We awoke to the soothing sound of the sea. Our morning view across the ocean was beautiful. After brekky we drove to the Castlepoint Scenic Reserve and went for a walk to the lighthouse up on the headland. There was a dark and brooding atmosphere here but it was a very beautiful place. We walked right up to the lighthouse on Castle Rock and got some great views across the bay towards the camp site and in the other direction of the sheltered lagoon. From the lighthouse we walked back down and along the beach that stretched the length of the lagoon. We walked right to the end where the lagoon met the open ocean. Whilst we were stood on a rock here looking out to sea I thought that I saw something out of the corner of my eye. At first I thought that it was just a rock and then I saw it move. It was a fur seal with it's head popped out of the water. It appears that it was curious and had just come to say hi. After a few moments of both us and the seal staring in wonder the seal popped back under the water. What a lovely encounter. A low mist was now down over the hills and we could feel rain threatening in the air. We drove away from Castlepoint along the twisting and turning and misty roads back towards the main highway and scaryville! Both Masterton and Carterton felt dark and unwelcoming. Our destination was Martinborough, a wine village , about halfway between Castlepoint and Wellington. Martinborough was surrounded by vineyards and felt very pleasant after the darkness of scaryville. We checked in at the camp site which was lovely. I got a very friendly welcome at the reception by the owner and his cat, Claudia, who I gave a big stroke whilst she purred away. We got a nice quiet spot overlooking fields. We just chilled out for the rest of the day whilst heavy rain showers blasted the camper van.