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London, United Kingdom
Leave Balham 16:30,
Take taxi to Heathrow.
Flight departure at 20:30 (12 hr flight).
Extra info:
Taxi booked on booking.com
Booking reference: 316083053
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Seoul, South Korea
1st Oct - Day 1:
Take AREX Express to city centre.
Explore Ikseon-dong Hanok Alley
Stroll Cheonggyecheon Stream+
2nd Oct - Day 2:
Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace
National folk museum
Walk to Bukchon Hanok Village
Blue bottle coffee & knot doughnuts
Wangbijip bbq
3rd Oct - Day 3:
Explore Hongdae – vintage shops, music
Gwangjang market
Dinner at AFF
Dongdaemun Gate + design plaza
4th Oct - Day 4:
Brunch with Eugene at Tartine 10:30.
Seoul forest
Seongsu
COEX Mall (Starfield Library, Bongeunsa)
Eat in the COEX food court
Seoul plaza 7pm autumn festival
5th Oct - Day 5
Checkout, leave bags 10.30.
Brunch.
Myeongdong shopping.
Seoul tower plaza.
Back to hotel at 3pm.
Jeonju Yuhalmeoni Bibimbap
Eat at Gwangjang Market – try pajeon, mayak kimbap, tteokbokki
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Jeju Island, South Korea
5th Oct: Day 1
Arrive Jeju at 19:45.
Pick up rental car from Lotte.
Drive to Seogwipo (1 hr 10 min)
Evening: Visit Seogwipo Olle Market for street food
6th Oct: Day 2
Morning: Cheonjeyeon Falls or Jeongbang falls and Yeomiji Botanical Garden
Afternoon: Seongsan Ilchulbong / Sunrise Peak - Short hike (~20–30 min) for panoramic views
Evening: Dinner in Seogwipo
7th Oct: Day 3
Morning: Manjanggul Lava Tube Cave
Afternoon: Healing forest or sex museum?
8th Oct: Day 4
Drive to airport for flight at 12:55
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Tokyo, Japan
8th Oct - Day 1:
Narita Express to Shibuya (~1hr 30).
Check in and explore shibuya crossing.
Dinner at Gonpacho.
9th Oct - Day 2
Brunch at Ten Cups.
Visit MORI Art Museum / Roppongi Hills.
12:30 Tea ceremony and lunch with Mina’s mum in Roppongi.
Walk to Cat Street. Stroll Omotesando → Yoyogi Park → Meiji Shrine.
Takeshita Street for boutiques.
Head back towards Shibuya.
Dinner at Uoshin or Torikizoku,
10th Oct - Day 3:
Take Ginza line to Asakusa - visit Sensoji Temple & Nakamise Shopping Street
Travel to Ueno, walk to Kappabashi Kitchen Street (ceramics, knives). Pop into Ameyoko Market.
3pm sky tower in shibuya
Don Quixote and golf shop
Ramen at Afuri or Harajuku Gyozarou (em and Jim suggestion)
Or
Izikaya - Jomon or Kaikaya by the Sea.
Drinks at Golden Gai (Shinjuku)
Uniqlo flagship
11 Oct - Day 4 (morning of Osaka)
Explore Daikanyama
Cocktails:
SG Club or Bellwood.
Or smart is park Hyatt.
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Osaka, Japan
11 Oct - Day 1:
Take Shinkansen to Osaka at 9:00.
Arrive. Red Midosuji line to Honmachi.
10 min walk and drop bags at hostel.
Tube line to Yumeshima. Visit Expo.
Explore Shinsaibashi-suji arcade or 9-floor game arcade (e.g. Round1 Stadium).
Dinner at Kushikatsu Daruma (skewers) or Tom’s place (Sushi-ya Kotobuki Tsukasa - Tenma)
Cocktail at Canes & Tales or Bible Club.
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Matsumoto, Japan
12th Oct:
Take Shinkansen to Matsumoto. Arrive 14:03.
Explore Matsumoto castle.
Taxi to Airbnb in Azumino from 3pm
Relax!
Info:
Airbnb is 30 minutes from Matsumoto Station by taxi (meter fare is about 5,000 to 6,000 yen).
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Kamikocho, Japan
13th Oct - Day 1:
Taxi from Airbnb to Matsumoto at 9:30.
Train: Matsumoto to Shinshimashima Station (10:15-10:45). Bus from Shinshimashima Station to Kamikochi (10:50-11:55). Bus tickets purchased on email.
11:55 arrive. Walk the full loop to Myojin Pond (~2 hrs)
Brekkie & Dinner included at lodge.
14th Oct:
Hikes and chill!
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Takayama, Japan
15th Oct:
Bus via Hirayu Onsen to Takayama (~1.5 hrs). Book one month in advance.
Check into stay (18 min walk from bus terminal).
Visit old town, Hida Folk Village
Dinner – try Hida beef or handmade soba
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Kanazawa, Japan
16th Oct - Day 1:
Arrive 13:35 & check into Airbnb
Explore Higashi Chaya District
Shima tea house (geisha house)
Dinner & bar Caelum
17th Oct - Day 2: Kenrokuen Garden Kanazawa castle park
Lunch at Omicho market
Nagamachi Samurai
District Shopping in Korinbo area
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Kyoto, Japan
Oct 19th - Day 1
Wander Gion district (close 8). Via Shijo Avenue
Walk to Yasaka Shrine.
Dinner at ramen house.
Oct 20th - Day 2
Train to Nara (~40 mins). Visit Todai-ji, Nara Park, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
Return to Kyoto.
Philosopher’s Path, Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) and Honen-in.
Drinks in Pontocho Alley (bar mum liked).
Taco and gyoza.
Oct 21st - Day 3
Explore Nishiki Market for artisanal snacks.
Nijo castle
Travel to kurashiki.
Optional (can’t do) or swap nara for this
Visit Kiyomizudera Temple and explore the streets of Higashiyama (Sannenzaka, Ninenzaka).
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Kurashiki, Japan
21st Oct - Day 1
Travel to Kurashiki 1hr 30 ( Kyoto to Okayama, Okayama to Kurashiki)
Check in at 16:00 but can drop bags before and explore.
22nd Oct - Day 2
Travel to Naoshima. Taxi to chayamachi station then train to UNO. Explore at islands!
Possible things to do:
Stroll the Bikan Historical Quarter — willow‐lined canals, white-walled kura (warehouses), old merchant houses.
Visit the Ohara Museum of Art — Japan’s first Western art museum, with both Western & Japanese works.
Walk Honmachi-dori street — historic merchant street full of shops & traditional architecture.
Boat ride along the canal in Bikan district — peaceful views and a different perspective.
Kurashiki Ivy Square — restored red-brick cotton mill buildings, shops, cafés, nice atmosphere.
Jeans Street (Kojima district) — explore Kurashiki’s denim history, try “denim” ice cream, browse denim shops.
Browse the local crafts, pottery (especially Bizen-yaki) & souvenirs in boutiques in the old warehouses.
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Tokyo, Japan
23rd Oct:
Travel to Tokyo on bullet train. 12:36 to Okayama. Change onto 12:58 to Tokyo.
Travel to Tokyo airport
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Auckland, New Zealand
24th Oct- Day 1:
Arrive from Tokyo (~10:30am).
Pick up car rental from airport (booking.com)
Check in (not free parking til 4pm)
Viaduct walk
Explore Wynyard Quarter
25th Oct - Day 2
Brunch at Honey Bones, browse Ponsonby. Parnell farmers market.
Mt Eden lookout + stroll Auckland Domain
Deadshot cocktails (ponsonby)
Yeboah restaurant?
26th Oct - Day 3
Morning: 10am tour to Hobbiton
Drive to bay oval (1 hour)
14:00 England Cricket at Bay Oval (tickets in Ben’s Apple wallet)
Drive back (2.5 hours)
First mates laugh last dinner
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Christchurch, New Zealand
27th October:
Drop car off at airport.
Fly to Christchurch. Arrive 14:25.
Pick up campervan at 15:00.
Details on camper pick up:
Arriving by plane? When you're ready for pickup from the airport, give us a call at +64 9 374 4360 and press 1 to arrange our airport shuttle service between 8:30 AM and half an hour before 4:00 PM to request a FREE shuttle bus during branch hours.
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Kaikōura, New Zealand
Day 1 - 27th Oct:
* The Pier Hotel – top pick for dinner, waterfront, recently renovated.
Day 2 - 28th Oct:
* Coopers Catch for lunch – fish & chips on the beach.
* Kaikōura Peninsula Walkway – stunning coastal trail, chance to see seal pups (2hr)
* Water Tower Lookout – 8pm sunset view
* Cook
Day 3 - 29th Oct
* Dolphin Swim 8.30am
No:
* Sunset Kayak Tour – great chance to spot marine life from the water.
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Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
29th October - Day 1
Long drive via SH1 + SH8 (~5.5 hrs). Stop in Fairlie for Bakehouse pies
Arrive Tekapo. Lake Edge Holiday Park.
Chill by Lake, Church of Good Shepherd
30th October - Day 2
Check out campsite at 10am
Drive to start of Hike Mt John Summit
Relax at Tekapo Springs
NEED TO BOOK STAY
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Kurow, New Zealand
Day 1 - 31st Oct:
Check out at 10am
Golf / Visit Burkes pass (quirky shops)
Drive to Omarama Clay Cliffs
River T Wine tasting
Arrive at Valley view glamping. Check in from 15:00.
Requested dinner too
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Wānaka, New Zealand
Day 1 - 1st Nov:
Check out at 11:00. Drive to Wanaka.
Day 2 - 2nd Nov
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Te Anau, New Zealand
4th Nov
Trip to Milford sounds booked, 8am
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Queenstown, New Zealand
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Auckland Airport, New Zealand
Short 2-3 hour layover in the airport!
Flight to Rarotonga (cross over 24 hour date line so we leave on 7th but arrive on 6th!)
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Rarotonga, Cook Islands
We actually arrive on 6th at 8:10pm because we cross the international date line.
Stay at Moana Sands Lagoon Resort. Organise transport with them! $30 pp.
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Aitutaki, Cook Islands
7th November - Day 1
Taxi to Rarotonga airport. Flight at 10:30.
Arrive Aitutaki 11:20.
Complementary transfer to hotel.
Relax!
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Rarotonga, Cook Islands
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Sydney Airport, Australia
Arrive into airport at 12:35.
Get internal flight to port Douglas at
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Port Douglas, Australia
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Daintree Rainforest, Australia
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Sydney, Australia
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Heathrow Terminal 4, United Kingdom