To celebrate my 60th, my husband spent many months planning and researching a trip to mark this milestone birthday and he’s booked back to back cruises from Papeete French Polynesia to Melbourne Australia and debarking in Auckland New Zealand so we can continue by car for another 10 days. We’ve made a list and done as much online research of a wish list of sorts, for him he is excited to hike in the only US National Park south of the equator in American Samoa, for me, I want to revisit Rarotonga, Cook Islands, walk and hike as much as possible in each new island country and in Australia and New Zealand to see as much wildlife and learn about the indigenous cultures.

The packing has been the hardest because we want to do as much as possible but carry as little as possible with the 10 day road trip in mind. We will take one suitcase and 1 carry-on backpack each. Here is the list for 45 days of all weather:

IN SUITCASE

2 sets of masks, fins, snorkels and booties

2 sets of hiking boots and gaiters

1 walking collapsible stick

1 set (mine) rain gear

2 sets of underlayer long underwear

1 fleece jumper

1 DIckies overalls

1 insulated lunch bag and baggies to pack lunches

teabags for 2 weeks and 6 packets of electrolyte

toiletries

vitamins

6 pair underwear

2 pair of swimsuits

1 knit beanie and 1 foldable sunhat

sunscreen and mosquito repellant

1 dress

1 pantsuit

1pr leggings

4 t shirts

2 long sleeve SPF50 shirts

3 paperbacks

CARRYON

cell phone, passport, credit card, $300 cash

sketchbook with 300# cold press Arches 7x10in handmade 30 sheets

Saunders 140# cold press 4x6in 10 sheets

QOR half pan watercolor palette

My essential brushes: winsor newton squirrel mop, small, Sumi brush med, water pen pointed round med, rosemary and co small pointed round

VIVA cloth paper towels, flat sponge

5×5 Royal Talens sketchbook

Micron pen .05

snacks for the flight

saline eye drops to keep my eyes and nose from getting dried out