Picton has been variously described as a "picturesque seaside town", "slice of paradise", "bustling coastal township" and "half asleep in winter hyperactive in summer". We arrived on a wet, overcast day and I think they forgot to tell the township that a cruise ship was in!!! Perhaps the most exciting part of the day was being greeted by the "flower ladies of Picton" with a beautiful fresh handmade corsage. Cruise shuttles are waiting to take you on the short ...

Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara in Maori )is the capital and the second largest city of NZ. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. Once again we are blessed with sunshine but a rather bracing wind ensures we know which city we are in !! The city centre is a short (15 minute) complimentary shuttle bus ride from the cruise ship with 2 stops; at the Beehive and then south of the city center in Wake...

If you are in Dunedin do yourself a favour and get out and WALK the street so you can see this amazing street art. The trail contains 35 + pieces with contributions from an eclectic mix of local, national and international artists. They are dotted around the city centre, nestled in alleyways, car parks and hidden around corners. There truly must be something for everyone to like and each of them complements its surroundings. Some were huge, some were small, som...

We arrived in the charming portside town of Port Chalmers with a pretty little church on the hill (dating back to 1871). After clearing security which took quite a while.....I can now see all 2000 passengers.....we took a short bus ride into Dunedin. The weather is cold but sunny and I am pleased to see no rain as I want to walk a lot today. Dunedin City is New Zealand's oldest City and it is quintessentially quaint. Well-known for its Victorian and Edwardian arc...

Suddenly tonight it is very clear we are on an American ship. Starting early this morning the ship was gradually overtaken by Halloween balloons, pumpkins and all matter of decorations. This evening guests were invited to dress in costume and party in the Centrum. As you can see from my photos there were many guests who went to great lengths with their costumes and guests of all ages came together to celebrate. Mum (at 91) did not wish to join the party but wa...