, go see them again.
*Come home with a slightly Kiwi accent, and a set of charming anecdotes where money used to be.

== Mandatory activities ==
[[Image:NZeweshouldcomesmall.PNG‎|350px|right]]
*Pilgrimage to Te Awamutu
*Waitomo Caves
*Sandboarding
*Visiting:
**Napier
**New Plymouth
**Dunedin
**Stewart Island
**the Catlins
**Fox Glacier
**Milford Sound
**Auckland,
**Christchurch
**Greymouth
**etc.
*Maybe a trip to Samoa.

== Stray Tour ==

Ticket is booked- an open ticket. Matt lands in Auckland on the 1st of November, so he will need accommodation for that night. We will be departing from Auckland on the 2nd November and the tour is 16 days long. Hopefully it will be fantastisch!

*Stray Tour Confirmation Code: 1019835
*Passenger number/ User Id: 23044

Contact Details:
email support@straytravel.co.nz | phone +64 9 526 2140 | web www.straytravel.com

'''Note''': We will need to ring them before hand (I'll ring one or two weeks ahead to confirm departure date)

For More Details on the tour itself see [http://indivisibilities.com/wiki/Enter_Matt Matt's Page here]

== Work and homestay Options ==

[http://www.helpx.net/listings.asp?action=memshowhosts&network=1 Farm and Homestay options - HelpExchange]

[http://www.couchsurfing.org/index.html Couch Surfing.org]

[http://www.anyworkanywhere.com/ Anywork Anywhere]

[http://www.seasonaljobs.co.nz/ Seasonal Jobs]

[http://www.hortnz.co.nz/Overview/Seasonal%20Work/Regional%20Map Horticulture NZ]

[http://www.seek.co.nz/ Seek NZ job hunting]

[http://www.backpackerboard.co.nz/work_jobs/job-recruitment-agencies.php Backpackerboard NZ]

[http://www.gapyear.com/jobs/jobs_in_new_zealand/by/seek_jobs_in_new_zealand Gapyear.com Jobs]

== Transportation ==

Buses? Hail yes! Trains? Hail yes! Fake Southern American accents? Hail - wait, what?

[http://nakedbus.com/bus-timetables/ NakedBus] - cheap. Have more destinations than intercity. Also, cheap.
* [http://nakedbus.com/bus-timetables/ Timetables] They seem to be roughly £11 ish per trip (to places that take ~ 4 hours to get to). Considering the Sheffield tram is £3, this seems fair. Cheaper the further ahead it's booked. Nudity not required.

[http://travelpass.intercity.co.nz/ Intercity] - more expensive (about twice as expensive as NakedBus) but may need them for trip from airport? They go every hour from the airport to the Auckland city (the quay)

For long distances - an always take a flight

== Small trips and tours ==

*[http://www.fullers.co.nz/destinations-tours/rangitoto-island.php Fullers Rangitoto Island]
*[http://www.straytravel.com/new-zealand-bus-travel/18/ Stray Go East tour]
*[http://www.straytravel.com/new-zealand-bus-travel/16/?jump=Y Stray Cape Reina Patch Pass]

Packing list

2010-02-06T02:05:11Z

Elin:

Enter Matt

2010-01-24T19:08:01Z

Elin: /* About New Zealand */

[[Image:Nznotgoinganysmall.PNG|right|350px]]

== Brief ==

For this operation we will be touring via a ticket we will codename: Short Moe, or Sh'Moe for short.

The key aim of this operation is cramming in as much fun, culture, and awesome as is humanly possible to cram into a trip.

== About New Zealand ==

"Aotearoa! Rugged individual, glisten like a pearl, at the bottom of the world" ~ 'Six Months in a leaky boat', Split Enz.

Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand, meaning land of the long white cloud. The country has a measly 4 million people, but they have taken as 'quality, not quantity' approach to people production, and allow plenty of personal space per person.

The first country in the world to give equal rights to women, they elected a woman PM in 1997, then another one immediately after just to prove it wasn't a fluke. The current PM since 2008* is John Key. His father was an immigrant from the UK so hopefully he's doing us proud.

Any other info required can be wiki'd, or you can ring up Neil Finn and ask him.

* oops, corrected: it was a decade out!

== Stuff for Matt To Do ==

{| border="0" cellpadding="2"
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Make a to-do list
|-
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Book flights
|-
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Buy Short Moe ticket
|-
| [[Image:blank.gif]] || Get Travel Insurance
|-
| [[Image:tick.gif]] || Get time off work
|}

== Details, details ==

'''London -> Auckland'''

Depart: Saturday 30/10/2010: LHR 10.35pm

change at Hong Kong

Arrive: Monday 01/11/2010: AKL 1.05pm

'''Christchurch -> Auckland'''

Depart: Saturday 20/11/10: CHC 9.50am

Arrive: Saturday 20/11/10: AKL 11.10am

'''Auckland -> London'''

Depart: Saturday 20/11/2010: AKL 2.30pm

change at Hong Kong

Arrive: Sunday 21/11/2010: LHR 6.20am

== Short Moe ==

[http://www.straytravel.com/new-zealand-bus-travel/7/?jump=Y The pass on Stray website]

[[Image:Shortmoe.PNG]]

Online ticket price: $640 NZD, which is £294.20 GBP - (excludes food and accommodation)
Departs: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

== The Tour Itinerary ==
[[Image:Nzdontexpectmuchsmall.PNG|left|350px]]
'''Auckland to Hahei Beach (The Coromandel)'''
Depart from Auckland between 7.30am and 8.15am. We head south travelling towards the Coromandel Peninsula via the old colonial town of Thames. Pick up your free cultural experience (kumara) to keep or have for dinner. In the afternoon do the free walk to Cathedral Cove, go kayaking or dig your own hot pool at Hot Water Beach (tide dependent). If wet we can visit a local winery. Tonight we stay in cabins right on the beach. Option of classic Kiwi BBQ for dinner.

'''Hahei to Raglan'''
Depart 8am. Head on to the world-renowned Raglan surf beach (with walks and cow spotting on way).
Learn to surf, do a bush walk around Mt Karioi, weave your own flax basket and check out the alternative arts and crafts town, or walk along the rugged coastline (and spot pro surfers). Tonight’s accommodation is in a lodge surrounded by native bush near the beach.
Warm up in the bush sauna that night, or try out the free flying fox.

'''Raglan to Cultural Stop'''
Depart 8am. On to the rural town of Waitomo, famous for its caves and glowworms. You can do a free walk around Ruakuri Reserve or try one of the amazing caving options. We then head across to Maketu for our unique and special stopover at our cultural retreat. We stay with local
Maori; have a ‘Hangi’ meal and learn about Maori traditions and modern day Maori in their purpose-built marae (meeting house). NB: this is an all inclusive price of $75 including meals.

'''Maketu to Taupo'''
Depart 8am and head into Rotorua for its smell (geothermal areas). Morning options include: a visit to Whakarewarewa historic Maori village and geothermal area; going zorbing, white water rafting or sledging. We do hostel pickups, then we head south to Taupo and its great lake (the world’s largest crater lake), via Huka Falls. You have the chance to take part in one of our most popular activities ‘skydiving’. We stay in central Taupo for the night.

'''Taupo to National Park'''
Depart 6.30am. We head around Lake Taupo to the active volcanoes of ‘Tongariro National Park’. Today you get a chance to do what is rated as one of the world’s best one day walks - the ‘Tongariro Crossing’, or go skiing or snowboarding! For those not doing the walk – or on days that the walk or skiing isn’t possible, we take in a couple of shorter walks and visit the Volcanic Centre museum. We stay in a beautiful alpine lodge for the night.
[[Image:Nzlikelotrsmall.PNG|350px|right]]
'''National Park to Wellington'''
Depart 9am. Head to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city via Ohakune, Taihape and Bulls. We strongly recommend walking ‘Oriental Parade’ and visiting ‘Te Papa’, our national museum. We stay in central Wellington tonight. There is an optional Lord of the Rings tour.

'''Wellington to Marahau (Abel Tasman)'''
We catch the 8.00am Bluebridge ferry (the ferry will cost between $40-$75, your accommodation provider organises a transfer. We head through the famous Marlborough vineyard area and the coastal town of Nelson before heading onto Motueka to get supplies on our way to our night stop of Marahau, on the edge of the Abel Tasman National Park.
We stay at our exclusive accommodation where you have options ranging from dorm rooms to cabins. Tonight we have free mussel tasting around the fire.

'''Spend an extra day in Marahau (Abel Tasman)'''
You have the day at leisure to explore the National Park - try a sailing trip, a day walk, kayaking, water taxi, horse riding, skydiving, piloting your own stunt plane, hang gliding or just relax on one of the golden sand beaches!

'''Marahau (Abel Tasman) to West Coast Cultural Stop'''
We depart at 9am. Head south through the Buller Gorge to the 'wild' West Coast. Tonight we stay in a historic hotel in Barrytown near Punakaiki, one of the most beautiful spots along the coast. We make stops on the way for the Westport seal colony, to explore the awesome Pancake rocks and their mighty blowholes, or take a hike down into the temperate rainforests of the Paparoa National Park along the Truman Track. Enjoy the traditional Kiwi roast dinner option here tonight.

'''Barrytown to Franz Josef'''
You have the morning to walk (head along the beach and search for greenstone); canoe in the National Park (this trip has amazing scenery with some likening it to ‘Jurassic Park’) or make a bone carving with the locals (a unique, highly recommended activity). We depart at midday and head into the heart of the West Coast where time almost stands still. We stop in Hokitika to look at the greenstone factory then head to Franz Josef, a town squashed between the Tasman Sea and the mighty Franz Josef Glacier. We stay at a lodge in the middle of the rainforest.

'''Spend an extra day in Franz Josef.'''
There are many excellent bush hikes up to the glacier face but we seriously recommend you consider a guided glacier walk or a ‘helicopter hike’ to get onto the glacier. You can warm up and relax after all this in one of NZ’s largest spa pools at your accommodation.

'''Franz Josef to Makarora.'''
Depart at 9am. We head to Lake Matheson for the amazing mirror lake; we stop at Fox Glacier for pickups then travel through to the mountainous Haast pass. There are a number of free walks to choose from – we’ll do a couple and then travel on to Makarora for a great jetboating option. We recommend the cheap group meal for $10 around the bonfire (and/or try your hand at karaoke!). This is a great place to stay, nestled in between huge mountain ranges in Mount Aspiring National Park.

'''Makarora to Queenstown'''
A leisurely start in the morning. We pass by the beautiful lakes Wanaka and Hawea and stop briefly in the town of Wanaka for a look around before heading to Queenstown. Just before Queenstown we stop off at the famous A.J. Hackett bungy site, in the Kawarau gorge for the option of throwing yourself off a bridge (bungee attached!) Queenstown also offers an optional big (make that huge) night out with excellent restaurants, pubs and live music. Centrally located accommodation tonight.

'''Spend an extra day in Queenstown'''
Today is yours to explore. Options include: sleeping in and doing nothing, great local walks, skiing or snowboarding at one of the many local ski fields, and any adventure activity that we mad Kiwis can dream up. Obviously you can break your journey in Queenstown for as long as you want. If going straight to Christchurch, look at doing a one-day trip to Milford Sound before you go.

'''Queenstown to Christchurch'''
Depart 8am. We head over the Lindis Pass through to the MacKenzie country to Lake Pukaki for the Mount Cook lookout (you can get off at Twizel to go to Mt Cook), and scenic Lake Tekapo. Then it is an express haul across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. We drop you at your accommodation in central Christchurch.