The plan for South Island is in place.....

Since we last posted we have done some serious work including looking at routes, identifying some 'must dos', and actually commiting to some of the itinerary. It's a careful balance of commitment against freedon - hopefully we've got the balance right.

In the previous post we talked about getting to Christchurch and doing the transalpine rail ride - well that's all booked now, and we've booked the campervan too.... for 43 days with the drop off in Auckland.

Our South Island 24 day tour route sees us leaving Christchurch after four night in the Charlotte Jane hotel and takes us via Mt Cook, Lake Pukaki, Dunedin and Invercargill to Bluff, with a ferry ride to Stewart Island to get as far south as we can (for fellow brits be reminded that going South in NZ means it's getting colder!). Then we have a few days to get to Te Anau where we are booked in on an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound to celebrate Heather's birthday... Then on to Milford Sound and a few days in Queenstown (booked the Gondala ride to an elevated lunch on day 1 and the renowned TSS Earnslaw vintage steamship cruise to dinner at the Colonel's Homestead at Walters Peak on day 2; then we chill....).

After Queenstown we have a few days 'drifting' before we pick up bikes to do a couple of days on the Otago Rail Trail, basing ourselves at Ranfurly but getting transported so that we can do the best bits. After that we pick up the beautiful West coast and head North, taking in the glaciers, Hanmer Springs, Lake Rotoroa and working our way back to the ferry.

We then plan to have a few days in Wellington (Hello Auntie Heather!!) before we embark on our tour of North Island..... we've started to look at that, including a jet boat ride and some canoeing on the Whanganui river (any of the NZ family fancy joining us?) and a pencilled in meeting up with an ex-student and colleague of mine who emigrated a while back.

Next installment will follow once we firm up North Island a bit more.... we're hoping to hear back from my Uncle David and cousin Scott about getting together as they are in the northern part of North Island.....