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Post by Belinda on Sept 10, 2011 21:14:28 GMT
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Post by Ross on Sept 11, 2011 10:38:27 GMT
I will see You at both of these venues. All of my tickets have arrived in the mail except for the Auckland ticket (hopefully get it in the next 2 days). |
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Jillian
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Post by Jillian on Sept 16, 2011 23:39:36 GMT
Hi everyone! Very excited about this tour! Plane tickets all booked! Holiday planning underway! There seems so much to do and so little time! Will be spending more time looking around the North Island and not as much time in the South Island. One thing I would like to see that we won't have time for is Milford Sound and the area around there. Perhaps another time  There's also some great hiking holidays that you can do that I would love to do one day. *Sigh* I wish I could just get paid for my job and not have to turn up! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Going to see Tongariro National Park, Lake Taupo and Rotorua which is very exciting! Do any of our Kiwi members have tips about what can't be missed on the North Island? Currently reading my Lonely Planet while waiting for my car to be serviced. Funny thing is that there's so many Kiwi accents around me it sort of feels like I'm in NZ already! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gifCheers, Jillian |
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Post by thomas on Sept 17, 2011 1:07:11 GMT
Hi Jillian! If you like to visit the North Island I can recommend Cathedral Cove where the video to Hayley's song Pokarekare Ana was taken. Nice beach. And it's a nice walk as well. It takes about 45 minutes from the car park to the beach of Cathedral Cove. Thomas |
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Jillian
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Post by Jillian on Sept 17, 2011 6:04:00 GMT
Hi Thomas! Thanks! How far is that from Auckland to drive? It would be very beautiful to see. People say that it's slower to get around New Zealand because of the way the roads twist and turn. You just can't go along at 100km/hr like you can in Australia. Cheers, Jillian |
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Post by postscript on Sept 17, 2011 7:25:36 GMT
Hi Jillian! If you like to visit the North Island I can recommend Cathedral Cove where the video to Hayley's song Pokarekare Ana was taken. Nice beach. And it's a nice walk as well. It takes about 45 minutes from the car park to the beach of Cathedral Cove. Thomas Thanks for that tip Thomas, should I ever actually make it out there. Peter S. |
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Post by postscript on Sept 17, 2011 7:28:04 GMT
Hi Jillian, Thomas and everyone.
Like Thomas, you are covering all the things I had in mind when I intended to tour for the concert that finally got cancelled. Now timing isn't working out too well. Too much on in other directions now.
Peter S.
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Post by comet on Sept 17, 2011 12:16:56 GMT
Hi Jillian, I spent almost two weeks driving on New Zealand's roads, They were a pleasure to drive on, The scenery is gorgeous too. If you want twists and turns, go up into the mountains, Even more fun, The mountain roads are well designed, good banking in the sharp bends, great fun for people who like driving, even in a seven metre camper van.  |
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Post by Libby on Sept 18, 2011 4:40:09 GMT
I personally wouldn't want to go too fast through New Zealand, I'd want to take everything in. I'd probably have to stay there for a month or 2 to see everything I'd want to see there! But if I could just go for a few days sometime, that would be amazing too, especially if a Hayley concert was part of it. And that's probably why I would be going in the first place!  |
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Jillian
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Post by Jillian on Sept 18, 2011 9:05:59 GMT
Hi Libby, Yes! I wish I had more time! My brother spent about a month in NZ in a combi van a few years ago and had a cracker of a time being able to go around slowly. Unfortunately, I'm more limited in the amount of time I can have off. But I'm not that concerned - New Zealand is so close to Australia that it's the sort of place you can go to several times - rather than a 'once in a lifetime' sort of thing. So I'm not too concerned that I won't be able to see everything this time around. Hi Comet! Sounds like you had an amazing time! Camper van sounds awesome!! Can I pick your brains as to where you went? i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Cheers, Jillian |
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Post by comet on Sept 18, 2011 21:58:37 GMT
Hi Libby, Yes! I wish I had more time! My brother spent about a month in NZ in a combi van a few years ago and had a cracker of a time being able to go around slowly. Unfortunately, I'm more limited in the amount of time I can have off. But I'm not that concerned - New Zealand is so close to Australia that it's the sort of place you can go to several times - rather than a 'once in a lifetime' sort of thing. So I'm not too concerned that I won't be able to see everything this time around. Hi Comet! Sounds like you had an amazing time! Camper van sounds awesome!! Can I pick your brains as to where you went? i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif Cheers, Jillian I don't remember the exact sequence of towns. But we started in Christchurch and went up the east coast. Stayed at "Top10" (I think that was the name of the campsite company ) camper sites, good facilities and usually well positioned near the town. The ferry ride to the north Island was really pleasant, absolutely beautiful scenery coming out of the sound from the south Island,dolphins and whales visible as we approached the north Island Stayed a few days (to long) at lake Tapuo waiting for the weather to clear to do a skydive then had to rush up to Aukland for our flight home. |
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Post by thomas on Sept 19, 2011 0:35:21 GMT
Hi Jillian! It was 4 years ago that I went to NZ so can't remember exactly how long it took from Auckland to Cathedral Cove. It took about 1,5h to Thames where we had our B&B. From there it was about one more hour to Hahei Beach. The car park for Cathedral Cove is close to Hahei Beach (turn left shortly before you reach Hahei Beach) which is worth a visit as well. From the car park it's a 45 minutes walk down to Cathedral Cove. So you should invest at least half a day. Don't leave any values the car when you are there! NZ roads have many turns and you can't go 100 km/h all the way although many Kiwis do so nonetheless.  Thomas |
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Post by postscript on Sept 20, 2011 10:13:04 GMT
This post has been moved from the Ebbw Vale thread by Richard.Hi Grant! I think those are the same earrings as from Io Canto? Great photos! Sounds like you had a fabulous time! (So excited for when I'll be able to do my first concert reports! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif ) Cheers, Jillian We will be looking out for them, Jillian. Soon the tables will be turned and we lucky UK ones will be anxiously awaiting to read what you people down under have to say. We want every bit of the detail, please. The scenery, venue description and of course all about our Hayley! And also her family as at least one of those concerts we expect to read about Jill, Gerald, Sophie and Isaac. Don't rush your fences, savour the time to the day, then so suddenly, far too suddenly, you will realise it is all over... Just realised as I read Grant's and others reports I had gone off thread, so to justify, we know from our experiences, such as these Ebbw Vale reports how quickly that time flies. Make sure you have a little notebook and pen with you. Revel in the building of excitement as the time to travel approaches; then the journeying to and savouring the arrival at; then the concert; then seeing Hayley afterwards; then writing up the report either back in the hotel that night or the next morning's first task. That's what goes into the UK reports but only if you enjoy the effort because they aren't just 'dashed off', unless as a prelude to a major opus. Good luck and make sure you savour and enjoy every second.  Peter S.
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Post by martindn on Sept 20, 2011 20:42:48 GMT
Yes, Jillian, I agree with Peter. It will probably be the highlight of the last several years!!! You need to take the time to enjoy it.
I usually dash off a report on the night of the show, when I get back to wherever (although it can be tricky in the campervan - but who knows, more and more campsites are equipped with wi-fi these days). I know there are people out there waiting. Just as we will be over here when the NZ tour happens.
I then plan to write a fuller report the next day, then Grant beats me to it. I sometimes have that awkward thing called "work" to do first. But I don't mind, Grant is a very good report writer, and an even better photographer as I'm sure you know.
I'm trying to remember the last time I was at a Hayley concert that Grant wasn't at. I think it was in 2004!!! And I didn't know what HWI was back then.
But yes savour every moment and don't forget we are waiting to hear about the show with bated breath.
Oh, and don't let Hayley see you taking notes. I gather she doesn't much like it. Photos and videos on the other hand, are a different matter.
Martin D
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Post by postscript on Sept 20, 2011 20:59:00 GMT
Yes, Jillian, I agree with Peter. It will probably be the highlight of the last several years!!! You need to take the time to enjoy it. Oh, and don't let Hayley see you taking notes. I gather she doesn't much like it. Photos and videos on the other hand, are a different matter.Martin D Yes, sorry, I rather assumed one would be surreptitious. It is important not to cause a distraction. It is amazing what she can notice in an audience. She may seem totally absorbed in her performance but she is wholly aware of her audience to an amazing degree of observance and alertness Peter S. |
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