South Island

Fiords - Picton

Here's the start of the South Island. As you can see it was an over cast rainy day. It was bitterly cold too. The cruise between Islands takes a few hours. I stayed on deck the whole time, it was hard to do. Yes I was the only one trying that bit of fun! The decks got busy again when we entered the fiord lands. The open sea was nasty on this day. All the more reason to stay on-deck!! Didn't really want to see anyone feeding the fish - if you know what I mean. The very small town of Picton is the destination of the Island ferries. It's a port town, but so small!! I was surprised. In dock were several English Cruisers, we were told not to photograph them. Don't know why. The first photo is Wellington on the morning I left. The visibility was down to nothing. I figured at this point that I wouldn't see anything - I was wrong. The second photo is my first onboard view of the South Island! On clear days you can see the South Island from the north. It was very exciting to finally see the South Island. I was fighting the clock now. I was trying to get to Kaikoura before the Whale and Dolphin populations left for the winter - hence I had to zoom through the North Island on the way south. I make up for it on the way back. The North Island has a lot to offer too. It just seems that the South has more - it doesn't.

The tiny town of Picton

Picton harbor. Wow, we made it through the clouds.It's funny by the time I get into Kaikoura, that evening,the skies were clear. The photos above Picton are of the fiords, which the shipping lane goes through. It's strange to see isolated houses out there. They must have a long way to the nearest town. And a journey to the nearest city.