We left Lake Brunner on Monday and made our way to Picton via Murchison. Beautiful countryside and rivers. Typical New Zealand scenery. The roads are never straight - curving round hills, and mountains, down into valleys and back up again. Consequently a relatively short trip which would take 3 to 4 hours in Australia takes 5 to 6 in NZ.
We drove on the Kawatiri-Murchison Hwy alongside the Buller River,then took the St.Arnaud-Kawatiri Hwy through the Marlborough (wine) district to Blenheim (Royal NZ Air Force base here. They had a visit from Wills and Kate the day after we drove through). Then on to Picton.
Picton harbour is bustling and busy with ferries from the North Island, water taxis, tour boats, fishing boats and plenty of pleasure boats. We loved being near the sea again.
Single lane bridge over the Buller River.
Buller River.
Thousands of hectares of vineyards all through the Marlborough District. Some of the best wines in the world.
Picton Harbour from our hotel balcony. Hans surveying the scene.
Ferries from the North Island on the left.
Typical steep and hilly backdrop to the whole of the Marlborough Sounds.
