New Zealand. Wellington.

Wellington has been a total wash out! We arrived in the rain and it continues to be rainy and windy. It makes sense why they call it Windy Welly! So in the afternoon we went for a wander around the town to  have a look for some warm clothes! It is cold and I am going to be so cold in the South Island! But after having a look I'm going to force myself to not buy anything. I don't want to carry it around and then chuck it after a couple of weeks. 

I really wanted to go to the botanic gardens which you can get to via a funicular railway but the weather was so miserable we decided against it and went to the Te Papa museum to get the free wifi. The first place in NZ I've found apart from Burger King with it! But they also had the best coffee I've has in NZ. 

After getting back to our hostel we found out that our ferry to the South Island might be cancelled due to high winds. After having a meeting with our amazing driver Lisa, it was confirmed that our ferry was cancelled and we would have to stay another day in Wellington. Great, wet and windy in a city with nowhere to stay! We had to get up early to see if we could get a bed for the extra night, but when we were down there we found out that there was some space on the 3pm sailing and we managed to get on it! Yay! 

After another coffee and wifi session in the museum (hoping the best time I'm in Wellington the weather will be good enough to get to the botanical gardens) we made the pain in the ass journey to the ferry terminal. Had to get a 2 buses with all our stuff. We've been so spoilt with our door to door service, it was rubbish to go back to reality! 

After finally getting on to the ferry and waiting for it to set sail, they announced that the weather in the Cook Straight had deteriorated and they would have to delay sailing and have another weather check at 4pm. But at 4 they finally decided that we could go! Yay! After lots of warnings about how rough it would be and that the staff would be coming round with ice and water for those feeling sick we set off. I was expecting the worst. But seriously, it was tame in comparison to some of the ferries I've been on in the Hebrides! And those crossing we classed as normal and not even considerd to be cancelled! Maybe the kiwis aren't as ballsy as I thought they were! 

So we left a miserable Wellington of which I have no photos except this one. 

 

I'm waiting in hope that it will be sunny on my next visit! So the journey was fine and after we passed through Cooks Straight the water was very flat and with the islands all around it was very pretty. I can imagine it looks amazing in the sun. 

Very excited, I saw a dolphin! Maybe a couple but definitly one! It was swimming along side the ferry. First dolphin in the trip!  When we arrived into Picton it was sunny and there was an amazing sunset. Hoping the predicted good weather arrives tomorrow!