Sweet As eh?

After sky diving and a poor performance in a backpacker's quiz where rather too much Tui beer was consumed (and far too many women got topless for a pint of beer) we hit the road again for Napier. Arriving in the Art Deco capital of the world, we wandered around and went to see the marvellous Atonement as we were too tired to do anything else. Stunning film for those who have not seen it, even with Keira Shitely hamster woman in it.

The next day we did an Art Deco walking tour of the city which was rebuilt entirely in 1931 over 2 years after a massive volcano eruption which meant the sea floor moved upwards adding loads of land to the city and destroying everything. In the afternoon we hastily jumped on the Grape Escape wine tour. On no lunch, 4 wineries with about 10 samples per winery, a cheese platter and extra samples of Viognier, Merlot and Port by a v welcoming vineyard owner called Dan, we arrived back to the hostel wasted and passed out before a well needed burger dinner. Thank goodness we didn't chose the 'bike and wine' option or I may not have been writing now.

The following day we left for Wellington also known as 'Windy Welly'. The buzzing capital had a lovely harbour and good nightlife explored by the core 3 and lovely Aussie Rohan who accompanied us. The next day we explored the city in the rain i.e. shopped and ate and had some dinner and a bottle that night before getting up at 5.30am to catch the interislander ferry to Picton.

Arrived to the South Island (after a seasick Virginia had slept all the way on the deck in the sun) through the beautiful Marlborough Sound. Drove off to Kaikoura along the east coast stopping off at a seal colony where the seals were chilling out on the rocks. Hung out in the sun and booked our dolphin swimming tour for the next morning. Wetsuited up the following day we jumped off our boat 4 times to catch some dolphins swimming around us, not quite Free Willy but awesome to see the pods all around us nonetheless.