Christchurch to Picton

Well,  hello everyone.

Christchurch Airport
 

We arrived safely in New Zealand.   Cold, wet and horrible!!   

Picked the car up,  set Tom for Kaikoura,  and hit the road. 

Stopped in Amberley for some shopping.   Doesn't matter how far away you go,  you can't get away from 'the fresh food people'!!



NZ Woolies

Was dark when we came out,  so the rest of our journey was very unpleasant - for Al anyway,  he was driving!!!   I did my usual and dozed most of the way.

Arrived at our accommodation just before 8pm.   Not the best we've ever had - no en suite!! - and we had to make our bed!!!


Outside

Inside

Going to the shower and toilet in the rain - well,  enough said!!!   We did sleep well,  though.
No tea or coffee etc in the room;  we had bought some,  but didn't think to buy anything to put a drink in - not just me this time,  Alan too!!!!  


Set off 9ish on Wednesday,  heading for Picton.  

About half an hour north of Kaikoura,  we came upon a seal colony.   Watched them - in the rain - for 20 minutes or so.   Lots of babies,  swimming,  riding the waves.   I took some video,  but I'm not game to try to put it on the blog.

Swimming

Suckling
 




Sleeping

The drive along the coast from Kaikoura to Blenheim was lovely - hills on the left,  ocean on the right.   With sunny skies,  it would be superb!   Very windy and lots of trucks.

Blenheim was quite small.   No shopping centres,  only shops in the main street.   We went into a complex we thought was a shopping centre,  looking for a coffee.   It turned out to be a gym and swimming pool,  but it had a Subway and a café, so we sat down and had our coffee!

Found my NZ Anzac Commemorative Coins at the Post Office - only place they were available here.
Cath,  have you remembered my Aussie ones???

The drive from Blenheim to Picton was partly along the coast,  beside the railway line,  and partly over a mountain range.   Still raining,  by the way!!!!
The countryside was beautiful,  rolling hills,  tree stands,  just lovely.   Plenty of cattle,  and some sheep.   Saw a farmer that Alan reckoned was Wal Footrot - dog in the back of the ute,  shorts,  boots,  hat,  spitting image apparently!



Marlborough Valley
 

The countryside called the Marlborough Region is just spectacular!   It had stopped raining by this time,  so everything looked good!!!

We arrived in Picton about 2.30pm,  found our accommodation - with en suite TG - unpacked,  then back into town for a look around.

More later.



Clock Tower in Blenheim
 

Covered Grape Vines

Topiary near our cabin