We woke up this morning to a few cars going past but it's still pretty dark outside, it was 7.30am. We didn't rush because it was freezing and very misty which would make driving more difficult. We got breakfast and got going for 8.30am. It was still quite misty though, the sun was trying to make it's way through the cloud and mist. This did make for a beautiful morning drive. We were hoping to get a little way to Picton before getting some phone signal to book a ferry for tomorrow. We got some lovely views on the way. Something strange we've noticed in the more rural parts of New Zealand is that they seem to embrace the craziness! During the drive we saw a hugely long fence with hundreds of pairs of shoes attached. Previously we've seen one with hub caps and after looking it up apparently there has been one full of bras, that one is no more though. Bizarre! We managed to get stopped at a roadside, I've been feeling a cold coming on so while we were stopped I had a 15 minute nap. James got us a ferry booked for 10.30am tomorrow morning. We got set off again and drove through yet more beautiful scenery the closer we got to Picton as we drove some of the Marlborough Sounds. We reached Picton by 4.00pm ish and had a drive around the place, it's a nice port town but nothing much of interest around. We were just trying to find a spot we could freedom camp for the night. We popped to the supermarket as we're not sure when we'll get to the next one. On coming out James had a message to say our ferry had been cancelled tomorrow and we were now booked onto the 1.00pm one instead. It had a number to ring if this didn't suit, he rang hoping we might get on the one this evening instead, she said yes but we'd have to get to the terminal in the next five minutes, we threw the shopping inside and headed for the terminal. We got there in good time and checked in, apparently the views of the crossing are supposed to be amazing as you have to exit through Malborough Sounds so we are now missing out on this :(. Although we are hoping to meet Steph and Sam when we hit north island and getting there half a day early should make it easier than a full day later. We got in the queue and were told it would be around an hours wait, just enough time to make tea and get everything packed away properly. This crossing also has a reputation for being one of the roughest, they say around one in three crossings are very rough. Can't say I'm looking forward to it seen as the weather has not been great today. We got on the ferry at last and made our way upstairs, the crossing should take three hours so we've brought our books for entertainment. It was going ok until there was a safety announcment which said that tonights conditions were "less than favourable" so to stay seated if possible. I just laid out on one of the two seater settees hoping to get some sleep. When we started to come in the whole crossing had not actually been that bad. We got into the van and off the ferry into Wellington, by now though it was 11.30pm James had seen a free site 30km out of Wellington, past a place called.......Whitby! We stayed there for the night, completely knackered!