While you waited for Diamantina to provide her response, I thought I might just butt and give my 2 cents. Coming from a country that cricket-crazy, I can, with reasonable certainty, guess that cricket won't be something Americans will enjoy. It's more of an acquired taste :)

I am sure watching any sport live has its own charm and appeal, but cricket is best appreciated in the comfort of a room with adequate on-screen support of replays, graphics and, not to mention, colorful commentary.

There are primarily 3 versions of the game - Test matches (can last up to 5 days with each day lasting from 10 am till up to 5 pm ), One Day Internationals (again 6-7 hours of play in a day) and T20 matches (a much shorter version which can be finished in about 3 hours). Test matches and One Day Internationals can be a bit boring for people who are new to the game whereas T20s are probably entertaining for the pace and action on the field.

Thanks, skasse. We'll probably pass on going to the cricket match.

Watching cricket is like watching paint dry. To this yank anyway:)

Here’s a revised version of our itinerary. (I have tried to present it in a more reader-friendly way.) I have deleted Christchurch. The only day with a LOT of driving is Feb. 22 (Abel Tasman N.P. to Franz Josef Glacier). It seems that the things along (Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, Hokitika, Hokitika Gorge) each don’t require much time. I thought this was preferable to having a couple of one-night stands during this portion of the trip. I currently have three nights in Wellington. I suppose that could be reduced to two nights, and we could add a night somewhere; if so where? I would appreciate suggestions of where to stay (cities or specific lodgings) for Abel Tasman N.P. and for Okarito/Franz Josef Glacier/Fox Glacier. Thanks.

Tues., Feb. 13 – Arrive Wellington at 12:05 pm.

*TUES., FEB. 13 - FRI., FEB. 16 (3 NTS.): WELLINGTON
Te Papa Museum, Zealandia Eco-Sanctuary, other things in Wellington area
Fri., Feb. 16 pm – Drive to Tongariro (3-1/2 hrs.)

*FRI., FEB. 16 - SUN., FEB. 18 (2 NTS.): TONGARIRO (stay at Discovery Lodge)
Sat., Feb. 17 - Hike Tongariro Crossing (12.5 miles)
Sun., Feb. 18 - Something in the Tongariro area in morning, then drive to Wellington (3-1/2 hrs.), drop off car, take ferry from Wellington to Picton

*SUN., FEB. 18 - TUES., FEB. 20 (2 NTS.): PICTON
Mon., Feb. 19 – Hike Queen Charlotte Track or kayak Queen Charlotte Sound or Marlborough Sounds
Tues.., Feb. 20 - Drive Picton to Nelson (83 mi., 1 hr. 46 min.), time in Nelson (WOW, bike part of Tasman Great Taste Trail), drive Nelson to Abel Tasman National Park (41 mi.,1 hr. 13 min.)

*TUES., FEB. 20 – THURS., FEB. 22 (2 NTS.): NEAR ABEL TASMAN N.P - WHERE TO STAY???
Wed., Feb. 21 – in Abel Tasman N.P. (e.g., kayak)
Thurs., Feb. 22 – Leave early. Drive from Abel Tasman to Frank Josef Glacier; along the way stop at Punakaiki (176 miles, 4 h 5 min from Abel Tasman), Hokitika (51.9 miles, 1 h 11 min. from Punakaki), Hokitka Gorge (21.7 mi, 34 min. from Hokitika; then 103 miles, 2 h 19 to Franz Glacier)

*THURS., FEB. 22 – SAT., FEB 24 (2 NTS.): OKARITO, FRANZ JOSE GLACIER, OR FOX GLACIER – WHERE TO STAY??
Fri., Feb. 23, and Sat., Feb. 24 am– Kayak Okarito, Lake Matheson, visit glaciers
Sat., Feb. 24 - Drive from Franz Josef to Mt. Aspiring N.P. (114 miles, 2 h 21 min), time in Mt. Aspiring N.P. (e.g. Blue Pools Walk), drive from Mt. Aspiring N.P. to Wanaka (40 miles, 55 min.)

*SAT., FEB. 24 - MON., FEB. 26 (2 NTS.): WANAKA (stay at the [Tin] Shed B&B)
Sun., Feb. 25 ?& Mon., Feb. 26 am – Things in the Wanaka area, e.g., hike Rob Roy Glacier, bike along Lake Wanaka, visit Puzzling World
Mon., Feb. 26 - Drive from Wanaka to Te Anau (140 mi., 2 hr. 55 min). ??On the way stop in Queenstown (e.g., bike ride in Arrowtown) (or do all Queenstown-area things on Feb. 28)

*MON,. FEB. 26 – WED., FEB. 28 (2 NTS.): TE ANAU
Tues., Feb. 27 - Day in Milford area, hiking and kayaking (Drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound is 74 mi., 1 hr. 47 min., each way)
Wed., Feb. 28 - Drive from Te Anau to Queenstown (107 mi., 2 hrs. 9 min.), day in Queenstown

WED., FEB. 28 – THURS., MAR. 1 (1 NT.): QUEENSTOWN
Thurs., Mar. 1, 11:55 am – Depart Queenstown

I've made some additional changes. The main ones are that I've dropped Tangariro (which avoids a lot of driving and the chance that that would all be for naught since the Crossing seems to be closed so often), added a night stopover between Abel Tasman and Fox Glacier, and added an extra night in Wanaka. Here's what I have now. Would love your feedback. Thanks!

Tues., Feb. 13 – Arrive Wellington at 12:05 pm.

*TUES., FEB. 13 - FRI., FEB. 16 (3 NTS.): WELLINGTON

Te Papa Museum, Zealandia Eco-Sanctuary, other things in Wellington area

Fri., Feb. 16, pm – Ferry from Wellington to Picton

**FRI., FEB. 16 - SUN., FEB. 18 (2 NTS.): PICTON

Sat., Feb. 17 – Hike Queen Charlotte Track or kayak Queen Charlotte Sound or Marlborough Sounds

Sun., Feb. 18 - Drive Picton to Nelson (83 mi., 1 hr. 46 min.). Time in Nelson (WOW, bike part of Tasman Great Taste Trail). Drive Nelson to Abel Tasman National Park (41 mi., 1 hr. 13 min.)

*SUN., FEB. 18 - TUES., FEB. 20 (2 NTS.): NEAR ABEL TASMAN N.P (Stay in Kaiteriteri)

Mon., Feb. 19 – In Abel Tasman N.P. (e.g., kayak)

Tues., Feb. 20 – Leave early. Drive from Abel Tasman to Punakaiki (176 miles, 4 h 5 min from Abel Tasman). See Pancake Rocks. Then drive to Hokitika Gorge (72.6 miles, 1 h 45 min). See gorge. Then drive back to Hokitika (21.7 mi, 34 min.)

*TUES., FEB. 20 – WED., FEB. 21 (1 NT.): HOKITIKA

Wed., Feb. 21 – Drive from Hokitika to Okarito (79.0 miles, 1 h 41 min). Spend time at Okarito Lagoon. ?Stop by Franz Joseph? Then drive to Fox Glacier (31.4 miles, 52 min from Okarito)

*WED., FEB. 21 – FRI., FEB. 23 (2 NTS): FOX GLACIER

Thurs., Feb. 22 – Lake Matheson, visit glaciers.

Fri., Feb. 23 – Drive from Fox Glacier to Mt. Aspiring N.P. (118 miles, 2 h 15 min.). Time in Mt. Aspiring N.P. (e.g. Blue Pools Walk). Drive from Mt. Aspiring N.P. to Wanaka (45.1 miles, 1 hr., 1min.)

*FRI., FEB. 23 - MON., FEB. 26 (3 NTS.): WANAKA (stay at the [Tin] Shed B&B)

Sat., Feb. 24 - Mon., Feb. 26 am – Things in the Wanaka area, e.g., hike Rob Roy Glacier, bike along Lake Wanaka, visit Puzzling World

Mon., Feb. 26 - Drive from Wanaka to Te Anau (140 mi., 2 hr. 55 min). ??On the way stop in Queenstown (e.g., bike ride in Arrowtown) (or do all Queenstown-area things on Feb. 28)

*MON,. FEB. 26 – WED., FEB. 28 (2 NTS.): TE ANAU

Tues., Feb. 27 - Day in Milford area, hiking and kayaking (Drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound is 74 mi., 1 hr. 47 min., each way)

Wed., Feb. 28 - Drive from Te Anau to Queenstown (107 mi., 2 hrs. 9 min.), day in Queenstown

WED., FEB. 28 – THURS., MAR. 1 (1 NT.): QUEENSTOWN

Thurs., Mar. 1, 11:55 am – Depart Queenstown

I just typed a long response, then noticed I was answering your post from the 20th, not the revision of the 21st!

As for your latest itinerary - big improvement! I think it will work nicely. The only drawback I see is that you have no time to see much of Queenstown, but something has to give. Think of this as your first trip, not your only trip. You will be back!

Thanks, Mlnq8, and thanks to everyone who's helped.