Wellington to Bleinheim

After a deeply disappointing buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant in Wellington, we went for a walk downtown.

About 11:30 am we packed up and made our way to the ferry terminal to check in for our trip to the South Island. I was not really looking forward to the trip. I knew my problems with motion would be a challenge especially as there was a gale warning in effect for the Cook Strait. Luckily Jon had had the foresight to book a cabin for us so once we got to the rough part I went and had a nap.

This ferry was very odd. We drove onto the ferry and parked in front of a steel wall with all the other cars. Trucks were on a lower level. To get off the ferry we all had to back up and turn around to go back down the ramp! We heard from a local that the government got the ferry cheap from Italy! Italians are known as lovers not engineers so that might explain the weird design!!

After disembarking in Picton we drove to Blenheim, another well known wine growing area. Our room at the Centre Court Hotel was another very clean, well appointed and comfortable accommodation.Read more