Hey All
We are booked on the Grand Explorer starting the 21st October 2008 - we would like to hear from anybody already booked on this tour or anyone who is able to offer any advice.
Cheers

Hey Hey

I am booked on this tour as well if you are leaving from Christchurch. It will be my 21st whilst I am on the tour so you can come to my party

Hey
Im glad to hear that someone else is booked on this tour.
Yeah we are leaving from Christchurch and starting the tour on the 21st!
It is also my birthday whilst in New Zealand, so we will definately have to celebrate.

When is your birthday? mine is on the 26th

Oh mine is the day before the tour - so the 20th!!!
Where abouts are you from??
And are you going to be in New Zealand a bit before and after the tour??

I'm from Brisbane in Australia. Yea I will be there 2 days before and a day after. But after that I have to go back home to work

Oh are you, cool.
We are doing the Aussie Explorer and staying in Sydney/Melbourne before we go over to New Zealand. You any tips for Australia?
You will have such a great time for your 21st - it will be amazing!

I've never been to Sydney or Melboure sorry so I have no idea.But the shopping is supposed to be good!

Hi Lindsay,

I'm on the Scenic Southern so I will be with you half the way up to Wellington.

I visited Melbourne and Sydney about 4 years ago. It can be cool (17*C) and wet in October but still better than the UK. It was the biggest drought in Sydney for 200 years but still managed to pour down when I was there.

It's a bit difficult to list all of the tips on a forum but here goes.

Melbourne:
It's a small city, easy to navigate on foot but buy a Met Card (if they still have them) as this gives you access to all of the trams, buses and local trains (extends to a very wide area outside Melbourne).Things to definitely do include the Observation Deck at the Rialto Tower, Southgate and the Crown Casino with the fireball show starting at 8pm, St Kilda, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne Gaol, Queen Vic market, Chinatown, MCG and Rod Laver Stadium at Jolimont/ Richmond, Federation Square ( a work of art or a waste of money - you decide) and try Carlton beer. If you have the time and the money go to the tourist info office at Federation Sq and check out a Yarra Valley Wine Tour, Ocean Road drive and Philip's Island. Note all the best clubs and bars are hidden down back streets and above shops and don't open until 9pm, you'll have to ask the locals to find them.

For Sydney:
Less tourist friendly as much bigger and hillier. Don't buy a travel pass here or use the Sydney Explorer bus as not good value for money. Stay out of King's Cross as it is pretty much like the London version. Things to do: AMP Tower, Bondi and Manly beaches - the ferry trip from Circular Quay to Manly is very scenic but can be very rough and the best beaches are further up the coast, Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour, the Chinese Gardens and try James Boag's Premium lager. If you have the time and the money: Bridge Climb - No. 10 in the 50 things to do before you die and highly recommended, and a Blue Valley tour.

If you need any more detail let me know.

Just over 7 weeks to go. I think I arrive on the 20th so I'll buy you a drink on your birthday

Hey LiverpoolCarl

Thanx for the advice, we have planned to do several things that you have mentioned aready so hopefully will have a really good time whilst over there.

Good to hear from someone else who will also be on the tour - can't wait now... we have three days before we head to Singapore - our first destination!!!

You planning on travelling before or after the tour??

See you

Lindsay and Teresa

No, not lucky enough to be able to get more than a couple of weeks holiday where I work. I'll be stopping over in Auckland on the way back and that's it. The travel agent confirmed this morning my Contiki pack had arrived and also amended my room bookings in Christchurch and Wellington.

I've got a few tips for Singapore if you have time:

Take loads of T-shirts as it's incredibly humid and you'll need to change twice a day.
Singapore Sling at Raffles (dress is smart casual)
Singapore Flyer (it's like the London Eye)
Clarke Quay for drinking and eating.
Boat Quay for river cruise
Chinatown
Mandai Zoo (during day) and Night Safari - the live show at night is really good and it is a zoo without cages, the best I've been to.
Sentosa Island - a holiday resort with dolphin lagoon. Go via the cable car at Mount Faber.
For food try a bowl of chilli crab soup and also take a bar of Dairy Milk from the UK and compare it with the Singapore version.

So much to do, so little time.

Have a good trip over.

Carl