Blogs from Queen Charlotte Sounds, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 3

Advertisement


So back to Picton, on the road through Kaikoura which is definitely one of our favourite drives - just soooo beautiful with rolling fields and snowy mountains. As the weather had picked up and we back to full-on sunshine we couldn't resist stopping once more at Highfields in Blenhim for lunch overlooking the winery. Then off to Picton to jump on the ferry and over to the North Island. It is a very beautiful crossing with the first part going through the sounds (see pics), but it took nearly 3.5 hours and we were pretty tired by the time we got to Wellington. We were also rather sad to be leaving the South Island as we had SOOO much fun there - can you tell?! Anyway, we parked up at a campsite at about 10 pm ... read more
Breath Taking
And Again
Night Falls


Marlborough Sound is a stunning place at the North of the South Island. The Queen Charlotte track is a (quoting from The Beatles) long and winding road with stunning coastal views. Kean cyclists were huffing and puffing up and down the hills, whilst me and Oz just whipped past them in our awesome wagon. A lot easier! We managed to take loads of photos, and the water wasn't just blue, but turquoise. It looked truely stunning, espcially with the sounds in the distance. As it is turning into Summer, we thought we would save some money and camp for the night. The farm we stayed on was very friendly, with welcome muffins (that pretty much sold it for us). The night was freezing...........we had about 16 layers on each. Camping was a bad idea!! The next ... read more
Marlborough Sounds
Marlborough Sounds
Marlborough Sounds


Wellington to Picton Bloody hell I had no idea it can get so windy, I had trouble standing on the deck, and I'd like to add I am not the lightest person.... Picton - horrid horrid weather, wet and cold. I have cancelled swimming with the dolphins as I did not fancy freezing my bits off and decided to go anticlockwise around the island. I arrived late afternoon in Picton, hence I knew I need to find somewhere I could spend the night soon. I managed to stay on one lookout, looking over the Marlborough Sounds, only there was not much to see, hopefully i will have same luck as in Tongariro and it will clear out by the morning... well that is if I don't get blown away... Luck is on my side.... I saw ... read more
can you see him
:o)
lovely road to ride on


Hey everyone. Well I have finally started my blog!!! Sorry its taken so long but this is going to be my challenge when I’m away as writing really isn’t my thing! Whereas you all know I can talk for Britain!!! Lol Time already seems to be flying bye but am happy to say I feel like I’ve done so much already and am currently on my second WOOFer job. For those of you I hadn’t had chance to bore before I left the WOOF scheme is Working Opportunities on Organic Farms. This actually varies greatly and as long as the ‘host’ is involved in organic food (mainly Vege gardens) they can use the scheme!! You work about 4 hours a day for all your meals and accommodation which is great if you’re on a tight budget ... read more
Boat Trip, Fiji
Boat Trip, Fiji 1
NZ, Hen Night


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 already before the boat had docked in the South Island. Considering Picton is the gateway for so many to the South Island it was surprisingly small. I found a bed in a lovely hostel called The Villa which also arranged my three day Queen Charlotte trek in super quick time. The hostel was also willing to lend me a tent on the condition I checked that ... read more
Ferns, ferns and more ferns...well they are the national emblem afterall.
Through the rain forest
Abel Tasman National Park


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 Zealand’s South Island as we could in the last seven days. The week began in Marlborough, a region on the northern coast edged by an elaborate chain of peninsulas and islands. A highlight of Marlborough was spending a day on the Queen Charlotte Track, one of dozens of long hiking paths in NZ by which travelers can explore remote scenic areas by walking, often for 3 - 7 days, and staying in shelters or huts along the way. Unlike many other tracks, the ... read more
White Heron in Pelorus Sound
Queen Charlotte Sound
Pied Shag


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). The slivers of land look like bobbing scones topped with heaping spoonfuls of pesto. A delicious view! This track is "flash", as the Kiwis say for "special" or "fancy" because you stay in hostels along the way instead of in rustic back country huts. For 10$ the ferry that takes you to the beginning of the track will carry your bags on ahead ... read more
Grandma Nolene
New Zealand Silver Fern
My lady friends!


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 will!! DAY 1 To get to the start of the track we were boated out to Ship Cove. Our boat left Picton at 9am and got us to Ship Cove in an hour. We decided to pay the extra money to get our packs transferred to the places we would be staying so we didn't have to carry them. Thank God we did this otherwise we'd still be sitting at Ship ... read more
Looking South over Resolution Bay
Kendra near the end of the first day
Start of the 2nd day 21kms so far


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 the middle of nowhere on the jetty (well, they called it wharf) Mahana Homestead Lodge. My host John was already waiting for me (and the bags that walkers who walk the 70km Queen Charlotte Track have sent on to their next stop off) and took me round the corner of the beach to the place where I was going to spend ... read more
Mahana homestead


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 majority of the trek went through lush rain forest where you could look out to the crisp blue ocean. As the day wore on the weather cleared up uwhich ultimately cleared the low mist, and unlocking the beautiful views of the Islands nearby. It was a long day though as I had combined 2 days of walking ... read more
First day
First day
First day




Tot: 0.247s; Tpl: 0.007s; cc: 6; qc: 99; dbt: 0.2012s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.3mb