The Real Journey Now Begins!

---

We are leaving Auckland today and can tell you it is a beautiful city and one where we could live. For those of you that have been here, I am sure you will agree. Nothing new to report on the blog, just wanted to give you our proposed itinerary over the next month or so. We are heading south from Auckland and will essentially be travelling both islands, going down the Pacifiic side then crossing over to the Tasman Sea side (east) on the South Island then reversing sides when we head north.
Heading south we plan stops in Coromandel, Whitianga, Tauranga, Whakatane, Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier and Wellington before we cross the Cook Strait onto the South Island.
Still heading south we plan stops in Picton, Nelson, Greymouth, Franz Joseph, Queenstown, Milford Sound and Invercargill before deciding if we have enough time to catch the ferry to Stewart Island in the extreme south.
Heading north we plan to stop in Dunedin then up to the Mt Cook recreation area. From there to Christchurch then back across the strait to Wellington. Onwards we go up the Tasman sea side of the north island to New Plymouth, Waitomo through Auckland to Whangarei to Paihai and the Bay of Islands. We then make the short jaunt up to Cape Reinga on the extreme north tip of the island.
Sounds like a journey...we will let you know how it goes.
Cheers everyone!

---

Comments

[donna wintermute]

blog entries
Cathy and Chris....I LOVE your newsy emails and am living some great adventures through your descriptive "up-to-dates".......also your pictures are so enjoyable too...Shring was here last night and we were talking about your wonderful trip...we both mentioned how fabulous it would have been for Geneva to have been able to have lived long enough to get these emails too...She was so proud of you guys and absolutely loved everything you did.Stay safe and enjoy every minute together.. Keep up the newsy details of your journey.....I love them....fondly,,,,D

[Lauri "Scissors" White]

Looks as good as I remember!!
I am so glad you have arrived and got a good start to the expedition!! All your pics are great! I miss the ice cream!! Don't forget to eat lots of their cheese! Happy Cows!!!! The prices there sound like they have really gone up! It wasn't bad when I was there a million years ago, but their dollar was well below ours then too. Your itinerary sounds amazing!! Lots to see on those 2 islands but not too far between the places. Be sure to do the Glow Worm caves in Wiatomo, on the Nth. Island when you swing back north. Rotarua Cultural centre is a good one too. I should have come with you! I could drag you too all the places! And I am happy to be paid in Ice Cream!! ;) Keep the updates coming!!!!!!! Cheers, Lauri

[Norma]

Quite a trip
You have quite the trip planned around NZ looks like you are seeing most of it. You will love Napier especially if you happen to arrive during Art Deco days. I was glad that I recognized most of the names from Andy & my trips to NZ. We found NZ quite expensive when we were there too but found RCA( an organization like our Legions) organization in every town seemed to have a meal night when food was very good & reasonable- a lot lower than restaurants prices Watch out for the Kea parrots at Franz Glacier they love rubber especially the windshield wipers. Hope you get to see a kiwi. Take care & have fun, Norma

[Kate Bennett]

You could live there?
Not at those prices! Wow. If we pooled our resources, the four of us could buy the Devonport houses and Shadow Sports could have one, Quilting Cathies could have the other... just a thought. :) It does look like a beautiful city, and your weather shows it off well. You really need to describe that swan plant to me, it's so lovely! Are those bulbs hollow? Are they fruit? Are the little "hairs" sticky? lol, aren't you glad I'm not in the back seat? It's an ambitious agenda, let's go! xo