After a very comical ferry crossing with half of the crew still intoxicated from the night before we eventually arrived onto the South Island! We departed the port in Picton and headed for some free wine tasting...great- just what we all needed in our delicate states!! So we tasted a variety of NZ wines...yummy! Needless to say our alcohol levels were topped up again and was an amusing bus journey to our destination of Nelson! We arrived late afternoon to a quiet little town and one of the higher standard of backpackers attached to a pub! Met by the lovely owner who alocated our rooms and informed us that the free beer tasting was at 5.30..could it get any better!! Quick shower and we were ready....the ale's were far to bitter for my tastebuds so sorry dad but there was only one thing to do with them, a few rounds of 21's to consume the lot!! I lost terribly, well was well and truely stitched up!! We were then served a roast lamb dinner at backpackers rates... and yes it was backpackers standards but it did the job! We finished the evening with a few more drinks in the hostel and a quietish night as we were all feeling a little jaded!

The following morning after checking out we headed towards Nelson Lakes National Park. We parked up and took in the views of the stunning Lake Rotoito, which was surrounded by beautiful snow mountains. It was very pictureque. Here we stopped off for a picnic before departing for our next destination Westport.