Now heading away from Wellington - but we'll be back next weekend for the rugby. More later. E & M xx

The three hour ferry journey across the Cook Strait takes about an hour to negotiate through the Marlborough Sounds before getting into to choppier waters of the Strait. With the weather being as it was we did have spell where water broke over the bows and soaked the upper deck widows. The sick bags were coming up but it didn't last long and E&M tucked into their food as normal. As North Island and Wellington loomed it was clear (certainly wasn't!) that Nor...

As we’ve said about many places before, it was sad to be leaving – this time, Golden Bay - and as we headed over the summit of Takaka Hill for the last time we had a fond look backwards over the Bay and up to Farewell Spit – it was certainly a final farewell this time. Our journey to Picton took us back through Nelson where we encountered real warm sunshine when we stopped for a coffee and, seeing everyone walking about in their shorts and jandals we hop...

Next morning we had great intentions of doing a few things in Golden Bay - where we were heading - and beforehand in the outskirts of Nelson. But heading out of town/city we decided that it would be better to make tracks to our destination, Collingwood, a good three hour drive away.On the other side of the Tasman Bay from Nelson stands the Abel Tasman National Park and once again we found ourselves driving through the most wonderful scenery as the road snaked its...

Once again, our drive took us through glorious scenery, enhanced by the sun shining down on us. Nelson sits on the north coast along a wide bay and surrounded by mountains.It's a really attractive town and like all the South Island cities we've been to, easy to get around so it didn't take us long to find our very central motel.After a quick visit to the Visitor Information and a cup of coffee we set off for a round of golf at Maitai - Waahi Taakaro Golf Course, ...