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Any gran off to visit their offspring in NZp

(14 Posts)
Cath9 Tue 06-Jan-26 19:46:06

I have plucked up courage to visit my son in NZ very soon. Anyone about to do the same? Although I realise I expect to get a negative reply

Mopsx4 Tue 06-Jan-26 19:57:56

Am there at the moment visiting mine.

BlueBelle Tue 06-Jan-26 20:16:41

I ve done it a fair few times but don’t want to do the long flight any more so he ll have to come to me 🤣 He’s been there 27 years wife and two adult children I ve reached an age where busy airports aren’t attractive any more 😢

GrannyGravy13 Tue 06-Jan-26 20:43:27

One of my good friends is their now visiting their child and grandchildren

Chardy Tue 06-Jan-26 22:15:40

I also have a friend who's nearly 80, who goes every couple of years.

I think she gets them to organise a wheelchair to get her from one one flight to the next, BlueBelle

nanna8 Tue 06-Jan-26 22:30:49

Have a stopover on the way for a night or two would be my advice. It is a long way . Singapore is a nice place and the hotel at the airport is good. There is a shopping centre underneath the airport with cafes etc so if you don’t feel like the trip to town you can just stay round the airport. Dubai is good,too but only 1/3 of the way over.

Ladyleftfieldlover Tue 06-Jan-26 22:38:34

Not quite so far, but I visit Sydney, Australia often. Probably every other year. I don’t do a stop over but I’m kept so busy I don’t have time for jet lag - until I get back home!

ElaineI Tue 06-Jan-26 23:05:29

We are planning to visit Perth WA in April. Never been on such a long flight. Any recommendations re stopovers - Dubai, Singapore or is it better to do in a oner? Flying from Scotland.

Cath9 Wed 07-Jan-26 08:36:46

Thanks all when I didn’t expect any replies.
I am in my late 70s and thought of going now last summer but from Dec onwards when the nights were drawing in I will admit I am wondering now if I have made the correct decision being on my own and my DL keeps herself to herself

Netherbyg84 Wed 07-Jan-26 08:54:06

Can somebody remind me what DL means please.

I have visited my son in Singapore three times now and feel that's enough. Jet lag and not sleeping well after long flight.

Cath9 Wed 07-Jan-26 08:55:30

You asked which way to go.
I haven’t flown to Singapore before as I was hoping to go via Bangkok where my late husband and I stopped over to see the sights etc before the second leg to Auckland.
As Nanna mentioned the stop over in Dubai seems to be popular which brakes up the journey. I was hoping to return that way but they were fully booked. There is also Doha to London.
The only negative side with the two last flights to get to NZ one has to also add a 10 hr flight from Singapore so my preference would be to Bangkok where you can take a ride down the river to see the sights.

Chardy Wed 07-Jan-26 21:37:24

When I went a few years back, it was an approx 4hr stopover in Singapore both ways, literally enough time for a sandwich, a walk round and a change of underwear to make myself feel better.
Advice? Take old-fashioned over the head headphones. Ear buds hurt after a few hours. Make sure you have a change of clothes and a toothbrush in your carry-on.
NZ is so beautiful, the people are so lovely. I'm jealous.
Oh and they're very particular at customs about bringing food (and plants?) in

Susieq62 Wed 07-Jan-26 21:51:50

I go there regularly and to Australia ! I tend to stop over in Singapore as it is safe for a lone woman! Use Singapore Airlines as very good

GrandmaKT Wed 07-Jan-26 23:31:58

We are setting off on Tuesday to visit my DS and his family in New Zealand.
We are lucky enough to visit every year and I really love going at this time of year, going from the miserable winter weather to (hopefully) warm and sunny.
We have done most of the routes. I agree that Singapore is the best, but Hong Kong is also good. This year we are going with Qatar Airlines via Doha and Melbourne. We once went via the US and I would never do it again!
Where are your family based Cath9? How long will you stay? Do you have plans to tour around?