February 21 Napier

 A quiet morning,  then into town  for the vintage car parade. Maybe 100 cars dating back over 100 years.  In the afternoon we boasts a couple of wineries,  one of which was closed for a special event, no doubt connected with the festival.  The other was Mission Estate, the first winery in NZ, started by Marian monks in 1851. 

 

Aerobatic jets and a local celbrity

Pipe band and a services squad.

The navy were instrumental in rescue efforts following the 1931 earthquake as one of their ships was anchored in the Port. 

Vintage fire engines 

Mission Estate Winery

Fountain in the Art Shed just outside Napier

February 20 Napier

 Today we drove north west to the Hawke’s Bay region and Napier, well know for its Art Deco buildings built following a major earthquake in 1931. This is the Art Deco Festival weekend so the town in full of people decked out in 20s and 30s garb with lots of vintage cars here for a parade through the town tomorrow.

View from our BnB

Girls getting ready to dance in the street

Various At Deco buildings in town

February 19 Ferry to Wellington

 The ferry from Picton to Wellington takes about 3 3.5hrs passing through the islands and headlands of the Marlborough Sound.  We had an amazingly gentle ride with almost no waves in sight. Unfortunately it started to rain soon after we arrived so we didn't do much sightseeing.

Here are some photos of the scenery from the ferry. 

Date scones came out at 10 o'clock so we had to check them out. 

February 18

 Our last day on the South Island. A short drive to Picton where we await the morning ferry trip through the Marlborough Sounds across to Wellington.

Picton harbour

February 17

 Today we thought we'd try some wines from the local wineries.  Unfortunately there practice her is quite different from Australian wineries.  Here you have to pay a fixed price for a set collection of wines even if you're not really interested in half of them.  As a result we only visited 2 wineries. 

Feb 16 - Blennheim

 We drove north to Blennheim along the coast with wild waves of shore and strong winds buffeting the car.  We had to stop at a famous food Van, Nin's Bin, that serves lobster and fish& chips. It was doing a roaring trade despite the weather and its remoteness. 

Feb 15 Christchurch

 Today we went to an Anglican Church just to the south of the city.  Then to a very unimpressive market.  After that we visited the Botanical Gardens.

Gisny Redwood (Sequoia) planted in 1869 by the then Duke of Edinburgh

Pear tree in the kitchen Garden

Ducks and a pontoon boat 

Previously Canterbury College,  now The Arts Centre