MIQ day zero - September 23rd, 2021

The airport policeman got on our coach at the ground floor terminal, and from a well prepared script on his phone, told us we were going to the Distinction Hotel -  Hamilton.  A collective groan from the passengers… The reason I hadn’t considered this option, was because the hotel had been closed for maintenance and therefore there was no knowledge about a reopening date. I think we may well be the first group.
We stepped off the internal airport coach and went through various checks, health screening, immigration and MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries). I declared my two cans of cherry pie filling, much to the amusement of the MAF officer and was directed to the Johnston’s coach, but advised to use the toilet facilities before boarding  - which I did. Only the central side door of the coach was open, the front having a screen behind it to isolate the driver.  I sat just behind the door, assuming I’d be off quicker than sitting at the front or the rear.

About 22 people boarded coach #1 then we had to wait for the luggage to be loaded. Note that you don’t collect your luggage or even sight it at the airport, so you just hope it has all arrived.

The driver clearly explained what was going on and about the procedures and eventually we set off for a leisurely trip to Te Rapa, on the northern edge of Hamilton and my Sat Nav forecast an arrival time of 10:55am.

Although we have stayed at Hamilton numerous times, for badminton matches, this hotel (and conference centre) was new to me. Two storeys only and the first thing I noticed was that all rooms had opening top windows, which I was extremely happy to see, as one of my fears was a sealed window and a reliance on air conditioning.

Once in past the defence force personnel who are overall in charge of security, we stopped at reception and the manager got on the coach and performed a Maori welcome, which seemed to meet the approval of most on the coach, before handing over to the defence force officer who explained a few rules and regulations and asked that we disembark from the coach, from the centre. I was 3^rd off and we followed the taped lines through the large hall and once again, some basic screening, before being handed a room key and pointed in the direction of the accommodation.

In the first corridor, were all the cases lined up and we were invited to grab our luggage. With no trolleys, two cases and a carry on meant slow progress but after two right turns, I found my room.

The pics should tell the story. A decent sized room with two queen sized beds. More than usual, I embarked on a quick mission to check things out.

Big ticks for the following:

Room:

As above, opening windows.

Large flat screen smart TV at the correct height for watching when in bed – more on that later.

Two easy chairs and a swivel office chair a small glass topped coffee table

Large desk area on which the TV was standing

Excellent bedside lights – one fixed and one LED on a swivel

Large storage area for the cases

In-room safe in a drawer (not that anyone will be entering) plus a hair drier (reputedly good for heating up cold food…)

Plates, cereal bowls and metal cutlery (some MIQ hotels only use disposable cutlery).

Kettle – of course.

Fridge

Decent bathroom with the wash basin at the right height

Shower with glass door (no bath)

I’ll list the supplies and paperwork in a later post.

So far so good, then a knock on the door signalling lunch had arrived. So, close the window, put on the supplied mask, wash hands, open the door and grab the paper bag left outside. A mini (lukewarm) pizza with a side salad and rather good hot chips. (Should be a pic.)

Middle of the afternoon I’d had about three telephone calls including one to order my meal for the Saturday lunch and dinner (more on that later). I also asked if they could supply some raw or brown sugar as there was only white in the room (other than what I’d brought!). A health check. Then a call to say they were coming shortly for the day zero/arrival Covid test and to not go to bed.  Sure enough, they were soon around and you have to stand in the doorway as you aren’t allowed outside the room at all, not even to dump the rubbish, until a negative test result.

The afternoon meant a nana nap and a check/unpack sorting of the luggage – one case had been opened by MAF. They were probably curious as to the several tubes of toothpaste – or maybe the cherry pie filling?

Another knock about 6:15pm and dinner. At this point, I was feeling a bit low, even though I’d chatted to Paula, and for some reason, I didn’t feel very hungry. Chicken and vegetables plus a lamington but I only ate the vegetables and a tiny bit of chicken and put the rest of the chicken in the fridge. The rest of the food I dumped and wasn’t at all impressed that it was a sachet of margarine with the roll.

The evening was uneventful and despite the afternoon nod I was tired, but I did make myself a coffee, using a coffee bag I’d brought.

So that was day zero.  For the next 14 days it will probably be little more than a food blog, though the next one, I’ll go through some of the room supplies. 

The last pic is the view from the room towards reception.  Pleasant and quiet.