Waymarks

INDIA AND THE MALDIVES 2018

Hotels: We loved them all--but one! The ones in India are called "historical" , three and four stars.

Delhi: The Suryaa. Great breakfast buffet.

Agra: Grand Imperial. Charming. 

Jaipur: Alsisar Haveli. Not the best food, but great room, nice pool, and lots of places to eat in Jaipur.

Pushkar: Bhanwar Singh Palace. A wee bit tired, and the food very average. Nice swimming pool and gardens; the g and t on the front deck was delightful.

Johdpur: Bal Samand Lake Palace. This estate is amazing. There's a lake, and pools, a garden restaurant, great breakfast buffet, BUT, it's a bit far from things so good that the food is good!

Udaipur: Jagat Nivas Palace. On the lake, and the best restaurant that side of the lake is on the rooftop. Aim for a garden or lake view room; we had neither. Also a great location for touring and shopping, eating and drinking (coffee).

Munnar: Misty Mountain Resort. A bit out of the way and on the highway, but quiet after dark. Beautiful garden out back, and good food in both restaurants. I think there might be better choices.

Thekaddy: Tree Top Inn. Great cabin, set in a woodland. Very central to the spa, restaurants and shops. Great breakfast.

PUDDLE JUMPING COOK ISLANDS

Rarotonga

The Sunset Resort
Very comfortable, clean, quiet, friendly resort with two swimming pools, a great restaurant, and beachfront. You can snorkel off the beach or by walking in either direction. Close to Avarua, and of course, and the airport. Transfers are timely and free.

Kikau Hut
Right next door to the Sunset Resort. Delicious freshly made food, with a bit of Thai to add interest.

The Mooring Fish Cafe
On the beach, serving up fresh fish sandwiches and salads. Absolutely the best!

Aitutaki

Tauono's Garden Cafe and Market (aka Sonya's)
Fantastic food. Don't miss it. Watch for the sandwich board sign on the road or ask around. Limited service: Tuesday and Thursday lunch and tea; market is open 10-5

Aitutaki Sailing Adventures
Hobi cat sailing out to the reef for snorkeling. It's better than a power boat, unless you are in a hurry. Ted will let you man the tiller if conditions are favourable. Definitely a great way to see the lagoon.

Atiu

Atiu Villas are cozy and clean, with private patios (ours looked out to rainforest, and garden), a pool, and a dining room. Note that there are few services on Atiu, so you will appreciate this hospitable accommodation. Your room is stocked with staples to prepare your own meals and there are a few things in the stores, but if you are fussy, bring your own! Roger, your host, invites you to join him and his guests for dinner each night.  For just $30NZ you get a home cooked meal, with meat, potatoes or taro, vegetables, salad, and dessert. Drinks are cheap at the bar. We were very comfortable here, and Roger and Jackie were very helpful, arranging tours for us, and making sure we experienced all of this tiny island.

BACK TO AUSTRALIA OCTOBER 2014

Adelaide 

The Franklin Hotel [and Public House]

Easy trip from the airport; bus station across the street with occasional shuttle service; good food in the restaurant, great host, note the "public house". It's rated in the top five, so late night partyers should be expected, but still fairly quiet.
See post http://findingthefootpath.blogspot.ca/2014/10/back-to-australia-october-2014-adelaide.html

Cairns

Bay Village Tropical Retreat
Perfect in every way, both times.
http://www.bayvillage.com.au/

Coral Princess Cruises
http://coralprincess.com.au/cruises/reef/4-night-cairns-lizard-island-cairns/overview/
Loved it. Singles friendly.

DOWN UNDER JANUARY 2014

Kaikoura

Green Dolphin Restaurant
http://greendolphinkaikoura.com/
Enjoyed New Year's Eve dinner here.

Seaward Pottery and Accommodation
www.seawardnz.co.nz
ph:o3 319 5795
seawardnz@xtra.co.nz
Contact (and potter): Juanita Edelman

Blenheim/ Picton

Bed and Breakfast
Hosts: Lorna and John
Great hosts; shared kitchen, did not have breakfast, but were very well hosted by both. John is very knowledgeable about the island and Lorna is really accomodating. Did laundry, packed our lunch, fed us dinner on arrival. Lovely home, beautiful back garden to enjoy. Suburban but close to Wither Hills walking area.
Booked through airbnb

Queen Charlotte Sound:
Picton hike with taxi out to Motuara Island for a nature walk, then taxi to Ship Cove; hike Ship Cove to Endeavour Inlet and Furneau Lodge (Queen Charlotte Track) for pick up by water taxi and transfer back to Picton.  Total hike of 15 km on QCT with considerable climbing; slow and a bit tedious.
See blog post [http://findingthefootpath.blogspot.ca/2014/01/tramping-on-track-and-bathrooms-that.html]. Consider driving out to a trail head but this allowed us to see the Queen Charlotte Sound and get a feel for all of that area.  

Nelson/Tahunanui Beach

Absolute Beach B & B
601 Rocks Road, Tahunanui, Nelson, NZ
www.absolutebeach.co.nz
Fabulous house with spectacular view of beach and Abel Tasman peninsula. Personalized breakfast, pretty much to order from her listed offerings. Book the suite if you can afford it but lower deck rooms are small and beautifully outfitted. If you get the contact info from Wally at Abel Tasman Guides Ann will have to pay commission so book directly with Ann. Stayed here before and after Abel Tasman trip.
Hosts: Ann and Alan
hello@absolutebeach.co.nz

Abel Tasman National Park

Abel Tasman Guides:  3-day/2 night package
P.O. 5053, 59a, Lakings Rd, Blenheim
http://www.abeltasmanguides.co.nz/
Contact: Wally Bruce
info@abeltasmanguides.co.nz or complete the online form

Perfect. Chose the unguided option from Marahau to Totaranui with accommodation aboard Aquapackers (backpacker style with meals; byo alcohol) at Anchorage Bay and the Awaroa Lodge [http://www.peppers.co.nz/awaroa/]. Would spend an extra day at Awaroa if I could afford it and possibly book the other less expensive lodge in order to spend more time there. Day hikes are possible and the beach is spectacular, but then so are many others. A total of 35 km over three days with some up and down every day, but nothing unmanageable. Includes two tidal crossings (Onetahuti and Awaroa)  that must be worked into the schedule. Baggage is transferred; carry your own day pack. Lunch provided each day; it shows up wherever you are! The whole area is serviced by Aqua Taxi based in Marahau.

Hokitika/ Mirror Creek

Mirror Creek Accommodations
1276 Woodstock-Rimu Road (15 minutes from Hokitika)
03 755 7355
Totally self contained unit with kitchen and bath, king sized bed, table and chairs for two inside and out on the private porch. It's all newly built and in impeccable condition. Beautiful quiet location just off Hiway 6, the main west coast route. Fantastic "made to order" breakfast, farm location with gardens, birds, and gracious host.
Contact: Brenda
Mirrorcreek@xtra.co.nz

Wanaka

Alpine Motel
Perfect location at edge of small town. Restaurants, cafes, friendly owner, laundry with outdoor hanging area. Self-contained unit. Would perhaps spend more time there.
Contact: Murray
En route to Queenstown and beyond: stopped at Arrowtown  for coffee, shopping (expensive?) and met Tom at Wool Press who sold us Icebreaker warm layers for the trip south.Took the very narrow and winding, self-describing Crown Range Road to get there (See: On the road again...).

Te Anau

Edgewater Motel
52 Lakefront Drive
Contact: Wayne
res@edgewater.net.nz
Very helpful host who knows the area and offered to book our excursions for us.  Although we ended up booking our own in order to split costs appropriately, the advice was very helpful. He also had recommendations for day walks. 

Doubtful Sound Tour:
Booked with Real Journeys for a boat, bus, and boat return trip to Doubtful Sound. Opted out of Milford in favour of this one. Great trip, across Manapouri Lake, over Wilmot Pass and on to the sound by bus, then a tour of  the sound. A fjord really. Happy with our choice. Very windy and you need to dress warmly. Not much wildlife, but a good guide and good trip overall.

Hiked a short section of the Kepler Track here starting at Rainbow Reach about 15 km out of Te Anau toward Manapouri (it's signed on the hiway). Went after dinner but with long days, very cool, very other-worldly. An easy 2 hour walk.

Oamaru

Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony
www.penguins.co.nz
bookings@penguins.co.nz
You could spend a long time here waiting for dusk which is when the penguins come out. I would have hung out longer at the yellow-eyed penguin site had I known we would wait so long at the Blue Penguin colony. They tell you to come at 9--but it's worth asking what time they came out "last night" so you get a better feel for it. But it is fun and probably worth the cost. Seniors rate!

Lincoln

Lincoln Motel
THE BEST--new, bright, friendly hosts, well supplied kitchen, perfect for exploring the Banks Peninsula. Lincoln is a quiet town in a good location. Could stay here to explore Christchurch.

Used the I-site at Akaroa to get hiking info and hiked Hinawai. For $1 you can get a fairly good map with elevations, for all of the area hikes. See See: Akaroa and Hinawai ...blog post  for info on hike. Picked up the absolute best lamb rump steaks at the Butchery in Akaroa.

Hanmer Springs

A day camp/theme park/water park for grown ups. Would go again. An easy drive on a good road from Christchurch.
Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools