By ferry to Wellington

I made my early morning walk along the front and saw the ferry terminal across Picton's bay.

 

 

From where we later took the Interislander Ferry boat 'Aratere'.

 

 

 

 

Past The Snout and Waikawa Bay.

 

 

 

 

 

Through Queen Charlotte Sound and later Tory Channel (I wonder why so named?).

 

 

 

And arrived early afternoon at Wellington, which by then was living up to its name of Windy Wellington and was covered in low cloud.

 

 

Lyall dropped us at our hotel and he went off to stay with friends in Wellington.

It was good to have 3 days in a row at one place and to be able to unpack our cases.

 

We went for a walk to Civic Square and along the harbour front. A memorial to those who came to and made New Zealand.

 

 

 

We came to the national museum, Te Papa, and visited the first of its many levels where at the entrance we were greeted by characters from The Hobbit. Tolkien seems to have taken over New Zealand.

There is an excellent exhibition of 'Awesome Forces' showing how plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes and water have all shaped New Zealand's landscape.

 

 

 

'Mountains to Sea' displays New Zealand 's animals and plants. The presentation is superb and there is much fun for children.

Then a good supper at 'Humming Bird', one of the restaurants recommended by Simon.

 

Robert Cole