S C I L ' s Travel Club April 2024Virtual ADVENTURE to the North Island of New Zealand ~ Part One
Greetings fellow 'armchair travelers!' It's time for a new adventure. What do you say we go somewhere outside of the united states this time?
Did You Know?
An 'armchair traveler' can go - A N Y W H E R E --- at --- A N Y T I M E ! All they need is a good imagination and, as you know, WE just happen to haveGREAT IMAGINATIONS!
Hmmm. If the Sky's-the-Limit, then where should we go?
There are so many GREAT places to choose from!
Hey, I've got an idea! Let's go to NEW ZEALAND! We could check outHOBBITON!
But isn't Hobbiton where Bilbo and Frodo Baggins lived --- in a BOOK? How can we go to a place that isn't real?
Who said Hobbiton isn't real?
Oh, it's real alright. And it's located on the North Island of New Zealand!
Hobbiton is the film set (and tourist attraction) from the 'blockbuster' movies, the Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings 'trilogies,' directed by Peter Jackson.
I do! I do! I do! Me too. Yeah, I do too. Me too! I do! I do! Me too!
okay, that's it then. We're going to New Zealand!
Passports and NZeta Visas!
First, let's get our Passports
A passport is a travel document, usually issued by a country's government --- like the United States --- that confirms the identity and'nationality'of the passport holder for the purpose of 'international' travel. It is evidence that the person is whothey claim to be.
Thousands of Post Offices accept first-time passport applications for the U.S. Department of State. Most of those locations can also take your passport photo. So, once we found a Post Office that did allthat, we took our completed applications, birth certificates, photo IDs, and passport fees inso we could apply for our passports.
Let's not forget to get our Passport Photos taken.
Say, cheese!
DID YOU KNOW?
For those who are 15 years old and UNDER, the fee for a passport is $100. For people 16 years old and OVER it costs $130. We are SO LUCKY to have such 'generous benefactors!' They paid for all of our passports!
Dear Benefactors, thank you for making our INCREDIBLETravel Adventures really SPECIAL!
Did You Know?
The standard processing time to get your passport is 10-12 weeks!
Now We need to apply for a NZeta
The NZeTA stands for “New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority” and is a quick online evaluation from 'Immigration New Zealand' for residents of other countries who are visiting New Zealand and who don’t require a Visitor 'Visa.'
We are so lucky. The United States is a VISITOR VISA 'WAIVER' COUNTRY, which means we don't have to get a Visitor's Visa to visit New Zealand! All we need is a valid Electronic Travel Authority --- or in other words, a NZeTA!
Starting on October 1st, 2019, the Government of New Zealandstarted a new 'immigration' rule. The New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority – or simply NZeTA – is a fully online process that checks out travelers before they arrive in the country and gives them authorization to board a plane or a ship that's on the way to New Zealand.
About ten weeks later, we are the proud owners of a passport, our NZeTA, and a Business Class Ticket on Air New Zealand airlines; leaving 'LAX' --- Los Angeles International Airport and arriving at 'AKL' --- Auckland Airport! Woohoo!
Wheel the World
Our New Zealand Travel Guides
Wheel the World is an accessible travel company that organizes and booksaccessible travel experiences: Hotels, tours, and activitiesfor people with disabilities and their families and friends.
Meet our ~ Wheel the world ~ team
We'll be joined by two Travel Leaders and four Travel Guides.
Our Travel Leaders are Mr. and Mrs. Jamison! They make sureeverything goes smoothly for us on our trip.
Our Travel Guides are Harry, Alex, Isabel, and Penelope will be there to help us every step of the way!
Wheel the World believes that people with disabilities should experience the worldlike anyone else. Governments, travel companies, and 'tourism' professionals are all getting more involved with accessible travel because ofthe growing numbers of people with disabilities traveling around the world. Wheel the World's commitment is to provide detailed information about what is accessible and provide specialized customer support throughout the entire experience.
An accessible destination is a combination of accessible 'accommodations,' transportation, and activities. This is why Wheel the World works with local travel businesses to create 100% accessible services. We want to assistmillions of people to travel to thousands of destinations!
Our flight leaves at 9 p.m.We arrive atthe Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in an ADA-accessible bus, which isa good thing because there are 12 SCIL Travel Club Members, 6 Travel Guides, and our family members who want to see us off!
The bus drops us off at Terminal B where Air New Zealand and 16 other airlines fly out from.
The lines were surprisingly short for our Air New Zealand Premium Check-in!
And so were the lines at the 'TSA' security check, which was also quick and easy.
After clearing security, we take the elevator in the central 'atrium' area of Terminal B. We go up to the sixth floor,where the Star Alliance Business Class Lounge is located. We knew we'd have time before our flight, so the plan was to have dinner in the lounge while we waited.
The Business Class lounge is right in front of us as we get off the elevator.
The Star Alliance Lounge is FULLY accessible for travelers with disabilities. It has many 'amenities' such as a First Class section with 42 seats, a Business Class section with 387 seats, and a Rooftop Outdoor Terrace with fire pits and a fullbar. there is an assortment of hot and cold food and beverages available at no charge; it has wireless printing, and local telephone calls are available on request. There's also fast, free, & unlimited Wi-Fi, and a 'complimentary' bar with a wide range of freeCalifornian wines. There are shower suites and restroom facilities, Flight Information Displays, a Luggage Storage area, and a Media Room with international news and sports channels.
The Star Alliance Lounge is open 18 hours a day from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week! A sliding door in the Business Class loungeconnects both the First Class and the Business Class lounges. First Class guestscan use either lounge, but Business Class and Star Gold passengers can only use the Business Class lounge.
That's okay with me! I don't know about you, but the moment we stepped into the Star Alliance Business Class lounge, Ifelt like royalty. Ican't imagine First Class being any better than this! This place is INCREDIBLE!
At 18,000 square feet, the Star Alliance Business Class lounge at LAX is huge! There’s lots of comfortable seating overlooking the atrium. There's a Media Room with a big screen TV and sports channels, a Quiet Room to get some work done or take a quick nap before your flight, and there's even a Library Room too!
Did You Know?
The Star Alliance lounge was designed by Gensler --- an 'architecture,' design, and planning firm with 53 offices and over 6000 employees worldwide --- the lounge features a 'mid-century modern design' style with American walnut wood flooring. Gensler's inspiration for the lounge is architecture from the 1950s and 1960s.
The Star Alliance Business Class lounge also has two bars with self-serve snacks, a reading room with a variety of newspapers and magazines, an outdoor patio with fire pits and views of the runway, a terrace overlooking the airport, and shower suites that are stocked with a dental kit, shaving kit, hair dryer, towels, and luxury bath products.
The self-serve 'buffet' is also impressive.
The hot and cold entrée selections at the buffet seem almost endless. There is cheese & crackers, fresh fruit, raw veggies & dips, all kinds of different salads, chili, soups, roasted vegetables, rice pilaf, sun-dried-tomato mac & cheese, salmon, coconut chicken curry, beef stew, and there is a separate Asian Noodle Bar where you can make a bowl of noodles just the way you like them! There are two kinds of smoothies too --- mango peach & strawberry banana! And for dessert, there are cookies, strawberry pound cake, s’more shooters & chocolate pudding shooters, and frozen yogurt. We can eat as much aswe like and everything is FREE!
After dinner, we went outside to the Rooftop Terrace, where we sat aroundone of the fire pits and watched the planes fly byuntil it was time to board our plane.
DID YOU KNOW?
We're flying on Air New Zealand's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This jet aircraft is used for the long-distance flights.
In 2004, Air New Zealand ordered eight Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with an option to get twelve more. But, due to big delays, the Dreamliner jets didn't arrive until mid-2014! The first nine 787-9 aircraft that weredelivered had 18 Business Class Seats, 21 Premium Economy Class Seats, 42 Economy Skycouch Seats, and 221 Standard Economy Class Seats, totaling 302 seats. We get to sit in the front of the plane in the Business Class Seats!
It's so exciting to board the plane finally!The flight attendants are super friendly and greet us as we walk onto the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner! This is going to be F U N !!!
The Business Premier Cabin is really nice. It is completely covered in different shades of grey with moodlighting that makes the cabin look pinkish-purple. The seats sit at a'diagonal' instead of facingstraight forward, so when you lay your seat back to the flat position, there's nothing in front of you,so you have plenty of leg room.
In Business Premier, each person enjoys a super soft, 22” wide leather seat, which includes an armchair and an ottoman footrest.
The footrest can be used as 2nd seat for a fellow passenger to come and sit down for a visit or eat with you.
Most of the in-seat features are built into the wall next to your seat. There's a reading lightabove a fold-out mini-table --- which you can use to set your drink onif you don’t feel like taking out the full tray table --- and beneath the screen is the entertainment controller, a literature pocket --- big enough to fit a book, USB & power ports, and a bottled water holderwith a pair of noise-cancelingheadphones. While there is limited space, everything is well-organized, and you have everything you need within your reach. Overall, Air New Zealand has created a cozy, comfortable space for their Business Premium passengers!
The menu and amenity kit are left for us on our ottomans
The Air New Zealand Amenity Kits are in a simple but attractive pouch with a band of hot pink across the top.
The kits include a pair of socks, a toothbrush, toothpaste, & mouthwash, an eye mask for restful sleep, an Air New Zealandpen, ear plugs, Ashley & Co. hand lotion & lip balm, and an Eclipse mints!
In the seat's side panel is in the Inflight Entertainment System with the words, “Kia Ora”, on the screen. It's New Zealand’s national greeting, which means “hello” in the Maori language, to welcome you to the flight. Below the screen is the handheld Inflight-Entertainment Systemcontroller.
In the side panel of your seat is the screen that can be pulled out and moved in lots of different positions.
I just have to say that Air New Zealand’s Inflight Entertainment System is excellent! There are hundreds of entertainment options from the latest TV shows & sitcoms, to movies, Spotify music playlists, and games.
While the screens are small at 11 inches, they feature touch-screen 'technology'and are easy to operate.
Another really cool feature is access to a travel research site full of descriptions and reviews of destinations, restaurants, and activities that are available throughout New Zealand. It's a little like 'Tripadvisor' specifically for New Zealand!
There is a Flight Map you can view on your screen at any time during your flight to see where the plane is on the flight path to Auckland.
There is also a Seat Chat feature that allows you to text other passengers during the flight!
There's also a big selection of Food & Drinks that you can order directly from your seat on the touch-screen! Plus, there is free WIFI too!
The tray table pops out of its holder with a push of a button, allowing you to pull it outwards and then fold it downinto place.
Wnen you want to lay down, a flight attendant will --- with a push of a button --- flip your seat over and change it into an amazingly 'luxurious' 6 foot 7.5" lie-flat bed (one of the longest lie-flat beds in the sky) with a memory foam mattress, two full-size pillows, and a cozy ‘duvet.’
The Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner --- Seating Chart.
Our group fills all 18 seats in the Business Premier cabin! Our Travel Guides sit in the center row of seats, and we sit on either side of them.
Suddenly, the Captain's voice came over the loudspeaker. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome onboardFlight 4B7 with service from Los Angelesto Auckland. We have clear skies and expect to make good time. We ask that you please fasten your seatbelts and secure all baggage underneath your seator in the overhead compartments. We also ask that your seats and table trays are in the upright position for take-off. Please turn off all personal electronic devices, including laptops and cell phones. Smoking is not allowed on the jet at any time. We will be taking off in 15 minutes. Thank you for choosing Air New Zealand. Enjoy your flight."
Take Off!
15 minutesseemed more like 15 seconds! Before we knew it, we were TAKING OFF!
OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER!
Let's put our Imagination Caps on and click the button below!
Once we were in the sky, we spent a few minutes looking over the menu. A few minutes later the flight attendant came by to take our orders.
We had already had dinner in the Star Alliance Lounge, so we weren't really all that hungry. Some of us just wanted to relax and get ready to go to sleep. Buta few of us --- like me,who was too excited to eat earlier in the lounge ---decided to order the Fast Dine option which was a bowl of soup and dessert.
The meal service began right after takeoff, starting with hot, wet towels for your hands --- VERY REFRESHING! The crewthen came around to serve drinksbefore the meal.
Besides wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages, there was juice, soft drinks, and hot drinks.
I had asked for a glass of Ginger Ale.
My Fast Dine option was 'The 'BOMB,' let me tell you! That tomato soup with crunchy bits and brownie with the tropical whipped topping really hit the spot!
New Zealanders --- known as 'Kiwis' --- are famous for their friendly personalities. Our Air Newland Business Premier flight crew are the PERFECT EXAMPLE of that! With their warm hospitality and attention to detail, they may be the best flight crew in the sky!
After watching Jurassic World Dominion and Seat Chatting with my friends, one of the flight attendants came by to offer an extra special treat...
Air New Zealand is using 'edible' coffee cups to reduce the amount of trash on their planes. The cups --- made by a local company called TWIICE --- are made fromvanilla-flavored 'biscotti,' which are not only tastybut LEAK-PROOF! So, those passengers who were still awake were offered a of coffee-flavored ice cream treat, served in the Twiice cups!
Before going to bed, we are asked to put our Breakfast orders in. There were several of us who ordered the Sleep-in Breakfast, which provided a light meal with a side of 30 minutes of extra snooze time. I ordered a tropical smoothie, fresh fruit, and a heated bagel with pastrami, Swiss cheese, grilled onions, and tomato relish.
WhenI took the last bite of my delicious edible Twiice treat cup, I was ready to call it a night. A flight attendant made up my bedfor me.I got in to it and snuggled up. Moments later, I was drifting off to sleep with thoughts ofvacationing in Hobbitonfloating around in my head.
The next thing I knew I was sitting at Bilbo's dining room table with a bunch of 'unruly' dwarves, getting ready to dive into Second Breakfast when the most wonderful smell woke me up!
Our fun-loving Kiwi flight crew had been busy making our breakfasts and were already starting to serve them!
Oh, boy! I'm STARVING!
My fruit smoothie really filled me up, but the toasted pastrami and Swiss cheese bagel was SO YUMMY, I ate the WHOLE THING!
I'm stuffed, but it was soooo worth it!
By the time we finished breakfast, we only had 25 minutes of our flight left. Our Wheel the World Travel Guides pointed to our windows. "Look! There's New Zealand'snorth islandcoastline!"
Once again, the Captain's familiar voice comes over the loudspeaker. “Ladies and gentlemen, Air New Zealand welcomes you to Auckland. The local time here is 6:30 a.m.Sunday morning. For your safety and the safety of those around you, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened and keep the aisles clear untilwe are parked at the gate. Thank you for flying Air New Zealand."
Hey, wait, what's going on here? My watch says it's 10:30 a.m.
Did You Know?
Mr. Jaminsonsaid, "We left LAX at 9 p.m. Friday night, right? And we were onthe flight for thirteen and a half hours. but INSTEAD of arriving at 10:30 a.m. on SATURDAY morning, we zipped forward in time to SUNDAY at 6:30 a.m. This is becauseNew Zealand is 20 hours ahead of us! So, it's a little like being in a Time Machine!"
"When you travel from North America to New Zealand, you cross over the International Date Line, which means you travel forward in time to get there. That's why when you leave Los Angeles on Friday night, you land in Auckland on Sunday morning. You may feel like you've lost a day but you'll gain it back when you return."
Huh. Well, that's interesting!
The Auckland Airport
Did You Know?
Auckland Airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand, with over 16 million passengers in the year 2023. The airport is located near Māngere --- which is a major residential 'suburb' located nine miles south of the Auckland city center.
The Auckland Airport has one 2.25-mile long runway that accommodates 45 flights an hour.
Wow, those Air Traffic Controllers must really have to pay attention to make sure there areno accidents!
It didn't take long to get our luggage from the Baggage Claim and then find our Happy Mobility Driver, Lucas, who was waiting for us with a sign that said "SCIL Travel Club." "Welcome to Auckland," he said. "If you'llfollow me, we have two mobility vans waiting outside to take you tothe hotel to drop off your luggage. Then, if it's agreeable with you, we can see someof the sights before returning to the hotel to check in at 3 p.m.!"
Sounds good to me!
The SCIL Travel Club members, the Wheel the World Travel Guide staff, and our Happy Mobility drivers got into the Happy Mobility vans and headed up to Auckland --- which is a 25-minute drive from the airport.
Auckland, New Zealand
Known as the 'city of sails,' Auckland is built around two large harbors. It is a major city in the north of New Zealand’s North Island. In the center of the city is the 'iconic' Sky Tower with views of Viaduct Harbor, which is full of 'superyachts' and lined with bars and cafes.
Princes Wharf is located within a five-minute walk from the city's main shopping center, the ferry terminal, the Viaduct Harbor (which is Auckland's main tourist and entertainment area), and is close to the theatres and the heart of the city.
Lucas drove the first Happy Mobility Van with Mr. Jaminson 'riding shotgun.' Alex, Isabel, and six SCIL Travel Club members (including me) were in the back. The rest of the SCIL Travel Club was in the second van with Harry, Penelope, and Mrs. Jaminson driving, along with our luggage! When we pulled up to the entrance of the Hilton Auckland Hotel, Mr. Jaminson jumped out of the van and went inside the hotel while we waited. He returned with two 'bellhops.'
The two bellhopstook our luggage into the hotel and Mr. Jaminson got back in the van. It was now 8:30 A.M. --- Kiwi time --- as we set off in search of an Adventure --- New Zealand style!
We take a quick four-minute drive down Hobson Street to SkyCity and the Sky Tower.
The Sky Tower
Did You Know?
Construction on the 1,076-foot-tall Sky Tower --- which is like the height of a building with 71 floors --- began in September 1994 and opened justtwo years and nine months later. The tower was finishedthree months ahead of schedule and on budget, too! It is the 2ndlargest free-standing structure in the 'Southern Hemisphere' --- or in other words, the southern half of the Earth!
The Sky Tower has been designed to remain basically undamagedduring storms with winds gusting up to 125 miles per hour --- which can result in the top of the towerswaying approximately three feet! Even if there was an 8.0 earthquake that occurred within 12.5 miles of the tower, reports shows that Sky Tower would remain standing!
Sky Tower has two circular public observation levels that provide '360-degree' views of Auckland --- the Main Observation Deck on level 51 and Sky Deck on the 60th level.
Did You Know?
'360 degrees' is a complete circle. So, the view at the top of the Sky Tower goes ALL THE WAY AROUND!
On a clear day, you can see about 51 miles in any direction from Sky Tower.
Three glass-fronted elevators can take 225 people to the observation levelsevery 15 minutes. The elevators travel at 11.2 miles per hour and only takes 40 seconds to reach the Main Observation level.
There are 1,267 steps from the bottom of Sky Tower to Sky Deck. It would take someone 29 minutes to climbing up the stairs at 2.5 miles per hour. Bruce Stewart Sky Tower’s senior facilities supervisor, climbs them EVERY DAY and does it in 20 minutes!
Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge
This yearly fundraiser has raised over 10 million dollars for leukemia and other blood-related cancer research!
For the last 19 years, over nine hundred firefighters from communities around New Zealand as well as Australia, USA, Chile, and Croatia, have climbed the 1,103 steps of the Sky Tower ---wearing 55 pounds of gear --- to raise money for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.
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SkyCity Auckland
SkyCity Auckland is an entertainment complex and casino located at the base of the Sky Tower;
SkyCity Auckland Casino
The SkyCity Auckland Casino was the second casino in New Zealand and is the only casino in Auckland.
SkyCity Theater
The SkyCity Theater is located at the casino with 700 seats and presents a variety of events from dance to comedy.
SkyCity Hotels
SkyCity Auckland has three hotels. The SkyCity Hotel is a 'four-star hotel' and was opened in February 1996. It is one of New Zealand's busiest hotels and is located inside the main SkyCity Auckland complex and serves mainly families, business travelers, and gamblers who play at the casino. It offers 323 rooms, 23 suites, and 5 family-themed suites. Hotel guests may use all the facilities inthe complex.
The second hotel at SkyCity Auckland is the Grand Hotel. It is a luxury '5 star hotel' which was officially openedby Prime Minister Helen Clark in April 2005 after costing $85 million to build. It has 316 rooms and suites on 21 levels
Unlike the SkyCity Hotel, the Grand Hotel is not located inside the main complex. It's located on Federal Street which is next door and is connected by a skybridge.
The third hotel at SkyCity Auckland is the Horizon Hotel. It is a brand-new hotel that just opened in March 2024. It is also a five-star luxury hotel with 303 rooms and 10 suites on 12 floors. It is directly connected to the New Zealand International Convention Centre and the SkyCity Entertainment Complex by sky bridges.
East Day Spa
Located at the Grand Hotel is the ultra-relaxing East Day Spa. After twenty successful years in business, the East Day Spa Auckland has recently undergone a large-scale 'refurbishment,' with improved services and equipment. There are new and improved wellness experiences --- like the Zen heat experience --- that have made the East Day Spa the ultimate wellness destination in the heart of the city.
The SkySlide is a jaw-dropping virtual reality experience that takes --- whoever is brave enough --- on a rideon a virtualglass-tube rollercoasterflyingaround the outside of the Sky Tower. Wow! Talk about a killer view!
Sky Walk
Visitors can put on a flight suit and full body harness and take a stroll around the outside ring of the tallest building in New Zealand! The Sky Tower is the most famous structure in Auckland! It stands a whopping 629 feet above the city and provides 360-degree views that are absolutely breathtaking.
This is not forthefaint-hearted, though. The visitors are out on an open, four-foot-wide ledge that has no handrails! Each person is completely safe, of course. As they walk around the top of the Sky Tower, their guide points out the interestingattractions in Auckland and entertains them with fascinating facts andstories. For those who are brave enough, the guides will challenge them to do daredevil tricks like leaning out over the edge and striking yoga poses!
Another thrill-seeking activity is the Sky Jump --- New Zealand's highest jump at 630 feet above street level! It takes about 11 seconds to reach the groundfallingat about 53 miles per hour! Just like those who go on the Sky Walk, participants wear a full body harness and flying suit (all provided). Unlike bungy jumping, however, there is no dangling upside down or bouncing around - you simply fall 'fast and smooth' and thenslow down to landlightly on the ground.
Ahhh, nope! Don't look at me, dude. Jumping off of a perfectly good building is just 'notmy cup of tea.' Sorry.
Fletcher Construction started building the 53,820-square-footSkyCity Convention Center on December 16, 2015. The half-billion dollar complex includes event space, a 5-star hotel, and a 1300-space underground carpark.
Weta Workshop Unleashed
Weta Workshop Unleashed is perfect for people who love the movies and special effects. It provides an incredible behind-the-scenes look into Weta's creative process. With fantasy, sci-fi, and horror-themed rooms, plus creative workshops, this attraction makes for a great family outing activity.
All Blacks Experience
The All Blacks Experience is the only rugby attraction of its kind. It is a unique 'state-of-the-art''interactive' experience that features the All Blacks team, Black Ferns team, and New Zealand's other national 'rugby' teams. The 45-minute guided tour --- with time to test your skills in the interactive zone --- makes this attraction fun for the whole family!
And we couldn't wait to go to Weta Workshop UNLEASHEDbecause there were people on the plane talking about all the cool stuff they had there like the head of Smaug --- the dragon from the Hobbit movies, and all the other amazing stuff they had there!
Weta Workshop Unleashedopened in 2020 and took about a year to complete! It's HUGE too! In fact it takes up the entire 5th floor of the Convention Center!
Visitors get to explore amazing film sets, see props and pieces from famous movies, and test out funhands-on 'exhibits.' It feels like a combination between a theme park and a film set tour!
Besides the tour guides, guests will be greeted byJeff, the 'animatronic' troll. He is a creation developed by the team at Weta Workshop Unleashed and works astheir head of security.
Jeff’s facial features and hand movements are controlled by custom software developed by the Weta Workshop crew, which incorporates cutting-edge facial recognition technology. Actor Mark Hadlow does the voice for the animatronic troll.
Visitors tour several departments, including Animatronics and 'Prosthetics,' an Artist’s Shed, and the World Building area.
In the Animatronics and Prosthetics area, the walls are covered with sketches, scene notes, and shelves of masks, limbs, and partly assembled models.
Did You Know?
Sir Peter Robert Jackson is best known as the New Zealand film director, screenwriter, and producer of the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit 'trilogies,' both of which were based on the best-selling novels byauthor J. R. R. Tolkien.
Peter Jackson created five New Zealand companies, including Weta Workshop, to meet the production needs of the Middle-earth films.
Wētā FX --- one of Peter Jackson's five companies --- has won EIGHT Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects: 1) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), 2) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), 3) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), 4) King Kong (2005), 5) Bridge to Terabithia (2007), 6) Avatar (2009), The 7) Jungle Book (2016), and 8) Avatar: The Way of Water (2022).
Since Weta Workshop finished the Lord of The Rings trilogy, they have worked on more than 80 films - an average of about seven a year. These are just a few!
The Artists’ Shed is a peaceful place where visitors can see the process of fantasy world-building through the imaginations of artists, who dream up worlds designed forepic movies like the Lord of the Rings and Avatar.
There are also plenty of 'interactive' exhibits, such as these digitally enhanced make-up stations (who doesn't look better with pointy ears?).
From the 'reflection' of the first mirror, the guest sees helpful hands appear and 'transform' their face, showing how their prosthetic department transforms actors with 'silicone' warts, scars, and more. The reflection shows each detail applied to the guest's face.
The second Makeup Mirror shows how their prosthetics department creates creatures for the movies. In the photo above, the guest is transformedinto a menacing rabbit. In the mirror, the guest watches hands apply a silicon bunny mask, furry texture, bouncy ears, stylized lenses, and ghastly teeth to their face!
A computer-generated image of half an alien's face appears in the makeup mirror in front of this woman's face. Now her face looks like she's part alien!
There's even an Alien Autopsyyou can poke around in. Ewww! That's just so gross and creepy... but somehow, it's also kindacool, right?
As you'd expect from acompany that's won FIVE Academy Awards for creating believable fantasy worlds, each miniature scene is incredibly detailed and realistic!
In addition to the SkyCity Convention Center event spaces, event managers and conference organizers can also hold their functions in the unique spaces at Weta Workshop Unleashed! Imagine having a special event with a miniature castletowering above you!
From the Weta Workshop UNLEASHEDwe wentnext door to the All Blacks' Experience which is a 45-minute, state-of-the-artguided experience about the All Blacks 'rugby' team. This fully interactive experience allows visitors to learn about New Zealand’s rugby 'heritage,' the All Blacksachievements, and how rugby plays such an important role in their national 'identity.'
New Zealand's nationalrugbyteam, known as the All Blacks, represents New Zealand in men's international rugby --- which is considered the country's national sport. Famous for their international success, the All Blacks are considered to be one of the most successful sports teams in history!
Did You Know?
The All Blacks rugby team has a winning percentage of 77% of the 612 games they have playedfrom 1903 to 2021!
Our guide first takes us into a long hallway where the names and jersey numbers of every player in the entire history of the All Blacks are printed on swirling ribbons on the wall! There are so many names, the ribbons continue on throughout all of the experience rooms!
The firstexperienceroom has cinema seating facing a big screen with an image of a typical rugby club room is projected in front of us. There's an old-fashioned TV with a video playing about how rugby is not only played all over New Zealand but that it’s an important part of the Kiwi lifestyle from an early age.
In the next room, we listen to a recording of Richie McCaw explaining the importance of players having both physical strength and mental strength. That's why they divide the training into three parts: speed, mental strength, and focus. To get a small tasteof what 'performing under pressure' is like, we are asked to divide into two teams and solve puzzles within a short time period. It may not be as stressful as having the world watch you try to get the ball through the goalposts, but it was sure nerve-wracking enough for me!
Someof us have better rugby skills than others. 8- D
From there, we move into to a room that is made to look just like the All Blacks locker room. Each of us sits in a booth with a screen and watches the players talk about the moment theygot the call to play for the All Blacks. It was so moving, it was hard not to get choked up!
From the All Blacks locker room, it’s time to head out onto the "playing field" where we get to test out our rugby skills.
The All Blacks are famous for performing a traditionalhakawar danceon the field before each game and we got to experienceit up close and personal!
The team uses the Ka Mate Haka --- originally written by Te Rauparaha, the chief of the Ngati Toa tribe, in 1820 --- to prepare themselvesboth mentally, physically, and spiritually for the battle of will, strength, and skills that awaits them on the rugby field. Ka Matespeaks of the triumph of life over death. On the rugby field, that means overcoming 'obstacles' and coming out 'victorious,' which is something that the All Blacks are famous for!
In 2005, the All Blacks were given their own original haka, called Kapa o Pango, which means “Team in Black." It says, "It is our time, it is our moment. Our 'dominance' and'supremacy' are absolute! Kapa o Pango has different movements than theKa Mate, but it is performed with the same pride and 'intensity.' The team takes turns between performing the Ka Mate and Kapa o Pango. This is a powerful way for them to honor Māori culture.
Players have said they feel more connected to their teammates after performing the haka and they describe it as a “secret weapon” that gives the All Blacksan advantage out on the field.
The New Zealand women’s rugby team, the Black Ferns, also perform a haka. Ko Uhia Mai speaks of the pride, strength, and unity that they share as a team.
The SkySlide
After leaving the All Blacks Experience, a few of us headed to the SkySlide.
The rest of us went to the Main Observation Deck to check out the view.
With the binoculars, we were able to see things close up, like the ships in the harbor and the people walking their dogs in the park! SO COOL!!
The SkySlide is a 'high-octane' virtual experience that offers guests an 'adrenaline rush' as they soar at top speeds through glass tubes that weave around the Sky Tower, providing 360-degree views of the Auckland city skyline.
The SkySlide is located on the Sky Tower’s Main Observation Deck. Each guest is fitted with a Virtual Reality headset, and although you don’t actually move, you have to wear a seatbelt for safety because it feels so realistic that you might just fly right out of your seat otherwise!
We have some time to kill so Mr. and Mrs. Jamison, along with the rest of our Wheel the World travel guides, take us to the Sky Cafe to get something to drink and'recap' what we've done so far.
We broke into four groups. Three SCIL Travel Club Members with one Wheel the World travel guide per table. Penelope sat with the first group, Alex with the second, Isabel with the third, and Harry at the last table. That's the table I was sitting at.
Harry kind of looks like Harry Potter, so our group nicknamed him "Potts!"
Mr. and Mrs. Jamisondidn't want us to spoil our 'appetites' by eating so close to lunchtime, so we all just ordered something hot to drink.
It's so relaxing to just sit back,enjoy the view,sip our coffee (or hot cocoa), and talk about our trip.
About 20 minutes later, Mrs. Jamison --- our Wheel the World Travel Leader ---- walks up to us with a stack of black cards in her hand. She smiled and said, "I have something here I think you're going to like." She held up one of the cards so we could see that it was a SkyCity Gift Card! "Your 'generous benefactors' have made it possible for you to buy a souvenir tee shirt from one of the gift shops at SkyCity. We have enough time to do a little shopping before we check into our hotel. Is anybody interested?"
Some of us went to the SkyCity gift shop to find a tee shirt, while some went to the All Blacks gift shop.
Some got long-sleeved tee shirts. Some got short-sleeved tee shirts. Some got tee shirts with the Sky Tower and Auckland city skyline on them, while others got tee shirts with New Zealand on them.
Some got Haka tee shirts. Some got All Blackstee shirts.
Some of us got tee shirts with a Kiwi bird on them! This is the shirt I got. What did you get?
The Fortuna Buffet Restaurant is located on Level 2 at SkyCity. Reservations are required, but Mrs. Jamisonalready took care of that, we had reservations for 2:00 pm and were able to walk right in.
We missed the breakfast and lunch crowds so we had our pick of tables.
We found some long tables at the end of the dining room and took a seat.
The buffet counter randown the whole 'length' of the restaurant --- which was really long! There were even additional tables set up in the center of the restaurant! The 'waitstaff' was busy refilling the serving dishes. There was SO MUCH FOOD! and everything looked fresh and delicious!
After we finished our --- A M A Z I N G --- buffet brunch, our long day finally caught up to us!
Wow, I'm tired! I don't know about you but I need to recharge my battery.
Auckland Hilton Hotel
Did You Know?
The Auckland Hilton Hotel is located on the end of the Princes Wharf in the heart of Auckland. The Princes Wharf is a former commercial wharf dating back to the 1920s. In the late 1990s, it was turned into multi-story apartments, restaurants, bars, the Hilton Hotel, and a cruise ship terminal.
Everyone is happy to be back at the hotel and ready to get to our rooms to relax for a while.
Mr. Jamisonled us into the lobby and past the boat-shaped registration desk and told us to take a seat around the fireplace.
We get comfy around the fire, and Mr. Jamison explains that one of our benefactors travels a LOT and always stays at Hilton hotels. He has Diamond status and has collected over 750,000 points --- which he very generously gave to us to use towards the cost of our stay! Mr. Jamison had booked 4 Bow Suites with connecting rooms for us to check into.
W O W Z A !!! Are you kidding me right now? That's seventy-five THOUSAND points? That's a LOT of points!
Did You Know?
Hilton Diamond status is the highest level you can achieve and offers additional bonuses like Suite upgrades, premium Wi-Fi access, and vouchers for freedrinks from the Bellini Bar), and so many other great 'perks!'
The circular fireplace in the lobby provides the perfect place for a quick SCIL Travel Club meeting. See those lights hanging from the ceiling? They are actually shaped like little boats!
Mrs. Jamison said there would be three SCIL Travel Club members per room and we could pick who we wanted to stay with. There were six girls in our Travel Club, so we split up into two groups of three girls each. The boys did the same thing. Then she told us to pick a person in our group to be our leader.
Once that was done, Mrs. Jamison passed her hat around and told the leader of each group to pull a number out of the hat.
Then, once each group had a number, she passed the hat around again and told the leaders to pull a name out of the hat.
Our group leader pulled the number 8and the name Penelope. That meant we were going to stay in the Bow Suite on the Eighth Level, and Penelope was going to be our Wheel the World travel guide, who would stay in the room connected to ours to be closeby in case we needed anything.
One of the Diamond Status perks was getting a digital room key sent to our phone! How cool is that? Now that we had our room assignments the bellhops took our luggage up to our suites.
The Auckland Hilton Hotel has a 'nautical' theme --- which you might have noticed as we passed by the boat-shaped reception desk in the lobby. The suites on the end of each level are the BOW SUITES. The Bow Suite balconies come to a point, making the building look like the front part of a ship --- which is called the 'bow,' by the way!
This is the Bow Suitemy SCIL Travel Club group is staying in. N I C E, right? The suite has floor-to-ceiling windows and a wraparound balcony with AMAZING harbor views! My two roommates took the king-sized bed and I took the couch (which folds out into a second bed).
I really liked how the couch was surrounded by windows,and you could see the water all around you! But if I was supposed to sleep on the couch, where were my pillow and blankets? Penelope said, "The Hilton has something called a 'turn down service,' so when we go out to dinner, the housekeeper will come in and make the bed up for you."
Now I just need to find someone to do that for me at home, and I'd be all set!
There's a 40-inch flat-screen TV with a DVD player (with a selection of DVDs), a wide range of on-demand movies available to watch, free WiFi, a Refreshment Center (It's in the cabinet in the center of the room) with a mini fridge & coffee station, and there's a work desk with 'ergonomic' chairs (so you can also use the desk as a table to eat at if you want to).
Inside our Refreshment Center looks like this example, but our cabinet ismade out of dark wood. There is a Keurig coffee machine with Keurig coffee, cocoa, & tea pods, flavored creamers, an electric tea kettle, and cups & glasses --- pretty much anything and everythingwe need. Mr. Jamison made arrangements to have our Refreshment Center stocked withjuices & sodas to replace the beer & wine they usually put in there for their guests. Plus, in the drawers, we got extra snacks instead of mini bottles of hard alcohol. The Hilton ---and Mr. Jamison--- think of E V E R Y T H I N G !!!
There was even a stuffed Kiwi Bird sitting next to our Keurigcoffee machine. Penelope said the stuffed toys were for sale, and our benefactors arranged for us to each take one home if we wanted to. YES PLEASE!
We heard Penelope's cell phone chime to alert her that she received a text message. She looked at her phone and laughed. When we asked her what was so funny, she turned her phone around and showed us a photo of Harry taking a selfie with the stuffed Kiwi Bird in his room. Clearly, we weren't the only ones who were taking a Kiwi Bird home!
The thoughtful details and special 'amenities' were ALL OVER the room! Like a Welcome Box of chocolates was left for us on the desk! Penelope said that for the SCIL Travel Club Members who couldn't eat chocolate, they got a Welcome basket of fruit instead.
On the other side of the desk is a closet with three robes,three pairs of slippers, a safe (for our valuables), an iron & ironing board, and folding luggage stands. On the left side of the closet is the door to our room, and on the right side, there's a bench.
The bathroom is big, with a roll-in shower and a jetted tub. There are fresh flowers on the counter with Crabtree & Evelyn shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and full-sized bar soap. There are individually wrapped shaving kits, toothpaste, and toothbrushes, too! And don't even get me started on the SUPER THICK bath towels!
I wonder if we can buy one to take home?
We open the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and go out on the balcony. The balcony stretches out along the entire length of the suite. It comes to a point at the end of the balcony where there is enough space for a table and chairs.
Thisarea of the balcony 'juts' out over the water like the bow of a luxury cruise liner.
This is the perfect place to do your best Rose & Jack impression.
You know, from the movie Titanic?
Am I the only one who thinks that's funny? Anybody? No? Hmm. Okay, well, moving right along...
The viewfrom the tip of the Level Eight Bow Suite Balcony was S P E C T A C T U L A R !!! The view seemed to go on forever! We had a '270-degree view' of the Hauraki Gulf, the Viaduct Harbor, and the Auckland Bridge!
This is an example ofwhat a '270-degree view' of a garden would look like --- as seen from above. That's how wide our view isfrom the front point of our Bow Suite balcony.W O W Z A, right?
One by one we all fall asleep. Now, THIS is contentment SCIL Travel Club style!
Dinner
Penelope knocked on our door around 7:00 pm to tell us to get ready for dinner. We were meeting downstairs in the Bellini Bar at 8:00 pm.
Did You Know?
The Hotel Cipriani opened its doors in 1958 on Giudecca Island, a five-minute boat ride from St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy. The owner of the hotel, Giuseppe Cipriani, was an accomplished chef who also owned Harry's Bar just off of the Grand Canal.
Giuseppe Cipriani opened Harry's Bar in 1931 and invented the 'iconic' Bellini Cocktail --- a cocktail made up of 'prosecco' and peach 'purée' --- in 1948 where he served his refreshing Bellini Cocktails to the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Truman Capote, and Ernest Hemingway.
He named his drink the Bellini because its unique pink color reminded him of the toga of a saint in a painting by 15th-century Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini.
Hilton Bellini Bar
Mr. & Mrs. Jamison reserved tables near the windows and were waiting for us when we got there. The view of the harbor was spectacular!
We got there just in time to watch the sunset.
I was looking over the SNACKS menu, and while getting fries was a no-brainer, I had no idea what Foccacia and Jamon Serrano were. I must have looked confused because Penelope --- who happened to be sitting next to me --- leaned over and whispered, "Do you have some questions about the menu?" I pointed at the HOUSE-MADE FOCCACIA Truffle Mascarpone. "What's that?" Penelope grinned. "Foccacia is an Italian flatbread, Truffles are like mushrooms but grow underground, and Mascarpone is a soft Italian cheese that's kind of like cream cheese."
"Okay, that doesn't sound so bad. But what isJamon Serrano?" Penelope noticed the whole table was listening at this point (Clearly, I wasn't the only one with questions.) "Jamon Serranois a Spanish-style, slow-aged ham." Penelope said.
"Okay, now that sounds good."
As we looked through the menu, Penelope explained anything we weren't sure about. And then, if there was anything SHE wasn't sure about, she asked the waiterto explain it. We learned a lotjust by ordering dinner! Like...
Did You Know?
For instance, we found out that Zany Zeus was a company in Wellington, New Zealand, that makes a soft cheese called Halloumi. Who knew?
They even had Halloumi Sliders!
But they kind of lost me at the Pickled Beetroot and Mint, though, if I'm being honest.
There were so manydifferent options to choose from! Penelope ordered several things we had learned abouttoshare and try like...
Goat Cheese Croquettes
I would have never tried these if Penelope hadn't ordered them for our table. I have to say Goat Cheese Croquettes are 'scrumdiddlyumptious!' Who knew?
It just goes to show you that you miss out when you're not willing to try newthings.
In the end, I ordered a cheeseburger with thick-cut bacon, fries, and a salad. I know, I know. That's not very adventurous, perhaps, but it sure was 'TO-DIE-FOR-YUMMY-FOR-THE-TUMMY' I can tell you that much, my friends!
Plus, I did try everything Penelope ordered for the table --- except for the Calamari --- No way, Jose! I just don't do squid. Sorry.--- But, everything else I did try was really good!
Thankfully, Penelope didn't order the Halloumi Sliders with Pickled Beetroot & Mint. I'm pretty sure I dodged a bullet on that one.
Plus, we all got a Bellini Mocktail made with sparkling apple cider instead of Prosecco! It's my new favorite MocktaIl --- so, So, SOOO Y U M M Y!
Penelope ordered dessert for the table. It was the perfect way to finish a really great meal.
The waiter broughtenoughDark & White Chocolate Mousse and Vanilla Creme Brulée so everyone could try a little of both if they wanted to.
After dinner we returned to our Bow Suites to relax and enjoy the I N C R E D I B L E view. This was an A W E S O M E first day in New Zealand. I can't wait to see where we go tomorrow!
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We hope youenjoyed the first installment of our Virtual Adventure on the North Island of New Zealand! See you next time for PART TWO in the upcoming issue of the June DISABILI-TEA Newsletter!