30th
Last night was definitely not the best nights 'Camping' we had... sleeping in a carpark in New Brighton wasn't great but we did enjoy a nice shower at the hostel across the road from us. We then decided to drive to Hanmer springs. It was a lovely little town with a nice traditional feel. We walked around the parks and the old army hospital and enjoyed some fish and chips in the town. We didn't go to the springs as it has been very commercialised. Unfortunately not what we expected in a leisure spa complex but we had a lovely afternoon never the less. We tried to drive to Kaikora but after we got lost and a half hour detour we were finally on the right road. We arrived late in the afternoon and we looked for a place to sleep. We found a good spot in a carpark (luckily not the same as the night before) in a rural Irish pub/house where the farm animals were roaming around.
31st - Happy Mother's day to our lovely mums and Grandmas!!
We woke up quite early and drove back into Kaikora to explore the nice costal town. We had a nosey in the shops and could have spent lots but thought better of it so instead strolled on the beach! We then drove to the other end of Kaikora and as we were making our way out of the town... WE SAW DOLPHINS! it was amazing! They were so close to the shore and we tried to follow them down the coast as far as we could, we felt like Steve Irwin but on a dolphin hunt!! We got a couple of pictures but nothing that really does the experience justice! They were calmly swimming along the shoreline bobbing up from time to time! People were running out of their houses to have a look too.
After our encounter we headed further north to Picton, stopping for an Ice cream on the way! We were heading for the ferry which will mark the end of our South Island adventure! Picton is a small town catering mostly for the tourists passing through to catch the ferry. We went to the Maritime museum, which was very small but had a nice collection of donations from the Pictonians and we learnt a lot about the Whaling industry of this area of New Zealand. After a long day driving we found another good campsite just outside Picton near the Whatamango bay. It was nice and peaceful and quite but an early night for us especially with an early start for our ferry tomorrow!!
1st
We boarded our Blue Bridge ferry at 8am and had a very scenic (and very long) journey to Wellington in the North Island. The crossing was surprisingly calm and arrived at around 12 to Wellington. We organised our accommodation before we set out for the city and decided that because we couldn't fit Wellington into a day that we would stay at a hostel in the centre and use that as our base. It does make a nice change to have an en suite shower and toilet!! We then went to Te Papa the national museum of New Zealand! It was brilliant. It was spread out on 6floors and we enjoyed a few hours looking at everything from a preserved squid to how the Maori's live! After that we walked along the sea front. Enjoying the sunshine and looking at all the sculptures along the harbour. We then tried to find some good food for dinner and came across a great steak and grill place where we ate ourselves full to the brim with great burgers and enjoyed the city atmosphere! Tomorrow we are going to do some more sightseeing and then heading through the middle of the North Island towards Taupo and Rotaroua!
Lots of love Rob and Katrien xxx
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