As we leave the sounds of Queen Charlotte and head into the open seas of the Cook Straits the “swell” changes. This is not good for the Mrs D department. The sound was fairly calm and easy sailing but sadly the Cook Straits were not. It got a little choppy and this resulted in Mrs D having to sit tight on the deck and study the horizon in order to “keep things inside.”
On the way across the straits we were joined by dusky dolphins a few times which was very nice to see. They look so small from high up on the ferry though…
North Island and Wellington got nearer – its only 35kms between the North and South islands but it takes 3 hours due to the length of the sound from Picton to the sea and the Welington headland we have to travel around on the way in. In actual fact Wellington is marginally further south than Picton by the compass.
We pulled into Wellington dock and were immediately shocked by the amount of traffic on the main highway going through the city. Not seen traffic like this since the M25 round London!! Wellington presents itself as a high rise, high flying city. Well I suppose it needs to it is the capital of NZ for goodness sake.
Once off the ferry it was a relatively short drive to Plimmerton and Moana Lodge. As I said earlier we have stayed here before so we know the place and you can get the train into Wellington and leave the car behind. Last time we stayed we had an upstairs sea view room and it was very nice. This time we got the last room and it was a downstairs sea view room. It smelt a little fusty as the windows were for some reason painted shut rendering the room airless. Still the place was good and the facilities excellent.
We cooked in the first night and sat chatting with a couple of Kiwis on holiday, a UK girl who had just got a job in Wellington and a Bavarian guy who was out there working for 12 days. The kiwis were from the Coromandel and on holiday on their motorbike for a couple of weeks. The Bavarian guy was working for a sister Company from home and keen to see some Lord of the Rings stuff so we helped him find an appropriate tour for his weekend off. He was commenting on the work approach out here saying that all stops every 2 hours for a break when tea is drunk and pool is played and that all finishes early on a Friday and all down to the pub for an end of week drink!! No stress or pressure out here he said. I wonder who has it right? The girl from the UK had just landed a new job as a speech therapist for local schools “with a car” she kept saying and was over the moon!! They were all very good company and an entertaining evening was had by all.
The following day at breakfast we were chatting with a couple from Switzerland who we met at the digs in Picton previously before we headed off into town on the train. From the front of Moana Lodge you can see the top of the South Island when its clear. It was a bright clear day so the walk to the train was pleasant.
Now Wellington is known locally as windy Wellington as it is always windy!! Today was no exception. The crossing between the two islands can get a little bit rough but I forgot to mention this to Mrs D as otherwise the ferry crossing would have been off!! As I said we were lucky and our crossing wasn’t too choppy. Sorry I am rambling away…..
We got into Wellington and had a look in the harbour area and up and down a couple of streets. During our discussions with Mr Bavaria the previous evening we noticed that Weta (the Lord of the Rings studio workshop) had opened a “cave” so we had to find it. We asked at the info centre and were directed to the number 2 bus to Miramar. (Hollywood Kiwi style.)
Apologies here to none LOTR anoraks but it was ace. There were models and figures, details on the films worked on and a short video on the Weta workshop and making of the rings stuff. A proper LOTR fix was had. Back into town on our number 2 bus and a quick pint at Macs brewery bar on the harbour front before the train back to Plimmerton.
On the way out in the morning we noticed a chip shop (like you do) and thought we would get some on the way back and have a night off cooking. We did, the chip shop was owned and run by Greeks who had pictures of Meteorea (which is not far from Corfu) all over the walls. It was a bit of a surprise and the grub was good into the bargain!! The owner looked equally surprised when we thanked him in Greek.
Back at the digs we sat down with our takeaway to which we were told by the Kiwis “that is cheating!!” We offered some lame excuse and got on with it. More chat in the evening and a relatively good start to our travel experience on the North Island. An early start the following day for our 300kms drive to Plateu Lodge in National Park village and the mighty Tongariro National Park.
Pix are from top – 2 shots of Wellington as we came in on the ferry and 3 from the Weta Cave
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