Marlborough Vintners Hotel Blenheim

... acid-sweetness. Good length.<br><br>2007 C******nay &#8211; 10 months French oak, 30% new, full malo. Toasty oats on the nose, pineapple too. Good balance, quite creamy, peach fruit.<br><br>2007 Pinot Noir &#8211; Very clear and bright, medium intensity. Sweet dark fruit (clay soils), dark cherry, herby nose. Rich, full palette, good balance and length.<br><br>2001 Noble Riesling &#8211; Rich, bold, intense honey with ...

... tomorrow when a vacancy opens up. While you have to pay for Internet there, they have free washing machines and bikes, so I look foward to being able to take one of the bikes out around town (and the washing machines will definitely help after woking in a vineyard).<br><br>I don't know what I'm going to do today; I need to at least go out and change some money, but I don't want to walk too much because my knee started to get sore again after walking so much yesterday. I may ...

... a wander round the cathedral and town, then onwards over yet more lovely hills to reach Blenheim. Which winery should we try? Cloudy Bay seemed the natural choice , and so good it was. we came away with a bottle and a t-shirt! after a very enjoyable tasting in beautiful surroundings. Then on south along the coast road to a fantastic free campstop , right by the sea, and a rocky headland, and of course a surpise spotting of lot of seals.

... I had woke with about 5 mosquito bites on my face. Apparently it was a delayed reaction to the bites. Luckily Adam had an antihistamine that worked well, but the joke was that I looked like Shrek's wife. The second day we started out early for our next stop at Portage Bay, around 20 km away. The weather was really nice right away. And the sights from the ridge were amazing. We found out what a Sound is... it is an old river that has been flooded and ...

... be taking to the road one last time the next day to drive back to Christchurch and then say adieu to our classy conveyor. We would definitely recommend the campervan option as a great way to get around the south island, it gives you the freedom to go where you want when you want and also the privacy to cook your own grub at the camp-site or even at the side of the road on a scenic drive. All things considered, it's been a great trip.

... Nothing. Hmmm, ok. The husband was a short, stout, rotund gentleman - he looked a bit like Ronnie Corbett in that sitcom called Sorry. Except that husband had white hair instead of brown. And he also wasn't short. Not much like Ronnie Corbett after all...in fact...!? As it was getting chilly now, I retreated inside and overheard the following commotion that was absolutely hysterical. I had to stifle my laughter with my hand while I secretly listened. The husband had ...

... and had the pleasure of the "Club Class" to ourselves. A private room with tea, coffee, tv, newspapers and writing desks. We found the bar, we took some photos, we wrote some postcards and generally had a ball. At the other end, we collected our luggage off the airport style carousel before plodding off to Blenheim. Blenheim is approx 30mins south from Picton....also quaint with lots of autumn coloured trees. The B ...

... a clue. Our final week or so in NZ was spent in Wellington to watch the second Test at the Basin Reserve. We had a great time there, finally seeing another England win. In addition to the result, it was brilliant fun - fantastic weather, a beautiful little ground and some great banter with the Barmy Army. There can't be a better way to spend a summer's day than watching the cricket and having a bit of a sing-song - we're already planning future tours!

During the drive from the Abel Tasman through to Nelson the rain did not stop. Nor did it stop whilst in Nelson. We tried to have a look around but we were totally soaked within 10 minutes so again we thought 'F@*k this' and went into a internet cafe to check out the ferry crossings to the North Island. The only ferry the next day was at 10pm so we booked ...

... below, apparently. We then meet rescue vehicles as we continue on. Then there are train tracks right next to us, and tunnels through the rock. We see crayfish sellers and colonies of freedom campers by the roadside and seals on the rocks near shore. We see the Kaikoura peninsula jutting out ahead, and find the turnoff into town. The promenade is beautiful here. There is a whalebone arch, and the buildings are painted in pastel colors. We stop in at the ISite, and I have the woman at the ...