Day 55: To the South Island

Today was a driving day so there's not loads to report but here's a little... Or a lot as I can't seem to edit myself down these days... Sorry. An early start with breakfast at 6 but got to try a bizarre fruit. No idea what it was I'm afraid but it was pretty big, round and orange with huge spikes coming out. Looked a bit like a puffer fish but was bright green inside with flesh and seeds a little like a passion fruit. Just wish I knew what it was called!

We took the ferry from Wellington to Picton on the north of the South Island, which took about three and a half hours, and then we were on the road out west. To cross the South Island from East to west you have to cross NZ's Southern Alps, which are, unsurprisingly, beautiful, with huge green mountains, forests and bright green lakes cropping up everywhere. There was a slight moment of confusion when we were told to check out the beautiful 'bridge' which we all turned our noses up at as it was some creepy white metal beast, but then realised it was the view Auto was on about, which was pretty spectacular with a green lake nestled in the mountains. Also turns out the South Island has a whole lot more sheep so I'm feeling less cheated.

Our guide, Auto, is keen to get us listening to Nz music (compulsory half hour each driving day) and also learning Maori words which he writes up on the windows. We got started with Kia Ora, which means hello, and a number of other words that I have zero idea how to spell... Sorry guys. But toilet came in useful. 

We got to see a lot of NZ's exports on this trip, driving through thriving wine country and looking out for mussels being farmed on rocks in the middle of the lakes. Found out that a lot of the forests were 'second generation' after the timber industry cut down so many trees in the early days. Farms also grow a lot of hops down here so we stopped at a micro brewery to taste and stock up on their red ale. Yummy, kinda passionfruity (or 'with notes of passion fruit' as I should say...).

The town of Nelson is apparently the first place for rugby to have been initiated by the Brits down here. Didn't take long for auto to remind us that Nz are world champions at the moment...

Finally we reach Abel Tasman National Park, named after the Dutch explorer, and famous for golden beaches and bright blue green ocean. Even in the moody weather, it looked amazing. We got into our water taxi... On dry land, and proceeded to be driven by tractor out to the water. Bizarre. Then off we went on a rather windy transfer to our hostel for the evening, a boat in one of the secluded bays. Swimming, barbecues on deck, stargazing and silent save some strange animal noises...paradise.