Itinerary 22 october through 31 October

22 October through 25 October
I leave for the Kaikoura Coast Tramp tomorrow. The start is about 140 km north of Christchurch, at The Staging Post on a farnmstead. This is luxury tramping. Since it's across private land, there is a limit of 10 people a day. Your main pack is transported for you to the next farm, so all you need to carry is a day pack with rain gear and lunch. Each day is 5 hours at the most, leaving plenty of time for sightseeing (if the weather is good).

Each night there are hot showers and a real bed (in a loft or bunkhouse on a farm). A hot meal is available for purchase or you can use the fully stocked kitchens.

26 October to 27 October
On to Kaikoura for 2 days.

28 October
The Magic Bus to Picton. Overnight at a backpackers'.

29 October
One day on the Queen Charlotte Track. It's a 4-day tramp, but I didn't want to do all of it.)

30 October
Pick up The Magic Bus again and ferry to Wellington (capitol city of New Zealand and on the southern tip of the North Island). I want a few days in Wellington, so I'll pick up The Magic Bus again later.

31 October until ???
Wellington, arranging connections to Egmont in the southwest of the North Island. These will be multi-day tramps through some high country.