Tramping... Waikawa Bay to Picton Track, S. Is., NZ

Our 2 hr. tramp today took us from our hotel in Waikawa Bay to Picton on a mostly forest track. We experienced New Zealand native bush and wildlife.

Kiwis do not hike on trials. They tramp on tracks. We took a side trip up to the Snout; the end of the headland that we see across the bay from our hotel. Accompanied by the snap, crackle and pop of very noisy cicadas, we tramped to Picton, via The Snout. We got caught in a rain shower about the last half hour. We looked forward to a nice Kiwi beer and a bowl of seafood chowder in town. Both hit the spot. The chowder here is delicious--- no potatoes, just local fish. We had lots and lots of mussels in today's chowder. Yum!

The world-renowned Queen Charlotte Track, 67km long, is near here. It can be walked in 5-6 days with stays at lodges in between. A boat can take you to the end and drop you off! It was awarded the country's top visitor attraction. One day I'd like to come back to New Zealand and do all of their famous tracks; Routeburn, Milford, Abel Tasmin and the the Queen Charlotte, plus a few others.

Picton is in the Marlborough Sound. The Sounds cover 7% of New Zealand's coastline. The seaport of Picton is at the head of the Queen Charlotte Sound. Picton is a small town. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. We've enjoyed our stay here. The best way to describe it would be... peaceful.

Tomorrow morning we'll spend time out on our patio and then head off at noon to the train station. Rachel will take us there. We're off to Kaikorua for a 2 day stay.