20th Feb - Off to South Island!

Rick and Judi's friends had a lot of doom and gloom stories about how long it might take us to get to Wellington with mountain passes closed and heavy traffic on alternative routes. So we got up at stupid o'clock and hit the road by about 7.30am. In the event we made good time and we were in the queue for the Interisland ferry with plenty of margin. This is not a roll on - roll off ferry like we are used to. You have to drive in and then do a u-turn at the end of the hold so as to be facing in the right direction to drive off. Those who have done this trip from Wellington to Picton will know that you leave Wellington harbour and then head east along the Cook Straits before approaching Picton through the Marlborough Sounds. This is a stunning voyage and though it was windy, we spent as much of it as possible on deck.

When we arrived, the beauty of having had the whole trip arranged by 'natives' who know what they are doing really sunk in! We went straight to a 'bach' they had arranged for the night at a place called Anakiwa. This was nowhere in particular you might think- but the view down Queen Charlotte Sound was TO DIE DIE FOR.

So we admired this for a while over a few G&Ts - and then barbecued some sausages on the terrace and retired to bed. 

The following morning we went for a quick walk before setting off for the Abel Tasman.