AFF Gathering #5 [CBR Oct 7-9], Ideas

[admin]

After the success of our Brisbane Gathering last week-end, its now time to start planning next year's bash.

To get things rolling, please vote for these options which are being mentioned.

Change to poll: As suggested by QF009, I have now seperated Auckland and Wellington from a single option (Auckland/Wellington) to two independent alternatives. If it becomes a close thing between Auckland and Wellington, will need to make some adjustments


[EDIT] Agenda/Plan by HVR

---

Friday dinner as previously advised at Baber’s in Canberra Centre. It is a quick walk from Crown Plaza.

For Saturday dinner I have selected Central Café in Queanbeyan commencing at 6.30pm. If you don’t know Queanbeyan is the town that abuts the Canberra border. It is actually closer to CBR AP than many Canberra suburbs. You flew over it when you came here.

Central Café is a classic country restaurant where the meals are big, good quality and not expensive. The menu is available through the link. Our after dinner speaker has been arranged and is looking forward to telling us about their role. Bill splitting has been fine previously and they do take Amex.

Naturally every body who wants shall be driven to and from Central Café. Upon our return to Canberra there are several locations where kick on for the evening if that is your want.

The bus:
I shall collect it on Saturday morning and after driving via CBR AP to pick up an AFFer or two shall meet you at your hotels (i.e. Crowne Plaza 9.30am and then Diamont Hotel) and then head off to see the sights.

Now the weather here is very unpredictable so I shall finalise the itinerary when I know the forecast but I intend to cover the following places over the two days.

Royal Mint, Mt Ainslie, War Memorial/National Museum, Mt Stromlo, tour around Canberra region pointing out some sights, the Carillion should ring a bell for a few of you. Am happy to drop off and pick up later if you want. And of course Old Parliament House and Parliament House, the National Gallery and the High Court are nearby as is Lake Burley Griffith.

Floriade is a must and a good place to visit in the morning while you’re waiting for me to turn up.

I shall drop people off at the airport from about 3.00pm Sunday and am happy to do a few runs if required. The cost of the bus shall be $12.50 per day or $25 for both days. I am not making money off this, just covering costs. [/EDIT]

---

 

[oz_mark]

I am not over-fussed on where it occurs, but will think about it and then vote.

One thing that I think would be worth getting is some industry participation, which I think worked well at the first gathering. Less well in Sydney due to our table placement and a rather loud band! That may be a little more difficult to arrange if the gathering is overseas, but I thought I'd toss the idea in the ring!

 

[Keith009]

They all have their pros and cons. I've not voted yet as I can't seem to make up my mind. oz_mark made a great point re industry participation - might be best to have a domestic Gathering to increase the chances of hosting industry guests. Accessibility and costs would also be significant factors for the majority of AFFers.

Another important issue to consider is whether there will be a critical mass of locals in any given locale - this has been especially useful with on-the-ground knowledge and organisation, and achieving good numbers.

Out of the NZ locales, AKL would seem the best compromise in terms of things to do, and ease/cost of getting to. Domestically, CBR or HBA are good.

 

[JohnK]

I think I will sit on the fence for now and see how the voting goes before choosing a destination.

Is there anyway in viewing Poll results before voting and not forfeiting your right to vote?

 

[oz_mark]

Click on View Poll Results should let you see what people are voting on.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Thanks admin for starting the poll, it was starting to clutter up the AFF # 4 thread, this discussion about where to next.

I am hoping the Canberrians can vote.

But like QF009 mentioned you need some people on the ground who can suggest some good spots.

 

[notzac]

Per the Gathering #4 thread, I'd prefer AKL if we go international and HBA if we stay domestic.

 

[haydensydney]

As mentioned in the other thread, i'm extremely keen on Queenstown: it has the views, great tourist facilities and of course the great exchange rate.

AKL is also good, but i've been there so many times so it's starting to get a little stale.

WLG is a poor option from a travelling perspective (QF are the only carriers with J and even then... ghetto... oh how I lament NZ J!). I find the restaurants/accom/facilities in WLG aren't the best also in comparison to ZQN or AKL.

 

[Alanslegal]

NZ seems like the place. Quite a few of us can have SYD/MEL FLounge meetups prior to the flights too, guesting a few non-WP etc.

 

[samh004]

Ohhh it’s such a hard choice

Queenstown is a great place. I’m there every year and know the bars and restaurants, plus even know a few people, so could help out in that regard, it’s just the whole flight issue there, though accommodation is taken care of for me.

Auckland makes more sense as I can use LAN to get there and build up my SC’s, plus there’s probably a bigger range of hotels and such.

Hobart sounds like it could be good fun, the last time I was there was Christmas 2007.

Canberra, likewise, sounds interesting and I’ve never been. Though I hear hotels aren’t cheap.

One thing to bear in mind if this event happens at roughly the same time again, the Rugby World Cup 2011 is on from 9 September – 23 October in New Zealand. This means the final is likely to be on around the same time we’re there, in Auckland, and make things incredibly busy.

So I’m going to vote for Queenstown as the international destination, and Canberra as the domestic destination, but realise I can’t vote for two in the poll.

 

[Ewing]

CBR will obviously be the cheapest option for me, but I wouldn't be able to travel anywhere (and may even need guesting into the J lounge for goodbyes)

There are a wide assortment of hotels, and due to the heavy business/political traffic that comes into CBR - hotels are the cheapest on the weekend - many hotels that are >$300 during the week are as little as $150 on the weekend.

We have a Park Hyatt, Crowne Plaza for you PC/IHG members, a Novotel, a couple of boutique hotels (eg: Diamant) and some others. There's also a few apartment hotels.

There's also plenty of bars and restaurants. I have read that we have the highest number of restaurants per capita. I have sampled many of them

The airport is close to the city, and a return bus trip will set you back about $15. Taxi is about $25 each way.

I'm sure there's touristy things that could be done for a day activity. I'll have to keep an eye out for some as I don't really do touristy things here (I was discussing this very topic with Mal and anat0l on the day activity)

CBR will have the newest airport terminal and lounges by the time of the gathering.

No matter what happens - if the gathering is held here - it must not be scheduled when parliament is sitting - otherwise people will be looking at expensive hotels along with flexible fares to get here (and J is often sold out).

So, out of the options I'd vote for Hobart (or even Canberra) for a domestic gathering, or Queenstown for a NZ gathering.

Why?

- Hobart; never been.
- Canberra; a chance for me to be a tourist in my own city.
- Queenstown; always wanted to go and could be used to start the gathering in the F lounge
- Darwin; excluded because of OzFest.
- Nothing against Wellington (as long as the weather is nice) or Auckland; but I'd prefer Queenstown.

 

[docjames]

To choose destination, I'd have thought dates play such a huge part of it, you need to have some proposed dates. For reasoning mostly of clashes with major events and weather.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

There is a FT NZ *Alliance "do" in a coupel of months which some locals here are going to as well. Queenstown was wiped from that itinerary because it's a pain.

CBR gets my vote because it's got more flight options (J), and is generally cheap to stay on weekends - whereas hobart is not.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

... *waits for someone from QF to jump on and suggest Perth so we all pay more in flights*

 

[Princess Fiona]

AFF Gathering #5, Ideas

... *waits for someone from QF to jump on and suggest Perth so we all pay more in flights*

Ideal opportunity for a JASA and to try out NGCI

 

[tuapekastar]

TBH, at first glance I'd be happy to go to any of those locations for an AFF do (with the possible exception of DRW if I make it to OzFest), so I haven't made a selection yet.

It was mentioned in the AFF#4 thread that NZ may put a few people off (I presume because of potential time and cost). This may be the case for some, but I think AKL is basically doable (at least from the East Coast), in the same timeframe as I take for AFF gatherings now (i.e. I usually take Friday off - I appreciate others may not), and fares are not unreasonable if you plan (there are opportunities for cheap LAN J fares as pointed out, and maybe EK).

Fly to AKL on Friday, home Sunday arvo/evening. WLG or ZQN (or even CHC) may be a little more logistically challenging, but not undoable. I think ZQN was dropped from the upcoming FT do because it was a pain (as stated), but I know there is a big *A annual meeting there on that day which may well have contributed to that pain.

The weather was mentioned and I think we'll be reasonably right if we keep it around this time of year (though I will usually have a potential clash in October )

Now that was a long-winded way to say "I don't know" to the poll question.

 

[notzac]

I don't see AKL as costing any more than any other east coast city - the flight may cost ~10-20% more, but then you save on accommodation and eating/drinking expenses. Would probably round out to the same cost all up.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I think I will sit on the fence for now and see how the voting goes before choosing a destination.

Is there anyway in viewing Poll results before voting and not forfeiting your right to vote?

vote early vote often!!!!!

 

[serfty]

...
Now that was a long-winded way to say "I don't know" to the poll question.

dunno!

 

[Travel Guru]

They all have their pros and cons. I've not voted yet as I can't seem to make up my mind. oz_mark made a great point re industry participation - might be best to have a domestic Gathering to increase the chances of hosting industry guests. Accessibility and costs would also be significant factors for the majority of AFFers.

Do I count as an industry guest Keith? :mrgreen::mrgreen:


But seriously, apologies for not making it up to Brisbane last weekend for the gathering, I had some pressing family issues I had to attend too.

Look forward to meeting you all soon.

I'm leaning towards ZQN...it is the adventure sports capital of the world afterall.

TG