30th May - 2nd June 27 Nelson to Picton

We drove back to Nelson and stopped overnight on the way to Picton to catch the ferry to the north island. Again, it was a very sunny day so we meandered into town, sat and had a coffee outside a café, which was a rare occasion here in NZ during winter.

We'd decided that we would go and see Indiana Jones, the new movie, seen as though we'd seen all the old films. So, again we went and had fish and chips, trying the Blue Nose fish this time.

This was the day (for some reason) we made a big travel itinerary decision, and that was to extend our stay in New Zealand for another month. Our plan was to catch the beginning of the ski season in the north island - Well, it was too tempting not to! Now we were to stay in NZ until 27th July, only spending 10 days in Fiji, and one month in the states.

It was a cold frosty morning as we headed to Picton, but still it was sunny. Picton is the main ferry port for the north and south island, and it sits within the picturesque Marlborough Sounds. It's only a small place and it only took around an hour, on foot, to see the entire town..

When we first arrived at the campsite, we became fascinated with our campsite neighbours' cat, which seemed to sit by the caravan door all day without hardly moving. At first we thought he must have been tied up, but no, apparently he went missing once for a few days a couple of years ago, and must have had a bit of a scare, because we are told he now never leaves the vicinity of the caravan for more than a few minutes. Although, saying that, he left his little mat when we threw some bread out for the birds - we caught him eating bread!

On our second day in Picton, we chilled and then drove around the coves and bays to see more of the Malborough Sounds. It was so lovely that we ended up driving a complete loop out of the sounds and followed the coast south, down to Blenheim and back. (See pics Robin Hood Bay)

It was our last day in Picton and we had time to kill before our 1:45pm departure. We spent most of the time in a café, and looking in shops, we were even looking at the local magazines which amused us for a while (that's how bored we were), there were a few grood magazine titles called "More Pork" and "Pig Hunter", showing a teenage girl with a rifle and a large wild boar, that she supposedly shot dead, and was very proud of - only in NZ (and maybe Oz)!

The ferry journey was really nice through the sounds, but as it got into open water, it became really rough. The journey took around 3 and a half hours and we didn't get into Wellington until after dark, it was also raining.