Day 16. Saturday 22nd November 2003
Kaiteriteri - Wellington - Otaki

A day of transition today—getting from South Island to North Island. Left Kaiteriteri and briefly stopped at Nelson. Checked out the outdoor market, which was nice. A lot of crafts, arts, and plants on sale from local people. Could spend lots of time walking around (and buying if Jeff wasn't hassling me). Then we drove to Picton to get the ferry, had a bit of time to look around the shops and get over the windiest road ever (Queen Charlotte Drive).

Picton was a little bit run down and a bit of a "just passing through" place. Got a coffee and visited the Edwin Fox, an old ship from around 1852, made in Calcutta from teak. Edwin Fox was used to transport stuff to the Crimean War, convicts to Australia, and immigrants to NZ. It was then used as a fridge for NZ lamb in the 1900's and finally as coal storage. It was sad to see it in such a state and was amazed they let people walk on it, but they are finally looking after it more.

Ferry trip was OK, got something to eat from the cafe and read our books. Soon we were saying goodbye South Island and hello to North Island. Got into Wellington about 9:30pm and decided to drive to Otaki.. Found a little campsite and a lot of people were actually living there in their vans.