The paths of the dead

Today was a travelling day with an exciting walk thrown in.

We left the aubyn lodge in Palmerston North and set off to the south east corner of the north island. The day had started nice and sunny so three of us went for shorts. The journey was wonderful with several different landscapes along the way, wide open plains made way to hills then to vineyards as far as the eye could see. This area of New Zealand is wine country, the Marlborough region. We were a little concerned that being Easter Sunday we would have trouble with food again, and indeed not much seemed to be open in the few towns we passed through. Then we arrived in Martinborough, a tiny town in the very centre of the vineyards, and all of the many cafés and shops were open. We bought some sandwiches to eat later and had coffee sat outside a charming cafe. 

On we went, turning onto the road to Cape Palliser (no exit), the south easternmost tip. We went up another undulating hill and the view from the top of the sea was spectacular. A little further along a sign got us all excited

Yes the old penguin crossing! Unfortunately none crossed while we drove that way.

We arrived at our destination and ate our lunch. We then set off to walk up to the Putangirua Pinnacles, strange rock formations that were used in The Lord of the Rings films as the paths of the dead.

 After our exciting walk, which involved multiple stream crossings and a dropped phone, we set off for wellington. 

We had noticed that the way to the capital seemed to be over a forbidding looking mountain range, and we had to cross it. Ian was in his element with all the bends, and the views once again were spectacular. Down the other side we arrived in wellington and our digs for the next two nights, a small bistro hotel above a cafe. Wellington proved expensive when I was looking for a hotel, and this was the best option. We went out later for tea and ended up eating Thai on wellington's world famous Cuba street, I bet you've heard of it haven't you? 

Tomorrow is The Lord if the rings tour and we have to be up early, so it's early to bed tonight.