I was very fortunate to have four beautiful days in Picton, both with the weather and the things I was able to do. My old university friend Chris and her husband John were very kind to me and I managed a variety of experiences. Chris is a keen swimmer and they are reasonably placed for the beautiful Waikawa Bay.
On the Wednesday morning, the day after my arrival I set off on my usual morning walk. Chris and I had been for a swim in the bay the previous day so I decided to walk there. I must have turned to the left too soon, because I ended up at the marina and tried to find a way from there without success. I retraced my steps and when I was almost back decided to go to the bottom of the road to make up some extra distance. There I found a lovely walk through mostly native bush that took me back to the Marina and this became the main focus of my walking for three mornings.
New Zealand has Agapanthus growing everywhere in great abundance and Waikawa Bay was a good example.
It was a really perfect day and we were soon loaded up in the dingy with Chris rowing out from the beach. It was a little choppy at first, but fairly soon the water became smoother.
As we came alongside a launch that was moored out from a small beach, I could see a couple of shags that had built a nest on the mostly unused boat. The male was on the lookout post.
We came into the shelly beach and Chris pulled the dingy into shore. It was an idyllic little spot, away from anyone else. We had a swim and some lunch, but as the afternoon progressed the wind suddenly whipped up and Chris was anxious to leave. All loaded up and with me sitting in the boat, Chris tried to board. Unfortunately a slightly larger wave caught her and she went sprawling into the sea sending quantities of water into the dingy. After emptying the dingy we set off and this time she boarded successfully. The water was very choppy, but we made it back to where we started just as the inter island ferry was passing.
While we were standing on the beach a Stingray came swimming past only a few feet from the shore. Chris says they are no problem as long as you don’t scare them.!!
Picton is very close to Blenheim where all the Marlborough wine is grown. We set out for lunch on Thursday at the Hans Herzog. Bistro, attached to their vineyards.. It was a beautiful setting.
We sat on the terrace for our meal which looks out over a tree shaded area.
After a delightful lunch we set off for an aeroplane museum, Omaka, designed by Peter Jackson, a well known New Zealand film Producer. There were all kinds of aeroplanes from both the First and Second World Wars. A number of them were staged in quite dramatic ways.
