17.1.2018: It's better to travel in good company

Originally, the plan was to spend another day in my favorite national park in New Zealand, but the morning view from the window doesn't look promising. Dark clouds cover the sky, the landscape is shrouded in mist, and it smells like rain. So I continue on to Nelson. This time, I'm accompanied by my Danish roommate Johanna, with whom I can have wonderful conversations.

There is only one stop on the 60 km drive, and that is the Boat House. Just the grounds where we suspect it is located are definitely worth a visit. Just 1.5 km from the highway and well hidden from passing tourists, there is a gem. Here you can feed giant tame eels, entertain your children on the playground decorated with woodcarvings, enjoy a coffee on the terrace, and stay in unique accommodations. One of them is the aforementioned Boat House, but since it is currently occupied and the privacy of the guests should be respected, we only catch a glimpse of the huge sole. Such a shame, because the photos on the internet looked promising. At 330 NZD (200 €) per night, it is not a budget accommodation, but the entire area is definitely worth the slight detour.

We decide to continue along the road instead of going back to the highway, as it runs closer to the sea. The sea is rough, it's pouring rain, and we are simply glad to sit in the warm car with cheerful music playing.

Once we arrive in Nelson, we have to kill another 2.5 hours before we can check in at the hostel, but the bigger issue is finding parking in the city center without having to pay for it. We finally find a spot in a side street about a kilometer away.

Johanna gets her lunch from the sushi shop, while I rely on my pre-cooked noodles. We make ourselves comfortable on a sheltered bench. Afterwards, we spend two hours in the library, which boasts the fastest Wi-Fi I've ever had. At the well-equipped and spotlessly clean YHA hostel, we are assigned to different rooms. Johanna wants to thank me for the free ride with a dinner and prepares a delicious sauce for the pasta. We share many viewpoints and characteristics and spend the whole evening chatting in the lounge. As long as the company is good, a rainy day doesn't necessarily have to be bad...