Across the Cook Straight into Picton Harbour.

The Bluebridge ferry sailed out of Wellington Harbour on a fine sunny day.

We were glad to have a smooth crossing and never out of sight of land.

The scenery was magnificent and a foretaste of what was to come on the dramatic South Island.

Picton nestles in a sheltered cove and is the main northern port for freight and passengers.

  Along the windy coastal road we found a lovely DOC ( Department of Conservation) campsite at Momorangi.

We settled down for a few days beside the Grove Arm of the Queen Charlotte Sound.

  Momorangi was also home to lots of ducks who could beg for bread and even jump up into our bus!

The finches were cheeky as well and this one wanted Jims biscuit!

On our bikes we went for a ride along the narrow road beside the Mahau and Kenepuru Sounds.

The shop at Portage has two fuel pumps that are kept locked.

You obtain the key from the counter and write in the book how many litres and the cost and pay when you return the key!

Time now to follow the coastal route to Nelson for supplies but we missed the supermarket and stopped instead at the village of Wakefield.

Here we found real fresh bread and super sausages.

Today was the first of December-the first day of summer and it was raining again!

Along the way we met a group of horse riders on an eleven day trail ride and Billy on his KTM who was hoping to do the round trip to Blenheim and stay overnight in the historic Acheron hut.

At the boundary of the St James Station is a locked gate and a young couple live in the cottage during summer to collect a toll and open the gate for travellers.

  We had to pay 20$ to pass through.

Now we had to ride on past the Rainbow ski area to the main highway and the village of St Arnaud for fuel.

Our only option now was to return the same way and enjoy the 120 kms back to Hanmer Springs-guess what?

  We met Billy coming back as the track was closed-we had told him but he did not believe two old folk form Wales.

We took a ride on an old tram to see the sights.

At the Cathedral we wandered around the square and watched the activities and visited the Canterbury Museum.

We spotted a VW Beetle-not sure which way it was going!

 Then it was off to the coast to stay at the Motor Camp on New Brighton Beach-made us feel at home!

Under the pier Peter does his fantastic pictures in the sand-too cold and wet for him but good for the land yachts.

Back into the city by local bus we looked at all the Christmas decorations and the Art Gallery.

We did some Christmas shopping at Johnsons grocery store which was full of goodies from home.

This huge vase was erected to celebrate the Millenium.

Dot sang a few lines of Good King Wenceslas for the TV lady dressed as Mother Claus!

 Just a little southeast  is the Banks peninsular which is an extinct volcano with the caldera flooded to make a perfect harbour.

This is the million dollar view from the campsite in Akaroa and the sunsets over the lake were awesome.

We just had to go out riding on our bikes to explore the headlands and bays on this beautiful peninsular. 

The road signs warn the tourists not to take their rented campervans up the dirt road-

yipee!

  From Le Bons Bay where the gardens were in full bloom we went up along  Lavericks ridge road.

   The farmer suggested we use his rough green road that went out along the headland-

we were gone in a flash!

Three days of great riding-not far but fabulous views and as most of the roads lead off the summit highway we could not get lost!

Here at Flea Bay is a marine Preserve and the land belongs to HM Queen Elizabeth.

The Akaroa historic lighthouse has been moved to the harbour.

 But at the old location out on the headland we enjoyed our lunch watching the sea making a hole in the cliffs

          Lots of colourful lupins growing wild everywhere.

Time to go inland through the hills to the lake district and first stop was at Lake Tekapo.

The turquoise  colour of the water is caused by light reflecting on the 'rock flour' tiny particles of rock ground up by the movement of glaciers

Once again we parked looking out over the water and in this area the lupins were in full bloom, everywhere, beside the roads, under the trees, awesome!

We smiled at the monument to the Collie Dog beside the church of the Good Shepherd.

    Next day we rode across a bleak more to Lake Pukaki and along the track beside the lake hoping to get a good view of Mount Cook.

Low cloud prevented us from seeing anything except a sign for golf cross?

   Even from the top of Mt John where the observatory is located in the pure clean air-no Mt. Cook, but great views.

Then next day we rode alongside Lake Tekapo hoping to ride back down the other side of the lake.

But the 28 river crossing were too deep and fast flowing.

 Next day we drove the bus along the road beside the canal which is part of a complex hydro electric scheme with eight power stations.

At the view point we got the best view ever of the snow capped mountains and Mt Cook.

  Over the lovely Lindis Pass where a plaque remembers the introduction of deer to the area as it is so like Scotland.

But there are no lupins growing wild like this in Scotland-in fact no where else in the world!

We will remember New Zealand for the beautiful lupins.

   Into the Scottish town of Invercargill and a visit to see the Burt Munroe exhibition-what a character he was!

"You live more in five minutes on a motorcycle that most people live in a lifetime" he said.

Here we would spend Christmas amongst the roses and delphiniums-

far away from family and friends.

It was no use putting the fairy lights on as it does not go dark till 11pm!

Dot made some new wall hangings for Xmas, material purchased in the USA, borders stitched by Cheryl in Queensland, Australia and embellished in New Zealand!

A rare sight-Dot ironing the festive table cloth!

              Te Waihipounamu Unesco World Heritage Park.

  Now we were to visit the west coast and World Heritage Fiords National Park for some wet outings.

At Manapouri we stayed on a campsite amongst Morris Minors!

In New Zealand we would see in use all sorts of old British cars like Triumph 2000, Austin 1100, Hillman Imps in regular daily use.

From Manapouri we went by boat across the lake to West Arm and spent the day with a young Dutch couple and their son Dan.

Then by coach through a downhill spiral tunnel to the underground hydro electric generating station where we looked out over the turbine hall.

The coach took us over Wilmot Pass where there is a wonderful view down to Deep Cove at the head of the fiord.

The waiting boat  would travel out along the Doubtful Sound (fiord) to the Tasman sea.

We watched bottlenose dolphins and fur seals and looked at rock faces scoured by the movement of ice and marvelled that anything could grow on the sheer cliffs.

Rain and low cloud as always adds a little extra to the atmospheric scenery!

A few days later our old bus gasped its way up the Milford road with just a breather at the Mirror Lakes and then up through the Homer tunnel.

Mitre Peak was hidden by cloud and we walked around the harbour but did not go out on a boat trip.

Next day when we came out of the tunnel it was snowing!

So much for summer.

On to the 'fear' capital of Queenstown where every kind of extreme activity known to man is on sale!

   We found a great place to park at the farm where Dennis and his family run Off Road Adventure bike and quad rides.

  We were able to celebrate New Year in true Kiwi style by riding our bikes wearing only boots and helmets!

(sorry but we cannot show you the pictures of our nude trail ride)

Now we begin the final phase of our adventure in 2007.