New Zealand Trip

We are headed to New Zealand in February!!!! This is my *DREAM* trip...outdoors, nature, beauty, mountains, adventure, great weather and wonderful people. Although we'll have to give driving on the wrong side of the road another shot, I'm glad they speak English there. We will be gone for 2.5 weeks & mostly exploring the rugged and mountainous South Island.



So much adventure- where to start? We're flying into Auckland & spending 2 nights there, but then headed to the South Island for the rest of our stay to explore the mighty and majestic southern Alps. While in Auckland, we're doing a scenic wine tour & then a short sail on an America's Cup vessel.



We'll be doing a day cruise on Milford Sound & spending the night out on Doubtful Sound, plus an over-night stay in Te Anau to see the glowworm caves.



We're doing a few wine tours & winery days, including 1 around Wanaka (above...I think) plus a few helicopter rides to take in all the scenery.



I'm thinking I might easily break my Africa trip record for photographs....



We will be doing a Jet Boat Safari up the Dart River and then touring a few places where Lord of the Rings was filmed.



A few days in Queenstown- the adventure capital of the world. Maybe I can talk my husband into a bungee jump or some paragliding.



We're doing a heli-hike adventure on Fox Glacier- where we will take a short helicopter ride out to a glacier & then spend a few hours hiking on it and walking around it before flying back.

We'll be going out on an inflatable boat to see the Tasman Glacier up close.



We'll be in Christchurch for a few days & H is excited to see the penguins at the Antarctic center & ride a huggaland.

We're booked to do a romantic evening in the Onsen Hot Pool, which have a retractable roof to watch the sunset and see the stars.

On our last full day in Christchurch, we are booked for an early morning hot air balloon ride. It's been on our 101 list, and although it will be a little late, I think it was worth waiting for such a spectacular surroundings. That afternoon we'll take a half-day wine tour of the surrounding countryside before making the 3 flight journey back across the world.

GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: Longest run of the season so far, 17 miles, done for today!