Picton

More sunshine and yet another stunning drive. On the way we passed an area of forest busy with choppers putting out a forest fire. There had been local evacuations etc as it was quite fierce. We stood for a while watching the choppers collecting water from a local river and taking it up into the hills to put out the fires. We then passed through Havelock which apparently is the green mussel capital of NZ!! Mussels for sale everywhere, mmmm my favourite!

We then took the scenic drive around the bottom of Queen Charlotte Sound and it was stunning. People pile into Milford Sound in Fiordland and to us here was equally as beautiful and less busy with NO SANDFLIES, gotta be a plus!!

Picton to most travellers is the entry or exit point to or from the South Island by ferry. We were met with a very pretty little town sat in the most wonderful setting. Our digs were 3kms out of town up the valley with views across the sound.

Quick bit of education so pay attention please – Queen Charlotte Sound was named after King George III wife. It was the British explorer James Cook who between 1770 & 1777 made four visits to the sound and gave it the monarchs name.

Moving swiftly along, our digs were superb. We had an upstairs en suite room with splendid views from our balcony. The kitchen area was big, well equipped and free fresh bread every morning. Yet another good one and at only £28 a night for the room a bargain too!
We drove into town for some supplies and a walk about and coincidentally it just happened to be Paddys Day 17th March. Well, you have to have a Guiness for the lads in green. We found an Irish Bar – Seamus’ Bar, with live Irish Music and Irish dancing going on so we nipped in for a quick Guiness. A fun time was had with all the fancy dress types and all the Irish Kiwis (interesting) then it was off back to the digs for some grub.

The owner of the BP was a lovely lady of mature years who was very helpful and very friendly. She had a young Japanese girl staying with her on an exchange programme who was helping out around the BP. We sat talking with her in the evening and exchanged stories.

The following day we walked into town on a trail and then out on a headland via another track. It was a super day and a lovely area. Picton has plenty to see, plenty of walking and enough going on in the town. We wished we had more time here but sadly not. After a good days walking we had another good feed and an evening drive up the valley to an old Maori settlement before retiring for the day. It was a subdued evening as it was our last on the South Island which has become such a special magical place to us. We will be sad to leave it tomorrow, as the North Island doesn’t have the same warmth or hold over us as the South Island. I would like to think that maybe we will be back to this special place again just one more time…..………

Our ferry was not ‘til one o’clock so plenty of time to get some supplies for our next stop in Plimmerton just outside Wellington. We have stayed here before and enjoyed it so it is a little uplifting as we leave this wonderful island via the Queen Charlotte Sound on the Interislander ferry.

South Island facts – driven 3260kms, stayed in 15 different places over 23 nights. Sun shone every day but one (rain on west coast and expect it there.) Longest drive between digs was Oamaru to Hanmer Springs at 410kms and shortest was Queenstown to Glenorchy at 45kms. Best digs were Lazy Cow in Murchison, worst was Pinewood Lodge in Queenstown. Favourite place was Glenorchy and least favourite was Invercargill. Best host was Ali at the Lazy Cow, the worst were the guys at the Legendary Otira Hotel in Arthurs Pass.

Pix are from top – fire en-route to Picton, what can you say, the ferry on Queen Charlotte Sound, Picton, the beautiful sound, a couple of strangers, the famous kiwi silver fern and sunset over the sound.