A holiday of a lifetime - part 2

The North and South Islands of New Zealand are separated by the Cook Strait, said to be one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the world. Luckily, our trip on the Interislander ferry was a sheer delight - calm seas and excellent cuisine on a lovely summer's day. We landed at Picton and headed for Blenheim, a pleasant town with an excellent library (and yes, that does of course mean they had copies of my books...) and art gallery. A tour of the Marlborough area's wineries (one of which occupies a former chapel) - specialising in Sauvignon Blanc - was the next item on the itinerary, followed by a scenic rail trip to Kaikoura.

The highlight of the short stop in Kaikoura was a boat ride to watch dusky dolphins - and there were a huge number to be seen. Years ago, we went on a dolphin watching boat trip off Gibraltar and didn't see any - but there were hundreds to be found in Kaikoura. 

Another appealing rail journey came next, this time to Christchurch, a delightful city with wonderful botanical gardens. I arranged to visit the Ngaio Marsh House, enjoying an excellent guided tour and a pleasant discussion with some of the trustees. More about this marvellous place another time. After that, it was time for a tram ride around the city with dinner as part of the package - quite splendid. Next day, a trip to Arthur's Pass by train and bus, and yet another chance to marvel at the landscape, not least the amazing Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area, as well as the cheeky keas.

And after that, it was goodbye to Christchurch and time to head to the southern resorts...