DAY One

Our day started at 3.15 to toilet dogs etc in order to leave for the airport at 4am. Duly installed in Roger Van H’s ute, we were off! (Lyn, Denyse and Fiona). On the way to Pukekohe we rounded a corner to find a car rolled on the road with one wheel still spinning. Luckily the driver was ok and the police duly arrived so we could carry on our merry way.
By this time Deb, Pete, Karen and Jono had arrived at Air NZ Cargo courtesy of Alan Rohde. The van Huenen courtesy van was only 15 minutes late and the dog check in proceeded.

So that done, we checked ourselves in with Denyse and Lyn being whisked away via a priority check-in (we think it was because they were worried Lyn might get lost).

The flight was uneventful and eventually we made our way through immigration. Small hint – clean your agility shoes before you take them or the Aussie customs guys will take their time doing it for you!!!

We were pleased to know the procedure to clear the dogs as not knowing that would have made for a very very long day………. As it was, Karen and Fiona walked miles to customs and AQIS finally resorting to a taxi for the last leg back to Air Aus Express to collect the dogs. Meanwhile the others collected the rental vehicles and dog trailer
(which is awesome).

First stop was a run at Pedigree Park for the dogs and finally to the motel. On a visit to the local vet we were advised not to run/swim the dogs at the beach because of the sharks in the water and the dead puffer fish washed up occasionally. Oh joy!!

Still we’re here and so are the dogs and all in one piece………..

The dog trailer we have hired for the dogs is HUGE!!!! It has five bays, each big enough for two Tana’s. The Sayers schnauzers have so much room in it there is room for Lyn to sleep in there too.