Day 9 Picton South Island

Departure for the ferry is shortly after 6 o'clock. Due to the already heavy rush hour traffic to Wellington at the port, it takes just under an hour. Check-in is easy. Everyone said you had to book the ferry at least three days in advance or even months in advance. Somehow it was easy last night and there was even a coupon with a 25% discount. The sun is already shining again when the crossing starts at 8 o'clock. Long past Wellington and then up into the open sea. The normally very rough waters in the famous Cook Strait are very calm today. The three and a half hours pass quickly. The sun is shining when entering the Marlborough Sound, but there is a strong wind blowing. Nevertheless, everyone is on the observation deck. A wild mixture of people. Amusing! Locals, French, Germans, Japanese, Far East, etc.

In Picton, unloading is very fast and shortly afterwards I arrived on the South Island. Now the main part of the journey begins. On the way to Abel Tasman National Park, you pass through various landscapes. Mountainous rainforest, valleys with vineyards, hills with yellow flowering bushes, and a huge river delta that resembles the Wadden Sea at low tide. I arrive at the destination Kaiteriteri Beach around 4 pm and can still enjoy the beach.