Wellington to Picton Ferry

Good Morning Wellington and Good Bye North Island!! A small turn from the Wellington Waterfront Motorhome and we are on board the Bluebridge ferry to South Island! So excited to finally see South Island... This 3 hours journey costs us $220 ($51 pp and $118 for the car), Bluebridge is more budget compared to the other operator, Interislander.

Approaching South Island...

In the Marlborough Sound, notice the arch on the cliffs? South Island welcomed us with today's beautiful sunshine and landscape. We can't wait to see more of it!

The ferry ride is totally worth it, one thing, we were like joining a few hours boat cruise tour, look at this view! Totally better than sitting in the airplane, and you get to take your car. Unless of course you bought your backpacker van in Christchurch! 

The more classy Interislander...

Arriving Picton.. a small small town.. We didn't explore this town, just driving straight down to Blenheim and cross the western side of South Island. Utilize this beautiful sunshine to see the mountains!

Beautiful day!!! We manage to catch the snow after all! Even if it's a little snow cap =)

One lane bridge, remember to give way accordingly! NZ has a unique way of building bridges, many with only one lane, so either one side have to give way to the other and slowing down of course. We also passed by a road which was carved out from the cliff, so the cliff was actually hanging above us while we drive pass. Imagine driving through a tunnel, only it is a C-shaped tunnel, not O. =D 

Well, we couldn't drive fast anyway, look at those beautiful views.. Our eyes are too busy capturing =)

We had our quick lunch by the road side, with the companion of these fellas! Or they are probably thinking "wish we were on the other side of the fence!"

Clear blue Buller river..... Woooo =)

Wow weeee

Cute mother ducky with her ducklings... at Lake Rotoiti, Nelson Lakes National Park. 

Lake Rotoiti***** A really beautiful lake, surrounded with snow capped mountains. OO just love this place, so serene and peaceful. Many family picniking by the lake. There's DOC camp around the lake but we didn't stay for the night. I think we free camped somewhere else.. hehe

Took the one hour Brunner Peninsula Nature Walk which doesn't cover much view, and just walking under the forest canopy, can't see much of this beautiful lake. This is the short walk, there's another 3 hours walk around the lake which we think gives much better views. We did not take that walk since it was late afternoon.

Walking back to our van from the Brunner track, passing by rows of cute cottages, that seems so comfortable and movie like =)

It looks like an international sign, this pine tree... haha

Sunset greet upon us, symbolizing the end of a great beginning, and the start of our great dinner... Hohoho....

Lamb chop night!

N.B. if you are wondering how we kept the meat in the backpacker van: since we don't have a chilly bin, we just used a cold bag (can be bought from supermarkets) and put in two pack of ice jelly which can keep meat fresh for the day. Normally if we had the convenience of refrigerator in caravan parks, we will freeze the meat and ice pack, then take out the next morning. And it still stay quite cold the whole day.

Pancake Rocks?!