⚠️
Pre-Trip Action Required — Black Water Rafting Risk Disclosure
Both travelers (Allston + Donnie) must complete the BWR Risk Disclosure form before the Tue 5/19 3:30pm Black Labyrinth tour. Form link is in Donnie's 2026-05-09 confirmation email (Order Ref WTOMO-4130062 · Donnie's booking covers both travelers). Each form ~5 min · saves 10–15 min at BWR base check-in. Do this before Thu 5/14 SFO departure while on US internet.
📅 Recommended completion: Wed 2026-05-13 · T-1 day before departure
Email BWR ↗

🎫 Booking Quick Links T-3 days · 6 time-sensitive items · availability verified 2026-05-12

Click any BOOK NOW button to land directly on the verified date+party-size pre-filled booking page. Status colors: red = urgent/scarcity · amber = manual step needed · blue = session pick required · green = open availability.

01 · BOOKED ✓
🎬 Hobbiton Movie Set Tour
Tue 5/19 · 9:20am · party of 2 (Donnie booked 2026-05-09, covers both)
✅ BOOKED by Donnie 2026-05-09 · Ref #3241276 · $260 NZD paid via Donnie GooglePay · Allston ~$130 NZD owed via Splitwise
Tour Info ↗ $260 NZD · PAID by Donnie
02 · BOOKED ✓
🕳️ Black Labyrinth · Waitomo
Tue 5/19 · 3:30pm · party of 2 (Donnie booked 2026-05-09, covers both) · 3h cave-tube float · check-in 15:00 (30min prior)
✅ BOOKED by Donnie 2026-05-09 · Ticket WTOMO-4130062-16471983 · ⚠️ Risk Disclosure form required before tour (both travelers) · Allston ~half-share owed via Splitwise
Tour Info ↗ cost on Donnie's receipt · PAID by Donnie
03 · OPEN
🍽️ Mudbrick Vineyard · Waiheke
Sun 5/17 · 11:30am lunch · 2 covers · 3-course recommended
✅ All slots 11:30am–2:30pm open · email allergies to info@mudbrick.co.nz first
Book Now ↗ ~$250 NZD ($125 × 2 for 3-course)
04 · MANUAL STEP
⛴️ SeaLink Car Ferry · Hamer St → Kennedy Point
Sun 5/17 · ~09:30 · drive-on with rental car · party of 2 + 1 car
⚠️ Widget hostile to automation · book via site OR phone +64-9-300-5900 · NOT Mātiatia (Fullers passenger-only)
Book Now ↗ ~$80 NZD vehicle surcharge + 2 pax fares
05 · OPEN
🏉 All Blacks Experience · AKL
Mon 5/18 · 2:00pm English Tour · party of 2
✅ 5+ seats available · book whenever convenient
Book Now ↗ ~$70–90 NZD (TBD on site)
06 · SESSION PICK
📚 Auckland Writers Festival
Sat 5/16 · evening session · 2 tickets · 1h each
⚠️ No 16:45 session exists · pick 4:00pm block (Amitav Ghosh / SA Cosby / NZ Gothic / Hope in the Machine / Migration & Motherhood) OR 5:30pm block (⭐ Tayari Jones featured / Bora Chung / Who Gets to Tell / Art in the Time of War)
Buy Tickets ↗ ~$25–45 NZD per person per session

Full schedule May 14–26 · click any column header for day breakdown · all times shown in LOCAL time for each city (NZST · AEST · AEDT · PDT — time-zone shifts already accounted for)

Trip Map — Per-Day View

Select a day above

Click any day column or use the nav pills to see the full day schedule.

Weather Forecast (real-time · Open-Meteo)

Loading forecast…

Forecasts auto-load on page open. Open-Meteo's 16-day window covers all trip dates 5/14–5/26 once we're within range. Fahrenheit shown.

Hotels (NZ leg BOOKED · MEL + SYD pending re-plan)

Auckland · May 16 + 17 (2 nights consecutive) · ✅ BOOKED
Rydges Auckland (Agoda) — $239.52 USD refundable until May 15
Deluxe Room w/ 2 Double Beds + City View · NonSmoke · Free WiFi + gym + express check-in · Visa 2499 (Venture X) · Booking Ref 2605101020270894778 / Guest Ref 1001374794
Corner Federal & Kingston Streets, Auckland CBD 1010 · +64 9-375 5900 · ~3-5 min walk to Auckland Art Gallery + All Blacks Experience + Sky Tower
Rydges Auckland →
Hamilton · May 18 + 19 (2 nights consecutive) · ✅ BOOKED
Camelot on Ulster (Agoda) — $208.23 USD refundable until May 16
Superior Studio · 35 m² · 1 queen + 1 single (twin beds) · 9.2 Exceptional Room Comfort · "Recommended" + "Preferred by Couples" · No payment until May 13 · Visa 2499 (Venture X) · Booking ID 1002183066 / Ref 6468182962
231 Ulster Street, Whitiora, Hamilton 3200 · ++6478342122 · Free WiFi + Parking + Express check-in · 1.6 km NW of Hamilton CBD
Camelot on Ulster (search Agoda)
Melbourne · May 20–22 (3 nights) · ⏳ pending re-plan after NZ
RE-SEARCH PENDING — refundable + <$100/night soft target
Old rec: Park Hyatt $206. New: Citadines on Bourke ~$104 best 4★ <$110, or Airbnb 1BR CBD $100–130 floor.
+1 MEL night (5/22) added when JQ 516 booked for 5/23 instead of old JQ 500 5/22
(pending)
Sydney · May 23–25 (3 nights) · ⏳ pending re-plan after NZ · Surpass cert decision
Hilton Sydney for Sat 5/23 (Surpass cert) + RE-SEARCH for Sun+Mon
488 George St · Surpass cert covers Sat free (highest-rate night); Sun + Mon <$100/night via Airbnb or budget hotel.
15 min walk Circular Quay · Vivid Sydney precinct walkable · 25 min Uber Bondi · 13 min Opal rail SYD airport
Hilton Sydney →

NZ leg = 2 of 2 hotels BOOKED ✅ on Capital One Venture X (Visa Infinite tier · 2x miles · primary CDW abroad · $250K emergency medical · 0% FTF · same card for trip consolidation). Total NZ hotel cost: $447.75 USD refundable (Rydges $239.52 cancel May 15 + Camelot $208.23 cancel May 16). MEL + SYD pending re-plan after NZ leg buttoned up — same Donnie 5/8 criteria applies (refundable + <$100/night soft target).

Restaurant Contacts

Auckland
RestaurantDayPhoneBookComing FromTravel Time
MASU by Nic Watt
Japanese robata, Federal St		Day 1 dinner+64 9 363 6278Book online · info@masu.co.nzHilton Auckland (Princes Wharf)10–15 min walk
The Hangi Shop
Maori hangi (earth-oven) · Allston rec 5/6		Day 1 lunch or dinnerSearch Google MapsWalk-upCBD5-15 min walk
Bistro Saine
French-Med, Hotel Indigo		Day 2 dinnerCall Hotel Indigo AKLBook direct via hotelDriving back from Piha Beach to CBD5–10 min from CBD parking
Auckland — Allston's Activity Picks (5/6)
ActivityURLNotes
All Blacks Experience
rugby museum + interactive · near Sky Tower		experienceallblacks.comFREE parking at SkyCity throughout May 2026 · 1-1.5h experience
Auckland War Memorial Museum
already on Sat 5/16 schedule		aucklandmuseum.com2-3 hour experience · Maori cultural performance ~11am
Devonport ferry
12-min ferry from CBD waterfront		devonport.co.nzSeaside village · candidate Sat 5/16 morning gap (10:30→14:30 window)
City views park
Mount Eden / volcanic cone		aucklandcouncil.govt.nz360° city views · golden hour photography spot
Waiheke Island (rental car re-route)
⚠ drive on Fullers car ferry instead of bus		petrinadarrah.comBetter wine-tour flexibility · also has zipline · +~$80 NZD car-ferry surcharge vs walk-on
Milford Sound (out-of-scope)
South Island · future trip		milford-sound.co.nzBus tour / cruise / drive / plane / helicopter / kayaking · captured for future South Island trip
Auckland Live events (May 15–19)
concerts/theater/comedy		aucklandlive.co.nzBrowse + pick something for Sat 5/16 evening as Writers Festival alternative
Mount Eden (volcanic cone)
196m extinct volcano · 360° views		Google MapsSunrise/sunset photography spot · Uber up + walk down
Britomart (CBD precinct)
restored Victorian + modern		Google MapsCafés, bars, boutique shopping · near Hilton waterfront + Four Points
Whale and Dolphin Safari (Hauraki Gulf)
4.5h cruise · alternative to Fullers		Google MapsCommon + bottlenose dolphins, Bryde's whales year-round; May = humpback migration starting
Viaduct Harbour (waterfront)
restaurants + yacht views		Google MapsWalking distance from Hilton + Britomart · sunset stroll candidate
Sky Tower
328m · Auckland's tallest		Google MapsObservation deck NZD $35 · SkyWalk NZD $190 · directly on Federal St near All Blacks Experience
SkyJump from Sky Tower
192m base-jump-by-wire · NZD $245		bungy.co.nz11-second 85kmh free-fall · Donnie's call if interested
Federal Street (food/entertainment)
restaurant + bar strip under Sky Tower		Google MapsMASU here (Sat 5/16 dinner) · also Depot Eatery (Al Brown), The Sugar Club, Andiamo
NZ Music Month (May citywide)
local + indie gigs all month		muzic.nzCheck calendar for Sat 5/16 evening alternatives to Writers Festival
Blues v Hurricanes (Super Rugby)
Eden Park fixture		blues.flicket.co.nzVerify date falls in 5/16 window · iconic NZ sports · pairs with All Blacks Experience
Africa Day Auckland
annual cultural celebration		africaday.co.nzVerify date · could anchor Sat 5/16 afternoon alternative
Forever Tomorrow: Chinese Art Now
Auckland Art Gallery exhibition		aucklandartgallery.comChill indoor option · adjacent to Albert Park · pairs with War Museum cultural day
NZ International Comedy Festival
multi-week May festival		comedyfestival.co.nzOverlaps trip dates · pick a Sat 5/16 evening show as Writers Festival alt
Bioluminescence Kayak Tour (Waiheke)
Canoe & Kayak Adventures · Allston rec 5/9		bookme.co.nzNight tour · doesn't fit Sun 5/17 day-trip shape unless adding an extra Waiheke night · captured for future trip or schedule shift
Odyssey Sensory Experience
immersive sensory experience · Allston rec 5/9		odysseum.co.nzIndoor immersive · candidate for Sat 5/16 morning flex slot OR Mon 5/18 AKL flex afternoon
SEA LIFE Auckland Aquarium
marine life exhibit · Allston rec 5/9		visitsealife.comIndoor · ~2h · candidate for Mon 5/18 AKL flex morning (chill pre-drive)
Piha Canyon (AWOL Adventures)
canyoning / abseiling · Allston rec 5/9		awoladventures.co.nzHalf-day (1.5h canyoning) or full-day option · 45 min drive west · would need to displace a current Sat/Mon slot to fit
Weta Workshop Auckland · Unleashed Tour
LOTR / film FX studio tour · Allston rec 5/9		wetaworkshop.com~1.5h experience · downtown Auckland · pairs thematically with Hobbiton (same Weta team) · candidate Mon 5/18 AKL flex morning
Hamilton (1 night, May 17)
RestaurantDaySourceNotes
Novotel Tainui restaurant
Hotel · CBD riverside		Day 2 dinner (Sun arrival)DefaultDefault if drive lands tired; on-site convenience post AKL→Hamilton drive
Hamilton CBD walk-upDay 3 dinner (Mon post-Black Abyss)—Walk from Novotel; Victoria St strip has multiple options
Melbourne
RestaurantSourceTypeWhy
Homm DessertSelenaDessertThai milk tea bingsu (share between 2-3)
SOI 38SelenaThaiTikTok-famous in car park · combination hotpot · usually has line
Good MeasureSelenaCoffeeMont Blanc Coffee · "literally so good"
Wongs Crispy PancakeSelenaCantoneseBeef and Cheese OR Spicy Beef
Little Rogue / Tori'sSelenaCoffeeIced Oat Matcha (Tori's also good for matcha + nice cakes)
LaTaoSelenaDessertCheese + vanilla ice cream + cheesecake sundae
IchigoSelenaCafeCute Japanese cafe
Top PaddockSelenaCafeOne of Selena's favourites · out of city
Aperitivo Bar RistoranteSelenaItalianTiramisu + crème brulee latte
Chancery LaneSelenaModern AusEntrees specifically
GimletSelenaLate nightLate night supper menu cheeseburger AUD $28
LUNESelenaBakeryCroissants + cronuts (world-class)
South Melbourne / Queen Victoria MarketsSelenaMarketFor browsing + lunch
Ishizuka ⭐
16-seat kaiseki, basement		Prior researchKaisekiEmail reservation@ishizuka.com.au · weeks ahead · Thu-Mon only
Flower DrumPrior researchCantoneseIconic Chinese · Peking duck · Chinatown · +61 3 9662 3655
HeyTea AustraliaAllston rec 5/10 (IG reel)Bubble tea / drinkMultiple AU locations (MEL + SYD) · viral chain · IG source
Sydney
RestaurantDayPhoneBookComing FromTravel Time
Sean's
North Bondi, 270 Campbell Pde — Time Out Best Special Occasion 2025		Day 8 dinner (Sat)+61 2 9365 4924Book online · sean@seansbondi.comCoogee (end of coastal walk)15 min Uber from Coogee to North Bondi
Baba's Place
⚠ Sat–Sun closes 4pm · Thu–Fri evenings only		Lunch option Day 9 (Sun)+61 423 587 481babasplace.com.auManly (ferry return) — tight window30–35 min from Circular Quay to Marrickville
Sydney — Activity Recs (non-restaurant)
ActivitySourceTypeNotes
Symbio Wildlife ParkCorey + JihoWildlifeQuokka or koala experience · 1/day · MUST book ahead · Jiho 5/6: "Please go see quokka I beg you 😭"
Featherdale Sydney Wildlife ParkAllston priorWildlifeWestern Sydney alt to Symbio
BridgeClimb Burrawa variantAllston priorAdventureIndigenous storyteller · 440ft above harbour · Eora Nation perspective
Vivid Sydney kayak (drone show)Allston priorVividGlowing kayak in centre of harbour at night · sydneyharbourkayaks.rezdy.com
Bondi-Coogee Coastal WalkAllston priorOutdoor5km · Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, Icebergs ocean pool
Royal Botanic Garden + Mrs MacquarieAllston priorOutdoorBest Opera House + Bridge frame from Mrs Macquarie's Chair
Humpback whale migration (May start)Inbox noteWildlife40,000 whales migrate up coast May+ · check whale tours

⭐ Ishizuka has only 16 seats — book by email immediately. Sean's is busy Saturdays — book at least 5–7 days ahead.

Practical Info

Currency Exchange (May 3 2026)
USD → AUD1.39
$100 USD= $139 AUD
USD → NZD1.6949
$100 USD= $169.49 NZD

Cash per person: NZD $100–120 (~$70 USD) for 3 AKL days. AUD $150 (~$108 USD) for 7 AU days. Both countries are very cashless — this covers markets, tips, and cash-only spots.

ATM tip: Withdraw NZD at AKL airport on arrival (Day 1). Withdraw AUD at MEL airport on Day 5. Better rates than currency exchange counters.

Time Zones & Date Line
SFO ↔ AKL+19-20h
AKL ↔ MEL+2h (NZST ahead)
SYD ↔ SFO+17h (16-18 w/DST)

SFO → AKL: arrive 2 calendar days after departure (cross dateline westward).

SYD → SFO (QF 73): dep 21:25 → arr 17:45 SAME calendar day (gain a day eastbound).

When SYD = Mon 9am, SFO = Sun 4pm.

Credit Cards & Apple Pay
  • Visa / Mastercard — universally accepted in both countries
  • Apple Pay — fully supported at all modern terminals (tap-to-pay everywhere)
  • Amex — good at hotels + restaurants; less common at small shops
  • Capital One / Chase Sapphire — no foreign transaction fees ✓ use for everything
  • Amex cards — hotels + restaurants for bonus points (4x MR on dining)
  • No-FTF cards — Capital One Venture, Chase Sapphire Preferred
eSIM — Airalo

Best: Oceania Regional Plan — covers both NZ + AUS in one eSIM, no switching between countries.

NZ-only backup: 15-day 10GB for $23.50 USD (Spark network — best NZ coverage).

Each person needs their own eSIM. Buy via Airalo iOS app. Activate before May 14.

Both Allston + Donnie purchase independently.

Get eSIM on Airalo →
Getting Around
  • Auckland: Uber (strong CBD coverage). YourRide optional for price comparison.
  • Melbourne: Uber + DiDi + Bolt. Free CBD trams (Zone 1, no tap needed). Myki card for outer suburbs.
  • Sydney: Uber + DiDi + Bolt. Opal card for trains/ferries (airport rail 13 min).
  • Days 2-4 (NZ rural): Donnie rents car + IDP. Self-drive AKL → Hamilton → Waitomo → Hobbiton → AKL. ~6h total drive over 3 days.
  • Day 6 — Phillip Island + Kennett River: Self-drive from MEL. ~1.25h east to Phillip Island, then ~3h Great Ocean Rd to Kennett River.
  • Day 10 — Symbio: Drive south from SYD ~45min (or train + bus combo).
⚠ Left-Side Driving (NZ + AU)

Both NZ and Australia drive on the LEFT side of the road — like Japan, UK, Ireland. Steering wheel is on the front-right (driver sits where the US passenger normally sits). Pedals are still in the same order. Donnie is the rental driver — confirm he has the International Driver's License + has practiced or is comfortable.

  • Roundabouts go clockwise — yield to traffic from your right (opposite of US).
  • Right turns cross oncoming traffic — the "harder" turn, opposite of US. Use the right-turn arrow lane.
  • Lane drift is the most common rental incident — drivers tend to drift left when zoning out. Stay focused first 30 min + on long highway stretches.
  • Acclimation block: first 60 min after Hertz pickup Sat 5/16 ~10:00 is low-traffic suburban driving — don't schedule activities before 11:00.
  • Tolls: Northern Gateway (SH1 north of AKL) is electronic-only, but the AKL→Hamilton route (SH1 south) is toll-free.
  • Hertz NZ caveats: +2.53% credit card surcharge (incl GST) on the booking. Diesel/EV adds $0.0874/km Road User Charge — pick a gas Compact SUV (e.g. Kia Seltos petrol) to avoid. Provide flight number UA 917 at pickup or vehicle gets held at domestic terminal. NZ requires foreign license + IDP (Donnie acquiring).
Capital One Venture X — Auto Rental CDW

Allston's Venture X covers rental car damage in NZ + AU as primary insurance (verified from policy guide 2026-05-06). Activates only when (1) entire rental transaction is paid on Venture X AND (2) you decline Hertz's counter CDW/LDW upsell.

  • ✅ Covered: theft + collision damage to your rental, up to vehicles with MSRP-when-new ≤ $75K (Compact SUV well under). Loss-of-use, admin fees, towing.
  • ❌ NOT covered: damage to other drivers' cars or injury (third-party liability), personal belongings, off-road damage, driver-impairment damage. Country exclusions: Israel, Jamaica, Rep of Ireland, Northern Ireland — NZ + AU not excluded.
  • ⚠️ Buy Hertz Liability Insurance Supplement (~$15-20 NZD/day) for the 4-day rental — Cap One CDW does not cover damage you do to other vehicles. ~$60-80 total. Decline CDW + accept LIS.
  • If anything happens: call Cap One Benefit Administrator immediately at 1-800-825-4062 (US) / 1-804-965-8071 (collect from NZ). File at eclaimsline.com. Report within 45 days; claim form within 90 days.
  • Before leaving the rental lot: walk around the car and photograph any existing damage to avoid being charged at return.

Outstanding Decisions

Open questions to confirm before booking. Tier order: events → flights → hotels → restaurants. Allston + Donnie align here, then book the queue below.

Amber = blocking (someone else gates this) Blue = active decision (pick one) Green = verification / pre-trip checklist
🚗 Donnie — Driving Prep
  • ⏳ International Driver's Permit not yet received (5/8) — AAA in person if not delivered by 5/13
  • ✅ Comfortable with left-side driving (RHD car) — confirmed 5/8
  • ✅ Black Labyrinth (3h) chosen over Black Abyss (5h) — confirmed 5/8
🚙 Rental Car — Donnie books (changed 5/8)
  • Hertz President's Circle Compact SUV (Kia Seltos or similar): $161 USD + 2.53% NZ CC fee ≈ $165
  • AKL Sat 5/16 10:00 → AKL Wed 5/20 11:00 (4 days)
  • Donnie has Capital One Venture X too → same President's Circle deal applies for him · decline counter CDW · accept LIS (~$15-20 NZD/day)
  • hertz.co.nz
🏨 AKL Hotel — ✅ BOOKED Rydges Auckland (Agoda)
  • ✅ 2 consecutive nights Sat 5/16 + Sun 5/17 (5/9 phone-call: Tue 5/19 dropped from AKL → Hamilton)
  • $119.76/night × 2 = $239.52 USD refundable · cancel-free until May 15, 2026
  • Booking Ref 1001374794 · Visa 2499 · Deluxe Twin Beds + City View · Free WiFi + gym + express check-in
  • Corner Federal & Kingston Streets, Auckland CBD 1010 · +64 9-375 5900
⛴️ Sun 5/17 — Waiheke DRIVE-ON SeaLink (LOCKED 5/11)
  • ✅ SeaLink car ferry drive-on · Hamer St → Kennedy Point 09:30 → return 17:30 (~45min each way · +~$80 NZD vehicle surcharge) (2026-05-12 correction: Kennedy Point, not Mātiatia — Mātiatia is Fullers passenger-only)
  • 📸 Mudbrick Vineyard lunch + tasting 11:30–13:30 (reservation required · 2026-05-12: 11:00 doesn't exist; 11:30 = earliest lunch slot) · Onetangi Beach 13:30–15:00 · Oneroa village 15:00–16:30
  • Optional flex 16:30–17:30: EcoZip Adventures (zipline ~2h, advance booking) OR Stony Batter Historic Reserve (WW2 tunnels east end)
  • Full Waiheke flexibility with rental car (Donnie's stated preference) · sleep Rydges N2 after
☀️ Sat 5/16 morning — Forever Tomorrow TBD (afternoon LOCKED)
  • Land 07:10 together on UA 917 (Donnie confirmed same flight 5/11 — no separate meet-up) · customs + bag claim ~07:00–08:30 · Hertz pickup 09:00 · drive CBD 09:30–10:30
  • Morning slot 10:30–12:30 open — Forever Tomorrow: Chinese Art Now (Auckland Art Gallery) is leading candidate per Donnie's 5/8 pick · confirm or cut
  • ✅ Auckland War Memorial Museum 14:30–16:30 (Haka) · ⚠️ Writers Festival — pick session (2026-05-12: 16:45 doesn't exist — 4:00pm block OR 5:30pm block ⭐ Tayari Jones featured) · sleep Rydges N1
  • All Blacks Experience needs new home (was Tue; Tue is now Hamilton). Candidate: Wed 5/20 09:30 squeeze before flight, OR cut.
🏨 Hamilton Hotel — ✅ BOOKED Camelot on Ulster (Agoda)
  • ✅ 2 consecutive nights Mon 5/18 + Tue 5/19 · Superior Studio · 35 m² · 1 queen + 1 single (twin beds requested)
  • $208.23 USD all-in ($90.54/night base + $27.16 tax) · refundable until May 16, 2026 · No payment until May 13, 2026
  • Booking ID 1002183066 · Ref 6468182962 · Visa 2499 (Venture X) · 9.2 Exceptional Room Comfort · "Recommended" + "Preferred by Couples"
  • 231 Ulster Street, Whitiora, Hamilton 3200 · ++6478342122 · Free WiFi + Parking + Express check-in
🎭 Sat 5/16 evening — Writers Festival (session pick pending 5/12)
  • ⚠️ 2026-05-12 VERIFIED: no 16:45 session exists · festival runs 1h sessions on hour/half-hour
  • Pick 4:00–5:00pm block: Amitav Ghosh / SA Cosby / NZ Gothic / Hope in the Machine / Migration & Motherhood
  • OR 5:30–6:30pm block: ⭐ Tayari Jones (featured) / Bora Chung / Who Gets to Tell the Story / Art in the Time of War
  • Tickets via Ticketmaster NZ. Backup if sold out: NZ International Comedy Festival show (same window)
🏨 MEL Hotel — re-search 5/8 (3 nights, 5/20–5/22)
  • Criteria changed: refundable + <$100 USD/night soft target (was Park Hyatt $206)
  • 3 nights: Wed 5/20 + Thu 5/21 + Fri 5/22 (was 2 nights — JQ 516 5/23 shifted MEL→SYD)
  • Realistic at <$100: Airbnb 1BR CBD ($100–130 floor); Citadines on Bourke ~$104
🇦🇺 SYD plan Sat–Mon 5/23–5/25 (refined 5/8)
  • ⭐ Vivid Kayak Tour Sat 5/23 evening — Donnie's pick over crowded boardwalks; paddle harbor center in glowing kayak (advance booking)
  • ⭐ BridgeClimb Burrawa Sun 5/24 morning — Indigenous storyteller (Eora Nation), 440 ft above water (advance booking)
  • Bondi → Coogee coastal walk Sun 5/24 afternoon — free, ~6km
  • Symbio Wildlife Park Mon 5/25 — quokka/koala paid experience, only 1 slot/day (advance booking) · alt: Featherdale
  • Whale-watching cruise option: May = 40K humpbacks Antarctica → AU coast
✅ Allston — pre-trip verifications
  • ✅ Capital One Venture X primary CDW abroad — verified prior session; Donnie aware via Google Doc
  • ⏳ Apply Hilton Surpass weekend night cert to Sat 5/23 SYD (pending Hilton Sydney booking decision)
  • ⏳ Convert GCal events from PST → NZST (NZ events) / AEST (AU events) — confirmed PST 5/8
  • ⏳ Sync donnie-reference.md back to Google Doc once hotels finalize

Booking Priority Queue

✓ Your checkboxes persist on this device (localStorage).

Leave Feedback

See something to update — wrong time, missing activity, better restaurant, broken link? Click below to open a pre-filled GitHub Issue. Allston reads + implements between sessions; Donnie can comment on the same issue to add more notes. Both Allston + Donnie use the same loop.

Open GitHub Issue

Loop: you submit → Claude pulls via gh issue list → implements → pushes update → GitHub Pages auto-deploys → closes issue. Both Allston and Donnie can comment on the same issue.