20 December: arrival in South Island

Crow Inn @ Picton (Free Freedom Camp).

Before leaving North Island, we saw a bit of Welly and stopped to see Justin’s colleagues at Beaurepaires to get the caravan tyres checked (again). In the afternoon we checked-in to the Interislander ferry and left North Island - we travelled peacefully across the scenic Cook Strait – arriving approx. 8.30pm The ferry was reminiscent of the Dover-Calais journeys we are so familiar with – in every way apart from the view! In fact some of the ferries used on this route had a past life in the British Isles, including one as P&O ferries' Pride of Cherbourg. How bizarre to think both of us may have travelled or worked on a ferry that was based across the other side of the globe!

The route of the ferry between Wellington and Picton through Cook Strait & the Sounds.

Before departure, Dizzy had a chance to stretch her legs around the terminal grounds  - along with all the other pooches (there were lots), before being locked away safely in the ute on the deck for the 3 hour journey. We left her with water and hoped she would sleep though (there are doggy creates available to hire if people needed them).

It was disappointing the wifi wasn’t working (despite paying extra for it) but the food on offer in the “VIP” (truck-driver’s)  ‘Lounge” buffet was an interesting mix of fresh Indian spices and traditional kiwi fodder. The staff were very friendly – what a shame the shop was so small and underutilised. Those who had done this journey before came prepared – with cushions to sit on the cold, hard deck. There certainly weren’t enough seating areas if you wanted to enjoy the view and wave to each of the passing vessels (as Kiwi’s do).

View from the Ferry through the Cook Strait

On board the deck looking North

Arriving late evening, we stayed o/n at the Crow Tavern which was quite a busy pub and car park. The landlord is a very friendly Greek guy called George who spent many years working in London as a sparky. When we booked-in, he was playing poker with a group of locals and insisted we ‘helped ourselves’ to the bar. Justin pulled a pint for the first time in many years! 

It was a noisy night camping in the pub's car park because the terminal isn't far away and the ferries load and unload late into the night and early into the morning. In fact, talking of ferries in Britain, this reminded me of working years ago in Newhaven - a town so totally overwhelmed by the ferry traffic to Dieppe. 

The traffic and conflagration was an unusual sight for us and I felt sympathy for the residents of Picton who are forced to put up with this every day of the year. It is a beautiful town, as we discovered later on in our trip when we had more time to explore the area. Many of the timber and haulage trucks parked-up for a few hours’ kip in the village square where the pub was located, so an early start was encouraged and our journey South began through the scenic but challenging Queen Charlotte Highway to Nelson.