South Island New Zealand by bike.

Now that the bikes have arrived in one piece and the airport fun is behind us, it’s time to explain the plan. Over the next few weeks we’ll be riding roughly  1,600 kilometres across New Zealand’s South Island , starting in Christchurch and finishing in Picton . From there we’ll catch the ferry across Cook Strait to Wellington before heading home. The young apprentices, give them a wrench and a pair of pliers and kiwi kids could build anything .

I’ve never been a big fan of air travel at the best of times. Add a 2am alarm, a bicycle, and a month’s worth of self-supported touring gear — all while quietly wondering if my interpretation of “under the weight limit” matches the airline’s — and it’s not exactly screaming   holiday . At this rate, we might need a rest day before the trip even begins.