On drive south from Marlborough Sounds we stopped off in Nelson. We didn't really know much about the place before we arrived and we weren't overly impressed to be honest. We found a nice campsite which, like many of the others we've stayed at, claim to be a few hundred metres walk from the city centre and turn out to be a good few kilometres away! Still, at least we have our car now so its much easier to get supplies etc. On the evening of our arrival we decided to go into town for a few drinks. As it was a Friday night we expected it to be quite lively, but even by 10pm everywhere was eerily quiet. Quiet apart from the hoards of pimped up cars, driven by "NZ Neds", parading up and down the main street. They would slow as the passed, making supposed intimidating faces, and then screech off again. Very very bizzarre! We didn't stay out too long and were left feeling thoroughly confused by the whole experience! It seems nowhere in the world is completely chav-less.

The next day there was a market on in the town centre, selling lots of local produce and clothes. We tried a Whitebait Pattie, an omelette type pancake filled with whitebait fish sprinkled with salt, which is a local speciality. Very tasty indeed! We also discovered an amazing icecream shop which sold 6 scoop ice-creams for $7!! Neither of us thought we could handle it though, so we opted for just 2 scoops instead and sat out on the bench in the sun to enjoy them. In the afternoon we took a stroll around town, and went to the shop where the rings for Lord of the Rings were made. Unfortunately it was shut, but we could see one through the window. I don't think it had been used in the film though. Apparently over 30 were made for the film, of various sizes and weights, for hobbit fingers and Gandalf fingers alike! In the evening we went to the harbour for dinner. We soon decided most of the restaurants were a bit out of our price-range, so we had fish and chips on the pier instead. Also very tasty!

-S