Christchurch Bookcrossers Meetup: If you're arriving in Christchurch early, why not come along to our regular second-Tuesday-of-the-month meetup, from 6 pm at Cafe Bleu in Cashel Mall. (Pay for your own dinner).

Newk's Early Birds' Dinner
See the Conventions and Meetings forum for more information.

Early Birds' Adventure: day-trip by Tranz Alpine train across the Southern Alps. This is a must-see tourist experience. (Extra cost: $199 return)

Book your ticket via the Tranz Alpine website (date of travel is 16 April 2009). Seats aren't pre-assigned, but if we all check in together we'll be able to make sure we're sitting in the same carriage.

Breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks will be available to purchase on the train.

Meet at Christchurch Railway Station at 7.45 am so we can check in together. Train departs at 8.15 am, and returns to Christchurch at 6.05 pm.

Tranzalpinists' Dinner
Join the Tranzalpine day-trippers and other early birds for dinner at Cafe Bleu. (Pay for your own dinner).

All weekend

Reverse Scavenger Hunt: Form a team or compete individually in this bookcrossing challenge, which can be completed any time over the course of the weekend.

Instructions and entry form will be found in your goody bag.

Registration open from 10 am until 5 pm at Cathedral Grammar. Members of the organising committee will be on hand to issue your nametag and goody bag, and answer any questions.

Bookshop tour: a walking tour of some of our favourite new and second-hand bookshops. Stock up on books for the weekend! (May be a small extra cost if we use public transport to get to the more far-flung bookshops. May be a large extra cost if you buy lots of books.)

Tour departs from Cathedral Grammar at 1 pm.

Organisers' Dinner: The committee will be dining together at the Dux de Lux, and other bookcrossers are welcome to join us. (Pay for your own dinner.)

Official Welcome and meet and greet. Light supper included, BYO drinks (where to find a bottle store).

Venue: Cathedral Grammar

Release Walk Option 1: Release Walk Extreme - a longer, brisker walk for extra-keen releasers.

Meet at the Chalice in Cathedral Square at 8.30 am.

Release Walk Option 2: Release Walk - a walking tour around central Christchurch's sights, with plenty of releasing opportunities.

Meet at the Chalice in Cathedral Square at 9.30 am.

Release Walk Option 3: Botanic Gardens Stroll - a gentle stroll through these spectacular gardens for those who prefer their releasing at a slower pace.

If you have limited mobility, you might prefer to catch a ride on The Caterpillar, a hop-on hop-off tour around the gardens.

Meet at Cathedral Grammar at 10 am.

1.30 pm

Please be back promptly at Cathedral Grammar by 1.30 pm for the afternoon's events, including:

• Guest speaker:
  • "Janet Frame Swims the Tasman Sea"
    Janet Frame's biographer Patrick Evans talks about one of NZ's greatest authors.
• Official presentation from Bookcrossing head office.
• Mystery guest speaker.
• The Lost Book screening.
• Presentation of plans for Amsterdam 2010.
• Presentations of bids for 2011.
• CPIT's Bookcrossing Documentary screening.
• Guest speaker:
• "Books Unchained: A History"
  Deborah Fitchett (known to Christchurch bookcrossers as Zeborah) gives a historical overview of the freeing of books, from them being chained up in very closed access libraries to being released and travelling all over the world via bookcrossing.

Tea and coffee will be available during breaks in the programme.

Dinner. BYO drinks (bottle stores).

Venue: Cathedral Grammar

Quiz Night.

Venue: Cathedral Grammar

Link-up with Washington DC
The DC Bookcrossers are holding a Bookcrossing Birthday Bash to coincide with the Convention, and will be on line to chat with us between 9 and 10 am (NZ time).

Venue: Internutz internet cafe (opposite Coffee Club) or anywhere else with an internet connection.
Virtual Venue: WhiteRaven13's chatroom (note the chatroom will not be accessible until just before 9 am, so this link will not work until then)

Farewell Brunch (pay for your own breakfast).
If you're feeling hungry, the cafe will be open for breakfast from 8.30 am. Official proceedings will begin at 10.

Venue: Coffee Club, High Street Mall.

Wine Trail: for those who want to extend the party a little longer, join us for a bus tour of some of Canterbury's fantastic vineyards, sampling a little something along the way. (Extra cost: $65)

Tour will depart from High Street.

OR:
12.50 pm

Why not visit one of Christchurch's great tourist attractions. If there's interest, we'll organise groups to go together. (Extra cost)

• Antarctic Centre
• Willowbank
• Gondola
• Tram
• Punting on Avon

Note: There will be discount vouchers in your goodie bags for several of these attractions. If you are going to be in Christchurch before the convention and want to visit any of the attractions, let us know and we'll get your voucher to you.