Link to BK Galapagos

Link to BK Africa

	Picton, Nelson and the Marlborough Sounds South Island
Kayaking in Abel Tasman Park		Picton Waterfront

 

Another very scenic area. The ferry from Wellington that takes cars and passengers to the South Island goes back and forth from Wellington to Picton. The cruise ships will often stop in Picton, a tiny little town.  The sail in through the Marlborough Sounds is truly delightful. If you hit a sunny day you will be enthralled.    Many people live on these small islands and a mail boat leaves Picton each day delivering mail and supplies to the locals. The sounds are deep and the islands rise quite high. The bright green fern glad mountains and the deep fiords remind me of Norway but more rustic and less developed. 
 

Not much to do in Picton but walk around and sit on the foreshore or take one of the many tours that operate out of the area. . Most people take a tour deeper into the sounds by bus to a point to board a boat and then sail back to Picton. It might be in the reverse order. Once in a small boat you get a better sense of the beauty and tranquility of this area.  They often throw a little bread over the side and then you realize how many fish are in the sounds. 
 

Nelson
Nelson is a town over the mountain from Picton it takes about an hour and a half and most people head for Nelson rather than stay in Picton..  The mountain you cross is full of pine trees and the drive is very scenic.   Nelson is a gorgeous little town  that gets more sun than any other part of New Zealand.  There is a very wide and long beach with nice surf rolling in.  We ate dinner at a restaurant in Nelson, had an incredible meal and the scenery was so beautiful. Then we took a walk on the beach. A night to remember. 
 

Wine Country
This area is famous for wines.  The vineyards are small and quaint with wonderful restaurants and tea rooms.