Friday, April 27, 2012

Punakaiki to Picton

 

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

 

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The journey continues to be scenic…..

 

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…..with clouds up ahead.

 

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Up into the clouds.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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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.

 

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Actual Graham Creek.

 

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It even had a rapid.

 

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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:

 

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

 

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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.

 

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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.

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