Flights To Fancy

Travelling the world in luxury for less a week at a time

Cafe Midnight Express Auckland: Turkish Treats

Fash Packing: Cafe Midnight Express Auckland - Kofte

Eating out in Auckland is a delight. Choices cover all manner of cuisines and there is something sure to delight every palette. I have always been a fan of Turkish cuisine and when I spotted Cafe Midnight Express Auckland right across from the Sky Tower it piqued my interest and drew me across the street. I quickly checked out the TripAdvisor reviews (#13 of 1736) on my phone and the deal was sealed. Faster than you could say ‘table for two please’ we were seated and perusing the menu. Read on for all the details …

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Strolling Auckland CBD & Viaduct Harbour

Fash Packing: A Stroll Through Auckland CBD & Viaduct Harbour - Auckland Viaduct Harbour View To Auckland Harbour Bridge

Auckland, New Zealand’s most populous city, is under going a transformation in preparation for significant expected growth over the next 10 years. As you walk the city streets, you can’t help but notice the construction surrounding you. Auckland is particularly well suited to walking and we spent a lovely couple of days exploring the Auckland CBD and nearby Viaduct Harbour. As a proud Sydney Sider, I couldn’t help but notice some suspicious similarities with my home town. Coincidence? I think not! Read on for all the details …

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No.8 Bar & Restaurant Whitianga: Hungry Tuesday

Fash Packing by SFH: No.8 Bar & Restaurant Whitianga - Hungry Tuesday

Whitianga (pronounced Fit-ee-enga) is on New Zealand’s stunning Coromandel Peninsula and it’s beautiful beaches draw visitors in their thousands in the summer. We stopped in for two nights on our road trip around New Zealand’s North Island and fell in love with this quaint little town. Despite its size, there are quite a few dining options for when you can drag yourself away from the pure white sand and crystal clear water for the day. We wandered the compact town on a quiet Tuesday night and checked them all out before deciding on No.8 Bar & Restaurant Whitianga. I’m got going to lie; the Tuesday night specials sealed the deal for us. Who doesn’t love a bargain dinner? Read on for all the details …

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Emirates A380 First Class Review: Mind Blown AKL-SYD

Fash Packing by SFH: Emirates A380 First Class Review EK419 Auckland to Sydney - Emirtaes A380

My first time flying Emirates A380 first class was amazing! In today’s age of readily available cheap flights the experience of flying itself has lost it’s shine. The exclusivity and glamour of yesteryear has been replaced by cramped cabins, perfunctory service, shrinking baggage allowances and an ever dwindling list of inclusions. I remember fondly a trip to the UK aged 8 when I was more excited about the journey than the destination. Hundreds of flights (and reviews) later, I don’t feel that same thrill when boarding a plane. It’s almost as mundane as taking the bus and a necessary evil to be endured to get me to where I want to be. This was not the case on my last flight on Emirate Airlines first class. I was looking forward to this flight in a way that I haven’t since I was eight years old. I booked an Emirates A380 first class suite and I couldn’t wait! It’s not lack of desire that has kept me from the pointy end of the plane until now, it’s lack of funds. My bank balance (or lack thereof!) forces me to chose between travelling more comfortably and more frequently. More frequently usually wins and while I have lots of tips for scoring bargain flights, the only thing better than a bargain flight is a free one! Knowing I would never spend the dollars required to experience Emirates first class cabin, I dropped a bunch of frequent flyer points and rekindled my joy of flying. My Emirates A380 first class review will blow your mind. Read on for all the details …

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Emirates Lounge Auckland International Airport

Fash Packing by SFH: Emirates A380 First Class Review - Auckland International Airport Emirates Lounge - Passport

To end our road trip through New Zealand’s North Island in style we chose to fly home first class on Emirates flagship A380. This was my first time flying first class and to say I was looking forward to it was an understatement. One of the bonuses of travelling Emirates first class is that passengers are afforded lounge access. I’ve been in a lounge or two over the years and have found they vary dramatically across the globe. So did we enjoy the Auckland International Airport Emirates Lounge? You bet we did! Read on for all the details …

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Al Camino Restaurant Whitianga: Go Greek In NZ

Fash Packing by SFH: Al Camino Restaurant Whitianga

I am a massive believer in tasting the local food when travelling so it might seem a little strange to be reviewing a Greek restaurant in New Zealand. To be fair, we did sample a traditional Māori Hangi at Te Puia Rotorua, before we branched out and truth be told, Greek is my very favourite cuisine. I have visited Greece four times and have eaten my way through mountains of spanokopita, devoured countless souvlaki, gorged on oodles of dolmades, munched many a saganaki and gobbled down way more than my fair share of delicious, sticky loukoumades in various tavernas both there and abroad. The Hubs first spotted Al Camino Restaurant Whitianga when we were walking home from No.8 Bar & Restaurant where we had dinner on our first night and he knew it would be right up my alley. So how did our NZ Greek experience measure up? Read on for all the details …

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Beachside Resort Whitianga: North Island New Zealand

Fash Packing by SFH: Beachside Resort Whitianga New Zealand - Pool

It’s inevitable on any road trip that along the way you will end up in a small town lacking in familiar mega-brand hotels which makes choosing accommodation more tricky. On our recent New Zealand road trip we found ourselves in the delightful seaside town of Whitianga (pronounced Fit-ee-enga) on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand’s North Island. Whitianga accommodation choices are dominated by apartments and we looked for value and location when narrowing down the choices for our short stay. The Beachside Resort Whitianga delivered both and suited our requirements perfectly. Read on for all the details …

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Waitomo Caves: NZ’s Subterranean Wonderland

The Waitomo District on New Zealand’s stunning North Island is an easy 2 ½ hour drive south of Auckland. As one of NZ’s original tourist destinations, Waitomo has plenty to offer visitors but the #1 reason so many visitors make the journey is to experience the dramatic subterranean landscape at Waitomo Caves. I recently spent a unique afternoon underground exploring Ruakuri Cave and Waitomo Glowworm Cave. Read on for all the details …

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