Pelorus

I had decided to leave the Abel Tasman Park immediately after my walk on Boxing Day and head over towards Picton ready to take the ferry to the North Island on Monday.  The campsite I stopped at was a Department of Conservation (DOC) official campsite at a place called Pelorus Bridge.

In complete contrast to the Motueka campsite, this one was very basic, but in having "a" hot shower and kitchen facilities it was one of the better equipped DOC campsites.  After an early night and almost 12 hours sleep, I decided to spend some time this morning walking to see the Pelorus Bridge itself.  I'm still not sure what Pelorus is - I wondered if it was actually a corruption of Perilous.  But when I got to the bridge, it looked sturdy enough!

In fact, this bridge claimed it could take up to 10 people at once, and was decidedly less swingy to walk over then the bridge on the Abel Tasman track!

Having satisfied my curiosity, I continued on to the ferry terminal, taking the pretty Queen Charlotte drive that wound its' way along the coast.  Queen Charlotte Sound is very pretty - not as stunning as Milford or Doubtful, mainly because the land slopes as it rises from the sea.  But still one of those places you wish you had more time to stop and see.

As you can see from the photos, the glorious sunny weather of Christmas and Boxing day has departed and we are now back in the atmospheric murky drizzle.  So all thanks to Santa for his wonderful Christmas weather - two absolutely perfect days !

I'm now sat on the ferry to the North Island.  Having already payed for lounge access (free food, free bar, free wifi, no kids....ok, not free because I had to pay to get in, but you know what I mean) I am making the most of the food and allowing myself one glass of wine as it's 4 hours before I have to drive again.  And of course I am using the free wifi :-)

When I get to Wellington, I will be driving to a nearby campsite and then doing boring things like laundry and grocery shopping.  Tomorrow is free to look around Wellington, and weather permitting I will be doing the ten hour Tongariro Alpine Crossing walk on Wednesday or Thursday.

Roll on the North Island!