Porirua, Wellington

We will be passing Porirua on Day 4 OTW to Wellington. Not sure what time, probablu around 1-2 pm (zohor time). There is a Masjid or Islamic Centre here at 58-60 Waihora Crescent, Waitangirua, Porirua East (Tel: 04 - 235 6637).

Note from Travel Planner: Porirua is a satellite city of Wellington situated at the southern end of the Kapiti Coast. It completely surrounds Porirua Harbour, which is a popular spot for windsurfing, waterskiing and jet skiing. Best things to do in Porirua include visiting Pataka, a museum and art gallery specialising in Maori and Pacific Island art;



shopping at Porirua Market, which is held every Saturday morning; exploring Battle Hill Farm Forest Park (click for map); and several beaches for safe swimming.
More link on Battle Hill Farm Forest Park.

Wellington Must Visit Sites

I'm listing below the places around Wellington City that we should be visiting. They include:

1) the Otari-Wilton's Bush (Botanical Garden) located 10 km away from the Ohiro Rd centre.

2) Te Papa Tongarewa, Muzium of New Zealand.

3) Wellington Cable Car: The cars run from Lambton Quay (click for direction) in the heart of the central business district and within 5 minutes whisk you from under the corporate towers of The Terrace past Kelburn Park and Victoria University to the top entrance of the Wellington Botanic Gardens with its magnificent lookout over the City and harbour - Te Whanganui-a-Tara (The Great Harbour of Tara).

View the Gallery

Open hours:
Cars run every 10 minutes, Monday to Friday, 7am – 10pm. Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays, 9am – 10pm. ($3 one way/$5 return)

4) Wellington Botanical Garden, 101 Glenmore Street, Thorndon, Wellington. Gardens open daily sunrise to sunset. Free entry. Glow-worm tour available occationally ($5/adult) - usually after 7.30 pm meet at Otari Info Centre or at 8pm at the main entrance. The tour last for about 1 hour.

5) Karori Wild Life Santuary, End of Waiapu Rd, Karori.

6) Wellington Gondola & Tramways
7) Wellington Masjid & Islamic Centre, 7-11 Queens Drive, Kilbirnie.

View Larger Map

8) TBA
9) Bus ride to A) Rona Bay, Wellington (1 hr 30 min), B) Breaker Bay ( about 1 hr + and return before 7pm)

10) Some of the walking tracks at Te Kopahou Reserve
(include the seal colony).

[My itineraries] [Suggested itineraries]

Victory Village Community Centre, Nelson (South Island)

This will be one of our itinerary for the South Island exploration. We are planning to "drop by" the centre on the 16th November, on our way to Mapua. That morning, we will cross the Cook Strait by ferry from Wellington to Picton. It's a 3 hour sail, 8.30 to 11.30 am. From Picton it's about 1 hr 40 minutes drive (115 km) to Nelson City (click for map). Nelson's

Victory Village Community Centre seem to be a one stop centre for all the social services the community needs. It is run by 4 people, Kindra, Gareth, Penny and Robina. They provide a wide range of services (social, recreational and cultural) including counseling for low income community members. It will be a good learning experience.

Update on the accomodations:

At last we decided to spend a nite at Tongariro National Park. Even though it's only about an hour from Taupo, but it will cost us more than NZ$100 for the bus return to the National Park. We might just drive there ourself. So, I managed to book 1 nite stay at a the Adventure Lodge, National Park Village. Only for NZ$65/nite for a double (but shared bathroom).

Day 3 Adventure (5th November 2009)

On Day 3, we will depart from Rainbow Lodge very early in the morning (6.30 am or earlier) to catch the first bus that would bring us to the starting point of the Crossing which is at the Mangatepopo Car Park.

Not sure at the moment what time is the last bus (need to find out about this - maybe should ask the Adventure Lodge).
Tongariro Alpine Crossing:

View Tongariro Alpine Crossing in a larger map

South Island Excursion - Day 1 (16 November)

On 16 November, 2009. First day of the South Island Trip.

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Another Video on New Zealand: 100% Pure New Zealand

By hayn0r

A Scenic Video of New Zealand.

(Created by pedro for Youtube)

Our Accommodations in New Zealand

All accommodations from Day 1 (3rd November) to South Island excursion (16-20 Nov) had been booked & confirmed, alhamdulillah.



Day 1 (3-4 November) at Coromandel

We will be staying for our 1st nite at Mana-Nui Motel, in Whitianga.

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To get to Whitianga we will pass thru Thames and Coromandel Town. This would take about 3 to 4 hrs of driving around the peninsular.

Day 2 (4-5 November) at Taupo
Rainbow Lodge
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Day 3 (5-6 November): Adventure Lodge, National Park Village
Address: Carroll St, National Park Village

• work 0800 321 061
• work +64 7 892 2991
• fax +64 7 892 2799
• adventurelodge@xtra.co.nz
• www.adventurenationalpark.co.nz

At Wellington (6 - 30 November)
Capitol View Motor Inn, 12 Thompson Street, Wellington
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At Mapua, South Island (16- 18 November)
Corru Gate Accomodation
About 40 minutes from central Nelson and 30 minutes from Abel Tasman National Park.
View Larger Map

At Christchurch (18-20 November)
Stonehurst Accommodation (Lodge)


View Larger Map---
Or view the simpler map.

Preparation Progress

Alhamdulillah, till today I have confirmed the booking for the followings:
1) the car from Wellington International Airport to Wellington, from the November 3rd to November 7th,
2) Accommodation at Wellington from Nov 6th to the 30th,
3) all accomodation during our travel to Wellington from Auckland (4 nites) except on the 3rd (waiting for confirmation). I have also booked my return flight to Auckland (RM4,165). This could have been cheaper if I have made the booking the week before with Brunei Air (around RM3,500++).

Now I just need to finalize our details itineraries. We also need to arranges some official trips to places like counseling centres during the break.

Day 1 (November 3): Coromandel Peninsular will be our first destination. More about Coromandel:
1) Thames
2) Coromandel Town
3) Whitianga & Mercury Bay

The Preparations

The preparation work has been going for about 2 months ago. But really intensive one really started about 2-3 week back. This pre-travels planning was about deciding when & where we will be going, how to get there and where we will be staying. Accommodations need to be booked. Where we will stop along the way all need to be planned in advance.

November 2009: Our first New Zealand trip

November 2009: Our first New Zealand trip

This will be my second trip to NZ. It would be the first trip for us, my wife and me traveling together. Day 1 (in NZ) will be the 3rd of November 2009. My wife, Hashimah will be attending a 4 week course at Wellington from 7th to 29th of November. So, we are taking this opportunity to have our 2nd honeymoon after 29 years of marriage. I'll be the tour guide, trip manager, driver, escort etc. We will be coming a few days earlier prior the commencement of her course, that is the 3rd of November. We will be arriving, with different flight, at the Auckland International Airport on that day. I'll be taking Brunei Airlines and she, of course the taking MAS. Then, we will drive south from Auckland International Airport to Wellington in 4 days, planning to arrive on the 6th of November. So, now I'm planning the trip, making all the necessary booking for accommodation and the travel routes and stops.