G'day Mate

Only 4 more days and we're headed "down under." We've been diligently walking and doing bleachers in preparation for our New Zealand trek. It's been hot there - March is the end of summer, but they had a storm come through this week that brought snow to the mountains. It makes packing difficult but we will be prepared. Here is a map and itinerary for our trip. I will try to post along the way as I have internet availability.

We depart on March 31st and arrive in Brisbane, AU on April 2nd.

4/2 - 4/7 touring the east coast of Australia

4/8 - The Tui trek begins in Christchurch, New Zealand, heads to the Southern Alps for a hike in Arthur's Pass to Devil's Punchbowl, then down the coast to overnight in a tiny village (pop. 31).

4/9 - Hike Franz Josef Glacier

4/10, 4/11 - Fly to Siberia Valley in Mt. Aspiring Nat'l Park, backpack in the park to Lake Crucible, overnight in remote hut, take a jetboat back to Makarora, mountain bike for ~10 miles to Wanaka, then on to Queensland

4/12 - Hike Ben Lomond and free time in Queensland

4/13 - Hike Routeburn Track (mountains, rain forest, Milford Sound)

4/14 - Sea kayak Milford Sound

4/15 - Fly to Auckland and overnight

4/16 - Head for home

If you are interested in the tour we are taking, here is the link: http://activenewzealand.com/our-adventures/itineraries/tui/8-day-south-island-adventure-trip.php

As the Kiwis say: cheers!