Out of bed at 3am to get to Christchurch airport to catch plane to Auckland at 5am. All good this end. Took off on time.
North Island NZ looked great, covered in white and the air clear. What we did not know was the white was fog.
Captain (pilot) indicated couldn't land at Auckland as airport fogged in. So we circled for about an hour. Eventually the pilot said we were low on fuel so have to go back down to Wellington to land and refuel. Sat in the airport there for about 4 hours.
Back on the plane and off to Auckland again, but by this time we had missed our connecting flight back to Perth (crap)
At Auckland, had to collect our luggage and tote it from the domestic to international airport and then find someone who would help us.
Eventually a young Qantas employee grabbed our passports and hunted for a flight. She eventually managed to get for us a flight to Melbourne and then another flight to Perth (sounded great).
Had to hurry as plane not long before taking off. Sitting on the plane ready to go and a couple had to get off because of some sickness. They eventually came back and got the rest of their party off the plane. The pilot then mentioned that their luggage had to be found and taken off the plane - another hour there.
Finally back in the air and off to Melbourne. Because we left Auckland late we missed the connecting flight to Perth (again - crap).
Collected our luggage again and found someone to help. He managed to get us on a plane to Perth but it was about to leave so had to hurry, checkin luggage and run to the plane.
Eventually arrived Perth 11.30pm instead of 1.30pm.
Based on the time differences between NZ and WA it took from now on.24 hour to get from Christchurch to Perth. (never again) Direct flights