Wellington

Today we took the ferry from Picton in the South Island through the beautiful Queen Charlotte Sound across  the Cook Straight to the North Island. We have arrived on a lovely sunny saturday evening at our hotel in Wellington.

Tomorrow we will start to explore Wellington and getting ready to start the orientation course on Monday

Blenheim

So we left our van in a cloudy dull Christchirch and drove up to Blenheim where it's hot and sunny.

Doesn't seem too much to do in Blenheim, but its convenient for catching the ferry up to Wellington tomorrow. We're staying in lovely hotel with aircon!

Kaikoura Whale Watch

Today we did the Kaikoura whale watch. 2 1/2 hour boat trip along the coast chasing sperm whales. After some time thinking we wouldn't see anything eventually we saw three whales. Two of them obligingly dived revealing their tail fins. We also saw albatros a sealion and another seal colony.

The whales are huge, the photos don't really do justice to their size.

After lunch we had to take a trip to the garage as our Van lights failed last night. We were quickly sorted out by two very kind Kiwi garage mechanics who did several running repairs to the van, so all functioning well again now.

Kaikoura

Today we drove down the East coast to Kaikoura. A beautiful hot sunny day with stunning scenery along the way. We stopped at Ohau Point to see the seals. There were many colonies to be seen with families of seals with their pups bathing in rock pools.

After a quick lunch we took a hike around the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, an 11 Kilometer walk around the coast, taking 3 hours. It was very very hot and tiring, but worth it to see the wildlife and more dramatic scenery.

Now back at the van and looking forward to a shower and a beer!

Havelock day 2

Today we took a walk along the Motuweka walkway, which was really just a pathway along a spit around the natural harbour which is Havelock. The area is a protected area for birds and we saw several varieties including black swans and a pied shag.

Tonight we're going to try another mussels restaurant and hopefully have a better experience!

On our travels again tomorrow down the east coast to Kaikoura where we have booked to go
whale  watching.

Havelock

We drove around the Marlborough coast to Havelock, only took about an hour but has been very wet today. Havelock is the Capital of Green Lip Mussles. So tonight we went to the recommended restaurant The Slip Inn. Unfortunately a bit of a disappointment on the mussles front. Overcooked and rubbery with a range of dodgy toppings. Oh well you cant win them all! However Lindsay hadsome great Fush and Chups -as the locals say.

Fine weather predicted tomorrow, so hope to be out and about again.

Okiwi Bay

Beautiful sunny warm day today. After we left Nelson Lakes we drove up to Nelson and then on up to Okiwi Bay. Have arrived at a very small crowded campsite but in a beautiful location at the head of the bay. Hve had a swim in the sea, quite warm but glad I had my chill cheather suit!

Hope to go exploring more tomorrow around the bay.