So I have been AWOL for a few weeks, work has been pretty busy.
I had the opportunity to go to New Zealand for work which is an opportunity I couldn't turn down, although I wont say I didn't have my reservations. If any of you have read my other blog Sunshine and Showers you will know I suffer from anxiety, and this being my first trip by myself, it wasn't an easy task. But, I did it :) Yay me!
I only got back on Thursday so I am still suffering from jet lag. Writing this post at 07:45 on Saturday morning but I have actually been awake for several hours.
I stayed in Auckland for a week and half in a lovely hotel called the Stamford Plaza. I had an executive room, which had a huge king sized bed, 40 inch TV and a lovely shower and bathroom. The hotel had several restaurants and a buffet breakfast every morning which I took advantage of. The staff were so helpful and really made my stay as relaxing and easy as possible. My favourite part of the hotel was definitely the pool and spa area on the 10th floor. This was my wind down area after many a long day in the office!
Although I spent most of the time working in the office and the hotel I did have some time for a little fun....
I went up the Sky Tower, the Auckland Art Gallery and I was luckily enough to take a tour to Hobbiton, the Lord of the Rings set. I went on a Bush and Beach tour which was really really great, and definitely worth looking into if you are going out to New Zealand. They do other tours as well and if I had been there longer I would have tried another. I was picked up from my hotel early on a Sunday morning and driven 2 hours south of Auckland to the Alexanders farm where the set is based. We then had a guided tour of the set, a drink in the Green Dragon and a buffet lunch. It was worth every penny and the tour guides were great fun and full of lots of facts! Could not recommend it anymore.
I plan to go back to New Zealand in the future and check out the South Island which I hear is stunning.
-X-