Left Akaroa at about 10.10 am in mist/rain and a much lower temperature. Not a problem for us as we were due to drive to the north of the South Island. We shared the driving; detoured to Gore Bay (see photo) on the way; and lunched at Kaikoura. Eventually arrived at Picton at around 5 pm and booked into Jasmine Court. This is really a very upmarket motel!
We have a luxury room which includes a massive bathroom with spa bath, and washing machine and dryer - there is underfloor heating, air conditioning, a dishwasher and all the other usual things you would expect of a motel! It is very comfortable and, although it stopped raining soon after we left Akaroa, it started again when we arrived here, so after a quick trip to the supermarket opposite, we are enjoying an evening in with a pasta supper, a bottle of wine and a couple of free-to-borrow DVDs. I am about to dry a load of washing and will luxuriate in the spa bath later. What slobs! We decided to come here instead of our planned stay in Nelson because the weather forecast appears to be better for this side of the island. We hope to take a boat trip around the Marlborough Sounds tomorrow but if the weather is against us we could always go south and visit wineries near Blenheim.
