Packing Food

I have been talking to Ros and Gene about taking food.  Ros said all the basics are there, though there isn't much variety.

We will be taking these things, mainly to feed our boys...

• canned creamed rice
• canned tuna
• crackers (apple and cinnamon grain crackers, grain wafers)
• pasta ready meals
• weet-bix
• peanut butter
• and hopefully a frozen loaf of bread because our boys eat bread like its going out of fashion

Wine sells for $20-$25 a bottle, Oyster Bay $24

Also another note on dress for our wedding day:  be comfortable, guys please don't wear long pants you will cook!  In the evening bring something to add a layer on in case it gets cooler

The evening function is being held at the Flying Boat Beach Bar and grill at Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa.  Transfers have been arranged but need to be paid for $15 one way and $20 return.  Canapes will be served and we will run a tab, meals can be bought from the restaurant.

The lagoon cruise is arranged through Bishops who know where all of our guests are staying.  You will be picked up around 9:30/45am and taken to Ootu Beach where the boat leaves from.  We will return around 4pm and you will be taken back to your accommodation.  Transport for the evening function is likely to pick you up around 6:30pm

Craig and I are meeting with the wedding planner as soon as we get off the plane to go and sign all official documents, then again to go through the run of the day, then meeting with staff at Aitutaki Lagoon Resort and Spa.  So things could change, just relax and remember you are on holiday, it will be "Island Time"

See you in Aitutaki or at the Airport!  We will rock that plane!!! 27 of us on board our flight, Craig and I plan to upgrade to business class and leave the boys with the rest of you!  Poor other passengers on our plane!

Especially for Scott....

Thanks for getting back to us with your RSVP.

Currently the plan for our wedding day is as follows:

9:15/30am guests will be picked up from their accommodation and taken to the "Lagoon Lova" boat.

9:30/45am The Lagoon crusie will leave heading for "One Foot Island" or "Tapuaetai" (its local name)
This is a lagoon cruise.... it will be approximately 30-45minutes.  Craig will be on board, as will the wedding planner (Annie) I believe, and a bit of local entertainment.
The bride and bridesmaids, Sacha and celebrant will go to the island on board the "Jaguar".  Ooooo, exciting!

We will have the ceremony, photos, lunch then free time for swimming and snorkelling. Snorkeling gear is available on the boat as are towels.  Feel free to bring your own.

We are expecting you to be in comfortable, cool, tidy beach dress.  I, for one am planning on getting in the water ASAP, so it will be off with the wedding dress and on with bikini, mask, snorkel and flippers!  We should be able to change on board the boat which will stay at the island unless it takes us out for snorkeling at "Heaven" or "Honeymoon Island".  There is the "Post Office" hut on one foot owned by Bishops Cruises.  This is where you can seek refuge from the sun, where we will have lunch and bring your passport to be stamped with a "One Foot" stamp.

Bubbles will be available for toasting, but we have requested minimal alcoholic drinks while on the island as it is hot, hot, hot.  That and swimming and we didn't want to be having to rescue anyone! We have about 15 parasols for our guests to help beat the heat too.

At around 1pm the Jaguar will leave Tapuaetai, to return the celebrant to the main island. If need be people can return home on this.

3:00pm ish (island time don't forget) The Lagoon Lova will head back to the main island.  Transport will be waiting for you to take you back to your accommodation to rest, freshen up, eat if you have to.

6:30pm You are invited to "Akitua" the "Lagoon Resort and Spa" to have nibbles, cake and subsidised cocktails. Meals will be available for you to buy.  There may be a few speeches too.  Since there are a large group of us staying at Paradise Cove and other accommodation on the other side of the island, I have asked if transport can be available.  We didn't want drunken and injured scooter rides home in the middle of the night! It will be $10 per person, or $15 return trip.  Pick up is at 6:30pm and drop off at 11:30ish

For the boys, Gene is arranging a stag do day on Saturday.  Not sure what that entails as of yet, Motu Survivor and golf I have heard among other things!

FLIGHTS

Right! Our onto it bridesmaids (3 of the four) have booked their flights and accommodation already!

Well done my girls, and Rory!

Here are the flight details:

Depart: Auckland 9:00 am Sat 4 May.
Arrive: Cook Is (Aitutaki) 6:50 pm Fri 3 May.
Flight number(s): NZ0046:NZ4030.
The Akld-Raro flight arrives at 2:55pm  Raro-Aitutaki leaves at 6pm so a 3hour stop.

Depart: Cook Is (Aitutaki) 4:40 pm Thu 9 May.
Arrive: Auckland 8:50 pm Fri 10 May.
Flight number(s): NZ4029:NZ0045.

These flights have a short stopover (a few hours) in Raro.

We are likely to head over on the same flight and return a day later. Meaning our family will be staying 7 nights. Details below...
Return Flights:

Depart Aitutaki Friday 10 May 7:10pm
Arrive Raro Friday 10 May 8:00pm
NZ743
Depart Raro Friday, 10 May 10:10pm
Arrive Akld Sunday, 12 May 12:40am

Please feel free to email Paradise Cove directly to book your accommodation, and tell them you are a part of our wedding party.  If you contact Kaylene, tell her that they have quoted us $135 per night, plus a 4% credit card fee.  Paradise Cove would like a 2 night deposit which is about $280 incl. credit card fee.

I'm hoping that with a heap of us on the flight from Auckland to Rarotonga we can sweet talk our way into the Koru lounge!  Who is the most persuasive person coming with us - Rory perhaps?  Scott?

PACKAGES

After many hours swearing, cursing, pulling my hair out and feeding Mitchell, while sending emails scouring the net and making phone calls - this is going to be the easiest thing to do...

Book a package through Kaylene at Flight Centre, Chartwell. She is magnificent!!!

She planned our trip over to Switzerland for us last year, and is going to put together our package for our wedding.  She will then fit you all in around our flights and wedding day.  (She is also gorgeous, wink, wink nudge nudge youngest and single brother in law!!!)

Her contact details are...

E: kaylene.johnstone.nz@flightcentre.co.nz
P: 07 854 7200

She said if you can make an appointment to come in that is ideal.  Face to face clients take priority I believe. Feel free to email her your plans eg wanting to stop over in Raro, don't mind flying with Virgin Pacific arriving in the wee hours etc., and then if you can make a time to see her.

After talking to a few people we are moving the actual wedding day to

Monday May 6.

This means that you will need to take less time off work, and for those with kids or teachers it means you can leave in the holidays, hopefully making the logistics of childcare a little easier too.

Kaylene is looking into 5 night and 7 night packages for us at the moment and will email me when specials come out.

I'll post details of our flights etc once they are booked on this blog to help you all make your plans.

PS. Try to subscribe or follow this blog so you get updates straight away.  All you need is a gmail account, which is free and works like a hotmail account.  Then you can also leave comments on the blog

Paradise Cove & Samade

PARADISE COVE

The beach is right out the door!

This is the nicest budget accommodation we can find on the island, plus Craig and Laurene and kids will be staying at a neighbouring property. This is sunset side, with a lagoon and safe swimming but the primo swimming is in the central lagoon.
The price they have given us is $135 per night and includes airport transfers but not Credit card processing fee ( deposit is 2 nights per unit and works out to be $280.80 once credit card fee is added) 
For a family it will be $135 per couple plus $40 per child with a max of 2 kids, so $215 per night.
Just keep in mind that the garden suite is "cosy" with not a lot of extra room to move, but with a beautiful lagoon at your door step who wants to be inside anyway?

SAMADE

Samade Cafe and bar

I am just waiting on a quote from these guys.  Samades is located closer to the primo lagoon swimming, where the lagoon cruises depart from.  The units are not beach front as the Samade Cafe/Restaurant and Bar is at the beachfront.  Units look very slightly bigger than Paradise Cove and they are air-conditioned.

The price they have given us per couple for 5 nights is: $915
This includes breakfast for 2 for five nights (with dinner available at $25 per person)
Airport transfers and Credit card processing fee included

They are Laurene's picks for couples!!!

Vacancy for a Couple to share with Family

Are-a-matatui has beautiful and spacious accommodation, with a FULL kitchen and everything you need to cook if you want to.  Washing machine, all linen and TWO bedrooms each with its own bathroom.  For a family this is the best space you will find.
Rochelle (sister) and Craig's family are interested in staying here and sharing with another couple, for a total price of $460 per night (dividing the cost however you want to).

So you will be staying with Laurene's beautiful and entertaining nieces - Kaea and Elidi, you get all the extra space and all the extra bells and whistles like the full kitchen, washing machine etc for a little bit more than staying at Paradise Cove, which is lovely but doesn't have the space and extras.

Give it some thought, Craig and I and kids will be staying in the beach front Villa, and may also be looking for some roomies, so watch this space.

ACCOMODATION BOOKINGS

If you want to be a part of the group bookings at Paradise Cove, Ranginuis Retreat, Aretai or Are-a-matatui, please try to get back to me either by

1. leaving a comment on this blog, or 
2. emailling me laurene@munchkins.co.nz 
3. or laurenewilliams@hotmail.co.nz

If you just tell me I'll forget!

I know that this is a big thing to commit to so early on but I'd really like to make a tentative booking by the end of August at the latest so we can secure the accommodation, especially at paradise cove because I know most of our NZ travel agents recommend this place.

And of course if I have suggested you stay somewhere and you don't want to, that's fine!  The island is small but has a range of options for a range of budgets.  It is smaller than Raro for those of you who have been there, but because of its shape getting from one end to the other does seem a hike.  There is also no public transport, just feet, scooter, car or transfers.

Sue I haven't checked if the Araura School hall is available!  Check with Gene!!!! LOL :-)

THANKS!