Day 22 - A Seal of Approval for the South Island

​It was a very early start this morning to catch the ferry across to the South Island. We were all rather sleepy on the 3.5 hour crossing, but I did get some decent photos of Wellington as we left the city, and also then passed the time with a phone catch up with Dad and playing games and chatting with my tour mates.


It took a while for the van to get off the ferry at Picton but after we did, we stopped in Picton for lunch. The town was VERY busy as a cruise ship (with 4200 passengers) was in town. Still, it was a good stop.

We gradually made our way down south, initially through the Malborough district, which is the main wine-growing area of New Zealand. We stopped at a chocolate shop (which was rammed with cruise people) and then a beautiful vineyard and winery, which is set in a converted old church. Whilst some of the group did a wine-tasting, I enjoyed the sunshine and mountain views outside, and was also treated to a fly-past by a Hurricane from the local airforce base.


The drive down the coast was lovely - with the ocean on one side and mountains on the other - and a real highlight was when we stopped to see a seal colony. There were loads of seals, including pups, which were very cute! (Confession - the final photo is one Kreig took with his camera!)


We then headed into Kaikoura, a nice seaside town and our base for tonight. I have had a quiet evening in the motel as I try to finally shake the LLL ready for a morning of whale-watching tomorrow. 


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