We left lush green North Island and windy Wellington under grey skies and had a fab, smooth crossing to Picton across the Cook Straight and into hot sunshine and dry, dry scenery. The 'Low Fire Risk' signs in NI became 'High Fire Risk' in SI. As we sailed we could see the 'Long White Cloud' firmly over North Island on the right and bright blue cloudless skies of South Island on the left. We looked forward with expectancy at the treasures to explore over the next three weeks.

The voyage was very beautiful, the ship soon passed into Queen Charlotte sound and we admired the blue of the sea, the remote, fairly inaccessible beach front houses and the sailing boats passing us by. We landed in Picton, sneezed and had passed through it and quickly entered the Marlborough wine region - hundreds and hundreds of vines, a number of lavender farms, and everywhere else dry dry grass. Meagre pickings for the cows and sheep for sure. As we left one drive-through township we saw a wild boar strapped to someone's car roof, and shortly after glimpsed for the first time the beautiful, blue Pacific Ocean. The road down from Picton to Kaikoura reminded us very much of the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, one minute up high, the next down by the crashing waves. (No glorious Apostles though!) Sarah had suggested we stop at Oahuru to see visit the waterfall and hopefully seal pup's, so we stopped, admired the waterfall but sadly not any seal babies, we'll have to come back in April! But we did see their mum's basking on the rocks at the point where the river joined the sea.

With the blue sky, the warmth of the sun and the blue sky, we have great expectations of our adventures in South Island, and a lovely three weeks to experience them! Bring it on!