To the South Island

27th
We got to Wellington at the very Southern tip of the North Island around midday and found a park about 5 mins from the ferry terminal. We took the bus into town and took a tram to the top of a hill where the botanical gardens are situated. The view over the natural harbour was amazing, there was some sort of speed boat race going on so there was all sorts of activity to look at. We had decided to walk back down the hill to the lower tram terminal, it had been about a 5 minute ride up the hill and we had covered about 500m so how hard could it be? A path through the botanical gardens (free) said it lead down to the parliament buildings so we followed it for about 20 mins through the park looking at all the plants and trees; but soon the walk ended up going out onto the roads so we made our way back to the top again to try again. ANYWAY... after several voided attempts we finally found our way back down, who would have thought that a 500m tram ride could turn into such a long, winding and complicated walk (including going into a building and taking a lift out on the bottom floor to continue on!).
When we returned to our campsite we found that we had a slightly flat tyre and made an attempt at changing it only to find that we hadn't been given the correct tools; the thing we had for undoing the bolts wouldn't fit; and so we had to call out the AA. When the chap arrived he got out our spare from under the vehicle only to find that the rim was broken and he said it was too dangerous to fit, so he pumped up our tyre, gave us all sorts of info to give to the hire company and left. Our ferry was first thing the next morning so there wasn't much we could do, so we decided to leave it until we got to the south island - there are two wheels on each side at the back so he said it would be alright for a while as not all the weight goes on that wheel.
We went to a bar to have a drink, use the internet and eat Nachos! We overheard some guys talking, they were only in there 60s but they were talking about how terrifying it was to drive these days with so many cars on the road.... it made me chuckle... the roads here are so empty, if they went to the UK I think they'd have a heart attack!

28th
By 7am we were at the ferry terminal waiting in the queue to load. It was all very efficient and good natured, I suppose with no customs and immigration it makes the whole process much easier. Once our van was loaded we made our way up to the 7th deck to sit in the Atrium, a big sort of glasshouse near the back of the boat. The water was really calm as we went out into the natural harbour, but once we hit the open sea it was a bit like a slow fairground ride, rocking and rolling over the waves. I slept for most of the journey in a big comfy chair!
We reached Picton at around 11am and our tyre looking big, fat and healthy, did not set off any alarms, so we drove off the ship and went in search of a tyre place - no luck, it was Sunday and things are generally not open on Sundays here. We drove to Blenheim, a short way south, where there was also nothing open and so we decided to go in land a bit to see what we could find. We drove along the Wairau valley which is filled with endless vinyards, apparently this is the best grape growing region due to mild all year round weather, until we reached Saint Arnaud. Here we found a campsite next to the picture perfect Rotoiti Lake which is framed by mountains at the far end and surrounded by native forest (undergoing an intensive 'get rid of non-native species' program so that Kiwi and other native birds can be reintroduced).
By the time we arrived it was only about 3pm but there was a bitterly cold wind blowing, so we took refuge and drank tea. By the time night fell it was bitterly cold and we spent some time with the gas burners on the cooker at full blast just to get the chill out of the air before we went to bed!

29th
We awoke to sunshine but it was still bitterly cold until after 10am when we finally emerged from under our duvets to face the day! We did all the maintenance (emptied the tanks and refilled the fresh water) and then set out on a walk through the bush down by the lake. There was a fantastic conversation going on in the trees between numerous bell birds that have a clear ringing song for a few notes finished off with a couple of sniffs - it is quite quirky! The walk was great apart from one thing, it is on horrid gravel paths that mean you can't walk quietly and sneak up on things, I know they are trying to make the paths accesible to all but I think that this is just going too far, it really spoils the quietness of the bush (apart from the birdsong). We passed a beautiful mossy waterfall, many fallen logs that had become home to new trees, saw a Harrier preening high in the branches and the strange looking Silvereye. The lake was crystal clear, the sun was shining and it was just beautiful.
By 1pm we were on our way westwards towards Murchison (which looked on the map like a big town but turned out to be tiny) where we thought we would be able to find a tyre rim but again no luck. We parked up quite early and did our washing, a maths lesson and caught up on the blog. At the moment Celso is outside BBQing some venison and pork sausages that we bought from a local butcher. We have fed the campsite animals, a 3 month old deer called Norma that was taken from her mother's stomach after she was shot (there is no hunting season for deer here as they are non-native species and therefore considered pests) and they saw her stomach moving, she survived against all the odds; 3 emus; ducks and chickens; sheep and an enormous black and white pig, called Westie, that was also taken in as a rescue case as a baby when he was found covered in dog bites on a hill just west of here (that's why he is called Westie). Westie gathers fresh grass for his bed every night and has very good toilet manners using the same spot every day and leaving everywhere else in his paddock clean! There is another pig that lives away down the hill a bit but comes when he is called by name - Kevin Bacon!
The owners of the campsite are going in to the local school tomorrow do give a talk to the younger children about American Indians and have asked us to go along, so I'll be able to look in the school and Celso will be able to tell the children a little bit about S. American Indians!