Picton & Akaroa

The last two days have been early starts and long days. George captured a beautiful sunrise over the sound before breakfast at 6. Docking in Picton we took an early coach tour to the Okaramio Valley then boarded a boat for the trip back down the Queen Charlotte Sound and Picton. Landscape was beautiful but bus ride got very long..as did the boat. Much too tame for this four wheeling crowd!! After a quick lunch aboard the ship we walked around Picton which kept it's stores open despite it being Sunday. I bought a few things and more wine. (this ship lets us bring bottles aboard at every port so we are keeping up the cellar stock aboard) Nice to have with dinner and on the veranda if we have time!! Dinner and a show ending at 9 finished our day and allowed us to get ready for today's early start.

Up again at 5:45 to get breakfast in before the tour which was 9.5 hrs. Because of the Christchurch earthquake the ship has to anchor in Akaroa and tender us in. That also makes the tours extra long due to distances. Another coach ride..2.5 hrs over and around the southern alps range. Many turns and twists to the road. Ending up at Waimakarri Gorge to board jet boats for trip up the gorge and through the canyons. Beautiful scenery and fun ride. George did not want to stop!! Off the boats and into 4x4 vehicles for a 1.5 hr "tussok" ride over the lands of Flock Hill Sheep Station. Many many acres and beautiful views over the slopes. The Trans Alpine train runs through the station and over the gorge. Arriving at the station, which is now a conference center too, we had a gourmet lunch waiting for us. Back on the coach for the long ride back to ship. They had to hold it for our group as we were a bit later than expected.

Light dinner for us and D&D walked, hot tubed and ate in Lido. Our table mates were from New Zealand trying their first cruise and seeing a bit of their country. Interesting couple..he had migrated with a children's relocation plan from England at age 12. Fun singer in theater which we almost skipped but were glad we hadn't. Dennis joined us too.

Tomorrow last NZ port..Dunedin. We will do a walking tour then hike Mt. Cargill to look at some rocks. Only 1/2 mile but ascends 800 ft up..Yikes!!

I'm glad we can sleep in a bit...am looking forward to the two sea days coming up as this is a lot of work!!!

G'day

 

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