Crossing to the Other Side

NZ campsites camped on : 9 (+ a garden)
Worst parts about living in a camper van           1. Putting the bed up every night
                                                                                 2. Dirty feet all the time
                                                                                 3. General worry over mossies etc in van


We had to get up really early to catch the ferry to the North Island. We left the campsite at about 7am and it took 5 hours hard driving (over 2 nerve crunching hills) to arrive at the ferry terminal in Picton. We had a fantastic crossing as the weather was brilliant, we were able to enjoy the views leaving the south island and the Cook Straight was very calm. We were amused to notice that the ferry was an old "Sealink" ferry, all the life buoys said Portsmouth on them.

Looking back over Picton from the ferry

We arrived in Wellington after the 3 hour crossing quite tired. Fortunatly we had booked a campsite 5 mins away and our trusty sat nav took us right there. The site turned out to be a sort of car park for camper vans and we were very tightly packed in (no snoring allowed) but it did for the night. The next morning Chris managed to get his hair cut again in the local shopping centre which is always a bonus.

We then set of 2.5 hours up the highway to a place called Marton. This is the home of our old friend April. We were lucky enough to spend a considerable amount of time with her on the China part of the world tour. The three of us always sat in the back of the coach and Chris and April bonded over a shared love of Irish coffees. She had invited us to come and visit her and we took her at her word. April lives in a beautiful area and runs an organic sheep farm. She also has her gorgeous dog Lilly, cats, chickens and a peacock. Her house and considerable gardens made us very envious. She even has tree ferns and Ruths favourite plant the echium growing. April is very open to people house sitting her property (don't worry about the sheep). We spent a very enjoyable evening with April, Chris overcame his fear of large gas barbeques and managed to succesfully cook some NZ lamb (under close instruction from April!) which was gorgeous.

Making friends with the Raji

Chris succesfully navigates the gas bbq

The back seat chinese coach team reunited (plus dog)

Despite Ruth trying to entice Lilly the dog into the van and a life a luxury in Hadleigh she opted to stay with April (can't really blame her). Thankyou very much to April for a lovely evening and meal, hope that we can reciprocate very soon.