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Original poster

Where's Best to Live in NZ and what do we need to know: PART TWO!!!

999 replies

AngryBeaver · 30/10/2011 11:19

Wow,have just gone to post and it wouldn't except it! So have had to start a new thread. Hope everyone finds it ok.I feel a bit like we've all been out for the night and somehow got seperated and no one has their mobile!!Grin
Anyway,this was the question I've had to cut and paste from the old thread:...

Sorry,have had a quick look but can't see...has anyone used emirates?
I think the sky couch thing looks good,but we'd have to buy a couple and that would be pricey.
Dh reckons Emirates are fine,but I don't think he's anticipating how different it's going to be travelling that disatnce with 3 exhausted infants.
He has limited travel experience as it is and the longest he has been on a plane with them is 3 hours. He keeps saying it will be fine,they'll sleep for loads of it...somehow I'm thinking this will not happen!!

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angelinterceptor · 02/11/2011 14:02

AB its all so exciting for you - I hope you continue to update us all when you actually get there too.
Last year we flew with AirNZ from Heathrow via Hong Kong to Auckland - we were only in HK for about 2 hours, time to stretch our legs, get a bite to eat and a wash/change of clothes.

They are a great airline, and my kids age 7 and 11 both managed some sleeping & lots of movies!

The drawback for us on this route, was that the food choices weren't great, even the childrens meals. I think they were to offer good asian choices, but IMO they weren't great. So if you have fussy children, you might want to bring snacks with you.

We were able to buy something during the break at HK

I am still reallly tempted to try for visa too - its just whether or not we could run our business from NZ etc

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 02/11/2011 20:39

passed the medicals! Just got to sumbit bits for visa. We're looking at flying out on the 23rd...holy shit, I'm scared!!

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WhatSheSaid · 02/11/2011 21:15

Wow, 23rd is soon! Have you got somewhere to rent or are you going to wait till you're here?

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 03/11/2011 07:17

angelinteceptor..Of course, as soon as I get internet access I will update everyone! Good to hear your flying experiences and yes,I think my brood would struggle with the plane food. Never great is it?! Not looking forward to that myself, I can usually only eat the bread roll. Mind you, when dh flew to NZ in business class, he had fillet steak and grilled chicken breast..he said it was delicious. Alright for some! Wink

WhatSheSaid Not got anywhere to rent.have to get a motel for a while I think.
What's the opinion on the price of milk? I think we've covered foood and milk before somewhere,but can't find it. Dh is convinced milk is really expensive... and we go through loads of it!

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WhatSheSaid · 03/11/2011 07:28

I pay $3.20 for 2 litres at our local dairy (that's what corner shops are called here). That's one of the cheaper brands, it can be about $4.50 for 2 litres of the more expensive brands.

Shells · 03/11/2011 17:22

Hi justabout - I quite often see you on the SN boards. Didn't know you were coming to NZ. Hows it going planning for DS? Sorry - thread crash.

justaboutstillhere · 03/11/2011 19:42

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Shells · 03/11/2011 22:25

I'm in Wellington. My son has ASD. Feel free to get in touch.

justaboutstillhere · 03/11/2011 22:45

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Shells · 03/11/2011 23:30

Great.
Sorry, as you were Angry Beaver - so pleased you've got the job. Good luck for everything. Lovely to arrive in the summer.

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 04/11/2011 07:40

Thanks,WhatSheSaid...that sounds ok.
Thanks,Shells Smile

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Original poster
AngryBeaver · 07/11/2011 13:01

Ok,just waiting for the visa to come back and then we can book our flight. Farewll party on the 19th !!

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mrslaughan · 07/11/2011 13:13

I am not sure how old your kids are. Mine are 6 and not quite 2. for the last 2 summers I have flown home from Dubai. Plus taken trips to europe.
Emirates is a great airline - the only problem is that you will stop in Dubai and then in Australia (for a acouple of Hours)...I think this makes it quite arduous, if you are not planning on stopping off, for a night. That is what I like to do - get the kids some frsh air, sleep flat, go for a swim, back on the plane. If stopping off is not an option, I would avoid flying through the USA, as even if you are transiting you have to clear immigration. There will be long queues, and this process is just painful. To give you an example, a few years ago I was on a flight from NZ to Europe in Business class - we got off the plane, and were processed quite quickly. we were being reboarded 1 1/2 hours later and immigration still hadn't finished processing those at the back of the plane - which of course is all the families. they had been standing with the kids in a queue for 1 1/2 hours, after a 12 hour flight. If you have to go through the USA, fly through San francisco - their immigration tends to be friendlier and queues not so long. Avoid LA at all costs.
My choice would be Singapore - effiecient service at airport and the airline is great ...though next summer we are thinking of Air NZ skycouch through hong kong.
Take changes of clothes, toys, activity books, ipads and ipods are great...and be prepared to play and entertian.
HTH - Good luck

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 07/11/2011 16:40

Hi, mrslaughan,mine are 5 ,3 and 17 months. Thanks for the info. Re stopping over, I do wonder if it's better to get it over and done with, rather than dragging it out. Some people have suggested that staying over makes the jetlag worse.I'll have another ponder!
I thougth the skycouch only went through LA,obviouly we do want to avoid it if poss. Wll check out Hong Kong

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Weta · 07/11/2011 16:47

I found the time we stayed in Singapore for 2 nights with 17-month-old quite difficult as his (and our) sleeping was all over the place, but I find a 12-hour ish stop in Singapore airport really really good for jetlag as you do get a decent stretch of 8 hours sleep or so (there are no windows so it makes it really easy to sleep no matter what time it is) and then a swim etc.

Sibble · 07/11/2011 18:02

I couldn't fly without at least a 12 hour stop over 16 is best imo!!! for all the reasons mrs laughan said walk, sleep, shower, eat, run around, basically sanity. I've only been straight through twice and never ever again, even when traveling on my own.

Likewise the only way I'd go through LA is if there was absolutely no other way on earth you could get back to Europe. Been there got that badge and never again.

Having said that I have friends who swear by going straight through....

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 08/11/2011 06:45

See, I was all set to fly straight through and then I read your post sibble! Then I'm not so sure.
Also, dh double checked re skycouch route,it appears it does only go through LA. Where did you see that it went via Hong Kong, mrslaughn?

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Weta · 08/11/2011 08:34

I'm with Sibble - going straight through is hell on earth as far as I'm concerned... I would do it on my own if absolutely necessary but would avoid it at all costs with kids.

KristinaM · 08/11/2011 08:58

Re piriton -2of my children become extremely hyper, almost manic, on this. As we discovered when they were small and the GP prescribed it for chickenpox. Apparently its its a not uncommon reaction.

holidaysoon · 08/11/2011 12:53

I have flown straight through and stopped over both have their pros and cons recently I've gone straight through cheaper and gets it over and done with, my kids are little and TBH the airport hassle getting on and off customs etc etc are such a pain we just wanted to get it finished.

Lolly congrats I agree with AB shortest pregnancy ever I was sure you were due in Dec/Jan hope all is fine Smile

Justabout I've maybe suddenly realised who you are, are you a very long time poster who used to be named after some nightwear?
remind me are you heading to Christchurch 'cos dh works in geology or have I got you mixed up? have you finished your research? will you work in NZ?

milk is expensive I'm sure we pay $5 something for 3l the Warehouse here has recently started doing 4l for maybe $6 (I can't remember) because of course it's silly to drive out of your way just to get milk!!

Original poster
AngryBeaver · 08/11/2011 15:30

Why the hell is milk so pricey?? There must be plenty of cows over there!

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justaboutstillhere · 08/11/2011 15:31

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holidaysoon · 09/11/2011 00:26

Ab yeah dirty dairy.....! (polluting all the rivers rel. hot news....)

if you believe all the ads on TV NZ is the only country with cows on the whole planet Hmm

justa.... whoops sometimes I think my brain has fallen apart Grin I did think the poster I was thinking you might be had 2 boys but as I said my brain is like a seive at the moment oh well

holidaysoon · 09/11/2011 00:47

actually AB don't fret too much about the flight it's 24 hours it's not nice but you've just got to do it
just pick a decent airline and book the tickets then ot on with the thousand other things on your lsit [grin}

Tikketyboo · 09/11/2011 01:10

Hi i don't really post much on here, but have done the UK to NZ trips and back again 4 times over the past 8 years first time my children were 4 and 9ths, i found a small suitcase just for them with colouring, books, various small toy's fav teddy's etc was very usefull.
Dr and pharmacist both advised Phenergan medicine used for travel sickness but can also be used as a mild sedative only had need to use this once but worked well.
I find things like milk bread and cheese expensive here but then fruit and veg less expensive so evens itself out.
We have only been back in NZ 3 months and i'm not looking forward to xmas either (having to have a bbq at sil but would rather have traditional roast at home :) ) my advice would be have skype ready and stay busy with kids during day.
All the very best for your move. :)