Blogs from Picton, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 15

Journey To Picton We were debating whether to go to Nelson, which was a further hour from the ferry and Picton and would require a return journey. Not really wanting to double back and figuring we didn't really have any time to do anything there anyway, we decided to drive from Kaikoura straight to Picton. After the enjoyment of some authentic Fish n Chips (none of this frozen fish malarkey), the drive up to Picton was pretty straightforward and left a lot of the twisting roads behind. The scenery was nice as it took in a lot of the coast. The first thing we did in Picton was have a drive about and to discover there wasn't much to the place. Fair enough though, we were only in the town for the night and catching the ... read more

12 March 2008 We were up very early, in order to get back down the windy road to the information centre where we were being collected for our wine tour, after forgetting the voucher and nearly missing the bus, we were soon on our way to the wine region. Terry, our driver, was very knowledgeable and friendly. We were however, with a very mixed bunch of people!! A gay irish couple (i think or very camp), an Ozzie guy with bum bag and wife, a guy from auckland and his friends who absolutely 'loved South Africa'. The first winery was a smallish place called Lawsons we tried all 6 wines on offer and were particularly fond of the Sauvingnon Blanc, Daniel definately was not keen on the sweet wine ( it was the only wine he ... read more

Two weeks into our NZ trip and we were keen to do some multi-day tramps using some of the 2000 or so huts maintained by the Dept of Conservation (DOC). These range from luxury spots with flush toilets and gas cookers to more humble shelters. For most you pay $5-10 (thats 2-4 quid) per night but for the posher ones you pay up to $25! Our first hut experience was Lake Daniells in Lewis Pass, just a two hour walk from thr road through beautiful virgin beech forest. OK, so you could quite easily walk to the lake and back in an afternoon, but there is something exciting about staying out in a hut; the beds are more comfy than a thermarest and you get to meet some interesting people, more of which later. Although we ... read more

Matkailumuodon puolesta oli kuin Virossa: rollikka, lautta, hidas juna. Maisemat olivat kylla sitten ihan muuta! Herasin jo viiden jalkeen, ennen kannykan soittoa. Aikaa oli aamulla yllin kyllin. Pakkasin loput kamat ja suunnistin bussipysakille. Talla kertaa paasinkin rollikan kyydissa, ja maanantaiaamun liikenteessa rollikoita naytti olevan enemmankin. Viikonloppuna niita ei ollut nakynyt lainkaan. Olin asemalla klo 7.10. Asemalta oli ilmainen bussikuljetus laivaterminaaliin. Suuntasin Check-inin jonoon. Rinkka piti jattaa sinne, mika olikin katevaa: se kulki matkatavaroissa ensin laiva- ja sitten junamatkan. Laivaan mahtui 1600 matkustajaa. Laiva lahti klo 8.25. Istumapaikaltani naki hyvin eteenpain. Kavin valilla ottamassa kuvia laivakannella ja syomassa englantilaisen aamiaisen. Merenkaynti ei ollut kovaa, ja oli miellyttavaa matkustaa. Olo oli kuin Tallinnan laivassa. Varsina... read more