This page features ways you can prepare for our trip to New Zealand & Australia.
1. FAQ - frequently asked questions
2. List of optional tour you can book yourselves & Form to book a space with Liz on the zipline & helicopter form
(Click on the picture below to get to the form)
3. Links to Travel Hacks -- videos with good info for airline travel
4. Link to WhatsApp --for your phone & computer so you can join our online chat group and stay in touch
5. PDF of our itineraries with the dates that you can download for your friends & family
6. Detailed packing list with links to some items you may want to purchase
1. FAQ - frequently asked questions
2. List of optional tour you can book yourselves & Form to book a space with Liz on the zipline & helicopter form
(Click on the picture below to get to the form)
3. Links to Travel Hacks -- videos with good info for airline travel
4. Link to WhatsApp --for your phone & computer so you can join our online chat group and stay in touch
5. PDF of our itineraries with the dates that you can download for your friends & family
6. Detailed packing list with links to some items you may want to purchase
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS1. A. How do I pay for the Helicopter ride?
You will pay your part to the Helicopter provider when we arrive at the event with your credit card . We've already paid $100 of the fee for you to reserve your spot. B. Do I need to sign up for the Helicopter ride? You probably already signed up for it on the options page when you indicated which tours you were interested in. If you haven't done so, click on the link above and fill out the helicopter portion of that form. 2. How do I book and pay for the options that I marked on the options form I filled out? The options form was intended to determine which tours were of most interest to most people. Now we have a list of the tours of most interest and we have posted links to operators who are offering these tours. You can click on the tour name to go to their website and book your tours for free days. Click HERE to see that list. 3. Do I need to decide which tours I want to take on the free days now? Many tours can be booked when we get there, but there are a few tours that are likely to be filled before we arrive. You can check the availability on the websites of the tour operators. Most tours allow you to cancel within 24 hours of the event if you change your mind, so by booking now you are securing your space. The Rotorua zipline is filling up so Liz has reserved space for our groups-- Click here to be included. 4. Can I give my family a list of hotels where we will be staying? Because of cell phones, most hotels don't have phones in the rooms and your families should be able to reach you with WhatsApp. They should have our contact information as well, as we are the best ones to get in contact with you in case of emergency. In addition, you can give them a copy of the digital handbook we emailed you and the day-by-day itinerary provided below (it has been corrected and is now accurate). 5. Should I have a paper copy of my NZ and Aussie visa to show when I travel? NO. Your ETA (electronic travel authority) for each country is electronically attached to your passport so you'll never see any paperwork. When you show your passport, the ETA automatically shows up on their computer screens if you've completed their authorization process. 6. Can I take the same carry-on suitcase on the internal airline flights as the international flights? You can take the same bags, but they can only weigh 15 pounds, so be prepared to check your carry-on if it's heavier than 15 lb, or transfer some things to your checked luggage. If you are carrying more than 50 pounds checked, you may be charged extra luggage fees. 7. Where do I Venmo my money for the Auckland Hop-on Bus for the early arrivals? Our daughter, Rebecca Jo is collecting the money for those tickets, so Venmo to her account: https://venmo.com/u/joisom Hop Off bus routes and attractions: https://www.explorerbus.co.nz/auckland-attractions/ 8. How do I get the Hop-on bus in Sydney? That is included in your tour and we have arranged for that as well as the hop-on harbor boat too! 9. What if I have questions after Mark and Liz leave February 4? You can text Liz at 801.669.1777 or post it on the WhatsApp chat for your group and we'll answer - if Mark & Liz aren't available, Becca Jo will jump in and answer for them. More Questions? Text us at 801.669.1777 or 801. 440.3272 & we'll be happy to answer as well as post your questions here . 
These are links to videos we've found that can be helpful in planning for international travel. There are many more online -- when you finish one you may find more by the same person that are good updates on travel. 1. Travel Tips for Bringing Medicine Through Airport Security
youtu.be/PBwmUX3PpGk?si=DMcERkVzas759rOV 2. 5 Airport Secrets They Don't Want Us to Know https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR1N4JLcp-4&t=313s 3. What to wear (and not) when flying https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwf2GAZWdgg&t=300s 4. 3-1-1 Rule -- Airline guides for carrying liquids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Ga-v5kCSc 5. Airline Rules https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz0oDYs1mNk&t=181s 6. Cell Phone Security https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heeaS7vgLvY 7. 5 Packing Tips for Your Next Trip youtu.be/GS5FFxl8e2I?si=3QI_o2r3OUB9YKpF 8. Travel updates for 2025 https://youtu.be/Dj-GASJCeaQ?si=JVWdbh3rr_jwnJG7 |
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Take a screen shot of this discount or save the image and take it in to the Spanish Fork Prime IV - tell them Mark & Liz sent you and get a free injection.
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PDF of dates & itinerary
We have made some changes to the itinerary we think you'll like
Due to airlines changing flights from afternoon to morning and visa-versa, our itinerary has had to go through some rather drastic changes in that we made an executive decision to drop Canberra from the route in order to give you a decent amount of time in Sydney. This also means we have extended time in hotels without so many one-night stays that can be really exhausting on a trip of this length.
So you may want to take a look at the revised itinerary and know that we suffered a few nights of heart failure before we realized we had a solution that made the trip much better. The PDF below can be downloaded for your convenience to share with family.
Due to airlines changing flights from afternoon to morning and visa-versa, our itinerary has had to go through some rather drastic changes in that we made an executive decision to drop Canberra from the route in order to give you a decent amount of time in Sydney. This also means we have extended time in hotels without so many one-night stays that can be really exhausting on a trip of this length.
So you may want to take a look at the revised itinerary and know that we suffered a few nights of heart failure before we realized we had a solution that made the trip much better. The PDF below can be downloaded for your convenience to share with family.
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From Liz: I've added some links to Amazon products because some have asked me for suggestions, but these are not required in any way and are just here to give you ideas. You should use your own judgement and experience.
https://a.co/d/dkmycdr
1. Swim suit and accessories (the company we hire for the snorkel and dive at the reef will supply fins and masks for everyone, but you may want to bring your own if you are hard to fit). In addition, we recommend:
A. Swim gloves - if you are planning to swim at the Great Barrier Reef, we suggest you bring a pair of swim gloves to enhance your swim stroke and protect your hands from coral and jelly fish. Here's a link to some you can purchase: https://a.co/d/fkqubYA
B. Head band/face mask for swimming and for wind protection when you're on the Dart River https://a.co/d/5kIStQU
2. Sandals, walking shoes & flip flops
3. Travel towel -- we'll stop by the beach and you may want to put your feet in or you may want to hang out at Bondo Beach in Sydney for an afternoon. We recommend Turkish towels that are lightweight and take little space. https://a.co/d/5okZI70
4. Bug repellant -- we didn't see a lot of bugs, but be prepared with a small amount of oil to repell mossies just in case. Here's a link to some bug repellant: https://a.co/d/dkmycdr (This is the stuff the church gives their employees who travel for them)
5. Sun screen -- you'll need protection on this trip
6. Hats (one needs to tie on for jet boat & Milford Sound) - Either a tie-on hat or a stocking hat that won't blow off.
7. Scarf for boat rides (Dart River and Milford Sound) where it's windy
8. Sun glasses
9. Umbrella - small folding one a.co/d/e3ixLMS a.co/d/iZTGsqG
10. Water bottle - especially for the airline so you can stay hydrated. Ask the attendant to fill your bottle.
11. Tide sticks -,we swear by these https://a.co/d/f6XCvDS
12. Laundry bags - you may want to share a load with a friend and keep your undies separate. https://a.co/d/cQVJBzq
13. Australian/NewZealand plug adaptor (this is different from European) a.co/d/fmIvuzd
14. Electric transformer -- needed for electrical appliances other than computers & phones ca.co/d/cVDO5ec
15. Clothes line -- for doing laundry in your room (underwear especially) a.co/d/6spXv0E
16. Laundry soap -- I use these all the time at home and on trips a.co/d/5jEcwOx
17. Wrinkle Release Spray (sorry it won't help our faces) a.co/d/2PAgeGO
18. Flashlight -- this one is rechargable and can charge your phone a.co/d/2Ya68vO
19. Church clothes --(men need white shirt, tie & socks if you're going to attend the temple)
20. Medicines & vitamin suppliments -- with pill bags to organize them compactly a.co/d/iWkVhss
21. Ziplock bags -- crazy, but you'll be surprised how much these are used
22. Snacks -- nuts, jerky, protein bars, etc.
23. Reading material
24. Book of Mormon to give away
25. Melatonin & sleep aids --we recommend Costco Sleep Aid -- to sleep on
the plane and to sleep through the nights when jet lag wakes us at 3:00 AM
27. Hand sanitizer https://a.co/d/5zSOLBua.co/d/5zSOLBu
28. Disinfectant wipes for plane (get at the supermarket travel section)
29. Eye mask & ear plugs for sleeping https://a.co/d/cKPdQRua.co/d/cKPdQRu
30. Pictures of your family -- on your phone and/0r hard copy to show
31. Sweaters, sweat shirt & warm jacket
32. PASSPORT, tickets, credit card, etc. (NEVER pack these in luggage)
1. Swim suit and accessories (the company we hire for the snorkel and dive at the reef will supply fins and masks for everyone, but you may want to bring your own if you are hard to fit). In addition, we recommend:
A. Swim gloves - if you are planning to swim at the Great Barrier Reef, we suggest you bring a pair of swim gloves to enhance your swim stroke and protect your hands from coral and jelly fish. Here's a link to some you can purchase: https://a.co/d/fkqubYA
B. Head band/face mask for swimming and for wind protection when you're on the Dart River https://a.co/d/5kIStQU
2. Sandals, walking shoes & flip flops
3. Travel towel -- we'll stop by the beach and you may want to put your feet in or you may want to hang out at Bondo Beach in Sydney for an afternoon. We recommend Turkish towels that are lightweight and take little space. https://a.co/d/5okZI70
4. Bug repellant -- we didn't see a lot of bugs, but be prepared with a small amount of oil to repell mossies just in case. Here's a link to some bug repellant: https://a.co/d/dkmycdr (This is the stuff the church gives their employees who travel for them)
5. Sun screen -- you'll need protection on this trip
6. Hats (one needs to tie on for jet boat & Milford Sound) - Either a tie-on hat or a stocking hat that won't blow off.
7. Scarf for boat rides (Dart River and Milford Sound) where it's windy
8. Sun glasses
9. Umbrella - small folding one a.co/d/e3ixLMS a.co/d/iZTGsqG
10. Water bottle - especially for the airline so you can stay hydrated. Ask the attendant to fill your bottle.
11. Tide sticks -,we swear by these https://a.co/d/f6XCvDS
12. Laundry bags - you may want to share a load with a friend and keep your undies separate. https://a.co/d/cQVJBzq
13. Australian/NewZealand plug adaptor (this is different from European) a.co/d/fmIvuzd
14. Electric transformer -- needed for electrical appliances other than computers & phones ca.co/d/cVDO5ec
15. Clothes line -- for doing laundry in your room (underwear especially) a.co/d/6spXv0E
16. Laundry soap -- I use these all the time at home and on trips a.co/d/5jEcwOx
17. Wrinkle Release Spray (sorry it won't help our faces) a.co/d/2PAgeGO
18. Flashlight -- this one is rechargable and can charge your phone a.co/d/2Ya68vO
19. Church clothes --(men need white shirt, tie & socks if you're going to attend the temple)
20. Medicines & vitamin suppliments -- with pill bags to organize them compactly a.co/d/iWkVhss
21. Ziplock bags -- crazy, but you'll be surprised how much these are used
22. Snacks -- nuts, jerky, protein bars, etc.
23. Reading material
24. Book of Mormon to give away
25. Melatonin & sleep aids --we recommend Costco Sleep Aid -- to sleep on
the plane and to sleep through the nights when jet lag wakes us at 3:00 AM
- Compare to Unisom Sleeptabs
- Contains 25 mg. of Doxylamine Succinate
- Non-Habit Forming Sleep Aid
27. Hand sanitizer https://a.co/d/5zSOLBua.co/d/5zSOLBu
28. Disinfectant wipes for plane (get at the supermarket travel section)
29. Eye mask & ear plugs for sleeping https://a.co/d/cKPdQRua.co/d/cKPdQRu
30. Pictures of your family -- on your phone and/0r hard copy to show
31. Sweaters, sweat shirt & warm jacket
32. PASSPORT, tickets, credit card, etc. (NEVER pack these in luggage)
SUGGESTED CLOTHING PACKING LIST (this is just a suggestion-- not to be taken as the law)
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Liz's packing list
3 long pants - 1 jeans, 2 slacks 2 medium length pants (floods) 3 shorts 1 skirt 1 dress for church or temple 2 t-shirts (buy more there) 5 tops 1 pr. PJ's 2 sweaters 1 sweatshirt 1 jacket/coat 3 hats 1 swim suit & accessories 7 pair garments 2 pair sandals flip flops 2 pair walking shoes |
Mark's Packing List
2 slacks 1 jeans 4 shorts 4 casual shirts/polos 2 t-shirts (buy more there) 2 sweat shirts 1 jacket 1 sweater 1 dress shirt (white) & 1 white tie 1 swim suit & accessories 7 pair garments PJ's 2 hats 2 pair walking shoes socks 1 pr sandals flip flops |