Hi, my name is Claire, Im 23 and I will be doing the Grand Explorer from Christchurch from 5 to 19 May 09 on my own and I would like to hear from anyone going on the same tour!

Hello Claire, My name is Jarrod i'm doing this tour with my girlfriend Jess. We can't wait. Where abouts are you from?

Hey Jarrod & Jess, Im from Geelong, Vic, Aus. Where are you guys from? Im glad to here from you! hopefully we can chat to a few others before going on the tour. I can't wait either this tour will be my first Contiki but all going well I will do a US one at the end of the year. When do you guys get in to NZ?

finallly!!


HEY GUYS, I AM PLANNING ON BOOKING THIS TOUR SOON.. I JUST WASNT SURE IF ANYONE ELSE WAS DOING IT!!

yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!

ok sorry, heres a proper introduction..

MY NAME IS MALIHA
AND I AM A 22 FEMALE, LIVING IN TORONTO, CANADA.
NEWZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA HAVE BEEN MY DREAM DESTINATIONS EVER SINCE HIGHSKOOL AND I FINALLY HAVE THE $$ TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, AS I HEAR THESE CAN BE QUITE EXPENSIVE !! lol (but well worth it!)

But hey, YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE SO I WANT TO DO IT UP BIG THIS YEAR AND CELEBRATE MY 23RD BIRTHDAY!! (OZZIE STYLE)
I AM PLANNING ON MAY 05-TO MAY 19TH NEWZEALAND AND THEN THE BEACHES AND REEFS AUSTRALIA.. May 24th to June!!

ok so I should book this right? you guys are all confirmed?!?
aaaaaaaaaaaaaah this is soooo exciting!
Claire.. since your going solo as well.. you can email me directly,
maliha_g@hotmail.com.

=)

Hey Maliha

YES YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BOOK THIS TOUR!

I am all booked and ready too go!
Its Good to hear from you. I actually didn't think I would hear from anyone by posting this message, but since I have this tour is sounding more FUN by the minute.
I shall shoot you an email shortly when I'm not at work and have some time. YAY

Hey Claire and Maliha
Jess and i are from the sth east subs of Melbourne, Australia. We get into Christchurch on the 4th the day before the tour. When are you getting to NZ Claire? Contiki tours are so much fun this tour will be my second within a year i did an 8 day tour of Europe in july.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jazza83,

HEY JARROD AND JESS, AND CLAIRE !!
(yeah, i think everyone on this tour will be doing a pre-night stay on MAY 4TH... which i think is a great idea!)

wow...I just realized, all three of you are from AUSTRALIA!! you guys are soooo luckkkky to be living next dooor to such an EXOTIC COUNTRY, NZ.
(and lucky that this tour and flight wont be costing you A FORTUNE! lol )

Actually you guys are lucky to be in AUSTRALIA, period! Ive heard so many great things plus I HONESTLY dont know any one who parties harder then the OZZIE's! Heard a lot about the party scene and I CANNOT WAIT TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY IN SYDNEY and also , CANNOT WAIT TO VISIT THE GREAT BARRIER REEF.. (HEARD ITS BREATHTAKING!)

ok, i know you guys are probably not that excited about Australia because you've all been there, done that.. but i am SO SICK of TORONTO, CANADA lol i needdddd to get away as far awway from NORTH AMERICA AS POSSIBLE and somewhere WARM and SUNNNY !
Btw, how is the weather in MAY? I really need to start thinking about what to pack since I'll be away from home for 4-5 weeks!

HMMMM so I'll be booking my tour next week, i wished more people would start booking this tour soooon as I DO NOT wanna see this being cancelled!

oh and one last question, do you guys think its worth it to spend a few days in SYDNEY , BEFORE MY AUSTRALIA TOUR? or shall I spend that time in another city ?
and how much time do you think is efficient? I think i have like 4 days between the NZ AND OZ tour dates (undecided) and its starting SYDNEY TO CAIRNS... however, once im in cairns.. i cannot come back to SYDNEY since my flight will be super super expensive so i need to plan this PROPERLY... im just really confused with the AUSTRALIA TOUR .. I dont want to miss out on anything, i mean Its sucha huge country although im only going to FOCUS ON THE EAST ...I know a lot of people from here, who have done back packing on there own but I have a feeling i'll end up spending crazy crazy money on my own (since i dont know anyone , who I could stay with) and I also don't know how much extra TIME I should book !
Whether to book extra days in CAIRNS or come back to SYDNEY..
wow ....its a little stressful, but im sure i'll figure it out.. when i see the travel agent again next week.

HOWEVER, any help from you guys would be appreciated!

Thanks !!
Sorry about writing a NOVEL...

(and Claire, what will you be doing after your NZ tour? Decided yet? or do you have to go back to work right away?)

Hey Maliha,Jarrod & Jess

I will try and answer some of your questions and Jarrod & Jess can back me up if I miss anything (thanks Jarrod & Jess)..oh and i will be getting in late (11.55pm) on the 3rd of May so I will be staying 2 nights before the tour starts! Oh and I realised that I probably only live like an hour and a half away from you guys Jarrod and Jess.

1st - The weather in May will be coming into winter Sydney will probably be a little cold but once you get up around
Queensland it should be nice mabey a little humid and a bit of rain.. allthough don't hold me too that Ive only ever been up there in January & February! Im actually heading to the Gold Coast for 5 days next week! If you love a party you'll love that place the nightlife is awsome (don't miss draculars dinner show its a really good night out I go there every time Im on the Gold Coast)!

2nd - Pack clothes you can layer (plus a few party dresses) I'm tipping it will be colder in NZ than Australia!

3rd - Deffinately spend a few days in Sydney! It will give you a chance to check out places like Bondi Beach (famous for hot lifeguards), Harbour Bridge, Opera House etc all the places that place is talked about for! And its supposed to be good for shopping. And spend a few in Cairns too.. Cairns is tropical and a good place too relax on the beach and finish up your holiday I think! (thats what Id do).

4th - I'll be flying back to Melbourne on Thursday (night) 21 May and have a 40th (hopefully a big night) to go to on the Saturday then is back to work for me on the Monday Grrr!

What day will you guys be flying back Jarrod & Jess? and where are you guys staying after the tour Im booked into the Mecure!

Hey Claire & Maliha

Yeah spend as much time in sydney as posible there is endless of things to do there. Jess and i are going there for 2 days before we go to NZ. We are going to the footy ( Thats aussie rules Maliha) to see Sydney v Richmond. Go the tigers.

I think you should check out Melbourne for a day or so but i'm a bit bias because i'm from Melbourne LOL. Melbourne is known as the most European of the Australian cities good for fashion, art and also a great cafe culture.

Jess and i are only doing the scenic southern so we will leave yous guys in Wellington. We are going to hire a car and drive up to Auckland. We leave New Zealand on the 17th.

The tour is only 102 days away i can't wait. it will be so much fun.

oooh that was great, thanks guys!!

Yeah , I think im better off doing the BEACHES AND REEFS TOUR FOR AUSTRALIA starting MAY 24TH.. it covers the entire east coast and all the hot spots that you both mentioned!! I WILL ALSO BE DOING THE WHITSUNDAYS SAILING , AS I HEAR ITS SOOO MUCH FUN!!

okay SO im super excited , AND i know RITE NOW is the best time to be in australia since its HOT HOT HOT however, i couldnt make it... since i couldnt take time off work!
so MAY IT IS!! and i realize its falll / winter but trust me, WE ALL HAVE A DIFFERRENT DEFINITION OF COLD!! lol
being in toronto and dealing with minus -20...25 degrees...
IM SURE I CAN DEAL WITH THE MILD TEMPS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEWZEALAND!! IF ITS 20+, i'll be the happiest girl! PLUS. i know cairns will be much warmer so definately packing lots of shorts n skirts!!

OKAY SO THATS ABOUT IT .. i will confirm my itenary in a couple of days... and get back to you guys!!


(aww Claire. Its too bad that you have to be back home so soon, i was hoping we could have spent some time in SYDNEY TOGETHER!)


anyway, are you guys on facebook!?
LETS GET CONNECTED!

Yeah we have facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=642328762&ref=name
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=761955606&ref=nf

I am on facebook also!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1045627037&ref=profile

Hey! My name is Kerry, I'm 20 and I live on the Gold Coast, Australia. I'll be doing this tour, and staying in Christchurch the night before the tour starts as well. I really can't wait! This will be my first trip on my own, I'm pretty nervous, but very excited at the same time! Look forward to hearing more from everyone

HEY KERRY!

Nice to know one more person on the same tour! Actually, the other 3 travellers are ALL from Australia.. .. im the only one flying on my own ALL the way from the other end of the world.. LOL SO YE, IM PROBABLY TWICE AS NERVOUS AS YOU... BUT SUPER EXXCITED ..!

This forum is definately a good idea though... to meet people before we actually get there!

do you have facebook?
We all got connected through FB
Add me:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=500568580&ref=#/profile.php?

If that doesn't work.. just search under
MALIHA GANGAT

Hey, I tried to look up your facebook Maliha but no luck unfortunately, I'll keep trying anyways.

I'm sooo excited about this trip! It'll be so good to get away from work for a few weeks and just RELAX!

Kezz