IT’S ALWAYS A G’DAY
It’s Nonstop To New Zealand & Australia
How do you know that the flight you’re on is something special? The water cannon greeting as the brand-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner pulls into the gate at JFK is a distinct clue; then the giant kangaroo character named Matilda greeting you as you leave baggage claim amid a huge fanfare of music, cheering and general excitement cements the feeling.
All that happened recently, as Qantas launched flight QF3, a direct flight with service beginning in Sydney, Australia, then hopping over to Auckland, New Zealand, with a two-hour layover to add passengers, and then going nonstop from there to JFK. Flight QF4 does the reverse from JFK.
A DREAM FLIGHT
These flights are a real game changer, as Qantas CEO Alan Joyce explains. “We’ve always been an airline that’s at the forefront of very long distances, pushing technology and aircraft and developing new destinations. And we’re now doing New York in a unique way,” Joyce says. “With these super-efficient aircraft, we can fly routes now that we never thought were viable.
Our flight took 15 hours of an estimated 16, with that long trip eased by traveling in business class, where famed Australian chef Neil Perry created menus that embrace both Aussie and New York tastes (ranging from snapper to spaghetti and meatballs) and the lie-flat beds helped make the trip pass surprisingly quickly and comfortably. There are 42 seats in that class, 28 in premium economy and 166 in economy on the brand-new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, with each seat designed to give travelers a chance to rest along the way, as well as Perry’s excellent meals along the way.
Travelers from New York can choose to stop in Auckland and spend time seeing New Zealand’s spectacular landscapes on both the North and South Islands, or to continue to Sydney, where Australia’s magical allure awaits. Both places deserve as much time as you can give them, so perhaps taking the Qantas long-haul JFK-AKL-SYD flight might be something you’ll need to do more than once to get the full experience of both the wonderful countries it services. This summer the flights go three times a week; as of October, they will increase to four flights per week.
For more information about the new Quantas
nonstop flight, visit quantas.com
AUCKLAND
STAY In the city, the waterfront Park Hyatt Hotel offers great views of this harbor city. To the south, we love The Farm at Cape Kidnappers in the Hawke’s Bay, where fantastic wineries and incredible vistas await at the very bottom of the North Island.
DINE Join Māori hosts for a traditional hāngi (food cooked in a ground pit) in Rotorua at Te Pā Tū, the award-winning dining and indigenous cultural experience on the North Island.
SEE Go north of Auckland to Paihia and the lovely Bay of Islands, where you can take a day cruise out and swim with wild dolphins, an unparalleled New Zealand experience.
SYDNEY
STAY The luxurious InterContinental Sydney is situated right at Circular Quay, just steps from the Sydney Opera House and featuring spectacular views of the Chain Bridge and the harbor.
DINE For the best seafood in the city, visit Chef Neil Perry’s Margaret Restaurant in Double Bay and don’t miss his spicy Korean style bigeye tuna. It’s a sensory wonder.
SEE Visit in June to see Vivid Sydney, when the whole city magically lights up, including the outer shells of the Opera House and the whole of the Botanical Garden.
