Road Trip - South Island

Bob and I recently visited the south island of New Zealand on a two-week road trip.  Everyone in NZ told us we would see breath-taking scenery on the south island - and they were right!  Our photos just can't adequately capture the beauty of this place.  At times we really felt we had stumbled upon "inner earth".  Our trip begins in Wellington as we drive our car onto the Interislander Ferry for a 3-hour spectacular crossing of Cook Strait to "the other side" as they say in NZ.

                                                          Picton - "gateway to the south island"

Our first day on the south island was spent touring the world-famous Marlborough Wine Region around the city of Blenheim.  With more than 200 wineries in the area - there was no shortage of wine - especially savignon blanc. 

The next day we took a side trip to visit some artist friends that live on the Marlborough Sounds near the Queen Charlotte Track w/ its stunning coastal scenery and lush forest  We stopped at the tiny harbour town of Havelock (known as the Greenshell Mussel Capital of the World".  Bob just had to sample the Greenshell Mussels.

  

                                                          Yummy Greenshell Mussels!

                      Spent a day in Kaikoura (south-east of Blenheim), whale watching, and picnicking   on seafood at the beach (that's crayfish - not whale we're eating!)

 

Next stop was Lake Tekapo, surrounded by the southern alps, w/ amazing turquoise colored glacial water and crisp mountain air - and great trout fishing too.  We spent time fishing (Bob) and sight-seeing but the highlight was an Air Safari flight over Mt Cook and the glaciers.

 

On the road again...... on our way to Queenstown, known as the Global Adventure Capital w/ lots going on besides the beautiful scenery- skydiving, hang gliding, bungy jumping, rafting, jet boating and even Disc Golf.  Decided it was way more safe to be a spectator than participant of these sports.     

 

Queenstown marked our half-way point in the trip - so I'll stop this blog now and pick up at the start of our 2nd week in the next blog.