{"id":1108,"date":"2026-02-24T21:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/?p=1108"},"modified":"2026-04-02T20:23:29","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T02:23:29","slug":"2026-day-33-christchurch-to-auckland-to-hahei","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sjs.sputs.com\/wordpress\/2026\/02\/24\/2026-day-33-christchurch-to-auckland-to-hahei\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Day 33 Christchurch to Auckland to Hahei"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

February 24, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Map: Flight Day 33<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We got up at 5:30 AM to get ready for our morning flight to Auckland. We had one small hiccup in finding the place to return the rental car, since it was an after hours return and I did not see in the instructions that it would be in a different place. But we still had plenty of time before our flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going through security took more time than what we were used to. I missed being able to use our TSA precheck. I had to take off my hiking boots, and both of our backpacks ended up getting manually inspected. I think that was due to all of the electronics we had jammed inside. Otherwise the rest of the check in was uneventful, and our flight left on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sitting on the right side of the plane, we had good views of the Akaroa area, central mountains, and the Queen Charlotte Sound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mountains north of Christchurch, most likely the northern Southern Alps or the Kaikoura Range<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Queen Charlotte Sound<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the North Island we could see Mount Tongariro and Lake Taupo in the distance. The sun was at a bad angle overhead, making my plane pictures look washed out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lake Taupo on the left and Mount Tongariro with some snow on the right<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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