[NZ Day 2] Picton / Kaikoura

From North to South Island:
Early the next morning, Matt and I board The Islander at the Wellington docks for the three-hour trip which will take us to New Zealand’s South Island. One word... huge! I’ve never been on a big ferry before (not even the Spirit, between Melbourne and Hobart), but Matt assures me that this one is much bigger. Ten decks of seating, lounging food and atmosphere. A myriad of families, couples, backpackers and tourists, day-trippers and more take the trip with us and it’s amazing just how crowded it is.

It’s too windy to spend any more than a few minutes outside taking in the scenery (this picture shows the truth :P), so we head up to take a few obligatory photos and head back down to the lazy warmth of the upper decks and find a bar with comfortable seating. It is here that we find the best atmosphere (isn’t that always the way?), an eclectic mix of travellers from all over the globe, making introductions, storytelling and playing instruments. We hear many Australian and British accents throughout the bar, almost outnumbering the New Zealanders, or so it seems! Our three-hour trip passes quickly – with calm waters - and without incident.

The ferry docks into Picton (on the South Island) and we pick up our hire car, which we’ll be driving for the next nine days. Then it’s a short, two-hour drive to Kaikoura – where we’ll be staying overnight before heading to Christchurch. This leg of the trip is amazing, and the views down the coastal road are just stunning. Grey, stony beaches offset the deep blue water wonderfully, and there is never a shortage of magnificent mountainous peaks appearing around the next corner. In-land, there is ample grazing land in shades of vivid greens (not unlike the WindowsXP default desktop!) and yellowed grasses covering hills that seem to ripple and sway in the breeze like a living form.

Stopping by the side of the coastal road to take everything in, a travelling couple tell us there’s a sunbathing seal on the beach, so we head down the steep embankment for ourselves. It’s the small moments of exploration like this that have made for some of the fondest memories of our trip.

Kaikoura:
First impressions? Kaikoura is a small town with breath-taking scenery... grey sandy beaches and snow-capped peaks all in the one landscape. Very unlike anything I’ve laid eyes on before and definitely hits home that I’m not in Australia anymore. It isn’t until we’re about to leave the next morning that we discover a thriving, exciting beach culture (including a gorgeous handmade jewellery store where I make my only big purchase of the entire holiday).
Our accommodation is the best of the trip here! Very modern and a king-sized bed, with pretty furnishings and an attention to detail (obviously a woman’s touch :P). The bathroom contains a shower so complex that it requires a set of laminated instructions on how to use it! The all-in-one unit contains a remote control, radio, mirror, a seat, roof jets and a massager... however, figuring out how to have a “normal” shower proves to be more difficult than anticipated!!

We eat dinner at an Irish pub, which is set on a riverbank in a beautiful estate. A bit of a drive to get there but very much worth it – the surroundings are gorgeous and the setting sun against vivid greenery is just begging for photos. Matt and I enjoy a hearty meal and share the most epic of ice-cream desserts afterwards (it’s almost too pretty to eat!).

P.S. - And to answer your notes.... YES, it's proving incredibly difficult to narrow each day's pictures down to three. I'll link to my Picasa album shortly which will have many more of the photos from the trip within it. :)