Quick update from Wellington - our first destination in the North Island of New Zealand!

We had a fantastic time on the South Island - such a beautiful beautiful place! After discovering the wineries around Marlborough, we then headed along the Queen Charlotte road along the Marlborough Sounds - really beautiful area, and relaxed in Picton before the ferry trip over to Wellington. Not the clearest day, and so the crossing wasn't as fantastic as it could be, but we still got some pretty nice views out of Marlborough Sounds into the strait.

Arrived to Wellington and drove straight to our old family friends - Ness and her boyfriend Josh's place. They have such a beautiful house in the hills outside Wellington CBD, and their views are amazing of the city and Oriental Bay. They have been really kind and welcoming to us - as always, we have truly landed on our feet being looked after! Its so lovely for us to get out of the campervan, have a bed that doesn't move for a couple of nights and just be in a lovely warm house! They are too kind, buying us food and looking after us, and we hope one day we can repay everyone who has looked after us so well! Anyone want to travel to Wales...!?

Spent the day exploring Wellington, one of my favourite cities in New Zealand. Bit of a cloudy day, but we still took the cable car up the hill to the Botanic Gardens, and walked around the cities sights - the Opera House, Oriental bay and beach, the Civic Square, and Cuba street - a little funky street full of bars, cafes, boutique shops and Wellington life. A real highlight was the Te Papa New Zealand National Museum - as far as museum goes, this is one of the best. Really interactive, and full of so much information you could spend days there. Goes through New Zealand natural history, wilflife, culture including Maori and Pacific Islander history - really interesting stuff, topped off with fun little things like earthquake simulators!

So the North Island has kicked off well and we are excited to head upto Art Deco Napier, then through central country (Taupo and Rotorua) before heading North to new territory for both of us...the Northlands!