Weather: Rainy
Our flight to Auckland on SIA (S$1,300/pax Sweet Deals) was 9.05pm and we reached Auckland the next day on 2 Dec at about 12pm. After we cleared the customs, we called the car rental company, Omega Car Rental (free phone number using the public phone), which offered free shuttle from the airport. Picked up our low end car, a Nissan Bluebird which cost NZD48.51/day, excluding Collision Damage Waiver at NZD13/day (reducing excess to NZD0) and GPS at NZD10/day. Drove direct to Whitianga, about 2.5hr from Auckland (but with my driving skills, I took longer than that hahahah!) Anyway, the drive was pretty smooth except when we were on the State Highway 25, where there were LOTS of windy roads!! I think the roads would make good many F1 drivers! It was rather stressful to drive with cars behind me, and so I had to make a few stops to let the cars overtake me ;p Well, partly also cos the car did not have enough power to pull off on higher grounds! Even when I’ve stepped the accelerator all the way, it was only going at 60km/hr during uphill climb! *Sigh*
Our flight to Auckland on SIA (S$1,300/pax Sweet Deals) was 9.05pm and we reached Auckland the next day on 2 Dec at about 12pm. After we cleared the customs, we called the car rental company, Omega Car Rental (free phone number using the public phone), which offered free shuttle from the airport. Picked up our low end car, a Nissan Bluebird which cost NZD48.51/day, excluding Collision Damage Waiver at NZD13/day (reducing excess to NZD0) and GPS at NZD10/day. Drove direct to Whitianga, about 2.5hr from Auckland (but with my driving skills, I took longer than that hahahah!) Anyway, the drive was pretty smooth except when we were on the State Highway 25, where there were LOTS of windy roads!! I think the roads would make good many F1 drivers! It was rather stressful to drive with cars behind me, and so I had to make a few stops to let the cars overtake me ;p Well, partly also cos the car did not have enough power to pull off on higher grounds! Even when I’ve stepped the accelerator all the way, it was only going at 60km/hr during uphill climb! *Sigh*
Auckland International Airport
On the way to Whitianga - on NZ roads, one-way bridges are very common. There are signages indicating which side of the road has priority so the other has to stop and give way if there is oncoming traffic.Accommodation:
On the Beach Backpackers. We booked a double ensuite for NZD96/night (I think it was quite expensive for a backpacker, but this was one of the most reasonably priced accommodation in this town). Location was convenient, just 5min drive to the town centre.
We were in Room B3 which was on the ground floor. Being on the ground floor has its disadvantage – just outside our bedroom was a sitting area and so we could hear chats/laughter (not good for light sleepers, but both my hubby and myself were so damn tired that we slept without much trouble). Size of the unit was pretty big and it had a well-equipped kitchen. The downside was that the taps (cold and hot separately), which literally dispense HOT and COLD water respectively. There wasn’t a balance, so most of the time we washed our hands in freezing water. The HOT water was almost at boiling point!! Fortunately, the water in the bath could be controlled. Another thing I didn’t like was the lack of clear TV channels so there was only one channel we could watch, with grains still ;(
On the Beach Backpackers. We booked a double ensuite for NZD96/night (I think it was quite expensive for a backpacker, but this was one of the most reasonably priced accommodation in this town). Location was convenient, just 5min drive to the town centre.
We were in Room B3 which was on the ground floor. Being on the ground floor has its disadvantage – just outside our bedroom was a sitting area and so we could hear chats/laughter (not good for light sleepers, but both my hubby and myself were so damn tired that we slept without much trouble). Size of the unit was pretty big and it had a well-equipped kitchen. The downside was that the taps (cold and hot separately), which literally dispense HOT and COLD water respectively. There wasn’t a balance, so most of the time we washed our hands in freezing water. The HOT water was almost at boiling point!! Fortunately, the water in the bath could be controlled. Another thing I didn’t like was the lack of clear TV channels so there was only one channel we could watch, with grains still ;(
B3 was where we stayed.
Inside B3, a one-bedroom unit. Notice the tiny TV
BedroomDinner:
We drove out to town centre. It was a small town and hence not many choices. We settled at a restaurant called The Carvery, a roast restaurant. I opted for a small roast chicken (about one quarter chicken) with one single serve buffet which cost NZD13, while my hubby chose the pork at NZD15. Both meats were really GOOD!! They were so tender and the roast pork skin was so so crispy, yet not saltish nor did it smell porky, if you know what I mean hahah!! Anyway, we love it!! Highly recommended! Will write it on Tripadvisor ;)
We drove out to town centre. It was a small town and hence not many choices. We settled at a restaurant called The Carvery, a roast restaurant. I opted for a small roast chicken (about one quarter chicken) with one single serve buffet which cost NZD13, while my hubby chose the pork at NZD15. Both meats were really GOOD!! They were so tender and the roast pork skin was so so crispy, yet not saltish nor did it smell porky, if you know what I mean hahah!! Anyway, we love it!! Highly recommended! Will write it on Tripadvisor ;)
The yummy spread!
Crispy pork knuckle!
Delicious and tender chicken thigh!
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