On that note my rough plans are as follows:

Take my car down on 27th December (up to 5 people), head over to Takaka for a few days rock climbing/lying in sun/short tramps/drinking and spend new years in Golden Bay somewhere.

Then start of January (2nd or 3rd) head south for possible Stewart Island trip. This would probably not be the north west circuit (too long and mud filled) and probably won't be the Tin Range I had planned (too expensive to get boat down to south of the island) but will probably involve some cool tramping thru bush, scrub and tops and potentially sea kayaking as well! Would look to spend 7-8 days here.

Then in no particular order would like to do:

• week or so climbing and tramping round Mt Cook national park
• big trans-alpine tramp to Olivine Ice Plateau (only for experienced - involves glaciers, alpine travel, not much in the way of huts/tracks and probably 9-10 days...)
• short fiordland tramp (not great walk - any recommendations anyone?)
• drinking, illegal camping and other road trip activities!
  

Coming back early February (probably should be back at work by 11th at latest).

So let me know what if anything your keen for (especially stewart island) and can start making plans. I'm pretty flexible so just depends what everyone else is up to!