Left Wellington nice and early at 6am, uneventful check in, unless you count the fact that one of our bags weighed over 23kgs and Air New Zealand are really strict on the allowance. When did they start that! So in the middle of the domestic terminal at Wellington the case was flung open, clothes, shoes, and intimate apparel was quickly thrown into the roll up empty duffle bag we had packed for additional shopping.
Once this delicate operation was done it was off to Koru for some breakfast and to await our boarding call. Flight on time, arrived early to Auckland (couldn’t believe it, saw about 4 people from my Air NZ days on the plane – none of who work for Air NZ now), walked across to the international terminal and then straight through immigration.
Next thing I know my handbag was being attacked by a dog, a gorgeous lab who was sniffing away, had his head stuck right in the bag. Instantly I started to feel nervous, I had no fruit or any food I shouldn’t, but then what would that matter, we were leaving NZ not entering, no drugs, honestly no drugs. Works out he was a money dog, and sniffs out currency. I want me one of them! Luckily,while I was carrying a little more cash than normal it was nothing to worry about and we were allowed on our way.
We didn’t have much time between flights so it was pretty well straight to the gate and boarding. The flight was long and very hot and stuffy, but other than that fine. We arrived about 10 minutes early, long queues to clear immigration, finally got there, and I was told to put my right hand; four fingers, on the pad for finger printing, okay, so I put my other right (aka left) much to the derision of Q and the customs guy. After realising the error of my way, changing hands, and scaring the bejesus out of the customs guy by telling him I was doing all the navigating. We were on our way to a very balmy 26C and it was 10.30pm.
Stayed at the Ohana Airport Hotel, perfectly adequate, was actually in walking distance. Threw our bags in the room and then had a walk around the block for 15 minutes just to get some fresh air. Fell into bed after midnight, air conditioning cranked which was lovely and cool for Q, bloody freezing for me. About 4am I decided the room needed to be a little warmer, quietly got up, changed the dial (in the dark) so that the room wasn’t quite as cold. Only problem was it was the wrong dial and next thing you know the fire alarm in our room is screeching and Q was awake. Ha, my plan worked, air conditioning turned off, no noise and no freezing air, and no more fire alarm screeching!
Saturday morning a quick breakfast at the hotel, a huge bowl of yummy fruit for me, melons, strawberries, pineapple, just yummy, a huge cooked breakfast for the other half…well it had been about 8 hours since he had last eaten!
Back to the airport for our flight to Hilo. Airport was very busy, it is a long weekend here so people were travelling to the outer islands for a break. Very quick flight all of 37 minutes, amazing scenery along the way, we passed over lots of different islands and could see everything on them which these photos will attest to.
Picked up our rental car and hit the mall, only thing was it was so hot that yours truly couldn’t be bothered shopping. Yes maybe hell has frozen over! Went to Walmart got a few bits and pieces we needed and then headed to the supermarket to buy supplies for dinner and our breakfast and then to our cottage which is just gorgeous. Set amongst the trees, nice and cool and a gorgeous hot tub that I plan to jump into very soon.
After a bit of unpacking on my part, and a play with a new camera lens on his part, we headed to the National Park while we still had daylight to visit the Jagger Museum and see where the viewing platform was for Kilauea, for when we go back in the early hours of the morning one day to see it in the dark. After very hot in Hilo (over 30c) we suddenly hit 16C but with a very cold wind that made it seem more like minus 16 (well to me anyway!). Here is a photo of Kilauea letting off smoke in the daylight.
Back home, a relaxing dinner and planning our activities for tomorrow. Gosh this holidaying is exhausting!