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Heading South...
We crossed over from Wellington to Picton on the South Island last Friday after a great last week or so 'up north', walking the Tongariro Crossing (just south of Taupo), stopping off to say goodbye to Sean, back in Napier (who's landed himself a good job in Auckland, and so hasn't, unfortunately come with us... a real shame, because it would have been fun... emotional, entertaining.. and lots of fun...!) and then travelling down for a lovely few days of 'wild camping' on Scorching Bay just outside the capital city itself, which is a great place...
We had a fantastic day for doing the Tongariro Crossing. We drove over and met Stefan and Michael - our new found superyacht-cabinet-making-German friends from Whangerei - and the four of us had a cracking day with clear blue skies and glorious sunshine on what is one of NZ's Great Walks. The colours of the volcanic rocks and lakes are so vivid and the views from the rim of the crater of Mt. Ngauruhoe were stunning: we could see all the way up to Lake Taupo in the north and even further to Mt. Egmont on the west coast. It was fab...
We stopped off in Napier for a final couple of days with Sean last weekend and to say goodbye to Nora and the car park(!?), and then set off on our next leg of the trip. Having been in Napier for a couple of weeks, the longest we've stayed anywhere all year, I think (except perhaps Huaraz), it was good to be 'on the road' again, this time headed south...
Wellington's a great city, situated on a series of bays. We found one - Scorching Bay - just beyond the limits of the city centre, and where there are some lovely homes (allegedly where Peter Jackson, director of Lord of the Rings, lives, as did most of the cast for the 18 months they were filming here). At no point do you ever feel that you're in a capital city. In true New Zealand style it maintains a very relaxed vibe, without any hint of the traffic jams or feelings associated with crowded high streets that we have at home... It seems that the only chance you have of being run over is while strolling the length of lovely Oriental Parade when hoardes of joggers take to the promenade after work. They're a sport-mad race, these Kiwis! Very inspiring and fit! Simon would quite enjoy those 'rush hour' experiences admiring the 'athletes'...!
We caught the ferry to Picton three days ago, with great views back over Wellington and then a beautiful passage through the Marlborough Sounds once we arrived on the shores of the South Island. It immediately felt different, more dramatic. Since then we've driven westwards, stopping off in lovely Nelson, and then following the coast (yesterday) via the sweet little harbour town of Mapua, up to here, Motueka, on the edge of Abel Tasman National Park. It's all apparently stunning, although we've really only so far had glimpses through the rain and cloud - we've clearly well and truly arrived in the south! We're waiting for a break in the weather to get chance to do a bit more walking (and possibly sea kayaking) along the coastal track in the park. It looks as though it might be a few days yet... In the meantime, we've been catching up with the latest film releases and swimming lots! Simon's even written me a training programme!
Still loving it... and still, by all accounts, got the best bits yet to come...
Lots of love, us xxx
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