Welcome to New Zealand
With 5 more Marshalls, perhaps the Kiwis will finally outnumber the sheep!
Auckland.
We’ll kick off our adventure at the top of the North island, where we’ll stay for 6 days: July 18-23.
July 18
5:15 | Mat lands at AKL airport
5:30 | Family lands at AKL airport
Go through security, customs, etc.
7:00 | Pick up the car
Check into airbnb:
Address: 2 Firth Road, Auckland, Auckland 1021
Rest, relax, catch up on sleep - be ready to hit the ground running the next day
July 19
Explore the area, Auckland downtown
Sky tower (buy tickets day of)
July 20
Go to Fan Zone
Opening Ceremonies
19:00 | New Zealand vs Norway
Address: Eden Park
July 21
Explore Auckland
Whale watching tour?
Dinner with Jessica
July 22
Lunch with ??
Go to Fan Zone
13:00 | USA vs Vietnam
Address: Eden Park
Rotorua.
We’ll pass through Hamilton on our way to the Hobbiton tour and then kick on to Rotorua.
July 23
8:30 | Depart for tour (2 hour drive)
11:40 | Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
Address: 501 Buckland Road, Hinuera, Matamata 3472
Drive to Rotorua
Address: Novotel Rotorua Lakeside Hotel, Lake End, Tutanekai Street, Rotorua 3010
Itinerary number: 725521604646263
18:45 | Te Puia Night Experience
Address: Te Puia, Hemo Road
Pahiatua.
Think we can handle more family time? On July 24, we’ll drive from Rotorua to visit Helen at her sheep farm in Pahiatua!
July 24
Drive to visit Helen
Address: 343 Pahiatua-Pongaroa Road, Pahiatua 4982
Wellington.
Next up, the capital city: Wellington aka Wellywood! Here, we’ll stay just outside of the city at Waikanae Beach from July 25-28.
July 25
Drive to airbnb
15:00 | Check into airbnb
Address: 47 William Street, Waikanae Beach, Wellington 5036
17:30 | New Zealand vs Philippines
Address: Wellington Regional Stadium (Sky Stadium)
Auckland Activities
Hannah’s Laneway
Cable car
July 26
Celebrate Lucy’s 23rd birthday!
12:30 | Weta Workshop Experience
Explore Auckland
July 27
13:00 | USA vs Netherlands
Address: Wellington Regional Stadium (Sky Stadium)
July 28
11:00 | Check out of airbnb
Ferry to Picton, drive to Punakaiki
Punakaiki.
Time to kick off our south island road trip in what looks to be an insanely beautiful national park!
July 28
Ferry to Picton, drive to airbnb (4.5 hours)
15:00 | Check into airbnb
Address: 48 Hartmount Place, Te Miko, West Coast 7871
Explore the beaches, Truman Track?
July 29
Pancake rocks
July 30
Depart for Lake Tekapoo
Lake Tekapo.
July 30
Drive to Lake Tekapo (6 hour drive)
Check into hotel
Address: Alpine Vista, Hamilton Drive, Lake Tekapo, 7999
Confirmation number: 3219663291
Watch the sunset, overlook Mount Cook
July 31
10:00 | Check out of hotel
Drive to Queenstown (3 hour drive)
Queenstown.
Wowey wowey! What an eventful trip but it’s not done yet! In fact, we’re just now hitting our southern most point.
July 31
Drive to Queenstown (3 hour drive)
15:00 | Check into hotel (closes at 9:30pm)
Address: Distinctive Alpine Meadows, 135 Fernhill Road, Fern Hill, Queenstown 9300
Confirmation number: 2810008769
Pin: 1943
Gondola ride and luge!
August 1
Milford Sounds day trip
19:00 | USA vs Portugal
Watch on TV
August 2
10:00 | Check out of hotel
Depart for Christchurch (6 hour drive)
Christchurch.
August 2
Drive to Christchurch (6 hour drive)
Check into airbnb
Address: 388 Montreal Street Unit 5, Christchurch, Canterbury 8013
August 3
Drive to Picton (4.5 hour drive), ferry to Wellington
Wellington.
Time for the return trip! Stopping back in Wellington, we’ll see our last World Cup match and explore the city a bit more.
August 3
Drive to Picton, ferry to Wellington
15:00 | Check into airbnb
Address: 108 Aro Street, Wellington, Wellington 6021
August 4
Explore Wellington
August 5
20:00 | Round of 16 match
Address: Wellington Regional Stadium (Sky Stadium)
August 6
10:00 | Check out of airbnb
Drive to Auckland (8 hours)
Check into hotel
Address: Heartland Hotel Auckland Airport
Itinerary number: # 72562550623846
Auckland.
Alas, the trip had to end eventually. Here we split up as Lucy and I head out early to continue the adventure in Australia.
August 7
Depart from Auckland
12:25 | Mat and Lucy fly to Sydney
19:40 | Family flight home