Ideas for AFF Gathering #7

[oz_mark]

The odd other member may have been to all 6.

Who could that possibly be?

 

[anat0l]

/Left field/
In the tradition of LA status run etc, would Akl/Chc/Wel be an option?

Chc could certainly use more visitors....

It's an interesting idea that has been floated before. The main resistance, I believe, has been that, without a doubt, the expense of actually just getting to and from NZ may put off many (whether that be because people just can't afford it, or just don't want to put up that much money (or burn their free credit card flight, or points)). Mind you, PER too, rather unfairly, suffers from a similar resistance.

Some have argued that we are AFF, so having a Do in NZ seems odd (It's a bit like making shirts with logos saying "Buy Australian", but the shirts were made in China)

If it was suggested as the next location, I wouldn't immediately write it off, though.

I will still reiterate that someone will have to take charge as the local champion - which is even more awkward since we don't have any (or many) Kiwis on board, let alone ones residing in locations other than Auckland.

 

[tuapekastar]

Who could that possibly be?

No idea whatsoever.

 

[JessicaTam]

I did live in MQL for five years, and whilst the food and wine available is of a high standard, there is not much else to do if some wish to visit the wineries. This could be a good location for a dedicated eat and drink weekend instead of a full blown do.


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

 

[haydensydney]

I would be keen for Queenstown

 

[penegal]

Who could that possibly be?

No idea whatsoever.

Feper

Oh, wait?? Maybe it's that guy who is going to drinks tonight?

I did live in MQL for five years, and whilst the food and wine available is of a high standard, there is not much else to do if some wish to visit the wineries. This could be a good location for a dedicated eat and drink weekend instead of a full blown do.

Isn't there a river type thing?
Or an Orange farm?

I have one former client in Mildura, but didn't spend much time there exploring to be honest.

 

[penegal]

I would be keen for Queenstown

In October? Or would you bring it earlier for snow sports?

I know that we have a few skiiers/snowboarders on AFF, but I also know we have a lot who won't go near snowsports :/

 

[Ewing]

I know that we have a few skiiers/snowboarders on AFF, but I also know we have a lot who won't go near snowsports :/

Sitting by a fireplace with a nice glass of red will be perfect for me

 

[JessicaTam]

Isn't there a river type thing?
Or an Orange farm?

I have one former client in Mildura, but didn't spend much time there exploring to be honest.

There is the Murray, for those who might enjoy water pursuits. Wineries for the connoisseurs, citrus growers for the fruitarians, and an arid lands botanic gardens for the tree lovers.

I think if I push Mildura too hard I will end up organising it, so my vote goes to HBA.


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

 

[Lowjhg]

There is the Murray, for those who might enjoy water pursuits. Wineries for the connoisseurs, citrus growers for the fruitarians, and an arid lands botanic gardens for the tree lovers.

I think if I push Mildura too hard I will end up organising it, so my vote goes to HBA.


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

HBA sounds good, especially it's the only capital city I've never been before. Just hoping the DJ lounge will be completed in time next year for my flights!

And I thought I was converting to a qantas flyer :-|

 

[haydensydney]

We could set-up an AFF ski week (similar to Gay Ski Week which occurs every year in August I believe).

I don't ski, but like Ewing, I would love to get sloshed on Central Otago Pinot and eat my heart out at Botswana Butchery

 

[penegal]

I don't ski, but like Ewing, I would love to get sloshed on Central Otago Pinot and eat my heart out at Botswana Butchery

I do ski, but that sounds good to me also

Just not at the same time as skiing, LOL...

 

[markis10]

I really think Longreach is not a good idea, crime is rampant, after all the latest news just in is that 36 large rolls of barbed wire have been stolen!

@612brisbane: 36 giant rolls of barbed wire have been stolen! ...#OnlyinLongreach! @reblev gets the details - http://t.co/wyPMOXeQ

 

[JessicaTam]

I really think Longreach is not a good idea, crime is rampant, after all the latest news just in is that 36 large rolls of barbed wire have been stolen!

@612brisbane: 36 giant rolls of barbed wire have been stolen! ...#OnlyinLongreach! @reblev gets the details - http://t.co/wyPMOXeQ

Police are checking local dealers in case the thieves try to fence it.


Sent from my iThing.
Why, because iCan.

 

[penegal]

tuapekastar and I were talking about this last night.

We suggested that a side-trip to Bruny Island would be a good thing to do at HBA. HBA also has Mt Wellington, Mona, Salamanca markets, etc

 

[samh004]

I would be keen for Queenstown

Unless there's a member here from ZQN, and forgetting wijomas (though not sure how often he's visited that far South), I'm probably the resident local for that town and did have some ideas planned somewhere for where to go, what to do. There's more to Queenstown than Botswana

I did suggest it in the past, but like LRE it seemed much more like an idea for a Do on it's own.

We could set-up an AFF ski week (similar to Gay Ski Week which occurs every year in August I believe).

I don't ski, but like Ewing, I would love to get sloshed on Central Otago Pinot and eat my heart out at Botswana Butchery

Gay Ski Week is usually held around the end of August/beginning of September as the town has quietened down a bit as it enters Spring, but for an AFF Do, a better time would be late Spring or early Autumn, that way you still see some snow, but you don't ski it, you enjoy the views, and slightly less cool days.

Plus, both seasons are dead, so accommodation drops in price a few notches, and you can still sit by a fire at night, but also experience more of the lake in the day. As it warms up, more visitors come to Queenstown for the lake in the summer, than the mountains in the winter.

 

[drron]

Hey I'm going to Botswana next year-way too far for a weekend!:shock:

 

[tuapekastar]

It's an interesting idea that has been floated before. The main resistance, I believe, has been that, without a doubt, the expense of actually just getting to and from NZ may put off many (whether that be because people just can't afford it, or just don't want to put up that much money (or burn their free credit card flight, or points)). Mind you, PER too, rather unfairly, suffers from a similar resistance.

Some have argued that we are AFF, so having a Do in NZ seems odd (It's a bit like making shirts with logos saying "Buy Australian", but the shirts were made in China)

If it was suggested as the next location, I wouldn't immediately write it off, though.

I will still reiterate that someone will have to take charge as the local champion - which is even more awkward since we don't have any (or many) Kiwis on board, let alone ones residing in locations other than Auckland.

I guess we (well, someone) could organise a weekend in NZ as an 'additional' DO i.e. not AFF #n, and save the 'official' AFF #n weekends for Oz locations.

Edit: I (now) notice samh004 suggested similar a couple of posts above

 

[penegal]

I guess we (well, someone) could organise a weekend in NZ as an 'additional' DO i.e. not AFF #n, and save the 'official' AFF #n weekends for Oz locations.

I suppose, or we could make it an FT or MP do... but I think the AFF crowd could get out of their comfort zone given NZ is really not *that* far away

 

[haydensydney]

Why not have it in Queenstown? I don't see why we need to limit ourselves to Australian destinations for an AFF do. Fares can be cheap if booked outside of peak travel periods as sam mentioned...