The day dawned bright and blue again. The wind had dropped and we were woken by the sound of local surfers turning up for morning session at our campspot - 'The Meatworks'. This time we were happy to spectate as we had our breakfast. There were some good guys to watch! They were both good and hardcore! Those waves fall heavily!
We spent the morning down the road having a last surf at Mangamunu Bay - our favourite of the spots.
As if the views weren't good enough, there was a fur seal just chilling on the beach and a pod of Hector Dolphins bouncing around (see one in the phoo below - just!). Just goes to show how climbing and surfing have taken us off the beaten track and to the best places! There wasn't a tour guide in sight!
It was a great last surf with just us and another friendly couple - we felt like locals!
Eventually we had to head north. We got a few kilometres up the road, before pulling over at another fur seal colony. There was also a pretty cool star fish in one of the rock pools!
It was hard to leave the coast. The temperature was just right, the water such a fantastic colour, the wildlife amazing and the place was practically deserted. Driving north, we virtually had the road to ourselves, bar the odd lorry and fellow campervan.
The 'Highway 1' took us up the empty coastline, then slightly inland through 'Marlbrough Wine Country', where the barren rolling hills were covered in neatly lined and irrigated vineyards.
We arrived at the port town of Picton much earlier than expected. This gave us time for a look around town, and to organise a water taxi out into the Queen Charlotte Sound the following day, where we hoped to hike in Anna's (and Captain Cook's) footsteps along a famous trail.
The town felt pretty tropical, if a little empty. Holiday season must be drawing to an end around here. The tourist office gave us an 'overnight free camping spot' right on the harbour, which was an excellent place to dine, but turned out to be a noisy place to sleep, with drunken locals, then the park sprinkler system keeping us awake!
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