Adventures on the South Island

A repeat of #181. Nelson has become the South Islands' starting-off point for great adventures. A mild climate and a million things to do get people warmed up to attack the Southern Alps and the true "wilds" of New Zealand. We'll begin the gunkholing adventure with a very quick sail out of Nelson into the maze of the Marlborough Sounds. On charts the area looks very similar to the British Colombia version in Canada with the same name. Long fjords and literally uncountable bays (one area is called "Bay of Many Coves") moving just a few hundred meters will give you an entirely different view. With tropical looking water and quaint pubs and small ports of call, and an endless array of land excursions, the kiting will be all bonus on this one.

"A childhood spent at the top of the South Island, with most holidays featuring a sandfly infested awning and a gold pan for fun, the beauty of my home island was somewhat lost on me. Not so now. Obsessed with all things outdoors including hiking, mountain biking and wildlife-watching, I now realise that New Zealand’s South Island is a truly special place to be. Its coastline, mountain ranges, valleys and plains present endless adventure regardless of your interests or ability, enriched by unique natural history and colourful stories from both M?ori and colonial times." -- Lonely Planet. Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/south-island/introduction#ixzz47XgYSQlp

Getting there: Book your international flights into and out of Auckland, then either make your way overland to Wellington via bus or car if you want to see some of the sights (Napier and Hastings on the East coast if you like wine, Raglan on the west if you want some surf, or right down the middle if you want to visit Mordor, from the Lord of the Rings in Lake Taupo), then take a ferry to Picton or if you're short on time, a quick domestic flight with Air New Zealand is quick and easy to either Nelson or Wellington and getting to Nelson is straightforward.