Ferry trip extraordinaire

Tip of the South Island, New Zealand

They say it is the most spectacular ferry trip in the world and they might be right.

The ferry leaves Picton, travels along Queen Charlotte Sound to Cook Strait, then turns north east and on into Wellington Harbour. Beautiful from one end to the other.

Ferry in Picton

Queen Charlotte Sound paradise

Queen Charlotte Sound, NZ

Queen Charlotte Drive winds from Picton (where the ferry from Wellington lands) to Havelock (on the way to Nelson) along the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound. If you are ever in the area it is a 'must do' drive (but easy to miss if you don't know it is there). The speed limit is 50kph but you would be hard pressed to travel faster than 40 kph as the road is narrow and windy, snaking along the hillsides or along the bays. You wouldn't want to drive any faster anyway as it is such a feast for the eyes. A village clings to the hillside part way along and regular signs point the way to artist's studios, jewellers and other artisans.

Flax plants, Queens Charlotte Sound

Picton, NZ

Looking south to snow capped mountains in the distance
(too distant for my phone-camera )

Picturesque crossing: Wellington to Picton

Sunshine at Wellington ferry wharf

Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton is notoriously fickle-weathered but on 30th December it was as flat as a millpond. I was pleased to have decided to spend a night in Picton instead of driving straight on to Nelson (Jazz Festival), as Picton is picturesque and the Jugglers Rest backpackers wonderfully quirky.

Picton marina, in Queen Charlotte Sound

Rainbow in Picton

Light rain alternated with sunny spells as the afternoon passed resultign in spectacular rainbows over the hills.