Our journey across Europe

By Rohan O'Shea | Posted: Wednesday May 1, 2024

The OBHS 2024 European Tour took us on an 18 day journey across Europe.

Here is a detailed recap of our travels, covering everything from the historical sites we visited to the exciting activities that filled our days.

Day 1 & Day 2: Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th April - Dunedin to Paris

The trip began with a domestic flight from Dunedin to Auckland, with our group gathering at Dunedin Airport for a smooth check-in. After the flight, we stayed at the IBIS Budget Auckland Hotel, a short walk from the airport. We arrived at Auckland International Airport the following day and boarded a Qatar Airways flight bound for Doha. After a brief layover, we took off for Paris, where our European adventure would begin.

Day 3: Wednesday, 10 April - Arrival in Paris

After a long flight, we arrived in Paris and were greeted by our fabulous guide, Sara, who assisted with our transfer to our hotel in Porte d’Orleans, on the outskirts of Paris. After dropping our bags, we (very tiredly) embarked on a morning walking tour of Paris, including a visit to the Louvre Museum and Eiffel Tower, providing beautiful views, from the summit, across Paris. We then headed up to the Arc de Triomphe and had the afternoon exploring the shopping district. The day ended with a three-course dinner at Les Jardins Contini.

Day 4: Thursday, 11 April - Visit to the Somme Battlefields

We began with a buffet breakfast at the hotel, then set off for the battlefields of Northern France. Our coach took us through several historic sites, including La Quesnoy, where we visited the New Zealand Museum, dedicated to the NZ soldiers who liberated the town in November of 1918, and to the friendship between La Quesnoy and NZ that has flourished in the years after. The evening was spent in Ypres, with a dinner at Captain Cook Restaurant before exploring the beautiful city centre (with notable stops at chocolate shops).

Day 5: Friday, 12 April - Exploring Flanders and Ypres

We explored the First World War battlefield sites of Flanders and Ypres, visiting Messines Ridge, Hill 60, Passchendaele, Polygon Wood, and Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest commonwealth cemetery in which over 12,000 soldiers are buried. After a visit to the Passchendaele Museum, we wrapped up the day with dinner at Depot Leper and attended a memorable rendition of the Last Post at Menin Gate, a ceremony that is done every evening in Ypres to remember the fallen in WW1. The Menin Gate ceremonies started in 1928, and have continued to today, enduring even the COVID-19 pandemic, when although crowds were not allowed, the last post was still played each night.

Day 6: Saturday, 13 April - Lysenthoek Cemetery and more

Our itinerary included a visit to Lysenthoek Cemetery, the grave of famous All Black Dave Gallaher at Nine Elms, and other historic sites. We also visited the Talbot House Museum. Talbot House was established during the war, to serve as a place of calm and relaxation, where soldiers could gather for tea, music and gardening. The day concluded with dinner at Marktcafe Les Halles.

Day 7: Sunday, 14 April - Brussels to Rome

After a final breakfast in Ypres (Ypres being home to the best buffet breakfasts of the tour), we transferred to Brussels Airport for our flight to Rome, saying Happy Birthday goodbye to our adored coach driver, Joris. Once in Rome, we were reunited with our amazing tour guide Sara who guided us to our hotel, Hotel Pacific. The evening was filled with a relaxing dinner at the hotel.

Day 8: Monday, 15 April - Vatican Tour and Pizza Making

This day was dedicated to exploring the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and the breathtaking, St. Peter’s Basilica. The evening took us to a fun pizza-making class, where we learned to craft our own pizzas, which were delicious.

Day 9: Tuesday, 16 April - Ancient Rome and Gladiator School

A guided tour of Ancient Rome was the highlight, with visits to the Colosseum, and Roman Forum, and a thrilling two-hour session at the Gladiator School, where we tried on gladiator clothing and learned about ancient combat techniques, before finally taking each other on in Gladiator fights, overseen by Empress Ms. Gorman.

Day 10: Wednesday, 17 April - Pompeii and Sorrento

We travelled to Monte Cassino Abbey for a guided tour, learning the history of the Abbey, including the fact that it has been destroyed and rebuilt 5 times! Then explored the Pompeii excavations. The day ended with a three-course dinner at our hotel in Sorrento, our final night in Italy.

Day 11: Thursday, 18 April - Bari and the Ferry to Patras

After breakfast, we explored the city centre of Sorrento, spending our final morning in Italy shopping and indulging ourselves in Italian food for the final time. We then boarded our coach for our crossing of the Italian Peninsula, to Bari to board our ferry to Greece (The SuperFast II). The evening was spent on our overnight ferry to Patras, with dinner and breakfast included on board.

Day 12: Friday, 19 April - Guided Tour of Olympia

Sailing into Patras around 1 pm, the SuperFast II had not disappointed getting us in an hour early. We disembarked our ferry and boarded our coach for our first stop in Greece, the ruins of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games. We enjoyed a guided tour of Olympia, visiting the archaeological site and museum. The day ended with a glorious Greek feast and an overnight stay in Nafplion.

Day 13: Saturday, 20 April - Mycenae and Corinth Canal to Athens

Our itinerary took us from Nafplion to Mycenae, where we explored the ancient archaeological site of the city of Mycenae and the “Beehive” tombs in the mountains surrounding the city. We also visited the historic Corinth Canal, built by the Romans 2000 years ago before arriving in Athens for a three-night stay at the Crystal City Hotel.

Day 14: Sunday, 21 April - Guided Tour of Ancient Athens

We began with a panoramic bus tour of Athens, visiting iconic sites like the Parthenon and the Theatre of Dionysus, before embarking up to the Acropolis of Athens. (Acropolis being the highest point of historic Greek cities). We then explored the Acropolis Museum with the aid of our incredibly knowledgeable local guide. The evening was capped off with a dinner at our hotel.

Day 15: Monday, 22 April - Exploring the Plaka District

The morning was free to explore the Plaka District and other attractions in Athens, before heading to the Stadium of Athens, built for the 1896 first modern Olympic Games. The stadium, which was impressively built from entirely marble, was our host venue for one of the most intense races in OBHS history, with Prefect Lachie Hall taking on Mr McCrone in a 20m sprint. The result was a definitive win for Lachie, by about 5m. The evening included a dinner at a local restaurant, our last taste of the amazing Greek cuisine.

Day 16 & 17: Tuesday, 23rd and Wednesday, 24th April - Leisure and Departure

This was the final day of our European adventure. After checking out of our rooms, we explored the area before our coach took us to Athens Airport for our flight back to New Zealand. The journey back included a stopover in Doha, with a flight to Auckland and a final domestic flight to Dunedin.

Day 18: Thursday, 25 April - Arrival in Dunedin

Our trip concluded with our arrival back in Dunedin, filled with memories and new experiences. Welcome home, everyone!