We boarded the big Interislander ferry from Wellingtons quays and settled in up on deck for the 3 hour ride from one island to next, across the Cook Straits. Conditions were clear and calm, so we were hoping for a calm crossing for Lisa's stomach sake. She's not got her sea legs yet. The view coming out of Wellington harbour were lovely. The hil...

stop at b and b after ferry from north island then train to christchurch

Picton was a compulsary over night stop with the stray bus! The town is the only ferry port to the North island. There were only mixed dorms available. This is where we got to know some people of the Stray bus. We met Jack & Emma, from Chichester, w.sussex. (About 25mins from Lauras parents) & Canadian Dan Nudleman aka Noodles! We instan...

Der er ikke rigtig noget at sige om Picton... Vi ankom med faergen, og saa moedtes vi med to fyre fra Sweitz. De har bil, saa dem koerer vi med lidt ad vejen.

Having travelled by bus from Taupo to Wellington, I then got the Ferry across the Cooks Straits to Picton at the top of the South Island. Even before I got onto the boat I had met a lovely girl called Rachael, from Nottingham and also travelling alone, we enjoyed the gorgeous navigation throught the Marlborough sounds together.

Armed with a work permit and a few days off before we start work not to mention the FREE car, Robbie and I decided to take our first trip to the South Island. The weather was it's usual blustery self, so we thought we would be in for a choppy ride. The advice the locals give is to go over on the boat only if it is a northerly. Due to the positio...

The south Island has been amazing... we have done so much, here are the highlights, but firstly I am please to report that unlike the North Island (which was very Cow orientated), the South Island is all about the Sheep- excellent! Our first destination was Nelson, where not only did we get to sleep in a Tee Pee and had free soup in the evening ...

Day 24 - Arrived at our destination Picton after a 3 hour boat journey across the Cook Straight from Wellington. Enjoyed a bit of kip, before hooking up with Toddy and a new crowd of 40 people before continuing our journey through to Nelson. Only 5 of us remained now from the original bus myself, Nick, Johnny, Andy and Neil. However, more friend...

After our helicopter trip we had a drive of around 470km from Franz to Nelson. When driving distances in NZ it is important to factor into your time that the speed limit is 100km on the open road, but that through towns you have to go 50km and the mountain passes are so winding that sometimes you are only doing 20kms! We packed a picnic and head...

Having decided on arrival in the south island that if we had time we would go back up to Picton and walk some of the Queen Charlotte Track through the Malborough Sounds, we had made it back (mainly thanks to bad weather at Mount Cook) and so we set off early on a boat up to the top of the sounds, at Ships Cove. After reading up on Cook's expedit...