Finally, some decent weather, something we were grateful for, not so much for some delicious heat, but rather, to be able to fully enjoy this truly incredible area. We ferried over to Picton on the 9am Interislander, enjoying the fabulous view of Wellington as we bade farewell to the North Island. There’s a city we will need to come back to for sure…
On a fair day like we had, it is a veritable wonder as you cross into the Sounds, an extraordinary area of sea-drowned valleys and steep wooded hills comprising a fifth of NZ’s total coastline- a more than significant amount bearing in mind how much coastline New Zealand has. Connected to the Cook Strait at the north-east end, we arrived in Picton at midday, ready to collect our next hire car and made our way on windy, narrow roads to Kenepuru sounds: a journey of only 35 km but one that takes over an hour. (more frenzied bloody DRIVING conversations that ended in me stopping the car and not entirely graciously saying to Alberto, well YOU DO IT THEN :)) Every turn you make opens into a view of yet another idyllic bay, dotted with one or two secluded houses, some of which are only accessible by boat.
Te Mahia is a small, simple but lovely hotel in a fabulous bay, populated by little boats, kayaks, glow worms, and the odd sting ray- and a truly perfect view. Just along the coast is an entry onto the Queen Charlotte track, one of the countries best known trails. We only did a tiny part of it, panting our way up to the incredible Oamahu lookout, where the panorama that awaits more than rewards the uphill cursing… As with every place we’ve been here, the people we met along the way were invariably welcoming, friendly and charming, here, a lovely Franco-Kiwi couple and their children in the next door room. We drank beers, made pancakes, played board games, saw glow worms, swam to jetties, walked to Mistletoe Bay, kayaked around the coast and even managed a spot of work… Here a place we could have lingered plenty more…. 
Lovely Sacha! So interesting to see your blog and hear your ongoing adventures. You have seen and done so many things, and you have so much more ahead! We all hope that your night in Anchorage Bay was a fun excursion, and I hope the weather was fine for swimming in the beautiful water there. You may now be on the road heading further south. We think of you all as your journey continues, and are so glad to have met you all. A bientot! Xx p.s. did you happen to take a photo of all the children together? I wish I had!
Hello lovely Sacha, Alberto, Siena, Cala and Alegra! You have captured the magical spot of Te Mahia Bay perfectly, we too did not want to leave! Your adventures in the South island continue and we hope that everything is going well and the sun is shining for you all as you cover many miles and swim in many waters! We look forward to following your travels and are so glad to have met you all. It will be so much fun to see you all again! Sacha I wonder if you have any photos of the children all together? I wish I had!
Hello my lovely Nicolette! Only just worked out how to approve comments! Didn’t we have fun? Absolutely have photos- send me a message on FB with your email again because obviously I can’t find it! Lots of love and keep in touch xxx