About my trip to NZ

I'm going to New Zealand in 3 and a half weeks. I have never been Overseas and I am stoked. I hope to FINALLY get my passport this week and then thats it... we will be off. The 5th of Sept we fly out. Originally we were flying out of Brisvegas at 6.35 PM and arriving in Christchurch at midnight. We decided that we would be wrecked for a few days..so on looking into the whole thing, if we paid another $220 we could change our flight and leave Brisvegas at 9.35 AM and fly in about 3PM. Much more civilized. So that is what we did. Now the idea is AJ is going to drive us to Clareys place on the Friday night and then spend Friday night with Clarey and then bright and early Sat morning about 6 ish Clare can take us to the "international" airport. Get that!!! The INTERNATIONAL airport. Not sure how Clarey will feel about that but I am sure she will do it for the love of us...

So although we have no itinerary, the idea at this stage is for us to have Sat night in Christchurch and then pick up our hire car (which we still need to book) on sunday then head off to Hamer Springs (thermal pools) and then on to Kaikora. Known for whale watching etc. Possibly have a night there and then on up to Nelson and Malborough to wine country. We MAY NEED to have a couple of days there..and after head down to the west coast to the Franz Josef glacier and Fox glacier. We have booked 2 nights at Fox glacier. Then head down to Milford sound where we hope to do an overnight cruise on Milford sound.

After that its off to Queenstown for a few nights and we will also fit in Dunedin and a few other places then back to Christchurch and the the MUST DO (cause Alan has been watching getaway for ever) go on the tranz alpine train to greymouth. We will possibly have a day there then back to Christchurch.

So basically we are doing the South Island in a anti clockwise direction.

Any tips from anyone reading this I would appreciate. I did score a bargain at Kmart the other day. I saw on Fri they had yukky but warm parkas on sale marked down from $80 to $50 so went to get one on Sat and it was $30, WOW> Bargain. At that price I will be happy to donate it to the local Salvation Army store in Christchurch when leaving so I can bring back all the booty I will have picked up!!!

A bit scared about the whole border security thing. I mean while Al has been watching getaway I however have been following with keen interest Border security..I am a bit scared that i will unknowingly try and bring something that I shouldn't in to the country....
So now come the slow wait for our trip but the fun that is going into the planning is cool too. I look around me and see people going everywhere but I am stoked about this trip. It was 4 and a half years ago, that I would often in tears read the sign I had on my bedroom wall..'for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord..plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future' and as I read that and beleived it in my heart..as I was in bed on a dx machine, often the truth of this would seem unreal. And yet now I have this to look forward to. Who would have thought that nearly 5 years ago when I went to Mundubbera to await little Sammys birth and had to travel to Bunderburg a 5 hour round trip to dialyise that I could go OS for 3 weeks. yep it is happening...
Thats it for me and my trip. I will try and update my blog regularly with my travel plans...keep watching this space