3^rd January 2016 - 2^nd January, 2016

Up early – 5.30am, showered and ready to go to the airport.  Graeme took us in, and a sad farewell to Geri!  Gosh I'll miss them – great hosts – I wouldn't want to stay anywhere else!  I am sure they are glad to see the back of us – so they can diet at least!    I've never eaten so well – thanks Geri! Xxx

Auckland Airport was having its busiest day of the year!  Air New Zealand Check in counters had queues a mile long.    Lucky we were on time for check in.  we barely had enough time to check in, get some duty free alcohol and make it to our gate for boarding.

We grabbed some nice alcohol.  Malibu with Banana (because we'll be on a tropical island!), Kaluha – Limited Edition Salted Caramel (just because its salted caramel!),  Cool Swan  – Irish Cream – (just Like Baileys only made with White Chocolate), and Steve's favourite – Glayva. 

It was time for boarding and when we got to the gate, my ticket was “invalid”, so we had to see another steward, who issued us with two new tickets with different seat allocations!   These were better.

We boarded the aircraft and we had been bumped up to Premium Economy.   We had the Emergency Exit – so no one in front of us at all – leg room for miles with our own fold out screen!  No window though – but eh – we were happy regardless.   

We both got to watch a couple of movies each.  I got to finish “Driving Lesson” - lovely movie.  And I saw the animation “Inside Out”- loved it – I laughed out loud quite a few times!  I'll be buying that on blue ray.   Steve watched  Hit Man Agent 47, and he started watching Ex-Machina but didn't get to see much of it.

The flight was pretty much full (except in business class).  Locals heading home for the holidays.  More locals than tourists!

Because we were in the “good seats” we got breakfast (which we hadn't paid for)! LOL  YAY!  About half way into our flight Sharon one of the airline Hostesses wanted to see our boarding pass and how come we ended up where we were, as she had another customer with the same seat number.  We told her what had happened.  Then 10mins later the Chief Steward came over and wanted the hear the story from us and to see our boarding pass.  Apparently the ground crew had been double allocating seats, and there were a few people in the wrong seats – or supposed to be in the same seats as others.

The Chief Steward said for our troubles he'd come and get us close to landing to put us up the front near the exit door, so we could alight quickly!   Of which he did – right up in business class!   Very nice!  It meant we had a window seat coming in – not that we could see the island, as its so small, and the way the come in, I barely had time to rattle off 3 photos before we landed.

I gotta tell ya – I have loved flying Air New Zealand.  Every air hostess has been wonderful – so happy and nothing was too much trouble.  The Chief Steward needn't have moved us – no big deal for us – if anything the other customer should have been moved up to Business.  Anyway – I will fly with them again!

Being first off (and we basically were) meant we were through customs straight away – thank god- they only had two guys on and the queues were horrendous within 10mins!   Our luggage took a while to come out, but that was ok, because there was a local singing to us on his guitar!  Lol

We went straight through biosecurity, and out the door to our courtesy bus.  But we were the only guests staying at the Little Polynesian, so they bumped us to another bus, so they didn't have to drive the “whole way” around the island to drop us off.  (The island takes 1hour to drive around!) LOL   Its not very big.

Oooh time travel – we have crossed the international date line, so we have gone back a day… so it is Saturday 2^nd January all over again!  lol

First impressions on the way to the hotel, was that it is fairly basic.  Touristy, but not touristy in a commercial sense.  Think “Bali” about 20yrs ago – in between their shacks on the side of the road to moving into buildings…. But before the fancy construction. 

There is definitely an “island time” mentality – so we'll have to adapt to that very quickly.  Our bus driver had us alone as we were the last drop off for a good 10mins, and he said we were on the best “beach” of the island – all be it a bit far away from anything.   But thats ok with us!

OMG – the colour of the water – it is sooooo turquoise blue – its amazing!  I keep looking at it – thinking I am in a dream!   It is exactly like the photos in the brochures!  (only with more wind!)

We arrived at the Little Polynesian to be greeted by a lovely local who checked us in.  We have arrived on a “long weekend” - as New Years Eve has Monday as the pubic holiday, so basically nothing is open for 3 days…. Means we also we no internet for the next 3 days as the hotel administration staff are away and wont be back till Tuesday – great!  (Steve was disappointed about that).

We were escorted to our room - # 2.  If you stand at the pool, we are the 2^nd last room to the right.

WOW – just gorgeous.  I knew the resort had to be over 20 years old, and I can say whilst the rooms are gorgeous – there are a few things that need maintenance and some attention.  But on the whole, very nice!   And talk about “beach front” - the beach is basically 5 meters away from the hut!   Its a bit steep, and some erosion has taken place and there are no “steps” down – so you have to scale down to the beach proper, but its ok…. We can rough it!

The bed is sooooo comfortable – pillow top king size mattress – thank you very much!  Windows with plantation shutters so the breeze moves constantly through the villa.  There is an outdoor bath, and shower.  And a double vanity bathroom, shower and toilet.  Its very spacious!

We basically unpacked – well I did… I put all of my things away in the wardrobe.  Steve just left his stuff in his suitcase in the crumpled mess it arrived in!  Lol

We walked down to the water to feel how warm it was, and it is just like bath water – so warm and inviting.  The atoll is a coral reef, so the beach is relatively sandy, but there are bits of chunky coral reef across the sand, so you have to be careful when walking.

We layed on our daybed together for a while and watched the world go by – was just perfect!!

As it was now early 6pm, we had dinner at the Little Poly restaurant by the pool,  - Steve had Rib Eye Steak and I had Mahi Mahi fish (YUM) for dinner, then we raced off back to the room, as the sun sets early here – 7.30pm – so we barely made it with time to spare – we found a palm tree (right outside our villa – or are) – and we photographed Sunset!  It was quite lovely.

Then it was off to bed!  (not before we taste tested our alcohol of course!) lol