Keenan • NZ is my ‘you’re not gonna die so drain your savings’ celebration 🙂

February 22 at 11:36am •

NEW ZEALAND in only 9 days!

half marathon Wednesday [13.5 miles] – channeled my inner angry girl [Pink on the iPod], negative split 2nd Half [work day time crunch] – NEW ZEALAND in only 9 days!  #cancerfree

 

Sandra • looking good, just like a winner should.
Keenan • Thanks Sandy — life is really really good.
Sandra • I’m glad for you. I’m happy too. Life is good.

Preston • Glad you’re back in your running shoes!!! Wishing you lots of energy and fun.

Stacy • So awesome!!!!
Keenan • NZ is my ‘you’re not gonna die so drain your savings’ celebration 🙂
Stacy • Sounds like a MUST meet up for sharing coffee, stories, and photos when you get back!

Dawn • There are too many more places to see!
Keenan • Agreed, travel buddy!

Gwendolyn C • Good luck!

Ellen • Yay!!! I’m so proud of you, high school chum!

Gwendolyn R • Inner angry girl negative split lmao I might need to try that hat trick!
Keenan • HAHA – Pink was my jam today. 2 hours of angry girl – best!
Gwendolyn R • PERFECTLY PINK Have a blast in New Zealand can’t wait for the pics!

Erin • You’re awesome K*!!! Good luck!

Sarah • Gotta love Pink for motivating!!! Have a blast in NZ…can’t wait to hear all about your adventures there!

Keenan • Mark your calendar – Toronto, May 2017!
Sarah • oh ya… I keep forgetting that LOL seems so far away…

Tina • Amazing! Look good, K*! Miss you. Please come down to our area so, we can have a reunion soon.
Millie • You go K!!! Love & miss you, Aunt Millie

Will be out-of pocket most of March — but expect some amazing blog posts when   I return.  New Zealand, how crazy is that?!!   WOW, WOW, WOW!  ❤️

**Every Kiwi Quest needs an ITINERARY – here’s mine (and another marathon too)**

AU converter for my iPhone

Daylight hours from 7:30am – 8:00pm, take a raincoat and pack an umbrella!  March tends to be Queenstown’s wettest month of the year.  Temperatures range from 40-65 °F.

• Auckland
  1. Flight arrives 7:30 AM
  2. Hop-on Hop-off Tour 9am – 4pm, ½ hour intervals
  3. Grand Millenium Auckland CHECK IN after 3pm
  4. Sky Tower
• Leave Auckland & travel to Rotorua
  1. Rail New Zealand Tour 7:30am – 4:59pm E ticket
  2. Overnight in Rotorua at Apex on Fenton
• Leave Rotorua & travel to Christchurch
  1. Happy Ewe Tour 10:00am – 1:00pm
  2. Flight to Christchurch 4:00pm departure, 5:50pm arrival
  3. Overnight in Christchurch Airport Palms Motel
• Jet Boat Tour
  1. Scenicpacific Tour Alpine Safari Train – Jet Boat – 4WD 8:00am – 6:00pm
  2. Overnight in Christchurch Airport Palms Motel
• Pick up car APEX rental @ 9:00am & travel to Franz Josef Glacier
  1. Real Journeys Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise, phone 0800 65 65 01
  2. Depart Christchurch – views of Waimakariri River before Arthur’s Pass Hwy 73
  3. 2 hours to Castle Hill – stop and crawl on boulders
  4. 2 more hours to Hokitika Gorge – hike & explore
  5. Lake Kaniere (if time permits)
  6. Down west coast to Franz Joseph
  7. Overnight in Franz Josef Alpine Glacier Motel CHECK IN by 8pm
• Travel to Queenstown
  1. Minnehaha Walk (possibly Thursday night instead – glow worms in rainforest)
  2. River Walk (suspension bridge – good view of glacier)
  3. 5 hours to Queenstown – go past and do Glenorchy-Queenstown Road with great views of Lake Wakatipu
  4. Overnight in Queenstown Blue Peaks Apartments CHECK IN by 9pm
• Tour Doubtful Sound
  1. Real Journeys Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise 7:15am – 8:15pm
  2. Overnight in Queenstown Blue Peaks Apartments
• Tour Queenstown
  1. Nomad Safari Tour (half day)
     1. LOTR Scenes Wakatipu Basin 8:15am – 12:15pm
  2. Queenstown Gardens
  3. Gondola/Luge Park
  4. Overnight in Queenstown Blue Peaks Apartments
• Travel to Dunedin
  1. 3 ½ drive
  2. Olveston House Tours 9:30, 10:45, noon, 1:30, 2:45, 4:00 (people usually spend 2 hours here)
  3. Larnach Castle & Garden 9:00am – 7:00pm self-guided tour option
  4. Railway Station (said to be a must see)
  5. Cadbury World 9:00am – 3:00pm 1 hour tours
  6. Overnight in Dunedin Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
• Tour Dunedin
  1. See prior day list as all won’t be done in ½ day after getting there
  2. St Clair beach
  3. Overnight in Dunedin Scenic Hotel Southern Cross
• Travel to Oamaru
  1. Moeraki Boulders 75km north of Dunedin, 40 km south of Oamaru
  2. Victorian Precinct
  3. Blue Penguin Colony (evening, pay, stands to watch)
  4. Yellow-eyed Penguin Colony (evening, free)
  5. Overnight in Oamaru The Criterion Hotel
• Travel to Hamilton
  1. Breakfast Included at Criterion Hotel
  2. 3 ½ drive to Christchurch to return car (noon return time)
  3. 2pm flight departs Christchurch arrives 3:45pm Hamilton (Alternate flight departs 6:15pm and arrives 8:00pm)
  4. Pick up Avis car by 4:30 (rental closes at 5pm)
  5. Overnight in Hamilton (North Island) Novotel Tainui Hamilton

• Hamilton/Matamata
  1. Tour Hobbiton (2 hours) 10am tour – arrive by 9:45 to check in
  2. Sanctuary Mountain self-guided options 8:30 – 4:00
  3. Overnight in Hamilton Novotel Tainui
• Hamilton/Auckland
  1. Kirikiriroa Marathon to start at 7:00
  2. Hamilton Gardens
  3. Waikato Museum
  4. Travel to Auckland (2 hour drive) Drop off for car at Airport is 8pm
  5. Flight is 11:10 pm