Getting there

Our trip started in Wissembourg on October 1st. From there we took the train via Strasbourg (with a short stay) to Paris. In Paris we had to wait 5 hours to check in before we finally took the first flight to Shanghai. After this flight we (and those sitting next to us) know that Hildi will prefer to skip breakfast before landing in the future and that medicine for motion sickness should be in our first aid kit. After a long 9 hour stay at the ghost airport in Shanghai (huge airport, hardly any people, almost all shops closed & few departures), which felt even longer due to China's censorship of almost all websites, we flew on to Auckland. This flight went by relatively quickly, despite the turbulence (Hildi didn't puke this time). On October 3rd we landed in Auckland at 4:30 p.m.

The procedure at New Zealand airports is longer than at others: Before you are allowed to leave the plane, the New Zealand authorities spray a disinfectant spray on the plane to prevent the introduction of parasites and foreign plants. In the next step, the luggage (especially outdoor equipment) is also checked for parasites and foreign plants in biosecurity. The working holiday visa, on the other hand, was issued automatically and you don't have to collect a stamp etc. at the counter.

After getting SIM cards at the airport, we took the bus into the city to our hostel.