Punakaiki to Picton

 

As we left Punakaiki on yet another glorious day, the “tempestuous Tasman” still looked reasonably placid – no blowholes spouting today either.

 

The journey continues to be scenic…..

 

…..with clouds up ahead.

 

Up into the clouds.

 

While photographing this serene stretch of water, we were surprised to first hear, and then see…..

 

a train, slicing its way through the dense forest on the other side.

 

We had morning tea at this lookout, high in the mountains.

 

We did plan to have lunch at Nelson, situated very attractively on the water beside Nelson Bay.  We drove along the waterfront, looking for a parking spot, and before we knew it, we had run out of Nelson.

Consequently, we had our picnic lunch at the very autumnal Graham Creek rest area, a bit further along.

 

Actual Graham Creek.

 

It even had a rapid.

 

Here is our little car, nestled under the autumn trees, all by itself.  We were struck by two things about the northern part of the South Island:

1.  How stunningly beautiful it is, in all its autumn splendour.

2.  How few other tourists there were to enjoy all this magnificence.

 

Then we came into the Marlborough wine region.  I think that vineyards are spectacular in autumn:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we arrived in Picton, which is the the terminal for the Inter Island ferry.

 

Guess what this is!

You don’t know?  Then I’ll have to tell you it is a giant stingray in Picton Harbour, pointed out to us by some other people on the bridge.  It didn’t photograph very well.

 

Here is an Inter Island ferry arriving in Picton from Wellington in the North Island.  It is probably easier to make out than the giant stingray.

22nd April 2012.