what an amazing and densely packed holiday it was!
i was working on the family to convince them to do a cruise along the norwegegian coastline in december to culminate in hopefully several northern lights sightings among other activities but an emphatic 'baddddddd' from a norwegian friend and that it would be too cold and too dark steered us to new zealand!!
from a volcanic island to
an island which is a very successful volunteer conservation project to
boat ride in an underground glow worm cave to hot springs to hobbiton to
maori culture (next time one can stick out a tongue at someone and
claim one is 0.01% maori so an acceptable custom) to a sheep farm to the
gorgeous blues of the tasman sea and the pacific to albatross watch to a
simulated antarctic storm to the lakes, gorges, glaciers, fjords,
wildflowers, train ride, jet boats, exotic endemic birds to hubby,kid
parasailing at 640 feet (hubby both loved and hated it , was so vocal
about it that the boat operator requested all except him to comment on
trip advisor 
), seeing the international space station streak across the night skies
among other southern stars on a skygazing tour and much more....we did
it all!
wishing you all an action packed 2016 !!
