When you’re head down in work and so busy that you don’t find time to look up (hey stop sniggering you lot, I do work hard!) it’s easy to forget what lies on your doorstep.
That’s why for this long-weekend we hopped a plane....technically two planes, but the second might be more accurately described as a bus with wings....and headed to Picton in Marlborough.
Admittedly Marlborough is not exactly on the doorstep of Auckland but it’s a damn-sight closer than a lot of other places. And what’s the point of living in New Zealand if you don’t take advantage of living in the second most beautiful county in the world. I’m not going to name names, but there are people we know who had lived here for over ten years and have never been to the South Island. Stayed resolutely in the North, let alone walked/tramped across its stunning coastline, alongside its rivers or up its mountains. And just as there are those who never venture south, others never travel north to sit on its golden beaches or marvel at the volcanic craziness. Sheer lunacy. Not us though - we want to explore every nook and cranny of this land. Anyway, I digress.
Admittedly Marlborough is not exactly on the doorstep of Auckland but it’s a damn-sight closer than a lot of other places. And what’s the point of living in New Zealand if you don’t take advantage of living in the second most beautiful county in the world. I’m not going to name names, but there are people we know who had lived here for over ten years and have never been to the South Island. Stayed resolutely in the North, let alone walked/tramped across its stunning coastline, alongside its rivers or up its mountains. And just as there are those who never venture south, others never travel north to sit on its golden beaches or marvel at the volcanic craziness. Sheer lunacy. Not us though - we want to explore every nook and cranny of this land. Anyway, I digress.
For those who may not be aware, Marlborough is famous for two things; wine and the Sounds. “Ahh, so that’s why your there!” Indeed. Rather than head to foreign lands this weekend, we down in the South Island to enjoy some wine and walking. Or tramping if you prefer.
I’d imagine everyone is familiar with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. If not - go and find out. But the Sounds is not a reference to popular music, but I can see how you could make that mistake.
Covering some 4,000 km2 of sounds, islands, and peninsulas, the Marlborough Sounds lie at the South Island's north-easternmost point, between Tasman Bay in the west and Cloudy Bay in the south-east. The almost fractal coastline has 1/5 of the length of New Zealand's coast.
The bags are packed, the maps have been consulted and the scroggin is at the ready, for tomorrow we catch a boat to Ship Cove where we’ll start the 70km hike along Marlborough Sounds to Anakiwa. It’s going to be an arduous task and a test of our physical and mental strength. Sure, our bags are being transported by boat to each of our overnight stops and of course we’re staying in lodges and hotels who will provide us with hot towels, a cooked breakfast and packed lunch. But besides that we’re out on our own. Just us, our keen sense of direction and our wits. I just hope we survive.
But that’s tomorrow. For now we’re Enjoying the last few rays of sunshine and tucking into fish and chips, all washed down with the local brew, Sauvignon Blanc. Well you need some comfort before four days out in the wilderness!
Covering some 4,000 km2 of sounds, islands, and peninsulas, the Marlborough Sounds lie at the South Island's north-easternmost point, between Tasman Bay in the west and Cloudy Bay in the south-east. The almost fractal coastline has 1/5 of the length of New Zealand's coast.
The bags are packed, the maps have been consulted and the scroggin is at the ready, for tomorrow we catch a boat to Ship Cove where we’ll start the 70km hike along Marlborough Sounds to Anakiwa. It’s going to be an arduous task and a test of our physical and mental strength. Sure, our bags are being transported by boat to each of our overnight stops and of course we’re staying in lodges and hotels who will provide us with hot towels, a cooked breakfast and packed lunch. But besides that we’re out on our own. Just us, our keen sense of direction and our wits. I just hope we survive.
But that’s tomorrow. For now we’re Enjoying the last few rays of sunshine and tucking into fish and chips, all washed down with the local brew, Sauvignon Blanc. Well you need some comfort before four days out in the wilderness!
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