Friday - January 17, 2014 Picton to Wellington on Ferry

FRIDAY – JANUARY 17, 2014

BOTTOM LINE:

Drive from Kaikorua to Picton

Cross from Picton to Wellington on Ferry

BACK STORY:

Although the weather prediction said that it was to be a rainy and windy day, we woke to a clear, sunny sky.  Today we were scheduled to leave the South Island of New Zealand and return to the North Island to complete our trip.

Our short two hour ride into Picton took us through Savignion blanc grape vineyards and down into the coastal port of Picton.  At 2 pm we caught the Islander Ferry to Wellington.  Waters were calm and the views of Marlborough sound were spectacular.  Because of the storm that we had experienced while traveling in the opposite direction, we had not seen the coastal and island sights.

Interislander ferry at Picton, NZ

Picton beach

  

An earlier ferry had been cancelled for reasons that we still do not know. Because of the cancellation all vehicle and pedestrians that were scheduled for the earlier voyage were put onto our vessel.  Between the added weight and the high seas (10 foot swells) the ferry arrived an hour late into Wellington.  It was raining at that time.

Leaving Picton, NZ Harbor

  

Marlborough Sound

 

Marlborough Sound/Cook Strait

We easily connected with our bus and found only eight people in it.  We were left off at Base Hostel where we had stayed before.  By the time we checked in and dropped our things off in the room, it was 7pm!  We headed out to find dinner and return to do computer work.

Tomorrow we will begin back tracking as we drive to Taupo.  Pick up time is 7:50am…so off to bed for an early rise.