The cruise starts at Auckland, on the North Island of New Zealand, and makes hops down the east coast of both islands. We will round the tip of the South Island, briefly cruise the fiords on its southwest edge, then steam 700 miles across the Tasman Sea to Burnie, (Tasmania), Melbourne, and Sydney.
The run-up happened as follows: Betsy announced to her Mah Jongg fellows that we were so traveling, and after some confusion concerning the projected cost, bade them farewell. Later that day her card mate Bobbie called to say that she and her husband Roger were fellow-traveling with us, and not to be outdone, so were her good friends Joan and Rich. We handsome six-some met and planned and solidified the trip.