http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , South Island , Marlborough en-us Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:04:08 BST Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:04:08 BST If you've time to kill before catching the ferry Port Underwood Drive is an alternative route between Blenheim and Picton. Steep narrow winding and unsealed for about half its length the reward is some excellent vistas and the many small bays around Port Underwood.To access the southern end turn off Highway 1 at Spring Creek or Tuamarina towards Rarangi. For the northern end take Waikawa Ro http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-306806.html Hope everyone had a fantastic Easter and noone made themselves sick on chocolate eggs I managed to escape Christchurch on roadtrip. I drove up to Kaikoura on Friday morning and went whale watching. It was awesome saw 2 sperm whales. They are giants the bit we see from the top of the water is only 10 of them. Huge They are so graceful as they dive into the water as well you would think so http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-261704.html What else is there really to comment on about the famed Marlborough Wine region except the glorious wine they have hereWe were so bowled over by it's magnificence that we ended up staying for at least 2 hours in one of these fine wineries getting incredibly geeky on tasting a couple of prepay wine platters complete with a huge file that you are given to compare your palette findings with tho http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Blenheim/blog-259312.html Hey everyone. Well I have finally started my blog Sorry its taken so long but this is going to be my challenge when Irsquom away as writing really isnrsquot my thing Whereas you all know I can talk for Britain LolTime already seems to be flying bye but am happy to say I feel like Irsquove done so much already and am currently on my second WOOFer job. For those of you I hadnrsquo http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Queen-Charlotte-Sounds/blog-259028.html Ich habe meine erste fast Dreitageswanderung hinter mich gebracht. Am ersten Tag sind wir ca. 10 km mit schweren Rucksaecken beladen gewandert. Dann haben wir bei Noeline uebernachtet. Eine alte Dame mit ihrem Hund. Zum Abschied gabs sogar einen Kuss auf die Wangen wie bei Oma zu Hause. Am naechsten Tag sind wir 24 km gelaufen und haben 7 Std. gebraucht und dann war Ende fuer mich denn meine sch http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Queen-Charlotte-Sounds/blog-252868.html The ferry across the Cook Straight was wonderful. I was amazed at how long we hugged the coastline of the North Island before seeing the South Island. It wasn't clear at first where we would enter the island but we were soon in the Tory Channel and the beautiful Marlborough Sounds surrounding by forested hills. The rather huge ferry seemed to glide effortlessly through the water. I felt at home al http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Queen-Charlotte-Sounds/blog-243740.html BelovedYou walked across mountains for my lovemoved boulders in your deepest sleepopened the hearts of others through miraclesfor me unfolded the wide universe in your kiss.Still I forget your name.Still I forget your presence.Be Still you say and I am.As fears cascade from my eyes and at onceI am healed from all suffering.You have scooped the whole ocean in your ha http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Picton/blog-242953.html Hi from the Maitreya Meditation Center....So its been a couple weeks since I last wrote and its been kind of a wild ride since then. I will only mark the highlights really to keep the length down a little.When I last wrote I was in Nelson for a little RnR after the Abel Tasman. The next day I moved on to Kaikora a small town along the north east coast of the south island. Kaikora is located http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Picton/blog-242285.html DATE VISITED 1921ST JANThe ferry crossing across the Cook Strait wasn't too stomachchurning thank God. We were warned by locals that the Strait can be prone to a funnelling affect of the winds from the Tasman and Pacific oceans at either side on top of this local newspapers were reporting rough seas with swells of over a metre but I thought a metre wouldn't be too badOn the day itself the http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Picton/blog-237924.html Day 73 Arrival in PictonIt had stopped raining by the time I got to Picton. Despite it being only a short walk from the ferry terminal into town I was quite grateful that there was a courtesy bus for foot passengers dropping me right outside the hostel. After checking in I set to hanging up wet clothes and leaving books and various other random soggy items out to dry having negated to wrap e http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-235018.html Aamulla oli aika kiitt isntimme Paekakarikissa makoisista unista ja jatkaa matkaa kohti Wellingtonia. Etelsaarelle menevn paatin lhtn oli viel parisen tuntia joten ennen terminaaliin menoa huristeltiin yls Victoria Hillille. Sielt olikin upeat maisemat joka puolelle. Autotie yls kukkulalle kulki kapeaa katua jonka kummaltakin puolelta lytyi asuntoja. Tiest tuli mieleen matka San F http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-221303.html Israel and I took a brief roadtrip on my days off this week. The main reasons for the trip were to do Whale Watch Kaikoura find the black kite a bird in Blenheim and visit the Picton aquarium.On Tuesday morning we headed off early to Kaikoura. We were on the waiting list for Whale Watch We were getting on at a heavily discounted rate so the paying customers had priority but managed to secure http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-205024.html 280707So I arrive at Nelson Airport and kindly get picked up by Gary my Aunty's boyfriend we go and take in some views of Nelson Bay and I see how far I am from London piccies attached over 11000 miles in fact We grab Alison from work and head the opposite direction from their house we're off to spend a few days at Okiwi Bay and so head East....... at this point Im getting a wee bit http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-192609.html Hei di ho dihaemmers hier uberschlagen sich die ereignisse ich komm irgendwie gar nicht mehr nach mit meim reisetagebuch hier mal die kurzfasung.die internetconnection arbeitet in slomo da konnt ich den brief fast heimtragen . morgen werd ich von einem farm guy abgeholt zum applepicking ole...da bin ich ja mal gespannt Nach mordor ersteigung und wellingtonankunft ahb ich auf der faehre bei der http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Picton/blog-160931.html At the beginning of our trip we might have anticipated that by the beginning of Week 9 in one small country we might be pretty weary and ready even for that interminable jet ride home. But instead we were eager to keep going and to soak up as much more of New Zealandrsquos South Island as we could in the last seven days. The week began in Marlborough a region on the northern coast edged b http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Queen-Charlotte-Sounds/blog-154968.html My last stop on the south island was one I had been long anticipating. The Queen Charlotte Track follows the arms of water and land reaching off the tip of the south island and into the Cook Strait the body of water between the two islands. The water is the brightest of blues almost as brilliant as my friend Jesse's eyes...if you have met him or seen pictures you understand the comparison. T http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Queen-Charlotte-Sounds/blog-145306.html Wandering in the Sounds It's lightly sprinkling as the sun makes a final dip behind the surrounding green hills and tranquil ocean basins. The windows are speckled with streaks of warm springtime showers the panes fogged from the comforting warmth of the log fire by my toes. Beyond pale reflections of tiger orange luminosity lie the striking cradles and ridges of Charlotte Sound a breathtaki http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Queen-Charlotte-Sounds/blog-144934.html By the time we got to Marlborough Sounds it was sunshining so the Sound looked very idylic. We arrived at Picton and drove straight to Renwick to stay at Watsons Way Backpackers. Our hosts were very friendly offering plenty of advice and making us feel at home. The double ensuite room was more like staying at a hotel and the kitchen was quite large excellent accommodation comes throughly re http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Blenheim/blog-141341.html Rach...South east of the Abel Tasman Nation Park lies the Marlborough region which was the next stop on our tour. Two facets of Marlborough held interest for us Firstly The Sounds where many fingers of land and small islands extend chaotically into the Tasman Sea and secondly the Marlborough wine county home to perhaps New Zealandrsquos best Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Thus we set off f http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-140052.html HANMER SPRINGS TO ST ARNAUD VIA RAINBOW STATIONWe arrived at Hanmer Springs late in the afternoon and checked into our accommodation for the night the Hanmer Springs YHA this is a new complex and we had a very enjoyable stayThe following morning we decided on a bike ride in the Hanmer Forest Hanmer is well set up for Mountain biking with a large network of trails both easy and ranging up to ve http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-138487.html PICTON TO HANMER SPRINGS VIA MOLESWORTH STATIONSheryll and I for ages have wanted to drive the Molesworth Station Road which is about 198 Km s long and runs between Blenheim in Marlborough and Hanmer Springs the road is shingle all the way and is the access road for New Zealand's largest cattle station Molesworth Station. Molesworth covers approx 180000 hectares and is home to New Zealand's http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-138483.html AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTONSheryll and I for ages have wanted to drive the Molesworth Station Road which is about 198 Km s long and runs between Blenheim in Marlborough and Hanmer Springs the road is shingle all the way and is the access road for New Zealand's largest cattle station Molesworth Station. Molesworth covers approx 180000 hectares and is http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-137212.html Got the ferry to the south Island early the next day. really excited. Ferry trip was spectacular through the Marlborough Sounds on the way into Picton. Arrived in Picton and got settled into hostel. Spent the afternoon on Bobs Beach swimming in the sea. Feel so much better here. Its true what they say that the more people there are the lonelier you can feel. Here I felt really relaxed and more li http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Picton/blog-136592.html Hello hello.Well we're now in the South Island the 3 hour ferry crossing was really calm with some good views of the Marlborough sounds as we were coming in. My 2nd cousing HelenaMary who lives in Blenheim was waiting for us at Picton. WE got our bags and then Helena drove us back to her house about 20 minutes away where we just had a nice day in a REAL house getting to know her as we've not http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-135530.html We drove back to Picton on the 24th and spent a couple days getting organized for the Queen Charlotte Track. The QCT is 71km long and takes most people 4 days do complete. This was our plan to walk the track in 4 days and camp along the way. It was a nice plan but sometimes plans just don't work they way you think they willDAY 1To get to the start of the track we were boated out to Ship Cove. O http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Queen-Charlotte-Sounds/blog-134869.html The remoteness and absolute tranquility of Endeavour Inlet where I spent Wednesday night seems like another age and world today. Right now I'm in rainy Paraparaumu waiting to get the bus to Napier the morning one I wanted to take was full so I have to wait till midday now. But I'll cast my mind back to Mahana Homestead....Over an hours trip on the water taxi from Picton I was dropped off in t http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Queen-Charlotte-Sounds/blog-129497.html After my birthday I took the ferry over to the south Island where I landed in Picton. Just a small town but the gateway to the Queen Charlotte track. A 71km 3 day hike through the Marlborough 'Doubtful Sounds'. To get to the start of the walk I had to catch a boat out to a place called Ship Cove. Throughout the first day it poored down although it did add a great erry look about the sounds. The http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Queen-Charlotte-Sounds/blog-126506.html Today we drove just down the road from Blenheim to Renwick. We parked our campervan in a lovely hostel called Watson's Way. The owner Paul was really friendly and we hired bikes from him so we could cycle round to the numerous wine cellars in the region. We decided to cycle to the furthest winery first and then work our way back. I think in all we probably road about 7km. The Malborough region m http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/Blenheim/blog-123479.html We arrived at Picton on the South Island to see that guess what its raining. What a surprise. Apparently this is New Zealand's worst summer in 50 years so at least we're breaking some records here. We drove the scenic unsealed route south east destination the marlborough wine region. We stayed the night in Blenheim at the Duncannon campground. It continued to rain so building on Paul's origi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-119556.html Went on a kayaking tour round Malborough sounds. It was beautiful. Saw lots of different shags and other wildlife. Stopped for lunch then headed back got quite hard as we were against the wind. We picked some mussels for our dinner. Got back and headed past Havelock and stopped over at a campsite it was off the main road in a forest very beautiful but loads of mosis Cooked our mussels which we http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Marlborough/blog-117525.html