The Plan

Most of what is planned is the early stages of the trip.  As we get further along, it gets a bit fuzzy.  But to date, this is what we expect to be doing.  (Of course, anything can change at any given moment).  Unless noted, we will be staying with our ATC hosts.

We leave Boston on Feb. 4 and head out to LA where we will stay with Liam & Ilana.  Hang out, visit friends, watch the Superbowl. On Feb. 9 we fly direct to Fiji, arriving at 5:30 am.  Catch some rays and a night's rest and head out for Christchurch to start our South Island tour.  Hope to rent some bikes in Christchurch and tool around there for a couple of days before heading west.
On Valentines Day, we take the TranzAlpine train across Arthur's Pass to Greymouth where we pick up a car and drive down to our next destination:  Fox Glacier.   After exploring the glacier, our trail leads to Wanaka for a stay at a Youth Hostel on the lake - hope to get some jet boating in here.  Then over to Cromwell for a couple of days.  May visit Queenstown and take a whitewater rafting trip down the Shotover River.  On Feb.18 we head to Clyde.  Park the car and collect our bikes for a 4 day journey on the Otago Rail Trail.  Returning from Middlemarch back to Clyde by bus with a night in Alexandra.
On the Feb 23rd we are bound for the fjords for an overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound.  After this excursion, we make our way back east heading for Shag Point in the hopes of staying at a friend's crib (cottage) for a few days. Driving north along the east coast, our next big stop is Blenheim and Abel Tasman Park for exploration and kayaking.

As of now, we leave the South Island on March 5 taking the ferry from Picton to Wellington, where our adventure begins on the North Island.  This is a much looser planned trip.  However, we are planning on a bit more culture and history here.  There are museums we want to see and of course Te Puia - the Maori cultural center. Traveling along the east coast through Auckand and to the Bay of Islands.  Hope to get in some water sports and maybe Geoff will even have an opportunity for some fishing.

On March 21, we leave New Zealand behind for 9 days in tropical Fiji.  No definitive plans here except some R&R,  do some island hopping and as much snorkeling as possible. 

We head back to the states on March 30 (just in time for Passover), a few more days in LA with whoever will have us and then leave for home on April 2 - just in time to greet the Spring!

Coming next:  So much to do so little time!