Hi again Andrew,

On Wed, 2 Dec 2009 21:01:04 +1300, "st.helier"
> wrote:


>> Indeed we shall! However, I quite like the idea of at least _starting_
>> the plans here, just in case anyone (Like Joseph) wants to join in
>> too, So I hope you don't mind me talking about it in advance here.
>
>
>Hi Ian (and JT and Joe Coulter and any one else interested!!!!!)
>
>Thought I would start a new thread!

An excellent and public spirited gesture.

>While the whole month of January is regarded as holiday month in NZ (meaning
>school holidays) the busiest period is generally the three week period
>commencing 24 December through to (about) 10 January.

Right you are, that's noted.

>However, you are correct - visiting "touristy" regions (and Central Otago
>and Northland both fit into that category!) is by no means impossible - with
>a little planning and advance bookings - certainly no "off-peak"
>accommodation though!

Well, with a phone and a guide book that's perfectly possible, I know
that with ou B&B, we can often fit someone in even in the busy period,
if they phone a few days before hand, and we're amongst the most
heavily advance booked B&Bs in the region.


>From my perspective, with so much advance notice, I can be very flexible
>too - and would have no trouble having the best part of a week in Central -
>and the same to show you "my place" up North.

BRILLIANT.

>So, an arrival some time around the 7/8/9/10 January 2012 could definitely be OK with me.

That timing would be just about perfect. We would probably look at
stopping off somewhere for a couple of days on the way out, so that we
can break the journey (I'm too old to do 23 odd hours on the trot) and
on the way back, I'd try to plan to visit a very good foodieFfrench
friend who's got a "maison secondaire" in Bangkok, to be near his son
and daughter-in-law.

"I love it when a plan comes together".
--
All the best
Fatty from Forges