Picton! Ahoy!

When you want to skip accross to the South Island you can do what all the boring business people do, and fly there. Over-rated, over priced and way too quick to bring any joy. So, rather take the ferry!!


It works somewhat like this...

Plan where you are going to go; off course!

Then, get up with the birds to catch the bus from the stop about 5 minutes away form your house. Ask the driver if he can drop you at the station. (Smile,

And you guessed it, didn't you? Yep! Next step is the train. Get on that.


Don't just sit there with all your luggage, people will stare and wonder.

Then, get to the terminal and get on the ferry. (Did you remember the tickets?)





It is a boat on the outsde, and a bit of a hotel, restauarant, pub, and look-out on the inside - oh, and being a ferry it can take your car on it as well, but for the purpose of this class, Picton 101, we will assume we all make use of public transport!!


After a lovely breakfast (optionally extra, off course) you should be enjoying awesome views from the deck in the lovely sun with hunderds of other curious and curiously looking passengers.



Some may not be so taken with the awesoemness of surrounding ocean, landmass and the volumes of super-fresh air and may opt to rest-up for the next party.

And after a while the nice breakfast (see above under optional items), and the warm sun catch up and you decide to join those less inclined to the view(see above, again)


Leaving the shores of Wellington removes the bit of wind-shield you may enjoy on the first part of the journey. If you had not secured a nice spot away from the wind, you may wish to enjoy the ameneties provided on the inside.




For those brave enough, the views are worth the resistance!!


Especially when enetering "The Sounds" - the land mass bits of the northern part of the South Island. Because words would just spoil it, here are some of the images for your enjoyment.







PICTON!!!! Yeah!!


The absolute calm that unfolds as the open sea winds are shielded by high hills make all those insider pile out into the open for fresher air, photos and whatever all else people do on decks of ferries.

You may even be fortunate enough to see those leaving and you just hope they left some of it standing for you to enjoy.

Wheteher entering by boat

By plane


or in your thousands...

Picton sure was a pretty busy landing spot!!!




Congratulations! You're in Picton! Now what?


Rental car! Sounds like a great idea. Just pay the extra $15 dollars and go with the known names - the budget option is sometimes a bit dodge, but hey, it was transport!!


Oh, and you would need a nice place to stay; something like a Marram Trust holiday house or something. They're not used to cardboard boxes and old blankets infront of store windows in this town, so you might be frowned upon! Get a room!!




Now, before the sun sets; don't worry, that's around 9pm, get into your rental and go get some local scenery into memory. Rain or shine, just do it!

Check out how the locals live and secretly envy them...

Be prepared to be awed. If you are not awed you are emotionally flawed and be reminded that you will not be refunded; this was all your own decision.

Carry along the roads surrounded by all this amazingness and think to yourself why the originators of the Adam and Eve story did not place them here as opposed to some dry desert with a view 4 rivers in the Middle East.

The Queen Charlotte Sounds - just images; words only damage the magic it spells on you...

BOO! Snap out of it! Let's break the silence!! Pack your stuff & let's go - more place to see, things to do - experiences to be had Come on, come on, let's go!!!

So she packed up...

On a bus to Kaikoura, and gone with the green. South of Blenheim has only green vineyards. Arme hulle!

The awesome coastal scenery breaks the bland dryness of brown hills.

To arrive a couple of hours later in "Whale Town", Kaikoura (Kiwi Land's Hermanus)

Ah, off to the beach for whale watching, then.

And we're looking...

Still looking... (Maybe the HUMP-back's needed some privacy to go live up to their name)

Some take to fishing while they wait.

We opted for a nap on somewhat less comfortable pebblles. Nonetheless, what lovely scenery.

Can't sleep all day, so back into town for munchies!!

The Whaler, how wrong the name, but how awsome the Spare Ribs - the best in Kiwi Land so far!!!!

A very welcome spot to enjoy a cold beer after a long day's exploring, or

to be annoyed by snap happy females with cameras!!!! I'm the camera guy, me, no one else! Grrrr...

Scenery from Kaikoura that don't need spoiling comments... (or maybe I just run out of things to say from time to time).

Back to Picton was a sleepy ride on the bus to arrive in the dark, tired, but left with a sense of fulfilment... The next morning saw us up early and here are some breathtaking images from a sunny Picton as we made our way though the motions back to Wellington...

WHAT A WAY TO SPEND A WEEKEND.