Top of the South Island

Once again we have been blessed with blue skies, and sunshine to explore a different part of NZ's coast line. Arriving in Picton we had terrific views of the Marlborough Sounds (first picture below, showing the ferry's wake), and enjoyed fish and chips on the harbour before moving on to Nelson and exploring the Abel Tasman National Park sharing a water taxi with kayakers, in order to do just one part of the 3-4 day trek...and being the quiet winter season pretty much had the track to ourselves apart from a few groups of over-loud American college students (they seem to be everywhere!)

From Abel Tasman we headed up to Golden Bay, every outcrop of which seems to have been named something random by James Cook on his explorations...we didn't quite make it out to Farewell Point or Doubtless Bay but we did get sandblown on Wharariki beach (not named by JC) and enjoy the clear waters of peaceful 'Pupu' springs into which I accidentally dropped my polarising filter - so I hope that the Maori spirits aren't too annoyed with me for disturbing their sacred waters.

We left the sunshine behind when we drove over to the west coast, staying in a hostel by the sea in Punakaiki...near the pancake rocks (last photos below) handily situated next to a very nice coffee shop!