The Portage Resort Hotel Picton

After a good night's kip we were up reasonably early on Saturday morning. Today we were starting to trek the 71km Queen Charlotte Track, a nice and healthy way to see the much lauded Marlborough Sounds up close. To cut a long story short, logistics of accommodation availability and water taxis meant that we would be going against the grain and doing the track from south to north. It also meant that we had to hitch a lift from Picton to Anakiwa at the start of the track. We managed this quite ...

Got early morning ferry to South Island. Saw some dolphins in the distance and a seal quite close to the ferry. This area seems to be a cross between the Caribbean and Scotland, with lots of sea inlets and dense bush. The only way to get around is by boat, so we got a water taxi from Picton to Portage. The hotel is in a spectacular setting! We have a chalet type room with our own seating area in front. Gill fizzy wine total : 8

Wine tasting trip to Marlborough, NZs largest wine region. Visited four wineries (Hunter's, Forrest, Mahi, and Drylands). Forrest was the best. There are vines as far as you can see in all directions here. Quite a few people were on the winery trip, unlike the last two when it was just us. Gill thought it was like an Agatha Christie novel with the mixture of people involved. We were trying to work out who would be murdered - fortunately no one was! Gill fizzy wine total : 10

Booked an Eco cruise around the Marlborough Sounds and a visit to a bird sanctuary, but it didn't happen, not sure what happened, but the boat didn't come to pick us up. Spent an hour or so in Torea Bay watching birds while waiting for the boat, before some guys from hotel appeared to take us back. Hotel very apologetic, and we went on an evening cruise instead and saw a large pod of bottlenose dolphins (~50). Gill fizzy wine total : 11

Yep, it's time again to get a job no no no, yes yes yes. Back in Picton after spending spending four glorious days out doing the Queen Charlotte track in Marlborourgh Sounds. We got a water taxi from Picton which brought us out up to a place called ship cove and from there we walked 71KM along the sound when some fantastic views. So myself, Carl and Vanessa set off on Wed and we did the right thing by booking in for two nights in the best backpackers in NZ called The Mahana Homestead. I'm tel...

So now Im nearly up to date. Sorry about the muddly dates and I m so strapped for time every time I just bash these entries out whilst reading my diary. Yesterday 15 March still at Portage Hotel we checked out and climbed back into our van which was in their car park. It was the most beautiful day so far and we decided not to kayak but take a dingy out in the sounds for 3-4 hours and just go up and down the coast. It was really lovely (the coast not the dingy which was an aluminum sort of fis...

Queen Charlotte Track in the marvelous Marlborough Sounds. Why are we walking 71km over 4 days? Because it is stunningly beautiful and because we can. We were picked up at 7:30 from The Villa Backpackers to take the boat to the starting point of the track with a signpost saying 71km to go. The track is split up with 15km the first day, 12km the second, 23km the third day and 21km the final day. We have booked a deal where we have 3 nights accommodation pre-booked plus breakfast and dinner and...

Tues 27 Jan - Malborough Sounds Day 2 (Endeavour Bay to Punga Cove) Up at 8am to have bag outside door ready for collection for boat and next destination. Had a tea and wandered around the Lodge with the sun starting to come over the mountain - well it would be doing if the clouds weren't in the way. Left around 9am and took a walk up to a waterfall behind the lodge. Again starting up hill! Don't know how long the roots of the trees are going to survive with people treading on them all the ti...