Crossing from North Island to South Island

Read Part 1 and Part 2 of Wellington here.

People visit the capital of New Zealand, Wellington, for two reason.

One is to claim that they've been to the capital of New Zealand.

Second is to cross over to and from the South Island(or North Island).




I found out there are only two common ways to cross between the two islands in NZ. First is, obviously, to fly. The other, more commonly used by locals and the adventure seeker, is to take a ferry.
(Third of course is to swim).




Few reasons. It's cheaper, well, kind of. If you don't manage to get promo fare of the flights, then it only makes sense to take ferry (I boarded the Bluebridge). Priced at NZD50 per way per person.

Or when you want to bring your car over to the South Island.


moving house applies too





Then there's the adventurous side of me where I just wanted to experience crossing the Cook Strait and to observe the Marlborough Sounds with my own eyes.





Marlborough Sounds are all the island and bay extensions from the tip of South Island



It finally got windy on the last day


I have to be honest here. When I decided I was to board a ferry to the South Island, I thought I was going to be stuck on a dodgy ferry with little comfort for few hours before finally arriving in civilization again.

Little did I expect that I was going to be welcomed with a full facilitated lounge!







Equipped with snack bars in every corner of the ship. Beers, chips, sandwich, hot food, you name it.




Cafes with dining tables.







Sit in movie theater.




Or get a beer and head up to the upper deck to enjoy some chilly wind.







From where I could see the harbour of Wellington which I was about to leave behind.




Soon, the ferry slowly roared its engine and left its port, leaving the town of Wellington in the dust.










While the view of mainland grew more and more distant.




Soon it would getting cold.




So I decided to head inside and grab a two seater sofa by myself in the lounge and slept. I had three hours ahead of me.








zzz...


When I woke up, we (the ferry) were engulfed amongst the Marlborough Sounds.





wide angle


It was quite beautiful really. But it was also too cold to be standing outside for too long.




Soon Picton harbour was coming into view.




Picton is a small port town in New Zealand that plays the important role of acting as the connecting hub from Picton (South) to Wellington (North) or vice versa.

There are, however, few activities worth exploring here. Tourists often travel south to the wine country for some wine trails trekking and tasting, or mountain bike around some of the gorgeous mountain treks in this region, or take a cruise out to the Marlborough Sounds to capture the beauty of Cook Strait.


parking


At a corner, yachts were abundance.




I wasn't going to be stop by Picton for long, but to know that I've finally arrived at the second island of New Zealand... enticed me!





Southern Island. Here I come.